Jonathan Humphreys Wood (1809 - 1849)

Born 29 Oct 1809 in Camden, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Wilhelmina Ihmsen (Jones) Wood — married 5 Jan 1830 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 4 Jun 1849 at age 39 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kelley Wood -Davis [send private message]

Biography

Jonathan Humphreys Wood. Given Name: Jonathan Humphreys. Surname: Wood. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Born 29 OCT 1809. Camden, New Jersey. ^[13][14][15]

Died Cause: Cholera. 4 JUN 1849. Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States. ^[16]

Note: "His son, Jonathan Wood, grandfather of Colonel Wood, was born at Newark and learned the trade of Shipbuilding. Subsequently he left the Atlantic Coasr and went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then a small city. There he employed his skill building boats for the Ohio River traffic and died during the cholera epidemic of 1849. Jonathan Wood married Wilhelmina Jones, who was of Welsh ancestry, a native of Pittsburgh, where her parents were early settlers. She survived her husband many years and reared six sons and two daughters, named John, Jonathan, David, Burris, William, James, Catherine and Wilhelmina." Page 883 of History of New Orleans, Volume 2 (On Elmer E. Wood).

Residence United States. ^[17][18]

Buried Chartier's Cemetery, Carnegie, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. ^[19][20]

Marriage Husband Jonathan Humphreys Wood. Wife Wilhelmina Hunson Jones. Marriage 5 JAN 1830. Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States. ^[21][22][23]

Husband @I5106@. Wife Susannah Humphreys. Child: Ellinor Wood. Child: Martha Wood. Child: Mary Anne Wood. Child: Ruth Wood. Child: Jonathan Humphreys Wood. Child: Reumah Anne Wood. Child: Elizabeth Wood. Child: Emma Anne Wood. Child: @I4834@. Child: Mercella Wood. Child: David Duffel Wood. Child: Susannah R. Wood. Child: John Davis Wood. Child: William Walker Wood. Marriage 17 AUG 1799. Cumberland County, New Jersey. ^{[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]} Residence 7 AUG 1820. Franklin, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States. Note: Abinah is enumerated as Biney Woods in the census. All family members living in August of 1820 are accounted for in the census as follows: Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1 (Burris); Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1 (Jonathan); Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1 (Abinah); Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 4 (Reumah, Elizabeth, Emma and Mercella); Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1 (Mary Anne); Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1 (Susannah). 3 According to the Wood Book, Abinah worked hard "mauling out" rails and made little money doing it.^[36] Residence 1 JUN 1830. Saint Clair Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States. Note: All children who were born before and were still living and unmarried on the date of this enumeration are accounted for in the census as follows: Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1 (William); Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2 (David and Burris); Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1 (Abinah); Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 (Young Susannah); Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 2 (Mercella and Emma); Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1 (Susannah). 3 Elizabeth was likely married at the time (though I have no date for her marriage). Emma, Reumah, Jonathan, and Mary Anne all had married before this time, and likely were enumerated elsewhere (have not yet done that research). Elinor, Martha and Ruth had already passed away. 3 This refutes the Wood Book in one fact: John is NOT accounted for. Had he been living, he would be three. It is VERY likely he passed away before 1830, and not as a young man.^[37] Residence 1 JUN 1840. Lower St. Clair Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States. Note: All persons possibly living in the household are accounted for as follows; Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1 (William); Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1 (Abinah), Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59:1 (Susannah). Again, there is NO evidence John is living with the family, and as he would be 14 at the time, he would most likely still be at home. 3 ^[38] Residence 3 AUG 1850. East Birmingham, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States. Note: No occupation is given for Abinah in the 1850 census, but an A. Wood, boat builder, is listed as living at Clifton Street in East Birmingham.^[39][40]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S514 AKA the Wood Book - Written in 1903 as part of the Wood Reunion, this listed all of the then known descendants
2. ↑ Source: #S256 AFN: HQ4W-WS
3. ↑ Source: #S573 Volume 88; SAR Membership Number 17464
4. ↑ Source: #S573 Database online. Record for Abinah Wood
5. ↑ Source: #S149 Database online. Source number: 2777.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: ; Submitter Code: SS0. Record for Jonathan Wood
6. ↑ Source: #S573 Database online. Record for Jonathan Wood
7. ↑ Source: #S153 Database online. Birth year: 1832; Birth city: Pittsburgh; Birth state: PA. Record for John A Wood
8. ↑ Source: #S153 Database online. Birth year: 1832; Birth city: Pittsburgh; Birth state: PA. Record for John A Wood
9. ↑ Source: #S153 Database online. Birth year: 1832; Birth city: Pittsburgh; Birth state: PA. Record for John A Wood
10. ↑ Source: #S153 Database online. Birth year: 1838; Birth city: Pittsburgh; Birth state: PA. Record for David Duffie Wood
11. ↑ Source: #S146 Database online. Record for David Duffle Wood
12. ↑ Source: #S153 Database online. Birth year: 1842; Birth city: Pittsburgh; Birth state: PA. Record for Jonathan H Wood
13. ↑ Source: #S514 AKA the Wood Book - Written in 1903 as part of the Wood Reunion, this listed all of the then known descendants
14. ↑ Source: #S149 Database online. Source number: 2777.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: ; Submitter Code: SS0. Record for Jonathan Wood
15. ↑ Source: #S568 accessed; 15 July 2016; 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Franklin, Fayette, Pennsylvania; Page: 147; NARA Roll: M33_103; Image: 155 (Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1)
16. ↑ Source: #S514 AKA the Wood Book - Written in 1903 as part of the Wood Reunion, this listed all of the then known descendants
17. ↑ Source: #S573 Database online. Record for Abinah Wood
18. ↑ Source: #S573 Database online. Record for Jonathan Wood
19. ↑ Source: #S6
20. ↑ Source: #S514 AKA the Wood Book - Written in 1903 as part of the Wood Reunion, this listed all of the then known descendants
21. ↑ Source: #S256 AFN: HQ4W-X0
22. ↑ Source: #S574 Page 883 Note: John Smith Kendall, History of New Orleans Volume 2 (Chicago and New York (Found online at http://books.google.com/books?id=z-gxAQAAMAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s), Lewis Publishing Company, 1922.), Page 883.
23. ↑ Source: #S657 Maintained by: dantcarrier. Originally Created by: Frank K.. Record added: Apr 09, 2008. Find A Grave Memorial# 25896565
24. ↑ Source: #S571 accessed; 16 July 2016; Albina Wood and Susanna Humphreys, 17 Aug 1799. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VW5N-HYP; citing New Jersey, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton; FHL microfilm 441,462
25. ↑ Source: #S562 Record of Marriages, Book A; 24; Albina Wood and Susannah Humphrey
26. ↑ Source: #S514 80-83 "CAPT. Abinah Wood, from whose ancestry the present descendants of the Wood family trace their lineage, was born on July 7, 1777 in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. The chain of events which transpired in the history and lives of these pioneers is necessarily disconnected. The woods are undoubtedly of English descent and among the early colonials of New Jersey. Records seem to bear out the fact that Abinah's father, whose name was Jonathan, remained a Royalist during the Revolutionary war, refusing to fight against the king and, consequently, was subjected to heavy fines and penalties for thus sympathizing with the cause of the mother country. We find that Jonathan purchased from a Mr. Stahem a farm containing one hundred acres situated in Hopewell township, Cumberland county, New Jersey, where he lived the remainder of his life and where his six children were born, viz: two boys, who dies young,; Abinah; Hanah, who married 1st, Jacob Duffel. Second, --- Reed. Anne, who married 1st, --- Jones. Second, --- English. Mary, who married -- Harris. About 1810 Johnathan died at the age of 70. He bequeathed the farm to Abinah, the three girls receiving their share in money. Reumah Wood, the mother of Abinah, was a member of a wealthy French family, and a clause in her will would lead us to believe that she was from New Orleans, La. It is as follows: "Together with all the residue of a legacy due me from New Orleans." Shortly after her husband's death she moved to Camden, N.J., where she owned or purchased a house on the corner of Third and Plum (now Arch) streets. It was here in 1825 that she died. To this home her daughter Hannah, whose husband was unfaithful, came to live with her children, some years before. When Reumah died she willed her place to Hannah, David Duffel, Jr., Samuel T. Duffel and Daniel Davis. The latter sold his share to David Duffel, Jr. Samuel Taylor moved to Trenton and David Duffel, Jr. occupied the property until it was sold in 1880 to the United States government for a post office. We find the following in the will of Jonathan Wood: "I give and bequeath to my son Abinah a lot of cedar swamp, my timepiece and all my lands are hereby given him." Abinah Wood was married, August 16, 1799 to Susannah Humphreys, to which union were born fourteen children, the youngest of whom and the only surviving child is William Walker Wood, of Andover, Ohio. We learn that Abinah was taught the art of navigation by an uncle, Morris. He was, no doubt, a man with a great degree of proficiency as a sailing master, proven by the fact that he was given charge of vessals by owners, among whom was no less a personage than Stephen Girard. However this may be, we may be assured that he had a laudable ambition to posses a boat of his own. He bought a brig, much against the wishes of his wife. We cannot suppose, however, that the objections of his wife could remain long after he christened the brig, "Susannah," in her honor. Abinah was at this time very successful as a sea captain and possesed quite a small fortune, but he could not endure to see a friend in trouble without extending a helping hand. He injudicously went bail for a Smith Mott for ,000 or ,000 which Abinah had to pay. Again he endorsed for his friend. His wife, Susannah, was at this time on the farm. While the English were invading the country, and Abinah was hedged in in the bay, the note fell due. Creditors levied on his property and took 8 horses, 6 mileh cows [sic] 10 cattle, 82 sheep, 29 hogs, 150 bushels of wheat, 172 bushels of oats, 300 bushels of corn, parlor furniture, one years clothing of flax, 2 carruages, two wagons, other farm implements, 1 mirror, 9 feather beds, poultry, and then siezed his vessel when he landed. His mother, who was still living, prevented the sale of the farm. We can easily be led to imagine how disgusted and discouraged Abinah was and we are not surprised then that he decided to try to recover his lost fortune in a new part of the country, and renew his faith in humanity at the same time. One of the results of the War of 1812 was the awakening of the American people to the fact that they had greater and better possessions than those that skirted the Atlantic sea coast. The tide of immigration set in towards the far West, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio -- howling wilderness that had not become thickly populated, although well explored by the events of the French and Indian war half a century before. In 1820, Abinah bought an equipment and started west with his family, intending to go to Ohio. With road wagon, flint lock rifle, axe, and other tools; with the household effects, of bedding, pots, kettles, etc., the family, riding and walking part of the way, finaly reched Fayette Co., Pa., in October, where the condition of his wife was such that they could travel no farther. In this country, Abinah lived three years, "mauling out" rails from early day until 10 o'clock at night, if moonlight, earning 37 1/2 cents per day. At that time, corn meal was .50 per bushel; salt, 50 cents per peck; tea, .50 per pound, and all necessaries of life proportionately high. His mother urged him to return to New Jersey and live with her. In her last letter to him we learn that she had placed ,000 in a Philadelphia bank until he, or his heirs, called for it. She also wrote: "I will put Sam Harris on the farm to care for it until you come back," and the good old lady closes her letter with the touching appeal: "My Dear Boy, come home! There is plenty for both of us, and more than I can use. Do come home." Abinah, it appears, never complied with this touching appeal of his mother. We might mention in this connection that his daughters Susannah and Elizabeth always claimed that there was a fortune in the East for the heirs of Abinah Wood. At least there ought to have been the ,000 left him by his mother; and aunt, name unknown, who was childless, left a sum of money in a Philadelphia bank for him, besides which was the farm that, it is reported, was valued in 1857 at ,000. After the expiration of the three years in Fayette county, he moved to Birmingham, now a part of Pittsburg, Pa., where he died September 23, 1852, and where the radial lines of the Wood family, so steadily developed in the east, spread in all directions of the compass. He was buried in Hargey's graveyard, on what was known as Washington turnpike, Pittsburgh, Pa., but all traces of the graveyard and the graves are now obliterated. It is not improbable that through the betrayal of friends, the loss of fortune and the many discouragements that came to him, that Abinah Wood died a somewhat broken-spirited and disheartened man. He would have been unlike the average mortal had he been otherwise. In person, he was a large, stout man, with dark, curly hair. He was universally liked and esteemed, and for may hears a class leader in the Methodist church. His rugged but noble character, and the pioneer struggles and hardships have not been forgotten by his descendants, who consider him well worth their emulation."
27. ↑ Source: #S570 p. 119 gives date of marriage between Susannah and Abinah
28. ↑ Source: #S571 viewed; 16 July 2016; 004541234 > image 45 of 564; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton.; Actual image of marriage record transcript for Albina Wood and Susannah Humphrey
29. ↑ Source: #S573 accessed; 16 July 2016; Volume 106; SAR Membership 21099; Entry for Abinah Wood and Susannah Humphreys in application of Addison Jenkins (application date 4 January 1911)
30. ↑ Source: #S573 accessed; 16 July 2016; Volume 263; SAR Membership 52590; Entry for Abinah Wood and Susannah Humphreys in application for Rueben David Abbiss (application date 17 Feb 1933)
31. ↑ Source: #S573 accessed; 16 July 2016; Volume 106; SAR Membership 21100; Entry for Abinah Wood and Susannah Humphreys in application of Howard C. Jenkins (application date 4 Jan 1911)
32. ↑ Source: #S514 80-83 "CAPT. Abinah Wood, from whose ancestry the present descendants of the Wood family trace their lineage, was born on July 7, 1777 in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. The chain of events which transpired in the history and lives of these pioneers is necessarily disconnected. The woods are undoubtedly of English descent and among the early colonials of New Jersey. Records seem to bear out the fact that Abinah's father, whose name was Jonathan, remained a Royalist during the Revolutionary war, refusing to fight against the king and, consequently, was subjected to heavy fines and penalties for thus sympathizing with the cause of the mother country. We find that Jonathan purchased from a Mr. Stahem a farm containing one hundred acres situated in Hopewell township, Cumberland county, New Jersey, where he lived the remainder of his life and where his six children were born, viz: two boys, who dies young,; Abinah; Hanah, who married 1st, Jacob Duffel. Second, --- Reed. Anne, who married 1st, --- Jones. Second, --- English. Mary, who married -- Harris. About 1810 Johnathan died at the age of 70. He bequeathed the farm to Abinah, the three girls receiving their share in money. Reumah Wood, the mother of Abinah, was a member of a wealthy French family, and a clause in her will would lead us to believe that she was from New Orleans, La. It is as follows: "Together with all the residue of a legacy due me from New Orleans." Shortly after her husband's death she moved to Camden, N.J., where she owned or purchased a house on the corner of Third and Plum (now Arch) streets. It was here in 1825 that she died. To this home her daughter Hannah, whose husband was unfaithful, came to live with her children, some years before. When Reumah died she willed her place to Hannah, David Duffel, Jr., Samuel T. Duffel and Daniel Davis. The latter sold his share to David Duffel, Jr. Samuel Taylor moved to Trenton and David Duffel, Jr. occupied the property until it was sold in 1880 to the United States government for a post office. We find the following in the will of Jonathan Wood: "I give and bequeath to my son Abinah a lot of cedar swamp, my timepiece and all my lands are hereby given him." Abinah Wood was married, August 16, 1799 to Susannah Humphreys, to which union were born fourteen children, the youngest of whom and the only surviving child is William Walker Wood, of Andover, Ohio. We learn that Abinah was taught the art of navigation by an uncle, Morris. He was, no doubt, a man with a great degree of proficiency as a sailing master, proven by the fact that he was given charge of vessals by owners, among whom was no less a personage than Stephen Girard. However this may be, we may be assured that he had a laudable ambition to posses a boat of his own. He bought a brig, much against the wishes of his wife. We cannot suppose, however, that the objections of his wife could remain long after he christened the brig, "Susannah," in her honor. Abinah was at this time very successful as a sea captain and possesed quite a small fortune, but he could not endure to see a friend in trouble without extending a helping hand. He injudicously went bail for a Smith Mott for ,000 or ,000 which Abinah had to pay. Again he endorsed for his friend. His wife, Susannah, was at this time on the farm. While the English were invading the country, and Abinah was hedged in in the bay, the note fell due. Creditors levied on his property and took 8 horses, 6 mileh cows [sic] 10 cattle, 82 sheep, 29 hogs, 150 bushels of wheat, 172 bushels of oats, 300 bushels of corn, parlor furniture, one years clothing of flax, 2 carruages, two wagons, other farm implements, 1 mirror, 9 feather beds, poultry, and then siezed his vessel when he landed. His mother, who was still living, prevented the sale of the farm. We can easily be led to imagine how disgusted and discouraged Abinah was and we are not surprised then that he decided to try to recover his lost fortune in a new part of the country, and renew his faith in humanity at the same time. One of the results of the War of 1812 was the awakening of the American people to the fact that they had greater and better possessions than those that skirted the Atlantic sea coast. The tide of immigration set in towards the far West, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio -- howling wilderness that had not become thickly populated, although well explored by the events of the French and Indian war half a century before. In 1820, Abinah bought an equipment and started west with his family, intending to go to Ohio. With road wagon, flint lock rifle, axe, and other tools; with the household effects, of bedding, pots, kettles, etc., the family, riding and walking part of the way, finaly reched Fayette Co., Pa., in October, where the condition of his wife was such that they could travel no farther. In this country, Abinah lived three years, "mauling out" rails from early day until 10 o'clock at night, if moonlight, earning 37 1/2 cents per day. At that time, corn meal was .50 per bushel; salt, 50 cents per peck; tea, .50 per pound, and all necessaries of life proportionately high. His mother urged him to return to New Jersey and live with her. In her last letter to him we learn that she had placed ,000 in a Philadelphia bank until he, or his heirs, called for it. She also wrote: "I will put Sam Harris on the farm to care for it until you come back," and the good old lady closes her letter with the touching appeal: "My Dear Boy, come home! There is plenty for both of us, and more than I can use. Do come home." Abinah, it appears, never complied with this touching appeal of his mother. We might mention in this connection that his daughters Susannah and Elizabeth always claimed that there was a fortune in the East for the heirs of Abinah Wood. At least there ought to have been the ,000 left him by his mother; and aunt, name unknown, who was childless, left a sum of money in a Philadelphia bank for him, besides which was the farm that, it is reported, was valued in 1857 at ,000. After the expiration of the three years in Fayette county, he moved to Birmingham, now a part of Pittsburg, Pa., where he died September 23, 1852, and where the radial lines of the Wood family, so steadily developed in the east, spread in all directions of the compass. He was buried in Hargey's graveyard, on what was known as Washington turnpike, Pittsburgh, Pa., but all traces of the graveyard and the graves are now obliterated. It is not improbable that through the betrayal of friends, the loss of fortune and the many discouragements that came to him, that Abinah Wood died a somewhat broken-spirited and disheartened man. He would have been unlike the average mortal had he been otherwise. In person, he was a large, stout man, with dark, curly hair. He was universally liked and esteemed, and for may hears a class leader in the Methodist church. His rugged but noble character, and the pioneer struggles and hardships have not been forgotten by his descendants, who consider him well worth their emulation."
33. ↑ Source: #S570 p. 119 gives date of marriage between Susannah and Abinah. Page 124 repeats this information.
34. ↑ Source: #S514 Page 60
35. ↑ Source: #S514 Page 84-85
36. ↑ Source: #S568 accessed; 15 July 2016; 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Franklin, Fayette, Pennsylvania; Page: 147; NARA Roll: M33_103; Image: 155
37. ↑ Source: #S565 accessed; 10 July 2016; 1830; Census Place: St Clair, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Series: M19; Roll: 144; Page: 208; Family History Library Film: 0020618
38. ↑ Source: #S513 accessed; 15 June 2016; Year: 1840; Census Place: Lower St Clair, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 439; Page: 96; Image: 198; Family History Library Film: 0020536
39. ↑ Source: #S512 accessed; 11 July 2016; Year: 1850; Census Place: East Birmingham, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_748; Page: 36A; Image: 77
40. ↑ Source: #S509 accessed; 11 July 2016; 105; "Wood, A. boat builder, Clifton, E Bir"

• Source: S146 Ancestry.com, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;) Repository: #R16
• Repository: R16 Ancestry.com Lehi, Utah 84043 USA Lehi State: Utah 84043 USA Web Address: www.ancestry.com
• Source: S149 Yates Publishing, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;) Repository: #R16
• Source: S153 West, Edmund et.al., Family Data Collection - Individual Records (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2000;) Repository: #R16
• Source: S256 FamilySearch, Ancestral File (Name: Database online. FamilySearch; Location: Salt Lake City, Utah; Date: 1979-2003;) Repository: #R13
• Repository: R13 FamilySearch Web Address: www.familysearch.org
• Source: S514 J. H. Wood, T. R. Wood, P. A. Wood, and G. E. Wood, History and Genealogy of the Descendants of Abinah Wood and Susannah Humphreys (Andover, Ohio: Press of the Citizen, 1903). Note: Also known as the Wood Book Repository: #R12 Repository: #R25 Call Number: https://archive.org/details/historygenealogy00wood
• Repository: R12 Kelley Wood-Davis Apt 4 Norwalk, IA 50211 USA Norwalk State: IA 50211 USA Note: Holdings in the personal collection of Kelley Wood-Davis
• Repository: R25 Internet Archive San Francisco, CA 94118 USA San Francisco State: CA 94118 USA Web Address: archive.org
• Source: S568 Ancestry.com, "1820 United States Federal Census," online database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ), .
• Source: S573 "U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970," digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed ); citing Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.. Repository: #R16
• Source: S6 Meinart, Norm, Allegheny River Family Archives Website (Name: Rootsweb.com; Location: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/%7Enjm1/index.html; Date: 1996-2012;) Note: Repository: #R18
• Repository: R18 Online
• Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889, Part 2: p. 376, 680)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #25896552