John Wood (abt. 1798 - 1883)

Born about 1798 in Castlereagh, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Daley) Wood — married 28 Dec 1829 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

Died 21 May 1883 at about age 85 in Windsor, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Death

^[1] Name: John Wood - Burial: Saint Matthew's Anglican Church Cemetery, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia.

Research Note

Burial - Cemetery: St Matthews Anglican Cemetery, Windsor - 1 Moses St, Windsor NSW 2756 - There are three entries for John Wood, one in row 27 plot 9 (most likely his), and another in row 7 plot 1. There is also one in Right section, row 27 plot 10 with his daughter Emma, (who is probably her brother John). http://www.hawkesbury.net.au/cemetery/st_matthews/smcw2145.html

Notices

Hawkesbury Chronicle and Farmers Advocate (Windsor, NSW : 1881 - 1888), Saturday 26 May 1883, page 3. ^[2] THE LATE MR. JOHN WOOD. In MEMORIAM. THE passing away, on the 21st instant, of another of our native octogenarians, a veritable patriarch of the district, in the person of Mr. John Wood, sen., is a circumstance demanding a more than ordinary notice. According to a statement he made to the writer he was born in the year 1798 (temp. Gov. Hunter) in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and was consequently 85 years of age at the time of his death. His father was coachman to Mr. Commissary Palmer, and he was brother to the late Mrs. Hough, of Richmond, who was in the service of Governor Bligh, and was a witness of his arrest by Major Johnston, at the head of the insurgent New South Wales corps. He was remarkable for having been the first white Australian who ever visited England, 65 years ago, when a youth of 20. It was not an easy thing in those days to make a passage to the mother country, but the captain of a vessel who was a friend of the family, kindly offered to take him home. He had to find out an aunt there, and the captain told him that if he missed his way he was to call a cabman, give the name and address, which he carried in his pocket, and the John would safely land him. It so happened that he lost himself on London Bridge but remembering the captain's directions, he acted upon them, and reached his destination alright. After a short stay he returned to the colony. He came to reside at Windsor upwards of 55 years ago, and soon afterwards married the lady who happily survives him. When the writer in 1837, then a boy, arrived in Windsor, Mr. Wood lived in a large weather-boarded house, with an old horse mill at the rear, in George-street, the site of the present property of Mr. W. Nicholls - now occupied by Messrs. Dickson and Barnett. He was then, and had been for some years principal carrier in Windsor. The storekeepers and farmers of the district trusted him implicitly with the conveyance of their goods to and from Sydney, and many were the important commissions he executed on behalf of his patrons. It was a serious matter in those days carrying on the Windsor and Parramatta Road. Over dreadfully bad roads in danger of bushrangers and marauders, it was at least a two days journey each way. We live in happier times now with., the facilities of railroads and banks; still Mr. Wood never entirely gave up the carrying business, but continued to traffic to and from the railway stations and other places till old age put a period to his work. He was probably better acquainted (after the late Mr. John Hoskisson) with the origin and progress of the Hawkesbury District than any other man of his time. He knew all the original owners of property about Windsor, and his testimony was often sought respecting a doubtful or disputed title. In the early days of the colony land, then almost worthless, but since more valuable, was frequently transferred simply by an unintelligible memorandum on a scrap of paper. In such cases declarations of facts by Mr. Wood as to possession were invaluable. Now that he had gone from us, one scarcely knows where to look for evidence respecting such matters about Windsor. Many an interesting story has he told the writer concerning the early history of the town and district, about Governor Macquarie, the blacks, bushrangers and the trouble of the first settlers. Some of these have been embodied in reminiscences which have already been published. When the Peninsula Estate was subdivided for sale by Mr. Charles Campbell the owner, Mr. Wood bought a portion near the mouth of the creek, where he carried on farming for many years ; and the residence in Windsor having changed proprietors he removed to his own comfortable house and premises in Macquarie-street. Here he resided a considerable time, but the heavy floods which a few years back devastated the district, and through which he was a heavy sufferer, induced him to give up farming and dispose of his land, whilst the terrible fire of 1874 made a ruin of his dwelling and he had to re-move to the rented residence where he ended his days in George-street. He sold the site of his house to the Wesleyans, who thereon built the handsome building which is now the parsonage of that body in Windsor. Mr. Wood being of a retiring disposition did not usually take any part in public matter, but in 1858 he was appointed a Commissioner of the Windsor Road Trust, the duties of which he continued to fulfill until a very recent period in a most satisfactory manner. He was a quiet yet useful member, rarely missing attendance at a meeting ; and he was courteous and obliging to all who came in contact with him upon business. Full of years he has died leaving a numerous and respected offspring to survive him. He was personally one of the most inoffensive of men, good natured to a degree, and his decease is universally regretted, as was justified by the large gathering of relatives and friends which assembled at his funeral on Wednesday. Proceeding on their future walks by George-street many will miss the familiar form of good Old Grandfather Wood. w. w.

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 22 May 1883, page 1. ^[3] WOOD. — May 21, at his residence, George-street, John Wood, of Windsor, aged 87.

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 22 May 1883, page 12. ^[4] THE FRIENDS of the late JOHN WOOD of Windsor, are respectfully Informed that his Funeral will take place on WEDNESDAY MORNING, at half-past 11 o'clock. - THOMAS, PRIMROSE, Undertaker.

Research Note

• No marriage found for John Wood and Mary J Lewis found in NSW BDM 1810-1832. Mary Lewis probably did not come to Australia and did not marry this John Wood anyway. (see https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GX4Q-SWZ )
• John Wood and Mary Ann Daley married in Windsor on 28 December 1829 and had 10 children, 5 of whom have profiles.

Sources

1. ↑ https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search - NSW BDM 8480/1883 -May 21 - F= JOHN, M = MARY A - WINDSOR
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66376385
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13535326
4. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13535330

• https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search
• Birth - about 1795 27 32 - to 1798 - New South Wales, Australia
• Birth - NSW BDM BC not found
• Marriage - NSW BDM MC 932/1829 V182 9932 13 - Groom = WOOD, JOHN; Bride = DALEY, MARY A - CC = St Matthew's C of E Windsor
• Australia and New Zealand, Find A Grave Index, 1800s-Current
• Link - https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I63621/John-Wood
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LDT5-R4M

• Source: A Register of pioneer families, volume 1. Croydon: The 1788-1820 - Pioneer Association, 1989 - Marriage - Mary Ann Daley - View family - 1829 (Age 34) Windsor, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia

• Burial 23 May 1883 (Age 88) Windsor, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia - Cemetery: St Matthews Church of England Cemetery - Source: RootsWeb. WorldConnect [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, 2009

Subscription required:

• Ancestry.com. Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Text: Name: John Wood. - Spouse Name: Mary A Daley - Marriage Date: 1829 - Marriage Place New South Wales - Registration Place - Windsor New South Wales Registration Year 1829 - Volume Number V Death Death 1883 (Age 88) Windsor, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Australia

• Ancestry.com. Australia Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT,USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Text: Name: John Wood - Death Date 1883 Death Place New South Wales. Father's Name John Mother's Name Mary A Registration Year - 1883 Registration Place Windsor New South Wales Registration Number 8480