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“Research into this family has not definitely established the parentage of Michael Woods who went to the U.S. with his brothers and sister c. 1724. He was thought to have been the son of John Wood (not Woods) of Rossmead and either of his two alleged wives, Elizabeth Worsop or Ann Bedlow…….It is established that Michael, William, Andrew, James, John and Elizabeth could NOT have been the children of John of Rossmead, and the question as to whose children they were, remains.”[1] Also see Wood
Age Books[2]
Age Book 1 – Author Michael Woods (1735-1808) grandson of Immigrant Michael, does not mention Ireland or his great grandparents.
Age Book 2 – Author Michael Woods (1771-1858) great grandson of Immigrant Michael, does not mention Ireland or his 2xg grandparents.
Additional “Woods Genealogy” accompanying the Age Books– author Martha Harle Woods (1873-1941), 4xg grand-daughter of Immigrant Michael, compiled after 1911 (she mentions her father’s death in 1911) gives parents of Immigrant Michael as John and Elizabeth Worsop [disproved].
Numerous histories were published in the early 1900s which offered the names of John and Elizabeth Woods but were largely unsourced.
Erroneous: Miller, W.H. (1907) History and Genealogies of the Families of Miller, Woods, Harris, Wallace, Maupin, Oldham, Kavanaugh and Brown. Pg 182[3]
Erroneous: Woods, Neander (1905) The Woods-McAfee Memorial containing an account of John Woods & James McAfee of Ireland. Pg 3[4]
Erroneous: McClenaghan, H (preface 1911) Dunshaughlin being some Historical Notes. Pg 125[5]
It was sometime after their youngest child, Sarah was born, in Ireland? 1724 and before 1733, when the first court document is found in America that Michael brought the entire family from Ireland? to America and "lived for a time in what is now Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, and remained there until the Woods and Wallaces, settled in about 1732-1734, in that part of Augusta Co.. Virginia, which was included in Botetourt Co., Virginia, created in 1769, and in Fincastle Co.. organized in 1772, and later included in Greenbrier Co., West Virginia."[6]
From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:
Vol. 1 - JUDGMENTS SUFFERED. AUGUST, 1750. - 1737
There are six children named in Michael's will. Various family trees list other children. It is believed by researchers that these other children were nieces and nephews, adopted by Michael. There is evidence of a SAMUEL WOODS who died in Ireland, possibly married to Elizabeth Campbell.
MAGDALENA WOODS, b. 1706, Ireland?; d. 1810, McDowell Family Cemetery, Timber Ridge, Albemarle Co., VA. (a niece, daughter of Samuel Woods)
MICHAEL WOODS, JR., b. Bet. 1709 - 1719, Ireland?; d. 11 Mar 1777, Buchanan, Botetourt Co., VA. (probably nephews, son of Samuel Woods)
GEORGE WOODS, b. 1713, Ireland?. (no evidence he existed)
SAMUEL WOODS, b. 1718, Ireland?; d. 11 Mar 1777, Buchanan, Botetourt Co., VA. (probably nephews, son of Samuel Woods)
CHARLES WOODS, b. Abt. 1719, Ireland?; d. Bef. May 1761, Rockbridge Co., VA. (probably nephews, son of Samuel Woods) ROBERT WOODS, b. 1719, Ireland?; d. 1779, Buffalo Creek, Augusta, GA (probably nephew, son of Samuel Woods)
MARTHA WOODS, b. 1720, Ireland?; d. 1790, Thornhill, Rockbridge Co., VA. (niece, daughter of Samuel)
RICHARD WOODS, b. 1721, Ireland?; d. Bet. Mar - Apr 1778, Buffalo Creek, Augusta Co., VA. (probably nephew, son of Samuel)
ANDREW WOODS, b. 1722, Ireland?; d. 1781, Botetourt Co., VA. (son of Samuel)
"John's Last Will and Testament 12Sep.1791 at his home in Albemarle Co.,VA. at 80 years of age having an honored and eventful life. Witnessing his Will were Menan Mills, William H. Shelton and James Kensolving. Mentioned are his wife Susannah and six living Children, His sons James and Michael were executors.
Died
11 Jun 1762.
Mount Plains, Augusta, Virginia, USA.
11 Jun 1762.
Blair Park, Albemarle, Virginia, USA.
Found multiple copies of death date. Using 11 Jun 1762
Michael was born in c1684. He passed away in 1762.
Military Service Acheived rank of Lt Colonel in King George's War"The Colonial Wars" 1744-1748
Michael was born in 1682. He passed away in 1762. He is the son of John Andrew Woods 1654–1723 and Elizabeth Worsop Woods . 1656–1741.
He married ouse Mary Catherine Campbell Woods 1690–174.
Children
COLONEL ARCHIBALD WOODS—THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION OF 1788, AND ITS LAST SURVIVOR
LTC Michael Marion Woods Sr. BIRTH 1682 Dunshaughlin, County Meath, Ireland DEATH 11 Jun 1762 (aged 79–80) Albemarle County, Virginia, USA BURIAL Blair Park Plantation Cemetery (Defunct), Crozet, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA PLOT Lost/Destroyed MEMORIAL ID Has a photo of area gravesite
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Michael is 20 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 17 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 17 degrees from Maggie Beer, 40 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 23 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 28 degrees from Michael Chow, 16 degrees from Ree Drummond, 21 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 20 degrees from Matty Matheson, 21 degrees from Martha Stewart, 26 degrees from Danny Trejo and 24 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
Michaell Wood
https://www.chester.pa-roots.com/taxlists/index.html
Michael Woods land was called Mountain Plains, not Blair Park. He lived and died at Mountain Plains. The cemetery included. His son William succeeded his father at Mountain Plains, the old homestead. In 1774 he made sale of it to Thomas Adams, of Augusta Co. Augusta Co VA Will Bk 7 pp 99-101 Will of Thomas Adams dated 14 Oct 1785 "I give and bequeath to my honorable friend John Blair Esq. Chancellor all the Lands he pruchased of me in Albemarle County known by the name "Mountain Plains" and for which he has long since honestly paid me to him and his heirs forever." So Michael Woods of Blair Park is an error. It did not become Blair Park for over 20 yrs after Michael Woods was deceased.
The property that Michael Woods owned was called Mountain Plains. After his death it was sold eventually to Judge John Blair and became known as Blair Park. The original home was standing in 1905 but today there is no evidence of the house nor the burial ground. The graveyard has been described as from 100 to 500 yards south of the home.
Information sourced from the Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society.
edited by Angela (Jones) Harlan
Woods’ Family Myths and the Real Facts By Cecilia Fábos-Becker (2020-08-03) https://www.americeltic.net/files/WoodsFamilyMythsandtheRealFacts.pdf page 8 she says this : Myth No. 3: Michael Woods (and his children) were born at Dunshaughlin, or Dunshaughlin Castle or Dunshanglin Castle in County Meath. First the 1300 year old town, once a village near a monastery, is named Dunshaughlin. Second, there never was a castle at Dunshaughlin. p 10 When we visited Dunshaughlin and toured the area with historian Jim Gilligan,
According to this blog (see link below) there once was a Dunshaughlin Castle as she discovered on her trip to Ireland From what I can follow on Google maps, the actual location is closer to Dublin than Dunshauglin, so I've ruled out the location described in the 1900 book Common Sense.
"Finally there is this 55 year old photograph allegedly taken at Dunshauglin Castle.
Our wonderful guide, Michael Fox, informed me that the original Dunshauglin Castle (and it’s gardens) have been replaced by several stores. Old ruins don’t last forever. So rather than returning to the birthplace of my ancestors -- we’ll visit the town of Dunshauglin, Newgrange and the cemetery instead. That'll do."
https://greenhouseheritage.blogspot.com/2015/02/who-do-you-think-you-are.html
edited by Angela (Jones) Harlan
edited by Harold Bullock
He is my 6th great grandfather