Nathaniel
Woodward
Sr.
Born about in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England
[uncertain]
Ancestors [uncertain]
Son of Lambert Woodward
[uncertain]
and Isbell (Smith) Woodward
[uncertain]
Brother of
Agnes Woodward, John Woodward, Prudence (Woodward) Bates, Susan Woodward and Thomas Woodward
Husband of
Margaret (Lawrence) Woodward
— married
19 Sep 1608 in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England
Descendants 
Father of
Nathaniel Woodward Jr., John Woodward, Robert Woodward, Elizabeth Woodward, Anne Woodward, Lambert Woodward, Thomas Woodward, James Woodward, Ezekiel Woodward, Benjamin Woodward and Prudence Woodward
Died after
after about age 74
in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]
[uncertain]
Profile managers:
Bobbie Hall 
[send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], George Walker [send private message], and John Putnam [send private message]
[send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], George Walker [send private message], and John Putnam [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 14 Apr 2010
This page has been accessed 5,692 times.
| Nathaniel Woodward Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 384) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Contents |
Disputed Parents
Although it is certainly possible that Nathaniel was a son of John Woodward and Ellen Porter (married in Rushden in 1583), Doris Woodward and Patricia Hatcher[1] suggest that it is reasonable to assume that Nathaniel was more likely the son of Lambert Woodward and Isbell Smith (married in Rushden in 1585).
Since the latter couple had a daughter Prudence, it would seem likely that Nathaniel named his own daughter Prudence after his sister. Even more convincing is the fact that Nathaniel named a son Lambert. Nathaniel's daughter Elizabeth was probably named after Isbell. If Nathaniel had been son of Ellen and John, he would have more likely named a daughter Ellen.
For more information, see: Woodward, Doris J. & Patricia Law Hatcher, "The English Origin of Nathaniel Woodward, Early Settler of Boston MA and Ancestor of Beamsley Woodward of Maine" The Maine Genealogist. Vol. 20(1998):147-168 citing FHL microfilm 6128823.
Biography
Nathaniel Woodward (b. ca.1587) was married on 19 September 1608, Rushden, Northamptonshire, England, to Margaret Lawrence. Seven children were baptised in Rushden, and an additional four were baptized at nearby Puddington (now Podington), Bedfordshire.
The Rushden, Northhamptonshire, parish registers provide a marriage record:[1]
- "The xix day of September Nathaniell woodward & Margerett Larence was married the yeare above written [1608]"
Baptisms found in the Rushden registers:[1]
- [torn] of Nathaniel Woodward [Nov 1607 and Aug 1609] (this is undoubtedly Nathaniel, eldest son of Nathaniel)
- The xxijth daye of September John the sonne of nathanll woodward ws baptized in Anno p[er] dicto [1610]
- The xxijth of februarie Robart the sone of nathaniell woodward ws Baptized the yeare above written [1611/2]
- The zziiijth of Aprill Elizabeth the daughter of Nathaniell woodward was Baptised in Anno pr dic [1614]
- The Twelvth day of may Anne Daughter of Nathaniell woodward was baptized [1616]
- The vth day of Octobr Lambert the sonne of Nathaniell woodward was baptised [1617]
- The vjth day of ffebruary Thomas the sonne of nathaniell woodward was baptised [1619/20]
From the burial registers at Rushden:[1]
- The xvth daye of June Agnes the daughter of Nathaniell woodward was buried [1618] (Anne and Agnes are often used interchangably)
In nearby Pudddington, the following baptisms are found in the Parish Registers:[1]
- [1623] James Woodward the sonne Nathaniel Woodward bapt: one & twentith of Septembr
- [1625] Ezechiel Woodard filius Nathaniellis Woodard bapt: octavo die May [8 May]
- [1626] Baniamin Wooddard filius Nath: Wooddard bapt eodem die [quint die Nowembris] [5 November]
- [1628/9] prudentia Woodard filia Nathanielis Woodward baptizat Januaris [rest of entry hidden - 18 January, per Parish Register Transcripts]
The Puddington church's Poor Rate books indicate that Nathaniel's household contained 6 children in 1621, 7 in 1623, 8 in 1625, and 7 in 1627. Only four were baptized in Puddington 1623-1628, and it is likely Nathaniel & his wife were married and had at least six children elsewhere before moving to Puddington. The baptisms & death in Rushden exactly match the number of children listed in the Podington poor records.[1]
Nathaniel and his family were in Massachusetts by 1637, when Nathaniel is named in the 18 Dec 1637 allocation of house lots to his two sons. In January 1638, Nathaniel "the elder" was allotted land at Muddy River,[2] receiving 28 acres, which indicates that he had a household of 7.[1][3]
The last record of Nathaniel Sr. is found on 18 July 1661, when "Nathaniell Woodward of Boston in New Engld in the County of Suffolke Carpenter and Margaret his wife" sold to John Marion for £100 the remainder of their holdings, land and house and orchards, listed in the Book of Possessions.[3][4]
The Inventory of a Nathaniel Woodward's estate taken on 11 December 1675, Boston, Massachusetts, is often cited as proof of his death. The will in the probate packet, however, proves that this was NOT Nathaniel Sr., it was his grandson, a mariner, the son of Robert Woodward.[5]
Research notes
Regarding death in 1675:
In the article by Doris Woodward published in 1998 in The Maine Genealogist, Vol. 20:147, "The English Origin of Nathaniel Woodward,..." Nathaniel's death date in 1675 is given, claiming that his inventory (Suff. Co. Prob. Vol. 5:299) was sworn to by his son Robert's widow, Rachel Harwood. True that she swore to an inventory, but the related will (see: Suff. Co. Prob. 6:182) is clearly that of Rachel's son Nathaniel, not her father-in-law.
Regarding death in 1685:
Many online genealogies for Nathaniel give him a death date of 11 May 1685. That date should instead be assigned to Peter Woodward of Dedham, father of Rev. William Woodward, sometime preacher at Dedham. In the Diary of Samuel Sewall 1674-1729 he writes:
Monday, May 11th, 1685, ... Deacon Parkes dyed last night, and Goodman Woodward of Dedham, father to the Minister, is dead within 's day or two. The explanation of Sewal's diary entry is in the Dedham Historical Register Vol. 3:156 and gives a thorough explanation.
Regarding son Nathaniel:
Robert Charles Anderson is apparently now (in 2015) convinced that Nathaniel had a son Nathaniel, saying in his Great Migration Directory: "He was preceded to New England by his son Nathaniel Woodward in 1633."[6]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Woodward, Doris J. & Patricia Law Hatcher, "The English Origin of Nathaniel Woodward, Early Settler of Boston MA and Ancestor of Beamsley Woodward of Maine" The Maine Genealogist. Vol. 20(1998):147-168.
- ↑ Robert Charles Anderson. "The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633," (Boston: NEHGS, 1996-2011). vol.3, pp.2061-2064.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harold Edward Woodward, "Some Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward Who Came from England to Boston about 1630," (Boston:NEHGS 1984). Available by $ubscription on American Ancestors.org: Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward, 1630-1900 Online database. AmericanAncestors.org New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2021.
- ↑ Suffolk Deeds Vol. 3:519
- ↑ Suffolk County Probate Records 6:182 is clearly that of Rachel's son Nathaniel, not her father-in-law.
- ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640: A Concise Compendium (Boston: NEHGS, 2015), p. 384.
- See Also:
- Marriage record. Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: 285P/205. See online search at Freereg.org. Married at St Mary, Rushden, Northamptonshire on 19 Sep 1608.
- Gendered Power 1996 203-7. Founding Mothers and Fathers: Gendered Power and the Forming of American Society (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996), pp. 203-7.
- William and Mary Quarterly 55:105-134. Mary Beth Norton "The Ablest Midwife that Wee Know in the Land: Mistress Alice Tilly and the Women of Boston and Dorchester 1649-50, William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd series, vol. 55 (Jan 1998) 105-134.
- Percy Emmon Woodward (ed. Mary Lovering Holman) "Some Descendants of Nathaniel Woodward Mathematician," (Newtonville, MA: 1940) MS Cat # SG/Woo/31. via Internet Archive
- werelate.org profile of Nathaniel, no sources
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83814580/nathaniel-woodward : accessed 02 February 2022), memorial page for Nathaniel Woodward (1585–unknown), Find A Grave: Memorial #83814580; Maintained by Bushnell (contributor 47234417) Burial Details Unknown. (No gravestone photo, no sources)
- Geni.com profile of Nathaniel, few sources
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Nathaniel by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Nathaniel by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree:
- Charles Woodward
:
Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Test 67 markers, haplogroup E-M35, FTDNA kit #B277130
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
Rejected matches › Nathaniel Woodward (1625-abt.1678)
Nathaniel is 17 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 20 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 18 degrees from Maggie Beer, 42 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 25 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 23 degrees from Michael Chow, 20 degrees from Ree Drummond, 21 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 19 degrees from Matty Matheson, 21 degrees from Martha Stewart, 27 degrees from Danny Trejo and 24 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
W > Woodward > Nathaniel Woodward Sr.
Categories: Rushden, Northamptonshire | Boston, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration
Marriage: "Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1532-1812"
Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: 285P/205
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9198 #9476555 (accessed 21 December 2022)
Nathaniell Woodward marriage to Margerett Landimore on 25 Sep 1608 in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England. </ref>
Edited to add surname should be Lawrence another terrible transcription from Ancestry which is why it’s always a good idea to check the register image if there is one
edited by Ann Browning
If our Nathaniel were a mathematician, it is unlikely his family would have been on the dole in England. Any thoughts
Looking at this reference, he apparently was called "mathematician" in a few records, but it is a mistake to read too much into this. He was very much a typical puritan farmer/carpenter whose mathematical skills probably were not more than being very good at surveying and calculating angles as a carpenter.
Nathaniel Woodward is one of my ancestors. This link suggests different parents for Nathaniel. Are they wrong?
https://gw.geneanet.org/mefleury?n=woodward&oc=1&p=nathaniel
edited by Traci Thiessen
edited by Joe Cochoit
Thank you.