David Woodwell (bef. 1697 - 1770)

Born before 21 Nov 1697 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Carill) Woodwell — married about 27 Jul 1727 in Hopkinton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Mary (Wadkins) Woodwell — married 26 Jan 1748 in Hopkinton, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 25 Apr 1770 after age 72 in Hopkinton, Merrimack, New Hampshire

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Biography

Baptism

David Woodwell was born about 1695, based on his age of "about 75" at his death in 1770.^[1] He was baptized at Salem, Massachusetts, on 21 Nov 1697, the son of Samuel Woodwell and Thomasine (Stacy) Woodwell.^[2][3]

Marriages

1. David Woodwell married Mary Carill at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on 27 Jul or 27 Aug 1727. The published vital records say that the town record shows July 27, the church record August 27.^[4]
2. David Woodwell married Mary (Wadkins) Watkins at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, on 7 or 26 Jan 1748. The published vital records say that the town record shows January 26, the church record January 7.^[5]

Capture by Indians

David Woodwell, his wife Mary, and three of his children, Mary, Thomas, and Benjamin, were captured at Number Five, New Hampshire (later the town of Hopkinton) by Indians of the St. Joseph tribe who were allied with the French during the French wars, on 22 Apr 1746, along with three members of the Burbank family. His daughter Mary was sold to an Indian squaw. The other four were imprisoned in Quebec, where his wife Mary died. David, Thomas, and Benjamin were released and arrived at Boston on the French ship La Vierge-de-grace in August 1747. David raised a sum of money through the generosity of the residents of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and made several trips to Quebec to secure Mary's release, eventually ransoming her.^[6][7]

Will

David Woodwell of "New Hopkinton, Province of New Hampshire,"^[8] made his will on 2 Dec 1762. He named his wife Mary; his daughter Mary, the wife of Jeremiah Fowler; Benjamin Eastman, “the natural son of my daughter Tamesin (now deceased) by Joseph Eastman, to whom she was lawfully married”; Mary, the daughter of his wife Mary by a former marriage, now the wife of Caleb Burbank); and Abner Watkins, the son of his wife by a former husband, under 21. He names his “beloved son in law Joseph Eastman of New Hopkinton” as executor.^[9]

Death

David Woodwell died "after a short sickness" at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, aged about 75, on 25 Apr 1770, less than six weeks after the death of his second wife.^[1]

Probate

David Woodwell's inventory was filed on 2 May 1770. An agreement of heirs dividing real estate was signed on 23 May 1770 by Jeremiah Fowler, Mary Fowler, and Benjamin Eastman. His will was proved on 30 May 1770.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Hopkinton, New Hampshire records of marriages, births, and deaths, 1737-1915, p. 187, FHL Film 007751116, Image 121 of 804
2. ↑ Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, database, FamilySearch : 4 December 2014), David Woodwel,; citing , ; FHL microfilm 874,031, 874,032, 874,033.
3. ↑ Vital Records of Salem, Mass., to the end of the year 1849 (six volumes, Salem, Mass., 1924-25), 2:444, citing a church record
4. ↑ Vital Records of Hopkinton, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Boston, 1911, 240)
5. ↑ Vital Records of Hopkinton, Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Boston, 1911, 394)
6. ↑ Walter Harriman, "Mary Woodwell," [The Granite Monthly, 4:233-239 (1881), 233
7. ↑ George Walter Chamberlain, "The Redeemed Captives of 1747," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 70:261-263 (1916), citing The Boston Weekly Post-Boy of 24 Aug 1747
8. ↑ The area was then officially known as Number Five and became the town of Hopkinton in 1765
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Probate record of David Woodwell, New Hampshire Provincial and State Papers (Concord N. H. 1867), 7:371-373

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Andy Vincent for creating WikiTree profile Woodwell-14 through the import of Vincent Family Tree.ged on Aug 8, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Andy and others.