Thomas Woodward of England

 

One of the Woodwards that William Joseph Woodward seemed especially interested in was Thomas Woodward, Sr. of Isle of Wight Co., VA who was the first Surveyor General of NC. He, his wife Katherine, their daughter Philarite, and son Thomas Woodward, Jr. patented large amounts of land in both Virginia and NC.

 

Thomas Woodward, Sr. was born in England and served as Assay Master to the Mint under Charles I until 1649 when he fled to Virginia vowing not to return to England until his Majesty's return from exile. He left a deposition in Isle of Wight dated Dec. 9, 1665 in which he stated he was aged 61 years. He is believed to have descended from George Woodward of Buckinghamshire.

 

This belief stems from an Isle of Wight deed witnessed by Thomas Woodward, Sr. involving the marriage of George Fawdon and Anne Smith and "our father-in-law, Nathaniel Bacon, and our mother Ann, his wife, with our brother William Smith". Anne Smith was the daughter of widow Anne Smith who married as her second husband Nathaniel Bacon, Sr., making him the stepfather ("father-in-law") of Anne Smith. Nathaniel Bacon, Sr. was the son of Rev. James Bacon, Rector of Burgate, Suffolk. Sources disagree as to whether Nathaniel Bacon's mother was Rev. James Bacon's first wife or second wife, Martha Woodward, but most seem to believe his mother was Martha. Martha Woodward was the daughter of George Woodward of Buckinghamshire and his second wife, Elizabeth Honeywood, by whom he had sixteen children. By his first wife, Katherine Woodford, George Woodward had produced eight children. Because of this Bacon/Woodward connection, Thomas Woodward, Sr. is also believed to have descended from George Woodward, but perhaps by a son born to Katherine Woodford.

 

According to John B. Boddie:

 

Nathaniel Bacon, Sen., was son of Rev. James Bacon and Martha Woodward. He was cousin of Nathaniel Bacon, Jun., the Rebel. He appears to have married, first, Ann Smith, a widow, who was perhaps Ann Bassett, as Capt. William Bassett calls Nathaniel Bacon brother. He married next Elizabeth Kingsmill, widow of Col. Wm. Tayloe. His grandmother was Elizabeth Honiwood, celebrated for her charities. Nathaniel Bacon's aunt Bridget married Sir Thomas Lyddall, and their son Col. George Lyddall lived in New Kent, Va. So here was a regular network of relatives -- cavaliers -- settled at this time in Virginia: Nathaniel Bacon, Sen., Thomas Woodward, assay-master of the mint to Charles I., Sir Philip Honiwood, George Lyddall, Capt. William Bassett, Col. Robert Abrahall, Col. Joseph Foster, &c. See Woodward pedigree in Familiae Minorum Gentium IV., p. 1300, Keith's Ancestry of Benj. Harrison, and QUARTERLY II., p. 216, &c.

 

The only one of these sources I have been able to obtain is the Ancestry of Benjamin Harrison which gives the family of George Woodward but does not mention Thomas Woodward or Christopher Woodward. The other two sources should certainly be investigated if anyone can obtain them. Boddie certainly seems to have believed that there was some kinship between the George Woodward family and the Thomas Woodward family.

There were a number of land patents in NC and VA by Thomas Woodward, Sr. and his family members:

 

Sept. 24, 1759 - Thomas Woodward, 100 acres Lower parish of Isle of Wight Co. adj. to ESE parts of land of Thomas Jones and lately purchased by sd. Woodward. Bounded with lands patented by Capt. John Upton, Capt. John Moone, and sd. Jones. For transportation of 2 persons.

 

Sept. 25, 1663 - Katherine Woodward and Philarete Woodward her daughter, 750 acres on west side Paspetanke River beginning at a point above the mouth of a large Cr. falling into said river, etc. For transportation of 15 persons.

 

Sept. 25, 1663 - Thomas Woodward, Sr. and Thomas Woodward, Jr. 2000 acres on west side of Chawanoke River beginning 50 poles below the small creek which is at the lower part of the old Indian Towne, running WSW &c. For transportation of 40 persons: Hump. Pawle, Tho. Pryer, Ann Sutten, Robt. Black, Arth. Holder, Jacob Browne, Symon Prichard, Ezekell Williams, Wm. Miller, Wm. Holden, Robt. Corner (or Carvel), John Stevenson, Anthony Wynn, John Hamlyn, Xpher Woodward (twice), Tho. Marshall, John Bird, Robt. Hancoke, Peter Dennis (twice), Eliz. Jemer(?), Sarah Marshall, Peter Janson, Ester Ruke, Mich. Talin, Tho. Richmond, Tho. Parin, Samll. Moses, Steph. Persian, and Samll. Henrie. (Hump. Pawle was possibly Humphrey Pawlett.)

 

Sept. 25, 1663 - Thomas Woodward, Sr. and Thomas Woodward, Jr. his son, 2500 acres on the north side Paspetanke River beginning at the head of the easternmost branch of Aranews Creek &c. towards the head of the North River. For transportation of 50 persons.

 

Apr. 17, 1667 - Thomas Woodward, Jr. 1100 acres Isle of Wight or Nansemond Co. upon the black water or toward the head of Chawon or Chawonock River including an old Indian feild called Mountsack. For transportation of 22 persons.

 

Apr. 17, 1669 - Mr. Thomas Woodward 100 acres marshland on the Lower Parish of Isle of Wight Co. on Pagan Creek. Adj. Willm. Parrot by Capt. Anth. Fulgham & lands in possession of Capt. Rich. Maddison to place called the Iron point, &c. For transportation of 2 persons.

 

Oct. 5, 1673 - Thomas Woodward, Jr. 1600 acres Is. of Wight Co. at mouth of a branch of the Blackwater, adj. Mr. Newman, Hugh Latimore, Tho. Tookes, Anthony Mathews, Edm. Palmer, Jno. Pottis & Henry West, a branch parting John Sherer & Jno. Clarke from Mr. Sweete, &c.; 1200 acres purchased from Sweete's patt., Wm. Cooke's (or Tooke's) & a parcell of Sherer's land; 400 acres for transportation of 8 persons.

 

Sept. 25, 1674 - Mr. Thomas Woodward, Sr. 1300 acres Isle of Wight Co. on the Blackwater adj. Capt. Antho. Fulgham, lands of Oldis & Ruffin, Col. Pitt & his Partners, &c. For transportation of 26 persons.

 

Xpher Woodward of the 1663 patent who was transported twice was Christopher Woodward, Jr., son of the immigrant Christopher Woodward, Sr., and because of this record, it is believed that Thomas Woodward, Sr. and Christopher Woodward, Sr. were of some kin, perhaps brothers. It is also of interest that Thomas Woodward held land in Isle of Wight that adjoined Richard Wilkinson, the father-in-law of Christopher Woodward. (See p. ?)

 

A Charles City Co. court record of about 1663/64 states that Howell Pryse had proven his right to 1200 acres of land by the testimony of Mr. Stephen Hamelyn for the importation of: Robert Hancock, John Key, John Bird, Tho. Marshall, Chris: Woodward (twice), John Hamelyn, Anthony Wynn, John Stevenson, Robt. Corner, William Willer, Sam. Henrick, Ste. Persian, Sam. Moses, Tho: Perun, Tho: Richmond, Michaell Falm (Talm), Esther Rucke, Peter Johnson, Sarah Marshall, Elizabeth Jemur, Pet: Dennis (twice).

 

Compare this list of headrights to the list in Thomas Woodward's 1663 patent. On Sept. 25, 1663, William Jennings patented 550 acres at New Begin Creek beginning at the mouth of a great swamp, which parts this and the land of Robert Lawrey, running up the creek, etc. to the mouth of a swamp which parts this and the land of Phillip Evans. His headrights included Samuel Henricke, Stephen Pierson, Samuel Moses, Thomas Richmond, Michael Parram, Sarah Marshall, and Peter Dennis. New Begin Creek was in the Carolina territory and is thought to have been on the west side of the Chowan River. Robert Lawry was also granted 300 acres on New Begin Creek in 1663, beginning at the mouth of a small swamp which parts this and the land of Henry Palin, running southwest, etc. up the said creek to a marked gum in the midst of the mouth of a great swamp which parts this and the land of Mr. Jennings, etc. One of Lawry's headrights was Richard Woodart. You would think that some conclusion could be drawn from the repitition of these names, but as yet no explanation has been proven.

 

For our purposes, I am not too concerned with the Woodward grants in Isle of Wight Co. and Pasquotank Co. The land in Nansemond Co. and either side of the Chowan River are of more importance.

 

Perhaps the old Indian Town mentioned in the Sept. 25, 1663 grant was the Meherrin Indian Town located on the east side of the Chowan River just south of the junction where the waters of the Meherrin River, Blackwater River, and Nottaway River flow together to form the Chowan River. The 1733 map shows an unnamed creek on the west side of the river just south of the Indian village and north of Weccanuse Creek (also called Wicocon Creek). I would guess that it was in this area that the land from the Sept. 25, 1663 grant to Thomas Woodward, Sr. and Jr. was located. This land is now in Hertford Co., previously Bertie Co. and Chowan Co., and would include the land later called Mt. Pleasant.

 

The Apr. 17, 1667 grant to Thomas Woodward, Jr. would have been farther north, probably in what was then called Nansemond Co., possibly including lands in St. Paul's Parish which later were acquired by Chowan Co. when the NC/VA line was drawn. According to various maps I have seen, the section of the river between the Meherrin and the Nottoway Rivers is now and was then called the Blackwater River, as was the eastern branch of the river. Therefore, my idea of the "head" of the Chowan River would be where the waters of the Meherrin River, Blackwater River, and Nottaway River flow together to form the Chowan River near the Meherrin Indian village. Mountsack may have been another name for the Meherrin Indian lands. If this interpretation is correct, the land would now lie in Gates Co. The Gates Co. land was once known as St. Paul's Parish and belonged to Nansemond Co. prior to 1728 when then NC/VA boundary was drawn. Since then the land now called Gates Co. has been part of Chowan Co., Northampton Co., and Hertford Co.

 

Lands that were granted to Thomas Woodward's family are recognizable in later Chowan Precinct grants and deeds.

 

John Giles 1100 acres Isle of Wight Co. or Nanzemond Co. upon Black Water, toward head of Chawen or Chawanock River, includ. an old Indian Feild called Mountsack. Granted to Thomas Woodward, Jr. Apr. 17, 1667, deserted, & granted sd. Giles by order, &c., & due for transportation of 22 persons. Apr. 20, 1682

Thomas Giles of the Colony of Va., Gentleman son of John Giles and Philarrette his wife who was ye daughter and only heir of Thomas Woodward decd. to Thomas Bray of NC. 50 L - acres ye plantation in a place called by ye name of Mt. Pleasant as by patent ye 25 Sept. 1663 given under the hand of Sir William Berkeley ye Governor of Va. and commonly called Woodward lands. Wit. James Lisle, Alice Munday, James Farlow. Dated Dec. 21, 1714, recorded Jan. 24, 1714. Chowan Co. DB 1 p 28. Acknowledged at Court Jan. 18, 1714 by Edward Bryan, attorney for Thomas Giles.

Thomas Giles of ye Co. of Isle of Wight, Va., Gentleman to James Farlow and Lewis Bryan. Letter of attorney to acknowledge sale of 2000 acres of land on Chowan River in NC to Thomas Bray. Wit. Samuel Woodward (X his mark), Francis Pridgeon (FP his mark), James Lisle (his mark). Dated Dec. 22, 1714. No date of recording. Chowan Co. DB 1 p 30 (These two deeds followed each other in the deed book.)

Thomas Woodward, Sr. left a daughter Philarite Woodward who married John Giles. There are a number of later records for the Giles descendants that seem to suggest a connection between their family and Samuel Woodward of Chowan Co. Other records suggest a connection to William Woodward of Isle of Wight and the Smelly descendants of Thomas Giles, either the son or brother of John Giles. Before her marriage to John Giles, Philarite Woodward produced an illegitimate daughter by William Johnston, Sr. of Isle of Wight. Other descendants of the same William Johnston by his wife Sarah Griffith were later closely associated with descendants of Oliver Woodward, Sr. of Isle of Wight. Although these clues suggest that these later Woodwards may have descended from Thomas Woodward, Sr., proving any descendants will be difficult or impossible. Thomas Woodward, Sr. had only three known sons. One, Thomas Woodward, Jr., is known to have died without issue. The other two sons, both named John, may or may not have left descendants. None can be proven at this time. The elder John died in England, and even his father, Thomas Woodward, Sr., was not sure if he left any children. The younger son named John disappeared from records.

The abstracts for the wills and estate records of this Woodward family have caused some misunderstanding. It would appear from the abstracts that there was only one son named John, but there were in fact two John Woodwards. The elder John was probably by an unknown wife prior to Katherine, and the younger John by Katherine.

The elder son John Woodward was deceased by July 12, 1665 when the office of Assay Master of the Mint was "vacant by death of John Woodward and absence of Thomas Woodward, his father, who if alive, is at some plantation on York River, in Virginia". In 1661, John Woodward had petitioned to hold his father's office during his father's absence.

Most of the records for Thomas Woodward, Sr. associate him with Isle of Wight and NC lands, so it's interesting that this record connects him with the York River area. This is the area that was associated with William Woodward and Cocka Coeske and the West and Byrd families. (See p. 384) William Woodward was not a son of Thomas Woodward, Sr., but he may have been a son of Christopher Woodward, Sr. and possibly a nephew of Thomas Woodward if the two immigrants were in fact brothers.

Thomas Woodward, Sr. wrote his will Oct. 5, 1677. He must have died very shortly thereafter as the will was proved four days later on Oct. 9, 1677. He left his wife her "full Thirds of my personall Estate". To daughter Phillaritie he left his home plantation and lands. To son Thomas he left all his lands at Blackwater or elsewhere with the provision that if Thomas died without issue, his land was to descend to his sister Phillaritie. The rest of his estate was to be divided equally between the rest of the children, Katharine, Elizabeth, Mary, John, and Rachel. In addition, the daughter Katharine was to receive a parcell of land adjoining John Fulgham. This would have been in Isle of Wight near the home plantation since the Fulghams were near neighbors. "...if my Sonn John Woodward hath left any Children in England I do give them Two full pounds apiece." Executors were son Thomas and daughter Phillaritie. Witnesses were Anthony Fulgham and John Wingate.

Notice that once John was included with "the rest of the children" but mentioned again as a possible father who might have left children of his own in England. Obviously Thomas Woodward did not know himself if his elder son John had produced any children before he died, but he did seem to be aware of the elder John's death. The John who was to receive an equal division was the younger John. A provision was made for the lands that were left to Thomas Woodward, Jr. to revert to his sister if he should die without issue, but no such provision was made for Phillarite's share to revert to Thomas, Jr. or any other sibling. This may have been because Phillarite already had issue although she was not yet married.

Thomas Woodward, Jr., who had inherited all of his father's lands except the home plantation which was left to Philarite and a tract left to Katharine, was deceased by Feb. 9, 1780 when the administration of his estate was requested by Katherine Woodward in hehalf of her son "John Woodward, next brother to the said Thomas". Apparently the son John, the next oldest son, was too young to serve. According to the terms of Thomas Woodward, Sr.'s will, the lands inherited by Thomas Woodward, Jr. were to revert at his death to Philarite. She and her husband, John Giles, became the owners of the lands in Carolina as well as the lands in Isle of Wight and Nansemond Counties.

Philarite Woodward had married John Giles by Dec. 9, 1781 when Thomas Woodward, Sr.'s estate was divided with parts being designated for Mrs. Katherine Woodward, Mrs. Philarita Giles, Thomas Woodward (although by then he too was deceased), and the children. Also on Dec. 9, 1781, John Giles and Philarite his wife presented additional inventory.

In 1684, Katherine Woodward died. Her will was written Apr. 17, 1684 and proved June 9, 1684. She left to her son John her feather bed and her copper stewpan, and to her daughter Philarite Giles a ewe and to Philarite's son who is not yet christened a ewe lamb. The rest of her estate was to be divided between her children Katherine, Elizabeth, Mary, John, and Rachel. Her will was witnessed by John Giles and Nicholas Fulgham. Since the children were named in the same order in both Thomas's will and Katherine's will, probably Philarite and Thomas were the two oldest children by Katherine, with the younger children in the order given, and of course the elder deceased John the oldest of all.

In an Isle of Wight deed dated Apr. 9, 1681, persuant to a bond dated Aug. 24, 1680, John Giles with consent of wife Philarite, gave Jane, daughter of Philarite, a 400 acre plantation at Blackwater where Ed Hayes lives. The land was to revert to John Giles if Jane were to die without issue. Jane, the daughter of William Johnston of Isle of Wight, was born by Dec. 21, 1678 when Philarete Woodward signed a receipt for 4,000 pounds of tobacco from William Johnson "for ye maintenance of my child". Jane has not been identified in later records, and she was not mentioned in Katherine Woodward's 1784 will. Philarite's marriage to John Giles probably occurred between the date of the bond and the date of the deed. It was certainly between 1678 and 1681.

Philarite Woodward Giles was the only child of Thomas Woodward, Sr. who appeared in later colonial records. The remaining children, Katherine, John, Elizabeth, Mary, and Rachel, who seem to have been younger than Philarite and Thomas, Jr., may have returned to England following Katherine's death, or may have been in England at the time of her death and simply chose not to return to the colonies. It was not unusual for the wealthier families to send their children to England for their education. It's even possible that all except Philarite died.

If there were any children by either of the sons John, they are unknown. They are the only sons of Thomas Woodward, Sr. who could have continued the line. There were later Woodwards in Isle of Wight who could possibly be descendants, but there is no proof to connect them. A Dec. 21, 1714 deed in Chowan Co. by Thomas Giles conveyed land at Mt. Pleasant, which had been part of the land patented by Thomas Woodward, Sr., to Thomas Bray, and states that his mother, Philarite Woodward, wife of John Giles, was the "daughter and only heir" of Thomas Woodward. Witnesses included James Lisle and James Farlow. Philarite Woodward Giles had inherited her brother Thomas, Jr.'s share of Thomas Woodward, Sr.'s estate as stipulated in their father's will. The only other child designated to receive land was Katherine, and it's not known what happened to her land. Even if the younger John Woodward or possible children of the older John Woodward were interested in the family lands, they had not been left any and would have had to buy land from Philarite or one of her descendants.

In years to come, the Carolina lands of Thomas Woodward would become home to another family of Woodwards, Samuel Woodward of Chowan Co. He purchased the lands that he held, but even if he were a descendant of Thomas Woodward, this would have been the only way he could have obtained the land if Philarite was not willing to make a gift of some part of it. However, it appears more likely that Samuel Woodward was a descendant of Christopher Woodward, Sr. rather than Thomas Woodward, Sr.