Richard Woodward Sr. (abt. 1636 - 1706)

Born about Sep 1636 in Nantwich, Cheshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Jane Petty (Nyle) Woodward — married 30 Dec 1669 in Thornbury, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 7 Dec 1706 at about age 70 in Middleton, Dauphin, Pennsylvania

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Richard Woodward Sr. migrated from England to United States.

Research Notes

The parents shown on this profile, Thomas Woodward and Elizabeth Robinson, have not been verified, and it is unclear at this time, if the information is correct.

Richard, Robert and Elizabeth Woodward are believed to be siblings, the first generation of this branch of the Woodward's emigrating to Chester Co.,Pennsylvania from England, possibly to avoid religious persecution, which was occurring across the lands during the reign of Charles, and in the late 1670's; thousands of people imprisoned, lands, crop or livestock seized, families ruined.

Biography

Richard Woodward was christened 25 Sep 1636, in Nantwich, Chester, England^[1] He married Jane Nye abt. 1669[need citation]

According to Lewis Woodward in his published genealogy of the Woodward family of Chester Co., Pennsylvania, the first records found for Richard Woodward, in Chester County, occurred 1st month (March) 6th, 1687, on a land grant from John Simcock, for the purchase of a tract of two hundred and thirty acres of land in Thornbury township, as appears by later deeds^[2]

John Simcock had purchased from William Penn, before leaving England, five thousand acres in Pennsylvania, and of this one thousand three hundred and fifty were laid out in one tract, in the western part of Thornbury, in the year 1684. Upon a part of this Richard Woodward settled, and some of his children were born there.^[3]

Children of Richard Woodward and Jane Nyle

1. Richard Woodward Jr.
2. Thomas Woodward
3. Martha (Woodward) Baker
4. Edward Woodward
5. Jane Woodward
6. Sarah (Woodward) Chamberlain
7. Joseph Woodward
8. Mary (Woodward) Newlin; died 11-24-1790; m. 1711 to John Newlin; and had a daughter Abigail Newlin; who married Moses Palmer^[4]

Civic and Land

1. On June 5, 1688, Richard was one of a jury in a suit between William Hawkes and Henry Reynolds
2. September 11th, 1688, he was a juror in two cases,—Joseph Richards versus William Buckingham, and Roger Waldron versus Thomas Colbourne.
3. Dec 4, 1688, acknowledged in open court, John Symcocke made over a deed dated 6th day of the 1st month 1687 (March 6, 1687), for 230 acres of land lying in Thornbury, unto Richard Woodward, by his attorney John Hodskins (Hoskins).
4. August 1689, Ordered that Richard Woodward be supervisor of ye High Ways for ye township of Thornbury for the next ensuing year.
5. On March 8th, 1691-2, he was one of the grand jury.
6. On June 22nd, 1693, Richard was attested constable of Thornbury.
7. March 13th, 1694, a Richard Woodword was attested as constable for Upper Providence, Pennsylvania.
8. March 3rd, 1695-6, acknowledged in open court; John Worrall acknowledged a deed to him, dated February 15th, 1695, for two hundred and fifty acres of land in Middletown, upon which he gave a mortgage to Worrall, dated March 3d, 1695-6.
9. March 10, 1695-6; Richard Woodward was a juror.
10. Richard Woodward was attested constable for Thornbury March 8th, 1697-8, but whether father or son is unknown.
11. By deed dated December 10th, 1698, Richard Woodward conveyed one hundred and thirty acres of the Thornbury tract to his son Richard, and the remaining one hundred acres to his son Edward; after which his residence was, doubtless, in Middletown.
12. March 11th, 1700-1; Ordered ye Richard Woodward is supervisor for Middletown for ye ensuing year
13. March 25th, 1703, John Cantwell, servant to Richard Woodward, of Middletown, is presented for stealing a horse, saddle, and wearing apparel from Jonathan Monrow, about three months since. For this he was sentenced at the November court to serve his master and Jonathan Monrow, seven years equally between them, and to wear a T according to law.
14. February 29th, and November 28th of 1704, Richard Woodward was one of the grand jury,
15. August 27th, 1706, Richard Woodward and Thomas Barnsly were appointed overseers of the poor for Middletown.

It was recorded by Chester Monthly meeting of Friends, that Richard Woodward, Senior, died on the 7th day of the 10th month, 1706, aged about 70 years. Abstract of his will follows below; proven on January 8, 1706.^[5]

Abstract of Richard Woodwards will:^[5] Dated: Sept 6, 1706/Proved Jan 8, 1706 Richard Woodward of Middletown in the County of Chester & Provence of Pennsylvania; Yeoman,

Mentions his beloved wife Jane, half of the profits that yearly accrues from my plantation where I now live as long as she remains his widow; and if she marries to quit claim to the Plantation

To son Joseph, ye other half of my plantation during his mothers widowhood, and my will is he shall have and enjoy the whole plantation (if his mother shall remarry)

To my daughter Martha Baker five pounds in moneys or a cow equivalent to the sum

To my daughter Jane Woodward twenty pounds

To daughter Mary Woodward twenty pounds

To daughter Sarah Woodward, twenty pounds

To eldest son Richard Woodward four shillings or a pair of gloves

To son Thomas Woodward four shillings or a pair of gloves

To son Edward four shillings or a pair of gloves

The widow and her son Joseph sold the Middletown tract in 1712; Deed. On 10 Mar 1712; Jane Woodward of Middletown, widow of Richard Woodward, dec., & Joseph Woodward, youngest son of said Richard & Jane Woodward, to Daniel Cookson of Middletown, yeoman. Whereas John Worral of Middletown granted to Richard Woodward 250 acres on 15 Feb 1695. Richard Woodward's will dated 5 Sep 1706 divided the tract to wife Jane & son Joseph Woodward & willed that Joseph should have the whole if his mother should remarry or die and pay £6 to his mother. Richard soon after died. Now Jane Woodward & Joseph Woodward for £150 convey the tract of land lying in Middletown bounded by Ridley Creek & land of Thomas Taylor, containing 250 acres. Signed by Jane Woodward & Joseph Woodward. Delivered in the presence of Henry Worley, John Packer & John Simcock. Recorded 10 Mar 1712 (C3:234)^[6]and about 1714 she removed with her daughter Sarah within the limits of Concord Meeting^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Richard Woodward in England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975; Gender:Male: Christening:Sep 25 1636: Nantwich, Cheshire, England' Father: Thomas Woodward; Indexing Project (Batch) Number:P00100-1System Origin: England-ODM: GS Film number:0845114 IT 4, 0845115
2. ↑ Pg 6 Genealogy of the Woodward family; retrieved 2018-04-27 from: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofwoodw00wood#page/6/mode/1up
3. ↑ Pg 10 Genealogy of the woodward family; retrieved 2018-04-27 from: https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofwoodw00wood#page/10/mode/1up
4. ↑ Pg 14 genealogical record of the descendants of John and Mary Palmer of Concord; retrieved 2018-04-27 from: https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalreco00byupalm#page/14/mode/1up
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Pg 11 Genealogy of the Woodward family....
6. ↑ Abstract of Land Records; Chester Co., V1; pg 143
7. ↑ Pg 13 Genealogy of the woodward family; retrieved 2018-04-27 from https://archive.org/stream/genealogyofwoodw00wood#page/13/mode/1up

• Lewis Woodward, M.D. (1879) "Genealogy of the Woodward family of Chester County, Pennsylvania. with an Appendix giving a brief account of the Woodward's of some other portions of the United States". Printed by Ferris Bros. No. 10 East third Street. Wilmington, Delaware. (Note: Thomas Parke & Rebecca Hooper of Chester Co PA 1982). [1] and [2]

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5V1-49S : 11 February 2018, Thomas Woodward in entry for Richard Woodward, 25 Sep 1636); citing NANTWICH,CHESHIRE,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0845114 IT 4, 0845115.

• Ancestry Family Trees (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com) Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=18704240&pid=675

• Palmer, Lewis. A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of John and Mary Palmer of Concord (Press of Chester Times, 1910) Page 14

• Abstracts of Chester County, Pennsylvania Land Records, Volume 1: 1681-1730, Bryant, Carol, (Westminster, Maryland : Willow Bend Books, 1997 (2000)), P 143

Also See:

• The Sprague Project (http://www.sprague-database.org/) (14 Feb 10)