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Edward Woodman, Sr. |
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Edward Woodman, Sr. ★ (Edward, Collett) was baptized on December 27, 1606 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England; the christening record named his father, Edward Woodman EN4. He was of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts and was probably the elder brother of Archelaus Woodman SA11, HO19. The name of his wife was Johanna or Johane, according to a deed dated November 9, 1653 SA21. A woman named Joanah Woodman stated that she was sixty years old in a deposition before Robert Pike on November 23, 1674 DO16, which would place her birth year in about 1614.
Edward was the father of Edward, John, Joshua, Mary, Sarah, Jonathan, and Ruth SA11, HO19.
Edward Woodman was born about 1628 SA11, HO19.
John Woodman was born about 1630 HO19, TO1 and married Mary Feild on July 15, 1656 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. He resided in Dover in June 1657 HO19. Mary died on July 6, 1698 HO19 and John married as his second wife Sarah (Burnham) Huckins on October 17, 1700 in Salisbury, Massachusetts TO1. John was the father of John Woodman, Jr. HO19; John Woodman, Jr. of Oyster River died on June 10, 1705 PI10. John was also the father of Jonathan, Mary, and Sarah HO19. John died about 1707 TO1; Captain John Woodman of Dover wrote his will on December 20, 1705 which was received at Exeter on February 4, 1706/7 HO19.
Joshua Woodman was called the first boy who was English (white) born in Newbury, but his birth was not recorded in the Newbury records CU8. He was born about 1636 HO19. Joshua Woodman married Elizabeth Stevens on January 22, 1665/6 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI3. Joshua (or Josua) and Elizabeth Woodman were the parents of four children whose births were recorded in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts VI2. Elizabeth was born on February 6, 1667, Dorothy was born on November 13, 1669, Josua was born on April 2, 1672, and Jonathan was born on April 1, 1674 VI2. Three children were then born in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; Joshua Woodman was the father of an unidentified son who was born in Newbury on June 30, 1676, Mehitabell, born in Newbury on September 20, 1677, and David, born in Newbury on July 30, 1680 VI28. Three additional children were then born in Andover again VI2. Benjamin was born in Andover on July 27, 1683, Sarah was born in Andover on April 9, 1686, and Mary was born in Andover on April 9, 1690 VI2. Joshua died at age sixty-seven in 1703 CU8 or on May 30, 1703 HO19. His will was dated March 27, 1703 and was proved on July 12, 1703 HO19.
Mary Woodman married John Browne on February 20, 1659/60 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. John Browne was the father of Judith, born on December 3, 1660 and of Mary, born on March 8, 1661/2, both in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. John Browne was also the father of five children whose births were recorded in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts VI23. These were Elizabeth, born on May 15, 1664, John, born on September 29, 1666, Jonathan, born on November 4, 1668, Sarah, born on December 2, 1670, and Hanah, born on November 13, 1676 VI23. In the last birth record for Hanah, John Browne was called a glazier VI23.
Sarah Woodman was born on January 12, 1641/2 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA20. Sara Woodman married John Kent, Jr. on March 13, 1665/6 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. John Kent, Jr. was the father of nine children whose births were recorded in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. The first birth occurred shortly after his marriage to Sara Woodman; Sara, the daughter of John Kent, Jr., was born on August 1, 1666 VI28. Another Sara, daughter of John Kent, was born on August 30, 1667 VI28. The next child born to John Kent, Jr. was John, born on November 23, 1668, followed by Richard, born on June 25, 1670, another son named Richard, born on January 17, 1672, Mary, born on October 24, 1674, Emma, born on April 20, 1677, Hannah, born on September 10, 1679, Rebecca, born on February 20, 1683, and James, born on March 5, 1685/6 VI28.
Jonathan Woodman was born about 1643 HO19 and became a shipwright CU8. Jonathan Woodman married Hannah Hilton on July 2, 1668 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Jonathan Woodman was the father of eight children whose births were recorded in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. These were Hanna, born on March 8, 1668/9, Sara, born on October 19, 1670, Ruth, born on July 22 or 31, 1672, Jonathan, born on April 16, 1674, Ichabod, born on April 26, 1676, Mary, born on April 23 or 25, 1678, William, born on March 29, 1681, and an unidentified son, born on February 27, 1683 VI28. Jonathan wrote his will on November 15, 1706 and died on November 21, 1706 HO19. His will was proved on February 3, 1706/7 HO19.
Ruth Woodman was born on March 28, 1646 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts MA20. Ruth Woodman married Benjamin Lowle on October 17, 1666 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI6. Benjamin Lowle was the father of eight children whose births were recorded in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts VI28. These were Ruth, born on September 4, 1667, Elisabeth, born on October 16, 1669, an unidentified daughter, born on November 18, 1671, Benjamin, born on February 5, 1673, Sara, born on March 15, 1675/6, Sarah, born on May 6, 1678, Joseph, born on September 12, 1680, and John, born on February 22 or 24, 1682/3 VI28. Benjamin Lowl, Sr. died in Newbury on October 22, 1714 VI6.
The names of Edward Rawson, William Titcome, Edward Woodman, and Nicholas Noyes were on a Newbury town grant to Mr. John Spenser in 1635 SA21. Edward was a freeman on May 25, 1636 PA23, SA11, HO19. His house lot in Newbury was positioned between the house lot of Mr. Rawson and the Merrimack River, but the freeholders of Newbury stipulated that he may need to forfeit this spot, if a fort was eventually constructed in that area CU7. He was sent as a deputy of Newbury to the General Court with John Spencer on September 8, 1636 CU7, SH17, with John Woodbridge on the dates of April 18, May 17, September 26, and November 2 in the year 1637 CU7, SH17, with Edward Rawson on May 22, 1639 CU7, SH17, with John Clarke on May 10, 1643 SH18, then alone as the sole deputy of Newbury on May 11, 1659 CU7, SH20, May 30, 1660 CU7, SH20, and May 18, 1664 CU7, SH21, and finally with Henry Sewall on May 11, 1670 CU7, SH21.
Because Edward was already present at the General Court in Boston on September 8, 1636, he was almost certainly the “Mr Woodman” who was among the twelve men appointed on that date to form a committee to inquire and determine the true value of every town, for the purpose of creating an equitable rate for the levy of six hundred pounds SH17. Their deadline for making this determination was September 20, 1636 SH17. The town of Newbury instituted a watch to protect its residents from attack by groups of Native Americans, and on May 17, 1637, Edward was appointed as a lieutenant of this watch CU7, SH17, serving in this position until October 7, 1640 SH17, CU7. He was part of a different committee of eleven men, who reported to the General Court on August 1, 1637 that they had divided the responsibility of raising a rate of four hundred pounds between the towns of Boston, “Newetowne” (Newton), Watertowne, “Roxberry” (Roxbury), Salem, Ipswich, “Newberry” (Newbury), “Meadfoard” (Medford), Dorchester, “Waimoth” (Weymouth), Hingham, Charlestowne, and “Saugust” (Saugus) SH17.
Edward Woodman and six additional men were appointed to represent the freemen of Newbury, and to manage the town’s affairs, probably sometime in the year 1637 CU7. These seven men were elected on a quarterly basis and became known as “selectmen” CU7. The names of Edward Woodman, Richard Browne, John Woodbridge, Henry Short, Richard Kent, and Richard Knight were on an Ipswich town grant dated January 23, 1637 in which Mr. John Clarke was granted four hundred acres of land SA21. On December 21 during an unidentified year, but perhaps in 1637, based on the names of the selectmen who approved the order, they decided to hold meetings “every second Thursday at Henry Short’s house, beginning at 8 of the clock in the morning” CU7. He was re-elected on April 6, 1638, and again on July 6, 1638, when on that date it was “ordered for the present that there shall bee but five men deputed to the publick manageing of the towne busynesses for this quarter next ensuing” CU7.
For several years, beginning on March 12, 1637/8, he was appointed by the General Court as the sole vendor of “wine & strong water” for Newbury SH17, CU7; this duty may have ceased when in November 1644, a law permitted licenses to be granted to those who wished to sell liquor CU7. He signed his name to a town order on “June the 15th 1638”, which has been transcribed CU7:
The Court having left it to the liberty of partuler [perhaps particular] townes to take order & provide according their discretion for the bringing of armes to the meeting houses it is toe the present thought fit & ordered That the towns being divided into 4 severall & equall parts. each part shall bring compleat armes according to the direchon of those whom the towne hath appoynted to oversee the dusynesse [perhaps “business”] in order & manner as followeth.
John Pike Nch [Nicholas] Holt John Baker, & Edmund Greenlefe being appoynted as overseers of the busynesse are ordered to follow this course viz. They shall give notice to the party of persons under their severall divisiens to bring their armes compleat one Sabbath day in a moneth & the lecture day following successively one after another & the porsons aforesaid shall cause every person under their severall divisions to stand sentinell at the doores all the time at ye publick meeting in order successively every one after another either himselfe in person or by a sufficient substitute to be allowed by the overseer of the ward.
He and other selectmen signed orders of land grants to John Spenser and John Clarke in 1637 and 1638 CU7. Edward Woodman, Edward Rawson, John Knight, and Richard Brown approved an order on August 6, 1638 to repossess one half of an acre upon which Thomas Crowell had constructed a cow house, without first seeking permission CU7. This was somewhat in keeping with a law which stated that townspeople had the right to demolish any house which had been built in the colony without permission CU7.
On September 4, 1638, he and Edward Rawson were appointed to make a rate, which was set at twenty-eight pounds, for the purpose of the final construction of the meeting house of Newbury CU7. Two days later, Edward Rawson, John Woodbridge, and Edward Woodman were selected by the General Court as commissioners for Newbury to hear and determine small causes, in which the debt, trespass, or the damage was of twenty shillings or less SH17, CU7. He was re-elected to this seat on June 2, 1641 SH17, CU7, May 14, 1645 CU7, SH18, June 18, 1645 SH19, May 6, 1646 CU7, SH18, May 6, 1646 SH19, March 28, 1648 DO12, April 19, 1649 CU7, May 23, 1650 CU7, SH18, and March 25, 1651 DO12, CU7 (sworn as commissioner on April 8, 1651 DO12). As “Mr. Woodman”, he was sworn as a commissioner to end small causes for “Nuberry” on April 13, 1652 DO12. On June 14, 1653 at the Salisbury Court, he was sworn in as the commissioner for Newbury DO12. He was re-elected as a commissioner to hear small causes on March 25, 1656 DO12, CU7, March 30, 1658 DO13, September 25, 1660 DO13, CU7, March 25, 1662 DO13, CU7, March 31, 1663 DO14, CU7, March 6, 1664/5 CU7 (confirmed by the Salem Quarterly Court record on June 28, 1664 DO13), March 7, 1669/70 CU7, and September 19, 1670 CU7 (recorded at the Ipswich Court on September 27, 1670 DO15).
In response to a tax imposed on May 13, 1640 by the General Court on all of the towns in Plymouth Colony, he and two other men, Mr. Rawson and Goodman Haule, were instructed to appraise the livestock in Newbury, and “valewe them under their worth rather than above their worth” SH17, CU7. On this same day, he and Christopher Batt of Salisbury and John Crosse of Hampton were requested “to settle the fferry where they thinke meete”; this was the ferry across the Merrimack River SH17, CU7. On March 12, 1641/2, he was listed among the men of Newbury who held rights to the Stint of the Ox and Cow Common; he held 8 ½ rights to these common areas CU7. Edward was named as one of the executors of the will of John Goffe of Newbury, which was proved on December 4, 1641 DO12. He was named as a freeholder of Newbury on December 7, 1642 CU7.
In 1642, Thomas Parker, James Noyes, John Woodbridge, Edward Rawson, John Cutting, John Lowle, Edward Woodman, and John Clark received a commission “for removing, settleing, and disposeing of the inhabitants [of Newbury] to such place as might in their judgements best tend to theyr enlargements, exchanging theyr lands”, because the town of Newbury, where it was then settled, had a scarcity of ploughland and fencing supplies, and its common area was distant and isolated CU7. These men appointed four individuals, including John Emery, to assess the value of the stock, improved land, house, and fences of each inhabitant’s lot CU7. The commissioners decided that each freeholder would be granted a house lot of four acres, and they would each be provided with a four-year grace period before they were required to abandon their present home CU7. Edward’s own parcel in the repositioned town, in exchange for his previous house lot along the Parker River, was number forty-one, and his lot of forty acres abutted a road which led to the Aspen Swamp, and touched Merrimack Street, which is now called High Street CU7.
On January 2, 1646, James Noyes, Edward Woodman, John Cutting, John Lowle, Richard Knight, and Henry Short decided that the location for the new meeting house would be atop a knoll of upland near Abraham Toppan’s barn and should be built by October 20 of that year CU8. When complete, it was square, with a gallery on the western wall CU8. Because he was absent from the general town meeting, he was fined twelve pence on April 8, 1646 CU7.
Edward Woodman, a yeoman of Newbury, sold Henry Sewall, Jr., a gentleman of Newbury, several parcels of land on November 26, 1646 for the sum of eighty pounds SA21. These parcels included his messuage or tenement and a forty-acre parcel of upland in Newbury, a twelve-acre parcel of fresh meadow and salt marsh in Plum Island, a seven-acre parcel of fresh meadow and salt marsh near the herd pen and near Merrimack River, and a five-acre parcel in the aspen swamp SA21. This deed referenced an earlier pair of indentures, which have not been located, in which Henry Sewall, Jr. demised a five-hundred-acre farm to Edward Woodman SA21. A reference to a five-hundred-acre farm stated that it was granted from Henry Sewall (alias Shewall) of Newbury to his son, Henry Sewall, on August 5, 1646 and that it was located at “Newberry falls River” AS1. This indicates that Henry Sewall, Jr. received the farm from his father in August 1646, and sold it to Edward Woodman on or by November 26, 1646 (the date of the present indenture), so the pair of indentures must have been dated sometime in autumn of 1646. Additionally, the present indenture included a phrase that seemed to imply that the pair of indentures between Henry Sewall and Edward Woodman was written on the same date as the present indenture (“bearing even date with these presents” SA21), so all three indentures were probably dated November 26, 1646.
The condition of the present indenture dated November 26, 1646 was that if Edward Woodman yielded up the five-hundred-acre farm with its appurtenances (houses, barns, fences, etc.) in addition to the twelve cows, two oxen, and mare to Henry Sewell by September 29, 1653, then the present indenture would be void SA21. A further condition was that Edward Woodman would actually still hold and use the messuage and forty-acre parcel of upland until September 29, 1653, but that in the meantime, he would pay the yearly rent of one peppercorn to Henry Sewall SA21. Thus, this forty-acre parcel was sold to Henry Sewall, Jr. but he was not meant to take possession of it until September 1653. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
This Indenture made the Sixe & twentieth daye of November, in ye yeare one thousand Sixe hundred forty & Six, between Edward Woodman of Newbury in ye county of Essex, yeoman, of the one parte, and Henry Sewall Junr. of Newbury aforesaid, gent. of the other part, wittnesseth: that the said Edward Woodman for & in consideracon of the some of foure Score pounds in hand paid by the said Henry Sewall, unto the said Edward Woodman, wherewith he doth hereby acknowledge himself to be fully satisfyed, and thereof doth absolutely acquit the sd Henry Sewall his heirs, executors & administrators by these presents; hath alieved, graunted, bargayned, Sould, assigned & sett over, and doth by these presents alien, grant, bargaine, Sell, assigne & sett over unto the said Henry Sewall, all that his messuage or tenement, and forty acres of upland thereunto adjoyning (with their appurtenances) Scituate, lying & being within the limitts of Newbury aforesaid, and now or late in the possession of the said Edward Woodman; and also all those his severall p’cells of ground with their appurtenances in Newbury aforesaid, that is to say, twelve acres of fresh & salt medow or marsh, (bee it more or less) in Plum Island, & seven acres (more or less) of fresh & salt medow or marsh, neare the herd penn, & not farr from Merrimacke river, & five acres (be it more or less) in the aspe swamp, together alsoe with all graunts or deeds concerning only the premisses or any part thereof and true coppies of such as concerne the same joyntly, with other ground or land; and likewise all barnes, buildings, fences, comons, profits, privilidges and imunyties whatsoever, to the said messuage or tenement, & upland and other ground or any pt thereof belonging or in any wise appertaining. To have and to hould the sd messuage or tenement, and all & singuler other the premisses, with their and every of their appurtenances, unto the sd Henry Sewall, his heires and assignes forever; and the said Edward Woodman for himselfe, his heires, executors, administrators and assignes, & for every of them, doth covenant, promise, graunt & agree, to and with the said Henry Sewall his heirs, executors, & assigns, & to & with every of them, by these presents, viz: that not only hee the said Edward Woodman hath good right, full power and lawfull authourity to sell the premisses and every part & parcel thereof, unto the said Henry Sewall, his heires & assignes, in such manner as aforesayd, but alsoe that he the said Henry Sewall, his heires and assigns, and every of them, from time to time & at all times heareafter, shall or lawfully may peaceably & quietly have, hould, use, occupy, possess and enjoye all and every ye said premisses soe bargained, or mentioned to be bargained & sould as aforesayd, to the only proper use, behoofe and benefitt of the said Henry Sewall, his heires & assignes forever; without the trouble, lett, suite, denyall, incumbrance or interruption of the sd Edward Woodman, his heires or assignes, or any of them, or any other lawfully claiming, or which shall or may lawfully claime by, from or under them or any of them; provided alwayes, & it is yet never the lesse conditioned, concluded & fully agreed by & betweene the said parties to these presents, in manner & forme following, viz: that in case the sd Edward Woodman, his heirs, executors, administrators & assignes, or any of them, doe or shall well and truly, upon the nine and twentieth day of September, which shall be in the yeare one thousand, six hundred fifty & three, not only yeild up into ye hands or possession of the said Henry Sewall, his heires & assignes, or some one of them, the farme of five hundred acres, with the appurtenances, (demised by ye said Henry Sewall unto the said Edward Woodman,) & all the houses, barns, buildings & fences thereunto belonging, (or w’ch are or ought to be erected or sett up on or about the said farme,) sufficiently repayred & in good case, to be enjoyed by the said Henry Sewall, his heirs and assignes, but alsoe deliver into ye hands or possession of the said Henry Sewall, his executors, administrators & assignes, or some or one of them, twelve cowes & two oxen, good & sufficient every way, & likewise the mare that is demised with ye Said farme, (in case she be then living) and halfe her increase, & all these things, (before mentioned in this proviso) according to the purport, true intent & meaning of one paire of indentures concerning the Same, made betweene the said Henry Sewall of the one parte, & the sd Edward Woodman of the other parte, and bearing even date with these presents; then in such case, & from thenceforth, this pr’sent bargaine & sale, & the estate hereby granted of & in the said messuage or tenem’t, forty acres of upland, & other ye prmisses, (with the covenants about the same as aforesaid,) shall cease, determine & be utterly voyd, anything in these pr’sents contayned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding; provided alsoe, & it is further conditioned, condiscended unto, covenanted & agred, by & betwene the said parties to these presents, & either of them, for themselves & theirs, as it concernes them respectively, viz: that the sd Edward Woodman, his executors, administrators & assignes, shall hould and enjoye the said messuage or tenement, forty acres of upland & other ye premises, untill the said nine and twentieth of September, which Shall be in the yeare one thousand, Six hundred fifty & three, and shall pay for the same the yearly rent of one pepper corn, unto the sd Henry Sewall, his heires or assignes, within ten dayes after demaund yearly during the Said terme, & alsoe discharge all rates payable in regard of the same, & likewise shall see that the said messuage or tenement, & all and singuler ye premisses thereunto belonging & so mentioned as aforesaid, with their & every of their appurtenances, bee, at or on the said nine & twentieth of September, (1653) well repaired & in good case, to be yeelded up into the hands of the said Henry Sewall, & his heires &c. to be enjoyed by them according to the bargaine & sale herein before mentioned, unless the former provisor & condition be observed in yeelding up & delivering the farme, cowes, oxen, mare & increase, buildings & fences &c. in such manner as aforesaid. In wittness whereof the parties first above named to these present indentures, interchangeably have set their hands & Seales, the day and yeare first above written.
Edward Woodman.
Sealed & delivered in the pr’sence of
Richard Dumer.
William Wakefeild.
At a meeting of the commissioners for the relocation of the town on December 16, 1646, whose composition by that time had changed, as Thomas Parker and John Cutting had withdrawn and Nicholas Noyes and William Titcomb had taken their places, it was ordered that any land “vpon the necke ouer the great River” which had fallen into the town’s hands should “perpetually remaine for the townes use to be let out for defraying public charges” CU7. He was fined ten shillings on September 28, 1647, because he had been called to serve as a juror at Ipswich but did not appear DO12. A road to the gristmill at Little River was sited sometime after May 19, 1650, when “Mr Woodman”, Henry Short, Nicholas Noyes, and Richard Knight were selected for this task at a town meeting on that date CU7.
A deed between John Osgood of Andover (the grantor) and William Elslye (Ilsley) of Newbury (the grantee) which was dated April 4, 1650, referenced an earlier grant to Edward from the town of Newbury SA21. Sometime prior to that date (April 4, 1650), the town of Newbury had granted a parcel of meadow at Merrimack River which was meant to be divided equally between Mr. Edward Woodman and John Osgood SA21. The deed did not state the size of this parcel of meadow or its exact location SA21. Sometime prior to August 5, 1650, he purchased a twenty-acre parcel of salt marsh from Mr. Richard Dumer SA21. Edward Woodman sold various parcels of land to Henry Sewall for the sum of one hundred pounds sterling on August 5, 1650 SA21. The sale included his dwelling house, barn, freehold, and a forty-acre parcel of upland in Newbury, a ten-acre parcel of meadow on Merrimack River in Newbury, a twenty-acre parcel of salt marsh previously purchased by Mr. Richard Dumer, and a twenty-acre parcel of marsh land in Newbury in the vicinity of Plum Island River SA21. The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
Bee it knowne unto all men by these presents, that I, Edward Woodman of Nubery, in county of Essex, yeoman, for divers good causes & considerations me the said Edward thereunto moveing, as alsoe in consideration of one hundred pounds sterling alredy in hand received, (the receipt whereof & of every part thereof is hereby acknowledged) the Said Edward Woodman hath (for himselfe, his heires, executors, administrators & assignes, graunted, bargained, sold & confirmed, & doth by these presents clearly grant, bargaine, aliene, assign, Sell & sett over, & confirme unto Henry Sewall of Newbery, in the said county of Essex, gent, forty acres of upland, be it more or less, with all the trees now growing or lying thereon, together with a dwelling house & barne, and the freehold thereunto belonging, scituate in Newbury aforesaid, & bounded with ye land of Mr. Edward Rawson & John Pemberton on the northwest, ye comon on ye south west, next to the swamp comonly called the Aspen swamp, also ye Street going down to the aspen swamp on the southeast side, and ten acres of meadow, be it more or less, lying upon Merrimack river in Newbury aforesaid, bounded with the upland of Mr. Rawson on the south & on the east, on the west bounded by a creeke coming out of Merrimack river; alsoe twenty acres of salt marsh formerly purchased of Mr. Richard Dumer, adjoining to the marsh of Mr. Richard Knight on the west corner, ye rest of the west side adjoining to the marsh of William Elsley, (a creek only coming betweene) and all the residue compassed with a greate creeke; and alsoe twenty acres more of marsh lying in Newbery, towards Plumb Island river, bounded with John Merill on the north, and Thomas Dove on the west, the comon & a great creeke on the south, and the comon on the east, as it is bounded with stakes, being about sixty four rods in length, & fifty rods in bredth. To have & to hold the aforesaid house, barne, upland, meadow & marsh, with the freehold aforementioned, together with all the privilidges & appurtenances thereunto belonging or any waies appertaining, to him the said Henry Sewall, his heirs & assignes forever. In testimony whereof the said Edward Woodman, hath enterchangeably sett his hand and Seale this 5th of August, Anno: Dom: 1650.
Edward Woodman
Signed, sealed and delivered in ye presence of us,
John Spenser.
Nicholas Noyes
Edward Woodman and Anthony Somerby witnessed the deed between John Cutting of Charlestown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (the grantor) and John Hull of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts (the grantee) dated June 21, 1651 SA21. He was called a commissioner on March 23, 1651/2 when he, William Gerrish, and John Pike (also commissioners) signed their names in acknowledgment that Katherine Pierce consented to a deed between Daniel Pierce and Robert Coker (both of whom were from Newbury) SA21. On March 24, 1651/2, John Gerrish, the wife of William Gerrish, acknowledged before William Gerrish and Edward Woodman that she consented to a deed between William Gerrish and Samuel Plumer, Jr. and that she resigned her interest in the land SA21. Danyel Denison and Edward Woodman witnessed the deed between Tristram Coffin of Newbury (the grantor) and Samuel Poore of Newbury (the grantee) on April 15, 1652 SA21. Edward Woodman and Anthony Somerby witnessed the deed between Lieutenant Robert Pike and his wife, Sara of Salisbury (the grantors) and Richard Bartlett of Newbury (the grantee) dated April 22, 1652 SA21.
At a Newbury town meeting on November 29, 1652, the town voted affirmatively on “a convenient house built for a schoole” and agreed that twenty pounds annually should be allotted for the schoolmaster’s salary CU7. On that date, “Mr Woodman”, Richard Kent, Jr., Lieutenant Pike, and Nicholas Noyes were elected to form a committee to manage the school and assess taxes for its maintenance and support CU7, DO13, after it was constructed. Mr. Edmund Greenleafe and his wife, Sarah, acknowledged a deed before the commissioners of Newbury, William Gerrish and Edward Woodman, on September 26, 1653 SA21.
His wife was named Johanna or Johane in a deed dated November 9, 1653 SA21. On that date, Edward and Johanna Woodman of Newbury sold a two-acre parcel of salt marsh to William Ilsly of Newbury for a payment of money and land, which was the sum of six shillings and eight pence, in addition to another parcel of meadow located by the mill and east of the little river SA21. or The deed below was transcribed by George Freeman Sanborn, Jr. and is reproduced here under a Creative Commons “Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International” license SA21:
To all Christian people to whome this present writing shall come: I, Edward Woodman & Johanna my wife, of Newbury, in the county of Essex, in New England, send greeting: Know yee, that I ye abovesaid Edward Woodman & Johane my wife, for divers good causes & considerations me thereunto moving, but especially in consideration of Sixe Shillings and eight pence in hand paid, and alsoe for a parcell of meadow lying on the east Side of the little river by the mill, w’ch was resigned & yeelded to me ye abovesaid Edward Woodman, & so to remain to my use: have given, granted, demised, enfeofed & fully bargained & sold, & by these presents doe confirme, sell & make over unto William Ilsly of ye above named towne & countie, two akers of salt marsh, lying scituate in ye great marsh, being part of twenty akers formerly purchased of Mr. Richard Dumer, and is bounded with the said land which is now in the possession of the assignes of Mr. Henry Sewall on ye east, north & south, & the land of Richard Knight on the west, with all & singuler the profitts & appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have and to hold the abovesaid two akers unto ye proper use of the abovesaid William Ilsley, his heirs & assignes forever; & I ye abovesaid Edward Woodman & Johanee my wife, doe covenant, promise & agree to warrantise the sale of the abovesaid two acres, & to free it from all former Sales, mortgages; and that the said William Ilsly, his heirs and assignes, shall from time to time & at all times, use, occupy, possess and enjoye ye abovesaid two acres, without any molestation or interruption of us, the abovesaid Edward Woodman & Johane, our heirs, executors & assignes, or any person or persons laying claime thereunto, in, by, from or under us, or any or either of their heirs, executors or assigns. In witness whereof we the above named Edward Woodman & Johane, have sett our hands & seales, November the 9th, Anno: Dom: one thousand, six hundred, fifty three.
Edward Woodman.
the marke of Johane Woodman.
Signed, sealed & d’d. in ye presence of us.
Nicholas Noyes.
Anthony Somerby.
Acknowledged before the Commissioners of Newbury, November ninth, sixteene hundred and fifty three, being Edward Woodman and Nicholas Noyes.
Edward Woodman
Nicholas Noyes.
During the court session on November 13, 1655, the court appointed four to six men to form four trade committees for Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk counties “to consider… some such way… whereby both merchandizing may be encouraged & the hands also of the husbandman may not wax weary in his imployment… and to consider… some way to regulate… workemens wages” SH20. For Essex County, Major General Dennison, Mr. Robert Paine, Mr. Edmond Batter, Mr. Joseph Jewett, Mr. Metcalf, and Mr. Woodman were selected to accomplish this task SH20. At the same court session, Edward Woodman was directed to work with two additional men to resolve the dispute about the boundary line between the towns of Hampton and Salisbury SH20.
On September 28, 1658, he was given the authority to perform marriage ceremonies and to take oaths in civil cases DO13, CU7. This authority to solemnize marriages for the town of Newbury was renewed on October 18, 1659 SH20. Edward Woodman, Roger Wheeler, and Robert Eaires witnessed the deed between Tristram and Dionis Coffin of Salisbury, Norfolk County, Massachusetts (the grantors) and Lionell Worth of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts (the grantee), dated April 12, 1659 SA21. In 1659, he and twenty-one additional men petitioned the court at Boston for the right to found a town at “Pennecooke”, and on November 12, 1659 they were granted a tract of land of eight square miles on the Saco River CU7, SH20. The petitioners received permission to establish the boundaries of the settlement on May 31, 1660 but were given the condition that twenty families must settle in the area within four years, and they must hire a minister CU7. The men who petitioned for this new town were unable to comply with this condition and were forced to forfeit the endeavor CU7. Edward petitioned the General Court for a grant of land, and on October 16, 1660, the General Court granted him three hundred acres of land “lying betweene Rouley & Newbury lynes” SH20, CU7. This grant was amended on May 22, 1661, when the General Court ruled SH21:
In answer to the petition of the inhabitants of ye toune of Newbury, the Court, hauing heard the petitioners in behalfe of the toune of Newbury & Mr Woodman, relating to Newbury ljne [line] & this Courts grant of a farme of three hundred acres of land in October last, finding that the ljne of Newbury bounds being, for at least twenty yeares, lajd [laid] out & adjoyning to Rouley ljne, & perambulated according to order of this Court, shall be & remajne to Newbury wthout any further challenge or clajme from any toune or person, and that Mr Woodmans graunt as to yt place is heerby declared null & voyd, Mr Woodman hauing consented thereto, yet are willing to allow Mr Woodman his three hundred acres formerly graunted in any free place not formerly graunted, & not hindering a plantation.
He was a judge at the Ipswich Court on March 31, 1663, and on April 2, 1663, he and Mr. Samuel Dudley and Mr. John Carleton were appointed to become a committee to resolve another boundary line disagreement between Hampton and Salisbury DO14. He was a juror at the Ipswich Court held on March 28, 1665 DO14. He may have been the “Mr Edward Woodman” who, along with Nathaniel Clarke, Benjamin Lowle, John Kelly, and John Kent, Jr., were granted the right to build a pew in “the east end of the South gallery” of the meeting house for their wives on December 3, 1668, although this may have referred to his son CU7.
Beginning in 1665, and continuing for about five years, the church at Newbury became riven, with some parishioners siding with Edward Woodman, and others with Reverend Thomas Parker CU8. A warrant dated March 31, 1669 ordered Edward to appear at the Ipswich Quarterly Court, because Richard Kent, Henry Short, and Anthony Sumersby accused Edward of making disparaging remarks on March 1, 1668/9 about Mr. Parker and others at a public meeting DO15. Specifically, they claimed that Edward stated that Mr. John Woodbridge “was an Intruder, brought in [by Reverend Parker CU7] by craft & subtilty & so kept in, notwithstanding he was voated out twice” DO15. He was accused of publicly reproving Reverend John Woodbridge “as an Apostate & backslider from the truth, that he would sett up a Prelacy & have more power than the Pope, for the pope had his counsell of Cardinalls” DO15. At the Ipswich Quarterly Court session dated March 30, 1669, the court ruled DO15:
Having heard the complaint… agst mr Edward Woodman, do judge some passages relateing to mr parker & mr woodbridge to be faulse and scandulous and that concerneing Capt. Gerish, reproachfull, and pvoking and the whole genrlly offensive, And hath therfore ordered that the sayd mr woodman shall be seriously & solemnely admonished and enioyned to make a publique confession at the next publique Towne or church meeting at Newbury of his sinfull expressions & iust offence that he hath given or else pay five pounds & to pay costs and fees
Two justices dissented from this sentence, Samuell Symonds and William Hathorne DO15. Those two men wrote their own judgment, stating that they determined DO15:
the matter to be much altered from what the naked words as they are expressed in the writing doe hold forth. We p[er]ceive that a great part of that church doe stande for the congregationall way of church government & discipline to be exercised amongst them… & that it is & hath bene for a longe time a very great burthen & grievance to them that they have not freedome in that respect… & that the alteracon hath occasioned much difference & unquiettnes amongst them… Court require that all p[er]sons concerned on both sides for the future doe use their utmost endeavor to settle truth & peace amongst them: & freely to blame themselves… for their errors & miscarriages & actings or unbecoming words in their publig agitacons; and that Mr. Woodman in particular should soe doe.
Edward appealed this ruling during the next Court of Assistants in Boston DO15, CU7. Two councils (on November 3 or 5, 1669 and on April 19, 1670) which included delegates from local churches were convened, to attempt to smooth out the differences in the church at Newbury, and finally, articles of agreement were signed by Reverend Parker and Edward Woodman, and those who sided with Edward CU7, DO15. These articles stated that controversial matters should be settled at the church, but this agreement failed CU7. On March 16, 1670/1, forty-one men signed an act to suspend Mr. Parker, including Richard Dumer (Dummer), Mr. Woodman, Archelaus Woodman, Edward Woodman, Jr., John Emery Jr. and John Emery Sr., William Sawyer, John Webster, John Wells, and John and Abraham Merrill DO15. Thirty-eight men did not approve of Mr. Parker’s suspension DO15. At the Ipswich Quarterly Court, convened on April 18, 1671, Edward Woodman, Richard Dummer, William Titcomb, Richard Bartlet, and thirty-seven other men were accused of disorderly conduct, speaking contemptuously of Reverend Parker, and of dishonoring the church DO15, CU7. A great deal of testimony transpired, and many letters were entered as evidence for both parties DO15. The court issued a ruling, which stated DO15:
It did appeare that mr woodman mr Dummer william Titcomb and others adhering to them (not appearing to be the major part of the church of Newbery Although the major part of such as mett together) haue proceeded to admonish their pastor mr Parker and to suspend him from the exercise of his office, as appeareth by their act sent unto him… That the sd Woodman & partie as abousd did proceed to elect two ruling elders viz mr woodman himself & mr Dumer appointing a day for their ordinations… that this censure was passed agst their Pastor upon the complaint and sollicitation of mr woodman and that the sd woodman had openly published several falshoods to animate his parties… and to exerperate them against mr Parker… They haue alledged nothing but that they were the major part of the chh [church], not charging much less prouing any offence giuen by their Reverend Pastor mr Parker, who for anything that doth yet appeare is altogether innocent, though so exceedingly scandalized reproached and wronged by mr woodman & his parties… The court as in duty bound being sensible of the dishonor to the name of god to religion heere established as also the disturbance of the peace the scandalizing of a venerable pious and loving pastor and an aged father, cannot but Judge the sd woodman mr Dumer willm. Titcomb & the parties joyning with them guilty of very great misdemeanors tho in different degree deseruing severe punishment, yet being willing to exercise as much lenity as the case is capable of… wee doe hereby adjudg the sd mr woodman & partie adherring to him to pay the seueral fines under written together with the charge of the witnesses and fees of the court…
Edward Woodman was fined twenty nobles, and Mr. Dumer, Richard Tharley, William Titcomb, Archelaus Woodman, Stephen Greenleafe, Samuell Plumer and Richard Bartlet were each fined four nobles DO15. The remainder of the men were fined thirteen shillings and four pence apiece DO15.
A petition to the General Court in Boston, dated May 11, 1670, and signed by John Bartlet, William Chandler, Edmund Morse, Samuel Plumer, and Caleb Moody, requested that they empower Mr. Woodman with magisterial power in Newbury, because Newbury was so distant from any other town which had a magistrate CU7. This petition was not approved, and while the deputies consented to this proposal, the magistrates did not give their consent CU7. He may have been the Edward Woodman who was a juror at the Ipswich Quarterly Court on March 28, 1676 and September 25, 1677 DO17, unless this was his son. Both “Edward Wodman, sr.” and Edward Woodman of Newbury signed a petition on April 23, 1677 to abate the fines of Joshua Richardson, Caleb Richardson, and Edward Ordway DO17.
Joanah Woodman gave a sworn deposition before Robert Pike, the commissioner, on November 23, 1674 regarding the lawsuit of Hugh March, Sr. of Newbury (the plaintiff) and Benjamin Lowell of Newbury (the defendant) which was heard in a court held at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts on November 24, 1674 DO16. In this deposition, Joanah stated that she was about sixty DO16, indicating that she was born about 1614. Both Joanah and Ruth Lowle (aged about twenty-four) testified that “Hugh’s mistress [the mistress of Hugh March, Sr.] said that he [Hugh March, Jr.] was not fit to go abroad” DO16. This was in reference to Hugh March, Jr. becoming very ill and developing leg injuries while in the service of Benjamin Lowell.
Edward and Johanna Woodward sold a parcel of land, which included a messuage, barn, shop, orchard, and five acres of upland in Newbury to Peter Marshall of Ipswich, Essex County on December 14, 1687 for the sum of a bit over £107 ES18. A transcription has been provided below, but this was not the original version of the deed; it was itself a transcription, and this transcriber used many periods and commas which were so small that they resembled periods ES18. Rather than attempt to decide which punctuation might have been a period and which might have been a comma, I have transcribed all the periods and commas as periods. My transcription of this deed follows ES18:
May: 1: 1688.
To all people to whom these presents shall come: I. Edward Woodman Senr. of Newbury. in ye county of Essex. in his Majesties Territory & Dominion of New England. Husbandman. and Johanna my wife. send greeting: Know yee yt we ye sd Edward Woodman & Johanna my wife. for & in consideracon of ye sum of one hundred & seven pounds & ten shillings. to us in hand paid by Peter Marshall of Ipswich. in ye county aforesaid. taylor. the receipt whereof we doe hereby acknowledge. and ourselves therewith fully sattisfied and contented: have given. granted. bargained. sould. aliened. enfeofed & confirmed. & by these presents doe give. grant. bargaine. sell. aliene. enfeoffe & confirme. one messuage. one barn. one shop with an orchard & five acres of arable upland. more or less. scituate. lying & being in Newbury aforesd. & is now in ye tenure & occupation of Benjamin Lowle. being bounded on ye northeast by the river Merrimack. on ye northwest by ye lands of William Titcomb. on ye southeast by the lands of Thomas Bartlett. on ye southwest by ye lands of the Widow Webster. together with one freehold. comon right or privilidg in ye commons of Newbury & all such lotts or porcons yt shall heare after be layed out to ye same. with all other advantages. wayes waters. easements. commodities and appurtenances wt.soever. that are now belonging or in any wise appertaining. unto ye sd demised premisses or any part of parcell thereof. To have & to hold ye sd messuage. barn. shop. orchard. land & premisses. with the appurtenances unto him ye sd Peter Marshall. his heires. executors. administrators & assignes. to his & thier sole and proper use & behoofe. as a good & firme. sure & absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple forever. by these presents: and wee the sd Edward Woodman & Johanna my wife. do for ourselves. our hiers. executors and administrators. covenant. promise & grant to & with ye sd Peter Marshall. his heirs. executors. administrators and assignes. yt ye sd demised and granted premisses and every part & p’cel thereof is free & cleare. & freely & clearly exonerated discharged. freed. cleered & acquitted of and from all former gifts. grants. bargains. sales. alienations. charges. dowries. thirds. mortgages. extents. judgments. exeugons. & all other intanglements & incumbrances whatsoever: and we ye sd Edward Woodman & Johanna my wife. doe hereby for oureselves. our hieres. executors & administrators. further covenant & promise to & with the sd Peter Marshall. his hiers. executors. administrators & assignes. that we ye said Edward Woodman & Johanna my wife. our executors. administrators & assignes. shall & will from time to time & at all times heare after. warrantize. maintain & defend the sd Peter Marshall. his hiers. executors. administrators & assignes. in the full. quiet & peaceable possession of the hereby granted. sold & demised premisses & every part & parcel there of. against all & all manner of person or persons whatsoever. by. from or under me. having. claiming or pretending to have any right. title or interest unto ye sd demised premisses or any part or parcel thereof. In wittness whereof the said Edward Woodman with the consent of his said wife. hath hereunto set his hand & seale. ye fourteenth day of December. in the third yeares of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord. James ye Second. of England. Scotland. France & Ireland. King. defender of the faith &c. Annoqr Dom: 1687.
Edward Woodman & a seale.
ye marke of Johanna Woodman & a seale.
Signed, sealed & del’d. in ye pr’sence of us.
John Peaily.
John Browne.
Richard Carr.
Newbury 23rd Feby: 1687:8.
Edward Woodman & Johanna his wife. personally appeared before me. one of the Councill in this his Majesties Territory & Dominion. & acknowledged ye abovesaid instrument to be their act & deed
Jno. Usher.
A record of an “Edward ______ Woodman dyed 9th May 1695” was written in a Boston register of deaths MA26. The inscription on a marker located at the First Burying Ground of the Settlers in Newbury stated:
In memory of MR. EDWARD WOODMAN who came from England and settled in Newbury in 1635. “A man of talents, influence, firmness and decision.” He served faithfully for many years as Selectman Deputy to the General Court and Commissioner. He died about 1690.