Supplement to Norwalk, Conn., Volume One: Genealogy

In presenting the here proffered information relative to the descendants of Dr. Samuel Wood, I do not claim it to be a complete genealogy of the family. My principal aim is to give the history of the branch to which I belong, and it will be observed that in each genera- tion, after the third, the side branches are dropped and the line of the main stem only con- tinued. I am led to do this because the author of this work is publishing genealogies of Norwalk families, and I believe ours is the only one of those descended from Dr. Samuel Wood and still bearing the surname that is found in Norwalk at the present time, although other descendants in female lines have been numbered among its iuhabitants for many years. Among the Samuel Wood descended families are those of Henry I. Hoyt, the late Thomas H. Morrison, Philo W. Bates, and perhaps others. I have not pursued closely the investiga- tion beyond the high water line of our own shores, but have taken for the first generation the emigrant ancestor, Dr. Samuel Wood, and lined out the descent from him down to the pres- ent time. MUST GENERATION. Dr. Samuel Wood was born and educated for his profession in England. Sailing for America he appears to have landed in Massachusetts Bay district. From thence he removed westward until he finally reached Norwalk, Conn., where he married Rebekah, daughter of Thomas Benedict1"'. She was born on Long Island about the year 1660. It has been already Contributed by Frederick (son of Noah and Eliza J.) Wood of Philadelphia. Noah Wood is, in 1899, a vigorous business man of Norwalk. His son Charles N. is a Norwalk civil engineer, N O R W A L K 477 written that Thomas Benedict was born in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1617. He was ap- prenticed to a weaver and in his twenty-first year came to America. In the same ship came also his step-sister, Mary Bridgum, and they were married shortly after reaching New Eng- land, in the year 1640. They lived awhile in the vicinity of Massachusetts Bay, and then removed to Southold, Long Island, and again to a town on the Island known as Hassama- mac, and again to Huntington, and from thence to the neighboring town of Jamaica. From there he removed, in 1665, to Norwalk, Conn., where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. While on Long Island there were born to Thomas and Mary Benedict five sons and four- daughters, one of whom was Rebekah before mentioned. Thomas Benedict is reputed to have had three generations of ancestors, ali of the name William, in Nottinghamshire. Dr. Samuel Wood did not tarry long in Norwalk after having been married, but removed to Danbury in 1685-6, and if he was not among the first eight to arrive there he came immediately after them. He became at once one of the leading men of the place, standing high in his profession, and taking an active interest in the educational affairs of the latter town. He died in 1714 possessed of a goodly estate and left, as far as at present known but one child, Samuel21"1. His residence was on what is known as Deer Hill, directly west from the present county jail. There is a family tradition that Dr. Samuel Wood, Sr., had a daughter who died early, and the fact that December 11, 1722, his widow and his son Samuel2"'1 joined in executing a deed1 of tract of land to Dr. Thomas Dean would seem to indicate that there were no other living heirs to the estate of Dr. Samuel Wood, Sr. iKnow all Alen by these Presents yl We — Re- bekah "Wood — Widow and Relict To DoetT Samuel Wood — of Danbury Deceased — And Samuel Wood the son of the afordsd Doct Samuel Wood, both of us of ye Town of Danbury aforesd — in the County of Fair- field— in his Majesties Colony oi Connecticut in New England — for and in — consideration ol A valuable sum of money in hand Already Received, being well And Truly paid — before the ensealing of these pres- ents by Doctr Thomas Dean of The Town County and Colony before named— The Receipt whereof We do hereby Acknowledge — and that we are ourselves — therewith all fully satisfied contented & Paid — and therefore have sold and Alienated from ourselves our heirs executors Administrators — By these presents we say that we jointly & severally have and do fully freely &c. Absolutely Give — Grant Bargain Sell Alien convex' and confirm to him the aforesd Doc1 Thomas Dean — his heirs and Assigns — one certain Piece of Land Scituate in The Township of Danbury aforesd — Lying within ye Danbury great field on the — western side of the meadow bordering upon muddy brook — and upon the northern side of the highway leading to sd muddy brook bridge — Known by the name of Doctr Wood's little lot of upland — containing hy esti- mation one Acre — be it more or less — it being twenty & two Rods in length on the eastern side — and nine- teen Rods and an half in — Length on the western side and thirteen Rods and an half in bread that the north- ern end — and nine Rods and a half in breadth at the southern end, bounded on the east by a slipe of com- mon Land — on the South by a highway — on the west by a slipe of common-Land — and on the north by meadow of John Pickets it is thus bounded as aforesd in Sd Danbury book of Records — in page — 104 — To have and to hold Sd given and granted premises — with all privileges Appurtenances and commodities in any wise there unto Appertaining — To him the Sd Doctr Thomas Dean — his heirs and Assigns — To his and their only proper use benefit & behoof forever. And that the Sd Doctr Thomas Dean his heirs and Assigns — shall and may — from henceforth and forever by force and virtue of these presents — Lawfully Peacefully- And quietly have hold use occupy possess and enjoy Sd given and granted premises with the Appurtenances thereof free and clear — and clearly acquitted and discharged of and from— all — and all former — and other Gifts Grants bargains Sales, Leases Mortgages or incumbrances: Had Made — Committed Done or Suffered to be done — by us the Sd Rebekah Wood and Samuel Wood or by any of our heirs or Assigns att any time or times be- fore the ensealing and delivery of these presents — And we the 3d Rebekah Wood and Samuel Wood for our selves our heirs Executors Administrators do Cove- nant promise & engage the aboved Demised premises 478 NORWALK. SECOND GENERATION. Samuel Wood2"4, date of birth unknown, married Sarah Cornwall, and had four sons and one daughter. Samuel21"1 died at Danbury in 1763. He was probably a farmer and lived on his father's Deer Hill property. His children were: John, born 1715 (Capt.) (see page 362); Samuel3"1, married, at Redding, March 5, 1747, Mary Malley, no issue; Lemuel ; Daniel, born 1726 ; A daughter, of whom nothing further is known. THIRD GENERATION. (Captain) John, son of Samuel Wood2"'1, married Abigail, born at Windsor, Conn., March 16, 1714-15, daughter of Benjamin and Abigail (Marshall) Gibbs of Litchfield, Conn. John Wood died August 11, 1775, and his wife Abigail March 2, 1793. His will is dated August 8, 1773. He was styled Captain John Wood, having received a commission from the representatives of His Majesty March 25, 1756. He had five sons and three daughters, and it may be said to the glory of this grand old Captain of Colonial times that nearly all (per- haps all) of his sons became heroes of the War of the Revolution. His children were: John2'"1, born 1 739 ; Sarah, born March 6, 1741 ; Abigail ; Elijah ; Lucy ; Benjamin born June 23, 1752; David1 (Major), born 1756; Preserve. Lemuel, son of Samuel Wood2"'1, born October 29, 1744, married Griswool Mallery. The dates of her birth and death, as well as her surname, are not known. Mr. Wood died May 31, 1795, and his will is dated April 19, 1787. The children were Lemuel2'"1, Joseph, Nathan, Elizabeth, Ezra. to him the Sd Doc' Dean his heirs & Assigns against the lawful claims or demands of any person or per- sons whatsoever forever to warrant secure and De- fend. Witness our hand and Seals this Eleventh — Day of December— in the ninth year of his Majesties Reign— 1722. Those words ( Joyntly and Severally) enterlined betweeu the 9th and 10th line from the top were written before signing. her Rehecah Wood. mark Signed and Sealed in\ presence of / his John Gregory, Samuel C Wood. Joshua hoyt. mark Danbury, December ye 11th, 1722 Rebeeah Wood and Samuel Wood subscribers to the above written Instrument personally appeared and acknowledged the same to be their free and vol. nntary Act and Deed before me. John Gregory Justice P. Brought to Record Decern— 14— 1722 And Re- corded in the Second book of Records— Folio 17 — 18. ifhe Woods, Bridgeport's celebrated carriage builders, are descendants of Major David Wood. Their business successors in 1899 are Messrs Hincks & Johnson. A daughter of Judge Sidney B. Beardsley of Bridgeport married Charles Wood of the latter city. Mrs. Judge Beardsley was a Norwalk Daskam, see page 317. NORWALK. 479 Daniel, son of Samuel Wood2ud, died at Danbury December i, 1808, upon which day his will is dated. His wife Mary was born in 1725 and died October 25, 1805. Her surname is not known. He owned a large farm at Long Ridge, Danbury, adjoining and immediately north of that of his brother Lemuel. The house in which he lived, built, probably, previous to 1750, is still standing. In 1789 he enlarged the original building for the occupancy of his only son, Daniel, Jr., giving him title to the addition with the ground upon which it stood. The house is now (1896) occupied by one of his descendants. He kept an old time tavern at this place, which was on one of the roads leading from New York to Boston, and in the line of travel from Norwalk to Danbury, and he was always styled Landlord Wood. The Dan- bury Congregational Church records show himself and wife to have been members of that body, and record the death of two children. The children are mentioned in his will. He and his wife are buried in the cemetery west of the county jail in Danbury, Conn. The children were : Mary, born in 1747, spinster, died May 4, 1812 ;