Disambiguation.
Errors are bound to find their way into genealogical research; unfortunately the internet has made misinformation quick to spread.
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DISAMBIGUATION
These men are NOT John Wood of Portsmouth
DisambiguationJohn Wood (1590 - 1655) of Portsmouth was:
Further Details
He is not identical to those men of the same name, as follows:
The above information can be deduced based on historical sources, and it is therefore assumed to be an accurate depiction of John Wood of Middletown.
According to original sources, John Wood of Middletown was recorded in Newport, Rhode Island, in March 1662, serving on the grand jury.
John Wood of Middletown is the son of John Wood of Portsmouth, and formerly of Newport.
John Wood of Lynn is not well known, hence there are no additional allusions to his identity.
There is some confusion in the accounts in publications about John Wood Alias Atwood. These are also not John Wood of Portsmouth, as Williams explains in great detail. According to Williams (p. 138), John Wood Alias Atwood was Sarah Masterson's husband and died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, between November 22, 1675 (will date) and March 7, 1675/6 (probate date). Williams questions the sources for both John Wood Alias Atwood and the other John Atwood (who married Ann) and died between October 20, 1643, and June 5, 1644 (will and probate).
As John Wood alias Atwood bequeathed his whole estate to his "wife Sarah" in his 1675 will in Plymouth, we may reasonably assume that this was not our John Wood of Portsmouth. Furthermore, since John Wood of Portsmouth was alive and well, living in the Portsmouth area until 1655, and it was before the passing of John Wood alias Wood in 1675, it seems clear that they were not the same individual.
John Wood alias Atwood of Plymouth is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
He could not have been the same as John Wood of Portsmouth, who had a son named John Wood, Jr., born around 1620, fifteen years before the migration to New England because he was a 20-year-old servant with Joseph Hull in 1635, alone and without children or a wife on the migration list.[6]
Although there are other John Woods in New England, none of them completely match this man's description, according to Anderson.[8]
This man is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
John Wood of the Hopewell is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
Bertha W. Clark, the author of John Wood of Rhode Island and His Early Descendants on the Mainland, hypothesized that John Wood, master of the Peregrine is identical to John Wood of Portsmouth, whom she thought he was a mariner. However, he is not identical to John Wood who was still alive from 1648 to 1655 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island because John Wood, master of the Peregrine was 32 years old and was killed on March 3, 1653 in the 1653 Battle of Livorno (Italy). Six English merchantmen had been blockaded in Livorno. They accepted naval command under Commodore Henry Appleton and made an unsuccessful attempt to break out before reinforcements arrived. Wood was wounded in an action with the Dutch and died ten days later. He was buried at Old English Cemetery on Via Giuseppe Verdi in Livorno, Italy.[10][11]
Signature comparison on original source records show that John Wood of Portsmouth is NOT the John Wood who wrote to Mrs. Elizabeth Winthrop of Boston 6 Apr 1650.
The marriage entry in the parish registers of St. Savior, Southwark in England shows that John Wood married Margaret Carter, a daughter of John Carter, a tailor, on January 28, 1610/11, at St. Savior's Parish in Southwark, Surrey, England.[12]
John Wood and Margaret Carter were listed in the Token Books of St. Saviour Southwark every year from 1623 to 1643 as the head of a household residing in Frying Pan Alley and attending St. Savior's, the same street where Margaret Carter lived with her father from 1620 to 1622.[13] Her husband's name, John Wood, was listed next to John Carter, and they were residing on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside from 1623 to 1629 in the Token Books.
In the Token Book, her father, John Carter, was shown but was crossed out, and 'dead' was in the margin in 1629, and it was his last residence on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside. Interestingly, in the same book, at the 28th line, John Carter's name was below John Wood's name, which was at the 25th line.[14] Also, Robert Carter was residing on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside and was listed next to John Wood from 1637 to 1643 in the Token Books. His relationship to John Wood and his wife Margaret was unknown.[15]
It demonstrates that John Wood of St. Savior, Southwark, is not the same as John Wood of Portsmouth, who lived in Newport from 1643 to 1646 and again in Portsmouth from 1648 to 1655.
FREDERICKE WOOD
A fully discredited hypothesis by Clark suggests that John Wood of Portsmouth had a son named Fredericke. Clark relies entirely on one Winthrop letter, dated May 16, 1636 at "Queneticut". The letter reads in part "... I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds.". Clark had decided for herself that John Wood of Portsmouth was a "mariner" (see Ship Bachelor below") and looked for any source record which could support her idea. No other source record has been found which indicates that a person named "Fredericke" was a son of John Wood mentioned in the letter, let alone the son of John Wood of Portsmouth. Clark suggested that this son was not mentioned in the 1655 estate papers due to having been killed, along with his mother, in the Mespath massacre on Long Island - a fully unsubstantiated speculation. There is no evidence that Fredericke Wood was a son of John Wood of Portsmouth.
MANCHESTER WOOD
Some researchers suggest that the words "... paying unto his sister Manchester..." noted in the 1655 settlement of John Wood's estate meant there was a daughter with the given name "Manchester". Source records indicate that Manchester was her married name. This person would be Margaret Wood who married Thomas Manchester.
LONDON SEAMAN
Clark's 1966 theory that he was the London seaman associated with Winthrop was disproven in 2017 with the peer-reviewed publication of "John Wood, Master of the Peregrine, and his forgotten Italian grave", published by the Society of Genealogists in London.
BOSTON TRANSCRIPT
1 Mar 1655: According to "C.R.M." in a Boston Transcript story (November 22, 1932), John Wood died on March 1, 1655; however, the author did not cite a source for this precise date of death.
PARENTS
The parents of John Wood of Portsmouth are unknown.
There are no confirmed sources that prove that John Atwood and Joan Coleson.
There are no confirmed sources that prove that Wylliam Wood and Margaret Stamberie (Paine) were the parents of John Wood.
DISPUTED SPOUSE MARGARET CARTER
Bertha W. Clark, in her book, mentions that John Wood of Newport and Portsmouth was possibly the John Wood who married Margaret Carter at St. Saviour's, Southwark, London, on January 28, 1610/11. She states:
"There is no real evidence that this was the John Wood later of Rhode Island, but the name, the date, and the place would suit that John Wood admirably, and more especially since the latter's only daughter by his first wife whose name is known with certainty was also Margaret..."[3]
However, recently digitized records, "Token Books of St. Savior's Parish," indicate that John Wood, spouse of Margaret Wood, may have still been living in St. Savior's parish until as late as 1643, when John Wood of Portsmouth was documented in Newport. This new evidence casts doubt on the claim that this is the Rhode Island couple." [16]
THE SHIP BACHELOR
In a letter dated May 16, 1636, at "Queneticut," John Winthrop Jr. wrote to his father in Boston. He made reference to particular people in this letter when he wrote "I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds." [13]
This reference to a John Wood, and associated men named "Fredericke" and "George", has been HYPOTHESIZED by Bertha Clark (1966)[3] to be John Wood of Portsmouth and two of his sons. It is not established that the John Wood described in this letter is the same John Wood as "John Wood of Portsmouth," nor is there any proof that John Wood of Portsmouth had a son by the name of Fredericke. Although this possibility exists, it remains an unproven hypothesis until a reliable source is identified.
The following is what John Winthrop wrote to his father in his letter, which can be found in John Winthrop's The History of New England from 1630 to 1649:[13]
Quineticut May 16: 1636
Sir, John Wood being returned without any Corne I shall now desire that I may be supplied by the first shipping that arrive with any store of provisions with 10, or 12 hogsh[eads] of meale 5 or 6 hogshfeads] of peas 2 or 3 barrells of oatmeale 2 hogshfeads] of beife. for if we should want I see noe meanes to be supplied heere, and a little want may overthrow all our designe. I send home the Bacheler, and desire your helpe for her disposing. I must of necessity have her returne heere for I may shortly have much vse of her: but I desire they may goe for shares and victuall them selves, which John Wood, and his company are willing to doe. I cannot find that the miscariage of his voyage was through his default but Contrary winds therfore I am desirous he should and that Company goe still in her, so they will goe for shares and victuall themselves, the Blessing I would sell if any will buy her at 160 or 150/f she Cost 145 besides some new saile, and rigging and a new Cable above 20IL the Cable is speciall good, except you should foresee any occasion that she should rather be kept still: or if their be imployment to Sable for her: but if she continues still to goe vpon any designe I desire she should goe likewise for her share the men to find themselves, otherwise I would have her laid up at Boston till further occation. the men I desire should be discharged as soone as ever they Come ashore, and their wages paid them: I thanke you for the bread you sent, you write of 800 but there is not above 300 and an halfe at most delivered, besides 100 they keepe still aboard the rest I cannot learne what become of it but that it hath beene wastfully spent: they had besides halfe an hogshead of bread of their owne which was likewise spent and they were but [mutilated] eleven persons they say most of that tyme. [Mutilated] for they pillaged her the tyme they had her to Salem pittifully that she hath neyther blockes nor braces nor running ropes, which the bolt Will sayth, that mr. Holgrave cutt them of he saw him. therfore I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds, thus with my duty remembered, I rest
Your obedient Son
John Winthrop
What DOES make the "Bacheler of London Bound for New Ingland" worthy of additional research is a letter dated London, 16 of August 1635 from Edward Hopkins to John Winthrop, Jr. In this letter Hopkins writes that "I haue hired the master and all the men (whose names and wages I shall afterwards expresse,) eyther to remayne in the Cuntrey to saile the barque there or to be returned home in some other Shipp, as you shall find most convenient." Further, he indicates that "The master is able enough, but savours nott godlinesse yett hath a desire as he tells me to continue in the Cuntrey." The letter indicates that the master was "Jno. Webber Master of the Barque". If John Wood who later was involved with the ship, was also on board, this MIGHT document how one man named John Wood arrived in the colonies. Again, at this time there is no evidence that this is John Wood of Portsmouth.
The full letter, held by the MHS, can be viewed here: https://www.masshist.org/publications/winthrop/index.php/view/PWF03d168#sn=1
The book, Shipwrights, Fishermen, Passengers from England states: "Another interesting vessel was the BACHELOR of London, Thomas Webb, master, which on 11' Aug 1635, received Lyon Gardiner aet. 36; Mary, his wife, aet. 34; Eliza Colet, their maid servant, aet. 23, and Wm Jope, aet. 40, who were to pass to New England, having brought certificate of their conformity. The vessel, called a Norsey bark brought over 12 men."
EXTRACTS FROM CLARK's 1966 RESEARCH
The following is extracted from Bertha W. Clark, John Wood of Rhode Island and His Early Descendants on the Mainland, (Crete, Ill.: 1966).[3] Much of this information should be taken as HYPOTHESES proposed by Clark, as not every pre-1655 source record in New England can correctly be assumed to have been associated with "John Wood of Portsmouth".
Since not all New England pre-1655 records can be reliably considered to have been connected to "John Wood of Portsmouth," much of this information should be taken as HYPOTHESES proposed by Clark, as follows:
(HYPOTHESIS) Spring 1636: John Winthrop, Jr. wrote to his father in Boston from Saybrook: "John Wood being returned without any Corne I shall now desire that I may be supplied by the first shipping." The letter goes on to describe John Wood as associated with the ships "Batchelor" and "Blessing." There is also the implication that John had two sons—Frederick and George—who sailed with him (and thus were adults or near adults by 1636). This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; this letter and the ship Batchelor have not been definitively associated (nor disassociated) with John Wood of Portsmouth. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; see a separate section about the ship Batchelor above.
(HYPOTHESIS) 1637: A correspondence between Francis Kirby in London and John Winthrop, Jr., in New England associates John Wood as the master's mate on the ship Hector. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; there are no records showing that John Wood of Portsmouth was associated with the ship Hector.
To his much respected frend Mr. John Winthrop at his house at Ipswich this deliver in New England
London this 10th April 1637
Kind Sir,I receiud yours dated 28th January and haue delivered the inclosed to Mr. Keflar, and haue receiud the glasses and the water from him and haue packed them carefully in a runled with 5 or 6 pecks of salt, and delivered it abord the Hector to John Wood masters mate who is my Cosen James Downeings aquaintance I haue made him acquainted with the nature of the water and danger of it. he hath promised to be carefull of it. Thus with my harty praiers to God for the preseruation of you and yours I rest Your loving frend
Fra: Kirby
(HYPOTHESIS) March 1640: He was associated with a tobacco farm in Manhattan, which he owned but probably had others manage. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; no sources show this tobacco farm to be associated with John Wood of Portsmouth.
(HYPOTHESIS) 1641: Bertha W. Clark, a genealogist,[3] speculated that it was about this time that John Wood probably began buying property in Newport, Rhode Island and that around this time he may have brought his family over from England.
(HYPOTHESIS) According to frequent connections with Richard Smith, it is possible that John Wood also bought land at Mespath on Long Island's westernmost point. He may have also lost property, his first wife, and a son (Frederick?) in the massacre that took place at Mespath in late 1643. An entry from the Massachusetts Bay in 1644 granted John Wood a two-year reprieve from a debt he owed "in regard to his great loss." This hypothesis was proposed by Clark in 1966 but remains unproven.
OTHER MEN NAMED JOHN WOOD in PRE-1650 NEW ENGLAND
Of the men named “John Wood” who are known to have been in the Colonies prior to 1650, several have yet to be positively identified and thus “could” be “John Wood of Portsmouth”. Of these, two cannot be definitively negated or assumed improbable; John Wood who carried supplies to Connecticut in 1636, and John Wood who as Master of the Hector sailed to New England in 1637. In addition, one theory which will perhaps remain unproven is that “John Wood of Portsmouth” might have been one of the undocumented passengers in the Winthrop Fleet.
- John Wood (1590 - 1655) of Portsmouth
- John Wood (abt. 1620 - 1704) of Middletown
- John Wood of Lynn
- John Wood alias Atwood (abt. 1615 - 1675) of Plymouth
- John Wood (born abt. 1615) came with Hull in 1635
- John Wood of the Hopewell
- John Wood (abt. 1621 - 1653) Master of the Peregrine, of Redcliff
DisambiguationJohn Wood (1590 - 1655) of Portsmouth was:
- Not John Wood of Lynn, Massachusetts because there was a John Wood in both places in 1643.
- Not John Wood of Plymouth, Massachusetts married there Sarah Masterson and remained in Plymouth until his 1675 death.
- Not John Wood who came with Hull in 1635, age 20 (b. abt. 1615) - for John of Portsmouth had a son who was born about 1620.
- Not John Wood of the Hopewell in 1635, age 26 (b. abt. 1609) - for John of Portsmouth had a son who was born abt 1620.
- Neither John Wood, nor his son John Wood Jr. (abt 1620-1704) were associated with the ship "Peregrine". This hypothesis by Clark was examined in Genealogists' Magazine, December 2017. According to an article, "John Wood, Master of the Peregrine", it states that the 6 Apr 1650 letter from Captain John Wood to Mrs. Elizabeth Winthrop of Boston (the original document held by the Boston Historical Society) was signed by the same John Wood who was killed in the 1653 Battle of Livorno (Italy).
Further Details
- John Wood (abt. 1590 - bef. 1655) of Portsmouth
He is not identical to those men of the same name, as follows:
- John Wood (abt. 1620 - 1704) of Middletown
The above information can be deduced based on historical sources, and it is therefore assumed to be an accurate depiction of John Wood of Middletown.
According to original sources, John Wood of Middletown was recorded in Newport, Rhode Island, in March 1662, serving on the grand jury.
John Wood of Middletown is the son of John Wood of Portsmouth, and formerly of Newport.
- John Wood of Lynn
John Wood of Lynn is not well known, hence there are no additional allusions to his identity.
- John Wood alias Atwood (abt. 1615 - 1675) of Plymouth
There is some confusion in the accounts in publications about John Wood Alias Atwood. These are also not John Wood of Portsmouth, as Williams explains in great detail. According to Williams (p. 138), John Wood Alias Atwood was Sarah Masterson's husband and died in Plymouth, Massachusetts, between November 22, 1675 (will date) and March 7, 1675/6 (probate date). Williams questions the sources for both John Wood Alias Atwood and the other John Atwood (who married Ann) and died between October 20, 1643, and June 5, 1644 (will and probate).
As John Wood alias Atwood bequeathed his whole estate to his "wife Sarah" in his 1675 will in Plymouth, we may reasonably assume that this was not our John Wood of Portsmouth. Furthermore, since John Wood of Portsmouth was alive and well, living in the Portsmouth area until 1655, and it was before the passing of John Wood alias Wood in 1675, it seems clear that they were not the same individual.
John Wood alias Atwood of Plymouth is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
- John Wood (born about 1615) came with Joseph Hull in 1635
He could not have been the same as John Wood of Portsmouth, who had a son named John Wood, Jr., born around 1620, fifteen years before the migration to New England because he was a 20-year-old servant with Joseph Hull in 1635, alone and without children or a wife on the migration list.[6]
Although there are other John Woods in New England, none of them completely match this man's description, according to Anderson.[8]
This man is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
- John Wood of the Hopewell
John Wood of the Hopewell is not identical to John Wood of Portsmouth.
- John Wood (abt. 1621 - 1653) Master of the Peregrine, of Redcliff
Bertha W. Clark, the author of John Wood of Rhode Island and His Early Descendants on the Mainland, hypothesized that John Wood, master of the Peregrine is identical to John Wood of Portsmouth, whom she thought he was a mariner. However, he is not identical to John Wood who was still alive from 1648 to 1655 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island because John Wood, master of the Peregrine was 32 years old and was killed on March 3, 1653 in the 1653 Battle of Livorno (Italy). Six English merchantmen had been blockaded in Livorno. They accepted naval command under Commodore Henry Appleton and made an unsuccessful attempt to break out before reinforcements arrived. Wood was wounded in an action with the Dutch and died ten days later. He was buried at Old English Cemetery on Via Giuseppe Verdi in Livorno, Italy.[10][11]
Signature comparison on original source records show that John Wood of Portsmouth is NOT the John Wood who wrote to Mrs. Elizabeth Winthrop of Boston 6 Apr 1650.
- John Wood (abt. 1586) of St. Savior, Southwark
The marriage entry in the parish registers of St. Savior, Southwark in England shows that John Wood married Margaret Carter, a daughter of John Carter, a tailor, on January 28, 1610/11, at St. Savior's Parish in Southwark, Surrey, England.[12]
John Wood and Margaret Carter were listed in the Token Books of St. Saviour Southwark every year from 1623 to 1643 as the head of a household residing in Frying Pan Alley and attending St. Savior's, the same street where Margaret Carter lived with her father from 1620 to 1622.[13] Her husband's name, John Wood, was listed next to John Carter, and they were residing on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside from 1623 to 1629 in the Token Books.
In the Token Book, her father, John Carter, was shown but was crossed out, and 'dead' was in the margin in 1629, and it was his last residence on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside. Interestingly, in the same book, at the 28th line, John Carter's name was below John Wood's name, which was at the 25th line.[14] Also, Robert Carter was residing on Frying Pan Alley in Boroughside and was listed next to John Wood from 1637 to 1643 in the Token Books. His relationship to John Wood and his wife Margaret was unknown.[15]
It demonstrates that John Wood of St. Savior, Southwark, is not the same as John Wood of Portsmouth, who lived in Newport from 1643 to 1646 and again in Portsmouth from 1648 to 1655.
FREDERICKE WOOD
A fully discredited hypothesis by Clark suggests that John Wood of Portsmouth had a son named Fredericke. Clark relies entirely on one Winthrop letter, dated May 16, 1636 at "Queneticut". The letter reads in part "... I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds.". Clark had decided for herself that John Wood of Portsmouth was a "mariner" (see Ship Bachelor below") and looked for any source record which could support her idea. No other source record has been found which indicates that a person named "Fredericke" was a son of John Wood mentioned in the letter, let alone the son of John Wood of Portsmouth. Clark suggested that this son was not mentioned in the 1655 estate papers due to having been killed, along with his mother, in the Mespath massacre on Long Island - a fully unsubstantiated speculation. There is no evidence that Fredericke Wood was a son of John Wood of Portsmouth.
MANCHESTER WOOD
Some researchers suggest that the words "... paying unto his sister Manchester..." noted in the 1655 settlement of John Wood's estate meant there was a daughter with the given name "Manchester". Source records indicate that Manchester was her married name. This person would be Margaret Wood who married Thomas Manchester.
LONDON SEAMAN
Clark's 1966 theory that he was the London seaman associated with Winthrop was disproven in 2017 with the peer-reviewed publication of "John Wood, Master of the Peregrine, and his forgotten Italian grave", published by the Society of Genealogists in London.
BOSTON TRANSCRIPT
1 Mar 1655: According to "C.R.M." in a Boston Transcript story (November 22, 1932), John Wood died on March 1, 1655; however, the author did not cite a source for this precise date of death.
PARENTS
The parents of John Wood of Portsmouth are unknown.
There are no confirmed sources that prove that John Atwood and Joan Coleson.
There are no confirmed sources that prove that Wylliam Wood and Margaret Stamberie (Paine) were the parents of John Wood.
DISPUTED SPOUSE MARGARET CARTER
Bertha W. Clark, in her book, mentions that John Wood of Newport and Portsmouth was possibly the John Wood who married Margaret Carter at St. Saviour's, Southwark, London, on January 28, 1610/11. She states:
"There is no real evidence that this was the John Wood later of Rhode Island, but the name, the date, and the place would suit that John Wood admirably, and more especially since the latter's only daughter by his first wife whose name is known with certainty was also Margaret..."[3]
However, recently digitized records, "Token Books of St. Savior's Parish," indicate that John Wood, spouse of Margaret Wood, may have still been living in St. Savior's parish until as late as 1643, when John Wood of Portsmouth was documented in Newport. This new evidence casts doubt on the claim that this is the Rhode Island couple." [16]
THE SHIP BACHELOR
In a letter dated May 16, 1636, at "Queneticut," John Winthrop Jr. wrote to his father in Boston. He made reference to particular people in this letter when he wrote "I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds." [13]
This reference to a John Wood, and associated men named "Fredericke" and "George", has been HYPOTHESIZED by Bertha Clark (1966)[3] to be John Wood of Portsmouth and two of his sons. It is not established that the John Wood described in this letter is the same John Wood as "John Wood of Portsmouth," nor is there any proof that John Wood of Portsmouth had a son by the name of Fredericke. Although this possibility exists, it remains an unproven hypothesis until a reliable source is identified.
The following is what John Winthrop wrote to his father in his letter, which can be found in John Winthrop's The History of New England from 1630 to 1649:[13]
Quineticut May 16: 1636
Sir, John Wood being returned without any Corne I shall now desire that I may be supplied by the first shipping that arrive with any store of provisions with 10, or 12 hogsh[eads] of meale 5 or 6 hogshfeads] of peas 2 or 3 barrells of oatmeale 2 hogshfeads] of beife. for if we should want I see noe meanes to be supplied heere, and a little want may overthrow all our designe. I send home the Bacheler, and desire your helpe for her disposing. I must of necessity have her returne heere for I may shortly have much vse of her: but I desire they may goe for shares and victuall them selves, which John Wood, and his company are willing to doe. I cannot find that the miscariage of his voyage was through his default but Contrary winds therfore I am desirous he should and that Company goe still in her, so they will goe for shares and victuall themselves, the Blessing I would sell if any will buy her at 160 or 150/f she Cost 145 besides some new saile, and rigging and a new Cable above 20IL the Cable is speciall good, except you should foresee any occasion that she should rather be kept still: or if their be imployment to Sable for her: but if she continues still to goe vpon any designe I desire she should goe likewise for her share the men to find themselves, otherwise I would have her laid up at Boston till further occation. the men I desire should be discharged as soone as ever they Come ashore, and their wages paid them: I thanke you for the bread you sent, you write of 800 but there is not above 300 and an halfe at most delivered, besides 100 they keepe still aboard the rest I cannot learne what become of it but that it hath beene wastfully spent: they had besides halfe an hogshead of bread of their owne which was likewise spent and they were but [mutilated] eleven persons they say most of that tyme. [Mutilated] for they pillaged her the tyme they had her to Salem pittifully that she hath neyther blockes nor braces nor running ropes, which the bolt Will sayth, that mr. Holgrave cutt them of he saw him. therfore I have agreed with John Wood Fredericke and George to take her to thirds, thus with my duty remembered, I rest
Your obedient Son
John Winthrop
What DOES make the "Bacheler of London Bound for New Ingland" worthy of additional research is a letter dated London, 16 of August 1635 from Edward Hopkins to John Winthrop, Jr. In this letter Hopkins writes that "I haue hired the master and all the men (whose names and wages I shall afterwards expresse,) eyther to remayne in the Cuntrey to saile the barque there or to be returned home in some other Shipp, as you shall find most convenient." Further, he indicates that "The master is able enough, but savours nott godlinesse yett hath a desire as he tells me to continue in the Cuntrey." The letter indicates that the master was "Jno. Webber Master of the Barque". If John Wood who later was involved with the ship, was also on board, this MIGHT document how one man named John Wood arrived in the colonies. Again, at this time there is no evidence that this is John Wood of Portsmouth.
The full letter, held by the MHS, can be viewed here: https://www.masshist.org/publications/winthrop/index.php/view/PWF03d168#sn=1
The book, Shipwrights, Fishermen, Passengers from England states: "Another interesting vessel was the BACHELOR of London, Thomas Webb, master, which on 11' Aug 1635, received Lyon Gardiner aet. 36; Mary, his wife, aet. 34; Eliza Colet, their maid servant, aet. 23, and Wm Jope, aet. 40, who were to pass to New England, having brought certificate of their conformity. The vessel, called a Norsey bark brought over 12 men."
EXTRACTS FROM CLARK's 1966 RESEARCH
The following is extracted from Bertha W. Clark, John Wood of Rhode Island and His Early Descendants on the Mainland, (Crete, Ill.: 1966).[3] Much of this information should be taken as HYPOTHESES proposed by Clark, as not every pre-1655 source record in New England can correctly be assumed to have been associated with "John Wood of Portsmouth".
Since not all New England pre-1655 records can be reliably considered to have been connected to "John Wood of Portsmouth," much of this information should be taken as HYPOTHESES proposed by Clark, as follows:
(HYPOTHESIS) Spring 1636: John Winthrop, Jr. wrote to his father in Boston from Saybrook: "John Wood being returned without any Corne I shall now desire that I may be supplied by the first shipping." The letter goes on to describe John Wood as associated with the ships "Batchelor" and "Blessing." There is also the implication that John had two sons—Frederick and George—who sailed with him (and thus were adults or near adults by 1636). This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; this letter and the ship Batchelor have not been definitively associated (nor disassociated) with John Wood of Portsmouth. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; see a separate section about the ship Batchelor above.
(HYPOTHESIS) 1637: A correspondence between Francis Kirby in London and John Winthrop, Jr., in New England associates John Wood as the master's mate on the ship Hector. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; there are no records showing that John Wood of Portsmouth was associated with the ship Hector.
To his much respected frend Mr. John Winthrop at his house at Ipswich this deliver in New England
London this 10th April 1637
Kind Sir,I receiud yours dated 28th January and haue delivered the inclosed to Mr. Keflar, and haue receiud the glasses and the water from him and haue packed them carefully in a runled with 5 or 6 pecks of salt, and delivered it abord the Hector to John Wood masters mate who is my Cosen James Downeings aquaintance I haue made him acquainted with the nature of the water and danger of it. he hath promised to be carefull of it. Thus with my harty praiers to God for the preseruation of you and yours I rest Your loving frend
Fra: Kirby
(HYPOTHESIS) March 1640: He was associated with a tobacco farm in Manhattan, which he owned but probably had others manage. This should be considered a hypothesis and an area for further study; no sources show this tobacco farm to be associated with John Wood of Portsmouth.
(HYPOTHESIS) 1641: Bertha W. Clark, a genealogist,[3] speculated that it was about this time that John Wood probably began buying property in Newport, Rhode Island and that around this time he may have brought his family over from England.
(HYPOTHESIS) According to frequent connections with Richard Smith, it is possible that John Wood also bought land at Mespath on Long Island's westernmost point. He may have also lost property, his first wife, and a son (Frederick?) in the massacre that took place at Mespath in late 1643. An entry from the Massachusetts Bay in 1644 granted John Wood a two-year reprieve from a debt he owed "in regard to his great loss." This hypothesis was proposed by Clark in 1966 but remains unproven.
OTHER MEN NAMED JOHN WOOD in PRE-1650 NEW ENGLAND
Of the men named “John Wood” who are known to have been in the Colonies prior to 1650, several have yet to be positively identified and thus “could” be “John Wood of Portsmouth”. Of these, two cannot be definitively negated or assumed improbable; John Wood who carried supplies to Connecticut in 1636, and John Wood who as Master of the Hector sailed to New England in 1637. In addition, one theory which will perhaps remain unproven is that “John Wood of Portsmouth” might have been one of the undocumented passengers in the Winthrop Fleet.
- John Wood, Master of the Bachelor, who carried supplies to Connecticut in 1636.
- John Wood, Master’s Mate of the Hector, who sailed from London to New England in 1637.
- John Wood, mentioned in March 1643/4 general court records (Boston) - improbable
- John Wood, witness to the 30 Jan 1645 deed of John Winthrop Jr. for land at Tantiusques- improbable
- John Wood, 1640 lessee of a tobacco farm in Gowanus in Mar 1640, sold in August 1641 - improbable
- A relative of Thomas Wood, Master of the Hopewell , sailed to Barbadoes 17 Feb 1634 - improbable
- John Wood, arrived on the Hopewell in September 1635 (aged 26) – too young - no
- John Wood of Lynn, prob. 1629, 100 acres 1638, Freeman 1640, Artillery 1642, Petition 1643 - no
- John Wood, Master of the Lesser James, sailed to ‘the Cape’ from Jan to May 1621. - no
- John Wood, “alias Atwood” of MA, m. Sarah Masterson, d. Plymouth bef. 7 Mar 1675/6 - no
- John Atwood, of MA, married Ann, died before 5 June 1644 - no
- John Wood, Master of the ship Hopewell, prisoner in Jersey in 1650, wife in UK - no
- John Wood, Master of the Peregrine, in Boston 1648, killed at Livorno in 1653 – too young - no
- John Wood, sailed 1634 on the Merchant Bonaventure for VA, age 26, reported as “killed” – no
- John Wood of Waymouth Eng., arr. 1635 as servant of Joseph Hall, aged 20 - too young – no
- Jo. Wood, 1635 on the Matthew of London, to St. Christophers , age 22 – too young - no
- Jo. Wood, 1635 on the Matthew of London, to St. Christophers , age 18 – too young - no
- John Wood of Salem, charged as Anabaptist in 1646 - no
- John Wood of Sudbury, pin-maker, prop. 1639, wife Mary, son John b. 1641 - no
- John Wooddie of Roxbury, died there of small pox in 1650 - no
- John Wood of Dorchester, Freeman 10 May 1643, perhaps removed - no
- John Wood of Plymouth, 1643, had a son John born 1650 - no
- John Wood of Saybrook, killed 1637 - no
- John Wood, 1667 hired to herd cows at Gowanus - no