John Wood alias Atwood

Not the same as or son of John "the Leather Seller" Wood & not the son of Nicholas Wood

Thomas Atwood, of Ipswich was not his son.

This John Atwood died in 1675 and married Sarah Masterson.

The other John Atwood represents the more prominent of the two who served as an Assistant to the Plymouth Colony Governors and is found in various governmental posts. He died in 1644 without issue. His widow was Ann Lee.

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Atwood-2

Name and origins

Name: John Atwood, of Plymouth, Massachusetts. He is also found in the records as John Wood and John Wood alias Atwood.

Not to be confused with the John Atwood who was Ass't. Governor.

Disputed origins

The parents of this John Atwood are unknown. They are not known to be John Atwood and Joan Coleson as sometimes given. There reasons to believe that he was closely related to Stephen Atwood and Henry Atwood, but their relationship is not proven.[1]

Birth

Born: About 1615.

Very rough estimate based on the estimated dates of his marriage and birth of children.

Marriage

John Wood alias Atwood married Sarah Masterson, after 1637, presumably in Plymouth. She was the daughter of Richard Masterson and Mary Goodall.

Children of John Atwood and Sarah Masterson:[1]

1. Mary Atwood. Born probably after 1637 and before 1645. Married 1st John Holmes on 11 December 1661 at Plymouth. Married 2nd Majoe William Bradford about 1676. She died 6 January 1714/5 at Plymouth.
2. Sarah Atwood. Married John Fallowell on 13 February 1666/7 at Plymouth.
3. John Atwood. Born 4 March 1649 at Plymouth. Died before 7 March 1675/6 (when his father's will was proved).
4. Nathaniel Atwood born 25 February m Mary (possibly Mary Lucas, daughter of Thomas Lucas) died 17 December 1724.
5. Isaac Atwood b 27 Feb 1653, living as of March 1675/6
6. Abigail Atwood b between 1656 and 1660 m before 7 March 1675/6 Samuel Leonard
7. Mercy Atwood unmarried in June 1685; perhaps died 4 March 1697/8 (Ye Atte Wode Annals 9)
8. Elizabeth Atwood b before 1669 and perhaps as early as 1665 m before 10 July 1685 (deed) Caleb Nye.
9. Hannah Atwood b before March 1675/6, d at Plymouth 17 December 1718. m 1 February 1693 Richard Cooper.

Life in Plymouth Colony

In August of 1643, John Atwood was listed among those from Plymouth town (part of the larger Plymouth Colony) able to bear arms.[2]

Death

Died: Between 22 November 1675 and 7 March 1675/6, presumably at Plymouth, Massachusetts, Dates his will was made and proved.[3]

Will:

Entire estate to wife Sarah. After her death to children.
Double portion to son John.
All the rest of my sons and daughters (not named).

His inventory was taken on 26 January 1675 in Plymouth.[3]

However, the eldest son John was dead (unmarried and without children) before 7 March 1675/6 when the will was probated. Administration of the estate was granted to the eldest surviving son Nathaniel who received the double portion. The rest of the estate was divided equally between Isaak Wood, Mistris Mary Holmes, widow, Sarah Fallowell, Abigaill Leanard, Mercye, Elizabeth, and Hannah Wood alias Attwood.

When Nathaniel Wood sold his portion of the land in Plymouth, the deed mentioned 'Sarah, my mother, relic widow of my late father John Wood alias Attwood; Mary, Sarah, Abigail, Mercy, Elizabeth, and Hannah my sisters." On the same day, widow Sarah Wood, Mary wife of Major William Bradford, Sarah the relic of John Followay, and Elizabeth wife of Caleb Nye released their interest in the same land.[1]

Common Errors to Avoid

Incorrect parents: The parents of this John Atwood are unknown. They are not known to be John Atwood and Joan Coleson as sometimes given.[1]
Incorrect birth date: He is sometimes said to have been born 14 December 1614 in St. Martin in the Field, London, England. There is no evidence to support this.[1]

Immigration:
Other records have his immigration as 1629 aboard the Mayflower 14th voyage

Source: “John Wood Alias Atwood of Plymouth, Massachusetts,” by Alicia Crane Williams. Mayflower Descendant: A Journal of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) volume 44, Page 137-140. < AmericanAncestors >; (document attached)

---

THE BROMWELL GENEALOGY
INCLUDING

Descendants of William Bromwell and Beulah Hall
With Data Relating to Others of
The Bromwell Name
in America.
https://archive.org/details/bromwellgenealog00inbrom/page/102/mode/...
Also Genealogical Records of Branches of the Allied Families of
HOLMES, (of Plymouth County, Massachusetts,)
PAYNE, (of Kentucky and Indiana,)
RICE and LEFFLER, (of Rice's
Fort, Pennsylvania).
Page 103

(1) REV. JOHN HOLMES, b. prob. in Eng; thought by Vinton to be the son of William of Marshfield, one of the "Conihasset Planters," a company of 26 colonists who purchased the land near Scituate, and operated it after the manner of a modern corporation. William was Freeman of Plymouth Colony in 1658, and in Scituate 1641, later removing to Marshfield. He was identified with the Colonial wars. His son John studied at Harvard College, and became Pastor of the Church at Duxbury, and m. Mary, dan. of John Wood, or Atwood of Plymouth ; m. 1661. The Rev. John Holmes d. Dec. 24, 1675, 3 years before his father; his will is dated Dec. 16, 1675; he describes himself as "teacher of the Church of Christ at Duxbury," gives to his eldest son Joseph "all my Latin and Greek books;" gives to his wife Mary, "all my houses and lands in Duxburrow, with all my moveables excepting, etc." His widow Mary afterward remarried to Major William Bradford, son of Gov. William Bradford. She was a grand-daughter, on her mother's side, of Richard Masterson, who never came to the Colonies, but who remained in Leyden for twenty years after the sailing of the Mayflower, the Ruling Elder and leader of the remnant of the flock who did not leave Holland.

THE ANCESTRY
OF ONE ATTWOOD
FAMILY
https://archive.org/details/ancestryofoneatw00atwo/page/n1/mode/1up...
INTRODUCTION

The Plymouth Scrap Book. -The Oldest Original Documents Extant in Plymouth Archives Printed Verbatim. Copied and edited by Charles Henry Pope. Pub. Goodspeed & Co, 1918. Page 12if- Bond of Sarah Wood, Alias Atwood.

Know all men by these presents that I Sarah Wood allies: Attwood widow of the Towne of Plymouth in the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth in New England; doe acknowlidge myself bound and feirmly oblidged unto the Govr. and Court of Plymouth aforesaid; in the penall sume of three hundred pounds sterling; for the payment wherof well and truely to be made I bind myself my heirs executors and Adminestrators Joyntly and severally feirmly by these presents; sealed and Given this tenth of May Anno: dom: I678 -

The Conditions of the abovewritten obligation is such that wheras the above bourden Sarah Wood allies Attwood hath obtained Letters of Adminestration to adminester on the estate of John Wood senr. allies Attwood deceased; if therefore the said Sarah Wood; doe pay or cause to be payed all debts and legacys due and owing to any from the estate aforesaid soe farr and by equall proportions as it wlllamount unto; and keep a true accorapt of her said Adminestration: and be Reddy to give in a true accompt therof when Required by the Govr: and Court aforesaid; and save and keep them harmless and undaranifyed from any damage that may accrew unto them by her adminestration; that then the abovewritten obligation to be void and of non effect or otherwise to Remaine in full force and vertue.

Page 3

John (Johanem) Wood or Atwood, whom we shall call Leather Seller so as to keep track of our Johns, was born Feb. 11, 1582 probably at Sanderstead since he is in the register there. He became a merchant in leather goods, boots, shoes, saddles etc. in London. He married Joan Coleson at St, Martin's Church on July 25, 1612. Two children were baptized at St. Martin's Church, Harman born Oct. 3, 1613 (came to Boston, Mass. 1612 and is the ancestor of the Rockford, Illinois Atwoods), and John b. Dec. 24, 1614 ( came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1635 or 6. No more children are registered there. Perhaps it was at this time that the family moved to London. The Stephen and Henry who came to Plymouth about 1614 or 15 have been conceded to be John's brothers. Stephen's descendants took the name Atwood while Henry's took Wood. Some of Harman's are Attwood. Harman the son of Nicholas and brother of John, the Leather Seller, was bequeathed the one part of Sanderstead by his cousin, John Ownstead. Perhaps that is why his father, Nicholas, willed the other part to his youngest son, Richard. But Richard died and perhaps by old law it also went to Harman the oldest son. John, the Leather Seller, now being the youngest son, sued his brother, Harman for Richard's estate, but lost the suit. This would hardly make for a happy family, but it is not known why so many of the Atwoods came to New England shortly thereafter. Many others did. From John, 1611 to my son Harold, 1921, we have 11 generations in 307 years an average of 28 years. Also, if records are dependable, we have 50 generations back to Cedric, first King of West Saxon, in about 1400 years also an average of 28 years per generation. So if we had 114. generations of Atwood’s in England in about 400 years it would average 29 years per generation.

l-(11) John (Johanen) Wood or Atwood was "born on Dec. 24, 1614, in the Parish of St. Martin-in-the-fields, then a suburb of London, England and died in 1678 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. He came to Plymouth, Mass. in 1635 or 6, shortly followed by other members of the family including a John (probably his father) and married sisters of other names. The Pilgrims were Separatists, those who wished to withdraw from the Church of England and organize an independent, self-governing church on the congregational system, differing from the Puritans, who belonged to the Church, wished to retain it, but to reform or purify it. John had many responsible positions among the Pilgrims, including Colonial Treasurer. He had a house in Plymouth next to Churchill's, Their descendants would marry. John was granted land at Plympton, then on the outskirts of the colony. His farm was near where North Carver is now, and 10 or 12 miles from Plymouth. In 1641 or 42 John married Sarah Masterson, the daughter of Richard Masterson, who was of the Pilgrim party of Scrooby, England and went with them to Leyden, Holland. On Nov. 23, 1619, he married Mary Goodale of Leicester, England. Two children, Sarah and Nathaniel, were born in Holland and the family came to Plymouth in 1629 on the second trip of the Mayflower (recent reports have the Mayflower junked before 1629 - other ship Mayflower.) Richard died in 1636 at now Winsor, Connecticut, where the Pilgrims established a second colony which did not last. Sarah's will was probated in 1701.

Children of John and Sarah:

1 - Mary b.c.( about )1643, d. 1715 married 1661 Rev. John Holmes, married 2nd Maj. William Bradford, son of Governor.
2 - Sarah b.c. 1645, d. 1685, married John Fallowell.
3 - Abigail b.c.1647, d. 1698, married 1676 Samuel Leonard.
4 - John b. l649.
5 - Nathaniel b. 1651, d. 1724, married Mary Morey. 6-Isaac b. l653.
7 - Mercy b. 1656, d. 1698.
8 - Elizabeth b. - , married Caleb Nye.
9 - Hannah b,-, d. 1718, married 1693 Richard Cooper.
(10) - Nathaniel Wood or Atwood, the Deacon (Congregational Church- there was no other at this time), was born Feb. 25,1651 at Plympton,Mass. ,and died there Dec. 17, 1724. All Nathaniel's male descendants used the name Atwood and we find Wood no more. In 1683 he married Mary Morey(g.g.dau.of Richard Warren of the Mayflower) (see page 56). She was born 1660 and died Dec. 5,1736 in her 77th year, according to her stone (beside Nathaniel) in Lakenham Cemetery 2 miles south of Plympton.
_____________________________________________________________

References

1. “John Wood Alias Atwood of Plymouth, Massachusetts,” by Alicia Crane Williams. Mayflower Descendant: A Journal of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) volume 44, Page 137-140. < AmericanAncestors >; (document attached)
2. Source: http://www.gulbangi.com/5families-o/p137.htm#i3425 cites
   1. [S258] Ruth Wilder Sherman, "The Mary Atwood Sampler."
   2. [S4] John Larsen, "137944.ged", June 10, 2000, unverified.
   3. [S114] Don Dickenson's Home Page, online http://www.familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/i/c/Donald-R-Dicke....
   4. [S515] Jim Smith, "Smith, Probst, Whatley, Tankersley & More", Apr. 25, 2003, unverified.
   5. [S48] The Great Migration.
   6. [S1140] Merideth B. Colkert, Founders of Early American Families.
   7. [S514] G. M. Fessenden, Bradford Genealogy.
   8. [S1060] Ann Smith Lainhart and Robert S. Wakefield, MF 22 Bradford.
3. Unproven origins: John and Joan had three sons (John, Stephen and Henry). John was recorded for a six acre grant at Plymouth, Mass. in 1636. -"Ye Atte Wode Annals," Elijah Francis Atwood, June, 1928. Our John was baptised at St. Martin's Church in London 12-24-1614 per Benjamin Shurtleff's MS in Wisc. Hist. Soc. Library, where his ancestry is also given. He died at Plymouth, Mass. (will probated 03-07-1676). John had come early to Mass., returned to England, and emigrated again on the Ship Hopewell in 1635. John was Governor Assistant of the colony in 1638. Also see "The Mary Atwood Sampler," NEHGR (1990), 144:24-26. Ye Atte Wode Annals, by Elijah Francis Atwood, 1929, page.9
4. Stephen Wood Atwood married Abigail Wood Atwood (born Dunham) Children: Abigail Pratt (born Wood), John Atwood, Hannah Smith (born Atwood), Eldad Atwood, Stephen Joseph Atwood, Jr., Medad Atwood
5. Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Feb 21 2019, 23:41:35 UTC
6. Sherman, Ruth Wilder. The Mary Atwood Sampler: more about Mary (Wood) (Holmes) Bradford of Duxbury and Plymouth, Massachusetts. (1990) The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) Volume Name 144, Page 24. < AmericanAncestors > NEHGR 144:24. (document attached)