Ephraim Woodruff

Ephraim WOODRUFF was the son of Jennet MEGIE/MCGEE (1707-1750) and Jonathan WOODRUFF (1706-1777). His parents were natives of New Jersey.

There were several men of this name of the same generation and telling them apart through old records is difficult. The following pertains as nearly as possible only to the man who was born in NJ and moved to spend the rest of his life in PA, where he was married to two women, (1) Joanna (LITTLE/LYTTEL) JENNINGS and (2) Francis WILHOIT. There was another Ephraim Woodruff who stayed in New Jersey according to census and church records.

1775-1783 - The Revolutionary War. Ephraim WOODRUFF enlisted in NJ at some point during this conflict for a term of 3 years. Whether he served that entire time or not is unknown at this writing, however he received a full private's pension of $8 per month in his old age.

1781 - Listed in the New Jersey census living in Essex County.

1783, Greene Co, PA - Approximate year of marriage to first wife, the widow Johanna (LITTLE/LYTTLE) JENNINGS. Joanna was the mother of his only known child, Johannah WOODRUFF (1783-1824). Joanna had 6 children of her own by her first husband, Zebulon JENNINGS, Jr. (1737-1776). Zebulon's tombstone lists him as a Minuteman in a county militia during the Rev. War.

1787 - In Georges Twnshp., Fayette Co PA an Ephraim WOODWORTH is listed as one of more than 200 male landowners.

1800 - U.S. census shows Ephraim WOODRUFF living in German Twnshp., Fayette Co, PA. This household consists of two white adults, 1 male, 1 female, over age 45. At this time his first wife Joanna LITTLE/LYTTEL should still have been alive.

Abt. 1814 - Marriage to Francis "Franny" WILHOIT.

3 Sept 1821 - Ephraim begins collecting his pension of $8 per month for his service in the Revolutionary War.

His known children by wife Joanna LITTLE/LITTEL:

1) Johannah "Anne" WOODRUFF McCLELLAND (1783-1824)

   Husband:  James McCLELLAND

15 March 1827 - death of Ephraim WOODRUFF at age 77.

His death notice reads, "WOODRUFF, EPHRAIM 1818 Fayette County, 15 May 1827, former private Ephraim WOODRUFF died 15 March 1827 and is buried at the Methodist meetinghouse at Germantown, executrix FANNY WOODRUFF [x her mark], executor JOHN ROSS [sig.], witnesses Henry HOOVER [sig.], Samuel HANEY [sig.], James C. EDDINGTON [sig.], JP James WILSON [sig.].

Extract of Will: Source: FAYETTE CO., PA, WILLS BOOK, 1, Vol. 2, part 22.

Woodruff, Ephraim, German Twp., dated 4-26-1824, probated 4-6-1827. Part 22. Pg. 919.

Wife Fanny

To be buried in burying ground Meth. meeting House, Germantown

Granddaughter Sally McClelland

Dau. Anne McClelland

Grandson Ephraim McClelland

My wife Harriet her daughter

Children of my first wife viz. Sarah Ridge, Henry Jennings, Jonathan Jennings, Susanna Fordyce - they having received the whole of their father's estate

Executors wife Franny, John Ross

Witnesses Moses A. Ross, Samuel Allenbaugh

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAFAYETT/2002-03/1 016156722

Philadelphia, 10 Sept 1827, Jonathan B. TREVOR [sig.] collected $50.92. "

Sources: U.S. census, Revolutionary War Pensions, New Jersey census of 1781, Pennsylvania Septenniel census, 1779-1863, and Revolutionary War Pension and Land Bounty Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900.

Burial is said to be in the Methodist meeting house burial grounds in Germantown, Fayette Co, PA. Whether this cemetery is still identifiable as belonging to an existing Methodist church is unknown at this time.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 28 2016, 19:39:48 UTC