M. 29 Jan 1617 in South Petherton, England2
Wife: Elizabeth Patch
D. before 26 Apr 1677 in Beverly, Massachusetts3
There are some gaps in the records regarding William Woodbury, but one thing that’s certain is he was definitely an early inhabitant of what is now Beverly, Massachusetts. William was born in about 1589, likely in or near South Petherton in Somerset, England.1 He married Elizabeth Patch there on January 26, 1617.2 It is believed they had 10 children, but the names of three are not known and they may have died young. Baptismal records for three sons were recorded at the parish in South Petherton; two other children were baptized later in Misterton (also in Somerset). Their youngest son, Nathaniel, was born after the family migrated to New England.4
William is sometimes credited as having first come to Cape Ann (what is now Salem, Massachusetts) as early as 1628. If this is true, he must have returned to England for the birth of his daughter Hannah in 1629. A man named John Woodbury (also from Somerset) did come to Cape Ann in 1628,5 and he is thought to be the brother or close cousin of William. The first record of Willam in America is that he owned 40 acres in Salem in 1637.5
As the community of Salem developed, some settlers chose to live across the bay to the north and William was one of them. On October 17, 1638, he was granted 20 acres at Mackerel Cove,5 and this is where he made his home. The peninsula where he lived became known as Woodbury Point, and it still is today.6 The northern part of Salem was split off and became the town of Beverly in 1668.7
William's name on the map.
As with all men in Puritan New England, William was assigned certain duties in his community. On 30 March 1640, William and a man named Lawrence Southwick were put in charge of keeping the livestock under control.5 In those days, cattle were herded in common areas and it was important that nobody’s cow or bull roamed free and damaged property. William also served on the Salem grand jury in 1643, 1644 and 1647.8 And when a road was needed to connect the ferry to the head of a major creek, William was called upon to help lay it out.5
In 1667, William was one of the names on the petition to form the first church in Beverly.9 Along with his name, are his wife Elizabeth and several of his sons. William died in Beverly before April 26, 1677, when his estate was probated.3 His will written in 1663 bequeathed his property and possessions to his wife and six of his children. William's descendants include First Lady Grace Coolidge, Vice President Charles Dawes, John Kerry and John Langdon, signer of the U.S. Constitution.10
Children:
1. Nicholas Woodbury — B. before 9 Apr 1618, South Petherton, England;11 D. 19 May 1686, Beverly, Massachusetts;12 M. Anna Palgrave (~1626-1701), 1651, Charlestown, Massachusetts13
2. William Woodbury — B. before 7 May 1620, South Petherton, England;14 D. before 13 Jan 1668, Beverly, Massachusetts;15 M. Judith Finne (1629-1672), 17 Apr 1651, Stepney, Middlesex, England16
3. Andrew Woodbury — B. before 9 Mar 1622, South Petherton, England;17 D. before 29 Jun 1685, (probably) Beverly, Massachusetts;5 M. Mary Cockerel (~1627-1685), 1657, Salem, Massachusetts5
4. Hugh Woodbury — B. about 1625, (probably) South Petherton, England;5 M. Mary Dixey (~1634-?), Dec 1650, Salem, Massachusetts18
5. Hannah Woodbury — B. about Sep 1629, Misterton, England;5 D. before May 1701, Essex County, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) James Patch (1626-1658), about 1644, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;5 (2) Mark Haskell, about 1660, Salem, Massachusetts19
6. Isaac Woodbury — B. about 1630, Misterton, England5
7. Nathaniel Woodbury — B. before 11 Dec 1639, Salem, Massachusetts;4 D. (probably) before 16635
Sources:
1 Estimated year of William’s birth and location of birth based on his marriage vital data
2 Marriage record of Wilhelmus Woodberry and Elizabetha Patch, England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999, FindMyPast.co.uk
3 Probate record of William Woodberry, The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. I, pp.140-141
4 Baptismal record of Nathaniel Woodberry, Vital Records of Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
5 “William Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts,” David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, NEHGR, V.175, 2021
6 Woodbury Point (Wikipedia article)
7 Beverly, Massachusetts (Wikipedia article)
8 The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1917
9 Records of the First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts, 1667-1772, William P. Upham, 1905
10 Famous Kin listing of William Woodbury
11 Baptismal record of Nicholas Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
12 Death record of Nicholas Woodbury, Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts
13 Marriage of Nicholas Woodbury and Anna Paulsgrave, New England Marriages prior to 1700, Clarence A. Torrey
14 Baptismal record of William Woodberry (younger), E.,S.,C.R.
15 Probate of William Woodbury (younger), P.R.E.C.,M.
16 Marriage record of William Woodbury and Judith Finne, St. Dunstan’s Church Parish Register, FamilySearch.org
17 Baptismal record of Andrew Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
18 Marriage record of Hugh Woodbury and Mary Dixey, V.R.S.M.
19 “Children of James and Hannah (Woodbury) Patch,” G. Burton Bird, NEHGR, V.100, 1946
In 1667, William was one of the names on the petition to form the first church in Beverly.9 Along with his name, are his wife Elizabeth and several of his sons. William died in Beverly before April 26, 1677, when his estate was probated.3 His will written in 1663 bequeathed his property and possessions to his wife and six of his children. William's descendants include First Lady Grace Coolidge, Vice President Charles Dawes, John Kerry and John Langdon, signer of the U.S. Constitution.10
Children:
1. Nicholas Woodbury — B. before 9 Apr 1618, South Petherton, England;11 D. 19 May 1686, Beverly, Massachusetts;12 M. Anna Palgrave (~1626-1701), 1651, Charlestown, Massachusetts13
2. William Woodbury — B. before 7 May 1620, South Petherton, England;14 D. before 13 Jan 1668, Beverly, Massachusetts;15 M. Judith Finne (1629-1672), 17 Apr 1651, Stepney, Middlesex, England16
3. Andrew Woodbury — B. before 9 Mar 1622, South Petherton, England;17 D. before 29 Jun 1685, (probably) Beverly, Massachusetts;5 M. Mary Cockerel (~1627-1685), 1657, Salem, Massachusetts5
4. Hugh Woodbury — B. about 1625, (probably) South Petherton, England;5 M. Mary Dixey (~1634-?), Dec 1650, Salem, Massachusetts18
5. Hannah Woodbury — B. about Sep 1629, Misterton, England;5 D. before May 1701, Essex County, Massachusetts;5 M. (1) James Patch (1626-1658), about 1644, (probably) Salem, Massachusetts;5 (2) Mark Haskell, about 1660, Salem, Massachusetts19
6. Isaac Woodbury — B. about 1630, Misterton, England5
7. Nathaniel Woodbury — B. before 11 Dec 1639, Salem, Massachusetts;4 D. (probably) before 16635
Sources:
1 Estimated year of William’s birth and location of birth based on his marriage vital data
2 Marriage record of Wilhelmus Woodberry and Elizabetha Patch, England, Somerset, Church Records, 1501-1999, FindMyPast.co.uk
3 Probate record of William Woodberry, The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. I, pp.140-141
4 Baptismal record of Nathaniel Woodberry, Vital Records of Salem, Essex, Massachusetts
5 “William Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts,” David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, NEHGR, V.175, 2021
6 Woodbury Point (Wikipedia article)
7 Beverly, Massachusetts (Wikipedia article)
8 The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, 1917
9 Records of the First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts, 1667-1772, William P. Upham, 1905
10 Famous Kin listing of William Woodbury
11 Baptismal record of Nicholas Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
12 Death record of Nicholas Woodbury, Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts
13 Marriage of Nicholas Woodbury and Anna Paulsgrave, New England Marriages prior to 1700, Clarence A. Torrey
14 Baptismal record of William Woodberry (younger), E.,S.,C.R.
15 Probate of William Woodbury (younger), P.R.E.C.,M.
16 Marriage record of William Woodbury and Judith Finne, St. Dunstan’s Church Parish Register, FamilySearch.org
17 Baptismal record of Andrew Woodberry, E.,S.,C.R.
18 Marriage record of Hugh Woodbury and Mary Dixey, V.R.S.M.
19 “Children of James and Hannah (Woodbury) Patch,” G. Burton Bird, NEHGR, V.100, 1946
