ANCESTRY

 The name Woodbury is said to have been derived from the Danish word "Wooden" and, in the Anglo Saxon, is a compound of Wade, meaning mad or furious, and bury, or byrig, which is equivalent to the German burg, or to our borough.
 Woodbury Castle is an old Danish earthwork, extant on a hill in the parish to which it have its name, long before the Norman Conquest.
 The evidence available seems to establish fairly well the fact that all, or nearly all, of the Woodbury's in America today are descendants of two brothers, John and William Woodbury, who came to America during the early part of the seventeenth century.  They are believed to have been sons of John Woodbury, who lived with his family in Burlescomb, Devonshire, England.
 A.  John Woodbury, the older of the two brothers, came to America in about 1623, and settled at Cape Ann, when the Great Council of Plymouth exercised exclusive jurisdiction over New England.
 With his companions, Conant, Balch, and Palfrey, he laid the foundation of the town of Salem.  Roger Conant is said to have built the first house in that settlement.  These four men, with a few associates, were usually referred to, in local history, as "The Old Planter."  They were men of ability, and were strongly instrumental in laying the foundation of the subsequent "Bay Commonwealth."
 In 1627, John Woodbury was sent to England to confer with their sponsors as to the future of the colony, to procure promised men and supplies; and above all, to obtain the patent, of charter, that would secure to them the control and management of the enterprise.  After a six month stay in England, he returned to America, bringing with him his son Humphrey, his younger brother William, and also a favorable reply for those whom he had been sent to represent.
 
 B.  William Woodbury, who came to America with his brother John, in about 1628, was the ancestor of our grandfather, Jeremiah Woodbury, and of course of all his descendants.  He was born about 1589, in Burlescomb, Devonshire, England, and was married to Elizabeth Patch, January 29, 1616, at South Pethertan, a parish in the South eastern part of Summersetshire, about twelve miles from Burlescomb.
 William and Elizabeth were the parents of six children, listed as follows:

1.  Nicholas Woodbury, baptized April 9, 1618
2.  William Woodbury, baptized May 7, 1620
3.  Andrew Woodbury, baptized March 9,1622
4.  Hugh Woodbury
 5.  Hannah Woodbury
 6.  Isaac Woodbury

 The three older children were born and baptized at South Petherton.  But it is uncertain as to when or where the three younger ones were born or baptized.  Probably at South Petherton shortly before leaving England, or at or near Salem, Massachusetts, following their arrival in America.
 On arriving in America, they established residence in the recently founded town of Salem, along with his brother and other early residents of the place.
 Shortly thereafter a small settlement known as the Bass River Colony was established at a point about two miles north of Salem.  Later, thru the efforts of William, his brother John, and a few other leading citizens, the name Bass River Colony was discontinued, and the town was incorporated under the name of Beverly.  It seems probable that the two brothers continued their residence in Beverly during the remainder of their lives.  William is reported to have died there in 1677, at the age of eighty-eight.
 The Woodbury's, down through the years, following their advent into the new world, have been active participants in every important movement looking to the betterment of living conditions among the American people.  They have fought in every war waged on American soil for the establishment and maintenance of the four basic freedoms: freedom of speech; freedom of religion; freedom from want; and freedom from fear.
 Among the descendants of the two brothers, John and William, there have been many who have occupied positions of prominence, not only in affairs of Government, both state and national; but also in business and industrial circles, as well as in positions pertaining to the military.
 Levi Woodbury, born in Francestown, New Hampshire, in 1789, was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of that state from 1816 to 1823; Governor of the state of New Hampshire 1823 to 1824; member of the State Legislature 1825; U.S. Senator from 1825 to 1831; and from 1841 to 1845.
 He was also Secretary of the Navy from 1831 to 1834; Secretary of the Treasury from 1834 to 1841; and finally an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Count, from 1843 until the time of his death.
 Daniel P. Woodbury was born in New London, New Hampshire, in 1812.  In 1847 he was Superintending Engineering in the construction of Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie.  During the Civil War, he was promoted to Major of Engineers; and later became Brigadier General of Volunteers.
 Other descendants of the two brothers were Governor John Langdon of New Hampshire, President of the Continental Congress and Senator; Woodbury Langdon, his brother, Judge and Senator.  There were also Dr. Perkins Woodbury, and Judge Luke Woodbury of New Hampshire.
 
 II. Nicholas Woodbury, oldest son of William Woodbury, was born in South Petherton, Summersetshire, England, and was baptized at the same place, April 9, 1618.  He came from England with his parents and located in Salem, Massachusetts, but soon thereafter moved to Beverly.  He was married to Anna Paulgrove, in Charleston, Massachusetts, prior to 1651, and died at Beverly in May 1686, at the age of sixty-eight.
 Nicholas Woodbury and his wife Anna were the parents of nine children, listed as follows:
1.  Abigail Woodbury (died young)
2.  Joana Woodbury
3.  Nicholas Woodbury (died young)
4.  Abigail Woodbury
5.  Nicholas Woodbury
6.  Joseph Woodbury
7.  Isaac Woodbury
8.  Andrew Woodbury
9.  Benjamin Woodbury
 
 III.  Joseph Woodbury, third son and sixth child of Nicholas and his wife, Anna, was born September 2, 1659; was baptized at Salem, November 20, 1665, at the same time as his brothers, Isaac and Andrew.
 On December 19, 1687, he married Elizabeth West, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth West, of Beverly; and died October 14, 1714, at Manchester.  The names follow:

1.  Sarah Woodbury, born August 27, 1688
2.  Joseph Woodbury, born May 22, 1690
3.  Elizabeth Woodbury, born May 22, 1690
4.  Abigail Woodbury, born July 4, 1692
  5. Hannah Woodbury, born August 31, 1694
6.  Samuel Woodbury, born April 5, 1697
7.  John Woodbury, born April 4, 1701
8. Anna Woodbury, born September 5, 1703
9.  Benjamin Woodbury, born June 21, 1705
 IV.   John Woodbury, son of Joseph and Elizabeth West Woodbury, was born in Manchester April 4, 1701.  He was married in Ipswyck, April 12, 1723, to Sarah Knowlton of Beverly.  He was later lost at sea.  After his death, the family moved to Brookfield.
 They were the parents of five children, listed herewith as follows:

1.John Woodbury, born February 2, 1723 or 4.
2.  Sarah Woodbury, born April 19, 1725
3.  Elizabeth Woodbury, born April 6, 1726 4. Jeremiah Woodbury, born September 23, 1727
5.  Ezekial Woodbury, born December 4, 1734
 V.  Jeremiah Woodbury, fourth child and second son of John and Sarah Knowlton Woodbury, was born in Manchester, September 23, 1727.  He later settled in Brookfield, where he married Sybella Jerusha Tucker, March 22, 1750. She was the daughter of Arthur Tucker, and was born April 14, 1728.  She died in Leverett, Massachusetts, March 24, 1801.
 In the French War of 1756, we find the name of Jeremiah Woodbury on the muster roll of Captain Cooley's Company.  The term of service was specified as extending from September 20 to November 24, 1756.  Again we find his name on the muster roll of Captain Jacob Abbot's Company, under date of August 9, 1757.  He passed his later days at the home of his son, John Woodbury, of Leverett, where he died July 15, 1820, at the age of almost ninety-three years.
 He and his wife Sybella were the parents of nine children, all born in Brookfield.  There names follow.
1.Sarah Woodbury, born October 10, 1750
2.John Woodbury, born June 30, 1752
3.Mehitable Woodbury, born February 14,1755
4.Jerusha Woodbury, born May 27, 1757
 5.Elizabeth Woodbury, born December 24, 17596. Diana Woodbury, born December 21, 1761
7. Hannah Woodbury, born December 27, 1767
8. Thomas Woodbury, born October 27, 1767
9. Sybil Woodbury, born May 20, 1770

 VI.  John Woodbury, second child and oldest son of Jeremiah Woodbury, was born in Brookfield June 30, 1752, and died in Leverett, March 18, 1821.  He married Mary Ward of Amherst, who was born in September 1750, and died February 18, 1829.
 He was a lieutenant and captain in Colonel Leonard's regiment, in 1775, and was credited on the quota of the town of Amherst, although he does not appear to have been a resident of that town.
 He and his wife Mary were the parents of ten children, listed as follows:
1. Electa Woodbury, married Williams
2. Jerusha Woodbury, born April 17, 1778
3. John Woodbury, born August 29, 1780
4. Susan Woodbury, married Deacon Abel Bancroft
5. Polly Woodbury, married Deacon Silas Filed
6. Jeremiah Woodbury, born March 9, 1791, at Leverett Massachusetts7. Isaac Woodbury, married Eunice Osgood
8. Ward Woodbury, married Nancy Field
9. Lucy Woodbury, (died young)
10.Sybil Woodbury, born July 2, 1794.  Died April 26, 1872, at North Amherst.  Married September 7, 1813, to Joshua Hobart, of Amherst, and have ten children, all born in Amherst.

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