Joseph Woodsum1

b. 1680/81, d. before 4 June 1776

4th great-grandfather of Ruth Minerva Fairfield.
6th great-grandfather of Laura Jane Munson.
Family Background:
Fairfield and Allied Families
Appears on charts:
Pedigree for Ruth Minerva Fairfield
     Joseph Woodsum was born in 1680/81, probably at Leeds, Yorkshire, England.2 He married first Margaret Hornabrook, daughter of John Hornabrook and Mary (—?—), before 1708.2 He married second Abigail Abbot, daughter of John Abbot and Abigail Nason, on 12 February 1723/24 at Berwick, York County, Maine.3,4,5,6,7 He died before 4 June 1776.8
     
     Joseph Woodsum was the father of eleven children and progenitor of all the American Woodsum (Woodsome/Woodsom) families.2 He settled before 1708 in Berwick, York County, Maine.2 He was a tailor.9 He and sons Joseph and John appears on a list of Captain John Hill's company, on 22 October 1740 in Berwick.10 He was living on 19 January 1756.8

     Joseph's marriage to Margaret was likely an unhappy one. In August 1708, before they married, Margaret was "indiscreet with Francis Shallot" at Newcastle. Whether for this offense or a later one, she was acquitted of adultery in Boston in 1714 while Joseph was in England. She then disappears from the records, but was probably still living because Joseph waited some years to marry Abigail with whom he had been having an affair since at least 1717 when the couple was first presented to the court for bastardy.11

Additional Data
Joseph Woodsum and Abigail Abbot were in court charged with bastardy in September 1717 in York County, Maine.12

Joseph Woodsum was in court charged with cursing in March 1719 in York County, Maine.13

Joseph Woodsum and Abigail Abbot were again in court charged with bastardy in March 1722 in York County, Maine.14

Joseph Woodsum was in court charged with profanity in June 1726 in York County, Maine.15

Children of Joseph Woodsum and Abigail Abbot

Citations

  1. [S761] The New England Historical and Genealogical Register; (Online database: NewEnglandAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001), (Orig. Pub. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 148 vols., 1847-1994) 82:91.
  2. [S761] NEHGR, 144:361, book gets very good review; have not been able to locate a copy.
  3. [S761] NEHGR, 82:91, location not stated.
  4. [S761] NEHGR, 144:361, year only; book gets very good review; have not been able to locate a copy.
  5. [S761] NEHGR, 55:311, town record.
  6. [S749] Charles Thornton Libby, compiler, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire (Portland, Maine: The Southward Press, 1928), 349, location not stated.
  7. [S755] Everett S. Stackpole, compiler, Old Kittery and Her Families (Lewiston, Maine: Press of Lewiston Journal Company, 1903), 271.
  8. [S749] Charles Thornton Libby, Libby, 349.
  9. [S746] G.T. Ridlon Sr., Saco Valley Settlements and Families (Portland, Maine: the author, 1895), 1208.
  10. [S748] Esq., N.J. Herrick, "A List of Captain John Hill's Company in Berwick, Taken this 22d Day of October Annoyn Domini 1740, and Trained the Day Aforesaid", Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder 2:3 (1885): 204.
  11. [S749] Charles Thornton Libby, Libby, 349, facts regarding Hornabrook.
  12. [S754] York County US Court Index, online <http://www.raynorshyn.com/megenweb/york/courtvue.asp>, Index No. 609393, SESS, vol. 6 p. 409.
  13. [S754] York Co. Court Index, online <http://www.raynorshyn.com/megenweb/york/courtvue.asp>, Index No. 609408, SESS, vol. 1 p. 2.
  14. [S754] York Co. Court Index, online <http://www.raynorshyn.com/megenweb/york/courtvue.asp>, Index No. 600260, SESS, vol. 7 p. 39.
  15. [S754] York Co. Court Index, online <http://www.raynorshyn.com/megenweb/york/courtvue.asp>, Index No. 609520, SESS, vol. 7 p. 101.
  16. [S746] G.T. Ridlon Sr., Ridlon, 1209.
  17. [S761] NEHGR, 82:93.