Barbara’s family
Rev John Woodbridge Jr
English nonconformist · New England minister
1613 – 17 MAR 1695 · 10th great-grandfatherRev. John Woodbridge Jr (1613–17 March 1695, with a conflicting 1696 death year in the original notes) was an English nonconformist who emigrated to New England by 1634. He served Newbury as its first town clerk and as a deputy to the General Court, helped lead settlement at what became Andover, and was ordained there in 1645. After a period in England, he returned permanently to New England in 1663, served at Newbury, and later became a township magistrate.
By 1634, Woodbridge had immigrated to America. He took up land at Newbury, Massachusetts, and served as the town’s first clerk until 19 November 1638. He was a deputy to the General Court in 1637, 1640, and 1641.
On 20 May 1639, probably at Newbury, he married Mercy Dudley, daughter of Governor Thomas Dudley and sister of Anne Bradstreet. They reportedly had twelve children.
In 1641, Woodbridge purchased land described as being “about Cochichewick,” which had been reserved by a 1634 vote of the General Court. He led a group of settlers there in 1641. The settlement became Andover; the original notes state that the name was chosen because some settlers had come from Andover, Hampshire, England. Woodbridge was ordained at Andover on 24 October 1645 and served as teacher of its congregation.
Woodbridge returned to England in 1647. He became chaplain to the commissioners for the Treaty of Newport on the Isle of Wight. During this journey, he carried a manuscript of poetry by his sister-in-law, Anne Bradstreet, to England without her knowledge. It was published in London as The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up into America, by a Gentlewoman in such Parts.
In 1663, Woodbridge returned to New England and thereafter settled there permanently. At Newbury, he became teacher and assistant pastor alongside his uncle, Rev. Thomas Parker, M.A. The original notes state that disagreements with the congregation concerning church discipline led him to leave that post in 1672. He then became a magistrate of the township.
The supplied life dates give his death as 17 March 1695, while the original notes give 17 March 1696.
Historical context
Woodbridge’s life included public, religious, and civic service in early New England. His work as Newbury’s first town clerk, his service as a deputy to the General Court, his role in the settlement of Andover, and his later service as a township magistrate are all described in the original notes. His connection with the first publication of Anne Bradstreet’s poetry also links him to an early work of New England literature.
Sources & research
Wikipedia, “John Woodbridge,” as reproduced in the original Family Tree Maker notes.
Dictionary of National Biography, “Woodbridge, Benjamin.” London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885–1900. Cited as reference [1] in the original notes.
Holden, Barbara R. (2001). “North Andover - The Original Andover,” The Essex Genealogist, Vol. 21:195–199. Cited as reference [2] in the original notes.
Woodlief, A. (n.d.). “Biography of Anne Bradstreet.” Retrieved 1 September 2006 from http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradbio.htm. Cited as reference [3] in the original notes.
White, Elizabeth (1971). Anne Bradstreet: “The Tenth Muse”. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 255–256. ISBN 9780195014402. Cited as reference [4] in the original notes.
Ezell, Margaret (1999). Social Authorship and the Advent of Print. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 49. ISBN 9780801861390. Cited as reference [5] in the original notes.
Original notes citation [6]: no bibliographic source details supplied.