Ezekiel Woodward1,2,3,4,5,6

M, b. before 8 May 1625
FatherNathaniel Woodward b. c 1586, d. a 1661
MotherMargaret Lawrence b. c 1590
     Ezekiel was born in Podington, Bedfordshire, England. He was christened there on 8 May 1625 in Podington.7 Ezekiel married Ann Beamsley, daughter of William Beamsley and Anne (?), before 22 May 1650 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. On a pettion of this date, Ann was noted with the surname Woodward.8 After their marriage, Ezekiel and Anne lived on property given to them by Ann's father; the property was a part of William's own home lot. At the time that William made his will, he officially confirmed the house and lot to be theirs. Ezekiel was not involved in public life and did not become a member of the church while living in Boston. He was a carpenter and spent his time at his craft, keeping busy to support his family. The couple lived at the tract given them by Ann's father until 1661, at this time, Ezekiel bought a tract of land in Ipswich. The purchase consisted of 2 and a half acres and a house. This was to be their home for about the next ten years, until Anne's death. By 1672, Ezekiel had moved to Wenham, where he was to spend the rest of his life.8 Ezekiel's wife, Ann, died before 20 December 1672 in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, leaving him a widower.9 Ezekiel married 2nd Elizabeth (?) on 20 December 1672 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts.10,11,8 Ezekiel was a major participant in King Philip's War and served valiantly in the war effort. By the end of the affair, he was listed as a Sergeant, and for his efforts, was eventually awarded bonus land in Buxton, Maine, which he immediately sold to others wanting to make the move. Soon after moving to Wenham, he sought and received a license to sell liquor. He took up the business of running an inn and had his license renewed each year. Ezekiel's wife, Elizabeth, died on 3 February 1678 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts, leaving him a widower.12 After the death of Elizabeth, he stayed on in the home that had been her 1st husband's, paying rent until a lawsuit by the heirs of the estate forced him to give up the home. He was able to get his license for selling liquor renewed and he was able to continue “providing provisions for both horses and men” Legal actions were involved in getting his license back and he did so, on the rationale that he was physically unable to continue working as a carpenter. He may have been lame or have suffered a back injury. Ezekiel married 3rd Sarah Edwards in the spring of 1679 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts.13,14,15,16,8 After his marriage to Sarah, Ezekiel continued running his business, but as time went on and the years and his age kept mounting, he became less and less involved and Sarah gradually took over running the inn. By at least April of 1693, it seems that she was solely running the inn. Ezekiel departed this life on Thursday, 29 January 1699 in Wenham, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Family 1

Ann Beamsley b. 13 Feb 1633, d. b 20 Dec 1672
Children

Family 2

Elizabeth (?) d. 3 Feb 1678

Family 3

Sarah Edwards b. c 1637

Citations

  1. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume IV: page 143 - EZEKIEL, Boston, by w. Ann, d. of William Beamsley, had Sarah, b. 21 Jan. 1654; Ann, 14 July 1653; Margaret,24 Feb. 1656; and Eliz. 12 Oct. 1657; unless the date of the first ch. in Geneal. Reg. IX. 252, should be error for 1652; beside Prudence, 4 Apr.1660. He was of Ipswich 1678, when he took the o. of alleg. and there had Martha, 3 May 1662; Mary, 8 Dec. 1664; Ezekiel, 9 Aug. 1666; and Rachel, 20 Jan. 1669.
  2. [S1127] Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Woodward, Ezekiel, carpenter, Boston, married about 1650 Anne, daughter of Willaim Beamsley, and had deeds of house and orchard in Boston in 1651 and 1658. Removed to Ispwich, from which he sold Boston lands in 1692. He deposed at Salem 30 November 1690, age about 58 years; had married Elizabeth, widow of John Solart, Senior of Wenham in 1672. Children: Anne b. Aug 10 1651, Sarah b. 14 July 1653, (sic) Margaret b. Feb 24, 1655, Elizabeth b. Oct. 22, 1657, Prudence b. April 1660.
  3. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume I: pages 666 -.
  4. [S1133] Theron Royal Woodward, Nathaniel Woodward of Boston.
  5. [S1134] Doreen Potter Hanna, Potter-Richardson Memorial: The Ancstrial Lines of William W. Potter of Michigan & His Wife Margaret [Richardson] Potter

    , pages 309-310 - EZEKIEL WOODWARD2 (Nathaniel"), born in England about 1622, emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. He married there about 1650, Anne Beamsley2, daughter of William Beamsleyl. In 1660, they removed to Ipswich, Massachusetts. Here his wife died in 1671. He married in Wenham, December 20, 1672, Elizabeth, widow of John Solart. She died in 1678. His third marriage, 1678/9, was to Sarah (Edwards) Piper, widow of Nathaniel Piper, and daughter of Rice and Joan (     ) Edwards. He died in Wenham, Massachusetts, January 29,1698/9.
    Children: By first marriage: Anne, 1651, m. 1672, Thomas Day; Sarah, 1653, m. 1671, William Row; Margaret, 1655, m. 1672, William Andrews; Elizabeth, 1657; Prudence, 1660, m. 1677, Benjamin Marshall; Martha, 1662, m. 1685, Nathaniel Emerson; Mary, 1664; Ezekiel, 1666, m. Hannah Perkins; Rachel, 1668; & Abial, 1670/5, m. Peter Yarrington.
    References: Wenham Vital Records.
  6. [S1131] Mary Walton Ferris, Dawes-Gates ancestral lines, a memorial volume containing the American ancestry of Rufus R. Dawe, pages 667-672.
  7. [S2297] Doris J Woodward & Patricia Law Hatcher, the English Origin of Nathaniel Woodward, page 151.
  8. [S2297] Doris J Woodward & Patricia Law Hatcher, the English Origin of Nathaniel Woodward, page 167.
  9. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume I: page 667 -.
  10. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume I: page 697 -.
  11. [S7] Esq., of Washington, D.C. Herbert F. Smith, John Strickland of Long Island and His Sons-In-Law, John Solart died 1672 & Elizabeth __; she married 2nd Ezekiel Woodard 1672.
  12. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume I: page 671 -.
  13. [S115] Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations Of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, On The Basis Of Farmer's Registar, Volume III: page 440 - Nathaniel Piper - Will 7 March 1676 names wife Sarah & his children.
  14. [S1132] Fred S. Piper, Nathaniel Piper of Ipswich, Massachusetts and Some of His Descendants, page 1 - He [Nathaniel Piper] married Sarah ___, who married 2ndly, Ezekiel Woodward, and was living in April 1696.
  15. [S7] Esq., of Washington, D.C. Herbert F. Smith, John Strickland of Long Island and His Sons-In-Law, Nathaniel Piper & Sarah Edwards[?], daughter of Rice; she married 2nd Ezekiel Wood.
  16. [S1134] Doreen Potter Hanna, Potter-Richardson Memorial: The Ancstrial Lines of William W. Potter of Michigan & His Wife Margaret [Richardson] Potter

    , page 672 - … in 1678 Ezekiel was married thirdly* to Sarah (Knowlton ?) Piper, widow of Nathaniel' of Wenham, above mentioned, and thereby hangs a tale,'4 for she had been receiving attentions from one John Poland and may even have been engaged to marry him. After her marriage to Ezekiel, certain men taunted Poland with having "lost his widow," asked how "Woodward got along with his new wife" etc. In order to "save his face" Poland began to peddle lies and on June 20, 1679, Ezekiel brought suit against Poland for defamation, for slandering him and his wife. The case came to trial in September, 1679, and witnesses testified that Poland had said the widow had a poor bargain with Ezekiel and she repented of it; that Ezekiel did not deserve her, and her friends wondered that she left Poland. Then Poland became intrigued with his subject and claimed that the widow's brother Knowlton "sayd to me yt shee came To him slaubering & crying & sayd yt she was undonne by maring Woodward: & That shee was very much Troubled That she had wronged me: yt is poland & That she was not able To see me but watterd hir plants at The meetting at the very sight of me & did grately bemone hurself That shee should offer so much wrong To polend & That I derst not goe To The meetting at wenhem for every Time she see mee she is nott able to bare it but is ready for To swound away.//14
    A verdict was rendered in favor of Ezekiel and Poland was ordered to make acknowledgment of his fault so at this same court he "made open confession in
    court that he had done wrong to widow Piper, now the wife of Ezekiel Woodward, in speaking the words to which the witnesses testified, and was sorry for it, desiring
    the court and them to forgive him"" - which seems an easy way out for him!