Robert Woodforde, the Father
The first recorded event in Robert’s diary is the baptism of the
diarist's second child John, ho had been born on 8 August
1637. The diarist expresses much anxiety over the health
of his child who was born with considerable physical weakness
and continued to suffer with poor health and sickness until well
after its first birthday. His wife also took much time
to recover from the birth and was unable to breast‑feed her new‑born
son:‑
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" My wife is ill in her breast ... Oh Lord heale her and grant
she may bring up the poor infant with comfort, and grant that it may
thrive and prosper ... I did beseech the Lord for my poor wife who
was very ill with her breast and in agony ... "
27 August 1637. (12 days after birth).
" When I came home I found my dear child very ill and in my
apprehension not likely to live. "
29 August 1637. (21 days after birth).
" My child still as it was, asleep, and I hear with ... (illegible)
as if I fear, not likely to live."
30 August 1637. (30 days after birth).
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On this day, the father sought the assistance of a wet‑nurse
who was required to feed his child. For several days,
the infant John was fed regularly and his health and strength
improved. However the apparent cause of his feeding
difficulties was discovered by accident on 12 September 1637,
35 days after the infant's birth:‑
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" We were much affrighted for in dressing of the child John, we found a deep hole in the throat
of it, which came we supposed by the carelessness of the nurse." " After Mr Spicer had been here and the throat was dressed, he (John) tooke the breast presently, though before he had been very averse to it."
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For the remainder of the autumn the child continued to suffer
ill‑health, though Hannah, his mother, gradually recovered her
strength. Throughout October and November various diary entries
record that John continued to suffer. On 17 December 1637 for
example, the diarist recorded:‑
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" Little John is very ill with a cold in his lung and head."
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Despite his frailty and despite the plague epidemic that was to
reach Northampton during John's infancy, the child was to prosper.
In adulthood he took Holy Orders, and his descendants formed a
branch of the Woodforde family which became the Baronetcy of
Carleby.
Apart from John's frailty and continuing illness, the diarist also
recorded the occasional domestic accidents and infections which
have befallen small children of every age. The chief of the
illnesses were Consumption, Smallpox and Measles:‑
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" Poore Sam hath bene very ill this morninge with vomitinge ... "
12 January 1637/8.
" I have this day receaved from my deare & good wife a letter wherein she desires my prayers for her in the Condicon
she is in beinge nere her time, & informes me that little Sam is not well. "
4 August 1638.
" My deare child Sam is very ill with an extreme cough and sniffinge, and I am doubtfull least it should be Consumption."
8 May 1639.
" Oh Lord ... heale my deare children, Sam of his cough; John of his weake and sore eyes & blesse us all."
15 May 1639.
" The Lord hath in some measure graciously remembered my child Sam, of his
lamenesse."
26 June 1639.
" Little John's eyes are much amisse .. but I have prayed unto the Lord for him & for Sam who hath a dangerous cough & for my little girle (Sarah) who is or hath bene very ill."
4 May 1639.
" Poore Sam hath bene very ill this morninge with vomitinge ... "
12 January 1637/8.
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The Woodforde's fourth child was another daughter who was born on 16
August 1639 and was named Sussanah. She was baptised by Charles
Newton, the curate at All Saints, on Saturday 24 August 1639. Mrs
Susan Pentlowe and Mrs Anne Coles acted as witnesses to the baptism,
and the influential puritan minister at Wilby, Revd Andrew Perne,
preached at the ceremony. Again, Hannah was unable to breast‑feed
the infant who was taken for a while to Goodwife Iveletty.
The fifth child to be born to Robert and Hannah Woodforde failed to
survive. Thomas Woodforde was born on Tuesday 18 August 1640 and
died on Thursday 27 August 1640, ten days later.
On the day preceeding the birth, the diarist recorded that his wife
fell ill at about 7.00pm.:‑
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" The women are with her & we suppose it is her travail & the midwife Goodwife Edwards is now come."
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Less than eight hours later, in the early hours of the following
morning Hannah gave birth to Thomas. There is no further reference
to the child or to Hannah until Sunday 23 August when the diarist
expressed his concern for the infant's wellbeing:‑
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" .. and now the little infant is very ill. I pray thee Lorde heale it if it be thy will ... "
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The entry ends with news that the child had begun to take
nourishment during the night after the diarist had gone to bed.
There is a further note added at a later date which reflects the
parents' growing concern for their child's wellbeing:‑
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" My wife & I prayed afterward for the poore child."
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There was no improvement on the following morning when a long and
emotional prayer to God is preceeded by the following diary entry:‑
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" The Child I heare sucked very well in the night but since that is very ill & we & others much feare that it will dye."
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That evening at about 9.00pm Robert went to the home of his
minister, Revd Thomas Ball and requested the ordinance of baptism:‑
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" That eveninge about 9 a clock I went for Mr Ball to desire him to come & baptise my poore child who was ill, & so had bene from Saterday so he came & Baptysed it in the Chamber."
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For two more days, Robert and Hannah prayed earnestly for the
child's deliverance, but on Thursday 27 August the infant lost the
struggle for life:‑
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" This morninge about 7 a clock after my deare wife & I had commended o(u)r poore child
Tom into the armes of the Lord by prayer it dyed. The first app(ea)rence of afflicon in this kind which we have had, Lord sanctify it to us ... It was buryed this afternoone. Dust I am & to dust I shall returne."
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There is no further reference to Thomas in the diary. On the day
following the child's burial, the diarist travelled to Scaldwell on
legal business, and continued with his duties for the remainder of
the week. There is no mention either of the mother's physical
condition or her state of mind. The next reference to his family is
on 4 September, over a week later, when Robert was again concerned
about John's health. Hannah was churched at her home by Mr Holmes.
Mrs Crick and Goodman Ivelety on 13 September and the routine of
family life continued.
No other child was born to Robert and Hannah within the time span of
the diary but the closing pages of the document indicate that yet
another child was due. The entry for 29 July 1641 again
reveals the diarist's concern for the well‑being of his wife and his
unborn child:
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" Lord many have lately dyed in Childbed, wee shall the better see & acknowledge thy great mercy to us in p(re)servinge thy handmayd(en) ... "
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