The Woodforde Family

A History of the Woodforde Family from 1300

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH INFORMATION

This page is a point of reference for family and genealogical research associated with the surname Woodford of Woodforde.  If you recognise any of the names, events or pedigrees listed on this page, and can add further details, please do contact me here.

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Grace Snyder Woodford - New York

Woodford - Great Creaton Northamptonshire

We research the Tarry and Markham families of Great Creaton, Northants. William Tarry wrote his will 22 Aug 1678. In it, he named his good friends and neighbors Richard Woodford of Great Creaton, Clerk, William Hackney, and John Battison, both also of Great Creaton. These men were  appointed to make sure William Tarry's wishes were carried out in the event Tarry's eldest son John refused the executorship.

I see you list a will for Richard Woodford of Creaton, so I'm wondering if you have any Tarry information that might be helpful for us. Also, do you know if Richard Woodford was Anglican or non-conformist? William Tarry seems to have been arrested in 1657 for not attending church, but we haven't come across the reason yet. The Tarry family was non-conformist in the 1800s, but we're not sure about earlier, sometimes they seem to be and other times not. We're pretty sure the Markhams were non-conformist --John Markham leased the land that the Independent Chapel was built on to the minister and it's possible he was married to the minister's daughter Hannah Shuttleworth.  We think the Markhams may have resisted a Tarry-Markham marriage in about 1691 because the Tarrys were either Royalist or Anglican, but we're just guessing about that right now. 

I descend from that Tarry. John Tarry married Anne Markham about 1691. We're trying to determine if William was John's father or grandfather. 

Thanks Dee Dee

I am absolutely certain that Revd Richard Woodford (born 1614,died 1703)was Anglican, but possibly with a strong puritan bias.

In terms of family descent, his parents were William Woodford (died1676) of Welford, and Dorothy Lucas of Old, Northants. William's father was Richard Woodford of Thornby, Northants (died 1602) and his father was Robert Woodford of Old, Northants (died 1594) from whom I descend through that Richard's elder brother Edward.

The Northamptonshire antiquarian Henry Isham Longden seemed to have a great interest in the Woodford family of his county and drew up a number of pedigrees. He certainly drew up a pedigree of the Woodford family of Creaton, and there is a further pedigree, not of Henry's under the catalogue number of  D1720. There is definitely a catalogue entry which reads "Woodford, Richard, Great Creaton, clerk, though the date seems
wrong. These documents are all at the Northamptonshire Record Office and are well catalogued - in Henry's own longhand.  I would suggest that a visit to the NRO would greatly assist your research.  Certainly, the
descent I have just outlined is derived from Henry's notes.

Northampton was the hotbed of Puritanism in Richard's time and was probably the strongest puritan centre in the country.  Although I have no evidence relating to Richard Woodford, other Woodfords in the near area certainly ran the gauntlet of arrest and appearances in the Star Chamber because of their puritan beliefs.

I am fairly certain that Richard is listed in Oxfordiensis - the listing of fellows and graduates of Oxford University, where you might obtain further details of his life.

Emily Rosalie Woodforde 1862 Christchurch New Zealand

Stephen,

I am trying to trace the above gentleman. He married Mary Jane BIGHAM in 1861 in Christchurch, New Zealand and I believe settled in the city as a watchmaker. They had one child which I can find records for, Emily Rosalie Woodforde in 1862. I haven't been able to find any further reference to the family until Emily marries in England in 1881. The certificate doesn't say if her father is deceased or not.

I can't prove that its the same man, but a Mr Woodforde landed in Christchurch with the ship, Gananoque, which left from London in February 1860. There are some references to James Woodford/e in electoral rolls and the like in Christchurch until 1865, but then I loose him and he doesn't seem to have died because there is no reference to it.

Does this link to anything you have?

thanks

Ros

Asa Woodford and James Woodford - New York

We are looking for proof that Asa Woodford was the father of James Woodford.  Asa was born in 1762 in Avon, CT and married Phebe Moses in about 1782 in New York.  Their child was James Woodford who was born in 1786 in New York and who married Urania Robinson in 1803, also in New York.  

Proof is needed for DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) membership.  We need a deed, will or probate that shows relationship.  

Thank you for any help.

Betsy

Woodford - Light - Blount families of Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire

I am tracing my Judde ancestors in and around Banbury 16th - 17th Cntury, and because I have come up against a brick wall, I have started looking at other families, namely families like the Popes, Bustards,Norths, Fiennes, Copes, Danvers, Lights, Blounts etc

I have recently come across references to the WOODFORD family, I have a Cicely Woodford who married an Edmund Danvers sometime 1558, and another reference to an Ursula Woodford who married a Sir Walter Light, Ursula is described as the daughter of Thomas Woodford and Elizabeth Blount.

If you have anything on these two, Cicely and Ursula or the Blounts, Lights or for that matter any references to the Judde family, I would like to hear from you, I am quite happy to share information.

Many thanks

David Judd 

I certainly know of this side of the Woodford family but I don't think I can offer much information that you don't already have.  The following pedigree information is drawn from John Nichols `History and Antiquities of Leicestershire and the Harleian Visitation of Buckinghamshire:

Robert Woodford of Ashby Folville in Leicestershire as born 1481, eldest son of Sir Ralph Woodford. He married Alice GATE of Burnham in Buckinghamshire and had six children.  The eldest son was THOMAS WOODFORD who was born in Brightwell on Buckinghamshire. Thomas married ELIZABETH BLOUNT.  They had thirteen children including URSULA who married ROBERT or WALTER LIGHT of Radway in Warwickshire. Thomas and Elizabeth also had a daughter called Cecilia who married someone from Weston in Oxfordshire.

Nichols was notoriously uncritical of the sources he used, so it does not surprise me that he gives Ursula's husband as Robert, whereas you have found the name to be Walter.  Cecily or Cecilia is a popular Woodford family name, and comes originally from Cecily Neville who was some four generations back before Robert Woodford.

My source of information in respect of the Woodford family was from Family Search in respect of the LIGHT family (Thomas, Christopher and Walter). Another source was from Genforum (Sandy Tracy - email
sanjent@gte.net) who advised that Sir Walter Light (born 1526 Radway Grange, Warwicks) married Ursula Woodford daughter of Thomas Woodford and Elizabeth Blount. 

Hope this is of some interest, would be interested to hear if you have anything further to add

David Judd

Ann Dorville, Heighes Woodforde - Alhampton - Ansford Family

Ansford - Descendants of Francis Cardew Woodforde
 

George Woodford - Lymington - Boldre

Hi there Stephen. I am quite impressed with your website.

Ridout Woodforde

Hello.

I was just curiously reading through all the great links to Woodforde and saw Kevin's email RE: Ridout Woodforde.

My name is Nova Germaine Ridout Woodforde, 27 yrs old and my grandfather was Ian Sydney Ridout Woodforde.

Im interested to know of my connection to other Woodforde's. I know my uncle Peter Woodforde has done some research on the topic and will try to get some information from him also.

It's very exciting and I look forward to sharing info and links toward any connection.

Nova Woodforde

Woodford of Dorset

Hi Stephen,

I Intended to answer this weeks ago but time flies by!  My brother, Richard WOODFORD and I, both born in Nether Wallop, Hants. descend from the Dorset WOODFORDs who lived around Sixpenny Handley.  Richard WOODFORD married Edith BOWN/BOUND 1750 in Farnham, Dorset.  Their daughter, Edith WOODFORD had two base born sons, Jeremiah about 1769/70 and Isaac, bapt. July 1778 in Gussage St. Andrews, Dorset.  Edith later married Thomas SWEET and they had a son John.  We descend from Jeremiah who married Ann ROSSITER in 1813, in Hartgrove, they
were our 3 x gr. grandparents. Gr. gr. grandfather William Rossiter WOODFORD married Miriam HALL in E.
Knoyle, Wilts. 2 April 1846 Gr. grandfather Osmond Wm. WOODFORD married Sarah Ann COOMBS in Shaftesbury,
Dor. 26 April 1870 Grandfather, William WOODFORD married Mary Freelove WASTFIELD in Tisbury,
Wilts. 14 Feb. 1900. Our father Wm. WALTER Wastfield WOODFORD married Gladys COOPER in Nether
Wallop, Hants 28 Apr 1926. A will, drawn up in 1728 in Gussage St. Andrews by Margaret WOODFORD,
widow, (maiden name unknown) bequeathed property to her son Richard, two daughters Mary and Catharine and a son in law, Edmund KELLY.  Also mentioned, were grandsons Richard and John WOODFORD.  We believe Richard to be the Richard WOODFORD who married Edith BOWN/BOUND but need help proving it.  Any suggestions would
be truly appreciated.  

Your website is very interesting!  Keep up the good work.

Best wishes

Pam Kolodziej nee Woodford

Woodforde of Thurlebear, Somerset

Hello Stephen,

My wife’s ggg grandfather was Alexander Woodforde (b. 1802 somewhere near Taunton). He married Sarah Southwood at Thurlbear in 1825 and lived at Stoke St Mary until his death in 1881.  

I have never been able to find a link to the more well known Woodfordes of Ansford but it seems too big a coincidence to have the same spelling of the surname and the name Alexander for there not to be some connection. Maybe he was the black sheep in one of the families?  

Any thoughts would be appreciated but don’t feel that you need to reply if nothing comes to mind.

David & Lynda(nee Woodford)  

Certainly, members of the Ansford family lived in the Thurlbear area (Thurlbear, Stoke St Mary and Pitminster in the19th Century.  Those whom I know about were descended from Heighes Woodforde and Mary Lamport through their sons Thomas and John.  Mary Woodforde (1835-1928) of `Woodfordes' in Stoke St Mary was a great grandaughter of John. Dr Francis Woodforde of Amberd House, Pitminster, was a great grandson of Thomas.  At present I have no knowledge of Alexander Woodforde.

(22/08/05) I have found the references to Sarah Southwood's baptism on 17 April 1791 (at Enmore), her parents being Robert Southwood and Janet. Sarah Southwood married Alexander Woodforde on 7 August 1825. Both are described as residents of the parish (of Thurlbear).

I have also found an Alexander Woodforde in the 1881 census (in the parish of Stoke St Mary) where his age is given as 77, his occupation as `former coachman' and his place of birth as Taunton.  He appears to be living with his daughter whose name is given as Mary A Haggar, aged 41 years, although there is no mention of her husband.

Woodford of St Joseph MO

My grandfather was George James Woodford from St Joseph, MO.  He homesteaded in Custer SD. I would love to know anything about him.

Arora M. "Pepper" Woodford

George Henry Woodford of Woodhouse, Leicester

George Woodford and Lee family in Leicester - 20th Century

Dear Stephen,  I am looking for information concerning my paternal grandmother, Florence Woodford of Leicester, who died in Leicester in 1927.  Her father was George Woodford, a boot worker, in Leicester. In 1910 she married Ernest Thomas Lee and they had four children. I am the daughter of their younger son, Edwin Roughton Lee.

I would be most grateful for any information.

Dorothy Lee  

Woodford family in Hampshire

Hi
I am tracing the Woodford family of Boldre and Beaulieu in Hampshire,
England.

Woodforde family of Beaumanor and Woodhouse, Leicestershire

Dear Stephen

We are searching from this end (the U.S.) and have hit that brick wall.  My husband's family research dates back to 1833 when his great grandfather, James Woodford, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. James' obituary states his father as William Woodford, born in Virginia.  Has anyone taken a family tree from England to America that might have this Woodford in it?  I realize that that is not a great deal of information to go on-other than William Woodford's wife was Sarah Madeira Woodford.  We know he was not the Brigadier General in the Rev. War.  It is fascinating to read about the Woodford(e)s in England.

John Woodford - Billesdon - Leicester - 19th Century

I am researching my father's family tree of Woodford from Leicester. I have got as far back as John Woodford born in Billesdon in 1829c. He married Caroline Raven in 1846 at St Margaret's Church. I am trying to trace his parents also a John Woodford but do not know his mothers name. Any information would be helpful. 

Regards

Janet Clarke (Woodford)
 

Sarah Anne Woodford - Poplar - London.

I am trying to find out about my great great grandmother. Her name was Sarah Ann Woodford she was born in Poplar, London. in 1838. I think her father was George Woodford who married Maria Bidden. Sarah married John Henry Roberts.

Janice Roberts
 

Robert Woodford - Birmingham Woodford family 1600 - Present day.

My name is Robert Woodford and I currently live in Solihull, West Midlands. Many years ago, My father and I carried out some research into the ancestry of our Woodford (Birmingham) family. We discovered that the Woodfords arrived in Birmingham from Winchcombe, Gloucestershire in about 1860. (William Woodford, born 1837, became a Birmingham Policeman. We managed to trace the family back as far as 1607 to James Woodford who married Ann Taynton in Alderton, Gloucestershire on 11 Oct 1607. The family remained in Alderton until about 1778 when they moved down the road to Gretton, and in the early 1800's down the road again to Winchcombe.

Members of our family still reside in Winchcombe. My line, however are now all West Midlands based.

I don't know if this information is of any use to you, or if it can be linked to any research you have carried out. I do have a full family history from 1607 onwards if you would like to know any more.

Rob Woodford

Rob is to be congratulated on his family research to date. Although Robert and James are recurring first names in the Woodford(e) family, I cannot find any connections at the moment.  Any additional information regarding this family would be greatly appreciated.
 

Joanna Woodford - Joseph Woodforde - James Woodford c 1850s-1900s

I am looking for information on my great grandmother's family before she was married.  Her name was Joanna Woodford, born 31 October 1885 in Spooner, Wisconsin, married Ulysse S Montandon on 1 February 1915.  Her parents were Joseph Woodford, born about 1864 in Wisconsin and Mary Sophie Burnham.  I am told they had eighteen children but only nine lived to childhood. I would like at least to find the other eight children. Joseph Woodford's parents were James Woodford, born England, and Joan Burgess, born England. Sammi Schorzmanm, Wisconsin, USA 
 

Princess Elgiva and Julia Woodforde

Do you have any information regarding the Woodforde's being direct descendants of a Princess Elgiva?  I believe this is recorded in some edition of Burke's Peerage, if my memory serves me correctly.  

I am a great-grandson of Julia Woodforde of New York and was given a photocopy of the Burke's Peerage page containing the Woodforde family indicating this. It was given to me from an Aunt who has since passed away and I have lost it. 

My great-grandmother, Julia Woodforde, was a direct descendant of the Woodfordes of Ansford. Julia Woodforde was actually my grandmother's grandmother. My grandmother spoke of her grandmother, Julia Woodforde, very little, except to say that she came from a very good English family.  One reason for the limited information was the early death of my grandmother's father, William Curtain, Julia's son (only son I believe), at age 36, a very tragic event which had a devastating effect on my grandmother and her siblings.

Dan Ringhoff, Florida, USA


The claim of a descent from a Princess Elgiva derives from a pedigree of the Neville family. This cites that the Nevilles are descended from the Lords of Raby through the marriage of Isabel de Nevill to Robert Fitzmeldred, Lord of Raby (c.1200). Their son became Neville, Lord of Raby.

Robert Fitzmeldred was in turn descended from Eligiva, a daughter of Ethelred the Unready who reigned from 978 until his death on 23 April 1016 and was, of course, a great grandson of Alfred the Great through Edward the Elder (reigned 899-924), Edmund (reigned 939-946), and Edgar the Peaceable (reigned 959-975).

There were several marriages between the Nevilles and the Woodford(e) family of Leicestershire, but the principal descent is through Isabel Neville, daughter of Sir William Neville of Rolleston, Co Notts, who married Sir Robert Woodford in 1402.

A detailed pedigree of the above is printed in the Smith-Carington family book located in the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and in a Smith-Carington family tree in the keeping of the Parish Church at Ashby Folville, Leicestershire.   
 

Woodforde family in Australia and associations with Ridout family

I am doing some research on the Woodforde family history.  I have been able to trace my family back to the first Woodforde who came to Australia.  

His name was William Sydney Ridout Woodforde (b. 1854) I am trying to determine if there is a link between the two families.  From my father back they were known as Ridout Woodforde.  I am trying to see if there was a marriage somewhere that linked two families (Ridout and Woodforde) as have seen the surname hyphenated. My understanding is that the names were Ridout Woodforde. I cannot remember if Ridout was part of the surname or just an additional middle name.

I have found at The Family Records Centre, the record for William Sidney Ridout Woodforde (b. 5/2/1854).  The record indicates surname Woodforde and given names as William Sidney Ridout, so this makes me think that they all may have just had Ridout as an additional middle name.  I know my father was the last to be given it as all his younger siblings did not receive Ridout in their names. The only additional information I have is that William was also a Doctor, in London, prior to emigrating to Australia. William was born in London (St Marylebone Parish I think).  He became a doctor in London before heading for Australia.

I have also found records of a Dr John Woodforde* who arrived in Australia aboard the ship Rapid.  (He was the ship's surgeon) He ended up settling in South Australia.  

I know there are links to this family, but I am also trying to determine if these two were related to each and then if they are linked back to the greater Woodforde family described in your website.

Kevin Woodforde.

(*For further details of Dr John Woodforde, ship's surgeon on the Rapid, please visit this page).
 

If it's any help I have a record on my Ridout database of a marriage between William Thomas Garret Woodforde and Risa Ridout at Charles the Martyr at Plymouth dated 26 May 1851. Original source was IGI 1984 and Records Office.

Hope its of use

Regards

William Ridout

Woodforde family in Chichester and links to Holmes, Lamport and Norton families

I am researching my ancestors, the Holmes family of Chichester, Sussex, and of Salisbury, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight, Hampshire. They were involved with the Duke of Monmouth in his rebellion. Col Abraham Holmes was executed after Sedgemoor. Col Abraham, and a Major Holmes, were among "His Highness's Gentlemen" at the funeral of Oliver Cromwell. This Holmes family intermarried with the Lamports of Sussex and Hampshire.

Ann Lamport, whose will abstract follows, is of this same family. I would be most grateful to hear from you in case you have any records of the Lamports or Holmeses:

PCC will Ann Lamport of Epsom, Surrey widow dat. 4 May 1716; my 2 E India bonds payable to Richard Malcher bequeathed to Trustees William Chamberlain of Charterhouse Yard Lond. gent and William Woodford of Chichester Dr of Physick; dau Mary Woodford wife of Rev Heighes Woodford vicar of Epsom; son Robert Lamport; to poor of Alton, Hants; will of late husband Thomas Lamport dat 16 Nov 1677; mentions deed of assignt. in 28 Ch. II from Thomas Young of Pagham Sussex to late husb - land in Pagham and Quinton called Hurst Lands for residue term 1000 yrs; lands conveyed to late husb by mortgage by Thomas Matthews; dau Mary sole exor; wit Wm Northey, Sam Tufnell and Edward Northey.

Ann Lamport is mentioned several times in a diary written by Mary Norton. She records on 12 September 1689 that her husband, Samuel, and son Heighes went that day to talk to `Mrs Lamport' about the intended marriage of Heighes and Mary ...[information from Stephen Butt].

The Norton mention is of interest. I have the following references to the surname:

PCC will date 21 Dec 1592 Elizabethe Stanny of Titchfeild, Hampshire; to be buried in p ch. of Titchfeild; my sister Anne Coverte; brother Gilbert Stannie; to my sister's eldest son William Covert and to Gilbert and Fardinando Covert; featherbed, napkins etc etc; "unto my brother Covert his servanntes .."; debt owed me by Mr Thomas Norton of Chichester; brother William Covert sole exor; friends Edward Garret and Thomas Houghton o'seers; wit Thos Houghton, John Slade and Edmond Deringe; pr Lond.

From Burke's L G of G B 1906 edn:

Thistlethwayte of Southwick Park:

Alexander and Cecilia Thistlethwayt's son Alexander of Winterslow [nr Salisbury] m Dorothy dau of Sir Edward Penruddocke Kt of Compton Chamberlain, Wilts, and their son Alexander of Winterslow m Catherine dau and heir of Andrew Childecot of Whiteway, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset; and their son Francis of Winterslow m 1683 Mary dau and co-heir of Major Robert Pelham of Compton Vallence Dorset (of the fam of Dukes of Newcastle); and their son Alexander of Winterslow b 1686 m 1717 Mary dau of Richard Whitehead of Norman Court Hampshire by his wife the dau of Richard Norton of Southwick...

The significance of these records, as far as my research is concerned, is twofold. Firstly, Thomas Holmes of Chichester, yeoman, in his will dated 20 Oct 1615, mentions his cousin John Stanney [uncommon surname]. The Stanneys seem to have been connected to various landed families. Second, the evidently connected Holmes family of Salisbury married into the Thistlethwaytes of Winterslow - see above.

The Duke of Argyll lodged with Maj Abraham Holmes [Monmouth's Colonel] in London for a time [see D N B].

From Burke's L G of G B 1906 edn:

Hussey-Freke of Hannington Wiltshire; Rot Freke of Shroton, Dorset temp Henry VIII, Teller of the Exchequer pchsd manor of Shroton and m Alice dau of John Swayne of Blandford issue inc Mary b 1564 who m William Hodges of Ilchester; Frances m John Culliford of Encombe; Elizabeth m Thomas Beale; next generation m Penruddock and Pile [latter marries Pitt Lord Rivers].Thomas Freke of Melcombe and Hinton St Mary Dorset b 1598 m Mary Doddington and their dau Mary Freke b 1634 m W Chaffin of Zeals Wiltshire. Mary Freke's brother Thomas freke b Melcombe 1629 m Elizabeth dau of Sir William Clarke Kt of Fordwich Kent and their son Thos Freke of Hannington b 1659 m Elizabeth dau of Thomas Pile of Baverstock Wilts. This latter Thomas Freke had a sister Jane Freke b 1668 who m Robert Duke of Lake Wiltshire.

PCC will Joane Goldston spinster of Bedhampton Hampshire 14 Aug 1667:

To be buried in chancel of Bedhampton church; to poor; brothers Richard and Anthony; sister  Elizabeth Nelson; sisters Anne, Margt and Katherine, and Christian now wife of James Windus of London; youngest sister Martha wife of John Hamock of Salisbury; loving friends Mr Stephen Charleton and his dau Mrs Margarett C; Mr John Beale a ring; my brother in law Mr Francis Nelson Rector of Bedhampton exor. Witnesses John Woodnutt marke, Francis Jones and Anne Quallett mark.

Of the families mentioned above, the Chaffins and Goldstons, both of whom were granted Monastic lands in Salisbury at the Dissolution, intermarried with the Holmeses, and so did the Woodnutts. Virtually all these families were Holmes connections in one way or another.

Simon Elliott


Simon's research relates to Revd Heighes Woodforde of the Ansford Woodforde family.
 

Woodford family of Hoby, Leicestershire and Bexton family

I am researching my family tree and need help with my Leicestershire roots, I am seeking information on Woodford of Hoby, mainly the parents of Ralph Woodford born c1839 and any brothers or sisters. Also his wife Anne Bexton c1846 possibly of Thrussington. Any information would be a bonus.

Mike Cantrell

Lee

California

I am pleased to say that I can answer some of Lee's questions, as Georgina Maude Woodforde was my grandfather's sister, and Lee has forwarded some remarkable photographs of my ancestors including my grandfather at the age of about fourteen years.  

Thanks to Lee, and also to Donald Clark, we now have a web page devoted to the Clark descent here.  Please can anyone add to our knowledge of this line of the Ansford family? 

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