Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- These four books are all copies of the same content and trace the ancestry of the Woodworth family from Walter Woodworth who emigrated with the first settlers of Plymouth to Selim Woodworth. The ancestry begins in 1633 and ends in 1883. This ancestry includes a detailed and elegant print of a family tree, includes names of all family members, their place of residence, and other basic information on each family member. It is entitled “The Woodworth Family in America”. Two of the copies clearly belong to Selim Woodworth and Lydia Woodworth. Lydia’s copy has notes in the margins about each family member.
- Extent:
- 4.0 folders (4 bound volumes)
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
Woodworth Family Genealogy. The Society of California Pioneers.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
These four books are all copies of the same content and trace the ancestry of the Woodworth family from Walter Woodworth who emigrated with the first settlers of Plymouth to Selim Woodworth. The ancestry begins in 1633 and ends in 1883. This ancestry includes a detailed and elegant print of a family tree, includes names of all family members, their place of residence, and other basic information on each family member. It is entitled “The Woodworth Family in America”. Two of the copies clearly belong to Selim Woodworth and Lydia Woodworth. Lydia’s copy has notes in the margins about each family member.
The title page reads: "Dear Abby, I have made some enquiries lately into the origin of our ancestors, and finding that not one of them was ever hanged or disgraced I have concluded to let you enjoy the result of my investigation. - "
C058794: Copy 1. Leather bound, embossed front "Woodworth", belonged to Selim E. Woodworth ca. 1888. Loose paper removed from diary. C058795: Copy 2. Handwritten notes in margin. Belonged to Lydia Woodworth ca. 1884. C058796: Copy 3. Physically smaller than the other 3 copies. Entitled "The Woodworth Family in America" C058797: Copy 4. Leather bound. Color ink used. Illustration of family tree inside.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Walter Woodworth was the first member of the Woodworth family to immigrate to America in 1633. He is the ancestor of Samuel Woodworth (1784-1842), a poet and literary journalist, who was best known for the popular poem “The Old Oaken Bucket,” which was later set to music and became a popular song for schoolchildren. He was born in Massachusetts and died in New York City, but his ashes were moved by his sons to Laurel Hill Cemetery (in Philadelphia) to be in the Woodworth Mausoleum. Frederick Woodworth was one of his sons and a member of the state senate. His second son was Selim E. Woodworth (1815-1871), who left for San Francisco in 1847. Soon after arriving and hearing the plight on the Donner Party he tried to bring support to the group, but missed rescue groups and was criticized by members of the Party who believed him a braggart. He took a prominent role in the development of the State of California alongside his brother. At the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to the Navy where he had spent much of his youth and was given the title of Lieutenant Commander. In 1941 the boat USS Woodworth was named for him, sponsored by Mrs. Selim E. Woodworth, the daughter-in-law of the commander.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Selim E. Woodworth, date unknown.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
There are no restrictions on access.
- Preferred citation:
-
Woodworth Family Genealogy. The Society of California Pioneers.
- Location of this collection:
-
300 Fourth StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107, US
- Contact:
- (415) 957-1849 ext. 160