NORTHERN NEW YORK
Genealogical and family history of northern New York: a record of the achievements of her people
in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation.
New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co. 1910.



ATWOOD



Transcribed by Coralynn Brown



The surname Atwood originated in the designation of persons by the locality in which they lived, at or near a wood, like the surnames Rivers, Hill, Pond, Bridges, etc. The medieval spelling of this name was Atte Wode, afterwards modified to Atwood and in many cases to Wood. Some branches of the family, however, retained the prefix and continued the ancient name of Atwood. There were several immigrants from England at Plymouth in the early days of the colony.

(I) Philip Atwood, immigrant ancestor, came to America in 1835. His name appears on the list of passengers of the ship "Planter" in 1635, aged twelve, and on the list of the ship "Susan and Ellen." In 1660 he depsoed that his age was forty. As the ages given on these passenger lists were generally understated, it is fair to presume that he was born in 1620.
He settled in Malden, Mass., and was a town officer there. He was a surveyor of highways in 1656. He was one of the settlers at Worcester, but was forced to leave during the Indian wars.
He married (first) Rachel Bachellor, who died Feb. 5, 1673-74; (second) at Malden, 1675, Elizabeth Grover, who died in October, 1676; (third) Elizabeth ____.
Children:
Rachel, born August, 1653.
Mary, January, 1655-56.
Philip, 1658; had land from his father at Worcester.
Abigail, Dec., 1662, married Andrew Mitchell.
Elizabeth, Aug., 1669.
Oliver, mentioned below.

(II) Oliver, son of Philip Atwood, was born in Malden, Mass., April, 1671. He was a mariner and ferryman, and owned land at Charlestown.
He married, at Malden, March 30, 1699, Anna Betts.
Children:
Anna, born about Januray 9, 1700.
Elizabeth, Sept. 17, 1702, died July 31, 1713.
John, mentioned below.
Oliver, Nov. 3, 1706, married Elizabeth Phelps, of Reading, and lived at Medford.
Betts, April 14, 1709.
Joseph, Boston, Oct. 12, 1712, baptized at Charlestown, Nov. 2, 1712.
Philip, Boston, May 14, baptized at Charlestown, May 22, 1715.

(III) John, son of Oliver Atwood, was born at Charlestown, Nov. 8, 1704, baptized there March 18, 1705. He married (first) Lydia ____; (second) Elizabeth ____.
Children:
John, mentioned below.
Mary, born April 8, 1738, at Woburn.
Josiah, Woburn, April 4, 1740.

(IV) John (2), son of John (1) Atwood, was born in Malden, March 11, 1728-29, baptized June 27, 1731. He lived in Woburn and Templeton, Mass. He married Elizabeth ____.
Children:
1. Jacob, mentioned below.
2. John, born at Woburn, Dec. 3, 1752, baptized at Templeton, July 2, 1758; married Hannah Stoddard, Aug. 21, 1777.
3. Philip, born at Woburn, Jan. 4, 1756; baptized at Templeton, July 2, 1758.
4. Ebenezer, died Jan. 24, 1769, at Templeton.
5. Nathaniel, died at Templeton, July 3, 1767.
6. Josiah, born 1760.
7. Joshua, married, March 27, 1780, Martha Barrett, of Chelmsford, at Templeton.
8. Isaac, born 1763; soldier in the revolution from Templeton.
9. Thomas.
10. Esther.
11. James.

(V) Jacob, son of John (2) Atwood, was born about 1750. He went with his father to Templeton and thence to Warwick, Mass. In 1790 the only heads of families of this name in Warwick were his brothers. Thomas and Nathaniel Rich, of Warwick, bought a large tract of land at Shoreham, Addison county, Vermont, in 1786, and took many settlers from Warwick. Jacob Atwood went there, and, according to the census of 1790 had four males over sixteen, three under that age, and five females in his family. Among his children was Stephen, mentioned below.

(VI) Stephen, son of Jacob Atwood, was born at Warwick, Sept. 22, 1777, died at Chazy, N.Y. Aug. 11, 1852. He went to Shoreham with his father, and in 1799 settled in Chazy on the farm now (1910) occupied by his great-grandson, Wilbur A. Atwood.
He was a successful farmer and was respected by all his townsmen.
In politics he was a Democrat, and he held various town offices, such as assessor and highway commissioner.
He married Mercy Finch, born in Massachusetts, July , 1791, died at Chazy, Dec. 5, 1871. She came to Chazy when a young girl.
Their only child was Levi, mentioned below.

(VII) Levi, son of Stephen Atwood, was born Jan. 5, 1810, at Chazy, died there March 6, 1895. He was educated in the public schools, and worked during his boyhood with his father. He continued on the homestead and succeeded to it when his father died, adding to the acreage of the farm and making it one of the finest in this section. He dealt to some extent in cattle, but devoted himself mainly to general farming.
He was a staunch Republican after that party was organized. He held the office of assessor of West Chazy nine years in succession, and was elected for another term of three years, but declined to serve.
He was lieutenant in a militia company for four years. He retired from active life about twelve years before his wife died and made his home in the village of West Chazy. His last years were spent in the homes of his children.
In religion he was a Methodist.
Levi Atwood married, Feb. 13, 1831, Permelia Prouty, born Aug. 31, 1808, in Cranville, Washington county, N.Y., came to Chazy in February, 1830, and died Oct. 20, 1872. She was the daughter of Abijah and Ann (Lewis) Prouty, and granddaughter of Jacob Prouty.
Children, born in Chazy:
1. James Lewis, mentioned below.
2. Stephen A., born March 26, 1834, died Feb. 29, 1868; married Huldah Eldred, Jan. 14, 1862; children: i. Linus, born Sept. 29, 1862, died Aug. 28, 1863; ii. Levi E., born July 20, 1865, married Ida Waters, Feb. 4, 1891; children: Arthur R., born Nov. 21, 1891; J. Leon, July 24, 1893; Lillian, April 27, 1896.
3. Jacob P., June 17, 1837; settled and died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan., 1902.
4. Theodore Orlando, born in West Chazy, April 19, 1839; died there Oct. 20, 1882. He lived and died on a part of the farm originally owned by his father. He married Olive C. Webb, July 19, 1862; children, all born on the homestead: i. Charles R., born July 6, 1864, married Adaline T. Goewey, April 7, 1886, died Oct. 11, 1890; children: Mary O., born Feb. 6, 1888; George O., died in infancy; Charles R., married (second) Maud R. Stratton. ii. Herbert W., born Dec. 15, 1866; iii. Mary Grace, born June 23, 1870; iv. Addie M., born Sept. 9, 1877, died March 26, 1880.
5. Amelia Antoinette, April 15, 1842; married Herbert McFadden of West Chazy, N.Y., Feb. 1, 1866; child: Bertha, born July 3, 1872; unmarried.

(VIII) James Lewis, son of Levi Atwood, was born in Chazy, June 18, 1832, died Sept. 20, 1907. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. Except for four years when he lived in the village he spent his entire life on the old homestead where he was born. He was a substantial and prosperous farmer and an active and useful citizen.
In politics he was a Republican; in religion a Methodist.
He married, April 4, 1858, Sarah A. Howard, born Jan. 16, 1837, died in July, 1887.
Children, all born on the homestead at Chazy:
1. Stella M., Jan. 6, 1862, died Jan. 16, 1906; married Dr. M. S. Elkins, D.D.S., of West Chazy; child, Arthur Elkins.
2. Frank H., Sept. 17, 1864, died Dec. 1908.
3. Walter H., Feb. 28, 1867; died March 11, 1896, unmarried.
4. Wilbur A., mentioned below.
5. Mabel R., Dec. 13, 1876, unmarried.
6. Frances E., June 4, 1879, died Dec. 3, 1882.

(IX) Wilbur A., son of James Lewis Atwood, was born in West Chazy, Nov. 4, 1870, on the homestead where his great-grandfather settled, which he now (1910) owns and operates. He was brought up on the farm and takes rank among the most progressive and enterprising farmers of this section.
In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
In religion he is a Methodist.
He married, Feb. 26, 1898, Mary E., born Feb. 26, 1874, daughter of Joseph and Emma (Lyon) Pratt.
Children, all born on the homestead:
1. Raymond Howard, born Dec. 12, 1898.
2. Neila Mabel, April 12, 1900.
3. Everett H., born May 20, 1902, died March 28, 1905.
4. Hilda M., April 16, 1904.
5. Emma S., April 24, 1906.
6. Francis W., Sept. 28, 1907.
7. Alice F., Jan. 9, 1909.

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