Stephen Atwood

STEPHEN ATWOOD (prob. by 1620–1694)

ABIGAIL DUNHAM (b. say 1627), daughter of John Dunham and Abigail Ballou

Stephen was probably born no later than 1620, given that he was likely of age when he received a land grant in Plymouth in 1641. Stephen Atwood, Sr. died "in the latter end of " Feb 1693/4 in Eastham. [1, 5: 195] He married Abigail Dunham on 6 November 1644. [2, 2: 79]

Abigail Dunham was born say 1627.

Stephen's parents are unknown. Stephen is undoubtedly closely related to John and Henry Wood (alias Atwood) of Plymouth, given his connection to them in the records. [Note that there were two John Atwoods in Plymouth: the one referred to here and John Atwood, gentleman, who served as Assistant.]

Stephen Atwood is referred to as Steven Wood in the Plymouth Colony court records. He became Stephen Atwood after he moved to Eastham.

Stephen was granted eight acres at Loute Pond on 16 September 1641. [2, 2: 26] Stephen and Henry Wood were each granted a garden place in the neighborhood of Wellingsly on 31 December 1641. [2, 2: 29] Stephen and Henry were granted a garden in the neighborhood of "Wellingsley, ag'st Francis Goulders Fence" on 31 December 1641. [3]

John, Henry and Stephen Wood appear together in the Plymouth section of the 1643 list of those able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. [4]

At a town meeting in Plymouth on 10 February 1643 it was decided that:

Stephen Wood and Andrew Ring are to repair the hearing ware and to have it for three yeares now next ensuing and are to have xiiiid p thousand for drawing the fish and delivering out the shares during said terme. [5, 17]

At a town meeting on 10 December 1646 in Plymouth it was decided that anyone without a valid excuse would be fined 12d. for missing a town meeting. John, Henry and Steven Woods' names are on the list following. [5, 21-22]

Stephen, Henry and John Wood were propounded to take up their freedom at the next court on 1 June 1647. [2, 2: 114]

In 1648 John, Henry and Stephen received further grants of three acres at Loute Pond. [3] At a 1 February 1648 town meeting in Plymouth it was granted that

John Wood Henry Wood and Stephen Wood should have an Acre of meddow apece all the same meddow next to them. [5, 208]

Stephen was on a grand inquest jury on 4 June 1650. He was chosen a constable of Eastham on 3 June 1652. He was appointed a surveyor of highways in Eastham on 6 June 1654. [2, 2: 155; 3: 9, 50]

Stephen received a meadow grant in 1654 in Eastham. [3] In 1655 residents of Eastham were assigned to assess themselves for a "common store" and Stephen assessed himself 16 shillings. [3] In 1655 residents of Eastham were divided into groups for the propagation of cattle and Stephen was in one of the groups. [3] Stephen Wood is on a list of freemen of Eastham made about 1658. [3] He is on lists of men who had taken oaths of fidelity in 1668 and 1689. [3]

His father-in-law left Stephen Atwood land at Agawaum and Sepecan in his will of 25 January 1668.

In 1673 Stephen Atwood came to an agreement with the town of Eastham whereby the town took Stephen's land with his new room and chimney in return for a tract of land on the Billingsgate Road, £30 and one day's labor from each of the town's inhabitants. [3]

In 1674 Jonathan Pratt of Eastham deeded one-third interest in three acres at Plymouth that he had gotten from his father-in-law Stephen Atwood and which were originally part of a grant to John, Henry and Stephen Wood, all alias Atwood. [3]

In 1680 Stephen was on a committee to stop the Indians from cutting timber, gathering pine knots and running tar on the common lands in Eastham. [3]

Children of Stephen Atwood and Abigail Dunham:

i. Abigail Atwood was born in August 1645. [6][3] She died on 17 Aug 1684. [7, 3.1] She married Jonathan, the son of Joshua and Bathsheba (Fay) Pratt, on 2 November 1664. [6][3] He married second Elizabeth (White) Hall on 3 March 1689/90 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts. [3] Elizabeth was the daughter of Nicholas White and the widow of Samuel Hall. [3]

In May 1665 George Barlow was arrested for frightening Abigail Pratt in her house in Plymouth. [7, 3.1]

Jonathan was of Eastham in 1667, of Plymouth in 1673 and he moved to Taunton after Abigail's death. [7, 3.1]

ii. John Atwood was born in 1646 and died in 1648. [6]

iii. Hannah Atwood was born on 14 October 1649. [6] She died on 29 March 1729 in Eastham. [1, 4:141] She married Jeremiah Smith on 3 January 1677 in Eastham. [1, 4: 140] He died on 29 April 1706 in Eastham. [1. 4" 140]

iv. Eldad Atwood was born on 2 July 1651. [6] He died before 1707 when his estate was probated. [6] He married first Anna Snow, the daughter of Mark Snow and Anna Cooke, on on 14 February 1683 in Eastham. [1, 4;141]

v. Stephen Atwood was born about 1645/1649. He died by 12 July 1722. He married Apphia Bangs.

vi. Medad Atwood was born on 16 January 1658/9. [6] He married Esther, the daughter of Daniel and Ruth (Chester) Cole, in 1684. [6]

Medad took the oath of fidelity in 1695. [6] He was admitted to the church in Harwich on 17 September 1717. [6]

vii. Daniel Atwood [6]

References

1. George Bowman, "Eastham, Mass., Vital Records: Literally translated from the original records," The Mayflower Descendant, various issues.

2. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668 (Boston: William White, 1855).

3. Alicia Crane Williams, "Stephen Wood alias Atwood of Eastham, Massachusetts," Mayflower Descendant 46 (1996): 131–6; 47 (1997): 33–40, 123–30.

4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, "List of Those Able to Bear Arms in the Colony of New Plymouth 1643," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 4 (1850): 255-259.

5. William T. Davis, Records of the Town of Plymouth, vol. 1 (Plymouth: Avery & Doten, 1889).

6. New Englanders in Nova Scotia, manuscript, R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, online database, American Ancestors.org, 8–9.

7. Elijah Francis Atwood, Ye Atte Wode Annals, Sisseton, SD, Atwood Pub. Co., 1928.

last revised 25-Dec-2022