Foreword to Woodruff Genealogy by Susan Emma (Woodruff) Abbott
The name of WOODRUFF seems to have had its origin, as did many others, in the occupational activity of an early member of the family, in this case one of the minor English officials called a wood-reeve, a sort of forest warden. The name was and is spelled in various ways— Woodruff, Woodrough, Woodrove, Woodroffe, Woodrow, and more. The herb called Sweet Woodruff (Asperula odorata) is known in Germany as Waldmeister ("woods-master") and is used for flavoring May wine.
It is necessary to mention here the claim that Mathew Woodruff was the son of Sir David Woodruff, the facts about which were published by the late Mr. Frederick O. Woodruff, in his "Woodruff Genealogy" (Boston, 1925). Stated briefly, he was approached about 1910 by a man who represented himself as being a Woodruff from England and claimed that he had investigated the ancestry of Mathew Woodruff and, for a consideration, could furnish full information and show that he was one of six sons of Sir David Woodruff of Poyle, who in 1611 married Lettice Duncombe. This line of descent was published in Volume III of MacKenzie's "Colonial Families of the United states", which has served to disseminate and perpetuate the claim.
A few years later, Mr. Woodruff decided to verify the data given him, employed competent genealogists in London who, after considerable research, reported that they could find no records indicating that Sir David Woodruff had a son named Mathew, though he did have five others.
Beside the line of Mathew Woodruff of Farmington, there were several other Woodruffs in America in the early days. One John Woodruff settled on Long Island and many of his descendants took up residence in New Jersey — the so-called Long Island or New Jersey line. One of the Long Island Woodruffs removed to Sharon, Connecticut, where his descendants were at first thought to be of the Mathew line.
Richard and Robert Woodruff were living in Virginia before 1647; Benjamin and his brother Joseph Woodruff settled in Salem, Massachusetts about 1660. A Joseph Woodruff, whose wife may have been Mary Forrester, is thought to have lived in Charleston, S.C. after 1765, and later in Georgia. His children were James, Joseph, George and Mary Ann.
Descendants of Joseph Woodruff of Woodruff, S. C. spread throughout the South and thence westward. The 1790 census of the Spartenburg District (S.C.) lists a number of Woodruffs.
Quite apart from the so-called New Jersey line was Thomas Woodruff, a member of the Society of Friends ("Quakers"), who in 1679 arrived in Salem, N.J. from Worcestershire, England, and died in 1699, leaving sons Joseph and John.
Some of these Woodruffs may be related in some way to the line of Mathew, but no evidence connecting them has come to light thus far.
This work has occupied much of the compiler's time for a period of more than thirty-five years, and has involved considerable travel and correspondence.
Many people have contributed valuable information over the years, and my thanks go to them. Many Woodruff descendants have given me outstanding cooperation, some of whom turned over to me their family letters, Bibles, documents and other records for study. Their help, which required time and trouble, in addition to a sympathetic interest, is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, some lines have had to be cut short because of apparent lack of interest on the parts of the descendants enquired of.
Members of the staffs of the New Haven Colony Historical Society in New Haven, and of the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, were most helpful. To my husband is due credit for his assistance in preparing the work for publication.
When so many individuals — ancestors, descendants, office clerks, and others, record and pass on so many thousands of names, dates and other facts, many errors are bound to creep in. The compiler apologizes for those she has made, and for those of others she may be helping to perpetuate.
SUSAN WOODRUFF ABBOTT
(Mrs. Morris W. Abbott)
Milford, Connecticut
15th October 1963
