There are so many Woodruff ties to my husband’s family tree that it has taken one more day to complete the various family sketches.

We’ve finally arrived at the last family, that of Moses Woodruff and Phebe (MNU). Moses Woodruff was born c1739, the son of John Woodruff and Eleanor Donnington.

His marriage to Phebe reportedly happened on 20 January 1760 in Westfield, Essex, New Jersey. Although I can’t find an original source for that date, their first child, Lydia, was baptized at the Westfield Presbyterian Church on 4 January 1761.

Therefore, the marriage date works, but whether it is accurate or not is anybody’s guess.

Moses and Phebe continued to lived in Westfield and raised their young family there until the start of the American Revolution.

Moses’s uncle, Nathaniel Woodruff, had left New Jersey and migrated to Virginia as early as 1765. By the early 1770s, he had moved on to Surry County, North Carolina.

Nathaniel must have kept in touch with his New Jersey family as Moses first appears on the Surry County, North Carolina tax list in 1777. He apparently liked his new life because while Nathaniel moved on to Spartanburg County, South Carolina c1789, Moses remained in Surry County for the rest of his life.

Moses wrote his will on 29 July 1816 in Surry County, North Carolina and he added a codicil in April 1817. The will was proved in court at the November 1817 session, so Moses died between April and November 1817. [Surry County, North Carolina Will Book 3:130] Phebe predeceased Moses, who married (2) Elizabeth Collins, 29 June 1806 in Surry County, who survived him and is named in his will.

Children:

Between the New Jersey church records and Moses’s will, a complete picture of his family can be determined.

1. Lydia, born 4 January 1761, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died after 1817, when she is mentioned in her father’s will; married Burrell Pace, c1785. The Paces moved to Spartanburg County, South Carolina with their Woodruff kin and are enumerated there in 1790 and 1800.
2. Jennet, born 6 September 1762, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died c1800, Spartanburg County, South Carolina; married Samuel Woodruff, son of Nathaniel Woodruff, c1784
3. Gideon, born 6 August 1764, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died between 4 October 1820, when he wrote his will, and April 1821, when it was proved in Surry County, North Carolina [Surry County, North Carolina Will Book 3:147]; married Prudence (MNU). She survived him and is named in his will.
4. John Allen, born 1 June 1766, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died before May 1832, Ashe County, North Carolina, when his will was proved; married Jane (McBride?)
5. Hannah, born 8 May 1768, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died after 1817 when she is mentioned in her father’s will; married (William?) Moore
6. Mary, born 27 May 1770, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died 5 September 1858, Lawrence County, Indiana; married John McBride, c1791
7. Moses, born 4 February 1772, Westfield, Essex, New Jersey; died before 1817, as he is not mentioned in his father’s will. No further record.
8. Phebe, born c1774; married Francis Bryan, c1794; died after 1850, probably Allegheny County, North Carolina. Francis and Phebe lived with their son’s family in 1850.

This concludes the long Woodruff lines in my husband’s family tree!