“This may in the hand of future genealogists, lead to the identification of relationship between Uzal Wardwell of bristol formerly of Ipswich and William Wodell of Portsmouth, formerly of Warwick, they were contemporaries as one died an old man 1692 or 3; the other had children born both before and after 1693; The most of their lives too was spent within a few miles of each other, the town in which both were prominent and leading men, being but few miles apart. Bristol ferry being between them. They even might have been acquainted, onekept a public house, at Bristol where the other might often have business. It is possible, but not likely, that they were brothers, and more I cannot offer in regard to Uzal Wardwell. Their spelling their names widely different offers no obstacle to this supposition, as my own children do the same. Williams first known child, born 1640, and that of Uzal, 1688, will go far to prove that they were not brothers.” 1284

“ 1637, Nov. 20. He and others of Boston, &c. were ordered to deliver up all guns, pistols, swords, powder, sot, &c. because ‘the opinions and revelations of Mr. Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinson have seduced and led into dangerous errors many of the people here in New England.’
1643, Jan. 12. He and ten others bought of Miautonomi for 144 fathoms of wampum, tract of land called Shawomet (Warwick).
1643, Sep. 12. He with others of Warwick, was notified to appear at General Court at Boston to hear complaint of two Indian sachems Pomham and Soconocco, as to ‘some unjust an injurious dealing toward them by yourselves.’ The warwick men declined to obey the summons, declaring that they were legal subjects of the king of Englandf, and beyond the limits of Massachusetts territory, to whom they would acknowledge no subjection. Soldiers were soon sent who besieged the settlers to a fortified house. In a parley it was now said ‘that they held blasphemous errors which they must repent of,’ or go to Boston for trial.
1643, Oct. 5. Portsmouth. He had a grant of 10 acres.
1643, Nov. 3. Having been brought with others before the court at Boston charged with heresy and sedition, they were sentenced to be confined during the pleasure of the court, and should they break jail or preach their heresies or speak against church or state, on conviction they should die. He was sent to Watertown but not to prison, and remained at large till the following March, and was then banished from both Massachusetts and Warwick. He thereupon returned to Portsmouth. Most of hs companions in the trial suffered close imprisonment for several months.
1655. freeman.
1656-63. Commissioner.
1664 - 65 - 66 - 67 - 69 - 70 - 72 - 73 - 74 - 75 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 84 - 86. deputy.
1676, Apr. 4. It was ‘voted that in these troublesome times and straits in this colony, this Assembly desiring to have the advice nd concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants if itmay be had for the good of the whole, do desire at their next sitting the company and counsel of mr. Benedict Arnold,’ and fifteen others, among whom was William Wodell
1680, May 5. He was appointed as a committee to put the laws and acts of the colony into such a mentod that they may be put in print.
1684. Assistant. He was chosen but positively declined to engage.” 745

“Spelled in early records Wodell.” He “was of Boston as early as 1637. In 1643 he was one of eleven purchasers of the tract of land called Shawomet (Warwick). He had a grant of land in Portsmouth, R.I., in 1643, and in that same year he was taken with others before the court at Boston charged with heresy and sedition. He was later banished from both Massachusetts and Warwick. He returned to Portsmouth; was a freeman in 1655; later was commissioner, and for many years between 1664 and 1686 was deputy. He died in 1693.” 266

He had “been forced to leave Massachusetts by 1643 because of his religious beliefs. He settled in Portsmouth. His ancestry, and thus Mary’s, is quiteinteresting. . . A summary is given below on the connection to the English Barons at the time of the Magna Carta (1215). According to John Wurt;s massive record, ‘Magna Carta’, Mary Wodell, who married Matthew’s youngest son, Daniel (1636) was descended from not one, but ten of the Barons who forced King John to accept the terms of the Great charter. . . .By Wurts’ record, the names of the Barons whose descendants through inter-marriages over the nearly 400years from 1215 on down to William Wodell and his daughter, Mary, born in 1640 are as follows:
Roger and Hugh Bigood, Richard and Gilbert de Clare, John FitzRobert, robert FitxWalter, John de Lacie, William Mallet, Saire de Quincey and Robert de Vere. This information can be found in Volume IV, page 860, of the Magna Charta by John Wurts.” 1096


“Residence: Boston, Portsmouth and Tiverton. His will was made 8 Sept. 1692 and proved 2 May 1693”.537

“At a Meetinge of the free inhabitants of Portsmoth the 21th of march 1665 or 66 . . .
Deputies Chosen . . .mr william wodell” 1137

“At a Meetinge of the ffree inhabitants of portsmoth Aprill the 25th 1666 . . .
Deputies yt day Chosen . . .
mr william wodell” 1137

“Vpon A day of Election of Officers for ye Towne of Portsmoth June the fforth 1666 . .
The towne Counsell Chosen for yt yeare . .
Mr william wodell first” 1137


“Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 30th of April, 1672. . .
Deputies. . .
For Portsmouth. . .
Mr. William Wodell.” 663

“At a Meetinge of ye ffree inhabittants of ye Towne of Portsmoth October 17th 1667 . . .
3 william wodell . . . Chosen Deputies for October Courte” 1137

“At a Meetinge of ye free inhabitants of the Towne of portsmoth Aprill ye 23d 1667 . . .
Deputies Chosen for searues in ye Genorall assembly . . .
2 Mr william wodell - Deputies. . .
that mr John Sanford william Wodell Lefftenant John Albro Thomas Cooke Senyor John tripp Senyor mr william Almy william Hall which seuen men and some others that these 7 men may advise with all to Consider of a way to preuent the distruction of wood and timbar in the Comons of this towneship and to Rip [ ] a way of edres and to present there thoughts to ye Next towne meetings.” 1137

“Att a Meetinge of ye ffree inhabittants of ye Towne of portsmoth Jun ye 3d 1667 . . .
The Towne Counsell Cosen
for ye yeare inshuinge . . .
mr william wodell - Ingaged all . . .“ 1137

“At a Meetinge of the ffree-Inhabitants of the Towne of portsmouth Held the 25th of Aprill 1672 . . .
mr William Wodell . . .Chossen Deputies to Atend the Genrl Asemblyes to be held the 30th of Aprill, instant, and the Election and Asembly to be held the first of may next” 1137

At a Meetinge of the ffree-Inhabitants of the Towne of portsmo on their Election Day beinge munday June the 3d 1672 . .
mr William Wodell Engaged: Chossen to be of the Towne Councill of this Towne.. .
mr William Wodell chossen Towne treasurer Engaged . . .
mr William Wodell chossen overseers for the poore in the towne.” 1137

“Ordered that Mr Gregory Dexter for not atending the jury is fined 10 s: and Edward Smyth 5s: beinge both o providence: and William Woodell and Lott Strainge are fined each 10 s: for not attendinge the jury.” 1316

“The following I copied from Savages Genealogical Dictionary, abbreviations included, march 1880 - Waddell or Wodel. . . William Warwick one of the comp of Gorton tak Nov. 16 1643 and imprisoned at watertown by the governor of Mass. After liberat he went to Portsmouth RI and there most of the residu of his days resid and fill important offices down to 1690. By w Mary he had Mary b Nov 1640 Gershom 14 July 1642 Sarah Oct. 1644 Alice 10 Feb 1650 Francis 16 july 1652 and his w died 23 Mar 1676 His will of 7 Oct 1692 prov 2 May following makes date of his death. Mary m Daniel Grinnell . . .” 1284

“William Wodell or William 1st was one of a company that in 1642 bought land of the Indians now the town of Warwick state of Rhode Island This is the earliest account in my possession of any Wodell - I know nothing of his age place of birth or parentage - these must be left to future genealogists. As he had a child born in 1640 I conclude that he was older than the settlement of Plymouth (1620) and that therefore he was not born in America. His wife was Mary. . . In 1643 I find him settled in Portsmouth on the Island of Rhode Island where passed most of his mature life was a leading man in public affairs, held important offices &c and in the time of King Philips war, the most distressing and sanguinary war ever known in New England, the population considered, the Legislalive assembly voted that in these troublous times and straits of the collony the Assembly desiring to have the advice and concurrance of the most judicious inhabitants &c. William Wodell was one of the selected ones.”1284

“Portsmouth Extracts
1682 William Wodell of Portsmouth bought land in Dartmouth of Thomas Cornell. . .
1659 William Wodell bought land of John Albro.
1660 “ “ “ John Briggs
1662 “ “ “ George Lawton
1667 and at other dates William Wodell was one of the leading men of Portsmouth holding various important office &c . . .
1692 Daughter Mary wife of Daniel Grinnel. . .
Grandson Richard Grinnell” 1284

“William Wodell, of Boston and Tiverton, Mass., who died 1693, was a follower of Gorton, and imprisoned by the government of Massachusetts. He was twice Commissioner, and a Deputy for sixteen terms, between 164 and 1686, and was elected Assistant 1684, but declined.” 862

“[1648] It is granted to William Woadell to haue 30 acres of lande at the south East end of Thomas Lawtons far lott by the huntinge swampe.” 1137

“This Indenture made the twenty Seventh day of the month Called Aprill int he year one Thousand Six hundred Seventy Eight Witneseth that William Cadman Samuell Wilbur and Robert Hodgson, all of the Town of Portsmouth in the Colony of Road Island and Providence plantations in New England, being by publick Authority appointed and Impowered to dispose of and place out Indians as apprentices in the Said Town of Portsmouth: have by these presents put, placed, andn bound a certaine Indian girl now of the age of Sis years or near Soe much who is Daughter of one meecquapew an Indian woman late of pocaset as an apprentice unto William Wodell of Portsmouth aforesaid and as an apprentice With the Said William Wodell his Executors, administrators and assigns to dwell for the full term and time of ffifteene years fromt he day of the date of these presents to bee Compleat and Ended by and dureing all which Said time of fifteene years the Said Indian Girl whose name is hannah Shall well and faithfully Serve her Said master William Wodell, his Executors, administrators, and assigns, in all Such Lawfull busines as by him, them, or any of them Shee the Said hannah Shall bee put to or Commanded to doe according to the best of her power Skill, and Abillity and the Said William Wodell dureing allt he Said terme Shall provide and allow, or cause to bee provided and allowed unto his Said appentice Sufficient food and Rayment and other nessessaries meet for Such an apprentice and at the End of the Said fifteen years Shall yield unto his Said apprentice her freedome from this her Said Servitude
witnes our hands and seals
Wm Cadman
Samuell Wilbur
Robert Hodgson
A True Coppie of the origionall Entered and Recorded the 15th of the 3d month 1678
mee John Anthony Town Clerke.” 1137

“Know all men by these presents that I Adam Right of Duxbury in the Collony of New plimoth in New england for and in Consideration of the full and Just Sum of four pounds and ten shillings in Lawfull mony of New England to me in hand before the Ensealling and delivery of these presents by William Wodell of Portsmouth inthe Collony of Road Iland and Providence plantations in New england aforesaid well and truly paid: with which Sd Sum I the Sd Adam Right doe acknowledge my Selfe fully Satisfid Contented and paid and thereof doe acquitt and discharge the Sd William Wodell his heires Executors and administrators for Ever by these presents have granted bargained Sould and assigned and by these presents doe frely fully and absolutly grant bargaine Sell and Assigne unto the Sd William Wodell one Indian woman Named Hanah which sd Indian Woman was Taken and Captivated by the ARms of his majtis Subjects and Condemned by the Authorytie Established in his majtis Sd Collony of New Plimoth to perpetuall SErvitude and Slavery as may appere by one Instrument or Bill of Salle given under the hand and seale of Capt Benjamin Church bearing date the thirteenth day of march 1676-77 To have and to hold the sd Indian woman to him the Sd William Wodell his Executors Administrators and assignes forever To the only proper use and behoufe of him the sd WilliamWodell his Executors administrators and assignes for Ever In Witness whereof, I the sd Adam Right have hereunto set my hand and seall the ninth day of January 1677
Signed Sealled and delivered in the presence off us
the marke of Adam Right
the marke of Danill Wilcokes senr
Nathaniell Thomas
The above named Inaidn Woman doth hereby declare that She is willing to be Servant to the aboue named William Wodell his Executors admnistrator and assignes in maner and form above Exspresed In Witness thereof She hath hereunto Set her hand The day and yeare above Writenthe markes of Hanah
the above Named Indian Woman
In the presence of us
the marke of Daniell Willcoks
the marke of Alderman
Nathaniel Thomas
The above written in A True Copie Entered and Recorded the 27th of The 3d month 1678
As atest John ANthony Towne Clerke.” 1137

“Some of Anne’s [Hutchinson} disciples were old acquaintances from distant Alford, like Thomas and William Wardall and their wives, or Thomas Marshall, the ferryman.” 1394

“In his will, dated 8 September 1692 and proved at Taunton 2 May 1693, William Wodell named his daughter Mary, wife of Daniel Grinnell, as well as his grandson Richard Grinnell.” 1285

Written by his grandson William Wodell, Jr. “To all persons thses presents shall come or may concern I William Wodell of Pocasset int he county of Bristoll within his majesty, territory of Dominion of New England in America send greeting Know ye that I the said William Wodell for and in consideration of the just and full sum of fourscore pound in money to me in hand already paid by my Grandfather William Wodell of Portsmouth on Rhode Idlsns in the county of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England aforesaid have give granted bargained and sold unto the said William Wodell my said Grandfather his heirs and assigns forever one whole share or thirtieth part of all that tract of land at Pocasset and places adjacent in the county of bristoll aforesaid being bounded as followeth viz Northward and Westward by the freemans lot near the Fall River and westward by the bay or sound that runneth between the said land and Rhode Island Southward partly by a line that is set at a great rock on which is a cedar bush marked near the way that leadeth to Punkatest Eastward to a pond at Dartmouth town bounds and westward to Sapponset creek mouth and partly by Dartmouth bounds and Northward up into the woods to Middlebury town bounds and quinquisset pond . . .
The present deed doth evidence that I the said William Wodell hae sold the same with all my right title and interest therein unto my said grandfather the said William Wodell his heirs and assigns forever for him the said William Wodell the elder his heirs and assigns . .. the thirteenth day of the month called february in the year of the Lord one thousand six hundred eighty-eight 1688/9.” 1284

“Some of Anne’s [Hutchinson’s] disciples were old acquaintances from distant Alford, like Thomas and William Wardall, and their wives, or Thomas Marshall, the ferryman.” 1394

“Four of them went on to embrace illuminist doctrines more extreme than those of Mrs. Hutchinson. Richard Carder, Robert Potter, and William Wardell became disciples of the notorious and troublesome Samuel Gorton, founder of a sect whose immoderate views and deportment displayed radically alienative tendencies.” 1394

“Personnel in the Core Group . .. .
Name: Wardell, William Place of Origin: Lincoln Time of Arrival: bef. 1633
Residence: Boston Churched: 1633 Vocation: Servant Married: Yes Complicity: Pet.
Change of Religion: Gortonist Disposition of Case: Disarmed; Acknowledged error
Removed: Portsmth Perm.” 1394

“Daniel Grinnell . . m. Mary Wordell, daughter of William Wordell, who was banished from Boston because of his religious views. “421

“The will of William Wodell of Pocasset was proved in the Bristol County, Mass., court on May 3, 1693, and in an ‘Account of the estate presented to John Saffin, Judge of Probate,’ on October 18, 1697, the executor included among ‘debts paid’ an item due to Thomas Hickey.”779