William Woods was born two miles out of Armagh, Ireland, in 1828, and is the eldest son of Robert Woods and Letitia Webster, of Co. Armagh.

He came to Canada in 1849, starting on Palm Sunday in a vessel called the "Hannah Brig." They ran foul of ice, and the vessel was lost. The 356 passengers were obliged to land on the ice, and 55 of them were frozen. The others were taken up by the merchant vessel "Nicarauga" from Glasgow, and afterwards transferred to a passenger vessel, there being no water on the ship. They lost everything, and landed in Quebec in May 1849.

They came to Oakville via canal and worked in Trafalgar for three months for $24. He started to look for land, and located on 100 acres in Melancthon. He went to Arthur and there heard of the Nobles and Mitchells in Maryborough, and came on to that township and located on east half of lot 10, con. 15, for which he paid $2.50 per acre, and upon which he chopped his first tree in 1849. He chopped in the winter and hired out in Trafalgar for some years.

In 1852 he married Ellen McDonald, and moved into a shanty on his farm. In 1889 he sold his farm to his son John, and bought 10 acres, on lot 10, con. 12. Where he lived till June, 1905, when his partner died at the age of 74. He is now living with his son in Rothsay.

He was tax collector of Maryborough for 14 years, until 1903, Trustee S.S. No. 7, for 27 years. He is an honourary member of L.O.L. No. 615, and was Secy.-Treas. for 28 consecutive years. He was a Director of the Rothsay Cheese Co. for four years., and for three years agent for the Peel and Maryborough Fire In. Co. He has been class leader for 50 years in the Methodist church, and Trustee since the first church was built at Derryadd in 1855, which he gave the timber for and helped to build. He started in life without a dollar, having just one black penny when he reached Quebec, and has retired in independent circumstances. He is now 78 years old.

Issue: Mrs. E. Drewery, born June 5th, 1853, Grimsby; William H., Rothsay; Mrs. James Kellough, near Smith's Falls; Mrs. Alex. Allan, Man.; John, Mrs. Henry Hobbs, Assa.; Robert, Man.; and two died in infancy all b. on the homestead.

William H., was born in 1855 on the homestead. At the age of 26 years, he married Sarah Allan, daughter of William Allan, Carleton Place, and started a store in Rothsay, which he has since conducted. He has been a class leader in the Methodist church for 15 years. He is a Conservative in politics, and is a Trustee of S.S. No. 15 Rothsay. Issue: Myrtle, Jennie, Earl, Inez, Gladys, and three died young.

John, was born on the old homestead, east half of lot 10, con. 15, where he has always lived. He is a successful farmer and keeps fine stock. He is a Presbyterian, and a Conservative. He married Mary Ann Vick.