Thomas WOODWARD ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

Thomas was a member of the Concord Monthly Meeting, from which he obtained a certificate of removal to New Garden Monthly Meeting, dated 1749, 4, 5. This was probably about the time he settled in East Marlborough township and became a member of London Grove Particular Meeting. His residence was on "Street Road", one and three-fourths miles east of the meeting house. He was a book-binder, a surveyor and a conveyancer.
Some of his labors as a surveyor were performed in the neighborhood of Duck Creek DE. It is related that a t one time he had occasion to survey a farm, the owner of which threatened violence if he proceeded. Thomas asked if he had any objection to the survey of the adjoining properties, and receiving a reply in the negative, crossed the fence and measured around the farm withoug being upon it.
John Woolman, a noted preacher among Friends, and one of the most scrupulous anti-slavery men of his day, on one occasion attended Quarterly Meeting at London Grove. Here he delivered one of his powerful discourses against holding persons in bondage. At that time Friends were not all clear of this evil, though it is safe to assert that their servants were generally treated with humanity. After meeting, Woolman, with several friends, went to the house house of Thomas Woodward to take dinner. Entering the house, he observed some colored persons, and learning that they were slaves, he quietly picked up his hat and cane (he traveled on foot), and left the room and his friends. They supposed he would return shortly, but were disappointed. Thomas Woodward had a high standing in the meeting, and this incident had a great effect jpon his mind, so that on awakening the next morning he told his wife he must liberate his slaves. She asked if all must be liberated, adding "Must Bet to too?", and even burst into tears at the thought of losing her faithful servant. But the decree was made and would be carried out, for Thomas was unwilling to keep a house at which his friends could not be entertained. He was afterward appointed by the meeting one of a committee to visit such as held slaves, and endeavor to convince them "of the evil of so doing".

Reference: A Genealogy of the Kirk Family, a book by Chas. H. Stubbs, M.D., Wylie & Griest, Lancaster PA, 1872
NOTE: This file is a transcription of the book into electronic format.
At present [2000 Oct 10] the transcription is incomplete, having reached page 94 out of 252.
I plan to complete the transcription, but it's a free time project and I have very little, so it will probably take some months.

Thomas married Elizabeth KIRK, daughter of Roger KIRK and Elizabeth RICHARDS. (Elizabeth KIRK was born March 5, 1722 ¹ and died January 25, 1812 ¹.)