Joseph Williams Wood

     Joseph Williams Wood was born on 6 July 1826 at Fairfield, Saint John Co, New Brunswick.^1,2,3 He was the son of William D. Wood and Olivia Hovey Williams. Joseph Williams Wood married Elizabeth Brown Howard, daughter of John Howard Jr and Rachel Campbell Kerr, on 4 April 1856 at St Martins, Saint John Co, New Brunswick. Joseph Williams Wood died on 23 September 1910 at Gagetown, Queens Co, New Brunswick, at age 84; "The death of Mr. Joseph W. Wood, one of St John's oldest citizens, took place at Gagetown, Friday afternoon. The deceased had been spending the summer at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Jas. A. McGaw. He was in the 85th year of his age, and leaves four daughters and one son. The daughters are Mrs. McGaw, Gagetown; Mrs. J.F. Cheyne, Westfield; Miss Hannah M. Wood, Pittsburg, PA; and Mrs. Olivia W. Anderson, of this city. Mr. William J. Wood, of Oakland, is the son."
Brenan's Funeral Home records that he was brought back to the Saint John area from Gagetown by boat.^4,2,5 He was buried at Brown's Cemetery, Bain's Corner, Saint John Co, New Brunswick.²
     Deed #22029, written 21 Oct 1850, William Wood deeded land to Joseph Williams Wood. It was not registered until 1854.⁶ On 17 Sep 1861, William and Olivia Wood sold land in Simonds parish for £40 to Joseph Williams Wood. It was part of a lot originally granted to William Black, which lies northwardly of the northwestern branch of the Gardner's Creek stream. It was also bound by land granted to John Johnston, and purchased from Charles Hogg.⁷ He appeared on the census of 1881 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; Joseph W. Wood, 55, was of English origin, born NB and a laborer. Wife Elizabeth B., 55, Rebecca M., 22, Olivia W., 20, William J., 17, a plumber; Hannah M., 14, along with their son-in-law, James McGaw, 25 and Rachel, 24.⁸ He appeared on the census of 6 April 1891 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; Joseph Wood, 65, b. NB (both parents b. NS), was Free Will Baptist and a ship carpenter; Elizabeth, 65, b. NB, (father b. NB, mother b. NS), Frank Hughes, 18, a lodger, b. Ontario; Rebecca Cheyne, 32, Olivia Wood, 30, Hannah Wood, 23, (all three daughters Brethren), John F. Cheyne, 34, Minnie Cheyne, 7, Ethel A, 5, Harold J, 3 and Grace A, 3/12 and another dozen people that must have been lodging there. John Cheyne and children were Methodist.⁹ He appeared on the census of 1901 at 207 Westmoreland Street, Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick; Joseph Wood and his wife were living with their son, William Judson Wood, and his family.¹⁰