SOURCE: "Woodburn History: Some Generations of a Family" by James Albert Woodburn. The first Woodburn ancestor of whom I have any knowledge was my great grandfather. His name was James Woodburn, and he was, so far as I know, the first of our Woodburn immigrants to America. From an old document found among the papers of my grandfather, Dorrance B. Woodburn, I find the following record written by James Woodburn, the First: August ye 13th, 1795, James Woodburn hereby sheweth some of his travels through the world from friday ye 12th day of November 1748, on which day he was born in Edenburne in the parish of Desastoughel (?) and county of Londonderry in Ireland. Left Ireland ye 2nd of July 1767 arrived at Newcastle (Del.) ye 7th day of September ensuing. Was sorely afflicted October 1770, Feb. 1771, June ye 16, 1772, Jan. 1781. Married widow McMurray, or Sarah McGill, ye 16th, night of November 1775. My oldest daughter Elizabeth was born on Sunday, the 4th of May at 4 o'clock in the afternoon 1777. Left Pennsylvania ye 15th of October 1777 arrived at North Carolina ye 4th of November 1777. My second daughter Margaret was born at 10 o'clock forenoon on friday ye 17th of September 1779. Left North Carolina ye 12th of November 1782, arrived at Kingstree in South Carolina ye 12th of December 1782. Left South Carolina in April and ariv'd near Ogeechee in Georgia ye 5th of May 1783. My son Dorrance died at 3 o'clock ye afternoon of Wednesday ye 26h of May 1784 aged 2 years 4 months 3 weeks and 2 days." My third daughter Jean was born 5 o'clock ye afternoon of friday ye 4th of June 1784. Left Georgia ye 10th of March and ariv'd at Edisto in S.C. ye 15th, 1789. He went to Orangeburg and was there during 1790. The United States Census of 1790 giving the heads of families in the original thirteen colonies names James Woodburn of Orangeburg County, South Carolina. My daughter Jean died at 9 o;clock ye forenoon of tuesday of March 1789, aged 4 years 9 months, 1 week, 6 days. Left South Carolina ye 14th April, 1791, and ariv'd at Summerseat (?) in Georgia ye 22nd of April 1791, moved into Louisville (Ga.) ye 7th of July 1791, moved back to Summerseat on Monday ye 21st of March 1792, and there remained till this day." (Aug., 1795) My brother Alexander came to see me on thursday ye 27th of September and left me friday ye 15th of November 1782. My second son Dorrance was born at Summerseat in Georgia (near Louisville) at 10 o:clock at night ye 16th of August 1786. Started to Ireland in January 1798. Returned to Georgia ye last of December following." (1798) April ye 4th 1800 started from Georgia. Got to big Rocky Creek in South Carolina in same month. He moved to Little Rocky Creek in the same year. Left Little Rocky Creek and arrived on Jacob's Branch March, 1811."
James was born at
Edenburne, Co. Londonderry, Ireland, on 12 November 1748. He married
Sarah McGill at
Pennsylvania on 16 January 1775. James died on 21 August 1812 at
Chester Co., South Carolina, at age 63. His body was interred in August 1812 at
Chester Co., South Carolina.