HENRY LEWIS WOODRUFF,
Dear Sir:-
I received your letter of Nov. 1st several days since,
and I have taken the first opportunity I could to answer. I have had a
great anxiety myself to see the Woodruff history published, but as yet it
has not been done. I spent one month in London in 1840 and several
months in 1846. The Woodruff book of heraldry gives two lineages of the
Woodruffs. One spelled Woodroffe, the other Woodruff; the latter family
we are descended from. In about 1666 one of our progenitors was Lord
Mayor of London, about the time of the great fire and plague. I obtained
the Woodruff Coat of Arms, and impression of which I send you herewith. Two
of our fore-fathers came to America soon after the Mayflower, and settled
in Hartford, and soon afterwards John and Matthew Woodruff came and settled
in Farmington, from whom you and I descended. John settled in Farmington
in 1681 and Matthew in 1716. I cannot trace the family in a direct line
to our day. My great-grandfather's name was Josiah. He lived a little
past 100 years. My grandfather's name was Eldad; his sons were Eldad,
Samuel, Titus, Aphek and Ozem; all born in the north part of Farmington, call
Northingtons, now Avon. Eldad's son lived to about 85 years of age.
Samuel was 92. My father, Apek Woodruff, died in this city 84 years of
age. My mother, Bulah Thompson Woodruff, died in 1808, leaving three sons;
Azmon, Thompson and myself. I was the youngest, being 14 months old. I
was born March 1st, 1807, making me 85 years, 8 months and 12 days old. My
oldest brother, Azmon, died here 87 years old; my brother Thompson is still
living, is in his 87th year.
