Brief Life History of Nelson
When Nelson Woodruff was born on 29 March 1814, in Pickering, Ontario, Ontario, Canada, his father, Noahdiah Woodruff, was 35 and his mother, Charity Powell, was 26. He married Margaret Barnum on 1 January 1855, in Pickering, Ontario, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Ontario, Ontario, Canada in 1871. He died on 13 August 1874, in Brougham, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 60.
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Family Time Line
Sources (17)
- Nelson Woodruff in entry for Lottie Woodruff, "Ontario Births, 1869-1911"
- Nelson Woodcuff in entry for Washington G Woodcuff and Nellie Read, "Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927"
- Nelson Woodruff, "Canada, Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947"
Spouse and Children
1814–1874 Male
1835–1893 Female
Children (7)
1856–1933 Male
1858–1859 Female
1859–1923 Male
1862– Female
1864–1885 Female
+2 More Children
Parents and Siblings
1778–1862 Male
1788–1853 Female
Siblings (10)
1810–1867 Male
1812–1878 Male
1814–1874 Male
1816– Female
1818–1846 Male
+5 More Children
World Events (2)
1867 · Ontario Founded
Age 53
1869
Age 55
Name Meaning
English: from Middle English woderove ‘woodruff, sweet woodruff’ (Old English wudurofe), a sweet-scented plant. The leaves of the plant have a sweet smell and the surname may also have been a nickname for one who used it as a perfume, or perhaps an ironical nickname for a malodorous person. Alternatively, perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived at or near a place where woodruff grew. There may have been some confusion with Woodrow .
History: Two English families brought the name Woodruff to the American colonies: those of Matthew Woodruff and of John and Ann Woodruffe. The latter migrated to Lynn, MA, from Kent, and moved to Southampton, Long Island, NY, before 1640. John and Ann's many descendants were established in NJ, NC, and SC by 1790. The city of Woodruff, SC, is named for this family. The name is variously spelled Woodrove, Woodroffe, Woodruffe, Woodrough, and Woodruff in colonial records.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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