This genealogy site contains family history of descendants from the following lines: Whitney, Wheeler, Woods, Baker, Tompkins, Greenleaf. Some Massachusetts towns of origin are Princeton, Concord, Andover, Watertown, Weston, Bolton, Medford. Some branches removed to New York. I come down from Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. and Abigail Wheeler thru their daughter Harriette Newell Woods Baker. I've just come into possession of the book shown below which is about his life, both family and career. It must have been sitting on my grand aunt's shelves a long time and was discovered by my mom when my grand aunt recently died at 91 years old. I've transcribed it to these pages. If it wasn't for this one book we would have never known about the great history of our Woods Baker family line!

The book I have been handed down is called Reminiscences and Records of Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. ,authored by his daughter Harriette Newell Woods Baker. Printed 1887, Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son Printers, No.24 Franklin Street. Harriette states in the preface that her work is compiled from a portfolio that contained letters from her father, memoranda, and documents which she had been collecting for twenty years. The book contains 148 pages and 25 chapters.

Born in Princeton, MA on 19 Jun 1774 and baptized the day he was born. His parents walked him to the church a mile away. Died in Andover 24 Aug 1854. Son of Samuel Woods from Chelmsford, MA, grandson of Samuel Woods born 1686 England , a school teacher and minuteman at the Lexington Alarm, and Abigail Whitney Underwood. Graduated Harvard in 1796. Got his D.D from Princeton University (previously College of NJ) and Dartmouth in same year of 1810. After residing about 10 years in Newbury, he was installed Professor of the Theological Seminary at Andover, a position he held for 38 years. Member and often a founding member of various societies including the American Education Society, the Temperance Society. He lived in Andover until his death . Died of heart disease. He left a prayer to all his future descendants on his deathbed. Very beloved husband, father, friend and teacher.

He once wrote to his wife on her birthday, " And now, dear wife, we have lived together forty-six years, and those have been happy years. I began to love you when you were in the bloom of youth, and I love you none the less now that you are in feeble health and advanced in life. Nay, my love is deeper, and I believe purer, than it was in former years. And I doubt not it is so with your love to me. My heart is with you, and ever will be. Your joys are my joys, and your sorrows are my sorrows. "

Personal notes and description : 6'2"; long black hair, slightly curly; blue eyes. Known to be punctual. Very frank. People often came to him for advice. He was an investor of stocks and bonds and he must have kept accurate records as he instructed his second wife in his will to keep an accounting of these investments in a book after he died, and to never spend the principle. His wife, Abigail, liked to read Oliver Twist to him, and he had a soft spot for children. They liked to go on holidays with the kids, as many as they could fit in the carriage!

Leonard Woods and Abigail Wheeler [b 29 Feb 1776 - d Andover 21 Feb 1846 cause of death Palsy, Andover vital records] were married Oct 1799 in Newbury, MA. She is daughter of Rev. Joseph Wheeler [1735-1793] and Mary Greenleaf [b 3 JUL 1742 d 28 Aug 1783]. Rev. Joseph Wheeler is grandson of Obadiah Wheeler and Elizabeth White. She is descended from Mayflower passenger William White and his wife Susanah through their son Resolved White and his wife Judith Vassal. Resolved was a passenger on the Mayflower while his brother Peregrine was the first baby to be born after the ship arrived at Massachusetts.

Children:

Harriette Newell Woods Baker [b 19 Aug 1815 Andover, Mass; d 26 Apr 1893 NY; baptised 10 Dec 1815 (Andover Theological Seminary Record)]. Married on Oct 3 1835 (Andover Vital Records), Oct. 3, 1835 (Andover Theological Seminary Record), to Rev Abijah Richardson Baker [b 30 Aug 1805 Franklin, Mass d. 30 Apr 1878 Dorchester] . He was son of Capt. David and Jemima (Richardson) Baker. She was an author of children's books and novels and she used some pen names including Mrs. Madeline Leslie. Harriette's biography and bibliography have been done by Deidre Johnson at her website where she displays her research on authors of series books in 19th century : 19th Century Girls' Series . Sons include Rev. George Stuart Baker [ b 29 July 1838, Medford, MA, d. Feb 18, 1918], he was Rector of St. Luke's Hosptal in NYC, NY; Rev. Charles Richardson Baker [ b 15 April 1842, Medford, MA], Minister of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Brooklyn, NY.; Frank Woods Baker [ b. 10 Aug, 1856 Medford, MA], in 1886 he was Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Covington, Kentucky along with his brother Walter Baker assistant rector [ b. August 12, 1849]; Dr. William Henry Baker, M.D.[ b. 11 Mar, 1845, d. 1914]. Noteable descendants include Phyllis Livingston Baker, wife of Fred Astaire. She was b. about 1909, d. 1954, daughter of Harold Woods Baker, grandaughter of William Henry Baker, M.D. of Boston, MA.

Portraits of Harriette Newell Woods Baker and her husband Abijah Richardson Baker (courtesy of W. Baker family):

Harriette Newell Woods Baker portrait

Abijah Richardson Baker portrait

Rev. Leonard Woods D.D (jr.) [b 24 Nov 1807 d 24 Dec 1878 in Boston Mass]: President of Bowdoin College 1839-1866. No children.

Mary Greenleaf Woods Smith (aka Mary G.W. Smith ). [ b Newbury, MA 3 Oct, 1804] Married to Rev. Thomas Mather Smith, son of Rev. Daniel Smith, pastor in Stamford, Ct.. Children include Mary Smith, Sarah Smith, John Cotton Smith, D.D., . There were two infants who died, Leonard and Julia. Leonard Woods delivered the sermon at the ordination of Rev. Thomas Mather Smith as pastor of the Chapel Church and Society in Portland, ME. on July 31, 1822. He is a descendant from the same family as Cotton Mather. Notable descendants include Dorothy May Kinnicutt or 'Sister Parish' [ b. July 15, 1910, d. 1994] Renowned Interior Decorator. Jobs included the White House under the Kennedy administration.

Sophia Walker Woods [b Andover 12 May 1819]. Married in Andover,William B. Hayden of NYC on 23 Jun 1841. Andover vital records.

Sarah Abbott Woods [b Andover18/19 June d Andover 3 Sept 1836 at 19 years old] From Andover vital records, including grave information from the Theological Seminary.

Daniel Bates Woods [b Andover 20 Sept. 1809 d St. Lois MO 30 May 1892 ] Amherst Class of 1833. Married Elizabeth H. Pierce in 1839. Minister and teacher. Bio from the Amherst College Biographical Record, Centennial Edition (1821-1921)): "*Woods, Daniel Bates. S. of Dr. Leonard, b. Andover, S. 20, 1809. Prepared Phillips Acad., Andover; A. C., 1829-32; grad. Union, 1833. Union T. S., 1834-37; ordained Andover, S. 19, 1839; p. Springwater, N. Y., 1839-41; taught young ladies' schools in Va., 1841-44; Philadelphia, Penn., 1844-49; Cincinnati, O., 1852-55; St. Louis, Mo., few yrs. D. St. Louis, Mo., May 30, 1892." Bio from Historical Sketches of Andover, Massachusetts by Sarah Loring Bailey, pub. 1880. Chapter 9, Theological Seminary, Chapter 6, West Parish, pg 497.) REV. DANIEL BATES WOODS (son of Professor Woods) was a grad-uate of Union College, 1833; of Andover Theological Seminar, 1837; ordained, 1839; pastor of Presbyterian Church, Spring-water, N. Y.; pastor in Virginia, 1845; teacher in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Missouri.

I'm wondering if this is the same Daniel Bates Woods who wrote 'Sixteen Months at the Gold Diggings. London: Sampson Low; New York: Harper and Brothers, 1852.' According to a book review: ".....Walking away from the pulpit, Woods began his adventure on February 1, 1849, when he embarked at the foot of Arch Street, Philadelphia, aboard the barque Thomas Walters. On February 21, the ship arrived at Tampico, Mexico. Woods crossed the continent to San Blas where he picked up the schooner San Blasina and, after great difficulty, arrived in San Francisco on June 25. In so doing, he created one of the earliest published journals of the Mexican crossing. Dropping his clerical title, he immediately headed for Sacramento and the mines where he began life as an Argonaut spending day after grueling day digging and rocking the cradle...."

Joseph Wheeler Woods [d Andover 8 Nov 1827 at 25 years old] Reminiscences mentions that he died as he was about to enter the ministry. No mention of cause of death. Andover vital records indicate that his marriage intention was recorded 17 Dec 1824 to Hannah O. Holkins of N.H. There is a birth record for a son, also named Joseph Wheeler Woods, born to to Joseph (deceased) and Hannah, b 12 Nov 1827. Born just 4 days after his father's death.

Margarette Oliver Woods [b Andover 12 Apr 1813] Married in Andover 20 May 1839 to Rev. E.A. Lawrence, or Edward Alexander Lawrence who delivered Leonard's funeral sermon titled "Discourse Delivered at the Funeral of Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. in The Chapel of the Theological Seminary, Andover, August 28, 1854 by Edward A. Lawrence, Professor in the Theological Seminary, East Windsor Hill, Connecticut." This couple and their children are referred to in Bond's Watertown. Rev. E. A. Lawrence is mentioned in Reminiscences and Records. His name is spelled Laurence there. Margarette seems to be named after her grandfather's ( Rev. Joseph Wheeler) second wife, Marguerita (Olivier) (Coolidge) Jennison, who died in Boston in 1816.

Abigail Wheeler Woods [ b Andover 25 Jul 1811] Married 29 April 1835 in Andover to Richard Henry Salter, M.D. of Norwich, Conn. Andover vital records. There are descendants still living.

Samuel Woods [ b Newbury 26 Oct 1800, d 1884 Pittsford, Vt.]

*Reference to Rev. Joseph WHEELER from chapter 4: Settlement in West Newbury, Reminiscences and Records of Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D.

In October, 1799, my father was married to Abby Wheeler, daughter of Rev. Joseph Wheeler, a graduate of Harvard College in 1757. He was ordained in the town of Harvard in 1759, but his settlement and usefulness there were suddenly cut short by the loss of his voice. Soon after the commencement of the Revolutionary War, Mr. Wheeler zealously engaged in the cause of his country, and was chosen a member of the Provincial Congress, representative to the General Court, and a member of the Committee of Correspondence. The night before Bunker Hill battle he volunteered, with five others, to go to the hill, and they staked out the ground for the intrenchment which was thrown up during the night. After the arrival of General Washington at Cambridge, Mr. Wheeler was chaplain of his staff. After the war he was appointed Justice of the Quorum for Worcestor County, and Register of Probate, which offices he held till his death.

* Handwritten letter about Rev. Joseph WHEELER transcribed by, and in the possession of Hank Carter, descendant of Rev. Joseph Wheeler thru his son Daniel Greenleaf Wheeler. It appears on A CARTER FAMILY GENEALOGY HOME PAGE . He has transcribed it as follows.

An Incident of Bunker Hill As any incident connected in anyway with the battle of Bunker Hill is now eagerly sought for, and as the incident which I am about to relate has never been published & is known only to a few of the descendants. I offer the following truthful account for publication. Rev. Joseph Wheeler graduated at Harvard College in 1757; was ordained pastor of the church in Harvard, Mass. Dec. 12, 1759. After a few years he had the misfortune to lose his voice as entirely as to require him to leave the pulpit. Soon after the commencement of the Rev. Udange (?) he graciously engaged in the cause of his country and was chosen a member of the Providential Congress, refuser totine to the General Court, and a member of the Committee of Correspondence. The night before Bunker Hill battle he volunteered with five others to go on to the hill and they staked out the ground for the entrenchment which was thrown up during the night. After the arrival of General Washington at Cambridge, Mr. Wheeler was chaplain of his staff. After the war he was appointed a justice of the quorum for Worcester County register of probate, which office he held until he died. Among his descendants are and have been, some of our most prominent men. Moses Wheeler, formerly a merchant of State Street, Theophilus Wheeler of Worcester, register of probate and justice of the quorum, Daniel Wheeler of Worcester, and Dr. John Wheeler of Dover, NH were his sons. Mrs. Woods, wife of Rev. Dr. Woods of Andover and Mrs. Walker, wife of Rev. Daniel Walker of Danover were his daughters. Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., ex. President of Providence College, Nathaniel Walker of Louisburg square, Theophilus Walker of Walltaus, Mrs. William Rea of Chestnut St., Mrs. Hannah Walker, sister of Nathaniel and Theophilus and Mr. Joseph Wheeler Woods of West Cedar Street are among his descendants.

S. Woods

Boston, MA May 25, 1895

Rev. George Stuart Baker [b 29 JUL 1838 Medford, Mass d 18 Feb 1918 NYC, NY]. Son of Rev Abijah Richardson Baker and Harriette Newell Woods. Grandson of David Baker and Jemima Richardson. He married Margaret Coats, from Glasgow Scotland. He and his wife had three girls, Harriette Woods Baker, Margaret R. Baker and Fannie Baker. Fannie married Mr. Hewitt and had a daughter Fannie Hewitt. Margaret R. Baker remained unmarried in NYC.

George Stuart Baker was an Episcopal clergyman, rector and Superintendent of St. Luke's Hospital NYC. Rec'd MA at Hobart College. Grad of Union Theological Seminary. D.D. from Griswold College, Davenport, Iowa. Chaplain of the Shelter for Respectable Girls at his time of death. Final editor of a book begun by his grandfather Rev. Dr. Leonard Woods at the request of the trustees of the Seminary called 'History of Andover Seminary'. Leonard Jr. was supposed to finish this book as his father was aging, but it sat and eventually there was a fire at Leonard Jr.'s library. George Stewart Baker took up the job of finishing it and sifting thru half burnt papers to complete the task.

I have a newspaper clipping of his OBIT from the NY Times:

REV. DR. GEO. S. BAKER DIES. Served 23 Years as Pastor and Superintendent of St. Luke's Hospital. The Rev. Dr. George Stuart Baker, pastor and Superintendent Emeritus of St. Luke's Hospital, died yesterday at his home, 205 West 107th Street, in his eightieth year. He was Chaplain of the Shelter for Respectable Girls at the time of his death, and for many years had been Chaplain of the Confederate Veterans' Camp of New York. He was born July 29, 1838, at Medford, Mass., a son of the Rev. Abijah R. Baker and Harriette Newell Woods Baker, who was a daughter of the founder of Andover Theological Seminary. He recieved the degree M.A. from Hobart College; was graduated from Union Theological Seminary, and several years after recieved the degree D.D. from Griswold College, Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Baker was ordained a priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1870 by Bishop Coxe and assigned as assistant minister of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N.Y. Dr. Baker was appointed pastor and superintendent of St. Luke's Hospital in 1877, retiring twenty-three years later as pastor and Superintendent Emeritus.

Margaret Coats had a brother Andrew Coats [photo below] who worked at St. Luke's Hospital in NY as a curator. He was a Civil War Soldier. He served for the Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry known as Duryee's Zouaves. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run, which he would later refer to as the "Vortex of Hell" in a speech written for Gettysburg. He was a founding member of the Fifth New York Veterans Association. I learned alot about him from the 5th NY historian and recreator Brian C. Pohanka at www.zouave.org

Harriette Woods Baker [b 25 Nov 1874 d 3 Mar 1943]. Daughter of Rev. George Stuart Baker and Margaret Coats. Graduate of Hunter College 1896. School teacher in Harlem. Harriette married Harry LaVergne Tompkins 26 Apr 1902 in NY. Here with her daughter on her right, Eleanor Margaret Tompkins Berryman. Eleanor inherited a baby spoon with a T inscribed passed down thru each Tompkins generation along with a paper listing the ancestors. Some Tompkins' appear in a Washburn family geneology book that we have, and my mom was the latest entry on our line in there. We're descended from Uriah Washburn Tompkins [ b 12 Dec 1840 Stamford, Dutchess County, NY, d. 18 Dec 1931 NYC, NY]. My Tompkins / Coons / Mars Family History pages have photos and reports from his line, including tintypes from the Mars/O'Connell family.

OBITUARY of Uriah Tompkins. Photostat copy of cutout newspaper clipping reads as follows:

The Passing of Uriah W. Tompkins "Grand Old Man"

Uriah W. Tompkins, a life member of the Supreme Council of New York, who reached his 91st birthday Dec 12, passed away six days later, Dec. 18, at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. Frank W. Tompkins, 15 Tuxedo Place, Cranford, New Jersey. Nephritis and old age infirmities were the cause of death. Bro. Tompkins had been in attendance at 33 sessions of both the Supreme and Grand Council. At one time he was a member of the Commitee on laws of the Supreme Council. Despite his advanced age, he made the trip to the recent sessions of the Supreme Council to Victoria, British Columbia, and enjoyed every day of the long journey and the stay in Victoria. His most recent photo, taken in the Gardens at Victoria, is reproduced here. For 45 years, Bro. Tompkins had been a practicing lawyer, with offices at 256 Broadway. Forty-five years also represented his membership in the Royal Arcanum, as a member of Knickerbocker Council, No. 572, New York City. He was regent of the council many years ago, and of late years he was honored with the station of sitting past regent. In November, 1930, at the annual dinner of the Associated Grand Council Officers and District Deputies of the Metropolitan Districts, held in the grand ball-room of the Commodore hotel, Manhattan, Bro. Tompkins was the guest of honor, the reception being tendered as recognition of his 90th birthday. It was a joyous occassion for "the Grand Old Man of the Royal Arcanum." Until six weeks previous to his death, Bro. Tompkins was enjoying his usual good health, and appearing at his office daily. Then came the break-down due to nephritis. He was in bed for several weeks, and when improved he resumed trips to his office as late as Dec. 8. He also called on the editor at his office. His friends and associates noted that he had failed considerably. A few days later he took to his bed again where he lingered until his death. On Saturday, Dec. 12, his 91st birthday, scores of telegrams, birthday cards and floral tributes arrived at the home. The messages of friendship and good wishes were read to Bro. Tompkins who was happy to hear from his many Royal Arcanum brothers. Among the visitors at the home on Sunday, the day following his birthday, were Past Supreme Regent Knoeppel and Mrs. Knoeppel and Supreme Orator Willament and Mrs. Willament.

Born in N.Y. State

Bro. Tompkins was born in Stamford, Dutchess County, New York. He received his early education in Stamford before entering college for the study of law. He was a member of the Dutchess County Society from the date of its organization. Many years ago he was a professor of mathematics at the River View Military Academy, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Mrs. Tompkins died several years ago. There are three sons, Frank W. Tompkins of Cranford, N.J.; Harry L. Tompkins, of Ecuador, South America, and Willian C. Tompkins, of Woodhaven, Queens County, Long Island. The three sons are members of Knickerbocker Council. Besides the large number of Royal Arcanum officials and members of Knickerbocker Council who attended the funeral on Dec. 20, there was a delegation of officers and members of Radiant Lodge, F. & A. M., N.Y. City. Services were held in Trinity Church, Cranford, the interment following in Woodlawn cemetary, Bronx, N.Y. City. There were many beautiful floral tributes from the Supreme and Grand Councils and the Associate Grand Council Officers.

Suddenly you were gone, Your smiles and you; And no one ever knew the road you took, but only That your ways Of kindness, and your face Of gladness, left an aching place Within the heart that no one else could fill. Now, seeing a blossom-covered bough, Or a white crown of snow On far blue hills, we know The world is sweeter for your having been.

For more on this family see: Tompkins / Coons / Mars Family History