Lt. Archelaus Woodman

     Lt. Archelaus Woodman was christened on 23 January 1613/14 at St. Bartholomew's Church, Corsham, Wiltshire, England.^1,2,3 He was the son of Edward Woodman and Edith Edwards. Lt. Archelaus Woodman was also known as Hercules or sometimes Harchelas. He was found on the passenger list of the James out of Southampton in 1635. The James was a sister ship to the Angel Gabriel which brought the three Burnham brothers in 1635. The Angel Gabriel was considered a bark, or a three-masted ship, weighing 240 tons and carrying 12 guns. On May 23, 1635, she and another ship, the James, plus several other ships left Bristol, England with colonists for America. The Angel Gabriel and James touched at Milford Haven, Pembroke County in South Wales. They then sailed two weeks and became separated and arrived off the English coast nearly at the same time. On June 14, 1635, many went ashore and attended Church services at a place called Nangle. After a twelve day delay there, they left on June 22, 1635. Capt. Taylor of the James and Capt. Robert Andrews of the Angel Gabriel. The James was a faster ship and pulled ahead of the Angel Gabriel on July 4, 1635. During the storm, the James was more fortunate than the Angel Gabriel. The James was at anchor at Isle of shoals, was torn from her anchor, and set to sea where two days later she arrived in Boston and passengers embarked on August 17, 1635. Two passengers aboard the James who would become quite famous were Richard and Cotton Mather.^1,2,4,5,6,3

Lt. Archelaus Woodman married Elizabeth ______ before 1637.



Lt. Archelaus Woodman was admitted as a freeman on 17 May 1637 at Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He went on foot from Newbury to Cambridge, along with six others, to take the freeman's oath.^7,8,1,10,3 Archelaus was known to be living in 1642 at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, being listed as a freeholder.¹ He was granted a house lot in 1645 at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.¹ He was appointed on 27 April 1648 as Constable.¹ On 9 September 1653 Lt. Archelaus Woodman was mentioned in will of John Pembertonof Lawford, Essex, England as "Hercules Woodman of Newbury."¹ He served in 1661 as Selectman of Newbury.¹ He was Lieutenant in the Newbury Militia Company on 31 May 1670.¹ He served in 1670/71 as Commissioner of Small Causes at Newbury.¹ Archelaus and Elizabeth joined the Church at Newbury in 1674 the Church.⁷ Archelaus was selected to be a Representative to the Massachusetts General Court for the Town of Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1675.¹ He served on 6 March 1674/75 as a Prudential Man.¹ Archelaus took the the Oath of Allegiance in 1677. Hoyt (1897) says 1678.^1,7 In 1677, Archelaus served as a Tythingman.¹

Lt. Archelaus Woodman, age 64, married Dorothy Swan, daughter of Richard Swan and Ann ______, on 13 November 1678 at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^{7,8,1,2,11,12,9,3} Lt. Archelaus Woodman military service ended on 4 June 1685.¹ Lt. Archelaus Woodman was taxed in August 1688 at Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.⁴ He deeded land on 6 January 1689 in Newbury to Archelaus Adams, listing Adams as his grandson.¹ On 9 November 1695, he deposed giving his age as 80 years.¹ He died on 7 October 1702 at Newbury, Province of Massachusetts Bay, at age 88.^{7,13,8,1,11,9}