Moses "Manassa" Woodruff, Sr.,
& Phebe Marsh

Moses "Manassa" Woodruff, Sr., son of "Deacon" John WOODRUFF & Eleanor DONNINGTON, was born Sept. 12, 1734, in Westfield, Essex Co., NJ, and died Oct. 28, 1817, in Ashe Co., NC. He married (1) Phebe Marsh, abt. 1759, probably in Essex Co., NJ. She was born Dec. 19, 1737, in New Jersey, and died June 19, 1806, in Surry Co., NC. He married (2) Elizabeth Collins, June 29, 1806, in Surry Co., NC. She was born before 1765, and died after 1810. Moses "Manassa" Woodruff is buried at the Manassa Woodruff Cemetery in Glade Valley, Alleghany Co., NC.

Children of Moses "Manassa" Woodruff, Sr., & Phebe Marsh:

1. Lydia Woodruff, b. Aug. 25, 1760, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; d. in Rutherford Co., NC; m. Burwelll (Burrell) Pope PACE (b. 1758; d. 1816); bur. Old Mountain Baptist Cemetery, near Saluda, Rutherford Co., NC.
2. Jennett Woodruff, b. Sept. 6, 1762, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; d. Sept. 14, 1800, Spartanburg, SC; m. her 1st cousin (once removed), Samuel WOODRUFF, son of Nathaniel WOODRUFF, abt. 1785 (b. Dec. 23, 1763; d. Jan. 8, 1836); bur. Bethel Cemetery, Woodruff, Spartanburg, SC.
3. Gideon Woodruff, b. Aug. 6, 1764, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; d. Oct. 24, 1820, Surry Co., NC; m. Prudence Day PHILLIPS, daughter of Abner & Elizabeth PHILLIPS (b. 1760-1770; d. abt. 1845); bur. Gideon Woodruff Cemetery, Yadkin Co., NC.  Will dated Oct. 24, 1820, rec. Feb. 1821 (Surry WB 3, p.147).  Children: Abner (b. 1780's, m. Nancy BURCH), Cornelius (b. 1788, m. Elizabeth HURT), Mary (b. abt. 1789, m. Sinclair MCMICKLE), John (b. abt. 1790) , Phebe (b. 1790's, m. Jesse BURCH), Samuel (b. 1793, m. Keziah BURCH), Elizabeth (b. abt. 1794, m. Micajah NICHOLSON), David Henry (b. abt. 1794, m. Elizabeth DAVIS), Moses (b. 1800, m. Charity COCKERHAM), Micajah Washington (b. 1800-10, Rebeckah (b. 1800-10, m. John ASHBY), Jennett (b. 1800-10, m. James ASHBY), Lucinda (b. abt. 1809, m. Reuben SHORES), Allen (b. abt. 1812, m. Celia CARTER).
4. +John Allen Woodruff, b. Apr. 28, 1766, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; d. May 1832, Ashe Co., NC; m. Jane MCBRIDE, abt. 1789 (b. abt. 1769; d. 1888).
5. Hannah Woodruff, b. Mar. 28, 1768, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; m. William MOORE.
6. Mary Woodruff, b. Mar. 15, 1770, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; m. John MCBRIDE.
7. +Moses Woodruff, Jr., b. Jan. 30, 1772, Westfield, Essex Co., NJ; d. May 1803, Surry Co., NC; m. Sarah PHILLIPS, daughter of Abner & Elizabeth PHILLIPS, abt. 1795 (b. abt. 1776; d. abt. 1855).
8. Elizabeth Woodruff, b. 1773, Surry Co., NC; d. 1777.
9. Jonathan Woodruff, b. Aug. 26, 1774, Surry Co., NC; d. ?
10. +Phoebe Woodruff, b. Aug. 22, 1777, Surry Co., NC; d. Mar. 9, 1856, Ashe Co., NC; m. Francis BRYAN, Aug. 9, 1796, Ashe Co., NC (b. June 25, 1770; d. Feb. 10, 1863); bur. Francis Bryan Cemetery, Glade Valley, Alleghany Co., NC.

Notes

he Woodruffs of New Jersey have been studied by genealogists for more than a century.  The most important published works are The Woodruff Chronicles, Vols. 1 & 2, by Ceylon Newton Woodruff (Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1967, 1971), and The Woodruffs of New Jersey by F.E. Woodruff (NY: Grafton Press, 1909).  The family is descended from John WOODRUFFE (1604-1670) and his wife Ann, who came to Lynn, Massachusetts, from Canterbury, England, in about 1639.  The following year (1640) they joined a group of Puritan settlers who founded the village of Southampton, Long Island.  Later generations of the Woodruff family settled in Elizabethtown and Westfield, Essex County, New Jersey.  For more information, see Linda Epstein's site, "The Woodruffs of Elizabethtown"

Moses "Manassa" Woodruff, Sr. (1734-1817) was the eldest son of "Deacon" John Woodruff (1704-1768) and Eleanor Donnington of Westfield, NJ.  Moses was named in his father's will, proved Sept. 14, 1768, in Essex County, NJ, along with his mother Elinor, and brothers John and Cornelius.  (Source: C.N. Woodruff, supra, Vol. II (1971), pp.174, 190 et. seq.; F.E. Woodruff, supra, fn. 107.)

Moses' middle name (or nickname), "Manassa," is reportedly inscribed on his gravestone at the Manassa Woodruff Cemetery in Glade Valley, Alleghany Co., NC.  (See Alleghany County Cemeteries Through 1986, published by the Alleghany County Hist.-Gen. Society.)  Manassa is a Biblical name, also spelled Manasseh (Gen. 41:51) or Manasses (Rev. 7:6).

Moses "Manassa" Woodruff married Phebe Marsh about 1759, probably in New Jersey.  Her name, "Pheba Marsh," reportedly appears on her husband's gravestone. (Alleghany County Cemeteries, supra.)  Although her parents have not been identified, she was doubtless a member of the large Marsh family of Elizabethtown in Essex County, New Jersey.

Moses "Manassa" and Phebe Woodruff baptised seven children at the Westfield Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, the last being Moses Woodruff, Jr., on Apr. 1, 1772.  After that, there is "no further data documented and no burial records" for this family in Essex County, New Jersey, according to C.N. Woodruff, supra.  In other words, Moses and his family appear to have left New Jersey sometime after 1772.  C.N. Woodruff did not know what became of them, but later researchers located them in Surry County, North Carolina.

Children of "Mr. & Mrs. Moses Woodruff" baptised at the Westfield Presbyterian Church in Westfield, NJ, as reprinted in Commemorative History of the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, New Jersey 1728-1928 by William K. McKinney (1929):

• Lydia Woodruff, bap. Jan. 4, 1761
• Jennett Woodruff, bap. Oct. 10, 1762
• -- Woodruff, bap. Sept. 9, 1764
• John Allen Woodruff, bap. June 1, 1766
• Hannah Woodruff, bap. May 8, 1768
• Mary Woodruff, bap. May 27, 1770
• Moses Woodruff, bap. Apr. 1, 1772

After moving to North Carolina, Moses Woodruff and his family settled on the south side of the Yadkin River in the vicinity of Fox Knob, Pipes Creek, and the headwaters of Deep Creek.  (Fox Knob is now known as Star Peak; Pipes Creek is called Lineberry Creek.)  This area became Yadkin County in 1850.  He also acquired land on the other side of the Blue Ridge, in the part of Wilkes County that became Ashe County in 1799 and Alleghany County in 1859.  Near the end of his life, Moses "Manassa" moved to Ashe (Alleghany) County, probably to live with his son John Allen Woodruff who owned land around Bullhead Mountain.  He died in 1817 at the age of 83.

Moses WOODRUFF's will, dated July 29, 1816, was recorded in Surry County in the Nov. term 1817.  It identifies his wife Elizabeth, daughters Mary MCBRIDE, Jennett WOODRUFF, Lydia PACE, Hannah MOORE, and Phebe BRYAN, sons Gideon WOODRUFF and John Allen WOODRUFF, and refers to three children of son Moses WOODRUFF.  The executors were John Allen WOODRUFF, John MCBRIDE, and Obadiah MARTIN. The will was witnessed by Obadiah MARTIN, Samuel MCBRIDE, and Daniel COCKERHAM.  A codicil dated Apr. 17, 1817, was witnessed by Aaron WOODRUFF.  (Surry WB 3, p.130.)

Records

Aug. 25, 1778. Wilkes Co., NC. Baker AIRS entered 300 acres on Brushy Creek of Little River on path that leads from HOLDBROOK's to New River Settlement. Baker AIRS marked out, Moses WOODRUFF written in. (Wilkes Land Entry No. 288.)

Note: The above land was located in the part of Wilkes County that later became Ashe, then Alleghany County. This parcel was originally "entered" or claimed by Baker AIRS [AYERS?], but was subsequently taken over by Moses Woodruff.

Sept. 4, 1779. Wilkes Co., NC. Thomas HAMMON entered 100 acres on Roaring River adj. William HARGUS. Thomas HAMMON marked out; Moses WOODRUFF written in. (Wilkes Land Entry No. 1154.)

Sept. 7, 1779. Wilkes Co., NC. 150 acres on New River, small branch below the Beaver Dam. First enterer illegible; Thomas HIGHSMITH marked out; Moses WOODRUFF written in. (Wilkes Land Entry No. 1164.)

Jan. 29, 1784. Surry Co., NC. Land belonging to Moses WOODRUFF is mentioned in a deed from Michael HENDERSON, gentleman, to Frederic MILLER, gentleman, for 600 acres called Fox Knobbs. Also mentioned, property of Samuel GENTRY & John SWIMS. (Surry Co., NC, DB B, pp.303-304.)

Note: Fox Knob is now called Star Peak. View topo map

Nov. 3, 1784. Surry Co., NC. "Agreed line" between Samuel GENTRY & Moses WOODRUFF mentioned in a land grant to Michael HENDERSON for 400 acres head of Deep Creek.

1785. Surry Co., NC. Moses WOODRUFF served as a juror on Feb. 18 and Aug. 11, 1785. (Surry Co., NC, Court Minutes.)

1786 Tax List, Surry Co., NC. Moses does not appear on the Surry County tax list in 1786, but we do find Nathaniel WOODRUFF Jr. (300 acres) and Samuel WOODRUFF (300 acres). Nathaniel was possibly Moses's uncle Nathaniel (1719-1790), who did not stay in Surry County but went to SC where he died in 1790. Nathaniel reportedly had a son named Samuel. However, Moses had other cousins named Samuel as well.

Aug. 9, 1787. Surry Co., NC. Land grant to Moses WOODRUFF, 200 acres on the waters of Pipes Creek adj. said WOODRUFF's former tract. (Surry Co., NC, DB D, p.23.)

Note: Pipes Creek is now called Lineberry Creek.

Aug. 9, 1787. Surry Co., NC. Land belonging to Moses WOODRUFF mentioned in a land grant for 1,000 acres to John DUNN & Adley OSBORNE. Also mentioned: land of Michael HENDERSON, James JONES, William HANKINS, and MCMICKLES. (Surry Co., NC, DB D, p.228.)

Aug. 9, 1787. Wilkes Co., NC. Land grant to Moses WOODRUFF, 200 acres on Pine Swamp Branch, South Fork New River. (Wilkes Co., NC, DB C, pp.79-80.)

Nov. 9, 1787. Surry Co., NC. Moses WOODRUFF & John Allen WOODRUFF witnessed a dead from William Terrell LEWIS to John MARSH for 150 acres on Little Knob, Brushy Mountain, left hand Swan Pon Creek. (Surry Co., NC, DB D, p.387.)

1790 Census, Surry Co. NC: MOSES WOODRUFF

3 white males over 16

3 white females

Dec. 20, 1791. Surry Co., NC. Land grant to Moses WOODRUFF, 400 acres on Fox Knob adj. HENDERSON and Samuel GENTRY. (Surry Co., NC, DB D, p.220.)

Dec. 24, 1792. Surry Co., NC. Land belonging to Moses WOODRUFF mentioned as adjoining 400 acres granted to Samuel GENTRY, head waters Deep Creek, north side Fox Knob Mountain. Also mentioned, property of Michael HENDERSON. (Surry Co., NC, DB E, p.195.)

Nov. 3, 1797. Wilkes Co., NC. Land grant to Moses WOODRUFF, 500 acres in Wilkes County near the Bull Head between Glade Creek & Brush Fork of Little River; by warrant dated May 3, 1792. (Land Grant No. 1389; Wilkes Co., NC, DB D, p.379; Alleghany Co., NC, DB 30, p.598.)

Note: The above land was located in the part of Wilkes County that later became Ashe, then Alleghany County. It was probably located near the land grants that Moses Woodruff took over from Baker AIRS (see above).

1800 Census, Ashe Co., NC: MOSES WOODRUFF

1 w/m over 45

1 w/f over 45

6 slaves

May 12, 1806. Ashe Co., NC. A deed from Moses WOODRUFF to Larking PUMPHREY for 200 acres proven in open court by the oath of John MCBRIDE. (Ashe Co., NC, Court Minutes.)

June 29, 1806. Surry Co., NC. Moses WOODRUFF and Elizabeth COLLINS posted a marriage bond with bondsman Obadiah MARTIN.

Aug. 11, 1806. A deed from Moses WOODRUFF to Allen WOODRUFF for 500 acres was duly proven in open court by the oath of J- MCBRIDE. (Ashe Co., NC, Court Minutes.)

1810 Census, Surry Co., NC, p.194: MOSES WOODRUFF

1 w/m over 45

1 w/f over 45

2 slaves

1817 Tax List, Surry Co., NC: Moses WOODRUFF, 400 acres, 2 black polls.

Note: the above tax record indicates that Moses Woodruff was over the age of 60, since he was not listed as a "poll."

July 29, 1816. Will of Moses WOODRUFF, dated July 29, 1816, rec. Nov. 1817, Surry Co., NC; names wife Elizabeth, daughters Mary MCBRIDE, Jennett WOODRUFF, Lydia PACE, Hannah MOORE, & Phebe BRYAN; sons Gideon WOODRUFF & John Allen WOODRUFF; 3 children of son Moses. Execs: John Allen WOODRUFF, John MCBRIDE, Obadiah MARTIN. Wits: Obadiah MARTIN, Samuel MCBRIDE, Daniel COCKERHAM. Codicil dated Apr. 17, 1817; wit: Aaron WOODRUFF. (Surry WB 3, p.130.)