Levi Wood

Levi Wood's Story

Levi Wood was born at Middleboro, Plymouth Colony Massachusetts, on December 12th, 1754, to Jedediah Wood and Keziah (Samson) Wood.  Levi Wood's official birth record [image and link below] clearly displays Levi being born in 1754. So the date of 1755 for his birth in, Levi Wood, 1755-1833, is inaccurate.

In 1775, in his early twenties, Levi Wood Levi Wood entered the Revolutionary War right after the Battle of Lexington (the battle was April 19, 1775) as a volunteer and not as an enlisted soldier according to his last Will & Testament. Many local men, including Levi Wood, supported the militia, forcing the British to retreat to Boston.

Levi enlisted with the Continental Army on May 7, 1777, in Massachusetts under Captain Thompson.

A book of 90 pages discussing about Levi Wood's life and his family is avaible on seekingmyroots.com

Levi Wood's Birth Record [1754]


Link to familysearch.com: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHCQ-G77 

According to the second page of the book, DESCENDANTS OF LEVI WOOD, 1755~1833 First of Middleboro, Massachusetts; Sometime of Pelham, Massachusetts; Last of Macedon, Wayne County, New York A FAMILY GENEALOGY AND DIRECTORY WITH MENTION OF SOME OF THE ALLIED FAMILIES Compiled by Verne Seth Pease Family Data Collected by Mrs. Mary (Wood) Church, or Levi Wood 1755~1833, for short, 

"It is worth recording that he volunteered for a short time enlistment on the rumored approach of the British from the north under Burgoyne, but his time had expired and with his compatriots he started for home, thinking the alarm was without justifiable foundation in fact. But before he reached his home he met with a band of soldiers under Colonel Warner, rushing toward the north.

 Evidently Colonel Warner had recent information, and was in need of strengthening his ranks; for the entire squad of returning men was drafted into service and assigned to Captain Cook's company. But for this chance meeting he would have missed the battle of Saratoga and in later life could not have had the keen pleasure of relating the stirring incidents he there witnessed, as we are assured he did on many occasions." 

Levi continued to serve in the war until 1783, almost always being in battles for the nine years.

He is recorded that on June 22nd 1775, Levi Wood returned from serving Colonel Baldwin in Massachusetts Bay.

Levi Wood was even present at the surrender of battle of Saratoga, October 17, 1777. 

When Levi was not serving, he visited Pelham New York, and as record suggests, he lived in Pelham with his father's family.

After the War, on June 17th 1787, Levi married Bethany Fuller, the daughter of a pioneer at Pelham, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. 

Bethany Fuller was the daughter of John Fuller who was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. She is also be said to have, "the purest Puritan blood", which according to records for very important to Levi as he was a devoted Puritan as well. In Bethany's family tree is Dr. Samuel Fuller, the first American physician, a member of the "Mayflower" company and medical adviser to that historic band.

According to Levi Wood, 1755~1833, "From the time of his marriage he seems to have been quite an extensive dealer in land, and his name appears in many conveyances, in the early records in the office of the register of deeds for Hampshire County."

(The DAR Record was added in 2022 and was not updated to show all of Levi and Bethany's Children.)

Levi Wood After The War

In 1801 it is recorded that Levi and his family moved from Pelham, New York to at the time was Palmyra New York, but would be Macedon. Levi bought land from proprietors to clear overbearing trees for timber and constructing a log cabin in the almost untouched woods.

While apart of Macedon Levi continued to make deals with others regarding land and trade. There are land assessment records of him purchasing land in Ontario and Wayne County  New York in 1815, 1816 and in 1825.

On March 10th, 1811, Levi Wood's eldest child, Levi the second, passed away and was buried in the Old Baptist Cemetery.

Levi Wood the first, is recorded in the 1814 Town of Palmyra, NY Minutes as an overseer of the highway's in Palmyra, for the 24th district. Levi is also recorded in the Palmyra, New York Highway Tax Record, 1817-1822  in the years, 1817, 1819 and 1822. He is also recorded in the 1820 census as living in Palmyra New York.

The Wood Family and The Old Baptist Church

According to Levi Wood 1755~1833, Levi was a devoted Puritan and sternly followed the beliefs of the Pilgrims. "He was a firm believer in personal piety, and it is a matter of family tradition he sought with all his might to live an exemplary Christian life." Levi married Bethany Fuller, at Pelham, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, on June 17, 1787; intentions filed October 19, 1786. Their first child and son was Levi who was born in 1788. 

On June 20, 1801 the Wood family was received by letter to the Old Baptist Church in Macedon.

The Wood family worshiped at the Macedon Baptist Church until July 12, 1832 in which by letter, the family disclosed they were transferring to the Baptist Faith of Palmyra. The Palmyra Church of Baptist Faith was located closer to their home.

Levi Wood Passing On

Levi Wood died in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, August 10th, 1833. He was seventy-seven years, eight months and twenty-nine days old upon his passing. He is buried in the Old Baptist Cemetery alongside his son, Levi Wood II.

According to Levi Wood 1755~1833, "...his body was laid by the side of his son, in the burial ground along side the Macedon church, which he had helped to lay out for "God's Acre."

The headstone of Levi Wood no longer stands, but is accounted for. The stone is broken, however the important details regarding his death remains visibly inscribed in the piece of stone. The exact location where the stone was originally placed is unknown.

On Levi's headstone is engraved: "In memory of Levi Wood/ died August 10, year 1833, Aged 77 ye 8 mo" His epitaph at the bottom of the headstone is similar to the common epitaph verse of, ""Remember Me As You Pass By," with Levi's epitaph similar as it reads, 

"Look on me as you pass by

As you now are so once was I

As I am now so you must be

Prepare for death and follow me"

Levi Wood's Headstone  (August 2024)

It is planned in the 2021-2024 Girl Scout Project to have Levi's headstone will be repaired and erected once again in the cemetery. Repair for his original headstone is scheduled for warmer weather of 2025. Levi Wood has also been granted a military headstone similar to Lemuel Spear, Aaron Brister and Ephraim Green.

 The military head is currently being stored in the Macedon Highway Department building until physical work in the cemetery begins again in 2025, when the headstone will be placed in The Old Baptist Cemetery alongside Levi's original. 

Children of Levi & Bethany Wood

Levi and Bethany have a recorded thirteen children. Children are listed in order of birth: Levi, Hannah, Freeman, Esther, Asaph, Electra, Phila, Lois, Seth, Zebina, Permilla, Mary and Huldah.

The following Wood children have findagrave.com accounts (Updated as of 11/29/24) 

Parmilla Wood buried at Webster Rural Cemetery. Photo added to findagrave.com by  Maureen Schnittker.

Asap Wood buried, at Churches Corners Cemetery. Photo added to findagrave.com by  VDodson-Gargin 

Drawing of Seth Wood Retouched and colorized from portrait taken from historical book about Macedon.

Lois (Wood) Beers, buried at Columbia Center Cemetery. Photo added to findagrave.com by  Margaret Grover 

Hannah (Wood) Sabin buried, at Churches Corners Cemetery. Photo added to findagrave.com by  VDodson-Gargin 

Descendants Of Levi Wood, 1755-1833: First Of Middleboro, Massachusetts (1913) is available for purchase on Amazon.com!

Link to the book below:

https://www.amazon.com/Descendants-Levi-Wood-1755-1833-Massachusetts/dp/1168995183 

FamilySearch Citations

Citation for Levi Wood's Birth Record: 

"Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHCQ-G77 : 20 May 2022), Levi Wood, 11 Dec 1754; citing Birth, Middleborough, Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004934231.