WOOD Coat of Arms
Wood is associated with a Lowland Scottish Clan from North Esk, Largo Bay and Angus in Scotland. The ancient name of Wod (which was how Woods of Largo, were still spelling their name well into the 17th century) described one who was wild or crazy meaning a warrior who became frenzied or savage in battle; a high compliment in a warlike society.
Wood is associated with a Lowland Scottish Clan from North Esk, Largo Bay and Angus in Scotland. The ancient name of Wod (which was how Woods of Largo, were still spelling their name well into the 17th century) described one who was wild or crazy meaning a warrior who became frenzied or savage in battle; a high compliment in a warlike society.
Andrew Wood (1788 - 1834 ) was born (from unconfirmed records) on the 5 September 1788. in Abbey Burgh, Paisley, Glasgow. There is a marriage record dated 28 January 1811 where he marries Margaret Calder in Paisley and then a birth record one year later for George, b 1812 his first son. Other children are Elizabeth b 1828, James b 1833 & Janet b 1838. Andrew dies on 26 January 1811.
Eldest son George Wood (1812 - 1850) was born on the 20 July 1812 and this is recorded in the parish register held in Abbey Burgh, Paisley. Following his baptism in August of 1812 the next record to be found is that of his marriage on 17th October 1834 when he is aged 22 years. He marries "Elison Whyte" (her baptised name) but this family history record refers to her as "Alice White".
After their marriage it appears that George and Alice went south for work in the Lancashire cotton mills. This was because "so many persons were thrown out of employment in Paisley by 1840 that for a considerable time nearly one-third of the entire population became dependent on public charity. The depression continued so long and looked so hopeless that many of the artisans simply left - estimated as about 2000 persons" - article quote used with permission from The Gazetteer for Scotland.
This move to England to look for work is also confirmed by the registration of the births of George's first children, James b 1828, Samuel b 1836, Andrew b 1837, Jane b 1840, Daniel b 1842, and Emma b 1844 - all born in Salford, Lancashire. The 30 March 1851 census shows that Alice, George's wife, is back in Paisley, as a widow, and she is pregnant with her sixth child Robert. Sadly It appears George has died in Salford the previous year aged just 39. His occupation given at the time of his death was as a colour maker - a mixer of dyes - which clearly fits with his work in the Lancashire Cotton Mills and which could have contributed to his death.
Robert Wood (1851 - 1921) the youngest child of George and Alice was born in Paisley Renfrewshire. His father had died before his birth and his mother had brought the family back home to Abbey Burgh, Paisley from Salford in Lancashire. She was able to find work as a domestic help. Even so, when he could, and after his schooling, Robert also helped out by taking work as a weavers warper.
On the 20 December 1872, Robert (age 21) and his locally born bride Agnes McMillan (age 22) were married by the Minister of the South Church, Paisley. Robert now declares his employment as a farm servant.
The first of seven children start to arrive; Andrew b 1873, Margaret b 1876, Robert b 1878 (d 1882), James b 1880 - all born in Paisley - but then Alice b 1883 (d 1884), Mary Agnes b 1886 and Robert b 1890 were to be born elsewhere. The children's birth places reflect the moves the family make as Robert seeks work as a farm servant. These include his time at Holly Bush Farm, Paisley, Stonelaw Farm, Rutherglen (owned at the time by the Morton family, the local potato merchants), then Hamilton's Farm, Blantyre, before finally retiring to the village of Dyke Row, Carluke, where aged 70 Robert dies.
Eldest son George Wood (1812 - 1850) was born on the 20 July 1812 and this is recorded in the parish register held in Abbey Burgh, Paisley. Following his baptism in August of 1812 the next record to be found is that of his marriage on 17th October 1834 when he is aged 22 years. He marries "Elison Whyte" (her baptised name) but this family history record refers to her as "Alice White".
After their marriage it appears that George and Alice went south for work in the Lancashire cotton mills. This was because "so many persons were thrown out of employment in Paisley by 1840 that for a considerable time nearly one-third of the entire population became dependent on public charity. The depression continued so long and looked so hopeless that many of the artisans simply left - estimated as about 2000 persons" - article quote used with permission from The Gazetteer for Scotland.
This move to England to look for work is also confirmed by the registration of the births of George's first children, James b 1828, Samuel b 1836, Andrew b 1837, Jane b 1840, Daniel b 1842, and Emma b 1844 - all born in Salford, Lancashire. The 30 March 1851 census shows that Alice, George's wife, is back in Paisley, as a widow, and she is pregnant with her sixth child Robert. Sadly It appears George has died in Salford the previous year aged just 39. His occupation given at the time of his death was as a colour maker - a mixer of dyes - which clearly fits with his work in the Lancashire Cotton Mills and which could have contributed to his death.
Robert Wood (1851 - 1921) the youngest child of George and Alice was born in Paisley Renfrewshire. His father had died before his birth and his mother had brought the family back home to Abbey Burgh, Paisley from Salford in Lancashire. She was able to find work as a domestic help. Even so, when he could, and after his schooling, Robert also helped out by taking work as a weavers warper.
On the 20 December 1872, Robert (age 21) and his locally born bride Agnes McMillan (age 22) were married by the Minister of the South Church, Paisley. Robert now declares his employment as a farm servant.
The first of seven children start to arrive; Andrew b 1873, Margaret b 1876, Robert b 1878 (d 1882), James b 1880 - all born in Paisley - but then Alice b 1883 (d 1884), Mary Agnes b 1886 and Robert b 1890 were to be born elsewhere. The children's birth places reflect the moves the family make as Robert seeks work as a farm servant. These include his time at Holly Bush Farm, Paisley, Stonelaw Farm, Rutherglen (owned at the time by the Morton family, the local potato merchants), then Hamilton's Farm, Blantyre, before finally retiring to the village of Dyke Row, Carluke, where aged 70 Robert dies.
James McMillan Wood (1880 - 1956) or "Jimmie", was one of seven children to Robert and Agnes and was born close to an area where the original Paisley St. Mirren Curling Club was formed in 1845 - known locally as Hollybush Farm. Within a year of his birth his family moved to Stonelaw Farm in Rutherglen where his father had secured work as a farm servant. In his early life at Rutherglen, James had to bear the loss of his elder brother Robert who died on the farm in 1882 aged four, his one-year old sister Alice who died in a sanatorium aged 1 and sister Margaret, aged five. A sad reflection of the times of hardship and poor health for young children.
Whilst still at school James's family move again; to Blantyre, a village six miles south of Rutherglen and famous for two events, the birthplace in 1813 of Dr David Livingstone of "I presume fame..." and secondly, for Scotland's biggest mining disaster ever when William Dixon's Colliery exploded in 1877 killing 207 men and boys. In 1895 Scotland's Valuation Roll lists James' father Robert, as a tenant farmer at High Blantyre.
In 1897 James acts as chief witness for his elder brother Andrew's marriage - good practice for him when three years later aged 20 he himself marries in Glasgow on 1 June 1900 to the 22 year old Annie Macdonald (1877 - 1940) from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. At the time James was a ploughman on Cuilt Farm and Annie a servant at Ballewan Farm, both farms being based in Blanefield, Stirlingshire. Following tradition whereby a married woman could not continue "living-in" as a servant, James and Annie had to look elsewhere for work.
They settle close by in Birdston, Campsie. The census held on the 31 March 1901 confirms the move, and that they have a first child - Robert b 1900. Over the next six years in Campsie, 3 more children arrive Catherine (Katie) b 1902 , Agnes b 1904 and Donald b 1906.
In 1906 James moves the family 40 miles west to Rosneath, Dumbartonshire to work for Princess Louise (the Duchess of Argyll) on her Rosneath Castle Estate, at Home Farm. (Princess Louise was the 4th daughter to Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort). Popular with her tenants and villagers she took a close interest and involvement in the running of the farm, the village affairs and matters regarding Rosneath Church. As her farm bailiff James and his family lived in one of four tied-cottages on the Estate. Although it was known that Princess Louise's marriage was in difficulty, she was still devastated by her husband's death in 1914 and the Estate took second place thereafter. In 1916 and after 10 years service, James moves to England and Manor Farm in Finchampstead, Berkshire.
It is there, Finchampstead, on 23 August 1919, James and Annie have their last child, a daughter, Annie Macdonald Wood.
It is thought that because of his loyal service to Princess Louise James had been introduced to the owners of Manor Farm but when that ownership changed in six years later, James gives notice and moves to a similar post at Brooklands Farm, West End, Chobham, in Surrey. (Today, Brooklands Farm House (and its Barn) still stand and are Grade 2 protected buildings but most of the farm land is now the Windlemere Golf Club). From the electoral rolls of the time James and Annie lived at Brooklands Farm until late 1934. During his time at the farm James acted as a local Juror which it appears allowed Annie his wife to vote too!
When the next move comes in 1934, James now 54 years old, takes the family Arborfield Hall Farm near Wokingham in Berkshire, a (once) very small and compact village. Traffic was largely horse-drawn carts and wagons and day-to-day needs were catered for by a grocer, a butcher and a baker. The village had two pubs, a post office, a blacksmith, a wheelwright and a tailor. In sickness the village doctor would arrive by his personal pony and trap. St Bartholomew's in Church Lane bordered onto the Farm.
Sad to say, the village doctor frequently visited Annie, before, on 16 February 1940 she dies aged 60. Youngest daughter Annie steps in to support her father James although additional support also comes from a housekeeper named Edith Rowe (nee Bridgeland).
Just over a year later, on 8 July 1941, James marries Edith, and both continue to live at Aborfield Hall Farm. At this time, the farm was owned by a Herbert Holdstock but he would sell to the University of Reading's National Institute for Research in Dairying. In early 1953 and now 73 years old, James is persuaded by another daughter Katie, to take retirement. He and Edith thus move to Eversley, to live in Bakers Farm Cottage, owned by Katie and her husband Charles Leversuch. This cottage, then, acted as Eversley Post Office.
Sadly James' health deteriorates and he is moved to Winchfield Cottage Hospital near Hook in Hampshire. Here he will pass away on 26 October 1956, at the age of 76. (Edith goes to live with other family friends in Shinfield, Reading until her own death in 1958).
Whilst still at school James's family move again; to Blantyre, a village six miles south of Rutherglen and famous for two events, the birthplace in 1813 of Dr David Livingstone of "I presume fame..." and secondly, for Scotland's biggest mining disaster ever when William Dixon's Colliery exploded in 1877 killing 207 men and boys. In 1895 Scotland's Valuation Roll lists James' father Robert, as a tenant farmer at High Blantyre.
In 1897 James acts as chief witness for his elder brother Andrew's marriage - good practice for him when three years later aged 20 he himself marries in Glasgow on 1 June 1900 to the 22 year old Annie Macdonald (1877 - 1940) from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. At the time James was a ploughman on Cuilt Farm and Annie a servant at Ballewan Farm, both farms being based in Blanefield, Stirlingshire. Following tradition whereby a married woman could not continue "living-in" as a servant, James and Annie had to look elsewhere for work.
They settle close by in Birdston, Campsie. The census held on the 31 March 1901 confirms the move, and that they have a first child - Robert b 1900. Over the next six years in Campsie, 3 more children arrive Catherine (Katie) b 1902 , Agnes b 1904 and Donald b 1906.
In 1906 James moves the family 40 miles west to Rosneath, Dumbartonshire to work for Princess Louise (the Duchess of Argyll) on her Rosneath Castle Estate, at Home Farm. (Princess Louise was the 4th daughter to Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort). Popular with her tenants and villagers she took a close interest and involvement in the running of the farm, the village affairs and matters regarding Rosneath Church. As her farm bailiff James and his family lived in one of four tied-cottages on the Estate. Although it was known that Princess Louise's marriage was in difficulty, she was still devastated by her husband's death in 1914 and the Estate took second place thereafter. In 1916 and after 10 years service, James moves to England and Manor Farm in Finchampstead, Berkshire.
It is there, Finchampstead, on 23 August 1919, James and Annie have their last child, a daughter, Annie Macdonald Wood.
It is thought that because of his loyal service to Princess Louise James had been introduced to the owners of Manor Farm but when that ownership changed in six years later, James gives notice and moves to a similar post at Brooklands Farm, West End, Chobham, in Surrey. (Today, Brooklands Farm House (and its Barn) still stand and are Grade 2 protected buildings but most of the farm land is now the Windlemere Golf Club). From the electoral rolls of the time James and Annie lived at Brooklands Farm until late 1934. During his time at the farm James acted as a local Juror which it appears allowed Annie his wife to vote too!
When the next move comes in 1934, James now 54 years old, takes the family Arborfield Hall Farm near Wokingham in Berkshire, a (once) very small and compact village. Traffic was largely horse-drawn carts and wagons and day-to-day needs were catered for by a grocer, a butcher and a baker. The village had two pubs, a post office, a blacksmith, a wheelwright and a tailor. In sickness the village doctor would arrive by his personal pony and trap. St Bartholomew's in Church Lane bordered onto the Farm.
Sad to say, the village doctor frequently visited Annie, before, on 16 February 1940 she dies aged 60. Youngest daughter Annie steps in to support her father James although additional support also comes from a housekeeper named Edith Rowe (nee Bridgeland).
Just over a year later, on 8 July 1941, James marries Edith, and both continue to live at Aborfield Hall Farm. At this time, the farm was owned by a Herbert Holdstock but he would sell to the University of Reading's National Institute for Research in Dairying. In early 1953 and now 73 years old, James is persuaded by another daughter Katie, to take retirement. He and Edith thus move to Eversley, to live in Bakers Farm Cottage, owned by Katie and her husband Charles Leversuch. This cottage, then, acted as Eversley Post Office.
Sadly James' health deteriorates and he is moved to Winchfield Cottage Hospital near Hook in Hampshire. Here he will pass away on 26 October 1956, at the age of 76. (Edith goes to live with other family friends in Shinfield, Reading until her own death in 1958).
Annie Macdonald Wood (1919 - 1999) The youngest of James and Annie's five children and their only child born outside of Scotland, Annie was born in the farm house at Manor Farm, Finchampstead. At the time Manor Farm was well known for its herd of pedigree cows but after a change of ownership in 1926 her father and mother moved to Brooklands Farm 12 miles away in West End, Surrey. Here, aged 7, she enrolled into the Holy Trinity School.
In 1934 the family uproot again and move to Aborfield Hall Farm near Wokingham where as a 15 year old Annie takes on the "unpaid" farm hand role to her father by taking up the milking, mucking out and working in the fields. Just before, and just after her mother died in 1940, Annie also ran the household. She would rarely get dressed up - except that is when she worked as the barmaid in the village pub, The Bull. After the outbreak of war, Arborfield Hall (and its Farm) had seen better days but throughout war-time it was regularly occupied either by the RAF, or Canadian Army personnel going to war in Italy. It was also a base for part of America's Air Force staff before they left for Normandy. As well as serving "the pints of beer" to these servicemen, there were also local men from the village and the nearby towns were also came Arborfield Hall Farm to work the extra livestock and the harvest.
17 year old Albert Noel Bateman was one of those young men and Annie would marry him, on 16 June 1945 in Reading.
Over the next couple of years living in Reading, Albert and Annie had the first of their six children, Geoffrey b 1946 and Susan b 1948. An opportunity arose for better work for Albert in Gosport, Hampshire and here Annie delivered him three more children, Janet b 1950, Gary b 1952 & Lynne b 1954. Tragically for Annie, with everything seemingly going well, and just two years later in March 1956, husband Albert was carried home suffering a serious head injury from playing football.
Despite Annie's care, Albert was soon admitted to Portsmouth's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and then to Morden's Atkinson Morley Hospital where he died on 27 March 1956 aged 29.
Annie and the five children have no alternative than to return to Eversley, Hampshire to share the same small Bakers Farm Cottage where her father James and her step-mother Edith are living. She works with her sister Katie in the cottage which serves as Eversley's Post Office. Annie, pregnant at the time of Albert's death, then gives birth to Brian in September 1956. Yet more sadness comes when her father James dies on 26 October 1956. Two desperate deaths and one joyous birth all within 200 days.
As time went by it became clearer that the small Bakers Farm Cottage was not going to be suitable for Annie and the growing family. Other accommodation was found in Yateley, 3 miles away and the move made in September 1961. This house, despite the early reluctance to move to it actually became the principal family home for all the family with Annie remaining in situ nearly 30 years. During that time she works in Yateley's Parade Post Office and later, in the mailroom of a small local company. She retired in 1980.
In the late 1980's with family all moved on, Annie herself moves to live in local sheltered accommodation. It was from there, but only after illness, and many years later, that she was admitted to the Frimley Park Hospital where she passed away on 6 March 1999.
Annie Macdonald Bateman is buried in the grounds of St Mary's Church, Eversley.
In 1934 the family uproot again and move to Aborfield Hall Farm near Wokingham where as a 15 year old Annie takes on the "unpaid" farm hand role to her father by taking up the milking, mucking out and working in the fields. Just before, and just after her mother died in 1940, Annie also ran the household. She would rarely get dressed up - except that is when she worked as the barmaid in the village pub, The Bull. After the outbreak of war, Arborfield Hall (and its Farm) had seen better days but throughout war-time it was regularly occupied either by the RAF, or Canadian Army personnel going to war in Italy. It was also a base for part of America's Air Force staff before they left for Normandy. As well as serving "the pints of beer" to these servicemen, there were also local men from the village and the nearby towns were also came Arborfield Hall Farm to work the extra livestock and the harvest.
17 year old Albert Noel Bateman was one of those young men and Annie would marry him, on 16 June 1945 in Reading.
Over the next couple of years living in Reading, Albert and Annie had the first of their six children, Geoffrey b 1946 and Susan b 1948. An opportunity arose for better work for Albert in Gosport, Hampshire and here Annie delivered him three more children, Janet b 1950, Gary b 1952 & Lynne b 1954. Tragically for Annie, with everything seemingly going well, and just two years later in March 1956, husband Albert was carried home suffering a serious head injury from playing football.
Despite Annie's care, Albert was soon admitted to Portsmouth's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and then to Morden's Atkinson Morley Hospital where he died on 27 March 1956 aged 29.
Annie and the five children have no alternative than to return to Eversley, Hampshire to share the same small Bakers Farm Cottage where her father James and her step-mother Edith are living. She works with her sister Katie in the cottage which serves as Eversley's Post Office. Annie, pregnant at the time of Albert's death, then gives birth to Brian in September 1956. Yet more sadness comes when her father James dies on 26 October 1956. Two desperate deaths and one joyous birth all within 200 days.
As time went by it became clearer that the small Bakers Farm Cottage was not going to be suitable for Annie and the growing family. Other accommodation was found in Yateley, 3 miles away and the move made in September 1961. This house, despite the early reluctance to move to it actually became the principal family home for all the family with Annie remaining in situ nearly 30 years. During that time she works in Yateley's Parade Post Office and later, in the mailroom of a small local company. She retired in 1980.
In the late 1980's with family all moved on, Annie herself moves to live in local sheltered accommodation. It was from there, but only after illness, and many years later, that she was admitted to the Frimley Park Hospital where she passed away on 6 March 1999.
Annie Macdonald Bateman is buried in the grounds of St Mary's Church, Eversley.