Ashburnham: Darwin Woods

05/14/2009 15:46
Darwin Woods’ father, Asa, was born in Princeton, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Asa was the son of Samuel Woods, who started Princeton’s first public school in a house on his farm. The history of Princeton is unclear exactly when Asa began teaching local children, but supposes that “it was about the year 1759, the date of the District’s incorporation.” (1) After ten years, Princeton had grown sufficiently to need a School Committee, and Samuel Woods was appointed to it.

Asa Woods was born on April 30, 1776. At 22, Asa married Permelia Mirick, whose father was a Captain in the Revolution. Asa and Permelia had three children in Princeton before they moved to Ashburnham in 1804 or 1805. The Woods settled on the east side of town, and Asa became well known as a farmer and a “prominent citizen...frequently chosen to office.” Darwin Woods was born in Ashburnham, April 19 1807.

Darwin’s mother, Permelia, died in 1814. Asa remarried three more times before his death in 1844. Darwin had fourteen siblings, at least three of whom died young. Darwin married Dolly G. Adams in 1828, and had three children with her: Mary, Cinderilla, and Edwin. Dolly died in 1842, and Darwin married Julia King, a widow with two young daughters. They had no additional children. (2)


1. Jeremiah Lyford Hanaford, History of Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1852
2. Ezra S. Stearns, History of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, 1887

Tags: ,