My Relatives with Ties to Witchcraft Trials

We hear so much about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, but I’ve found accusations of witchcraft involving my ancestors decades before the hysteria in Salem. It’s noteworthy that in the 17th century a witch was often thought to be someone who worked with the Devil rather than a person with magical powers. I think Halloween is a fitting time to write about them!

Elizabeth Holmes: Accused

In 1661 Elizabeth Holmes of Marshfield in Plymouth Colony was accused of being a witch by Dinah Silvester. Elizabeth was in her late 40s and Dinah was 18. It is interesting in that the tables turned on the accuser and she ended up to be the one punished by the court. Elizabeth is my 10th great-grandmother. 

On 5 March 1660/1 “Dina[h] Silvester, being examined, saith the bear she saw was about a stone’s throw from the highway when she saw it; and being examined and asked what manner of tail the bear had, she said she could not tell, for his head was towards her.” A marginal annotation in record states: “This was ordered to be recorded for the clearing of a report about Wm Holmes his wife being accused to be a witch.” [Records of New Plymouth Colony, hereafter PCR, 3:205, 207] Dinah was accusing Elizabeth of interacting with the devil who 17th century people believed took the form of an animal familiar, in this case a bear. 

Elizabeth’s husband William Holmes could not abide his wife being slandered and brought a lawsuit against Dinah Silvester. From Plymouth court records, on 7 May 1661 “[c]oncerning the complaint of Willam Holmes, of Marshfield, against Dinah Silvester, for accusing his wife to be a witch, the Court have sentenced, that the said Dinah Silvester shall either be publicly whipped or pay the sum of five pounds to the said William Holmes; or in case she…shall make a public acknowledgement of her fault in the premises, that then she shall bear only the charge the plaintiff hath bin at in the prosecution of his said suit; the latter of which was chosen and done by the said Dinah Silvester, viz a public acknowlidgment” on 9 May 1661. [PCR 3:211]

On May 9, 1661, Dinah signed, with her mark, an official confession stating that regarding her defamation concerning Goodwife Holmes: "I doe freely acknowlidg I have wronged my naighbour, and have sined against God in soe doeing; though I had entertained hard thoughts against the woman…” completely clearing Elizabeth's name. [PCR 3:211]

This case illustrates how accusations were handled more rationally by the Plymouth Colony courts than later by the courts in Massachusetts Bay at the time of the Salem hysteria of 1692. Plymouth established strict evidentiary standards and penalized false accusers, whereas Salem allowed highly unreliable evidence, including spectral evidence, and provided legal protections for accusers. Plymouth Colony’s laws helped avoid mass hysteria—accusations of witchcraft rarely reached the courts. It was too risky for the accusers! Additional factors that contributed to the Salem hysteria: an expired colony charter caused unstable judicial structures, food shortages due to extreme cold, stress from smallpox epidemic, trauma and displaced refugees from recent wars with Indians.

Unfortunately Elizabeth’s maiden name is not recorded. She was born in England about 1613 and married William Holmes about 1638. Elizabeth was the mother of eight children born in Scituate, and I descend from her daughter Sarah who married Rev. Samuel Arnold. William and Elizabeth left Scituate to live in nearby Marshfield where Elizabeth Holmes died 17 February 1698/99, likely in her mid-80s. 

Mehitable Woodworth: Accuser

On 6 March 1676/7 Mary Ingham of Scituate in Plymouth Colony was tried for witchcraft at the court in Plymouth. Her accuser was 14 year-old Mehitable Woodworth who was “almost bereaved of her senses” and “fell into violent fits” because of Mary’s alleged witchcraft. [PCR 5:223] Mehitable is my 10th great-aunt. 

The indictment reads in part “…by the help of the Devil in a way of witchcraft or sorcery maliciously procured much hurt, mischieff & pains unto the body of Mehitable Woodworth, daughter of Walter Woodworth.” [PCR 5:223-24]

Mary Ingham was found not guilty by a jury of twelve men: Mr Thomas Huckins, John Wadsworth, John Howland (second), Abram Jackson, Benaiah Pratt, John Black, Mark Snow, Joseph Bartlett, John Richmond, James Talbot, Seth Pope and one other man. Abram Jackson, Benajah Pratt, Mark Snow, and Seth Pope are all my direct ancestors; John Howland is also a relative.

Mehitable was frequently ill and apparently afflicted with a nervous disorder. [Edith Bartlett Sumner, Ancestry and Descendants of Samuel Bartlett and Lucy Jenkins, 1951] Perhaps her ill-health led her to make the false accusation or her parents were looking for an explanation for their daughter’s troubles.

Mehitable was born 15 August 1662 at Scituate, the daughter of my 10th great-grandparents Walter Woodworth and his wife whose name is not known. Mehitable was unmarried when her father’s will was written on 26 November 1685 and I have found no evidence of her marrying, which was unusual for the times, but perhaps due to her ill health or unstable nature.

James Davis: Accuser 

James Davis, my 12th great-grandfather, accused a man of witchcraft in 1659 in Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

James Davis, Sr. and his son Ephraim Davis of Haverhill, along with others, signed a paper presented to the Ipswich Court in February 1658/9 accusing John Godfrey of witchcraft. They said they had suffered losses in their estates or afflictions to their bodies that were not from natural causes but rather from an ill-disposed person.[David W. Hoyt, The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, 1897]

The case against John Godfrey, a notorious character consistently involved in litigation and endlessly at odds with his peers, was dismissed. He was a bachelor and a roving herdsman who took jobs throughout Andover, Haverhill and other nearby towns. Godfrey was accused of witchcraft again in 1662. [John Demos, The William and Mary Quarterly, ”John Godfrey and His Neighbors,”  Vol. 33, No. 2 (April 1976)]

Before the 1692 witchcraft trials, there were other trials concerning witchcraft held periodically, and the outcomes generally favored the accused.  Although accusations against men were far less common than against women, Godfrey fit the profile of someone accused—a social outcast who was outspoken and quarrelsome and clashed with more influential neighbors. 

James was born in the 1580s at Wiltshire, England, the son of John Davis. He was married to a woman named Cicily (possibly Thayer) and they had six children. They lived at Newbury before becoming early settlers of Haverhill. He died at Haverhill 29 January 1678, likely in his 90s. I descend through their son John.  

Samuel Willard: Voice of Reason 

Samuel Willard was a Puritan minister educated at Harvard, later the college’s president, and a level-headed critic of the Salem Witch Trials. Samuel is my first cousin ten times removed.  He was a minister in Groton, Mass., but fled the town when it was attacked during King Philip’s War in which his father’s house was burned. While serving as pastor of the Third Church in Boston, he strongly opposed the witchcraft trials and tried to influence public opinion through his sermons and other writings. When Governor William Phips sought guidance from respected clergy, Samuel was one who contributed toward and signed a document called “The Return of Several Ministers.” The document acknowledges the devil might be responsible for the afflictions occurring in Salem, but urged the court to prevent innocent people from being convicted. The ministers also questioned the reliability of spectral evidence, but the Salem court ignored this caution. Samuel continued to speak out in his sermons and other writings. One of his chief complaints was that during the witch trials, a confession often resulted in an acquittal and asserting one’s innocence seemingly guaranteed a conviction. He continued to work to heal divisions after the hysteria passed.

Samuel was born Concord 31 January 1640, to Simon and Mary (Sharpe) Willard. His father was commander in chief in the Narragansett expedition, a wealthy merchant, assistant to the Governor, and founder of Concord, Mass. Samuel married first Abigail Sherman and second Eunice Tyng and had a large family. He died at Boston 12 September 1707. 

George Willard. 1611 to 1656. of Kent, England, Scituate, Massachusetts, and Maryland

George Willard was baptized 4 December 1611 at Horsmonden, Kent to Richard Willard and his wife Joan. [Anderson]  I believe he is my 9th great grandfather on my grandmother Milly (Booth) Rollins’ side of the family, although strong documentary proof is lacking.

St. Margaret's, Horsmonden, where George was baptized

Richard Willard of Horsmonden, yeoman, made his will 12 February 1616, proved 8 March 1616. He bequeathed to son George Willard six silver spoons and a silver and gilt cup to be delivered to him after his mother’s death. In case of his older brother Symon’s death before reaching maturity, George was to have the lands bequeathed to Symon. [Pope]

George’s wife is frequently identified as Dorothy Dunster, but I have not found evidence for this. There is no marriage record for him in Horsmonden. [Pope]

“Georg Willerd” migrated to New England by 1 February 1638 when he took the oath of fidelity at Scituate. [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth 1:110, hereafter “PCR”] It may be he arrived as early as 1634 when his brother Simon migrated. Simon was a magistrate and an officer in several Indian conflicts and his Groton house was was burned down during King Philip’s War. [Pope] George’s sister, Margery, married Dolor Davis and migrated to New England. [Anderson]

Georg Willerd witnessed a deed between Christopher Blakewood of Scituate and Mr Charles Chauncey [the minister] for Scituate land on 5 October in the 17th year of the reign of King Charles [1641] 

George Willerd of Scituate appears on Plymouth Colony’s 1643 list of men able to bear arms. [NEHGR 4:257]

He was an ally and neighbor of Mr. William Vassall, a wealthy and prominent Scituate settler who advocated for religious tolerance. There were many men from Kent in early Scituate, many being followers of Rev. John Lothrop. When Lothrop left to found the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod, Rev Charles Chauncy became Scituate pastor and he taught that infants should be immersed rather than “sprinkled”  when christened, a point which greatly stirred the community. [Pope] Chauncy banned his critics from receiving communion. George was one of the men who was riled up!

At 3 May 1641 court Georg Willerd of Scituate was bound over for defamation. His brother-in-law Dolar Davis was one of the men who posted bond. [PCR 2:14] At 1 June 1641 court, Georg Willerd  of Scituate, planter, for “his contemptous words, proved upon oath, in saying that they were fooles, & knaves, and gulls that payd the rate, or words to that effect, and other profane & ungodly speeches against the churches.” And “in saying that the churches here & in the Bay held forth a develish practise in that they did not baptise children & other words to that effect; and also, being demaunded his answere why he did so say, did very contumeliously asked the assistants, or some of them in pticular, why they did not take the oath of supremacy before they entred upon their place yesterday,—was therefore to be bound to his good behalf.”  He was ordered to appear at the next General Court to answer all such matters. [PCR 2:17]

A new church was formed in town, called the Second Church, with a minister who was more acceptable to Vassall and his followers. George’s children were among the earliest baptized by the church’s first minister William Wetherell (my 10th great-grandfather).

Children of George Willard; baptisms of first three recorded Second Church Scituate, [NEHGSR, 57:82]

1. Deborah baptized 14 September 1645 at Scituate; married by 1658 Paul Sears at Yarmouth, Mass.; had 10 children at Yarmouth; died there 13 May 1721 [Yarmouth VR p 1:153]
2. Daniel baptized 14 September 1645; married Esther Matthews at Yarmouth 10 June 1695  [Yarmouth VR 1:133]; d 1712 [Preston]
3. Joshua baptized 2 November 1645 [Preston]; no further record 
4. Samuel named in a Maryland record as a son of George [Pope]; could he be the same person as son Jacob baptized 2 November 1645?

I descend from Deborah. Deborah and Daniel Willard of Yarmouth were identified as children of George, and cousins of the Simon Willard family, by Rev. John Willard when he was teaching school in Yarmouth and came into contact with one of their children. [Pope] No date is provided for this interaction, but Rev John was born in 1733, spent his early career teaching in Marlborough and Yarmouth, and died Connecticut in 1807. He was a minister, teacher and his early research on the family lineage was the foundation for published Willard genealogies. That Deborah (Willard) Sears is a daughter of George seems to be generally accepted by genealogists, including published authors, likely because of the quality of Rev. John’s work, but I’d feel more confident if I could find additional proof. One piece of circumstantial evidence: Paul and Deborah Sears had a son John  who named a son Willard. [Preston]

Soon after 1645, George disappears from local records. [Anderson] He did not go to the Piscataqua region with some of the more liberal Puritans as proposed by Samuel Deane.  

George relocated to Maryland by 1652 [Anderson], in the area that is now Nottingham, where he grew tobacco. Maryland was a place of Christian liberty, perhaps a major draw for the outspoken George. 

Land records of Maryland Book A, B & H, contain applications made by settlers for lands in accordance with the terms adopted by Lord Baltimore. First a “demand” with the reason for desiring the land, then a “warrant” or grant, and then a certificate of the survey of the land with bounds and metes. [Pope]

On 9 January 1652 George Willard demandeth 200 acres of and for transporting himself and Samuel and Daniel, his sons, and John Rele his servant that month. [Pope]

Warrant to lay out 200 acres to George Willard lying above the back Creek between Harris’ land and Capt Cornwalleys on the South side of Patuxent River not formerly taken up. [Pope]

On 17 August 1653 the land was laid out on the west side of Patuxent River "in the present town of Nottingham, Maryland." It adjoined land of James Godsgrace. By Robert Clark, surveyor.

On 12 July 1653 George Willarde, planter in Patuxent, sells a cow; he signs the document with witnesses John Hamilton and Jno Kale. [Pope]

"Daniel Willard, of Willard's purchase, heyre of George Willard, late of Patuxent River deceased," sold to Thomas Hatton for 1700 lbs. of tobacco, 8 November 1672, 200 acres of land called Willard's Purchase. [Annapolis, Maryland Land Records for Charles County]

Maryland probate records indicate that George Willard died in 1656. "Whereas George Willard deceased is indebted by account unto William Stevens the summe of 100 pounds of tobacco. It is ordered that the said debt be satisfied out of his estate of the said George Willard deceased.” [Pope]

Sources:

Samuel Deane, History of Scituate, 1831

Charles Henry Pope, Willard Genealogy Sequel to Willard Memoir, 1915

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995 

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. 

Belle Preston, Bassett Preston Ancestors, 1930

Walter Woodworth (born circa 1612 and died between 26 November 1685 and 25 February 1685/6) of England and Scituate, Massachusetts

Walter Woodworth was born England by about 1612; his origins are thus far unknown. He migrated to New England by 1633, where he was first at Plymouth, and by 1635 had settled at Scituate when he is named in a land division. His last name is frequently seen as Woodward. He is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

It appears that Walter came to Plymouth Colony as an indentured servant, perhaps a short-term arrangement to pay his passage as he was was no longer a servant when taxed in 1633/4. In the colony he was a farmer and surveyor of highways. In 1664 he was granted land with another man and it is noted they “have a right as servants.” [Records of New Plymouth, hereafter PCR, 4:75]

“Walter Woodart” was assessed 9 shillings in Plymouth tax list of 2 January/27 March 1633/4. [PCR 1:26, 29] Walter Woodward was propounded as a freeman on 1 December 1640 and admitted 2 March 1640/1. [PCR 2:3, 8] Walter Woodward is in the Scituate section of freemen in 1639 (added after his admission on 2 March 1640/1), 1658, 29 May 1670 and early 1683. [PCR 5:275, 8:175, 198, 204]  In July 1666 he was taxed 4 shillings 8 pence and 3 shillings 3 pence. [PCR 7:130]

Many early Scituate settlers were from Kent, followers of Rev. John Lothrop who was from Edgerton. However Lothrop arrived in Boston in September 1634, which is after Walter is first recorded in the colony.

Walter signed his will and a deed by mark but his inventory included books, so perhaps he could read but not write.

Walter married a woman whose name is unknown by about 1641 [approximate birth year of first born], likely at Scituate. They had ten children, all named in Water’s will [estimated births from Anderson]:

1. Thomas born say 1641; married Deborah Damon at Scituate 8 February 1666[/7] [Scituate VR 2:336]; his house was destroyed by fire during King Philip’s War [Behan]; died 1719 Scituate [PCPR No. 23482]
2. Sarah born Scituate say 1643; apparently was married by 26 November 1685 [father’s will]
3. Joseph born say 1645; married Sarah Stockbridge at Scituate 6 January 1669[/70] [NEHGS Register, hereafter “NEHGR” 133:100]; died after June 1718 when he wrote his will [Behan]
4. Elizabeth born say 1648; in court 27 October 1675, 7 March 1675/6 and 22 July 1676 [PCR 5:181-2, 188, 208] about her illegitimate child with Robert Stetson; apparently married by 26 November 1686 (father’s will) 
5. Mary born Scituate 10 March 1650/1 [Scituate VR 1:418]; married at Scituate 24 December 1677 Aaron Simmons/Simonson [Scituate VR 2:336]
6. Benjamin born say 1656; m 1st by about 1680 Deborah —?—; m 2nd by 1691 Hannah —?—
7. Isaac born about 1658; married Lydia Standlake [Plymouth County Land Records, hereafter PCLR,  8:172-74, 207-8]; removed to Little Compton and finally to Norwich CT where he died 1 April 1714 [Behan]
8. Martha born say 1660; married Zachariah Damon June 1679 at Scituate [Scituate VR 2:96]; died after 27 May 1732 at Scituate when she conveyed land to daughter Hannah [Plymouth County Deeds 27:88]; had eight children
9. Mehetable born 15 August 1662 Scituate; on 6 March 1676/7 Mary Ingham was tried for, and found not guilty of, witchcraft and her accuser was Mehitable Woodworth who was “almost bereaved of her senses” and “fell into violent fits.” [PCR 5:223]; unmarried on 26 November 1685 (father’s will)
10. Abigail born about 1664; married John Jackson 24 December 1695 at Plymouth [Scituate VR 2:335]

I descend from Martha. I wrote about Martha and husband Zachariah Damon here. She and her brother Thomas married Damon siblings.

The Woodworth family lived on Kent Street near First Meeting House Cemetery in Scituate, amongst many men of Kent. [Sumner] He also had land at what was called Walter Woodworth’s Hill on the Northeast part of Walnut Tree Hill and on the first Herring Brook below Stockbridge’s Mill. [Deane] 

Walter served his community in several ways:

• Scituate surveyor of highways, 4 June 1645, 2 June 1646, 3 June 1656. [PCR 2:84, 102, 3:100]
• He was in the Scituate section of 1644 Plymouth list of men able to bear arms [PCR 8:191]
• Arbiter settling land disputes and the like 4 June 1645, 3 June 1662/3, 9 June 1665. [PCR 2:85, 4:31, 100] 
• In 1653 Walter made inventory of the estate of Thomas Hickes of Scituate; and in 1672 conducted the inventory of William Soanes’ estate. [Behan]
• Served on jury [committee] to make division of lands between John Williams Sr and Jr, 3 March 1662. [PCR 4:31]
• On 9 June 1665 Walter Woodward was one of the men asked to help Scituate townsmen that are helping settle the bounds of some lands of William Randall but are being hindered by Turner’s unworthy speeches. [PCR 4:100]
• Coroner’s jury 1 July 1680 about the sudden death of an approximately six month old child of Thomas Hatch of Scituate, who had been sick with a cold and was in a bed with two people including his sister Sarah where he was found dead, face down. Determined he suffocated from lying on his face or “accidentally over layed in the bed.” [PCR 6:45]

Records pertaining to Walter’s land:

• In February 1634/5 and April 1635 Scituate division of land, Walter received the third lot as a houselot on corner of Kent Street and Meetinghouse Lane. [Deane] He also received a tract on the First Herring Brook not far below the Stockbridge Mill and another tract on the northeast side of Walnut Tree Hill just west of the present Queensbush or South Scituate railroad station, which in early times was called Walter Woodworth’s Hill. These were the first of what became Walter’s considerable land holdings. [Behan]
• On 12 June 1642, Anthony Annable of Barnstable sold for £19 to Thomas Rauline of Scituate, houses, outhouses, and a large amount of land adjoining to that of Walter Woodward on the east side and to the swamp of the Herring Brook on the west side. [PCR 12:85]
• In a 13 November 1643: Deed from Samuell House to Thomas Tilden, land in Scituate near North River bounded by marshland of Walter Woodward. [PCR 12:101]
• On 20 April 1644 Samuell House of Cambridge sold Scituate land to Thomas Tilden, also mentions Scituate land bounding marshland of Walter Woodward of Scituate. [PCR 12:101]
• 25 March 1650: Deed of a parcel of marshland bounded on the west by land of Walter Woodward, once of William Hatch Sr, and by the First Herring Brook. [The Mayflower Descendant 1:92]
• Walter is on the 3 June 1662 list of servants and ancient freemen granted land at Saconnett Neck, later Little Compton, Rhode Island [PCR 4:18) and as a consequence on 4 October 1664 was granted 60 acres. [PCR 4:75]
• On 4 Oct 1664, Plymouth Court granted unto John Hanmore and Walter Woodward, of Scituate, “who have a right as servants” unto each of them is granted sixty acres of and near about the place abovementioned [near the line between Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay], and also that they pay the Indian purchase for it if any be justly demanded. [PCR 4:75] 
• On 5 June 1666 court granted 50 acres of land unto Joseph Whiston, heir of John Whiston deceased, at the southernmost side of land granted to Walter Woodward upon the path from Bridgewater to Weymouth, bounding at the east end upon a little brook, and the west end by the common land and the southernmost side likewise to the common. [PCR 4:129]
• 5 July 1666: Walter Woodworth taxed for purchase of Indian Purchase for the west end of town. [PCR 7:130]
• On 14 November 1670 Isaac Stedman of Muddy River sold Scituate land to John Otis two acres of which “was disposed of by the said Isacke Stedman unto Walter Woodworth.” [PCLR 3:184]
• In 1673 with Josiah Winslow and 27 others, we was at Plymouth Colony Court to establish right to land in Little Compton RI. He received a whole share of the land, then called Seconet, which included Lot No. 2 in the First Purchase, drawn at Duxbury in 1674. [Behan]
• In 1675 Walter drew two adjoining 50 acre lots in Seconet together with Thomas Williams in the Second Purchase. [Behan]

Court involvement: 

• At 8 June 1651 Court, Walter Woodward was one of the men who gave evidence about George Russell and Isaac Stedman concerning their encroachment on common undivided lands in Scituate. [PCR 2:170] 
• On 7 July 1681 “Walter Woodworth of Scittuate” sued Japhett Turner for £10 for tearing down some of his fencing on the northerly side of the First Herring Brook between his house and John Turner’s and was awarded “five shillings damage and the cost of the suit;” the “Bill of Cost,” apparently prepared by Woodworth himself, totaled £3 16s. [PCR 7:238-9]
• In 1673 with Josiah Winslow and 27 others, he was at Plymouth Court to establish right to land in Little Compton. [Sumner]

Walter Woodworth was one of the brethren of Rev. Chauncy’s Church who gave him a house and land in 1653 and confirmed it by deed the following July. He signed the deed with his mark. [Bangs] On 24 October 1679 it was voted that the two religious groups in town would reconcile, “that we may be one Societie in peace and love, that then the place for our publicke worship shall be at Walter Woodworth’s hill, or the center of the present inhabitants of the Town.” [Deane]

Mrs. Woodworth died after March 1676 [court case mentions Mehitable Woodworth’s parents] but before 26 November 1685 [not named in husband’s will].

Walter died between 26 November 1685 (date of will) and 25 February 1685/6 (date of inventory), likely closer to the latter date. In his will, Walter Woodward of “Sittuate,” being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory, left the following bequests: [PCLR 5:382-85] 

• Thomas Woodward ,my eldest son, a parcel of upland containing five acres bounded to the north by the Common in Scituate
• my two sons Thomas & Joseph Woodward ten acres of marshland in Scituate to be equally divided
• to the said Thomas my son one-third part of all my lands at Seconet which is purchased, & the other two-thirds I give unto my son two sons Beniamin & Isaak Woodword to be equally divided excepting twenty & five acres which I do give unto my son Joseph…& ten acres the which I do give unto my daughter Martha
• all the rest of my land at Seconnett which is yet to be purchased I give unto my two sons Thomas & Joseph Woodward to be equally divided
• Beniamin my son aforesaid my dwelling house with my barn & other outhousing with all my land both upland and marshland thereunto belonging, that is to say twenty acres of upland…& six acres of marshland…upon condition that my son Beniamin aforesaid do pay & allow the sum of seventy pounds unto my son Joseph & my six daughters Sarah, Elyzabeth, Mary, Martha, Mehetebel & Abigaile £10 a piece, and permit my two daughters Mehetabel & Abigaile to live in the house as long as they are unmarried
• my said two daughters Mehetabel & Abigaile my feather bed with the furniture thereunto belonging & all the rest of my household goods I give unto my six daughters Sarah, Elyzabeth, Mary, Martha, Mehetabel & Abigaile to be divided equally
• residue of estate after funeral expenses and other debts paid to be equally divided by all my children

He named his son Beniamin sole executor and two sons Thomas & Joseph overseers. He signed his will by mark. Witnessed by Thomas King Sr, Thomas Palmer, and Charles Stockbridge, who made oath at court on 2 March 1685/6. 

The inventory of the estate of Walter Woodward of Scituate was taken 25 February 1685/6 and presented at court by Benjamin Woodward on 2 March 1685/6. It totaled £355 10s. [PCLR 5:383-4] It included purse with cash, apparel, books, three beds and other furniture, kitchen items, spinning wheel, sheep’s wool, four cows, on oxen, three young cattle, two sheep, and 12 bushels of Indian corn. 

Real estate listed in his inventory:

• one dwelling house & barn & upland & meadowland adjoining thereto with common privileges, £140
• ten acres of salt meadow land, £50
• five acres of upland, £20
• one whole share of land at Saconet [Little Compton], £100

Various unproven claims: There is some speculation Walter married Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Mayflower passenger Thomas Rogers, but no proof of this has been found.  There is also a story that he came to New England with two brothers, but again no proof. The 1898 Woodworth genealogy assigns a son Walter but modern researchers agree this is an error.

Resources:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995, pg 2064-7

Nathaniel B. Shurtleff and David Pulsifer, eds., Records of the Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, 12 vols. (New York: AMS Press, 1968)

Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs, The Seventeenth Century Town Records of Scituate, Massachusetts, Volume Two, 1999

Harvey Hunter Pratt, Early Planters of Scituate, 1929

Samuel Deane, History of Scituate Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831, 1831

Edith Bartlett Sumner, Ancestry and Descendants of Samuel Bartlett and Lucy Jenkins, 1951

Jeanette Woodworth Behan, The Woodworth Family of America: Descendants of Walter Woodworth of 1630 Through Six Generations, Volume 1, published by author, 1988