| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH XXI.
JAMES HAINES WOODHULL, seventh generation from Richard Wodhull I., Patentee of Brookhaven, Long Island, was the eldest son of William Woodhull and Ruth Haines. He was born at Roxbury (now Chester), Morris County, New Jersey, March 28, 1791.
As far as can be learned, his early life was spent in and about his birthplace.
He married, April 4, 1811, Harriet, daughter of John and Mary Eastburn, of New York City.
It is evident from such letters as exist that for several years he resided in the City of New York, and that on or about the date of his second marriage to Eliza D. Campbell, which occurred February 12, 1824, he removed to Newark, New Jersey.
Very little is known of his business career until about the years 1829-30, when having been in the grocery business in Newark, New Jersey, he failed "because he trusted everybody."
His second wife died July 16, 1829, leaving three children.
The two journals which he wrote in the years 1829 and 1830 contain some interesting facts which show that he was a most saintly and religious man.
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The journals referred to were written mostly on Sundays, and were made up almost exclusively of comments on sermons he had heard, or reflections on his own religious experiences. Most of these seem too sacred, and personal, for publication, but one or two references may be of interest as showing the character of the man.
Under date of May 8, 1830, he writes:
"Oh my soul, to which of those worlds art thou hastening? Thou hast professed to be on thy journey to the Heavenly Kingdom. Art thou in the right way? What are thy evidences? Examine carefully and faithfully thy letter of instructions. A mistake here may be fatal to thy everlasting happiness."
Under date of June 14, 1830, there appears this entry:
"This day in company with my Christian Brother Dougherty have taken a delightful ride to Paterson, which however brings to my mind some most painful circumstances. I have been but once to that place, before today, and that was in the year 1822, during the prevalence of the yellow fever in the City of New York, where I then lived. I and my dear wife were induced, almost against our wills and against the dictates of our consciences, to go on the Sabbath Day. My heart sinks of that sin, and the judgments which immediately followed, for in about six weeks, three out of the four of us who were heads of families, were numbered with the dead, and I was raised, as it were, from the grave. I was taken with the yellow fever in about two weeks after that visit. Oh Lord, how great is thy goodness towards me in sparing my life, when thou mightest so justly have cut me off."
Under date of July 3, 1830, he gives expression to sentiments which seem particularly interesting as forecasting the Emancipation Proclamation of thirty years later.
He says, in speaking of a certain Colonization Society for the negroes:
"How surprising, that we who so highly prize liberty, should continue to oppress our brother man and hold him in bondage a thousandfold worse than that for which we fought and bled. Oh, Lord, awaken this people to see and do their duty in this matter."
On August 1, 1831, he married his third wife, Adeline Baldwin, daughter of Ananias and Elizabeth Baldwin.
Shortly after his third marriage, he became one of the organizers of the American Fire Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, and for the remainder of his life was connected with that Company as its Secretary.
He was one of the organizers and an Elder in the First Congregational Church, of the City of Newark, and throughout his life was a man of broad mind, and beloved by all who knew him.
He died at Newark, New Jersey, January 31, 1873, leaving a widow, one son and a daughter.
(See Genealogy, No. 278.)
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1791 - 1873 (81 years)
d. 6 Sep 1845 (Age 77 years) 