| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH XXIV.
SAMUEL WOODHULL, sixth generation from Richard Wodhull I., Patentee of Brookhaven, Long Island, was the third son of Abraham Cooper Woodhull and Eunice Sturges. He was born at Fairfield, Connecticut, January 5, 1800.
Afflicted with deafness at nine years of age, an elder sister took it upon herself to give him an education.
In later years books were to him a source of deep pleasure. History and poetry seem to have been his greatest solace. He also wielded a facile pen, and some of his published writings show a deeply thoughtful, tender nature.
In 1830, in a bit of blank verse occur these lines, uttering the longing for free libraries:
"See'st thou our youth? and dost thou hear them plead?
They long for knowledge, but no books to read
Then found a Library, rich, choice and free.
Sure all will join in such Philanthropy,
And thus these youth much Knowledge will obtain
And wiser be when future years they gain."
Owing to his deafness, by which he was greatly hampered in the choice of a business career, he took up the tailoring trade.
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In 1848, he took the long and toilsome journey to the California gold-diggings, where he remained several years absent from his family, but returned at length, little the richer except in experience and travel.
He was a most exemplary man, of kindly disposition, a consistent Christian and a Presbyterian, esteemed and loved by all who knew him.
In 1823, he married Mary Ann Bull, of New Haven, Connecticut. They had six children. He died April 14, 1869.
(See Genealogy, No. 177.)
The following lines from the pen of Samuel Woodhull will be of special interest to his descendants. It was written at North Fork American River, California, May 9, 1851:
TO MY WIFE.
'Tis true my love, I said goodbye
What else could I have said?
I knew full well your heart's reply,
What in your face I read.
What anguish gusbes from the heart
The quivering lip will tell,
When "two fond souls" are call'd to part
And far from each to dwell.
O, keen and bitter words of woe,
Goodbye--Farewell--Adieu
Which could I choose to send a throe,
In thy kind heart so true?
But now 'tis o'er we parted then
Our hearts were wrung with pain
But "Hope and Courage makes the man,"
And we may meet again.
My heart responds most warm with thine
To pray and hope each day
No heart can feel more deep than mine
If near--or far away.
Yes, feel for you, my Joy my Pride,
(Our little ones likewise,)
No earthly bliss--or gold beside,
So precious in my eyes.
Hope on--Hope on--the day may come
When we again shall meet
When you and home--will be my home
In love and bliss complete.
'Till then "Goodbye," you'll think of me
Most kindly and most true;
And in return I'll think of thee
Dear wife and babes--Adieu.
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1800 - 1869 (69 years)
d. 21 Feb 1836, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States 