Woodruff(e)

[calmar]

Am interested in Woodruffe's originating from Derbyshire. Some in Dover area of Kent and some in Sheffield. Timescale from c 1830's to 1900 onwards.

Calmar

[Janine]

I worked for a Kent Woodruff, Solicitor, in Kamloops British Columbia Canada in 1989 ... so obviously the Woodruffs have emigrated at some point!  Very nice fellow, by the way.

[lucretia]

I have Woodruffs who are mostly from Gloucestershire but one of the brothers moved to Sheffield:

Frederick R Woodruff b. 1874 Westerleigh Glouc'shire
marries
Amy [unknown] b 1872 Westerleigh
somewhen between 1891 and 1901 and moves to Sheffield.

The names of their children and where they were born suggest that they moved about between the 1891 and 1901 censuses:

Elsie b. Gressley Derbyshire c. 1896
Elizabeth b. Ecclesfield, Yorkshire c 1897
Irene b. Eccelesfiel, Yorkshire c. 1900

Frederick was a railway signaller. I do not know why he moved away from Glouc'shire, though I believe he may have had family there? Any help/connections?

[calmar]

Hi Janine and Lucretia,

Sorry, I don't think they connect to my Woodruff's. I have this family from 1871 when William was a soldier stationed in Cheriton Kent. but his birth in Derbyshire is proving difficult to find.

My grandfather, who was also Frederick Woodruff, worked for the railways in Sheffield, Small world!

Lucretia, I have only just got your reply today, can't understand why that is.

Regards,

Calmar
 

[lucretia]

The railways (once they were built) seem to have been somewhat a family business for my Woodruffs. I would really like to know why Fred moved to Sheffield - generally it seems to be a very static famliy. I can only suppose that it was a work opportunity or that him or his wife had connections of some sort there.

I only posted today, which is probably why you only just got it!

Do you have any ideas about the origin of the Woodruff name?

[calmar]

  Sorry Lucretia, I meant Janine's posting had only come through yesterday!! Another senior moment.

Have you got him on the early census. Was he perhaps in the army, as my family were, and then started work for the railways which was fairly new around that time.

Calmar

[grandarog]

Hi Calmar,
                I have Woodruff ancestors. Mostly Clergymen  .John Woodruff was the Rector of Upchurch in Kent and is buried there with his family members. A lot of Woodruffs from this branch emigrated to various countries ,USA , South America Various countries, Australia that I know of. I am still in tyouch with Woodruff cousins in USA and have just lost a Woodruff cousin in Aus. aged 88. I have copy of a lot of old name and dates data if you are iterested PM me your E-Mail Address and I will send it to you.
                                                         Regards Rog

[calmar]

Thank you Rog, but I have a feeling that mine don't relate to yours. They tended to be army, railway, engineer occupations, and eventually settled in Yorkshire, but the thought was very kind.

Calmar