Harvey - Genealogy - Peter Wood Family

Supplemental Information:

The following documents are available from the William Franklin Buntings manuscript dairies located at the NB Muesum in Saint John (Norman DeMerchant, Fredericton. 6 Mar 2008):

Volume 3 - January 20th 1877 Alex Wood, 124 Purchase Street Boston.

Volume 3 - June 25th, 1876 Note to Alex Wood of Boston.

Volume 4 - May 5th 1882. Received note from Alex Wood of marriage to Antoinette C. Urann.

Volume 4 - Alex H. Wood removed to Boston from Saint John in 1867.

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4303. Undated photograph of Wallace and Sandy Wood with horses "Min and Maud that came from Boston as a gift". The provider of the gift was most likely Alexander (Sandy) H. Wood Sr. (see 4292 above). The similarly named John Alexander (Sandy) Wood in this picture and his brother Walter Wallace Wood were the sons of George Thomas Wood (b. 16 Apr 1865, d. 30 Apr 1931) and Elizabeth Messer (b. 8 Nor 1864, d. 8 Jul 1920).

Source: Ross Wood, Tweedside, Harvey, York Co., N.B. Rephotographed, by Tim Patterson7 Aug 2008.

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Below are two newspaper accounts of a terrible fire at Crow's Nest, the summer home of the actor Mr. Joe Jefferson, which mention A.H. Wood and other members of his family.

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The New York Times
Published: April 2, 1893.

CROW’S NEST” DESTROYED

JOE JEFFERSON’S BEAUTIFUL
HOME GONE UP IN FLAME

GASOLINE LEAKED OUT IN THE CELLAR AND THE FURNACE FIRE EXPLODED IT – HELEN M’GRATH, THE COOK, PERISHED IN THE FLAMES – OTHERS HAVE NARROW ESCAPES.

BUZZARD’S BAY, Mass. April 1. – Fire this afternoon totally destroyed the beautiful Summer residence of Joe Jefferson, situated on the shores of Buttermilk Bay, the family cook, Helen McGrath, perished in the ruins.

Miss Simmonds, the housekeeper; Miss Collins, the maid, and Miss McGrath were in the cellar at noon, when Miss McGrath discovered what she supposed was water covering the floor.

She called the hired man, Mr. Wright, who saw at once that it was oil from the gasoline tank. He shouted to the women to flee for their lives but they stood dumbfounded. The gasoline communicated with the fire in the furnace, and in an instant there was a terrific explosion.

Mr. Wright caught Miss Simmonds and Miss Collins and fought his way to the open air. He endeavoured to return for Miss McGrath, but was met by a blinding sheet of flame. Burned and bleeding, he heroically tried to gain entrance but was unsuccessful, and the unfortunate woman was left to perish in the flames.

When the cry of fire was raised Mrs. Jefferson was ill in bed, but she hastily arose and luckily escaped, not having time to dress. She was assisted out and covered with buffalo robes. She suffered a severe shock to her nervous system, and was at once removed to the home of Station Agent Bassett, and medical attention summoned.

The children who were playing in the attic, were the first to excape and seek a place of safety.

The fire spread with lightning rapidity, the whole building soon being a roaring furnace. The entire population was soon at the scene, and repeated attempts were made to enter the building to save, if possible the unfortunate cook.
The wind was blowing a gale from the southwest at the time of the fire at the time of the fire, and that alone saved the residences adjoining the Jefferson’s from destruction.

Gov. Russell and A.H. Wood who were fishing in the vicinity, were soon at the scene and called on Mrs. Jefferson. Mrs. Jefferson received a telegram from her son from New York stating that he would be here on Sunday, which greatly relieved her, and she is now resting as comfortably as can be expected. She does not yet know that the body of Miss McGrath is in the ruins, and the sad news will be kept from her as long as possible.

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Miss McGrath had been in the employ of the Jefferson’s for twenty years. She was a middle-aged mowan, a devoted Roman Catholic, and her sad and untimely end has cast a deep feeling of sorrow over those who knew her.

The large and valuable painting which was to have been exhibited at the World’s Fair was totally destroyed, together with Mr. Jefferson’s costly collection of curios.
Gov. Russell searched among the goods saved for some wearing apparel for Mrs. Jefferson, but not a bit had been saved, and Mrs. Jefferson has only the clothes she had on when she escaped from the burning building.

It is estimated that $150,000 worth of paintings were consumed, and that the total loss will be $250,000. Mr. Jefferson is en route to California, and word has been sent to him. The house, which was erected three years ago, was designed by the actor himself. It stood on a high bluff overlooking Buttermilk Bay, and was a model of modern architecture.

The report of the fire spread rapidly, and over 1,000 people were on the ground in a short time. A squad of special police is on duty tonight watching the fire and guarding the property.

Boston, April 1. – Destroyed in Crow’s Nest to-day were many unique things of more or less positive value, but much treasured by Mr. Jefferson.

In his drawing room were two carved ebony figures with frightful faces, hobnobbing with two tiny bronze elves. The elves sat in front of the andirons on the tiled hearth. An inlaid excritoire, with panels and china, painted in scenes from the gay revels of courtiers of the time of Charles II, contained a case of shallow drawers, with grooves for cigars, in much the same fashion that spools of silk are displayed in a country store.
The drawing-room furniture consisted of high-backed, low-seated chairs, beautifully carved in a close and intricate design of foliage, with here and there a peacock spreading himself form a branch. The set was found abroad, bout a piano chair to match was made in America.
In this room were treasures from the Old world which would have made a Doge of Venice green with envy. There were piled promiscuously cabinets dainty enough to be kept in cabinets. One of these was of Japanese manufacture. The outside was perhaps 2 feet in height, and was evenly covered with red sealing wax embossed in a conventional design, with here and there an exquisitely-painted medallion imbedded in the surface of the substance.
A comfortable, homely, willow easy chair, painted brown with red ribbons run through, stood side by side with an ebony chair of stiff Dutch design.
The pearl of great price of this treasure house was a ducal armor, or wardrobe, 7 feet high and 4 broad. It was surmounted by a plumed helmet, with visor partly raised and a shield. The letters “L. X. B..” and “E. B.” were on opposite quarterings of the shield, and underneath is the date, “1673”. Below the shield was carved a festooned rosary, and beneath the cornice moulding a row of grotesque, long-nosed, Dutchy-looking devils in livery, using their long, flattened tails as swords. The entire surface was inlaid with precious woods in ornamental design, and in every panel, held by circular mouldings were large porcelain medallions of rare beauty. The armor was in the dining room in a space specially prepared.
On an inlaid table was an ancient mosaic window, about 2 by 4 feet, made up of countless tiny pieces of colored glass, set in lead, and picturing the slender figure of a buskined page descending the spiral stairs of a castle turret.
Mr. Jefferson received the news of the burning Crow’s Nest at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday afternoon. He was deeply grieved by the report of the death of the cook, Ellen, who had been twenty years in the family.
His eldest son, Charles, started for Buzzard’s Bay last night, and, after Mr. Jefferson was assured of the safety of those members of his family who were in the house, he started with his son William at 7 o’clock on his Western tour.
Mr. Jefferson’s property – house, stables, furniture, and pictures – was insured for $70,000. The total value is roughly estimated as between $200,000 and $300,000. He had recently put in a picture gallery and bought some new and extremely valuable canvases. He feared that the fine examples of Mauve and Daubigny recently at the Loan Exhibition in the Fine Arts Building in New-York had been returned and placed on the walls, and therefore were destroyed.
Mr. Jefferson owned three Corots, four Troyons, two Deubignys, three Diazes, one Jules Dupré, on Dècamps, two Greuzes, four Mauves, two Israels, (including the large canvas “The Mother”) one Sir Joshua Reynolds, two Sir Thomas Lawrences, three Van Mareks, one Madrago, besides family portraits and a portrait of Macready the actor.
In the house were a number of fine wood carvings, books of value, and in fact the art and bibliographic accumulations of a lifetime. Built into it were original modellings by the sculptor Bauer, old tiles and stained glass portraits of Edwin Booth and William Warren. On the main stairway as a large stained-glass window with ta design by Jefferson himself.

The house was built substantially and amply, and in every part was characteristic of its accomplished and hospitable owner. It is Mr. Jefferson’s intention to rebuild at once.
Crow’s Nest was a picturesque, rambling cottage of stone, built on the edge of the bluff behind Buttermilk Bay. Its site was one of the finest on the Massachusetts coast. It was not a new building, but its construction was of a thoroughness that made it equally delightful in Summer and Winter, and it was occupied by Mr. Jefferson or some of his family most of the time. Mr. Jefferson had gathered his children about him in neighboring cottages, and his family, with their guests, of whom there were always many, formed a settlement by themselves.
Since Mr. Jefferson first took possession of Crow’s Nest many well-know guests have been entertained in its big, quaint, low-studded rooms. President Cleveland was a frequent visitor while he was at Gray Gables, a mile and a half away, last Summer, and William H. Crane and Richard Watson Gilder were among the friends who met there.

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The New York Times
Published: April 3, 1893.

THE RUINS OF “CROW’S NEST.”

NO TRACE OF MR. JEFFERSON’S FAITHFUL COOK HAS BEEN FOUND.

BUZZARD’S BAY, Mass., April 2. – The scene of Saturday’s fatal fire was visited by hundreds of people to-day, and the shores of Buttermilk Bay, in the vicinity of Crow’s Nest, presented an animated appearance.

The guard had a lively time at midnight, when the wind suddenly changed to the east and blew a gale. The sparks were blown into the pine woods and were extinguished with much difficulty. Early this morning a search was instituted for the body of Helen McGrath. An entrance was made to the cellar through the door by which the servants escaped. The debris was carefully removed and the search continued all the day, but no trace of the missing woman was found. It is the general opinion that she was instantly killed by the force of the explosion and that the cellar floor being covered with gasoline she was cremated. But the finding of the bones of a dog at noon aroused a hope that the woman’s remains might yet be found. A pair of eyeglasses was also found and it is thought that they belonged to Miss McGrath. The search will be completed by noon Monday.

Miss Collinson, the maid, is the most seriously burned of the survivors. She was thrown down by the force of the explosion, and was fright-fully burned on the face, arms, and hands. Her sufferings were intense. When visited by a reporter to-day she was resting as comfortably as could be expected. She lost all her wearing apparel and money.

Clarence Whipple, an employe, was also terribly burned on the face, arms and hands, and as he complains of severe pains in his chest, it is feared that he inhaled some of the flames and is internally injured. He is at his home at the head of the bay.

Frank Ashport, another employe, was in the cellar at the time of the explosion and is also suffering from severe burns on his face and hands. Whipple and Ashport, although suffering intense pain, heroically endeavored to save Miss McGrath from the flames.

Miss Symons was not so severely burned as the others, and has been with Mrs. Jefferson at Mr. Bassett’s.

C.B. Jefferson, A.H. Wood, Frank L. Wood, and Miss Ada Wood arrived on a morning train and at once went to Mrs. Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson ordered a careful search of the ruins to be made, and will remain here until it is completed. When seen by a reporter he said that his father was deeply grieved at the sad death of his faithful servant, and that the loss of the property did not appear to affect him. Mr. Jefferson will rebuild on the same site, and will this season occupy the Whittier cottage, which is on the Buzzard’s Bay shore, near Gray Gables.

Mrs. Jefferson has been receiving messages of Sympathy all day. Among the first to arrive were those from President Cleveland, Mr. Whittier, and Mr. Benedict.

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Obituary for Marshall S. Pollard of Wood, Pollard & Co.

Obituary Notes:

The New York Times
July 8, 1912

MARSHALL S. POLLARD of the firm of Wood, Pollard & Co., wholesale and retail grocers of Boston, died at Driftwook, Marblehead Neck, Mass., Saturday. Mr. Pollard was 70 years old.

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