Arthur Wodenoth
Encyclopedia
Arthur Wodenoth or Woodnoth (1590?-1650?) was an English goldsmith and colonial pioneer, a member of the Virginia Company
and Somers Islands Company.
At one time Arthur thought of taking holy orders, but was dissuaded by his relative Nicholas Ferrar
. It was he who arranged the purchase of Little Gidding
by Mrs. Ferrar, mother of Nicholas, and supervised the restoration of the neighouring church at Leighton Bromswold
, to which Ferrar's friend George Herbert
had been presented in 1626. He was a correspondent of Ferrar's sister Susanna Collett, and a close friend of George Herbert. He witnessed Mrs. Ferrar's will in 1628, was present at Herbert's death in 1633, and was executor of his will. He was also well known to Izaak Walton
, whom he supplied with details of Herbert's life.
It was probably through Sir John Danvers that Wodenoth became interested in the Virginia Company. He was not a member till some time after 1612, but he took an active part in the affairs of the company till the revocation of its charter, siding, like Ferrar, with the party of Sir Edwin Sandys against that of Sir Thomas Smith. In 1644 he was deputy governor of the Somers Islands Company, and before his death he drew up a Short Collection of the most Remarkable Passages from the Originall to the Dissolution of the Virginia Company, London, 1651; it is in the main a defence of Sandys, Ferrar, and Danvers. Wodenoth was dead before the publication, and in the preface is said to have been a parliamentarian.
. He was second son of John Wodenoth of Savington, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of John Touchet of Whitley. Mary Wodenoth, the mother of Nicholas Ferrar, was his father's sister; and his father's brother Thomas, who settled at Linkinhorne
, Cornwall
, and spelled the name Wodenote, was father of Theophilus Wodenote.
He was married, and had a son Ralph.
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company refers collectively to a pair of English joint stock companies chartered by James I on 10 April1606 with the purposes of establishing settlements on the coast of North America...
and Somers Islands Company.
Life
Born about 1590, he was goldsmith in Foster Lane, London.At one time Arthur thought of taking holy orders, but was dissuaded by his relative Nicholas Ferrar
Nicholas Ferrar
Nicholas Ferrar was an English scholar, courtier, businessman and man of religion. Ordained deacon in the Church of England, he retreated with his extended family to the manor of Little Gidding in Huntingdonshire, where he lived the rest of his life.-Early life:Nicholas Ferrar was born in London,...
. It was he who arranged the purchase of Little Gidding
Little Gidding, Cambridgeshire
Little Gidding is a parish and small village in Huntingdonshire , England, near Sawtry and north west of Huntingdon.-History:The parish of Little Gidding is small, consisting of only 724 acres...
by Mrs. Ferrar, mother of Nicholas, and supervised the restoration of the neighouring church at Leighton Bromswold
Leighton Bromswold
Leighton Bromswold is a small village in west Cambridgeshire in the historical county of Huntingdonshire around west of Huntingdon and north of Kimbolton. The civil parish of which it is part is called Leighton and in 2001 had a population of 224...
, to which Ferrar's friend George Herbert
George Herbert
George Herbert was a Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.Being born into an artistic and wealthy family, he received a good education that led to his holding prominent positions at Cambridge University and Parliament. As a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in...
had been presented in 1626. He was a correspondent of Ferrar's sister Susanna Collett, and a close friend of George Herbert. He witnessed Mrs. Ferrar's will in 1628, was present at Herbert's death in 1633, and was executor of his will. He was also well known to Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton
Izaak Walton was an English writer. Best known as the author of The Compleat Angler, he also wrote a number of short biographies which have been collected under the title of Walton's Lives.-Biography:...
, whom he supplied with details of Herbert's life.
It was probably through Sir John Danvers that Wodenoth became interested in the Virginia Company. He was not a member till some time after 1612, but he took an active part in the affairs of the company till the revocation of its charter, siding, like Ferrar, with the party of Sir Edwin Sandys against that of Sir Thomas Smith. In 1644 he was deputy governor of the Somers Islands Company, and before his death he drew up a Short Collection of the most Remarkable Passages from the Originall to the Dissolution of the Virginia Company, London, 1651; it is in the main a defence of Sandys, Ferrar, and Danvers. Wodenoth was dead before the publication, and in the preface is said to have been a parliamentarian.
Family
He was descended from the Wodenoths or Woodnoths of Savington, CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He was second son of John Wodenoth of Savington, by his second wife, Jane, daughter of John Touchet of Whitley. Mary Wodenoth, the mother of Nicholas Ferrar, was his father's sister; and his father's brother Thomas, who settled at Linkinhorne
Linkinhorne
Linkinhorne is a civil parish and village in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village itself is situated at and is approximately four miles northwest of Callington and seven miles south of Launceston.-History and geography:As well as Linkinhorne itself, other settlements in the parish...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and spelled the name Wodenote, was father of Theophilus Wodenote.
He was married, and had a son Ralph.