Benjamin Woodworth
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Woodworth also known as "Uncle Ben", was a Captain in the War of 1812
, hotelier, a pioneer of the city of Detroit, and member of the Woodworth political family
.
soldier, and Abigail Bryant. He was the brother of Samuel Woodworth
. He learned the carpenter trade in Boston during his time in Massachusetts.
Woodworth had become friends General William Hull
, who had recently moved his family to Massachusetts
from Connecticut
. Thomas Jefferson
had appointed Hull Governor of the Northwest Territory
and was in need of skilled workers to take with him, in which Woodworth was one of the carpenters he chose to move to Detroit with him. On June 12, 1805, Woodworth and Hull, along with other workers, arrived in Detroit.
The men returned from their eastern trip on June 7, 1806, and began construction of the first Governor's Mansion and First Bank of Detroit. Woodworth's company, Woodworth & Brooks, was commissioned to construct the buildings. The construction of the bank began before the charter was finally approved on September 19, 1806, however, it would collapse financially after opening, with accusations of fraud levied against the charter members; which Woodworth was not a part of. Nonetheless, Woodworth helped build the first bank in Michigan and first Governor's Mansion; also the first brick dwelling in Michigan.
. He also operated the first stage coach in Michigan.
The hotel also featured a tavern, and together, they became one of the most famous places of the region, serving as the headquarters steam-boat captains and the transportation industry operating on the Great Lakes, and noted as the aristocratic tavern of Detroit at that time. Woodworth donated the services and rooms of the hotel to house American soldiers during and after the War of 1812
, hosted a gala ball for President James Monroe
in 1817, and the hotel served as the first meeting of Detroit's Masonic Lodge #2 in 1821, as well as for patriotic meetings in general.
The hotel contributed to creating the commercial center of Detroit at the time centered around the wharf. It was described by Michigan Pioneer Society President Francis Asbury Dewey "as the best tavern in Michigan...the house was large and commodious, accommodating two hundred or more, and in the summer months was often full of enterprising and intelligent travelers."
Today visitors to Canada
pass over the place where the hotel stood as they enter the tunnel to Windsor.
. During this war Governor Hull was taken prisoner and removed to Canada, never to return to Detroit, and the mansion was seized.
authorized a relief act specifically named for Benjamin, in which the soldiers owed compensation for the war had authorized Woodworth to receive their earnings for some unnamed reason.
In 1820, Woodworth was licensed to operate a ferry between Detroit and Canada. In the Canadian Patriot War of 1837-1838
, Woodworth was sympathetic to the patriot side, supporting them financially, and even putting their wounded soldiers up in his hotel.
, where he lived out the rest of his life until his death in 1874.
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, hotelier, a pioneer of the city of Detroit, and member of the Woodworth political family
Woodworth political family
The Woodworth political family is a collection of American and Canadian politicians who descend directly from colonial settler Walter Woodworth. They rose to prominence in the 19th century, serving in several states, in the United States House of Representatives, the Canadian House of Commons, and...
.
Early life
Benjamin was born on December 29, 1782, the son of Benjamin Woodworth, an American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
soldier, and Abigail Bryant. He was the brother of Samuel Woodworth
Samuel Woodworth
Samuel Woodworth was an American author, literary journalist, playwright, librettist, and poet.-History:...
. He learned the carpenter trade in Boston during his time in Massachusetts.
Detroit
William Hull
William Hull was an American soldier and politician. He fought in the American Revolution, was Governor of Michigan Territory, and was a general in the War of 1812, for which he is best remembered for surrendering Fort Detroit to the British.- Early life and Revolutionary War :He was born in...
, who had recently moved his family to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
had appointed Hull Governor of the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
and was in need of skilled workers to take with him, in which Woodworth was one of the carpenters he chose to move to Detroit with him. On June 12, 1805, Woodworth and Hull, along with other workers, arrived in Detroit.
Construction firsts
Hull was not satisfied with his living quarters, and sought to build a new Governor's Mansion. Upon arriving in Detroit in 1805, he found the city in ashes, the result of a devastating fire. He needed to return to Washington to lobby President Jefferson directly for assistance; this also included finding investors to charter the first bank in Detroit. The lore states that Woodworth accompanied him on this trip to meet with the President.The men returned from their eastern trip on June 7, 1806, and began construction of the first Governor's Mansion and First Bank of Detroit. Woodworth's company, Woodworth & Brooks, was commissioned to construct the buildings. The construction of the bank began before the charter was finally approved on September 19, 1806, however, it would collapse financially after opening, with accusations of fraud levied against the charter members; which Woodworth was not a part of. Nonetheless, Woodworth helped build the first bank in Michigan and first Governor's Mansion; also the first brick dwelling in Michigan.
Steamboat Hotel
After constructing the bank and mansion, Woodworth himself built his own residence at the corner of Randolph and Woodbridge Streets in 1807. He eventually enlarged it to form the "Woodworth Hotel", later known as the "Steamboat Hotel" after another expansion 1818. It was located at a wharf on the Detroit RiverDetroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. He also operated the first stage coach in Michigan.
The hotel also featured a tavern, and together, they became one of the most famous places of the region, serving as the headquarters steam-boat captains and the transportation industry operating on the Great Lakes, and noted as the aristocratic tavern of Detroit at that time. Woodworth donated the services and rooms of the hotel to house American soldiers during and after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, hosted a gala ball for President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
in 1817, and the hotel served as the first meeting of Detroit's Masonic Lodge #2 in 1821, as well as for patriotic meetings in general.
The hotel contributed to creating the commercial center of Detroit at the time centered around the wharf. It was described by Michigan Pioneer Society President Francis Asbury Dewey "as the best tavern in Michigan...the house was large and commodious, accommodating two hundred or more, and in the summer months was often full of enterprising and intelligent travelers."
Today visitors to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
pass over the place where the hotel stood as they enter the tunnel to Windsor.
War of 1812
Woodworth served as an artillery Captain in the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. During this war Governor Hull was taken prisoner and removed to Canada, never to return to Detroit, and the mansion was seized.
Benjamin Woodworth Congressional Act
On February 22, 1827, the CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
authorized a relief act specifically named for Benjamin, in which the soldiers owed compensation for the war had authorized Woodworth to receive their earnings for some unnamed reason.
Later years
Following the war, Woodworth continued serving as a volunteer Captain of Detroit's artillery company. He would serve as a Vice-Marshal in 1814, and coroner of Wayne County between 1815-1836, which the position was considered the Marshal of the county. He would also serve as the Assessor, Supervisor, and as an Alderman for the first ward between 1843-1845.In 1820, Woodworth was licensed to operate a ferry between Detroit and Canada. In the Canadian Patriot War of 1837-1838
Rebellions of 1837
The Rebellions of 1837 were a pair of Canadian armed uprisings that occurred in 1837 and 1838 in response to frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was the allowance of responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath.-Rebellions:The rebellions started...
, Woodworth was sympathetic to the patriot side, supporting them financially, and even putting their wounded soldiers up in his hotel.
Michigan death penalty
Woodworth would play a key role in the banning of the death penalty in Michigan, having been the hangman in the last execution performed in the state. In 1830, a saloon owner and drunkard named Stephen Simmons murdered his wife. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. The Sheriff of the county resigned rather than carry out of the sentence. Woodworth was then appointed Sheriff of the county, and delegated the task of constructing the gallow and performing the hanging. The spectacle drew large interest, and brought visitors from all over the region to watch. The Governor attended as well, and before the hatch was released, Simmons made a confession and plea for mercy. The crowd was moved and became embarrassed with the fact they had made entertainment out the incident, but the Governor refused clemency and Simmons was hanged. In 1846, the state banned the death penalty, with the Simmons case playing a key role. In doing so, Michigan became the first English-speaking government to ban the death penalty. Woodworth's short lived appointment as Sheriff would end soon thereafter, as he was compensated by the state and relieved the next year following an election he did not participate in.Tragedy
In the 1840s, Benjamin would experience life changing tragedies. Already having lost many of his children in their youth, his grown son Samuel was killed in a boiler explosion operating the ferry "General Vance", which he owned. Next, shortly after selling his Detroit properties, the old "Steamboat Hotel" was destroyed by fire. Woodworth would remove to St. Clair CountySt. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
, where he lived out the rest of his life until his death in 1874.
Marriage and children
Benjamin was remembered as a man who "had a heart full of kindness and a hand ever ready to help the distressed". Benjamin married Rachel Dicks and they had the following children:- Abigail Woodworth, who married Charles Ewing
- Samuel Woodworth, who died in a boat explosion
- Ann Maria Woodworth, who married General Simeon B. Brown
- Frances Elizabeth Woodworth, who married A.J. Cummings
- Ruth Woodworth, died young
- Louisa Woodworth, died young
- Catherine Woodworth, died young
- Mary Woodworth, died young
- Benjamin Woodworth, died young
- Henry Woodworth, died young
- James Woodworth, died young