... on the 30th day 7th month 1743 Richard Woodward & Martha Heald appeared before Newark Monthly Meeting to request permission to marry. Richard Woodward was directed to bring a certificate from Bradford Monthly Meeting and Thomas & Jacob Chandler were appointed to see "that the will of her former husband be complyed with." This was not a problem as the will of John Heald had been probated on 11/13/1740, enough time passing that its provisions had no doubt been carried out. On the 5th day 9th month Richard & Martha appeared for the second time and were given permission to marry. They were married on the 30th day 9th month 1743 and it was reported orderly to Newark. ... Martha is named as wife in Richard's will. As was customary he made detailed provisions for his "now" wife. This was usually necessary, since step-children could not be counted on to take care of a stepmother unless so directed in a will and watched over by the courts. This kind of provision made sure that no one wound up indigent and a ward of the court. Richard had evidently prospered as, in his will, his house is called a "mansion" and his acreage a "plantation." There are again some curious things about his bequests. Oldest son William is left only five shillings and no land. Sons John & Richard are left land. Richard had conveyed 253 acres of the southeast corner of his original one thousand acres to William on 6/16/1734, shortly after William married, so this is probably the reason none is left in the will. Son James had died 5th month 1748 so is not mentioned. It may have been James's death that made him aware of his own mortality as he started writing his will in 1748 though he did not sign it until 1752. ... [more]
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