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The Myth of Thomas Woodward and Elizabeth Tyson Being Walter Woodworths Parents

 There have been years of unfounded speculation by some that the parents of Walter Woodworth (b1608) were Thomas and Elizabeth (Tyson) Woodward.  That myth is now clearly  and unequivocally proven wrong, based on three conditions:

1.   Thomas and Elizabeth did not have a child named Walter.  Thomas and Elizabeth had five children per church records, and none were named Walter.  See the following excerpt from http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~garard/fam00216.htm

Thomas Woodward/Elizabeth Tyson

Husband: Thomas Woodward

   Born: 1567             at: Of All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, Eng  1 
Married: 28 MAY 1592      at: All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, ENG  1 
   Died:                  at:  
 Father:Hugh Woodward
 Mother:Jane Hawett
        Other Spouses:

   Wife: Elizabeth Tyson

   Born: 1571             at: North Woolton, Lancashire, Eng. 1 
   Died:                  at:  
 Father:
 Mother:
          Other Spouses:

CHILDREN

   Name: John Woodward
   Born: 14 APR 1593      at: All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, ENG 2 
Married:                  at:  
   Died:                  at:  
Spouses:

   Name: William Woodward

   Born: 23 APR 1594      at: All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, ENG 2 

Married:                  at:  

   Died:                  at:  

Spouses:

   Name: Alice Woodward
   Born: 1 APR 1595       at: All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, ENG 2 
Married:                  at:  
   Died:                  at:  
Spouses:

   Name: Jane Woodward
   Born: 1 MAY 1599       at: All Saints, Childwall, Lancaster, ENG 2 
Married:                  at:  
   Died:                  at:  
Spouses:

   Name: Henry Woodward
    Born: 22 MAR 1607      at: Much Worton, Lancashire, England 3 
Married: 4 SEP 1638       at: Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA 3 
   Died: 7 APR 1683       at: Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA 4 
Spouses: Elizabeth Mather 
NOTES 

SOURCES

1) Data supplied by Jeanne Nelson, Bountiful, Utah, 84010.
2) Ancestral File, Church of the Latter Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.
3) Data supplied by Myrle DeeFrance Jacobson, Arlington, Texas 76016. 1998.
4) Deaths Northampton, MA. vital records.

 
 

2.   Education of Thomas's children did not match Walter's education.  Thomas and Elizabeth's son Henry Woodward, who migrated to Northhampton, MA, was educated, and referred to as a "physician".   Walter signed his name with an "X" on his will, indicating that he was uneducated.  It is highly unlikely Thomas and Elizabeth would highly educate one child and not educate the other at all.
 

3.   DNA proves conclusively that Thomas Woodward was NOT the father of Walter Woodworth.  We know that Thomas Woodward and Elizabeth Tyson had a son "Henry", according to Childwell Parish records.  If Walter was also a son of Thomas and Elizabeth, then Henry and Walter would be brothers and their DNA would be exactly the same.    However, the DNA of three known descendants of Dr. Henry Woodward, son of Thomas and Elizabeth, significantly mismatches the DNA of the descendants of Walter Woodworth.   Therefore, Henry cannot be the brother of Walter, and Thomas Woodward cannot be Walter's father.  Emphasizing once again:  Per DNA, Thomas and Elizabeth (Tyson) Woodward CANNOT possibly be Walter's parents.