November 16th, 2010
Just over fifty men with the surname Woodward or Woodard registered for the Old Man’s Draft for World War II in New Hampshire in April 1942. While working at the National Archives in Washington in July 2007, I had the opportunity to view microfilm of those serving from New Hampshire. I was hoping to find the registration card of my grandfather, Oscar H. Woodward, Sr. – BINGO!
While reading the film, I constructed an index to other
New Hampshire Woodwards who registered.
Source: Fourth Registration, NH, Box 50, Registration Date 26 or 27 April 1942, RG 147 Selective Service System, National Archives microfilm series M1963, reel 19.
(c) 2010 Linda Woodward Geiger, All Rights Reserved.
Linda@WoodwardsWeSearch.com.
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November 15th, 2010
As time marches on, more and more records are made public. Several years ago, the records of the 4th draft (commonly called the “Old Man’s Draft”) were made available. This draft occurred on 27 April 1942 for men born between 27 April 1877 and 16 February 1897. “This draft registration was not intended to be used for military service but to provide a complete inventory of manpower resources in the United States that could be used for national service during World War II” [Trevor K. Plante, Military Service Records at the National Archives, Reference Information Paper 109 (Washington, D.C.: NARA, 2009), 72].
Typically, the original records are in possession of the regional National Archives facilities and in many instances the draft cards have been microfilmed. When the National Archives in East Point, Georgia, acquired the records the draft cards were not classified as permanent. After some discussion and weighing of details the draft cards were destroyed due to lack of storage space.
Readers who are interested in draft registrations from the time to the Civil War (for the Union Army) will find the chapter, “Draft Records and Selective Service,” located within the Reference Information Paper 109 (Military Service Records at the National Archives) of interest. The chapter is available online at http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/109/draft-records.pdf, while the entire information paper is available at http://www.archives.gov/publications/ref-info-papers/109/index.pdf.
(c) 2010 Linda Woodward Geiger, All Rights Reserved.
Linda@WoodwardsWeSearch.com.
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November 11th, 2010
Oscar H. Woodward, Jr., was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. I remember how handsome he appeared in that magnificent uniform. I also remember that when he was home on furlough he would count out pennies to purchase bubble gum. The bubble gum family contests were so much fun, e.g. until my Mom used kerosene to get the gum off our faces, hair, and clothing 
.
My cousin, Bill (son of Richard and Irish (Ford) Woodward, and my brother, Peter served in the Army during the Berlin Crisis.
My great grandfather, Daniel Russell Woodward severed in Company E of the 16th New Hampshire Regiment during the Civil War.
(c) 2010 Linda Woodward Geiger, All Rights Reserved. Linda@WoodwardsWeSearch.com.
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November 11th, 2010
Woodward Family Reunion
Don’t you just hate it when you find newspaper clippings that contain no documentation, e.g., no date and the paper is not named. My family is notorious for clipping and snipping, but not telling. Clues for approximate dates (at least a year or range of years) sometimes can be found. The accompanying clipping describes a Woodward family reunion in Milford, N.H. I know the reunion took place after 24 May 1952 when my younger sister was born because although her name is miss-spelled (Gail not Gale) and the hosts were Robert and Kathy Smith. Kathy had been in the foster care of my grandmother and grandfather and was always very much a part of the family. I expect the reunion occurred about 1953.
(c) 2010 Linda Woodward Geiger, All Rights Reserved. Linda@WoodwardsWeSearch.com.
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November 6th, 2010
Oscar H. Woodward Sr., my grandfather, was the youngest of eight children born to Daniel Russell and Laura (Davis) Woodward. In 1906 when the family was residing in Franklin, New Hampshire, Oscar’s sister Grace worked at the orphanage there. One of her associates was Sara Waddell from Maitland, Nova Scotia. The evening that Grace invited Sara to dine with the family was the beginning of a grand love affair. Oscar became smitten with Sara almost immediately. Sara moved to Belmont, Massachusetts to be closer to her sisters. The couple were married in Watertown, Massachusetts, on 28 September 1907 by Rev. Charles Day of Watertown.
(c) 2010 Linda Woodward Geiger, All Rights Reserved. Linda@WoodwardsWeSearch.com.
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