James Nicholas was the oldest son of Richard D. and Sally (Rickard) Woodcock. The source for the birth info I have posted is the familysearch.org database "New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962". He apparently preferred to be called Nicholas as that is the name he used in the records I was able to find for him. He either did not know how to count very well or he did not know when he was born as his records vary widely on his ages and approximated birth years from one record to the next.
Nicholas and his family lived in Schoharie County, New York. Nicholas married Eliza (maiden name unknown) about 1851, most likely in Schoharie County as that is also where she was born and lived. Nicholas and Eliza had four children: Franklin P., Julia E., Charlotte Harriet, and Ella J.
Nicholas was a carpenter, and also a farmer and land owner. The family lived in Wright, Schoharie County, until sometime between 1865 and 1870 when they moved to Union in Broome County.
Nicholas fought in the Civil War with the Fifty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry Company B. It was reported on 24 Sep 1862 in the New York Daily Herald that he was wounded severely in his side.
In Feb 1877 Nicholas was elected as the game constable for the town of Union. He was also employed as a carpenter and farmer. He was killed seven months later from being struck by lightning while visiting at a neighbor's home. Please read the transcript of his obituary below.
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The Union News Friday Sep 21, 1877
An Instantaneous Death
A Fatal Flash of Lightning - One Man Killed and Another Stunned
The aphorism "In the middle of life we are in death" was truly realized on Monday in the instantaneous death of a well-known citizen of Union.
The heavy storm which visited our village on Monday afternoon, was accompanied by thunder and lightning. About four o'clock an unusual heavy clap of thunder startled our citizens, and it was a general remark that the lightning had struck somewhere in this vicinity and on inquiry it was found to be true.
About 3:30 Nicholas Woodcock left his residence near the bridge Nanticoke, and walked over to the residence of his neighbor, Levi Boynt. Mr. Boynt was putting some repairs on a gun, and Mr. Woodcock stepped into the woodhouse where the former was at work. Both men stepped to the door to gain more light in the examination of a ramrod, when a sudden flash of lightning struck the building and they were hurled to the ground, Boynt outside and Woodcock inside. Carrie, a young daughter of Levi Boynt, sat in the kitchen, and through the open door saw the men fall. She summoned her brother Willie and they picked up their father, who was unconscious. He revived in a few moments and told them to pick Woodcock up and rub him. They did so, but he was beyond the reach of human aid, having been instantly killed. His face and body were almost black, when first discovered, but the discoloration soon disappeared from his face. The fatal stroke struck him on the left side, just above the ear, and ran straight down the body to the knee, where it ran to the back of the leg.
The lightning struck the chimney of the main building, and then scattered in every direction. One branch came through the roof, tearing off the shingles for a space of ten feet, broke through the plastering of the wall and came to the first floor. A second branch ran down a corner post on the west side, splitting the post, thence following the cistern trough, and ran across the grass, burning a path to a lilac bush who's leaves it singed, and entered a bedroom window, tearing the casing to pieces, throwing a portion of it across the room. Another portion of the electric fluid ran down the kitchen roof, scattering the shingles, and entered the woodhouse, striking the two men who stood within a foot from each other.
We saw Levi Boynt the next morning. He was able to walk about, but complained of feeling lame and sore. There was a streak on his left arm and down his left side, as though burnt by fire.
Nicholas Woodcock was well known in this vicinity, having been elected Game Constable at the last election. He leaves a wife and four children, three daughters and one son. The daughters are, Mrs. George Plane, Mrs. Harley Jones, and Miss Lottie Woodcock. His only son, F. Pierce Woodcock, was absent in Schoharie County. The funeral took place from his late residence on Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. He was buried in the cemetery.
Nicholas and his family lived in Schoharie County, New York. Nicholas married Eliza (maiden name unknown) about 1851, most likely in Schoharie County as that is also where she was born and lived. Nicholas and Eliza had four children: Franklin P., Julia E., Charlotte Harriet, and Ella J.
Nicholas was a carpenter, and also a farmer and land owner. The family lived in Wright, Schoharie County, until sometime between 1865 and 1870 when they moved to Union in Broome County.
Nicholas fought in the Civil War with the Fifty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry Company B. It was reported on 24 Sep 1862 in the New York Daily Herald that he was wounded severely in his side.
In Feb 1877 Nicholas was elected as the game constable for the town of Union. He was also employed as a carpenter and farmer. He was killed seven months later from being struck by lightning while visiting at a neighbor's home. Please read the transcript of his obituary below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Union News Friday Sep 21, 1877
An Instantaneous Death
A Fatal Flash of Lightning - One Man Killed and Another Stunned
The aphorism "In the middle of life we are in death" was truly realized on Monday in the instantaneous death of a well-known citizen of Union.
The heavy storm which visited our village on Monday afternoon, was accompanied by thunder and lightning. About four o'clock an unusual heavy clap of thunder startled our citizens, and it was a general remark that the lightning had struck somewhere in this vicinity and on inquiry it was found to be true.
About 3:30 Nicholas Woodcock left his residence near the bridge Nanticoke, and walked over to the residence of his neighbor, Levi Boynt. Mr. Boynt was putting some repairs on a gun, and Mr. Woodcock stepped into the woodhouse where the former was at work. Both men stepped to the door to gain more light in the examination of a ramrod, when a sudden flash of lightning struck the building and they were hurled to the ground, Boynt outside and Woodcock inside. Carrie, a young daughter of Levi Boynt, sat in the kitchen, and through the open door saw the men fall. She summoned her brother Willie and they picked up their father, who was unconscious. He revived in a few moments and told them to pick Woodcock up and rub him. They did so, but he was beyond the reach of human aid, having been instantly killed. His face and body were almost black, when first discovered, but the discoloration soon disappeared from his face. The fatal stroke struck him on the left side, just above the ear, and ran straight down the body to the knee, where it ran to the back of the leg.
The lightning struck the chimney of the main building, and then scattered in every direction. One branch came through the roof, tearing off the shingles for a space of ten feet, broke through the plastering of the wall and came to the first floor. A second branch ran down a corner post on the west side, splitting the post, thence following the cistern trough, and ran across the grass, burning a path to a lilac bush who's leaves it singed, and entered a bedroom window, tearing the casing to pieces, throwing a portion of it across the room. Another portion of the electric fluid ran down the kitchen roof, scattering the shingles, and entered the woodhouse, striking the two men who stood within a foot from each other.
We saw Levi Boynt the next morning. He was able to walk about, but complained of feeling lame and sore. There was a streak on his left arm and down his left side, as though burnt by fire.
Nicholas Woodcock was well known in this vicinity, having been elected Game Constable at the last election. He leaves a wife and four children, three daughters and one son. The daughters are, Mrs. George Plane, Mrs. Harley Jones, and Miss Lottie Woodcock. His only son, F. Pierce Woodcock, was absent in Schoharie County. The funeral took place from his late residence on Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. He was buried in the cemetery.
James Nicholas was the oldest son of Richard D. and Sally (Rickard) Woodcock. The source for the birth info I have posted is the familysearch.org database "New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962". He apparently preferred to be called Nicholas as that is the name he used in the records I was able to find for him. He either did not know how to count very well or he did not know when he was born as his records vary widely on his ages and approximated birth years from one record to the next.
Nicholas and his family lived in Schoharie County, New York. Nicholas married Eliza (maiden name unknown) about 1851, most likely in Schoharie County as that is also where she was born and lived. Nicholas and Eliza had four children: Franklin P., Julia E., Charlotte Harriet, and Ella J.
Nicholas was a carpenter, and also a farmer and land owner. The family lived in Wright, Schoharie County, until sometime between 1865 and 1870 when they moved to Union in Broome County.
Nicholas fought in the Civil War with the Fifty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry Company B. It was reported on 24 Sep 1862 in the New York Daily Herald that he was wounded severely in his side.
In Feb 1877 Nicholas was elected as the game constable for the town of Union. He was also employed as a carpenter and farmer. He was killed seven months later from being struck by lightning while visiting at a neighbor's home. Please read the transcript of his obituary below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Union News Friday Sep 21, 1877
An Instantaneous Death
A Fatal Flash of Lightning - One Man Killed and Another Stunned
The aphorism "In the middle of life we are in death" was truly realized on Monday in the instantaneous death of a well-known citizen of Union.
The heavy storm which visited our village on Monday afternoon, was accompanied by thunder and lightning. About four o'clock an unusual heavy clap of thunder startled our citizens, and it was a general remark that the lightning had struck somewhere in this vicinity and on inquiry it was found to be true.
About 3:30 Nicholas Woodcock left his residence near the bridge Nanticoke, and walked over to the residence of his neighbor, Levi Boynt. Mr. Boynt was putting some repairs on a gun, and Mr. Woodcock stepped into the woodhouse where the former was at work. Both men stepped to the door to gain more light in the examination of a ramrod, when a sudden flash of lightning struck the building and they were hurled to the ground, Boynt outside and Woodcock inside. Carrie, a young daughter of Levi Boynt, sat in the kitchen, and through the open door saw the men fall. She summoned her brother Willie and they picked up their father, who was unconscious. He revived in a few moments and told them to pick Woodcock up and rub him. They did so, but he was beyond the reach of human aid, having been instantly killed. His face and body were almost black, when first discovered, but the discoloration soon disappeared from his face. The fatal stroke struck him on the left side, just above the ear, and ran straight down the body to the knee, where it ran to the back of the leg.
The lightning struck the chimney of the main building, and then scattered in every direction. One branch came through the roof, tearing off the shingles for a space of ten feet, broke through the plastering of the wall and came to the first floor. A second branch ran down a corner post on the west side, splitting the post, thence following the cistern trough, and ran across the grass, burning a path to a lilac bush who's leaves it singed, and entered a bedroom window, tearing the casing to pieces, throwing a portion of it across the room. Another portion of the electric fluid ran down the kitchen roof, scattering the shingles, and entered the woodhouse, striking the two men who stood within a foot from each other.
We saw Levi Boynt the next morning. He was able to walk about, but complained of feeling lame and sore. There was a streak on his left arm and down his left side, as though burnt by fire.
Nicholas Woodcock was well known in this vicinity, having been elected Game Constable at the last election. He leaves a wife and four children, three daughters and one son. The daughters are, Mrs. George Plane, Mrs. Harley Jones, and Miss Lottie Woodcock. His only son, F. Pierce Woodcock, was absent in Schoharie County. The funeral took place from his late residence on Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. He was buried in the cemetery.
Nicholas and his family lived in Schoharie County, New York. Nicholas married Eliza (maiden name unknown) about 1851, most likely in Schoharie County as that is also where she was born and lived. Nicholas and Eliza had four children: Franklin P., Julia E., Charlotte Harriet, and Ella J.
Nicholas was a carpenter, and also a farmer and land owner. The family lived in Wright, Schoharie County, until sometime between 1865 and 1870 when they moved to Union in Broome County.
Nicholas fought in the Civil War with the Fifty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry Company B. It was reported on 24 Sep 1862 in the New York Daily Herald that he was wounded severely in his side.
In Feb 1877 Nicholas was elected as the game constable for the town of Union. He was also employed as a carpenter and farmer. He was killed seven months later from being struck by lightning while visiting at a neighbor's home. Please read the transcript of his obituary below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Union News Friday Sep 21, 1877
An Instantaneous Death
A Fatal Flash of Lightning - One Man Killed and Another Stunned
The aphorism "In the middle of life we are in death" was truly realized on Monday in the instantaneous death of a well-known citizen of Union.
The heavy storm which visited our village on Monday afternoon, was accompanied by thunder and lightning. About four o'clock an unusual heavy clap of thunder startled our citizens, and it was a general remark that the lightning had struck somewhere in this vicinity and on inquiry it was found to be true.
About 3:30 Nicholas Woodcock left his residence near the bridge Nanticoke, and walked over to the residence of his neighbor, Levi Boynt. Mr. Boynt was putting some repairs on a gun, and Mr. Woodcock stepped into the woodhouse where the former was at work. Both men stepped to the door to gain more light in the examination of a ramrod, when a sudden flash of lightning struck the building and they were hurled to the ground, Boynt outside and Woodcock inside. Carrie, a young daughter of Levi Boynt, sat in the kitchen, and through the open door saw the men fall. She summoned her brother Willie and they picked up their father, who was unconscious. He revived in a few moments and told them to pick Woodcock up and rub him. They did so, but he was beyond the reach of human aid, having been instantly killed. His face and body were almost black, when first discovered, but the discoloration soon disappeared from his face. The fatal stroke struck him on the left side, just above the ear, and ran straight down the body to the knee, where it ran to the back of the leg.
The lightning struck the chimney of the main building, and then scattered in every direction. One branch came through the roof, tearing off the shingles for a space of ten feet, broke through the plastering of the wall and came to the first floor. A second branch ran down a corner post on the west side, splitting the post, thence following the cistern trough, and ran across the grass, burning a path to a lilac bush who's leaves it singed, and entered a bedroom window, tearing the casing to pieces, throwing a portion of it across the room. Another portion of the electric fluid ran down the kitchen roof, scattering the shingles, and entered the woodhouse, striking the two men who stood within a foot from each other.
We saw Levi Boynt the next morning. He was able to walk about, but complained of feeling lame and sore. There was a streak on his left arm and down his left side, as though burnt by fire.
Nicholas Woodcock was well known in this vicinity, having been elected Game Constable at the last election. He leaves a wife and four children, three daughters and one son. The daughters are, Mrs. George Plane, Mrs. Harley Jones, and Miss Lottie Woodcock. His only son, F. Pierce Woodcock, was absent in Schoharie County. The funeral took place from his late residence on Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. He was buried in the cemetery.
