Chauncey Woodford

Chauncey Woodford
Born1783
DiedAugust 24, 1841
Resting placeBailey Cemetery, Portland, Maine, U.S.
OccupationMerchant
SpouseLucy Stevens (1799–1841; his death)

Chauncey Woodford (1783 – August 25, 1841) was a merchant and an early settler of Deering, Maine. Portland's Woodfords Corner is now named for him and his brothers, Ebenezer and Isaiah.[1][2][3]

Early life

A postcard, dated between 1930 and 1945, showing a northwestern view of Woodfords Corner, with Forest Avenue being crossed by Woodford Avenue

Woodford grew up in Connecticut. He was one of three known sons in his family, and his two brothers soon followed him to Maine.[4][5] He was a maker of horn combs, and sold his product in large quantities to customers in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.[6]

Aged around sixteen, Woodford settled in what is Deering (now Portland), Maine, at the intersection of what is now Woodford Street and Forest Avenue. The corner developed as part of a major route from the Portland peninsula inland to the northwest.[4] It is at the convergence of four neighborhoods: Back Cove, Oakdale, Deering Center and Rosemont.[7] Forest Avenue is part of U.S. Route 302 today.

Personal life

On November 28, 1799, Woodford married Lucy Stevens.[8]

Death

Woodford died in 1841, aged 57 or 58. He was interred in Portland's Bailey Cemetery. His wife survived him by thirteen years, and was buried beside him.

References

  1. ^ The Origins of the Street Names of the City of Portland, Maine as of 1995 – Norm and Althea Green, Portland Public Library (1995)
  2. ^ Court, Maine Supreme Judicial (1917). Maine Reports: Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine. Daily Kennebec journal.
  3. ^ no.1, Freemasons Portland, Me Portland Lodge (1881). History of Portland Lodge, No.1: Free and Accepted Masons, Portland, Maine, from Its Organization (1769) to 1880. Lodge.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "History". Friends of Woodfords Corner. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  5. ^ Forest Avenue and Stevens Avenue Portland, Maine: Historic Context – Sutherland Conservation & Consulting, August 2015, p. 7
  6. ^ "Chauncey Woodford maine - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  7. ^ Hall, Alexandra. "At the heart of Woodfords Corner's revival is this: 'You don't get very many opportunities in life to do what you really believe in' - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  8. ^ Watson, Stephen Marion (1887). The Maine Historical and Genealogical Recorder. S.M. Watson.