Georgia honored Pa. transplant and York Town delegate Joseph Wood. Joseph who?
‘Continental Congress Courageous’ provides sketches of the delegates who met in York and adopted the Articles of Confederation in 1777-78. The illustrated book provides a handy digest of information about Joseph Wood, one of the most obscure Continental Congress reps who met in York, Pa., then York Town. Also of interest: Events in 1777 helped tip Revolution toward patriots and Articles of Confederation’s 230th birthday celebrated and All American Revolution posts from the start.
An e-mailer queried about Joseph Wood, a delegate to Continental Congress in 1777-78 in York Town.
“Do you have any recommendations as to where I might source some of his letters or other material regarding him,” he asked about the Pennsylvanian who represented Georgia in the York Town Congress.
His interest in such an unknown congressional delegate?
Wood is an ancestor.
I went immediately to “Continental Congress Courageous” to seek immediate information about Wood.
Much information incorporated into this helpful book came from the late Judge John Rauhauser. He took family vacations to key sites and burial plots of the 64 Continental Congress delegates who met here for nine months during the American Revolution. Those excursions have left a rich repository of information – and illustrations, wherever possible – about the delegates.
He are some facts from “Courageous” and my “Nine Months in York Town:”
Joseph Wood was a Pennsylvanian and, at some point, served as an officer in the Second Pennsylvania Battalion.
He arrived in Georgia about 1774 and was immediately accepted. He was elected to Continental Congress twice, but his timing in York was a bit off.
He arrived here two days after Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation and left Congress about 45 days before treaties with France reached here for ratification. The Articles and treaties were key measures to bring France on board as an American ally against the British.
After the war, he lived out his years in Georgia.
According to “Courageous:”
“It would appear that his roots flourished as well in the red clay of Georgia as in the limestone soil of Pennsylvania. On his death in 1791, Georgia bestowed upon him every honor that would have been accorded a native son.”
One other fact about Wood is interesting.
At age 65, he was the oldest delegate of the 64 in York. York’s own 64-year-old James Smith was tied for second as a runner-up in the age category.
Also of interest:
– For a complete Web section on the Continental Congress in York, visit: Nine Months in York Town.
– For interesting facts about the 64 delegates who came to York, visit: Who were those congressional delegates anyway?
