Wade & Webb Family History

John D Goodrich1773–?

of Shrewsbury

John D. Goodrich, of Shrewsbury in Monmouth County, New Jersey, was born about 1773 and married Sarah White in 1809, the year their son Elisha Bates Goodrich was born. Almost nothing else is known of him: no record of his death has been found, and searches of early New Jersey newspapers have so far turned up nothing.

On this page
  1. Family Record
  2. Life
  3. Documents (1)
  4. Places
  5. Timeline
  6. Open questions
  7. Searches made
  8. Notes

Birth

  1. about 1773 of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey

Marriages

  1. about 1798 Sarah White, at of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey
  2. 22 Aug 1809 Sarah White, at Monmouth,New Jersey 2, 3
  3. 22 Aug 1809 Sarah White, at ,, New Jersey 2, 3

Death and burial

  1. Date unknown Death: place not recorded

Family

Parents
Not recorded
Spouse, about 1798
Sarah White 1777–?
Children
Elisha Bates Goodrich 1809–1891

Line of descent Wade line

  1. John D Goodrich
  2. Elisha Bates Goodrich, son
  3. Emma May Goodrich, daughter
  4. William Henry Wade Jr, son
  5. Frank Edward Wade, son
  6. William Albert Webb Wade, son

3rd great-grandfather of Webb Wade, from whom this history is traced. Why Webb Wade?

Life

John D. Goodrich was born about 1773, according to the FamilySearch tree, which describes him as "of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey" and cites no record for his birth.1 Inference The phrase "of Shrewsbury" records where he lived, not where he was born, and the year about 1773 is an estimate; neither has been tested against a record.1

Marriage

The New Jersey county marriage records include the marriage of John D. Goodrich and Sarah White on 22 August 1809.2 The tree enters this marriage twice, at "Monmouth, New Jersey" and at an unspecified place in New Jersey, and adds a third marriage of the same couple "about 1798" at Shrewsbury, for which no source is attached.3 Sarah White was born about 1777 in New Jersey, according to the tree.4

The tree names one child, Elisha Bates Goodrich, born in New Jersey on 27 March 1809.5 The record of Elisha's death in Brooklyn on 13 June 1891 names John D. Goodrich as his father and is attached to John as well.6 Elisha lived in New York City by 1840 and in Brooklyn from the 1850s, where he kept a store.7 Inference Elisha's recorded birth, five months before the marriage of August 1809, means that either his birth year is a little late, the couple married earlier than the record of 1809 shows, or the record of 1809 belongs to another couple of the same names; the tree's undocumented marriage "about 1798" may be an attempt to resolve this, and Elisha's census ages should be compared before any of these dates is changed.8

What is not known

No record of John D. Goodrich's death, burial or estate has been found, and the tree records none.9 Searches of the Chronicling America newspaper collection for John Goodrich, John D. Goodrich and J. D. Goodrich in New Jersey between 1788 and 1854 found nothing about him; that collection has very little New Jersey coverage before 1855, so the absence is one of coverage rather than evidence.10 Two John Goodriches on Find a Grave, of about the right age, are buried at Albany, New York, and at Kensington, Connecticut, and neither has any recorded connection with Shrewsbury.10 The wills and administrations of Monmouth County and the registers of the churches at Shrewsbury are the places still to search.11

Documents

  1. 1932 Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, vol. 5, "White of New Jersey": Joseph White of Shrewsbury and his daughter Sarah, wife of John D. Goodrich John E. Stillwell, comp., Historical and Genealogical Miscellany: Data Relating to the Settlement and Settlers of New York and New Jersey, vol. 5 (New York) · book

Places

  1. 1773–1798of Shrewsbury

Timeline

  1. about 1773Birthof Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey
  2. about 1798Marriage, Sarah Whiteof Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey
  3. 22 Aug 1809Marriage, Sarah WhiteMonmouth,New Jersey
  4. 22 Aug 1809Marriage, Sarah White,, New Jersey

Open questions

  • Death date and place unknown. "Of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey" and born about 1773; no death, burial or wife's death. Monmouth County wills and administrations (New Jersey State Archives), the Christ Church Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury Presbyterian registers, and the 1830–1850 censuses for Shrewsbury township would date him; the two Find a Grave candidates (Albany, N.Y.; Kensington, Conn.) have no Shrewsbury connection and are judged not likely.

  • Chronicling America's Monmouth County coverage starts only in 1855 (Monmouth Weekly Herald), so it can at best carry an estate notice if he died after then.

  • Of New York, 1811. He and Sarah sold her one-sixth share of her father Joseph White's Shrewsbury homestead on 1 July 1811, when he was "of New York" (1932). Read the deed (Monmouth County deeds, recorded 24 December 1821) and look for him in New York City directories and the 1820 census.

  • War of 1812 pension file, Capt. John Minier's company (2026-11-09). NARA has a pension file for a John Goodrich who served in Capt. John Minier's company, New York (catalog 186500730); its catalogue entry gives no widow. If the widow is Sarah, or the file places him at Shrewsbury or New York City, it is him, and it would date his death. The War of 1812 pension files are free on Fold3.

Searches made

  1. 2026-11-08Find a Grave search: John Goodrich, b. 1773 ±3, d. ? ±3: 2 resultsbest: [John Goodrich (13 Dec 1774 – 27 Feb 1844), Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, Albany County, New York](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59305264/john-goodrich); score 5 (medium, before review)
  2. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "John Goodrich", New Jersey, 1808–1810no matches
  3. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "John Goodrich", New Jersey, 1788–1854no matches
  4. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "John D Goodrich", New Jersey, 1788–1854no matches
  5. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "J D Goodrich", New Jersey, 1788–18543 pages; first: [Elizabeth-Town gazette (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.), 1819-10-26, p. 1](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85025061/1819-10-26/ed-1/?sp=1); [Elizabeth-Town gazette (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.), 1819-09-14, p. 1](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85025061/1819-09-14/ed-1/?sp=1); [Elizabeth-Town gazette (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.), 1819-11-02, p. 2](https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85025061/1819-11-02/ed-1/?sp=2)
  6. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: all of: Goodrich of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, 1788–1854no matches
  7. 2026-11-08Assessment: Chronicling America: "John Goodrich" / "John D Goodrich", New Jersey, 1788–1854 (and 1808–1810)No matches. Chronicling America has very little New Jersey coverage before 1855 (the Monmouth papers start in 1855), so these are absences of coverage, not evidence of absence.
  8. 2026-11-08Assessment: Chronicling America: "J D Goodrich", New Jersey, 1788–18543 pages, all read, none is this person. loc.gov dropped the initials and matched "Goodrich" alone: Elizabeth-Town Gazette 1819-09-14 p. 1 ("A. T. Goodrich & Co.", New York publishers, in a reprinted article), 1819-10-26 p. 1 and 1819-11-02 p. 2 ("Goodrich's Library", Broadway, New York, in reprinted New York pieces). These are Andrew T. Goodrich, bookseller of New York, not John D. Goodrich of Shrewsbury.
  9. 2026-11-08Assessment: Find a Grave search: John Goodrich, b. 1773 ±3, d. ? ±3 (candidate lines only; Find a Grave not contacted)Neither likely. 59305264 John Goodrich (13 Dec 1774–27 Feb 1844), Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York: no Monmouth County connection, no "D." and no Sarah; not likely. 21544695 John Goodrich (19 May 1776–6 May 1858), Christian Lane Cemetery, Kensington, Hartford Co., Connecticut: Goodrich is a Connecticut (Wethersfield) family, so a Connecticut origin for the Shrewsbury Goodriches is plausible in general, but this man lived and died in Kensington, not Shrewsbury; not likely. John D. Goodrich needs a death date and place from New Jersey sources first (Monmouth County wills and administrations, Christ Church Shrewsbury and Presbyterian records).
  10. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: "John D Goodrich", 1788–1880 (follow-up, no state)1,123 pages; first 20 reviewed, none is this person. Hits 1–3 and 12 are "JOHN D. GOODRICH, Clerk" of the Randolph Circuit Court, Winchester, Indiana, in legal notices of 1862–1863 (a different man: ours would have been about 90); the rest are Indiana, Minnesota and Massachusetts pages with no Goodrich in the snippet. Hits 21–1,123 not reviewed. Without a state the phrase is swamped by other John Goodriches.
  11. 2026-11-08Chronicling America: all of: Goodrich Shrewsbury, New Jersey, 1855–1880 (follow-up)27 pages, all Monmouth Inquirer (Freehold) 1866–1876; three read and the rest judged from snippets: the Goodrich is the "Early Goodrich" potato variety in farm advertisements and agricultural-society reports (1867-05-09 p. 3, 1869-01-28 p. 2) and, once, "Dr O Goodrich, post mortem examination" in the Monmouth County freeholders' accounts (1866-06-14 p. 1). None concerns John D. Goodrich. A Dr. O. Goodrich practising in Monmouth County in 1866 is a possible relative (FAN lead, not pursued).
  12. 2026-11-09Internet Archive: "John Goodrich", New Jersey5387 pages; first: [The C4 Newsletter: Spring 2017, 2017, p. ](https://archive.org/details/c4newsletterspri25n1colo?q=%22John%20Goodrich%22); [The Colonial Newsletter, no.164, 2017, p. ](https://archive.org/details/colonialnewslett57n2colo?q=%22John%20Goodrich%22); [History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven, 1907, p. ](https://archive.org/details/cu31924029458597?q=%22John%20Goodrich%22)
  13. 2026-11-09Internet Archive assessment: "John Goodrich", New Jersey (5,387 pages)First 20 reviewed: John Goodrich of New Haven, partner in the Connecticut copper coinage of 1785-88 (numismatic newsletters), and the John Goodriches of Christ Church, Wethersfield; Connecticut namesakes. Not him.
  14. 2026-11-09Internet Archive assessment: Stillwell, *Historical and Genealogical Miscellany*, vol. 5 (found under KHL6-ZJR "Sarah White", New Jersey)MATCH (high): "1811, July 1. John D. Goodrich, of New York, and Sarah, his wife, convey their one-sixth interest" in Joseph White's homestead at Shrewsbury; "138 Sarah White married, Aug. 22, 1809, John D. Goodrich." New: he was of New York by July 1811. Record [1932](../documents/1932-stillwell-miscellany-white-of-new-jersey-goodrich.md).
  15. 2026-11-09Internet Archive hits assessed: 1 search (+ the Sarah White hit)1 match (Stillwell, high); record written.
  16. 2026-11-09DPLA: "John Goodrich"52 pages; first: [John Goodrich (Minnesota Historical Society), 1863-01-01T00:00:00, p. ](https://www.mnhs.org/search/collections/record/0e8040a5-0ac1-4517-acf2-59829b405e0e); [John Goodrich (Minnesota Historical Society), 1863-01-01T00:00:00, p. ](https://www.mnhs.org/search/collections/record/11da2d72-96dd-4540-9f11-7315e760a5ec); [John Goodrich Clark, 1867-1927 (Wellcome Library), 1927-01-01T00:00:00Z, p. ](http://www.archive.org/details/b30626250)
  17. 2026-11-09DPLA assessment: "John Goodrich" (52 hits; 10 cached)Mostly namesakes (Minnesota 1863 and 1941, John Goodrich Clark). Two War of 1812 pension files (NARA): "Case File of John Goodrich -- Capt Spragues Co NY Mil -- New York" (catalog 186500750), whose widow was Leva Goodrich, née Hopkins: not him (his wife was Sarah White). "Case File of John Goodrich -- Capt John Minier -- New York" ([catalog 186500730](http://catalog.archives.gov/id/186500730)): the description names no widow or place. POSSIBLE (low): he was "of New York" in July 1811 (the 1932 Stillwell record), but nothing else ties him to Captain John Minier's company. The NARA page did not load for us.
  18. 2026-11-09DPLA assessment: 1 searchNo match. One possible (the Minier-company pension file).

Notes

  1. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile KZV4-78J: birth about 1773, of Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, USA, no source attached back to the text
  2. "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956", FamilySearch, John D Goodrich and Sarah White, 22 Aug 1809. Record: John D Goodrich and Sarah White, New Jersey County Marriages, 22 Aug 1809 "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956", FamilySearch, John D Goodrich and Sarah White, 22 Aug 1809. Record: Sarah White, 22 Aug 1809 back to the text
  3. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile KZV4-78J: marriage events: about 1798, of Shrewsbury; 22 Aug 1809, Monmouth, New Jersey; 22 Aug 1809, New Jersey back to the text
  4. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile KHL6-ZJR (their page): Sarah White, birth about 1777, New Jersey back to the text
  5. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LVPF-7HF (their page): Elisha Bates Goodrich, birth 27 Mar 1809, New Jersey, parents John D Goodrich and Sarah White back to the text
  6. "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch, <Unknown> in entry for Elisha B Goodrich, 13 Jun 1891. Record: in entry for Elisha B Goodrich, New York City Municipal Deaths, 13 Jun 1891 "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch, Elisha B Goodrich, 13 Jun 1891. Record: Elisha B Goodrich, 13 Jun 1891 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LVPF-7HF (their page): death 13 Jun 1891, Brooklyn back to the text
  7. "United States, Census, 1840", FamilySearch, Elisha B Goodrich, 1840. Record: Elisha B Goodrich, New York City, 1840 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LVPF-7HF (their page): residence 1855–1880, Brooklyn 1900-04-28-goodrich-john-o: store opened 1857 at Stagg street and Union avenue, E. B. Goodrich & Son back to the text
  8. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile LVPF-7HF (their page): birth 27 Mar 1809 "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956", FamilySearch, John D Goodrich and Sarah White, 22 Aug 1809. Record: 22 Aug 1809 FamilySearch Family Tree, profile KZV4-78J: marriage about 1798, no source attached back to the text
  9. FamilySearch Family Tree, profile KZV4-78J: death: no date or place Research log, searches made: death date and place unknown back to the text
  10. Research log, searches made: Chronicling America, New Jersey, 1788–1854: no matches; little New Jersey coverage before 1855; Find a Grave candidates at Albany and Kensington judged not likely back to the text
  11. Research log, searches made: Monmouth County wills and administrations, Christ Church Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury Presbyterian registers back to the text
Every FamilySearch record attached to John D Goodrich (2)
  1. 22 Aug 1809John D Goodrich, "New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956"
  2. 13 Jun 1891<Unknown>, "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949"