Samuel Woodworth
Encyclopedia
Samuel Woodworth was an American author, literary journalist, playwright, librettist, and poet.
to Revolutionary War veteran Benjamin Woodworth and his wife Abigail Bryant. He was apprenticed to Benjamin Russell
, editor of the Columbian Sentinel. He then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
, where he briefly published the Belles-Lettres Repository, a weekly. He next moved to New York City
, but recalled New Haven in his A Poem: New Haven.
Woodworth's son, Selim E. Woodworth
, was a U.S. Navy officer who took part in the rescue of the snowbound Donner Party
in California. The USS Woodworth (DD-460)
was named for him.
In 1826 the poem was set to music by George F Kiallmark (1804–1887) and has been sung by generations of American schoolchildren. It was recorded in 1899 by The Haydn Quartet
, the most famous barbershop quartet of the time, and was released on Berliner Gramophone
.
is on the National Register of Historic Places
. A sign on the house reads: 1630-1930 THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET Homestead and well made famous by Samuel Woodworth in his poem "The Old Oaken Bucket." Homestead erected by John Northey in 1675: Poet born in Scituate January 13, 1784. Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission.
trophy has been awarded every year since 1925 to the winner of the Big Ten Conference
college football
game between Purdue University
and Indiana University
. Although Woodworth was not from Indiana, the trophy's name refers to the sentiment that Hoosier
s have for their home state.
History
Woodworth was born in Scituate, MassachusettsScituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
to Revolutionary War veteran Benjamin Woodworth and his wife Abigail Bryant. He was apprenticed to Benjamin Russell
Benjamin Russell (journalist)
Benjamin Russell was an American journalist, born in Boston.-Early life:Benjamin Russell was born on 13 September 1761, son of John Russell, a stonemason...
, editor of the Columbian Sentinel. He then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, where he briefly published the Belles-Lettres Repository, a weekly. He next moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but recalled New Haven in his A Poem: New Haven.
Personal life
Woodworth married Lydia Reeder in New York City on September 23, 1810. They had ten children between 1811 and 1829. Woodworth remained in New York for the rest of his life, dying there in 1842 at the age of 56.Woodworth's son, Selim E. Woodworth
Selim E. Woodworth
Selim E. Woodworth was a commander in the United States Navy, prominent San Francisco businessman, and member of the Woodworth political family.-Early years:...
, was a U.S. Navy officer who took part in the rescue of the snowbound Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
in California. The USS Woodworth (DD-460)
USS Woodworth (DD-460)
USS Woodworth was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Commander Selim E. Woodworth....
was named for him.
The Old Oaken Bucket
Woodworth is best known for the poem The Old Oaken Bucket, which has been described as one of the most beautiful works in the English Language. The first stanza reads:- How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,
- When fond recollection presents them to view!
- The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wild-wood,
- And every loved spot which my infancy knew!
- The wide-spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it,
- The bridge, and the rock where the cataract fell,
- The cot of my father, the dairy-house nigh it,
- And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well-
- The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket,
- The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well.
In 1826 the poem was set to music by George F Kiallmark (1804–1887) and has been sung by generations of American schoolchildren. It was recorded in 1899 by The Haydn Quartet
The Haydn Quartet
The Haydn Quartet was one of the most popular recording close harmony quartets in the early twentieth century.Originally Samuel Holland Rous formed a vocal quartet in 1896 to record for Edison’s studios...
, the most famous barbershop quartet of the time, and was released on Berliner Gramophone
Berliner Gramophone
Berliner Gramophone was an early record label, the first company to produce disc "gramophone records" .-History:...
.
The Old Oaken Bucket House
The Old Oaken Bucket House in Scituate, MassachusettsScituate, Massachusetts
Scituate is a seacoast town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on the South Shore, midway between Boston and Plymouth. The population was 18,133 at the 2010 census....
is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. A sign on the house reads: 1630-1930 THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET Homestead and well made famous by Samuel Woodworth in his poem "The Old Oaken Bucket." Homestead erected by John Northey in 1675: Poet born in Scituate January 13, 1784. Massachusetts Bay Colony Tercentenary Commission.
The Old Oaken Bucket trophy
The Old Oaken BucketOld Oaken Bucket
The Old Oaken Bucket is the name of the trophy that is annually awarded to the winner of the Big Ten Conference college football game between Indiana University and Purdue University. It is one of the oldest football trophies in the nation...
trophy has been awarded every year since 1925 to the winner of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game between Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
. Although Woodworth was not from Indiana, the trophy's name refers to the sentiment that Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
s have for their home state.
Published poetry
- The Hunters of KentuckyThe Hunters of KentuckyThe Hunters of Kentucky, also called The Battle of New Orleans and Half Horse or Half Alligator, was a song written in 1821 to commemorate Andrew Jackson's victory over the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
- The Heroes of the lake : a poem, in two books
- An excursion of the dog-cart : a poem
- Bubble & squeak, or, A dish of all sorts : being a collection of American poems
- New-Haven : a poem, satirical and sentimental, with critical, humorous, descriptive, historical, biographical, and explanatory notes
- The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth
- Quarter-day, or, The horrors of the first of May : a poem
- Erie and Champlain, or, Champlain and Plattsburg : an ode
Plays
- La Fayette, or, The Castle of Olmutz
- King’s Bridge Cottage : a revolutionary tale founded on an incident which occurred a few days previous to the evacuation of N. York by the British : a drama in two acts
- The widow’s son, or, Which is the traitor : a melo-drama in three acts
- Bunker-Hill, or, The death of General Warren : an historic tragedy, in five acts
Opera librettos
- The deed of gift : a comic opera in three acts
- The forest rose, or, American farmers : a drama in two acts
Novel
- The Champions of Freedom; or, The Mysterious Chief. A Romance of the Nineteenth Century, Founded on the War between the United States and Great Britain.
Hymn
- Samuel was a founding member of the New York Society of the New Church (SwedenborgianSwedenborgianA Swedenborgian is the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of the Church of the New Jerusalem, and is an adjective describing a person or an organization that understands the Bible through the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg....
) and one of his poems became a hymn - "Oh for a seraph's golden lyre" - which is still sung by some New Church congregations.