New Hampshire Suffragist, Lecturer, Clubwoman, Civic Leader: Susan Cushing (Wood) Bancroft of Concord (1861-1948)

Photograph of Susan Cushing Wood Bancroft from One Thousand New Hampshire Notables, by Henry H. Metcalf & ed. F. M. Abbott, 1919

Susan Cushing (Wood) Bancroft was b 15 March 1861 in Milford MA, daughter of Bartholomew & Jennette (Burke) Wood.  She died 19 April 1948 in Concord NH. She is buried in Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord NH.

Susan married on 6 Aug 1884 in Newton Center MA to Charles Parker Bancroft, son of J.P. & Elizabeth (Spear) Bancroft. He was born 11 Jan 1852 in St. Johnsbury VT and died  14 Dec 1923 in Hanover CT. He was an allopathic physician practicing in Concord NH in 1878, licensed in 1897. Dr. Bancroft had privileges at Boston (MA) City Hospital, and the New Hampshire State Hospital for the insane. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in Boston in 1878.

Photograph of Mrs. Susan Bancroft from the Boston Journal of 25 October 1900.

Susan Cushing Wood Bancroft’s biography from the book, “One Thousand New Hampshire Notables,” [by Henry H. Metcalf & ed. Frances M. Abbott, 1919]  is quite extensive and demonstrates her keen interest not only in suffrage, but women’s issues, and that of children and the under-served.   “Bancroft, Susan Cushing Wood. (Mrs. Charles P. Bancroft); club woman and social worker; b., Milford Mass., March 15, 1861; daughter of  Bartholomew and Jennette (Burke) Wood; ed. schools of Newton, Mass., High school, 1878; taught in private school, Philadelphia and public schools of Massachusetts five years; m. Newton Center, Mass., Aug 6, 1884, Dr. Charles P. Bancroft of Concord NH; member, South Congregational Church, Concord Woman’s Club (president 1895-7) N.H. Federation of Woman’s Clubs (serving on several standing committees, president 1899-1901); treasurer, N.H. State Conference of Charities and Corrections, 1901–; trustee of the N.H. School for the Feeble-Minded, 1900-13; member, Concord Board of Education 1899-1098; Director, N.H. Children’s Aid and Protective Soc., 1913–; trustee, N.H. Memorial Hospital for Women and Children (secretary 1912–); member Concord

Dr. Charles Parker Bancroft, from One Thousand New Hampshire Notables.

Female Charitable Soc. (president, 1899-1902), Woman’s Committee, Council of National Defense, N.H. Division; member, executive committee, N.H. Branch National Civic Federation, Soc. for Preservation of N.H. Forests, Stratford (Shakespeare) Club (president, 1917 –), Country Club, Friendly Club, District Nursing Ass’n ,Charity Organization Soc. Mayflower Club and Woman’s E. and I. Union (Boston); executive committee, N.H. Equal Suffrage Ass’n, Concord Equal Suffrage League (president, 1916 –); has frequently spoken before clubs on charitable, educational and suffrage work; children: Charles Parker, b. May 28, 1886, d. Sept 28, 1887; Jennette, b. Sept 22, 1888, A.B. Vassar College 1911, m. Asa Shiverick of Cleveland Ohio Feb 22, 1913, children Jane and Asa Jr.; Elizabeth b May 17, 1891, A.B. Smith College 1914, m. John R. McLane of Manchester N.H. June 12, 1914, son John R. Jr.; Miriam b April 24, 1894 Abbott Academy, Andover Mass 1914, nurse in training Peter Bent Brigham Hospital 1917. Residence Concord NH and Pasquaney Lodge, Newfound Lake NH.

Photograph of Mr. & Mrs. Charles P. Bancroft from their 1923 passport.

=====PARTIAL GENEALOGY of Susan Cushing (Wood) Bancroft=====

Bartholomew Wood Sr.

Bartholomew Wood Jr. born abt 1780 in Naples, Italy,  died 1818 at sea. He lived in Newburyport MA and later in Georgetown, DC (his probate was dated 28 Sep 1819 to appoint guardianship of a minor).  He married 21 May 1812 in Newportport MA to Ann Titcomb Todd. She was born in Newburyport MA, and died in September of 1818 [Newspaper, Boston Daily advertiser of 16 Sep 1818: “In Georgetown, (Col.) Mrs. Ann, widow of the late Mr. Bartholomew Wood, formerly of Newburyport.”] He was believed to have been shipwrecked about February 1818 on the ship “Margaret” based on the Columbia Museum (Savannah GA) newspaper describing a wreck of a ship found near cape Charles, some papers mentioning Capt Wood of Georgetown who was expected there from Havana, Cuba.  He was a ship-master of several sailing ships.
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Book: Old Georgetown (D of C) by Hugh Thomas Taggart.
“Margaret,” built in 1816; owners, William McKenney, WIlliam G. Ridgeley, Gustavus Harrison and Raphael Jones; burden 78 75/95 tons; Bartholomew Wood, master. This vessel was lost with all on board on a return trip from the West Indies.
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Children of Bartholomew & Ann (Todd) Wood:
1. +Bartholomew Wood b 1814 Newburyport MA
2. Elizabeth Wood she d. 5 Sep 1895, age 80y 7m 25 days in Newburyport MA. She m. 3 Oct 1839 in Newburyport MA to Stephen P. Bray. He was a ship master. They had at least 3 children: Stephen P., George L, and Fanny G. (Fanny G. married in 1896 to Frank S. LeBosquet and is mentioned in her Uncle William’s will).
3. William Thomas Wood, b Aug 1818 Washington (prob Georgetown) D.C., died 5 Jan 1907 San Francisco California. In 1880 the Census shows him “a miner” living in Colfax, Placer Co. California, single.

Bartholomew Wood, son of Bartholomew & Ann (Todd) Wood, b 8 Nov 1813 Newburyport MA; d 27 Nov 1888 Newton MA; He m1st) 22 Oct 1844 in Lynn MA, Sarah Burke, daughter of Solomon Wait & Mary (Craige) Burke. She b. 10 Sep 1814 in Woodstock, VT and died 1 June 1852 in Newton MA. He m2d) 3 Nov 1853 in Newburyport MA to Jennette Pink Burke, dau of George Solomon Wait & Mary (Craige) Burke, sister to his 1st wife. She was b 1 mMarch 1819 in VT, and, d 20 July 1902 in Newton MA. Buried Newton Cemetery, Newton, Middlesex Co. MA. Gentleman. In 1836 he is listed as a student in Leicester Academy, Newburyport MA. In 1840 he was at Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, graduating in 1841.  [SEE Burke Genealogy].
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The Dartmouth literary magazine
’41 Mr. Bartholomew Wood, who died recently in Newton Centre, Mass, was a resident of that place. Leaving Phillips Andover Academy in his preparatory days on account of the intolerance of the pro-slavery faculty, he was an early Abolitionist and an original member of the Free-Soil party. He taught in the Lynn grammar school, in a boarding school at Newton Center and in the Adams school of Boston. He was a long time editor of the Milford Journal, and was appointed by Lincoln an inspector in the Boston Custom House.
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1870 US Census > MA > Middlesex > Newton
Bartholomew Wood 57
Jennette B Wood 51
William B Wood 23
Maria F Wood 15
Susan C Wood 9
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Children of Bartholomew & Sarah (Burke) Wood:
1. William Burke Wood, b. 10 May 1847 in Newton MA, died 1 Dec 1941. Buried Newton Cemetery, Newton MA; He m. 23 June 1881 in Newton MA to Amelia A. Pott, daughter of John L. & Rebecca M. (?) Pott. She b in 1849 PA, died 31 Jan 1932.
2. Sarah/Mary Elisabeth Wood b 2 June 1849 Newton Center MA, died 4 Oct 1855 aged 6y 4m 2 days
3. Sarah Janette Wood b 23 May 1852 Newton MA
Children of Bartholomew & Jennette (Burke) Wood
4. Maria Furber Wood, b 3 March 1855 Newton MA. In 1900 single a teacher, living with her 81 yr old mother in Newton MA. In 1920 aged 64 living still with boarders in Newton MA.
5. Allen Titcomb Wood b 6 July 1857 Milford MA, died 31 July 1863 aged 6y 25 days, He was killed by laudanum put up by an apothecary for tincture of rhubarb.
6. +Susan Cushing Wood, b 15 March 1861 at Milford MA. This story is about her. See photographs and biography at top of page.