George Barry Woods (1811-1885) was born in Annaghdown, Galway on 28th Sep 1811. He died in Milton, New Zealand on 21 Oct 1885. He was the son of John Woods (bn c1785 -c1850) and Margaret Barry (Barraig) (1782 - ? after 1853). George was a farmer, listed in the Griffiths Valuation as renting land renting house, offices and land in Annaghdown and Coteenty. His mother Margaret (nee Barry) Woods is also listed in Griffiths Valuation for Coteenty.
His family: George Barry Woods had at least two known siblings, Elizabeth Woods (1828 -) and William Woods (1829 -1908). Through DNA links, it seems likely that there was another brother, John Nepton (or Nathan or Neptune) Woods (1817 - 1869). In Tuam on 9th Feb 1850, Elizabeth Woods married George Parker (bout 1828 -). George Parker was the son of Ulick Parker (1800-1835) and Catherine Grainey / Graney / Greaney. They married in Galway on 4 Nov 1821.
His wife and children: George Barry Woods married Honoria Delaney (1808 - 1886) in Annaghdown about 1836. Prior to that he was listed as running Sunday School Bible classes (Church of Ireland) for children in Annaghdown. Honoria Delaney was born about 1808 and died in Milton, New Zealand on 18 Aug 1886. Her parents were Timothy Delaney and Mary (- unknown).
George Barry Woods and Honoria Delaney had the following children, all born in Annaghdown: Mary Woods (1837 -1907), John Woods (1838 -1836), Willliam Delaney Woods (1840-1914), Margaret Woods (1843 -1931), Neptune Barry Woods (1846 -1913), Hannah (Annie) Woods (1849-1927), George Woods (1852 -1937), Winifred Woods (1853 -1928).
George Barry Woods and his wife Honoria Delaney Woods left Annaghdown and travelled to New Zealand on the "Sevilla" in 1859. All their children travelled with them. The eldest, Mary, was by then married to Thomas Walsh of Annaghdown (Also know as "Father Tom" because he had been in the Seminary when he was younger.) They all settled around Milton and Balclutha area, in southern Otago, most of them farming after being given land grants.
George's brother William Woods: in 1850 Court Records note him as being the Sexton of the Church of Ireland building that was demolished by Irish Catholics who had forcilby taken possession of his house. William Woods also immigrated to New Zealand in 1872. He had married Anne Parker (sister of the afore-mentioned George Parker) in Annaghdown in 1850 and they took their six children with them to New Zealand.
