WOOD, THOMAS W. (1801-1880)

WOOD, THOMAS W., non-resident school inspector; b. Westmorland parish, Westmorland Co., N.B., 1801, s/o Valentine Wood, a native of Yorkshire, England, and h/w Rebecca; m. 1831, in Halifax, Elizabeth Morris, of that city; d. Wilbraham, Mass., 8 Aug 1880.

Thomas W. Wood was educated in local schools and studied at the Halifax Academy under the Rev. John Thomas Twining. He began teaching in 1820 and remained in the educational field until 1879. For many years he was in charge of the Kent County Grammar School at Richibucto. When the Wesleyan Academy opened at Sackville in 1843 he was co-opted as English master. For teaching colleagues he had Joseph R. Hea and the Rev. Humphrey Pickard, who was also president. In 1849 he was registered as a non-resident student of King's College, Fredericton, but he left that year without taking a degree.

Wood's connection with the Miramichi dated from 1860, when he was appointed inspector of schools for the four northeastern counties of the province, as successor to John Bennet. Bennet had been the inspector for only about two years and was then named chief superintendent of schools. Wood remained in the job until 1866, when he was transferred to Kings, Albert, and Westmorland counties. From 1872 onward he was the inspector for Kent County only.

Wood was an unbureaucratic school inspector who became personally involved in questions concerning buildings, curriculum, and staffing, and was not afraid to speak his mind. He commanded respect because of his own excellent teaching record. He and his wife, Elizabeth Morris, were members of the Methodist church, and at least two of their daughters married ministers. His wife died in 1878, and he moved to Massachusetts in the fall of 1879 to make his home with one of his daughters.