vital records sources
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The first three images are of Thomas's signature. He consistently spelled his last name "Woodberey," although there are small style fluctuations. This was typical of the time. The second two show lack of space to avoid the seal.
The third may appear to be "Woodbery," but it's very likely he started his second "e" and then had to compress the "y." The fourth is one of his son
Thomas's probate documents written by Thomas, Sr., and has 3 instances of him spelling the name "Woodberey," showing he was very literate and committed
to that spelling, which is why I choose to refer to him as such. Otherwise, this surname at the time was usually spelled "Woodbery" (see explanation at the end of the biography). He only put a mark ("TW") on his will, surely because, in his words, he was"very infirm through age."

bio in progress

Thomas and Elizabeth were married by Justice John Hathorne several years before he served as judge at the Salem witchcraft trials. Thomas is described as a mariner in at least one deed,1 but had retired to farming by the time he died.2

In Janeway's Remarkable Sea Deliverances, he mentions an incident involving Thomas.

A Remarkable Providence of God in wonderfully preserving of Eleaven or Thirteen poor distressed mens lives.

In the year [16]68. a Ketch Sailed from Salom in New-England for the Barbadoes; and when they came into the Latitude of 35 [off the coast of North Carolina]. it began to look like foul weather, so they took in their Top-sail, and because it was towards night, they struck down the Main sail, and Rafed it; and all this time there was but a little wind (which was remarkable, if the ensuing story be observed) but still it looked like bad weather; so they sent up one to Tallow the Mast, and made no great hast to set Sayl; the man at the Top thinks he sees some black thing float upon the Sea, and looking upon it very fixtly, he conceives it to be a Boat, and so calls to the men below, so they hasten'd to hoise Sayl and make towards it; and when they came to them, there was a Long-boat with a 11 or 13 men, (my Author could not absolutely remember the just number) which poor distressed Creatures, had been bound for Virginia; and the ship in which they were, proved very Leaky, and so exceedingly encreased, that in a very little time, she was ready to sink; so all hands hastened to get out the boat, but the Master stept into the Cabbin to fetch a Compass, and took some Canvas, a Sayl-needle & twine which he thought might be useful to them in their Need and Extremity; but while this poor industrious man was endeavouring to be useful to some other mens lives, he was in danger to lose his own; for the boat was put off, and the ship sinking, so he crys to them in this distress, if they would leave him, and let him there Perish; so they came back, and took him in; they had in their boat a Capstone-bar, which they made use of for a Mast, and the piece of Canvas for a Sayl, and so Sayled afore the wind, and had no kind of Food; and now comes dreadful and inexpressible distress upon them, making them wish for death it self to give them a deliverance, now all hopes of Relief failed them; thus they continued five days, some grew Lame, others Feeble, and all much disheartened by despair of Life; and now upon the 6th. day, they had concluded to cast Lotts for their lives, who should dye to preserve others; and they put their Resolution into Execution, and that poor Creature, upon whom the Lott fell, begs for time;...before night, they espyed this Ketch, which raised them all to Admiration; but they had fears in this distress, that the Ketch did not see them; but when they perceived the Ketch made to them, O what a new life did it put into these dying men; so they all got safe Aboard:...In one hour after there arose a most dreadful Storm which continued for forty hours, and all of them safely Arrived at Barbadoes. The Masters name of the Ketch was Thomas Woodberry of Salom. This the Author had from a very known person for Integrity and Godliness, now living at Salom.1

     In 13 January 1671/72 Thomas and George Stanley were brought to court of breach of peace. No details are given in the court abstracts. (5:362) In July of 1673, a warrant for Thomas's arrest was issued for reasons not said. Nicholas Manning family's made an accusation, and abstracts of depositions suggest he was behaving inappropriately. Despite this, the case seems to based more on the behavior of Hannah Gray, one of the Woodberey's tenants. There's no record of Gray being summoned to court or testifying. Mary Thorndike said she lived with the Woodbereys for about 6 months and "never say any evil, lsacivious or wanton behavior by him in all her life, neither did she hear him use any "vaine or frothey speeches." Peter Wolfe said he had "never seen him making hay with Hannah Gray, but his children used to make hay there daily." Elizabeth Fowler said she had nursed Thomas's wife about two years earlier. She said Hannah "was a lying girl, and several times in the night when deponent waked, she missed her and heard her laughing and giggling at the boys' bed which was in the same room." She had known Thomas "a great while and while his wife was sick did not require the girl to get any victuals for him." 5:289-291 Mary "Sollas" (Sallows) said that in the Summer of 1673, "as she came near Thomas Woodbery's house, she heard Hana Gray laughing, and go in quick without knocking, the door being open, she being a neighbor, saw said Hana and Andrew Davis together." She told of "many other occasions when said Hana was guilty of lascivious carriages, and deponent;s brother Robert told her how Hana would entioce the 'scoller boys,' and that she was guilty of baudly language and acts among the boys and girls." Freeborn Black said that "she was so rude to his children in abusing and b eating them, and when he spoke to her about it, she would mock him to his face. As for his neighbor Thomas Woodbery, hehad lived by him thirty-five eyars and had never seen any uncivil carriage in his childhood or later years." Hannah was certainly on trial in some way, because she was "ordered to stand at the meeting houses in Salem and Beverly upon a lecture day, with a paper on her head on which was written in capital letters, I STAND HEERE FOR MY LACIVIOUS & WANTON CARIAGES" or be whipped. Hannah was the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Gray and was about 14 at the time. After Robert died, Elizabeth married Nicholas Manning, which explains that connection. The accusation must have originated with Hannah and brought to court by her mother and stepfather.

March 1672, fenceviewer 1895 (409)
constable 1674 (5:436) March 1674 town meeting missing
4 Nov 1676, was among the men who agreed to provide firewood for Rev. Hale, 5 cords. (1897 349) committe to meet with representatives of Wenham and lay out 600 acres according to an agreement, October 1680, by 10 April 1681. Ibid, 397

     He was on a committee to find out how much money Rev. Hale had spent on his house, appointed 2 December 1689. 1898, 399. There were many mariners among the Woodbery men in Essex County. Thomas and his cousin Hugh, based on their experience, helped assess the value of a ketch owned by Mark Hascoll. When Mark died it was at sea, and the Woodbery's viewed it and also assessed the cargo in March 1689 after it returned. 4:128

     On 28 March 1690, the town recorded a list of men who contributed money on loan for the town to bye guns and ammunition for its protection. There are only sixteen men named. The amounts range from 10 shillings to £8. Thomas gave £3. 406 He was one of nine Beverly men who contributed a shilling to help the family of Lawrence Dennis, "God's hand beinge uppon ye wife & children in ye noisome dessease of ye smale pox." 28 October 1690. 2 February 1691/2, surveyor of fences, but evidently refused and was replaced a month later. Thomas was elected one of the selectmen for Beverly at a town meeting 9 November 1691, p? and in April 1697. 316. He served with his brother Isaac, Capt. Thomas West and several others. He served again the next year with Ebenezer Woodbery, a cousin, Capt. William Rayment, John Conant and Lot Conant. 328 He served on a committee to see that a house was built for the town's minister, elected in December 1700 with, among others, Thomas West and Capt. John Dodge. 346 In December 1701 he was added to a committee to look for a grammar school teacher, and by the end of the month the town had an agreement with Robert Hale. 353-354 In March of 1701, 1702, 1703 he was again elected a selectman. 349, 357, 366 February 1702 he was reimbursed by the town for £1, 13 shillings, 2 pence for "goodwife Drinker's" funeral expenses. 356 August 1702 he was elected a tax assessor for Beverly. 358 He was on a committee to check the bounds between Beverly and Wenham, chosen in May 1703. 368 City of Beverly, Municipal Document of 1899, etc. (Beverly, MA: 1900)
     The town records of Beverly have many instances of townspeople agreeing, for a fee, to look after the town's poor. New England towns tried to avoid having indigent people to look after, and when new people came to town and didn't have obvious means or intentions to staym they were "warned out." One of Beverly's poor was John Knights. After Nathaniel Rayment agreed to take care of him for a year, Thomas took over seven months later.

This Indenture and agreemen made this seventh day of January one Thousand six hundred ninty and seven Eight beetween mr Thomas Woodbery senr of this Towne of Beverly on the one party and the select men of fd Towne on ye other party Which are as followeth viz I the abouesd Thomas Woodbery senr doe by these presents for my selfe my heirs and Assigns doe promas to & Bargan with sd select men of Beverly to take keep and maintiane John knights one of the poore of sd Towne in meat drinke lodging washing and Apprill [apparel] suteable for suchy person for the terme of one whole year frome the date here of fully to be Compleated and Ended and ye sd select men with ye Consent of ye sd John knights doe put the sd John knights to ye sd Thomas Woodbery him to serve for the terme above sd and further in Consideration of the premises wee ye sd select men of Beverly above sd doe in behalfe of our sd Towne promase and in gadge to ye sd mr Thomas Woodbery that hee shall bee payd ye sume of seven pounds in money that is to say three pounds and ten shillidgs at the End of six months from ye date hereof and ye other three pounds and ten shillings at ye expiration of sd year in witnesse where of wee have here unto Enterchangably set our hands ye day and year above written.

     The Beverly town meeting of 13 March 1698/99 mentions money due from the town to Thomas including, apparently, highway work done or paid for by him, six shillings for John Knight's burial and coffin, nine shillings for "drink shugar and spice" and forty shillings for the remainder due for Knights's provisions. 336 The drink, sugar and spice might have been for a highway work crew. People are on record in 17th and 18th century New England being reimbursed for libation (usually rum) for labor doing the town's work.

     This family name in the 17th and early 18th centuries is spelled variously depending on the document and the gravestone. There were varying degrees of literacy, even among town clerks and ministers. Spelling was fluid and often reflected phonetics, but the prevailing spelling amongst family members was decidedly "Woodbery." Thomas is a slight exception. Transcriptions and originals of documents signed by him in Essex County Quarterly Court files, Essex County probate records and Beverly town records say "Woodberey," so I defer to Thomas's choice. "Woodbery" generally and eventually shifted to "Woodberry," and now "Woodbury" is favored.

children of Thomas Woodberey and Hannah Dodge:

i. William b. 7 September 1662 (Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, 2:441)
ii. Samuel b. 1665-1666, d. 18 April 1689
iii. Thomas bap. 5 May 1667 (First Church, Salem)
iv. Israel bap. 29 May 1670 (First Church Beverly)
v. Hannah bap. 25 February 1671/72 (Beverly)
vi. Elizabeth bap. 6 February 1675/76 (Beverly)
vii. Susannah b. 20 January 1679/80, (no first name in Early Records of the Town of Beverly, Massachusetts, 6), bap. 7 March 1679/1680 (Beverly)
viii. Jonathan b. 12 September 1682 (Vital Records of Beverly, Massachusetts, 1:388)

child of Thomas Woodberey and Elizabeth:

ix. Samuel b. 2 February 1690/91 (ERTB, p. 26)

vital records sources: Thomas' first marriage comes from Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the year ending 1849, vol. 4 (Salem:1924), 487. His second marriage is from Early Records of the Town of Beverly, etc., vol. 1 (Eben Putnam, Boston:1907), 62, 28 April 1690, by John "Hathorn." His will was proved on 20 April 1719, suggesting he died the previous winter.

1. http://www.digitalpuritan.net/Digital%20Puritan%20Resources/Janeway%2C%20James/%5BJJ%5D%20Mr.%20James%20Janeway%27s%20Legacy%20to%20His%20Friends.txt, transcript of Mr. Iames Ianeway's LEGACY TO HIS FRIENDS, Containing Twenty Seven Famous Instances of Gods Providences in and about Sea Dangers and Deliverances (London:1674), 34-37. Mather's Remarkable Providences, a more widely available text, cites Janeway when he also mentions this event. Both Janeway and Mather were ministers. Essex Co., MA, deed, 13:278.
2. Essex Co., MA, Probate case file 30516, will.