Wm. P. Woodcock Merchant Tokens
| NY 966, copper, 31mm | |
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NY 967, brass, 31mm IMAGE NEEDED NY 968, white metal, 31.2mm |
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The note in
SCUST states "This token rates as one of the most beautiful ever
conceived for a butcher". Although many of George H.'s works seem
hastily produced and not very attractive the pictorial on the obverse of
this token show the engraver at his finest. These are found in copper,
brass, and white metal.
"William Palmer Woodcock
was born around 1800. As a boy, he helped build the defensive
trenches on Long Island during the War of 1812. I don't know how long
he was a butcher in NYC, but at some point he began investing in real
estate and became involved in the insurance business. He married a
niece of John Jacob Astor and settled in Westchester County, New York.
He died in 1892, owning all kinds of real estate in NYC and Westchester
County. His grave is in Trinity Cemetery where other members of the
Astor family are buried." (This biographical information was provided
by Frederick A. Woodcock, great, great, grandson of William P.)