Michael M. Wood

Michael M. Wood
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Citizenship	American
Occupation	Historical author, genealogist
Known for	Early American and Revolutionary War genealogy

Michael M. Wood is an former CEO and American historical author specializing in the study of early American families, Revolutionary War veterans, military history and the history of enslaved persons in the 18th century. His research has been published internationally in journals across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Career and research

Wood's research focuses on the intersection of American genealogy and military history. He is noted for his documentation of marginalized figures in the Revolutionary War, including the enslaved persons of Dr. James Craik and the Abenaki chief and highest-ranking person of color in the Continental Army, Lt. Col. Louis Cook.

In 2025, Wood served as a contributor to the Swiss National Museum (Château de Prangins) exposition Around the World, which explored global travel history.

Wood's published monographs and research are held in permanent government and civic collections, including the Library of Congress (USA), the Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, KY) and the Thurston County Historical Journal as a joint enterprise with the cities (Lacey and Olympia, Washington) et al.

In his business career, Wood has been profiled in both TIME Magazine and Business Week.

Kentucky Colonel

On 13 March 2023, Governor Andy Beshear commissioned Michael M. Wood as a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The designation of Kentucky Colonel is significant because it represents the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s highest honorary title, conferred by the governor in recognition of exceptional service, civic leadership or noteworthy contributions to society. Kentucky Colonels are “Aides-de-Camp” to the Governor of Kentucky.

Literary Awards

Wood's research on persons enslaved by Revolutionary War Chief Physician and George Washington's personal physician, Dr. James Craik, was selected as the journal’s best historical research and writing from the past calendar year. As an awardee, his work was subsequently published in The Journal of the American Revolution, Annual Volume 2025.

Recognition by the Virginia General Assembly

In March 2022, The Virginia General Assembly passed SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 81 based solely upon the research of Michael M. Wood. His work, "Black Officers in the Virginia State Navy in the Revolutionary War," was published in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 59 (2021).

The Senate Resolution, introduced by Senator Jennifer A. Kiggans (R) and passed by the Senate on March 11, 2022, is entitled "Commemorating the lives and legacies of the eight Black men who served as officers in the Virginia State Navy during the Revolutionary War". The full text of the Senate Resolution is available online

Bibliography

Books accepted into the permanent collection of the Library of Congress

• A Tree of Liberty and Chains: Forging a Family Legacy Over Three Centuries of American History (2025)
• Notes of a Traveler. What I saw While in Foreign Lands (2026)
• Legacy, Volumes 1 & 2 (2001)

Other books

• Six Months One Summer: Childhood on the California Coast on the Eve of World War II (2025)
• The Virginia Farrows (2019)
• Legacy, Volume 3 (2018)
• Words to My Children (2018)
• The Farrow Family (2010)
• Fifteen Generations of the Wood Family (2008)

International peer-reviewed journal acceptance and publication

United Kingdom

• "John Wood, Master of the Peregrine," Genealogists’ Magazine (Journal of the Society of Genealogists), Vol. 32, No. 8 (2017).

Germany

• "Wood aus London, Wappen und Familienchronik," Der 73. Band der Deutschen Wappenrolle (HEROLD, Berlin) (2013). ISBN 978-3-7980-0073-5

United States

• "Using Land Records to Help Confirm a Middletown, RI Family Tree," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (NEHGS), Vol. 179 (November 2025).
• "The Army of the Potomac Headquarters Badge," Journal of the Orders and Medals Society of America, Vol. 76, No. 2 (2025).
• "A Second Fight for Freedom: The Enslaved of Dr. James Craik," Journal of the American Revolution, JAR Publishing (2025).
• "Lt. Col. Louis Cook: Abenaki Chief and Continental Officer," Cincinnati Fourteen (Society of the Cincinnati), Vol. 38, No. 2 (Spring 2002): 30–39; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Fall 2002): 22–31.
• "Black Officers in the Virginia State Navy in the Revolutionary War," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 59 (2021).
• "Frank M. Kenney and the Olympia Brewing Co.," Brewery Collectibles, Vol. 51, No. 3 (2021).
• "Wm F. Wood of Putnam County in the Spanish-American War," The Hoosier Genealogist, No. 55 (2020).
• "The Civil War Quaker Dilemma & Charles Wood of NJ," American Ancestors (NEHGS), Vol. 21, No. 3 (2020).
• "World War II on the Homefront," Thurston County Historical Journal, No. 11 (2020).
• "Virginia's Revolutionary War Navy: The Patriot," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 57, No. 2 (2019).
• "Olympia Boys: Heroes of Audenarde Battle," Thurston County Historical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 8 (2019).
• "Deserters from the Virginia Navy in the War of the Revolution," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 57, No. 1 (2019).
• "Crew of the Tempest," Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Vol. 56, No. 2 & 3 (2018).
• "The Token Books of St. Saviour’s," American Ancestors, Vol. 19, No. 2 (2018).
• "Colonel William L. Farrow - Pioneer, Soldier, Statesman," Kentucky Ancestors, Kentucky Historical Society (2018).
• "Stolen Honor: The Land Bounty of Midshipman Thomas Masterson," Journal of the American Revolution (2018).
• "Jonathan Wood (1747–1820) of Little Compton, Rhode Island," American Ancestors, Vol. 1, No. 1 (2009).

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