Do not know if any of this links to your John but maybe it can help with a clue for research, or maybe you could share more maybe we can find a link some where. maybe DNA there are WOODWARD DNA collections for baseline data here in US. I'm told WOODWARD is as common a surname in Eng. as Brown or Smith is here in US.

Rev. Edward WOODWARD b. ca. 1818 England
last record to date found his marriage in Earl Shilton Parish England late 1846 to a Sarah ADAMS from Sheepley area near Earl Shilton Parish she's b. ca. 1818 England a church records in Neatherseal could be a Baptism for Sarah.
Rev. Edward and Sarah WOODWARD came to America by ca. 1848 , a son is born in fall season of 1848 in the state of OHIO in America. By 1850 Census there was these Children found: Theo. E. 1848, Catherine 1849, Jane 1850, Mary A. could be twins, and we know of at least 3 more sons born to them after 1850 but prior to 1858 George Adams, Edward maybe Jr., William T. 1857 all Children born in OHIO the census tells us both parents both in England ca. 1818. Sarah dies by 1860 records show ( Rev.) Edward, and only these children: Theo E., Catherine , Geo. A. , Edward (Jr) back in Ohio without our Sarah Edward is listed as a Widower. Also there is a Catherina WOODWARD slightly older then Edward on a 1870 Census and we dont think they are married.
We think Mother, Sarah (ADAMS) WOODWARD dies in Iowa prior to 1859, as William T. is raised to manhood by a foster family in Iowa. Jane and Mary were likely raised by others as well as any more children not known to date. There could be links to the ROWE or ROW surname and possible a Widow Martha ADAMS found living near with her 2 very young sons, also pretty Wealth in assets. These all have great possible links to these WOODWARD ADAMS lines. Looking for anyone that might hear a bell ringing or one of those O my O my coming on. Would welcome any discussions or offers of help with finding any more data in England or US.. Edward does not have any mentions of being a Rev. in America seems to worked in various of jobs from Farmer to Clerk to Stocking Factory, He was not afraid of working seems like.

Rev. Edward WOODWARD son of John WOODWARD
Sarah ADAMS daug of William ADAMS maybe E. HARDY
BLACKBURN Ben and Ann could be related Ben might of been a Rev. also. all would of been in in England prior to 1847 time frame.

I have a photo copy of what we think is Edward and Sarah WOODWARD taken ca. 1849 or 1850ish it has Theo. E their son as a wee lad. And Sarah's smile is my sister's 100% I can see hand; fingernail shape in both my dad's his dad and mine in Edward's old photo. This was a copy take from a glass negitive. Also seems to be another old photo of their last son known to date William T. and his family wife, 5 daug. and only living son, my grandfather. Taken about 1895 in Iowa. These were photo copies were shared with me by a wonderful new found cousin line that's from Theo. E. b. 1848 and now links my orphan Wm. T. to this family. Thanks to the wonderful tool called internet and a wonderful sharing Cousin line. I hope to do some DNA collection with both our families; as there's no records to be found on the Western Frontier 1850 to 1900's as to much of this. But There's an old family trunk with lots of hand written notes news clips old postcards and photos that tell us we link. May kindness be returned ten fold as it has been to me. Thanking in advance Cordially, P. WOODWARD geniejunkie4u@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 2567, Lancaster, CA. 93539-2567 USA