Background: The name of Wood was previously given as 'de Bosco', a Norman name which has become common throughout New England. The name also arises as an anglicisation of several Gaelic names which incorporate the word 'coill', also meanding 'wood'. In the mid fifteenth century Andrew Wood, a merchant trader of Leith, was employed by James III to protect the Scottish trade with Holland. In 1481 he defended Dumbarton against a fleet of Edward IV of England. james III granted him lands at Largo and bestowed a knighthood upon him. When that unhappy monarch was forced to flee from his rebellious nobles, he took refuge aboard one of Sir Andrew's ships and crossed to Fife to gather an army.