The papers consist of personal and service documents, 1802 to 1867, including a letter of 1842 from John Robert's brother, Commander Daniel Woodriff (1789-1860), whose papers are in the National Library of Australia at Canberra.

Administrative / biographical background
John Robert Woodriff, second son of Daniel Woodriff (q.v.), entered the Navy in 1802 on HMS CALCUTTA, commanded by his father. While serving on this vessel he was present at the founding of the penal colony at Hobart Town in Tasmania. He served on HMS DONEGAL in the aftermath of the Battle of Trafalgar and then on HMS DIADEM in the River Plate, going ashore during the actions against Spanish forces at Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Woodriff became a lieutenant in 1811 and served on the Channel and Cape stations between 1812 and 1814. From 1836 until 1848, when he was promoted to commander, he was attached to the Weymouth District of the Coast Guard. He was appointed sergeant-at-arms to the Queen and promoted to the rank of captain on reserved half-pay in 1856. He died at Clapham in 1868. His record of service can be found under the reference ADM 196/2/50 at The National Archives. Woodriff was awarded a Royal Humane Society medal in 1855.