Woodworth studied law with John Lansing Jr. at Yale College, graduating in 1788, and was admitted to the bar in 1791.
[1] Woodworth commenced practice in Troy, New York, and was appointed Loan Commissioner in 1792 and Surrogate of Rensselaer County from 1793 to 1804.
He was the Democratic-Republican nominee for New York's 7th congressional district in 1796, losing to Federalist incumbent John Evert Van Alen.
Senator from New York, but was narrowly defeated by Theodorus Bailey who was supported by a faction of his party who combined with the Federalists.
He was one of the last members of the Council of Revision which was abolished by the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821.