Reverend Elijah Woolsey (1771-1850)
Reverend Thomas Woolsey (1771-1850)
J. Thomas Scharf, in his monumental History of Westchester County, New York, L. E. Preston & Co., Philadelphia, 1886 Reprinted by Picton Press, 1992. Vol. 2, p. 493, told of the early days of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
. . . circuits were the adopted form of regular pastoral visitations to preaching-points, some being termed "six weeks' circuits," some "four weeks circuits", this being the length of time required by the preacher to fill his various preaching appointments on the circuit and reach his starting-point again.
The Reverend Elijah Woolsey and his younger brother Reverend Thomas Woolsey are excellent representatives of the hard-working, dedicated men of the cloth, known as "Circuit Riders" or "Itinerant Preachers", who sacrificed their time, talents, health and home-comforts, to "take the word of the Lord" to outlying areas. His "circuit" was sometimes over 800 miles around and it would take him eight or nine weeks to "complete" his circuit, meaning he would be absent from his wife and family for eight or nine weeks at a time. In the almost forty years of which we have record, he traveled thousands of miles, on horseback, by foot and by boat. Shaking with colds and fevers, he would strive to make his next appointment at the appointed hour. In time, he became known for his diligence, his faith and his ability to help people "to see the light". He was given the "hardest" circuits, known for their poverty, their obstinacy and general "cussedness".
Elijah Woolsey was born in 1771, five years before the Declaration of Independence, and died in 1850. He lived his entire life within 50 miles of where he was born, but traveled extensively in New York State, Canada, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. His younger brother Reverend Thomas Woolsey was born about 1772, both sons of a prosperous farmer and Revolutionary War Veteran, Captain John Woolsey, one of the leading men of Ulster County and a trustee of the Presbyterian Church in Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, and his wife Chlorine (Clarisa) Peck. Captain John Woolsey was the son of Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler. Elijah Woolsey was married twice, but I have found no issue by either wife, Electa Rockwell (d/o John) and Phoebe Wilson (who had a brother Joseph W. Wilson). Thomas Woolsey (b. abt 1772 - d. 1815 at Saugerties, Ulster, NY), married about 1794 to Rebecca Gedney (d/o Daniel Gedney and Charlotte Fowler) and they had four children: Ashbury (md Julia S.------), Eleazer W., Fletcher, and Charity (md John Thorne).
Chronology
| 1771 |
Born at Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, to Captain John Woolsey and Chlorine Peck. "I had a praying mother . . . she taught her children to fear God and reverence for the Holy Scriptures . . . . the 'circuit riders' came regularly to our house, and many were the godly admonitions that we received from them." - mentions: my sister, my Brother "H." [Henry] and my sister-in-law, my cousin and his wife, had one child, and my brother "T." received license to preach a little before I did." |
| c1772 |
Brother Thomas Woolsey, "my younger brother", was born at Marlborough. |
| 1792 |
Went to the north part of the state of New York on a six months circuit, split it with his brother, Thomas. |
Canada Circuit
| 1794 |
Called to Canada - went by way of Albany, Schenectady, up the Mohawk river, through Rome, down the Oswego river, arrived at the fort of Oswego on lake Ontario, to Black river country, made for Salmon river - rounded Stony Point, into Hungary Bay and landed at Grenadier Island. Nineteen days on this journey. |
| 1795 |
I went to Oswegothe, Bro Coleman to Bay Quinte and Bro Dunham to Niagara Circuit. It was a trip of 60 to 70 miles to visit. He was near the river St. Lawrence. |
| 1795 |
To conference in New York City - left Bay of Quinte - up the Oswego river - to Oneida lake, tremendous storm - used to sing with the Indian Red Jacket who had translated some of the songs into the Indian language, saw Capt. Brandt's house and saw the Indian wife of Sir John Johnson. |
| 1796 |
Back to the conference in New York and was appointed to the Reading Circuit in CT. |
| 1797 |
Toward the close of the year 1797 I changed my station in life (married Electa Rockwell) |
| 1800 |
I was re-admitted into the traveling connection and appointed to the Newburgh, NY circuit. |
Newburgh, New York Circuit
| |
I preached at New-Paltz, lodged at my sister's, met with Mr. Ellison of New-Windsor, and went to the Conference in Philadelphia. |
Flanders Circuit, New Jersey
| 1801 |
Appointed to Flanders Circuit in New Jersey - a place called Fox Hill and Spring Mills |
Harmony Hill/Stillwater, Sussex Co., NJ M.E. Church
| 1802 |
What is now known as the Harmony Methodist Episcopal Church originated in a Methodist Episcopal Class organized in 1802 in Jacob Mains' log house by Revs. Elijah Woolsey and Gamaliel Bailey. There were twelve members in that class, but the names of only ten can be recalled: Jacob Mains & wife, Catharine Maines, Christianus Mains, Abram Mains, James Egbert & wife, Mr. Kimball & wife. James Egbert was the leader. Among the earliest to join were Jacob Savercool, Jacob Banghart & wife, Conrad Hammond & wife, Samuel Lanney and wife. - The class was attached to the Flanders Circuit, and Rev. Elijah Woolsey assigned as the preacher in charge, with Gamaliel Bailey as his assistant. This circuit was a very large one, and called for a journey of nearly 400 miles. As an indication of how the M. E. preachers were worked in those days it may be remarked that Woolsey and bailey preached from eight to twelve times every week while traveling that great circuit. [Snell, James P. History of Sussex County, New Jersey. With illus. Etc. Genealogical Researchers, Washington, NJ 1981. FHL # 974.97 H2s. Vol. I. |
| 1802 |
Attended conference in Philadelphia, and appointed again to Flanders Circuit. - at a place called "Log Jail" and a place called the "Shades of Death". |
| 1803 |
Conference held at a place called Duck Creek in the State of Delaware. |
| 1804 |
Called again to Flanders Circuit - three months, then to the Albany District
General conference held this year & the district enlarged and taken into the New York Conf. |
| 1805 |
The second year my labours were more pleasant, but some ministers suffered, especially those on the Black River circuit. The District was nearly 800 miles around and I was absent between eight and nine weeks from my wife. |
| 1806 |
Wife's failing health, appointed to Brooklyn |
| 1807 |
14 Feb - wife died |
| 1808 |
Attended next conference, held in Amenia, Dutchess, NY and appointed to Croton Circuit. |
Croton Circuit
| |
1795 -Thomas Woolsey, A. Van Nostrand, Jacob Perkins, ministers on Croton Circuit [Scharf 2:640] |
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1808 - Elijah Woolsey, Isaac Candee [Scharf 2:640] |
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1819-20 - Elijah Woolsey, John B. Matthias [Scharf 2:640] |
| 1809 |
About the close of the conference year, I was united in marriage to an amiable woman, who |
| 1810 |
is still living (1845) - Conference in New York |
New Windsor Circuit
| |
Union M. E. Church, Vail's gate or in the old records "Union Church of New Windsor". It was the outgrowth of what was known in 1789 as the John Ellison class. Occupied by the Union Church until 1807, when the present building, which now forms the oldest church edifice of the denomination on the west bank of the Hudson River. In 1809 it was made the head of the New Windsor circuit, with Rev. Thomas Woolsey and James Coleman, preachers. |
| | 1797 - Samuel Fowler, Thomas Woolsey |
| | 1800 - Samuel Fowler, Elijah Woolsey |
| | 1809 - Thomas Woolsey, James Coleman |
| 1811 |
Appointed to Pittsfield Circuit (Pennsylvania?) - Conference was held there |
Dutchess Court
| 1812 |
Smith, James H. "The Churches of Pawling" from History of Dutchess County, New York. 1882. "The Methodist Society was organized here a few years after the beginning of the present century. The first attempt to build a house of worship was made in the year 1812. Among the early ministers were Revs. Wm Thatcher, Nathan Streathen, Nathan or John Emory, an Irishman by the name of Moriarity, Billy Hibbard, Elijah Woolsey, and Beardsley Northrop. |
| 1812 |
Appointed to Dutchess (NY) Circuit and continued there two years - attended Conference in Albany |
| 1813 |
Moved my wife on this Dutchess Circuit which is the second and last time I every moved my family in thirty years. |
| 1813 |
To take charge of Rhinebeck (NY) Circuit - the sounds of war could be heard all around us - I heard the report of the cannon when the ship PRESIDENT was taken on the south side of Long Island, and also when the British attacked Guilford. |
| 1813-1814 | Elijah Woolsey - Great Hill United Methodist Church, but couldn't tell where it is. |
Stratford, Connecticut Circuit
| 1814 |
Given the Middletown District in Connecticut and called to the Stratford (CT) circuit |
Redding, Connecticut Circuit
| 1815 |
Appointed to the Redding (CT) circuit - Methodism was first preached in Connecticut in Wilton, Fairfield, CT at the home of John Rockwell, the father of my first wife. - elected a delegate to General Conference |
| 1816 |
General Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. |
| 1816 |
Appointed to Dutchess (NY) Circuit - at Amenia, and Quarterly Meeting was held at Poughkeepsie. |
Newburgh Circuit
| |
1786 - Methodism came to Milton in the fall of 1786, when two circuit riders [one was Ezekiel Cooper] from the Flanders Circuit (New Jersey) preached in the home of one John Woolsey (father of Elijah and Thomas Woolsey) |
| | 1792 - Thomas Woolsey, Elijah Woolsey |
| | 1797 - Thomas Woolsey, Elijah Woolsey |
| 1816 |
Appointed to Newburgh (NY) circuit |
| 1817 |
Elijah Woolsey, Circuit Rider of Methodist Church, at Marlborough, Ulster Co, NY |
| 1818 |
Elijah Woolsey baptized the following at Newburgh, NY circuit of Methodist Episcopal Church:
18 Jan 1818 - Elizabeth Mance d/o John & Phebe Mance b. 5 Jan 1818
17 Jun 1818 - David Mapes s/o George & Rachel Mapes b. 31 Oct 1818
18 Jun 1818 - James Trumble
15 Jul 1818 - Phebe Trumble |
New- Rochelle Circuit (1787 - 1832)
| |
1795 - Thomas Woolsey, Albert Van Nostrand and Jacob Perkins, ministers on the circuit [Scharf 1:735] |
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1820-2 - Elijah Woolsey, William Jewett, Robert Seney & Noble W. Thomas [Scharf 1:735] |
| 1820 | Appointed to New-Rochelle Circuit - at Rye (NY) - |
Cortland Circuit
| |
First comprised all the upper part of the county in Somers, Lewisboro' and North Salem.
then appointed to Cortland Circuit - It was where I lived at the time and it was one of the hardest circuits on the district. |
| 1821 |
The next year was appointed to New-Rochelle Circuit - stayed at Joseph Wilson's, my brother-in-law, & Rye |
Rye/New Rochelle Circuit
| |
May 1821 - The Society at Rye formed part of the New Rochelle Circuit. In this year, under the labors of E. Woolsey and W. Jewett, there was a revival of religion at Rye, and many persons were converted. [Scharf 2:692] |
Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut
| |
King Street Methodist Episcopal Church, ministers included Rev. Elijah Woolsey (sometime bet 1821-1832) |
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Round Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, organized 1826, included Rev. Elijah Woolsey, 1826. |
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Horseneck, now Borough of Greenwich, organized 1812, included Rev. Elijah Woolsey, 1826. |
| 1828 |
New-Rochelle/White Plains - Elijah Woolsey, S. Cochran and Josiah Bowen [Scharf 1:736] |
| 1843 |
Writing this book - at Rye - Lower Rochelle, King Street, Portchester, Milton. |
Wilford Whitaker,
wilfordwhitaker@yahoo.com.
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