Woolsey Chronology




Woolsey Chronology

by Wilford Whitaker



A Word of Explanation

I have found many records for George Woolsey, our immigrant ancestor and pioneer. These records are some of the ones that I found. I thought you might find them interesting. Although an Englishman by birth, George Wolsey spent most of his early life in Rotterdam, Holland, probably working with his father as a clerk, where he learned to speak Dutch with some fluency and then spent his early years in America with the Holland Dutch settlers of Nieu Amsterdam, now New York. Some of his life was spent under the Dutch government, until the Dutch surrendered to the English fleet in 1664. It has been suggested that George´s father worked for the West India Company and moved to Holland. I have not found any records to confirm that he worked for the West India Company, although he did move to Holland by 1623.. Also, it has been suggested that George was put out as an apprentice to Isaac Allerton (of the Mayflower ) who later worked as an agent for the Dutch West India Company. Although George Woolsey was closely connected with Isaac Allerton, I have not found any records that would confirm that he was an apprentice to Isaac. More research needs to be done here and in the records of the West India Company and in Holland. [This is NOT complete.]


Red Letter Dates in WOOLSEY and New York History


960 St. Wulsey, first Abbott of Westminister - The great sixteenth century Cardinal Wolsey was not the first of the name to attain distinction at Westminster. Almost six centuries before his time, flourished Saint Wulsey , the first abbot of Westminister, "...where...", says the historian, "he lived for many years, exemplary for his conversation, until his death, which happened Anno Domini 960. Then was his body buried in the same monastery; and the 26 day of September was kept by the citizens of London with great veneration of his miracle-working memory."
c1440 Johannes Gutenberg invents moveable type and printing press in Germany
c1473 Thomas Wolsey, later Cardinal Wolsey, was born at Ipswich, Suffolk, England. [c 1471]
1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the New World.
1493 Pope Alexander VI publishes bull "Inter cetera divina" dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal
1493
to
1498
Da Vinci : "The Last Supper"
1498 Michelangelo: "Pieta" , sculpture, St. Peter's Rome
1500 First black-lead pencil used in England
1501
to
1504
Michelangelo: "David" , sculpture
1503 Pocket handkerchief comes into use
1505 John Knox, leader of Scot. Reformation born (d. 1572)
1508 Michelangelo begins to paint ceiling of Sistine Chapel, Rome ( - 1512)
1509 Henry, Prince of Wales (1t 18) succeeds his father as King of Henry VIII of England and married Catherine of Aragon, his brother's widow
1509 John Calvin, Swiss reformer, born (died 1564)
1512 Copernicus: "Commentariolus" in which he states that the earth & the other planets turn around the sun
1514 The first European (Portugal) vessels in Chinese waters - Pineapples arrive in Europe
1514 Thomas Wolsey (c1473-1530) made Archbishop of York
1515 Thomas Wolsey appointed Cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England
1516 Erasmus publishes the New Testament with Greek and Latin text - Sir Thomas More: "Utopia"
1517 Martin Luther, in protest against sale of indulgences, posts his 95 theses on door of Palast Church in Wittenberg
1517 "Evil May Day" riots in London; 60 rioters hanged on Cardinal Wolsey's orders
1517 Coffee in Europe for the first time
1518 Peace of London between England, France, Emperor Maximilian I, the pope, and Spain devised by Cardinal Wolsey
1518 Melanchthon appointed professor of Greek at University of Wittenberg - spectacles for the near-sighted
1519 Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), preaching in Zurich, begins Swiss Reformation
1520 Henry VIII orders building of bowling lanes in Whitehall - Chocolate brought from Mexico to Spain
1524 Giovanni Da Verrazona discovered New York. - Turkeys from South America eaten for first time in England
1525 Cardinal Wolsey presents Hampton Court to King Henry VIII, and endows Cardinal College, Oxford
1528 Serious outbreaks of the plague in England
1529 Cardinal Wolsey falls from power; Sir Thomas More made Lord Chancellor
1530 Cardinal Wolsey died after having been arrested as a traitor
1531 Henry VIII recognized as Supreme Head of the Church in England - Halley's Comet arouses superstition
1532 Chaucer's works published posthumously - sugar cane first cultivated in Brazil
1533 Elizabeth, d/o of Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn, born, to be the future queen of England Elizabeth I
1534
to
1535
Jacques Cartier, seeking the east Indies, discovered instead the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.
1534
to
1536
First diving bell - First mention of India rubber -Decree forbidding Eng farmers to own more than 2000 sheep
1536 William tynadale, English reformer, burned at the state (b 1494) - 1" song book with lute accomp. Pub Spain
1539 First Christmas tree, at Strasbourg Cathedral - A public lottery held in France
1543 Nicholas Copernuicus published "De Revolutionibus" presenting arguments that the planets revolve around the sun.
1547 First predictions of the French astrologer Nastradamus (1503-1566)
1555 An Aztec dictionary published - Tobacco brought for the first time to Spain from America
1557 From "The Acts and Monuments" by Fox, page 402, of Vol. 7: "One, William Woolsey of Wells in Cambridgeshire lay a prisoner for conscience sake in Ely gaol in 1551. The said Woolsey standing still at great while suffering them to say their pleasure. At the last answered in this wise: "Good Master Doctor, what did our Savior Christ mean when He spoke those words written in the 22nd chapter of Matthew, 'Woe be unto your scribes and pharisees, ye hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom before men.' "ye," saith Dr. Fuller,"ye must understand that Christ spoke to the Scribes and Pharisees,' 'Nay Master Doctor,' saith Woolsey, 'Christ spoke even to you and your fellows here present and to others such as you be." 'g'Way, Master Doctor," said Christoph orden, 'you can do no good with this man." This man was burnt at the stake 16 Oct 1557."
1558
to
1559
Queen Mary I, of England, succeeded by Elizabeth I (-1603) - Coronation of Queen Elizabeth
1563 John Foxe's "Book of Martyrs" , first English edition. - First printing presses in Russia
1564 William Shakespeare born 23 Apr. (d. 1616)
1590 Compound microscope developed in Holland.
1604 French established a permanent settlement at Port Royal in Nova Scotia.
1604 George Woolsey, named an apprentice of Nicholas Cutting, Grocer, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
1607 English "Gentlemen" founded Jamestown.
1608 Telescope developed in Holland, probably by Hans Lippershey
1608 Champlain founded a colony at Quebec.
1609 Henry Hudson, Englishman, sailing under the Dutch flag, found the river which carried his name and the Island of Manhattan at its mouth and explored the Hudson River. Samuel de Champlain visited northern part of New York. It was on "Mannahatta's Isleand" that the Dutch established New Amsterdam (now New York).
1610 As George Woolsey [Sr.] approached the end of his apprenticeship, he married Frances Roberts
1611 Philip Woolsey was named an apprentice of George Woolsey, Grocer, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Eng. Philip Woolsey is George Woolsey [Sr.] youngest brother, who took on an apprentice as soon as he received his "Journeyman's License" and became a FREEMAN in Great Yarmouth.
1611 John Woolsey, son of George Woolsey and Frances [Roberts] was christened in St. Nicholas Church.
1613 Robert Woolsey, son of George Woolsey and Frances [Roberts] was christened in St. Nicholas Church.
1614 A small fort & trading center built on Castle Island, Fort Nassau, it was on the east bank of the Hudson and later, nearby, on the western bank, another fort was built at Fort Orange (Albany).
1616 George Woolsey [Jr.], son of George Woolsey and Frances [Roberts] was christened in St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England.
1620 The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and established their colony in the New World.
1623 George Woolsey, [Sr.] "Tobacconist" had removed his family to Rotterdam, Holland, by 1623.
1624 The Dutch landed eight men from ship, New Netherland , on Manhattan, then proceeded to establish Fort Orange (Albany) the first permanent white settlement in the New York region.
1625 Dutch settlers founded New Amsterdam
1626 Peter Minuit bought Manhattan from the "Manhattan Indians" for about $24 in goods and trinkets on 6 May.
1628 The Puritans landed near Salem, Massachusetts, and founded Connecticut and Rhode Island
1629 George Wolsey, Sr., "grocer & tobacconist" died in Rotterdam, Holland.
1630 Colonists from Holland under a liberal charter of the West India Company, at Fort Orange (Albany)
1632 Maryland, granted to Lord Baltimore, became a haven for Roman Catholics.
1633 Roman Catholic Church forces Galileo to recant his support of Copernicus' theory that the earth revolves about the sun. The Church continued to call it heretical to believe that the planets circled the sun, etc., until 1822.
1636
to
1637
Pequot War, the first of the "French and Indian" wars
1637 The Dutch patroon Stephen van Renssalaer arrived in New Amsterdam
1638 Peter Minuit landed two shiploads of Swedes and Finns at site of Wilmington, Delaware
1641 Adriaen van der Donck arrives at New Amsterdam on ship De Eyckenboom , wrote A Description of the New Netherlands , first description of New York.
1642 Montreal, Canada, was founded
1642 Rev. Johannes Megapolensis and his family arrived in Fort Orange.
1643 George Woolsey came to America and settled in New Amsterdam.
1643
to
1644
Director William Kieft foolishly insisted on waging war with the Indians.
1644 Peter Stuyvesant, governor of Curacao, led an attack against the island of Saint Martin and lost a leg in the battle.
1645 Indian War ended.
1645 Van der Donck married an English girl, Mary Doughty, daughter of a maverick Puritan clergyman, the Reverend Francis Doughty, who had been driven from New Plymouth in 1642 for preaching that "Abraham�s children should have been baptized."
1646 Joris Wolsie, a witness for his brother-in-law Tomas Willit.
1646 Jorse Wolsy, a defendant in a case concerning powder belonging to Allerton
1647 Joris Wolsey said he saw Tomas Willet give a present to the fiscal van Dyck.
1647 Gorge Wolsey�s deposition that he saw Thomas Willett pay a bribe to the fiscal.
1647 Director-General (Governor) Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to succeed William Kieft as director-general of all New Netherlands.
1647 George Woolsey married Rebecca Cornell in Flatbush, Long Island, New York
1648 Gorger Wolsey named a fire inspector by the Director General (William Kieft).
1648 Van der Donck granted Jonker (pronounced Yonker) and he was familiarly called The Yonker or Yonker�s land .
1648 Director Stuyvesant lost little time in alienating both his own people and the English of the neighboring colonies by offering freedom and asylum in New Netherlands to those liable to arrest in New Haven. He was the last Dutch governor of colonial New York or New Netherlands as it was then called.
1649 Van der Donck sailed to the Netherlands
1649 Town of Jamaica divides the "Little Playnes" among its settlers.
1650 Van der Donck and others address a "remonstrance" to the States General, against the administrations of Kieft and Stuyvesant.
1650 Joris Wolsy�s daughter Sara baptized.
1 652 Jorys Woolsy, a defendant?
1652 Joris Woolsy & Rebecca�s son Joris was baptized.
1653 Joris Wolsey was named as a militia man in the New Amsterdam Second Corp of Militia.
1653 Van der Donck returns to New Netherlands
1655 Peter Stuyvesant captured all New Sweden, including the present state of Delaware, and mde it a part of New Netherland.
1655 Tjaert Wolcy�s son Thomas was born.
1655 Van der Donck dies at his estate near Albany, Colen Donck , age 35
1658 Robert Hooke invents balance spring for watches
1659 Joris Wolsey�s daughter Rebecca was baptized.
1661 Tjaert Wolsey�s son Johannes was baptized.
1661 George Woolsey was among the freeholders of Jamaica, Long Island, New York.
1664 Joris & Rebecca Wolsy�s daughter Marritje was baptized. She died before 1678.
1664 Late August, Col. Richard Nicolls sailed into New Amsterdam harbor; a week later the Dutch dream was over and the colony was in possession of the English, and renamed New York.
1666 Mary Doughty Van der Donck, widow, married Hugh O�Neal of Maryland, reaffirmed her title to Van der Donck�s estate, Colen Donck , only to sell it to her brother Elias Doughty. He divided the estate and began selling off portions of it, including to the Philipse family. See Later.
1672 Daniel Denton published A Brief Description of New-York: formerly called New-Netherlands . . .in London
1675
to
1678
King Philip's War
1676 Bacon's Rebellion
1678 Gorge & Rebecca Wolsy�s children Wm. & Marritje Wolsy were baptised at Brooklyn.
1679 New Hampshire became a separate colony.
1681 William Penn founded Pennsylvania which became a thriving colony of Quakers, dissidents, and Germans.
1683 Leeuwenhock is first to observe bacteria
1689
to
1763
Many battles were fought in New York during the French and Indian Wars.
1689
to
1697
King William's War
1691 George Wolsey of Jamaica made his last Will & Testament.
1693
to
1703
Capt. George Woolsey, son of George Woolsey, the Immigrant, kept a "general store" in Jamaica.
1698 George Woolsey died and buried in Jamaica.
1702
to
1713
Queen Anne's War
1713 The Treaty of Utrecht ended the war of the Spanish succession (Queen Anne's War), gave Nova Scotia to England and the French acknowledged her right to Newfoundland and the Hudson Bay Region.
1714 Mercury thermometer developed
1743
to
1748
King George's War
1750 By this time, there were over a million and a half English settlers in North America
1754
to
1763
French and Indian War
1755 Discovery of Carbon Dioxide
1763 The "Peace of Paris" ended the Seven-Years War and France gave up all her territory in North America
1764 James Hargreaves invents spinning Jenny
1766 Discovery of hydrogen
1773 The Boston "Tea Party"
1775
to
1783
The American Revolution
1776 Declaration of Independence
1776 New York declared its independence from Great Britain at White Plains and became a battleground of the Revolutionary War. The Woolsey story here and in Southern U. S. will be taken up later.
1786 Shay's Rebellion
1790
to
1793
The Miami War
1794 The Whiskey Rebellion
1798 John Adam's War
1805 War with Tripoli
1811 Shawnee War
1812
to
1814
War of 1812
1817
to
1818
First Seminole War
1832 Black Hawk War
1835
to
1842
Second Seminole War
1837
to
1838
Patriot War
1846
to
1848
Mexican War
1861
to
1865
Civil War
1872
to
1873
Modoc War
1876 Sioux War
1898 Spanish-American War



If you have myths to suggest, or evidence to add supporting or further refuting a myth, please send your message to Wilford Whitaker - Editor and Chief of Woolsey Myths.


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