Unknown Woolsey's - Who Are They



Woolsey's
Do You Know Who They Are?




Census Records California Woolsey's Deaths Marriage & Licenses
Murders Photos Prisoners    


CENSUS RECORDS

Because I have been corresponding with some people who descend from some Brooklyn, NY, Woolseys, I thought you might find the 1860 Census of Brooklyn, NY, interesting. This points up some of the problems we have in trying to "document" this family.
WHO ARE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE?

If you would like to share your thoughts please e-mail me, Wilford W. Whitaker

1860 BROOKLYN, KINGS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Second Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. FHL film 803763. 13th June. p. 337. 128-318.
Woolsey, Jane 33 f NY
William 2 m "


Fifth Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. FHL film 803765. 24 June. p. 96. 248-811
Woolsey, Ellen 45 f ------- $100 Ireland
Mary Ann 20 f Dressmaker NJ
James 16 m Glass Blower NY
Ferguson, Ellen 4 f "


2nd Dist., Seventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings, NY. FHL film 803767. 31 Jul. p. 302. 1041-1302.
Woolsey, Ellen 50 f Housekeeper NY
Mary A. 24 f "
Ellen M. 22 f "
William 20 m Clerk "
Berry, Ann C. 30 f "
Sarah 76 f England
[Ellen is the widow of Naval LT. William Gilbert Woolsey, b abt 1797, d 1839. Who is he?]


1st Dist Eleventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803770. 22 June. p. 183. 825-1550
Wilkins, Lemuel 60 m Agent ------ $4000 NC
Elizabeth "
Frances " School in Year
John "
Wolsey, Isaac 50 m NC
Ann 21 f "


2nd Dist Eleventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803770. 27 June. P. 366. 614-1227
Betts, M. J. 37 m Ship Carpenter ----- $300 NJ
Nancy 58 f NY
Wolsey, Sarah 12 f "
Cummins, Sarah A. 61 f $1000 $100 Maine


2nd Dist Eleventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803770. 13 July p. 445. 1010-1837
Woolsey, John 54 m Dock Master ---- $250 NY
Eliza 51 f "
Andrew 22 m Clerk "


2nd Dist.Eleventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. FHL film 803770. 13 July p. 444. 1010-1837
Woolsey, John 54 m Dock Master ---- $250 NY
Eliza 51 f "
Andrew 22 m Clerk "


3rd Dist Eleventh Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803770. 7th June p. 520. 128-188
Wolsey, Ira (Ina?) 36 m Grocer ---- $2000 NY
Martha 33 f "
Edward 10 m " School in year
Mariah 8 f " "
Willie 6 m " "
Frank 2 m "
Freyer Ann 25 f Servant Ireland
Beatley, Mary 24 f " "


1st Dist Thirteenth Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803772. 12 June. p. 707. 337-494
Wolsey, Elizabeth 68 f NY


2nd Dist Thirteenth Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY FHL film 803772. 7 June p. 880. 80-127.
Woolsey, Samuel W. 40 m Carpet Store ---- $2000 NY
Adderson 21 m Clerk "


Sixteenth Ward, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. FHL film 803776. p. 289. 113-173
Woolsey, William 30 m Hatter $500 $200 NY
Margarth 28 f "
Margarth 7 f " At school
George 2 m "
Duffey, Bridget 18 f Servant $200 Ireland


Flatlands P. O., Flatlands Twp, Kings Co, NY. FHL film 803776. 28 Jun. p. 705. 264-244.
Wolsey, Martha 40 f Market Gardener $2000 $300 NY [Widow of Roeluff Woolsey]
Tunis B. 11 m a. s. "
Harriet A. 2 f "
Nancy 30 f "
Bergen, L. 65 m "


East NY P.O., Flatbush Twp, Kings, New York. FHL film 803776. 9 Jul. p. 901. 628-671.
Woolsey, John J. [K.?] 39 m Corn Dealer $2000 $3000 NY [s/o Nathan Woodhull Woolsey]
Elizabeth 35 f "
Marie 15 f a. s. "
Caroline 11 f " "
Jackson, Mary 38 f Black Servant
Anderson, Frank 25 m Black Laborer


East NY P.O., Flatbush Twp, Kings co, NY. FHL film 803776. 9 Jul. p. 951. 1020-1055.
Woolsey, Martha 58 f NY [Widow of Henry Woolsey]
Wycoff 26 m "
Joanna 19 f "


QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK
Astoria, Newtown twp, Queens Co, NY. FHL film 803843. 17 Jul. p. 725. 1480-1593.
Woolsey, Edward J. 55 m Gentleman $10000 $10000 NY
Emaly 55 f "
Edward 18 m a. s. "
Trude, William 40 m Servant Ireland
Grame, Maryane 24 f " "
[This is the gentleman for whom Chuck found a photo and also an uncle of the Woolsey Sisters who were nurses during the Civil War.]


These families do not include the 21 families in the New York City 1860 Census, nor does it include the 10 families in the Westchester County 1860 Census nor does it include the 27 families in Ulster County, nor does it include the dozens of other Woolsey families in the rest of New York State for 1860.


From the 1880 Census of Greene Co, TN:

1. Dist. 17, Greene Co, TN FHL film 1255258 Page 240B.
Bright, George W. Self MMW 54 VA Merchant Farmer TN TN
Dianah Wife FMW 45 TN Keeping house "
David Son M-W 24 TN Clerking in store "
Mary DauL F-W 20 TN Keeping house "
Jefferson D. Son MSW 16 TN Works on farm "
Sarah E. Dau FSW 13 TN At Home "
Lydia A. Dau FSW 4 TN "
Morrison, Yancy Cousin M-W 22 TN Works on Farm "
Morelock, Harvey Cousin M-W 23 TN " "
Morelock, Zina Cousin FSW 19 TN Servant "

This appears to be David Bright and his new bride Mary A. Woolsey, living with his parents.

2. 1880 Greene Co, TN Dist 16, Page 252B.
Bright, James M. Self MMW 25 TN Farmer TN TN
Kiza Wife FMW 24 TN k.h. "
Clyde Dau FSW 4 TN [sic] "
Samuel Son MSW 1 TN "
Woolsey, Jennie SisterL FSW 17 TN at home "
White, John Other MSW 20 TN Laborer "

This appears to be James M. Bright, his wife Keziah Woolsey and her sister Jennie Woolsey. The name Clyde is as found in the Census, but as a daughter & female.- Wilford W. Whitaker


DEATHS

ON-LINE: "The Dangerous Fourth" - RECOLLECTIONS OF A LIFETIME by Philander Stevens - Schoharie Co, NY 1896.

"On one notable Fourth of July, the one which I remember most distinctly of any, there was a procession led by Col. Pratt, as Marshall, an oration read by Mr. Crosswell, firing cannon, and music by the band.

. . . the date of that celebration [was] 4 Jul 1832. After the oration, while the cannon was being fired as rapidly as possible, there was a premature discharge and one of the prominent men of the village, a Mr. WOOLSEY, who as helping load the cannon, had his arm shot off. I was standing quite close to him, and so well remember all the circumstances, the force of the explosion whirled him around like a top before he fell to the ground.

There was of course great excitement. Dr. Benham and Dr. Knapp were soon there, but they were neither of them surgeons, at least, the case was so serious that some one was sent on a fleet horse to Oak Hill, some 15 miles, for Dr. Hamlin. He came in the evening, and amputated his arm at the shoulder, but the poor man died next day, and one of the largest funerals ever held in the village was attended by people far and near. Mr. Paige preached the funeral sermon."
(Reply to Wilford W Whitaker)


MARRIAGE LICENSES

  1. Amanda Woolsey md Chatman Frost 1 Oct 1868
  2. G. T. Woolsey md Mary William 11 Jan 1890
  3. L. A. Woolsey md T. W. Brown 6 Aug 1889
  4. Jane Woolsey md William Rollins 2 Feb 1872

Does anyone know more about the Bright Family of Greene Co, TN?

I have a record that shows one David Bright b. abt 1813, md Mary A. Woolsey, b 24 Apr 1820, Greene Co, TN.
Who is she? Were they the parents of James M. Bright?



MURDERS


Does anyone have a "family story" that could shed more light on the following?:

Keith County, Nebraska - The Law At The End Of The Trail

"Robert Webster in 1875 was working as a drover with one of the more than thirty herds of Texas cattle driven north that year. His crew was encamped about twenty miles northwest of Ogallala on the morning of August 5 when the crew's black cook went hunting for wild game to add variety to the monotonous diet. A herder known as WOOLSEY disguised himself as an Indian and rode down on the cook, who set out for camp at a run. At least one of WOOLSEY's companions participating in the plot fired shots over the herder's head to lend credence to the appearance of an Indian attack, and some of the shots nearly hit WOOLSEY. Later he located Webster, his co-conspirator, bathing in the Platte River and shot him to death in revenge. WOOLSEY then mounted his pony and rode off. The WESTERN NEBRASKIAN, a North Platte newspaper, commented:"

'It is said that both men [Woolsey and Webster] were hard cases; but no words are too strong with which to denounce the deep-seated cowardice of shooting a man under such circumstances.'

"County Court was immediately called into session. Probate Judge W. P. P. St. Clair found that 'murder has been committed in the County of Keith by shooting Robert S. Webster and that the same was committed by one WOOLSEY whose other name is not known'. WOOLSEY could not be found, information having been telegraphed to Great Bend, Hayes City, and Buffalo. Following a coroner's inquest, which found five bullet wounds in Webster's body, his remains were "buried at the foot of the hill north of town." WOOLSEY was never heard from again." - Wilford W. Whitaker


DETECTIVE WILLIAM WOOLSEY, died 8 Dec 1917.
ON-LINE: FALLEN HEROS - On December 8, 1917, Detective William Woolsey was standing on the 3rd Street Viaduct when Frank Warren and Chub Hardin attempted to rob him and another citizen he was talking to at the time. Although Warren had stuck a pistol in Woolsey's abdomen, the Detective still went for his gun and had even squeezed the trigger before Warren realized what was happening. The Detective's gun did not fire, however, so the Detective pulled the trigger a second time. So did Warren. Both guns fired and both men fell to the ground and died. Chub Hardin was captured later, but because he was a juvenile, he received no harsh punishment. Does this man fit into anyone's family? - Wilford W. Whitaker


REBECCA BRIGGS CORNELL, mother of Rebecca Cornell Woolsey, died in a fire at her son Thomas' home.

HIST: Records of the General Court of Trials, Newport Court Book A, May 1673. Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island. Fiske, Jane Fletcher, transcriber. Rhode Island General Court of Trials 1671 - 1704. Boxford, Massachusetts. 1998. p. 25. Thomas Cornell senr of Portsmouth being Examined concerneing the untimely and uncertaine death of his Mother Rebecca Cornell, wch happened on the 8th of ffebruary 1672/3 in the Evening of the same Day: sayth, he coming in to the House from his Occations: a little after sunsett went to visett his Mother, his son Thomas being then with Her, and satt and discoursed with her in her roome where shee keept, about one houre and halfe, and then Left her and sent to Supper, haveing salt-mackrill for Supper, which his Mother cared not for because shee used to say it made her Dry, and having supt, his Wife sent his son Edward to his Mother, to know whether shee would have mile boiled for her supper, or what else shee desired, which might be about Three quarters of one houre, from the time he left her, he being the Last that was with Her; the sayd Edward called, Grandmother, Grandmother, and noebody Answering, and perceaving fire in the roome; came out, and sayd lett me have the Candle to see what fire that is in the other roome, whereupon wee all rann in, in hast, and Henry straite ran in ffirst, and Rakeing the fire with his Hands, tooke hold of his Mothers Arme, thineking it had been A Drunken Indian, and spake Indian to her; at last sayd here is A Drunken Indian Burnt to Death; but the sayd Thomas Cornell, coming in last, perceaved by her shoose which he saw by the light of the Candle, that it was his Mother, and sayd, Oh Lord, it is my Mother, and tooke up her head in his Armes to see if any life were in Her; findeing her burnt, lyeing along upon the floore with her head towards the fire, her Cloths burnt of on her below and some above, and the Valins of the Bed burnt, and the upper part of the Curtaines where he Judged Shee stood when Shee was on fire; before Shee fell, her Apron & one of her Petty-coats being Cotton and Wooll, and Judged that her Clothes tooke fire from a Cole that might fall from her Pipe as shee satt Smoaking in Her Chaire, and haveing seene her in that Condition, as above related, sent out and called in some of the Neighbours liveing neare; which is all that he knows of the Death of his Mother abovementioned; not Judging any one were Instrumentall in any Measure to procure her Death. Taken before us the 21th of ffebruary 1672/3. Nich Easton Govr,Jon Cranston Depty Govr, ffrancis Brinley Assist, John Easton Assistant, Joshua Coggeshall Assistant.


ON-LINE: Rootsweb.com. Omaha, Nebraska, History. 30 Mar 2000. - The second legal execution in Omaha was that of Ottway G. Baker, who killed Woolsey D. Higgins for the purpose of robbery. The murder was committed on the night of 21 Nov 1866 in the grocery store of Will R. King...


ON-LINE: Ancestry.com Family History Message Boards. posted before 2000. Looking for any info on Alma Jo Kinnard, Wight Woolsey. Murdered in CA?? dob 9 Jun 1925, mother Nancy Woolsey, father Bud R. Kinnard.


GENE: Williams, Rev. Garford F. JOSIAH LORD, JR. OF LATHROP TOWNSHIP, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. "The American Genealogist" Whole Number 193. January 1973. Vol. 49. No. 1 p.180-181. [PERSI] It was alleged that he was murdered and a will, later proven to be forged, was refused by the Court, and after a court battle, it was finally set aside, a prominent lawyer was sent to the state penitentiary, and the estate was turned over the the heirs. His wife was Lydia Jane Woolsey, d/o Sylvester Woolsey, of PA.


ON-LINE: Ancestry.com - San Diego Union-Tribune (CA), Obit. 1998-1999. 3 Apr 2000. page B:8.
L. A. Private detective dies in accident while on case. - Ted Woolsey, 60, died late Wednesday when his rental car struck a concrete divider and flipped over, officials said. During a lengthy career, Woolsey worked on some of the city's most notorious crimes.

During the last 10 years, Woolsey earned the respect of criminal defense attorneys for his work on cases that seemed unsolvable. His caseload included 28 murder trials, with 16 of them death penalty cases. He worked for attorneys representing Lyle Menendez in the Menendez brothers trial; Jeremy Strohmeyer in the Nevada casino killing of a young girl; and Glendale fire Capt John Orr, who was charged with four arson deaths.

The former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was engaged in an all-out search for Ariane Miyasaki, who disappeared 15 months ago at age 13. Ariane's father, Ken Miyasaki, a dentistry professor at the university of California Los Angeles, has alleged the Culver City Police Department botched the investigation and failed to interview two key witnesses to his daughter's 5 Jan 1999, disappearance.

Woolsey was in Georgia last week searching for Jesse James Williams, 26, an ex-felon who was last seen with Ariane and the 14-year-old girl with whom she disappeared. Williams, who is also known as "Jester," was extradited to Los Angeles in the fall after violated parole in Seattle. Culver City police, however, did not interrogate Williams before a judge released him and he disappeared.

Culver City police have denied mishandling the case. Woolsey learned that Williams told a probation department worker he planned on returning to his family in Georgia. Woolsey lost control of his car on the Bobby Jones Expressway and died from head injuries, said Richmond County Coroner Leroy Sims.

" I'm in shock," said a stunned Ken Miyasaki when he learned of Woolsey's death. "If the police had done their job, he would not have had to be back there."

Woolsey is survived by his wife, Stacy, and his 9-year-old son, Baily. Services were set for today at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena.


LAW: Database: LegalTrac Court grants speedy trial request. (Illinois Supreme Court). CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN, 21 NOV 1990 v136n229 p1 16 col. in. Author: David Heckelman. Subjects: Murder - Litigation. Speedy Trial - Litigation. Jurisdictions: Illinois. People: Thomas E. Woolsey, - Litigation. AN: 09665137.



PHOTOS



William Andrew Woolsey



WILLIAM ANDREW8 WOOLSEY (JOSEPH7, RICHARD6, THOMAS5, RICHARD4, THOMAS3, GEORGE "JORIS"2, GEORGE SR1) was born January 01, 1833 in IL - Randolph County, and died December 08, 1893 in UT - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake. He married (1) EMILY M BRAZIER January 18, 1857 in CA - Alameda County. She was born Abt 1836 in MO. He married (2) ANN JONES Abt 1872 in UT. She was born 1833 in ENG, and died 1910 in UT - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake.



Ola Woolsey



I am writing you since you had an entry on "Ola Woolsey" (on the internet or at Ancestry.com). Perhaps she was related (a niece?) to the "Ola Woolsey" in the enclosed photo, which my late-grandmother, Clesta Cook [m. Chase] had saved.

Clesta wrote on the back: "Clesta [at right] with Friends Lurene Fox (who we called "Foxey", with the fan; she died in 1926) & Ola Woolsey. Sorority friends, both girls are from Hancock, NY." [Ola is the one doing the (fake!) strangling.]

They would have been Chi Omega "sisters" at Syracuse University, NY (Class of 1925?). My grandmother was born in 1901, and she passed away in 1904.

In any event, I hope you like the photo and/or can pass it on to someone who may have known this Ola Woolsey (or Lurene Fox?). Perhaps the NY Woolseys are related to the MO Woolseys??

I would be interested to hear if we do make a "connection." Perhaps we can share other family information. - Melissa



Unknown Woolsey


I have this photo dated to 1863-7 by the New Haven, CT, photographer listed on the bottom. It is just my hunch that he is a Woolsey. He looks like Harriett Louisa Woolsey (1838-1915) to me, but appears too young to be Isaac, yet too old to be a brother. - Beth Church Reed


CORR:
2009 January 21 from Robin Landgren
To: Wilford Whitaker
Subject: Info on a Woolsey Photo

I was most struck by your picture above Unknown Woolsey taken by New Haven CT photographer.

I have two pictures in my family that look so similar. You said you are unsure of who it is. I do not know who it is but perhaps can shed some light on the dating of the photograph.


Robert Seville (died 1857)

Isabella Seville (died 1865)


My pictures are of Robert Seville and his wife, Isabella Gale Seville. Robert died in 1857 (she died abt 1865)and I have picture of his headstone. While they lived in Pennsylvania, I thought this information may help you to further zero in on the identity of your person. Perhaps your dates for this picture should be set back a few more years?



Shirley Woolsey
from Waupaca County, WI
Submitted by Jim Richardson.



WOOLSEY PRISONERS


CENSUS:
1900 June 4, Salt Lake Sugar Pct - Series: T623 Roll: 1685 Page: 177
Woolsey, W H, convict, w, m, Feb, 45 (born 1845), age 55, mrd 35 years, born IL, father KY, mother IL, farmer, able to read and write


CORR:
2005 December 2 from Wilford Whitaker
From my notes, I have 133 individuals who are connected [either in front of or behind bars] with a "prison". Of course, some of these are duplications and some are not Woolseys. Before I mention W. H. Woolsey specifically, I'll give the following:

  1. I have Woolseys in prison for Burglary and Larceny
  2. One Woolsey that is a "keeper" at Sing Sing - [guard? or warden?]
  3. At least two Woolseys who were in the infamous CSA Andersonville Prison
  4. During the Rev. War, one Woolsey was in the "Sugar House Prison" and at least one was a prisoner of the dreadful British prison ships.
  5. One Woolsey had a father-in-law that was a noted Tory and was hanged
  6. At least one African American [black] named Woolsey was in the Confederate army and became a prisoner of war of the Union Army
  7. There were at least two Woolseys in the Utah State Prison
  8. There was a Woolsey, who was "Cherokee & white" behind bars
  9. One Woolsey was accused of murder in the 1800's

Now as to W. H. Woolsey of the 1900 Census of Utah: W. H. Woolsey wrote in a very legible and concise hand, and in Jan 1900 he wrote to the governor of Utah and asked for a pardon, because:

  1. He was innocent [!!]
  2. He was framed [by a co-conspirator, who pled out and placed the blame on W.H.]
  3. He had been accused of "stealing one steer", but he always maintained that, as they were "rounding up the cattle", that they should not include "Larson's steer".
  4. Even the warden of the prison wrote a letter of recommendation and said he had "good conduct" and was a "grade one convict".
  5. And, finally, a petition was circulated and 83 of his friends and neighbors signed and begged the governor to pardon him. It appears he was still in prison when the census was taken 4 Jun 1900.
I have been unable to connect him to my Utah Woolseys, probably because no one wants to claim a "cattle rustler" as an ancestor, but he belongs in there somewhere.

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Wilford Whitaker

Carolyn Woolsey Wilkerson