EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL AND DIARY OF
RICHARD I. WOOLSEY
of Milton, Ulster County, New York
Richard I. Woolsey was born in the town of Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, on 18 Jan 1771. He was the son of the Revolutionary soldier, Ensign William Woolsey and his wife (Abigail Northrup). He lived his entire life in that vicinity. He was twice-married: first to Jane ___, (whose maiden surname is not known) by whom he had no known issue, - secondly to Cloe (Chlorene) Woolsey (daughter of John and Cloe (Peck) Woolsey of the town of Marlborough), by whom he had six children, viz: David W., Thomas, John, Amanda, Electa and Clorine. He was a farmer and Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of his township. His Journal and Diary was begun in January 1819 and was kept until his death, 31 Jul 1851. He was buried in the Methodist Church Cemetery in Milton, New York. The Diary and Journal is now (1922) in the possession of the grandson of Richard I. Woolsey, Captain Cyprian Meech Woolsey of Milton, New York, who is the author of a History of the Town of Marlborough, New York. The last three items here published were entered after the death of Richard I. Woolsey.
| 1822 |
November 26: |
This day at ten o´clock in the morning, Jonathan Woolsey [8838] departed this life. [Uncle of Richard I. Woolsey, see letter below] |
| 1827 |
March 11: |
Richard Woolsey deceased. [unkn] |
| 1837 |
June 5: |
Sent my church drill to John G. Woolsey, b 1813, parents not known |
| 1838 |
Sept. 22 |
Daniel Knoulton deceased. [unkn] |
| 1839 |
January 18: |
My birthday [i.e. Richard I. Woolsey´s birthday]. |
| 1839 |
January 21: |
Henry Woolsey deceased. [unkn] |
| |
|
James Fowler dead. [unkn] |
| 1839 |
July 26: |
Alfred Lewis deceased at 1 this A.M. [unkn] Attended his funeral Thursday |
| 1839 |
August 9: |
Nath´l Woolsey´s cow in pasture. [10676] Brother of Richard Woolsey |
| |
26: |
Thomas J____? died. [unkn] |
| 1840 |
Jan. 1: |
William Bolton deceased. [unkn] |
| |
Mar. 6: |
A visit [from] B. William [probably Brother William Woolsey]. |
| |
Aug 25: |
Walter Woolsey dec´d at 4 1/2 P.M., s/o Thomas Woolsey, s/o Richard I. Woolsey |
| |
Sept 1: |
Benjamin Sands deceased. [unkn] |
| |
Nov 7: |
Ester Rhoads deceased at 9 evening. [unkn] |
| 1841 |
Mar 17: |
Philip Fowler perished in the snow. [unkn] |
| |
Sept. 30: |
Elezer Woolsey departed this life, s/o Stephen, s/o Josiah, s/o Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler. |
| 1841 |
Oct 2: |
Cornelius Lewis also deceased, s/o Ruth Woolsey, d/o Daniel Woolsey, s/o Richard Woolsey & Sarah Fowler |
| 1842 |
February 18: |
Sara Anna wife of Thomas Woolsey departed this life at 4 o´clock P.M., s/o Richard I. Woolsey |
| 1843 |
Mar. 19: |
Departed this life William Woolsey Wood at 1/4 after 9 morning and his brother Edward at 12 at night. [both unkn] |
| |
July 6: |
John Wood deceased in the evening. [unkn] |
| |
Oct. 3: |
Pathy Townsend deceased. [unkn] |
| 1844 |
Mar. 27: |
Mycagy Lewis deceased. [unkn] |
| 1845 |
Sept. 2: |
Sarah Wood widow of John Wood deceased. [unkn] |
| 1846 |
January 18: |
Zephaniah Northrap deceased. [s/o Ebenezer Northrop & Rebecca Woolsey, d/o Rev. Woolsey and Sarah Lewis. |
| 1847 |
Jan. 25: |
Abigal, wife of James Woolsey, deceased. [James, a brother of Richard I. Woolsey.] |
| |
Apr. 29: |
Stephe Woolsey deceased. [unkn] |
| |
May 2: |
Richard Rhoads deceased. [unkn] |
| |
May 19: |
Mrs. Gillis deceased. [unkn] |
| |
July 31: |
This day the steamboat Niagara burst her steampipe killing George Patten and William Wygant and scalding a ****** others. [both unkn] |
| |
Nov. 1: |
Melki Gillis dyed. [unkn] |
| |
Nov. 3: |
Phily Wheeler died. [unkn] |
| 1848 |
Oct.19: |
deceased Phebe Woolsey [d/o Joseph Woolsey & Mary Haight], 4th wife of Noah Woolsey, deceased. [s/o Rev. William Woolsey & Sarah Lewis. |
| 1849 |
July 19: |
Benjamin Townsand deceased. [unkn] |
| |
July 21: |
Doctor William Gedney deceased at nine A.M. [unkn] |
| |
Aug 29: |
Amanda Woolsey departed this life at 6 o´clock, A.M. [d/o Richard Woolsey & Cloe] |
| |
Sept 29: |
Charlot, wife of Jacob Rowley, died. [unkn] |
| |
Oct. 1: |
Rebecah, wife of Elezar Gidny, died. [unkn] |
| 1850 |
Jan. 24: |
Reverend Elijah Woolsey died. Author: Supernumary s/o Capt. John & Cloe |
| |
Feb. 12: |
Lidy, widow of Nemiah L. Smith, departed this life. [unkn] |
| |
Feb. 25: |
Abraham Tuttle died. [unkn] |
| |
May 5: |
Curtis W. Northrip departed this life, 3 o´clock, P.M. [s/o Zephaniah Woolsey & Esther Merritt] |
| |
May 30: |
Elijah Woolsey deceased, son of Henry [& Sarah, s/o Capt John & Cloe |
| |
June 17: |
Departed this life, Abigal Woolsey, Relic of Stephen Woolsey. [unkn] |
| |
July 27: |
Elisabeth Lyon deceased, wife of Dan´l King. [unkn] |
| |
Dec. 2: |
Mary Harcourt, wife of Ely Dubois. [unkn] |
| 1851 |
Jan 1: |
Mobury Carpenter deceased. [unkn] |
| |
Feb. 5: |
Mical Wigant dead. [unkn] |
| |
Feb. 6: |
John Sands dyed [unkn] |
| |
___ 7: |
Bernerd Bond deceased. [unkn] |
| |
June 12: |
Capt. Josiah Lockwood deceased. [unkn] |
| |
July 1: |
Nathaniel Harcourt deceased. [unkn] |
| |
July 31: |
Departed this life, Richard I. Woolsey, Ae. 80 years. |
| |
Nov 28: |
Departed this life, Thomas Woolsey, son of Richard I. Woolsey, Ae. 43 years. |
| 1852 |
Apr 23: |
Departed this life, Chloe Woolsey, daughter of Richard I. Woolsey, Ae. 45 years. |
HEIRS OF NOAH WOOLSEY
Marlborough, New York
by W. Herbert Wood, B.A., F.A.S.G, New Haven, Connecticut
Two decades or more ago, this petition for administration in the files of the Surrogate of Ulster County, N.Y., was copied because of the wealth of genealogical material it contained. Recently it was consulted again and found to be in tatters and a part of it gone. To ensure its preservation, it is here published. Very few documents of this nature show so large a related group of people.
On (31) March 1832, Richard I. Woolsey in a petition for Letters Testamentary in the matter of the estate of Noah Woolsey (William 4, William 3, Thomas 2, George 1) states that Noah Woolsey died on or about 5 March 1832 (aged 82 by gravestone) in the town of Marlborough and left Phebe, his wife, but no issue, and that the heirs at law are:
Richard I. Woolsey, the petitioner, of Marlborough, Rachel Cronkite, widow, of Washington Co., Nathan Woolsey of Cortland Co., Sarah Humphrey of Wayne Co. (Tioga Co., elsewhere), James Woolsey, of Orange Co., and William Woolsey, of New York City, children of William Woolsey, dec´d, a brother of the testator (Noah).
Roger Gale, Plat Gale, Henry Gale, Josiah Gale, Benjamin Gale, and Sally Gale, res. unknown, children of Henry and Betsey Gale, both dec´d, Betsey was a child of William Woolsey, brother of the testator (Noah).
Abigail, w. of Jonathan Westcot, Catharine, w. of Seneca Weed, Milenda, w. of Miller Hoyt, Richard Drake, Hannah, w. of Ezra Westcot, Jane, w. of Stephen Hyatt, and Polly, w. of Jonathan Calkins, children of Josiah Drake and his w. Polly, who was a daughter of William Woolsey, brother of the testator (Noah), all of Saratoga Co.
Dorcas, w. of John Dingham, res. unknown, Polly, w. of William Fowler, of Utica, Oneida Co., Deborah, w. of Noah Woolsey, Jr., of New York City, Hannah, w. of Abraham Dubois, and Owen Wright, of Orange Co., children of Stephen Wright and his w. Jane, both dec´d, and Jane was a daughter of William Woolsey, brother of the testator (Noah).
Nathaniel Woolsey, Esther, w. of Stephen Rhoades, Clarissa, w. of William Rhoades, of Milton, Ulster Co., Sarah, w. of Samuel Wood, res. unknown, Prudence, w. of Ichabod Warner, and Joshua M. Woolsey, Of Green Co., and Polly w. of Dact Spencer, dec´d, no heirs known, of Otsego Co., children of Richard Woolsey, dec´d, brother of the testator (Noah).
Smith Woolsey, Mary Ann, w. of Samuel Purdy, of Ulster Co., Phileta, w. of Stephen Ward, of Orange Co., Noah Woolsey, James Woolsey, Hiram Woolsey, Hannah M. Woolsey, Margaret Woolsey, and Julia Woolsey, which said Noah, James, Hiram, Hannah M., Margaret, and Julia, are minors, residing in Ulster Co., children of Richard Woolsey, Jr., dec´d, son of Richard Woolsey, brother of the testator (Noah).
Samuel Lyon, and Eliza, w. of Jesse Gordon, of Wayne, Steuben Co., Polly, w. of Charles Rutgers, Delia, the w. of _____, and Ruth Lyon, and Phebe Lyon, of Marlborough, minors, children of Jesse Lyon and Phebe, his wife, who is dec´d, which said Phebe was the daughter of said Richard Woolsey, brother of the testator (Noah).
Sarah Woolsey, Philip Woolsey, Hannah, w. of Benjamin Anthony, of Marlborough, Cenith, w. of Charles Frost, of Orange Co., Ruth Woolsey, Milo Woolsey, Esther, w. of Anthony Denue, of Troy, N.Y., Penina, w. of John Holmes, John Woolsey and William Woolsey, res. unknown, children of Jonathan Woolsey, dec´d, brother of the testator (Noah).
William Avery, Elisha (crossed out) Avery, Stephen Avery, Sarah, w. of Henry Pratt, Alanson Avery, Serena Avery, Mary, widow of David Chapman, Ruhamy, widow of Nathan Sniffen, Alfred Avery, and Autha, w. of Isaac Lyon, of Westchester Co., grandchildren and children of Enoch Avery and Dorcas, his wife, said Dorcas the sister of the said testator (Noah), dec´d.
Sarah, w. of Zephaniah Woolsey, a sister of the said testator (Noah), whose residence is unknown.
Zephaniah Northrop, of Milton, Ulster Co., Abraham Northrop, of Madison Co., and James Northrop, John Northrop, and Sarah, w. of Jesse Wright (which said Jesse is dead and the said Sarah married again), whose residence is unknown, all the children of Rebecca, w. of Ebenezer Northrop, both dec´d, which said Rebecca was the sister of the testator (Noah). [end of article]
The parents of the above Richard I. Woolsey were Ensign William Woolsey and Abigail Northrup. Ensign William Woolsey was a brother of Jonathan Woolsey (who married Rebecca Knoulton) and also a brother of Sarah Woolsey (who married Zephaniah Woolsey), children of the Revolutionary War veteran Reverend William Woolsey and Sarah Lewis. Jonathan and Rebecca remained in New Marlborough, Ulster County, New York, but Sarah Woolsey and her husband, Zephaniah Woolsey, (son of John Woolsey and Mary Sammis) removed to Greene County, Tennessee, with Sarah and Jonathan Woolsey's parents Rev. William Woolsey and Sarah Lewis.
LETTER OF JONATHAN WOOLSEY
[s/o Rev. Wm & Saral Lewis] and his wife Rebecca Knoulton
to his sister [of Greene County, Tennessee]
SARAH WOOLSEY and her husband Zephaniah Woolsey [s/o John W. & Mary Sammis] 11 Sep 1796
[The following letter which seems to be a personal letter is very badly torn and faded:]
New Marlbrough Sept 11 1796 Loving Brother and Sister
I have taken opportunity to let you know that we are all well at present thanks be to the Lord for his mercy hoping these few Lines Will find you and your family in the same good health We Remember hours [our] kind Love to you and all your famly and [inquirings?] friends all ours Brothers are all well at present Richard has Lost his wife Last Spring I have nothing strang to wright at present But I remain your Loving Brother and Sister Death [pin] wrot to you that I was Coming dow ther But I could not com this fall But I mean to come as quick as I can and I wont you [most of the next three lines missing, mostly torn or worn out] truily you can have we have had no letter this two years and of wont you to wright how times is there it is hard times hears at present I have a great family I have eight children I long to see you all or more I have nothing Strang to wright at present but I Remain your Loving Brother and Sister till do Death
Jonathan and Rebeckah Woolsey to Zephaniah and Sarah Woolsey.
In W. Herbert Wood file in NYG&B Society library, copied by www.
INDEX to DIARY
| ______, Jane |
First wife of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Anthony, Sara Anna |
Wife of Thomas Woolsey, son of Richard Woolsey and Cloe |
| Bolton, William |
Unknown |
| Bond, Bernerd |
Unknown |
| Carpenter, Mobury |
Unknown |
| Dubois, Ely |
Husband of Mary Harcourt |
| Fowler, James |
Unknown |
| Fowler, Philip |
Unknown |
| J_____, Thomas |
Unknown |
| Gedney, Dr. William |
Unknown |
| Gidney, Elezar |
Husband of Rebecca Gidney, unknown |
| Gidney, Rebecca |
Wife of Elezar Gidney, maiden name unknown |
| Gillis, Melki |
Unknown |
| Gillis, Mrs. |
Unknown |
| Harcourt, Mary |
Wife of Ely Dubois, unknown |
| Harcourt, Nathaniel |
Unknown |
| King, Daniel |
Husband of Elisabeth Lyon |
| Knoulton, Daniel |
Unknown |
| Lewis, Alfred |
Unknown |
| Lewis, Cornelius |
Unknown |
| Lewis, Mycagy |
Unknown |
| Lockwood, Abigail |
Dau of Richard Lockwood, wife of James Woolsey, brother of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Lockwood, Josiah CaptainUnknown |
Unknown |
| Lyon, Elisabeth |
Wife of Daniel King |
| Northrup, Abigail |
Wife of Ensign William Woolsey, parents of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Northrip, Curtis W. |
Son of Zephaniah Northrip and Ester Merritt, s/o Ebenezer Northrup & Rebecca Woolsey, d/o Rev. William W. |
| Northrap, Zephaniah |
Son of Ebenezer Northrop and Rebecca Woolsey, d/o Rev. William Woolsey & Sarah Lewis |
| Patten, George |
Unknown, died in explosion of Steamer Niagara |
| Peck, Cloe (Chlorine) |
2nd wife of Richard I. Woolsey, d/o John Woolsey & Chlorine Peck |
| Peck, Cloe (Chlorine) |
Wife of John Woolsey |
| Rhoads, Ester |
Unknown |
| Rhoads, Richard |
Unknown |
| Rowley, Charlot |
Wife of Jacob Rowley, maiden name unknown |
| Rowley, Jacob |
Husband of Charlot Rowley, Unknown |
| Sands, Benjamin |
Unknown |
| Sands, John |
Unknown |
| Smith, Lidy |
Wife of Nemiah L. Smith, maiden name unknown |
| Smith, Nemiah L. |
Husband of Lidy Smith, unknown |
| Steamboat Niagara |
31 Jul 1847 - burst her steampipe |
| Townsand, Benjamin |
Unknown |
| Townsend, Pathy |
Unknown |
| Tuttle, Abraham |
Unknown |
| Wheeler, Phily |
Unknown |
| Wood, Edward |
Unknown, brother of William Woolsey Wood |
| Wood, John |
Unknown |
| Wood, Sarah |
Widow of John Wood - maiden name unknown |
| William Woolsey |
Unknown |
| Woolsey, Abigail |
Wife of James Woolsey, a brother of Richard I. Woolsey. Maiden name unknown |
| Woolsey, Abigail |
Relic of Stephen Woolsey, maiden name Woolsey?
|
| Woolsey, Amanda |
Dau of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Clorine |
Dau of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
|
Woolsey, Cyprian Meech |
Son of David William Woolsey, son of Richard Woolsey & Cloe |
| Woolsey, David William |
Son of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Eleazer |
Son of Stephen Woolsey, son of Josiah Woolsey, son of Richard Woolsey & Sarah Fowler |
| Woolsey, Electa |
Dau of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Elijah |
Son of Henry Woolsey, son of Henry Woolsey & Sarah, son of Captain John Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Elijah Reverend |
Son of Captain John Woolsey and Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Henry |
Unknown |
| Woolsey, James |
Husband of Abigail Woolsey. James a brother of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe |
| Woolsey, Jonathan |
Uncle of Richard I. Woolsey (See Letter) |
| Woolsey, John (Captain) |
Husband of Cloe Peck, s/o Richard Woolsey & Sarah Fowler |
| Woolsey, John |
Son of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, John G. |
Unknown, there is a John G. Woolsey, b abt 1813 - parents not known |
| Woolsey, Nathaniel |
Brother of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Woolsey, Noah |
Son of Rev. William Woolsey & Sarah Lewis. Noah was an uncle of Richard I. Woolsey. |
| Woolsey, Phoebe |
d/o of Joseph W. s/o Richard W. & Sarah Fowler, 4th Wife of Noah Woolsey, s/o Wm W. & Sarah Lewis |
| Woolsey, Richard |
Unknown - died 11 Mar 1827 |
| Woolsey, Richard I. |
Son of Ensign William Woolsey and Abigail Northrup |
| Woolsey, Stephe (Stephen) |
Husband of Abigail Woolsey, his parents unknown |
| Woolsey, Thomas |
Son of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe Peck |
| Woolsey, Walter |
Son of Thomas Woolsey & Sarah Ann Anthony, son of Richard I. Woolsey & Cloe |
| Woolsey, Brother (William) |
Brother of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Woolsey, William (Ensign) |
Husband of Abigail Northrup, parents of Richard I. Woolsey |
| Wigant, Mical |
Unknown |
| Wygant, William |
Unknown, died in explosion of Steamer Niagara |
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