Thomas Woolsey (1772 - 1815)

Born 1772 in Marlboro, Ulster, New York

Ancestors

Died 21 Aug 1815 at about age 43 in Saugerties, Ulster County, New York

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Biography

Married Rebecca Gedney. b: 1767 in Newburgh, Ulster County, New York

Children

Charity Woolsey b: ABT 1797 in New York

Asbury Woolsey b: BET 1790 AND 1800

Eleazer W. Woolsey b: BET 1800 AND 1810

Fletcher Woolsey b: BET 1800 AND 1810

Life

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).

WILLS Abstracts of Wills. Recorded at Kingston, Ulster, New York FHL film# 17987. p. 19 B:310-311. 4 Apr 1796. David Gidney - Legacies to brothers: Eleazer, Joshua and William Gidney when brother William becomes 18. Balance to brother Jacob. Exors: Jacob & Eleazer. Wits: Thomas Woolsey & Eleaser Gidney, Eleaser Gidney, Jr. Proved 25 Jun 1796.

Sources

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=snilr&id=I06264