Jane was born 7 Feb 1830 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States. Her parents were Charles William Woolsey and Jane Eliza Newton Woolsey.
In 1840 and 1850, Jane was living with her family in New York City. Her mother Jane (transcribed Eliza J) was widowed and the head of household. The 1840 Census shows 1 male under 5, and 11 females: 3 under 5, 3 from 5-9, 1 from 10-14, 2 from 15-19, 1 from 20-29, 1 from 30-39, and the 1850 Census details are in the table below. Both appear to include servants.[1][2]
Household | Role | Sex | Age | Birthplace | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jane E Woolsey | head | F | 48 | Virginia | |
Abby H Woolsey | F | 22 | Virginia | ||
Jane S Woolsey | F | 20 | New York | ||
Mary E Woolsey | F | 18 | England | ||
Georgianna M Woolsey | F | 16 | New York | ||
Eliza M Woolsey | F | 15 | Massachusetts | ||
Harriet R Woolsey | F | 13 | Massachusetts | ||
Chas W Woolsey | M | 10 | Massachusetts | ||
Mary R Adams | F | 50 | Virginia | ||
Ellen Mooney | F | 23 | Ireland | ||
Martha Moran | F | 22 | Ireland | ||
Mary J Taylor | F | 23 | Ireland |
She served in the Civil war as a nurse along with her mother Jane Eliza Newton Woolsey and sisters Georgeanna Muirson Woolsey Bacon, Eliza Newton Woolsey Howland, and Mary Elizabeth Woolsey Howland.
Jane participated in the first meetings of the Woman's Central Association of Relief (precursor to the U.S. Sanitary Commission), shortly after the start of the Civil War in the spring of 1861. She hated slavery and was driven to participate in the Union cause in any way she could. Initially, she visited local hospitals in New York City, and began caring for soldiers with horrific wounds.
Jane received training in hospital management in 1863 at Lovell General Hospital in Rhode Island under "Lady Superintendent" Katharine Wormeley. While working at Lovell General, she was invited to become the Superintendent of Nurses at the Fairfax Seminary Hospital near Alexandria, Virginia, and remained there until August 1865.
In 1868, Jane published "Hospital Days, Reminiscence of a Civil War Nurse."
She remained active in the nursing profession after the war as Resident Directoress at the New York City Presbyterian Hospital from 1872 to 1876. Her sister Abby was appointed clerk and together they organized the administration of the new hospital.
At the Lincoln Industrial School for Freedmen in Richmond, Virginia and the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute in Hampton, Virginia, she taught sewing and housework classes to the newly-freed.
In 1880, Jane was living in the home of her sister Abby in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, United States. [3]
Household | Role | Sex | Age | Birthplace | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abby H Woolsey | head | F | 51 | Virginia | keeping house |
Jane S Woolsey | sister | F | 49 | New York | |
Ellen Carrey | servant | F | 43 | Ireland | house servant |
Mary E Carrey | servant | F | 20 | New York | house servant |
Ann T Corey | servant | F | 24 | Canada | house servant |
Letitia Whitlock | servant | F | 33 | New York | house servant |
George F Whitlock | M | 10 | New York | at school |
She passed away on 9 Jun 1891 in Fishkill, Dutchess, New York, and is buried in Woolsey Cemetery in Glen Cove, Nassau, New York. [4]
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W > Woolsey > Jane Stuart Woolsey
Categories: Kings County, New York | Nurses, United States Civil War | Fishkill, New York | Woolsey Cemetery, Glen Cove, New York