To any interested Woolsey researcher: One never knows where one's research efforts will lead. It appears that our Immigrant Ancestor George Woolsey was an active participant in one of New York's ship master's first attempt to bribe a public official. I haven't determined which of the two Thomas Willets made this bribe. It was probably the first one below. ?? 1. Thomas Willet who became a mayor of New York and lived for some time. Not related to George Woolsey. 2. Thomas Willet, the soldier, who was George Woolsey's brother-in-law, who had married Rebecca Cornell Woolsey's sister, Sarah Cornell, and died quite young. JORSE WOLSEY and The Bribery of A Customs' Official The 31 May 1646 may be the date of the first attempted effort of a sea captain, Thomas Willet, to bribe the Nieu Amsterdam Customs Official, Fiscal van Dyck. Our Immigrant Ancestor was a witness and here we have the deposition that he stated as to what he had witnessed, and done. [Not sure that this Thomas Willet is George's brother-in-law.] 1646 31 May 1646. The fiscal, plaintiff, vs. Jorse Wolsy, defendant. Plaintiff, having seized some powder which was not entered, demands its confiscation. Defendant says that it belongs to Allerton, his master, and requests delay until his master shall have come back from New England, which is granted him. [IBID. p. 255] [Artwork ] Whereas for some years past all free traders here in New Netherland have duty on all peltries purchased and bartered by them here and exported to the fatherland by every opportunity of ships, the council have therefore considered it highly necessary to established a fixed duty, in order that each person may know what impost he has to pay. Therefore, it is resolved that the duty shall be computed as follows; On every exported merchantable beaver skin shall be paid 15 stivers, two halves being counted as one whole and three drielings as two whole beavers; on each other and bear skin 15 stivers; on each elk hide 15 stivers, and on the other furs of less value according to circumstances. Thus done in Council. Present: The honorable Dir Willem Kieft, late director; Mr. Dincklagen, Mr. La Mongagne, Lt. Nuton, Paulus Leenersz, commissary of naval stores & Jan Claesz Bol. 23 Jul 1847. Jan Dollinghj from Bristol, aged about 32 years, being legally summoned to court, declares that whe! n Mr. Bratton´s bark a short time ago was about to sail, it was found that Mr. Bratton aforesaid must pay 50 Carolus guilders duty on the goods which were sold by him here. Fiscal van Dyck came and demanded the aforesaid duty and said to Mr. Bratton: "Fifty guilders is too much for the honorable Company; give the Company 30 guilders and me ten guilders." The deponent declares that he paid the said ten guilders to the fiscal in seawan in the Great Tavern and handed him a note for 30 guilders for the Company in payment of the duty. The deponent declares that he heard from Joris Wolsey and Ritchert Clof that Mr. Tomas Willet made the above named fiscal a present of a veaver on condition that he should not inspect his bark. Thus done in council in Fort Amsterdam, dated as above. Richard Clof from Manchester, aged 40 years, being legally summoned to court, declares that he heard Mr. Willet say that the honorable fiscal came to inspect the bark of the said Willet. The aforesaid Willet said in the deponent´s presence in the house of Isaack Allerton that he said to Fiscal van Dyck when he came on board to make his inspection that it was too much trouble to open the hold and to overhaul things and that in doing so he would lose much time. He promised to give Fiscal van Dyck a beaver if he would not inspect. Deponent further declares that Gorge Wolsey carried a veaver. The deponent asked where he was going with it. Wolsey answered, he was going to take the beaver to Fiscal van Dyck. [IBID, p., 320.] 1647 23 July Declaration of George Woolsey that Fiscal van Dyck accepted a bribe from Thomas Willett to let his bark sail without inspection. [160d] At the request of the Honorable Director General Petrus Stuyvesant and the council of New Netherland Gorge Wolsey, aged about twenty-six years, from Yarmouth in Old England, attests, testifies and declares in the presence of Captain Lieutenant Nuton (Captain Bryan Newton) and Jan Claessen Bol, captain of the ship De Princes, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if need be, that on the Saturday last Fiscal van Dyck came on board Mr. Tomas Willit´s bark to inspect it and [he, the deponent,] heard the above mentioned Mr. Willit say at Mr. Isaac Allerton´s house that because he must be away he had presented the above named Fiscal van Dyck with a beaver, in order that he would not lose his time by clearing things away and in order that the fiscal would be content to let him sail unhindered; which beaver he, Gorge Wolsey, placed! in the hands of the said fiscal himself. The deponent, in the presence of the aforesaid councilors, declares this to be true and offers to confirm the same on oath. Done in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 23d of July A . 1647. [signed] Joris Wolsy. Acknowledged before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. Has anyone made a study of the Dutch currency? Is it revealing to learn that these people were human, too? And only points up that old adage "That there is nothing new under the sun!" I don't have the dates at hand but it was about this time that George Woolsey was chosen as one of the "chimney inspectors" (first firemen in New York) and had the power to levy fines, pull down chimneys and in other ways try to make the town safer. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker