To Norb Woolsey and interested Woolsey researchers: This is a three-part reply to Norb Woolsey, of Tucson, and his query regarding the two Samuel Woolseys, one of Lawrence County, Tennessee, and one of Washington County, Arkansas. 1. First of all, I'm going to talk about the GILBERT family. If anyone can add to this, it would be greatly appreciated. One Reverend Samuel GILBERT seems to have been in Westchester and Ulster Counties, New York. Much of what I give following is conjecture and educated guesses, so no one should accept it at face value, as yet. But Rev. Samuel GILBERT seems to have followed the same migration as our Reverend Thomas Woolsey of Westchester County, New York, and Washington (and Smyth) County, Virginia. Rev. Samuel GILBERT may have had the following children: 1. Stephen Gilbert, b 5 Aug 1762 of Salem, Westchester, New York, d 25 Jun 1844, at Salem, Westchester, New York. He md Sarah _______ abt 1785. 2. Phoebe Gilbert, b 10 May 1763 at Esopus, Ulster, New York, d 1835, possibly in Greene County, Tennessee. She md 1) abt 1779, probably in Washington Co, VA, Rev. Thomas Woolsey, Jr. (son of Rev Thomas Woolsey, above) and she md 2) 10 Jan 1799 in Greene Co, Tennessee, to Giles Parman, Sr. 3. Mary Gilbert, b abt 1767, probably in New York, died abt 1846 in Clarksville, Red River, Texas, md 14 Jun 1787 in Greene County, Tennessee, to John Woolsey IV - (War of 1812). 4. Hannah Gilbert, b 1771, probably in Washington Co, VA and died 1855 in Henry County, Tennessee, and buried in the Breedlove Cemetery. She md abt 1792, possibly in Greene Co, Tennessee to Thomas Haynes. 5. Cassandra Gilbert [Gilbird], b 20 May 1773, Tennessee [?www], died bef 1820, Greene Co, Tennessee. She md 1 Sep 1801, Greene Co, Tennessee, to Samuel Woolsey who d 25 Nov 1844 in Lawrence Co, Tennessee. I don't think that this was any coincidence that this group of Woolseys married into this Gilbert family, but rather there were close connections between the GILBERTS and WOOLSEYS. Can anyone shed further light on this family? 2. Second, I'm going to discuss the wonderfully convoluted, intermarriages of several branches of our WOOLSEY family. One needs a precise "roadmap" to keep these families all straight. Again, some of this is conjecture and should not be incorporated into your family history until [unless] proven!! Samuel WOOLSEY b 1 Jan 1774 in Washington Co, VA, d 25 Nov 1844, Lawrence Co, TN, md 1 Sep 1801 in Greene Co, TN, to Cassandra Gilbert (above). They had a large family and Norb Woolsey thinks that his ancestor James WOOLSEY b 22 Nov 1813, Greene Co, TN, d 11 Oct/23 Oct 1871, in Desoto Co, MS, and md abt 1843, in Desoto Co, MS, to Elizabeth Stone is a son of this Samuel WOOLSEY. We find this Samuel WOOLSEY in the Court Docket Minutes of Lawrence Co, TN from 1818-1822, as well as in the 1820 Census of Lawrence Co, TN. In 1830 Samuel WOOLSEY buys land in Lawrence Co, TN and sells that land in 1834, he signed his name with an "X". It appears that Samuel WOOLSEY may have been i! n the War of 1812. We find a Samuel WOOLSEY in the 1840 census of Limestone Co, Alabama, but not known if the same as Samuel of Lawrence Co, TN. This Samuel WOOLSEY who md Cassandra Gilbert is the son of John Woolsey III and his 2nd wife Sarah Oliphant. [Samuel WOOLSEY, s/o John Woolsey & Sarah Oliphant, s/o John Woolsey II & Mary Sammis, s/o John Woolsey & Abigail (Stephenson?), s/o George Woolsey & Rebecca Cornell, our immigrant ancestors.) I have found evidence that Mary Sammis above, wife of John WOOLSEY II, could be the daughter of Mary Cornish, but the name of Mary's father is unknown at this time. Also I have a pedigree of Sarah Oliphant above, 2nd wife of John Woolsey III, showing her parents and grandparents. I haven't tracked them down but the names came from the Oliphant - List on rootsweb.com. 3. Third, I guess the "wonderfully convuluted, intermarriages" begin here, as I discuss the other Samuel (Gilbert) WOOLSEY of Farmington (Fayetteville), Washington Co, Arkansas. Samuel Gilbert WOOLSEY b 31 Aug 1791, Greene Co, TN, d 1858 near Farmington, Washington, AR, md 11 Jan 1810, Randolph Co, IL to Matilda Thompson b 20 Jan 1794, , Kentucky, d 1871, Farmington, Washington, AR. They had a large family. [Samuel Gilbert WOOLSEY was the s/o John WOOLSEY IV and Mary GILBERT (above). John WOOLSEY IV b 22 Feb 1763, Marlboro, Ulster, NY, d 13 Aug 1842 at Clarksville, Red River, Texas, md 14 Jun 1787, Greene Co, TN to Mary GILBERT (above). John WOOLSEY IV was the s/o John WOOLSEY III (above) and his first wife Priscilla WOOLSEY b 1741, Bedford, Westchester, NY, d 1772, Marlboro, Ulster, NY. They md 20 Nov 1761 at Marlboro, Ulster, NY. John Woolsey III s/o John Woolsey II and Mary Sammis, s/o John Woolsey & Abigail (Stephenson?), s/o George Woolsey & Rebecca Cornell.] {Priscilla WOOLSEY was the d/o Rev. Thomas WOOLSEY (above) of Westminster Co, NY and Washington Co, VA., s/o Richard WOOLSEY & Sarah Fowler, s/o Thomas Woolsey & Ruth Baylis, s/o George Woolsey & Rebecca Cornell}. Samuel (Gilbert?) WOOLSEY is found in Johnson Co, IL County Commissioners' Minutes from 1814-1817. It is believed that this Samuel (Gilbert?) WOOLSEY is the man named in the will of Thomas Woolsey of Hempstead Co, AR 1828, as Exo'r. To Illinois abt 1810, possibly in War of 1812, with his father John, to Arkansas after 1816. Samuel WOOLSEY was granted land in Hempstead Co, AR in 1827, in Howard Co, AR in 1827 and several grants in Washington Co, AR in 1838. Samuel WOOLSEY is found in the 1840 Census of Washington Co, AR, in Prairie Twp, where is also found one William WOOLSEY, possibly a brother of Samuel. Samuel (Gilbert?) WOOLSEY is found in the 1850 Census of Prairie Twp, Washington Co, AR with his wife Matilda, and 5 children. So, Norb, there are the two Samuel WOOLSEYS. I hope that helps. I would be interested in a copy of the "Arkansas Democrat - Gazette, Inc" article, if you would care to send it. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker