To all interested Woolsey researchers: This should be of interest to all you Woolseys out there who descend from John2 Woolsey (George1) and Abigail Stephenson. Several of the early researchers show this John2 Woolsey and Abigail Stephenson (Stevenson) with several children, including several sons. From the following will, it is apparent that John2 Woolsey and Abigail Stephenson had only one son and also from the will, probably only the one daughter named Rebecca. !PROBATE: Long Island Source Records - From the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Selected and Introduction by Henry B. Hoff. Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD. 1987. FHL#974.721 H29L. p. 148. Abstracts of early Wills of Queens Co, NY Books A & C at Jamaica, Long Island, New York. C:112-113. I John Woolsey of Jamaica yeoman give to my wife Abigail - life estate in 1/3 of lands and use of the rest til my oldest child and only son John reaches age 21 when he inherits. I give unto my eldest & only son John Woolsey all my land & houses with 2 horses waggons oxes howes. My son John is to pay my daughter Rebecca Woolsey 60 pounds - 20 pounds at her marriage day - 20 pounds day after her marriage & 20 pounds 2 years after her marriage. To my wife Abigail a third part of all my land & meadow. I appoint my wife my sole executor. 10 Jun 1721. John Woolsey L. S. Gabrie Luff, Jr. William Wiggins Robert Willis At a Meeting of Isaac Hicks Judge Jonathan Whitehead & John Messenger Justices of ye peace held at Jamaica 5 Feb 1727 [1721] was proved by William Wiggins. Entered 5 Feb 1721 J. Smith, Clerk Lib. C. Pages 112/113. The above "will" is from three different abstracts of wills, made by (1) WPA project, Abstracts of early wills of Queens co, NY 1683-1744, part of the "Long Island Collection" WPA project no. 165-97-6999(6115). FHL Film# 017872, item 1. (2) Eardeley, Willliam A. D., Records in the Office of the County Clerk at Jamaica, Long Island, NY 1680-1781. Microfilm of typed manuscript at the Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica, NY. FHL Film# 017715. 3) From the New York Genealogical and Biographical RECORD, selected and introduced by Henry B. Hoff. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, MD. 1987. p. 146. [www has not seen the original of John Woolsey's will but has combined information found in each of the three above sources into the one "will". www believes the discrepancy in the above dates (1727 vs 1721) is either a transcription error or a misreading of "1" for a "7". The bigger problem is the date given that the will was "proved" or entered into the record. www believes that this should read " 5 Feb 1721/22 " giving the "Old Style" date. This is further substantiated by the fact that this will preceeds wills that were proven in Oct and Dec 1722.] !NOTES: by www. Gilliland says "John Woolsey died May 1692 in Hempstead, Nassau Co, Long Island, NY." but from deeds, it is known that he was alive in 1705 and in 1712, and his will was made in 1721. A problem with the date of the will, between written and probated dates (see above). Also Gilliland says "John Woolsey Jr was born abt 1683", but in the above will, his words are "til my oldest child and only son John reaches age 21", so John Jr. was not yet 21 in 1721. And also Gilliland says that John Jr was the only child, but the above will states "my son John to pay my daughter Rebecca Woolsey 60 pounds when she come of age or marries", so she was not of age in 1721, but there was at least one daughter. Also Gilliland says John Sr. died in 1729, but www has seen nothing that would substantiate that. >From this I believe we can state, with some authority and "documentation" that John2 Woolsey and Abigail Woolsey had two children: 1. John Woolsey, Jr. (md Mary Sammis) 2. Rebecca Woolsey (md 9 Apr 1734, in CT, to Stephen Scott, (b 12 May 1711 at Waterbury, New Have CT) At least, this is the only Rebecca Woolsey that www has in his database born early in the 1700's. Does anyone have any questions? answers? further documentation? Enough for now. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker