To all interested Woolsey researchers: Thank you, Ginny Mullen, who just sent this to me: >Wilford, >Yes, some time ago, I sent you the story that is on the cover of the menu of the Admiral Woolsey Restaurant in Oswego, NY. (An excellent eatery, by the way) >If you have lost it, I will dig it out again. Someplace in this mess I have it stored. > >Of more interest perhaps, are some diaries that are in the Marine Museum in Oswego. Mention is made there of Lt. Woolsey, and several other names that >now have meaning. We have not been back to Oswego in several years, and don't think this year's plans include it. > >I am tracing three "trees" at this point, and find that at least two of them end up in Cayuga and Seneca County, NY cemeteries. So - hopefully, we can go >"digging" for ancestors there. > >Just checked computer files - aren't they wonderful when working! > >He entered the U. S. Navy at the age of 20. He fought under Commodore Decatur in the Tripolitan war and was an active officer under Com. Chauncey in the war of 1812, with England. He was in command of Oswego when the British were gallantly repulsed at that point. On the breaking up of the >Lake marine on Lake Erie, he was transferred to the ocean service, and was successfully in command of the W. I Station at Pensacola, Fla, and of the Brazilian Squadron. His family resided at Utica, NY. > > NY Genealogical & Biographical records V 5-6, 1874-5. Benjamin W. Dwight, >Clinton, NY p 147 > >Melancthon T. Woolsey was stationed in Oswego as a lieutenant in the navy during the War of 1812. He was the first commander of the American naval force on Lake Ontario. During his years in Oswego, he commanded and supervised the building of the brig "Oneida". The "Oneida" was the first >naval vessel to be built on the Great Lakes. This was the beginning of an illustrious career which culminated in Woolsey's being named a commodore. >Prior to the Civil War, there was no admiral's rank in the American Navy, Commodore being its equivalent. In view of the fact that this building stands near the spot where the "Oneida" was built and because of Melancthon >T. Woolsey's important role in the early history of Oswego, the restaurant was named in his honor. It seemed appropriate to accord him the contemporary rank of admiral so that the distinction of his career would immediately be apparent to everyone who visits this historic spot today. > from the menu at the Admiral Woolsey Restaurant, Oswego, NY > >Feel free to share this with anyone interested. >Ginny Mullen > And Wilford just picked up the following, which must be Captain Melancthon T. Woolsey, at least he doesn't have a James Woolsey that fits into that age bracket and time period or place: <http://www.maine.com/lights/1812.htm> Action at Selkirk during the War of 1812 (Selkirk Light House) Capt. James Woolsey attempts to smuggle cannon, cable and other supplies which have been forwarded from Albany through Oswego and Henderson to Commodore Chauncey in Sackett's Harbor to fit out the warships 'Superior', 'Jefferson' and 'Jones' under construction but under a blockade at Oswego and Sackett's. He plans to go up Stoney Creek, then transfer everything overland to Henderson Bay. Woolsey is escorting 22 long 32-pounders, ten 24-pounders, three 42-pounders, twelve large cables (the largest for the Superior weighing over 9,600 pounds and occupying an entire boat) and an assorted munitions for all. Rowing from Oswego by night in nineteen open boats, he hides inside the Salmon river at dawn. In addition to oarsmen, he's accompanied by 130 riflemen under Maj. Daniel Appling and rendezvous'd with 150 friendly Oneida's at the Salmon River as escort. One boat is lost in the fog, captured by the British, and the mission is compromised. After a brief rest, Woolsey re-plans to enter Big Sandy Creek and hide upstream. He departs the Salmon River after rest and breakfast, reaching Big Sandy by noon and heading inland as far as possible. The British pursue with 2 gunboats, 3 cutters and a gig, reaching Big Sandy after Woolsey had gone upstream, but don't discover his move till late in the day. The commander waits until the following morning to pursue Woolsey, only to discover Woolsey has been reinforced overnight, and the battle of Big Sandy Creek ensues. The British were ambushed with heavy losses and surrendered 170 prisoners, their boats, and all armaments. Successfully fitting out the 'Superior' enabled the blockade to be broken and the English naval threat as well. Wilford has been spending 6 or 8 hours a day in the Salt Lake Library 'running' various census records. It took a whole week to 'run' the New York Census.!! When he gets tired of typing in the Census records and of the painstaking work of trying to connect them to the "tree", he goes out and looks for Woolseys on the Internet, which is where some of these records were found. He would appreciate hearing from you all. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker