To interested Woolsey researchers: In some of my very earliest postings, I referenced the baptisms of the children of our Immigrant Ancestors George Woolsey and Rebecca Cornell and suggested that there were at least two congregations in New Amsterdam, the Dutch Reformed and the English Protestant, probably the Congregationists. Later on, the English Episcopal Church struggled to get a foot hold and it was in the Jamaica area that the first Churches were started. I have been researching the early ministers of that area and am particularly interested in the Rev. Poyer because he preached the sermon at the funeral of Rebecca Cornell Woolsey. Some of his sermons have been preserved and I am attempting to locate them, but so far without success. Following is my incomplete research on the early Ministers of Long Island. There was an on-going controversy in Jamaica between the traditionalists and the new Episcopalians over the ownership of the Church at Jamaica. George Woolsey, Jr. (son of our Immigrants) was right in the middle of it and his son the Reverend Benjamin Woolsey (I wonder if this man was the one the early researchers mistakenly ascribed as Rev Benj Woolsey, supposedly the father of our Immigrant Ancestor, which is not correct.)was also involved, through his wife, the daughter of Abigail Taylor, widow of the Rev. Urquart. And speaking of George Woolsey Jr, I ordered a microfilm of an account book of his in which he kept accounts of a "general" store in Jamaica before 1700. Very interesting but not much family data. And now the MINISTERS OF LONG ISLAND: MINISTERS OF LONG ISLAND 1657 17 July Mr. Robbert fordim 1657 25 July Mr. dentons ministrie 1676 19 June Certificate from Jemaica to treat with Mr. John Prudden to be their minister 1678 24 June Rev. Mr. John Prudden "... minister of Jemaica in Queens County..." 1681 Rev. Mr. Hubbart in 1686 said he had been there "allmost five years since..." 1683 26 Apr Mr. Jeremiah hubbart [Hubbard] of Jamaica 1686 9 Dec Peticon of the Rev. Mr. Hubbart to Gov. Col. Thomas Dongan 1688 "Humble Petition of John prudden quondam minister of Jemaica in Queens" 1691 3 July Revd Mr HubbardŽs Petition to Col Henry Sloughter, Gov. (to be paid) 1693/4 1 Jan John Oweke, Richard Oldfield, Samuel Denton & Daniell Smith shall gather the sumes promised to the minister and pay 1/4 each. 1702 Rev. Patrick Gordon came to the Church at Jamaica from England, but died before he could be inducted. . . Letters of the Clergy relating to Rev. Thos Poyer and the Church at Jamaica 1704 Mr. Vesey, minister of this place . . . 1704 15 Apr. Revd. Ja: Honyman - for the propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. . 1704 4 July Rev Mr. John Hubbard - ordered to vacate the Parsonage House. 1704 4 July Mr. William Urquhart to receive Parsonage 1704 28 Aug Reverend Mr. Urquahart (to be paid) 1704 Memorial of the Inhabitants of Jamaica 1705 4 July Will: Urquhart Minr Jamaica to the Society for Propagating the Gospel 1705 4 July John Thomas Minr Hamstead to the Society for Propagating the Gospel 1705/6 4 Jan Revd Mr. GoodhueŽsCommission as Presbyterian Minister of Jamaica,L.I. 1707 1 Dec Revd Mr. Bartow to the Secretary of the Society - Riot prevails - 1709 30 Oct Revd Mr. Bartow, on the death of Revd Brother Mr. Urquhart of Jamaica. 1709 24 Nov Reverend Brethern Mr. Muirson and Mr. Urquhart - present difficulties 1709 Aug Rev. Mr. Urquhart died - 1710 11 Apr SamŽl Clowes to the President of the Council concerning a riot. 1710 11 Apr Memorial of Clergy to Secretary of Society. 1710 13 Apr Order of Council on SamŽl ClowesŽ representation of a riot on 11 April. To take into his Custody Hugh Carpenter George Woolsey Jonas Wood Richard Olfield Samuel Mills & Jarimiah Smith 1710 19 Apr "A Letter from ye Justice of ye Peace for Queens County." We underwritten Justices of the peace of our Sovereigne Lady the Queen for Queens County . . . have Inquired upon oath into the matter of the Disturbance in the Church of Jamaica & doe find that mr. Justice Read has proceeded therein according to Law & that the record that he has made is a true Representation thereof. Tho: Willet John Marston Jon Jackson Tho: Jones John Tredwell Wi: Cornell SamŽll Moore Tho: Whitehead. 1710 20 Apr " . . . a Record made thereof by Robt Read Esqr etc . . Upon Consideration of this matter The Board is of opinion that the Law being open they ought not to Encourage or Discourage the said Prosecution. 1710 19 May Petition of Geo. Woolsey and others to Honble Coll Gerardus Beekman 1710 23 May In Council. Mr Regnier council for George Woolsey and others Petitioners on the Petition read at this Board the 19th Inst and Mr. Bickley Council for the Queen and the Justices of the Peace of Queens County appearing at this Board and being Severally heard. 1710 5 Oct Revd Mr. Thos. Poyer - Jamaica on Lg Island 5 Oct 1710 - to the Secretary: 1710 27 Oct Suit against the Church Wardens of Jamaica for the Ministers Salary - 1711 3 May` Revd Mr. Poyer to the Secretary of the Society, etc. 1711 13 June B. Robinson and Thos Reynolds to the Secretary of the Society, etc. 1711 Coll. Morris to the Secretary re: problems at Jamaica To be continued: I had extensive footnotes and endnotes, but I guess they didn't get carried over. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker