I second the motion Wilford. I am very grateful for all you do. Trying to absorb it as I do my Vesper research. Wish I could find more time to help you. Already running faster than.... Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Carolyn Wilkerson <carolynw46@juno.com> To: WOOLSEY-L@rootsweb.com <WOOLSEY-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, October 29, 2000 6:24 AM Subject: Re: George Woolsey and the Beaver >Wilford, > >Have I said Thank You lately for you generosity in sharing your time and >research? > >If not here is a big thank you http://www.list-us.com/kissed/ . > >Carolyn Woolsey Wilkerson > > > >On Sat, 28 Oct 2000 14:44:43 -0600 "Wilford Whitaker" <mwdiet@home.com> >writes: >> 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 >> >> > >Carolyn Woolsey Wilkerson >carolynw46@juno.com >To all genealogy researchers: Remember, it's fun to find out where >you came from, but it is infinitely more important to know where you >are going when you leave here. > >