Wilford, Thanks so much for this posting. It is very interesting. Thank you for all of your hard work. Do you remember when we were discussing the photo website? Who is it that was so well informed about that. I have a Woolsey photo I would like to share. But I do not know what was ever decided about that. Carolyn Gibbons -----Original Message----- From: Wilford W. Whitaker <wwwhit@integrityonline3.com> To: WOOLSEY-L@rootsweb.com <WOOLSEY-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, July 31, 1999 12:06 PM Subject: Woolseys and Religions >To Marilyn Stern and interested Woolsey researchers: > >It's interesting that you should ask at this time "What religions were the >early Woolseys?" because I have been studying this problem in some detail. > >In England George Wolsey and Frances Roberts had their children baptized in >the state Church, the Church of England. In Holland, the only records we >have found were in the Dutch Reformed Church but that may only mean that it >was the most convenient. We have found other records, but they have been >in the civil records. > >In Nieu Amsterdam George Wolsey (the immigrant) and his wife Rebecca >Cornell had children baptized both in the Dutch Reformed Church of New York >and also in the Church of England, both churches meeting in the same >building, but different pastors. It is easy to see why George would have >his children baptized at the Dutch Church, because many of his business >associates were Dutch, and that was one way he could keep up his Dutch >ties. In Jamaica, the family went to the Church of England (Episcopal) >Church, where the Rev. Poyer preached Rebecca's funeral sermon and probably >where George and Rebecca are buried. > >On the frontier it was often who the itinerant preacher was and not >necessarily the religion. Woolseys have been baptized in each of the major >religions, Church of England, Presbyterian, Methodists, Baptists, and a few >are mentioned in the Monthly Meetings of the Quakers. > >In Ulster County (Marlborough and surrounding areas) the Woolseys were: > 1. Presbyterians (sometimes taking the place of the state church) > 2. Methodists > 3. Baptists > >When Presbyterianism was the only church in town, it was strongly supported >by some of the Woolseys. These same Woolseys then gave considerable >support to the Methodists as they became established. In the Marlborough >area, one would say the Woolseys were strongly Methodist and several >Woolseys became preachers in the Methodist faith. > >Our ancestor Rev. Thomas Woolsey was a Baptist Preacher from this area who >moved to Virginia, before 1771. I am still looking for early Baptists in >this area. > >To be specific: The Reformed Dutch Church was well established up and down >the Hudson River Valley and many people had their religious duties >performed there because it was the closest or only church for miles. > >I have found Woolseys in many Dutch Records, but like your Jemima, only one >or two children are usually found at one church and other children baptized >else where. Their frequent moving may account for that. > >It was not unusual for adults to be baptised, both within the Dutch Church >and in other churches. There are several examples within the Woolsey >family, as your Jemima is one. Whether it was a second baptism is >difficult to say, without better records. The Baptists were pretty adamant >about having people baptised in their faith, but I'm not sure the other >religions were quite so strict. > >It is possible Philips was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church and Jemima >joined because of him, but one would think she would have been baptized >about the time of marriage if that was so. Or she may have just felt the >need.?? > >So what religion were they? > >8 Aug 1763 - Subscriptions of the Presbyterian Church, Marlborough (as >listed by Cyprian Meech Woolsey in his HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH, p. 353) >included most of the leading men in that area, including: >1. Thomas Woolsey, 2 pounds (probably our Rev Thomas Woolsey of South >Fork, Washington County, Virginia (s/o Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler) >2. John Woolsey, 2 pounds md Chlorene Peck (s/o Richard Woolsey and Sarah >Fowler) >3. Benjamin Woolsey, 3 pounds (s/o Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler) >4. Richard Woolsey, 3 pounds (this could be Richard Woolsey, Sr. and Sarah >Fowler) or Richard Woolsey, Jr., who md Ann Fuller and are the parents of >your Jemima. > >IBID: p. 355. 30 Dec 1765. This day was chosen a committee for >Marlborough Society of Presbyterians & a Moderator. Thomas Knowlton, >Moderator; Capt. Richard Woolsey, Lieut. Lewis Du Bois, Eliphalet Platt & >Daniel Thurston, comm. >Again it is difficult to say whether this is Richard, Sr. or Richard, Jr. > >Richard Woolsey, Jr. moved to Columbia County, New York, shortly after this >(before 1769) and Richard Sr. continues to show up almost till his death. > >So from these last two records, we could safely say that these Woolseys >were Presbyterians (at least until the Baptists showed up in 1782 and the >Methodists in 1786. > >Hope this helps a little. > >Sincerely, > >Wilford W. Whitaker > > >