To interested Woolsey researchers: It is always interesting to me how many people with whom I am corresponding are actively working on the descendants of Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler. And we are carefully working out the problems involved with various family members. The following may be of interest: Richard Woolsey, grandson of Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler, was born 1772 in Westchester Co., NY. He md abt (the first date was supposed to be about 1792, but subsequent information shows the date must be around 1800) to Sarah Gregory and they had about 13 children born in Delaware Co., NY. Richard then died in 1847 in Seneca County, NY. Basically, that is the information I had, which came from Robert M. Woolsey's ANNOTATED WOOLSEY FAMILY, a good, fairly-well documented history of the family. He gave the names of the children but didn't take it much further than that. Then Tania Woolsey contacted me and said she had the Bible Records for Richard Woolsey and Sarah "Sally" Gregory. And we discover that Sarah's maiden name was most probably Fuller and she had married 1) to Josiah Gregory, Sr. and had 5 children by him, three of whom were listed as daughters of Richard Woolsey, who evidently raised them and named them in his will, along with two Gregory boys. So we already have made great improvements in the family. Then from family tradition Tania said that Richard's father was in the Rev. War and was killed there and that Richard was orphaned, along with a brother, who was sent to New York City and Richard was "farmed" out to relatives presumably in the Delaware Co., area of NY. Now the plot thickens and becomes even more interesting. I have Richard Woolsey's father as Joseph Woolsey (s/o Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler) and Mary Haight, all of Bedford, Westchester County, NY. However, I didn't have Joseph as being in the Rev. War or of dying during the War but he lived until Aug 1800 and died in Bedford. And Joseph Woolsey and Mary Haight had a large family of 13 children and didn't leave them orphaned. Now, Tania, the following should be enough to get your heart beating faster: Richard Woolsey and Sarah Fowler had another son Josiah Woolsey, b 1738 at Bedford and died 1779/1780 in the Sugar House Prison, in New York City, a prisoner of the British during the Rev. War. This Josiah Woolsey was in the Rev. War and died during the War. His wife was Mary Owen and they had six children born between 1758 to 1776. However there is no Richard Woolsey listed among the children of Josiah Woolsey and Mary Owen. Josiah Woolsey, Sr. was a private in Capt. Marcus Morse's (or Moseman) Co. of the 2nd Reg't of the Westchester County, NY volunteers, md Mary Owen and while home on an army leave some of his relatives told the British where he was, so he was captured and taken off prisoner to the Sugar House prison in New York City. (Westchester county was a hot-bed of aristocrats and tories all during the Revolutionary War.) Josiah became ill and he was released for a visit to go home for a time. While here he made a will before returning to prison. He died in prison and was buried in the Trinity Church Yard. In 1865 his grave was moved to the Family plot in the Old Cemetery at Bedford, NY. So what do we do? Who was the father of Richard Woolsey born 1772? Was it Joseph of the non-Revolutionary War activity or was it Josiah, the Rev. War Patriot who died in his country's service, and is the family tradition correct? Well, we checked out Josiah's will, as follows: 9 Sep 1779. #620 EARLY WILLS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY. Josiah Woolsey, Westchester, being sick (small pox) I direct all debts to be paid . . . . Provides for wife Mary, 1/3 of all real and personal estate .... Rest of estate to four sons Thomas, Stephen, William, Josiah, 3/4 of the remainder to my two daughters Sarah and Mary, one fourth of remainder. Makes wife and Joseph Owen executors. Witnesses: Wm. Croft, Thomas Burrill, Adam Van Riper. Proved 3 Dec 1779. So, Tania, we can state with some authority, that Josiah Woolsey, though a Rev. War Vet, dying in the service, and his wife Mary Owen did not have a son Richard Woolsey. So, family tradition to the contrary, it is my guarded opinion that, until we come up with something more definite, that Richard Woolsey (born 1772) who md Sarah Fuller Gregory, is the son of Joseph Woolsey and Mary Haight. Thus the line would run: Richard Woolsey = Sarah Fuller (Gregory) s/o Joseph Woolsey = Mary Haight s/o Richard Woolsey = Sarah Fowler s/o Thomas Woolsey = Ruth Baylies s/o George Woolsey = Rebecca Cornell (The Immigrant) Now of course, as new evidence is mounted and more details come to light, things can change in an instant. (That's why I enjoy the computer: It doesn't take long to correct my mistakes!) Enough for now. Sincerely, Wilford W. Whitaker