Rebecca Woolsey

Rebecca Cornell

• Gender: Female
• Birth: January 31, 1629 Saffron Walden, Essex, England
• Death: February 05, 1713 (84) Queens County, New York
• Place of Burial: Old Cemetery, New York, Queens County, New York, United States
• Daughter of Thomas Cornell and Rebecca (unknown) Cornell
• Wife of George Woolsey

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Family

Children of GEORGE WOOLSEY and REBECCA CORNELL are:

• i. SARAH WOOLSEY, b. August 03, 1650, NY - Flushing, Queens; d. August 18, 1734, NY - Newtown, Long Island; m. CAPT. WILLIAM JR HALLETT, December 01, 1669, NY - Newtown; b. 1648, CT - Greenwich; d. 1729.
• ii. CAPT. GEORGE II WOOLSEY, b. October 10, 1652, Flushing, Long Island, New York; d. January 19, 1739/40, Dosoris, Long Island, New York; m. HANNAH VAN ZANDT, 1678, Jamaica, Long Island, New York; b. Abt 1655.
• iii. REV THOMAS WOOLSEY, b. April 10, 1655, Hemsted, Long Island, New York; d. February 11, 1741/42, Bedford, Westchester, New York, ; m. RUTH BAYLES/BAYLIS, January 11, 1683/84, Jamaica, Queens, Long Island, New York; b. Abt 1664, Queens/Flushing, Long Island, New York; d. 1739, Westchester County, New York. Thomas is buried in Union Cemetery, Bedford, Westchester, NY.
• iv. REBECCA WOOLSEY, b. February 13, 1658/59, New Amsterdam, Long Island, New York; d. November 18, 1731, Jamaica, Long Island, New York; m. THOMAS JR WIGGINS, Abt 1686, Jamaica, Queens, New York; b. 1656; d. 1728, buried NY - Jamaica, Long Island - Prospect Cemetery.
• v. JOHN WOOLSEY, b. January 12, 1660/61, Flushing, Queens, New York; d. June 10, 1721, Jamaica, Long Island, New York; m. ABIGAIL, 1705, Queens County, New York.
• vi. MARY WOOLSEY, b. March 19, 1663/64, Nieu Amsterdam, Long Island, New York; d. Bef. 1673. Burial: Probably Old Jamaica Cemetery, Jamaica, New York Christening: March 19, 1663/64, Dutch Reformed Church, Nieu Amsterdam Source: Wilford W. Whitaker
• vii. WILLIAM WOOLSEY, b. October 12, 1665; d. Bef. 1691. Notes for WILLIAM WOOLSEY: More About WILLIAM WOOLSEY: Baptism: June 30, 1678, Flatbush, Long Island, New York Burial: Probably Old Jamaica Cemetery, Jamaica, New York
• viii. MARRITJE (MARY) WOOLSEY, b. September 08, 1673, Jamaca on ye Isleand Nassau, Long Island, New York; d. Aft. 1731; m. CHARLES WILLIAMSON, February 24, 1700/01, New York City, New York, New York.

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Notes

Place of death: Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States

Burial: Grace Episcopal Churchyard, Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L5P4-DCF

Rebecca Cornell was born on 31 Jan 1629 in Saffron-Walden, Essex, England. She was the sixth of sixteen children.

Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town about 35 miles north of London. In the 16th century, the town was known for the saffron crocus grown in the area. Extract from the flower, was used in medicines, as a condiment, as a perfume, as an aphrodisiac, and as an expensive yellow dye.

Rebecca emigrated to the US in 1638 when she was nine.

She married wee George Wolsey on 9 Dec 1647 in the Dutch Reformed Church on Long Island, New York. Their oldest of seven children was Sarah, our ancestor.

Rebecca died on 5 Feb 1713 in Jamaica, Queens. (Some claim a 1729 death)

Rebecca Cornell, the daughter of Thomas Cornel and Rebecca (Briggs) came to America in 1636. In December of 1647 Rebecca married George Woolsey. One can only imagine what the life of Rebecca was like in the settlement of New Netherland but easy I'm sure it was not.

At the approximate age of 43 tragedy strikes her family when her brother Thomas was hanged for the murder of her mother. The following story tells of the "Unsolved Murder" printed in booklet form in 1930 by the Old Stone Bank of Providence, Rhode Island.

Received the following from:

From: Wilford W. Whitaker:

Date: Tuesday, March 16, 1999

Subject: George Woolsey, Immigrant - Backbone of the Woolsey Family

The following was received 1 Jul 1998 from Harry Macy, Editor of the NYG&BR: New York Public Library, Rare Books and Manuscripts Division James Riker Papers, Memoria vol. 30, p. 187. "Extracts from an old manuscript book formerly belonging to Capt. William Hallett of Newtown (who died in 1729 age 81) and now in possession of one of his descendants, Marvin R. Briggs of New York, 1851." An Acount of the agees of Mr George Woolseys Children - William Woolsey was born in Jamaca on ye Isleand Nassau October ye 12 1665.

16 Mar 1999 from Wilford W. Whitaker:

Subject: George Woolsey, Immigrant - Backbone of the Woolsey Family

The following was received 1 Jul 1998 from Harry Macy, Editor of the NYG&BR: New York Public Library, Rare Books and Manuscripts Division James Riker Papers, Memoria vol. 30, p. 187. "Extracts from an old manuscript book formerly belonging to Capt. William Hallett of Newtown (who died in 1729 age 81) and now in possession of one of his descendants, Marvin R. Briggs of New York, 1851." An Acount of the agees of Mr George Woolseys Children - Mary Woolsey was born at Jamaca on ye Isleand Nassau September ye 8 1673.

[What we have here are two Mary Woolseys, the first died before 1673. The second Mary, born 8 Sep 1673 was bapt with her brother William 30 Jun 1678 "of reasonable age". This second Mary, www thinks, married Charles

Williamson in New York City, in 1701.]

11 Oct 1999 from Wilford W. Whitaker:

Subject: Mary Woolsey, d/o George, the Immigrant

I found two wills which finally completes the family of George Woolsey and Rebecca Cornell, though more research is needed on each of their children. [Eardeley, William A. D. "Records in the Office of the County Clerk at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, 1680-1781 : Wills and Administrations, guardians, and inventories." Filmed by G. S. of Utah 1940. Microfilm of typed manuscript at the Queens Borough Public Library in Jamaica, New York. ncludes index. p. 79.]

From "New York Marriages" I had found the marriage of Mary Woolsey and Charles Williamson in 1700. Some of the researchers named her as a grandchild of George Woolsey, the immigrant, but I couldn't place her anywhere, so I put her down as the youngest daughter of George Woolsey. Remember, she was not of age in 1691 when George Woolsey wrote his will. This was rather tentative and I wasn't sure, at first, but it was the best choice at the time, and as Rebecca Woolsey Wiggin's will, above, shows, it was the correct choice. I don't have very much on Charles Williamson. He probably was of Jamaica, at least for a while. He was a witness to the will of William Blinkley, of Jamaica, 12 Nov 1707, with Samuell Denton and Thomas Cardale. It is possible that he is an older brother? of Dorcas Williamson, who md William Woolsey.

Mary Woolsey, b 8 Sep 1673, at Jamaica, Island Nassau, New york, md 1700, New York, Charles Williamson. Their children:

1. Mary Williamson, b abt 1703, New York [named after her mother]

2. Rebecca Williamson, b abt 1706, New York [named after her grandmother] (end quote)

1. 2. Marritje (Mary) Woolsey, born 8 Sep 1673, at "Jamaica, On Ye Isleand Nassau", Long Island, New York. She with her brother William were baptized 30 Jun 1678 (not as infants) at Flatbush, Long Island, New York. (For the complete births and baptisms for the family, see my earlier postings.)

So, when her father's will (above) was written, she was two months shy of being age 18. So now, I still had a Mary, but the questioned remained "what happened to her?" Did she die? Was she married?

Early on, I had found in "New York Marriages" the marriage of one Charles Williamson to Mary Woolsey 24 Feb 1700/1701. I didn't pay much attention to that because I thought that Mary (#1. born 1664) was probably too old to be this marriage, so I assumed she was of the 3rd generation, which "shows-to-go-yah" that one never should "assume" anything in family history.

But, after studying this problem for awhile, and concluding that there must have been two Marys, I thought that the Mary who was born in 1673, was a good possibility for the above marriage to Charles Williamson. So I added him to the family data base, but it was still supposition on my part. Supposition, that is, until I found the following:

PROBATE: Eardeley, William A. D. "Records in the Office of the County Clerk at Jamaica, Long Island, New York, 1680-1781. Borough Public Library in Jamaica, NY. Includes Index. Liber C:129: Will of Rebecca Wiggins of Jamaica, a widow: . . . To my sister Mary, wife of Williamson and her two daughters, viz: Mary Williamson and Rebecca Williamson. Dated 15 Aug 1731; proved 18 May 1733."

Now this will was made by Rebecca Woolsey, d/o George the immigrant, who was the widow of Thomas Wiggins, of Jamaica, Queens County, New York, and sister of Mary Woolsey, above.

So it is no longer supposition, and we have the following: Mary Woolsey, b 8 Sep 1673 at Jamaica, bp 30 Jun 1678, at Flatbush, died sometime after 1731 (more research needs to be done, looking for death of Mary Williamson) and married 24 Feb 1700/1701 to Charles Williamson.

Charles Williamson must be some relation to Dirritje (Dorcas, Dorothy) Williamson who married William Woolsey. More work needs to be done here.

In 1704 John Woolsey made a deed to Charles Williamson. I need to find this deed.

On 15 Apr 1705, Charles Williamson made a deed to John Woolsey. I also need to find this deed.

Charles Williamson and Mary Woolsey had two girls:

1. Rebecca Williamson, b abt 1703, Jamaica

2. Mary Williamson, b abt 1705, Jamaica

(Looking at these two names, reminds me of the Dutch naming custom, then pretty much in effect.) Rebecca, 1st dau, named after her maternal grandmother Mary, 2nd dau, named after her mother. (A short family, but consistent, never-the-less). So there you have the family of Mary Woolsey, d/o George, the Immigrant. I believe this is correct, and possibly quite complete.

I would appreciate your input and further research notes if you have anything to add or dispute.

- Wilford Whitaker

PS: "Mary Woolsey mentioned in her father's will, which was written 2 Nov 1691: "4th item - I do give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter MARY WOOLSEY one feather bed and bolster, two pillows, a pair of sheets and two coverlids to be delivered her at her day of marriage or is when she attains ye age of eighteen years, also one cow to be delivered her at ye same time."

More About MARRITJE (MARY) WOOLSEY:

Christening: June 30, 1678, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Long Island, New York

SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Wilford W. Whitaker, 6094 Glenoaks, Murray, UT 84107-7661, 801 263 0432; Steven Alsip of Corbin Ky., who used research material from "A Woolsey Family of America 1623-1975" by Donald C. Hart of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Compenium of American Genealogy; Family of George Wood Woolsey & Sarah Nelson written by daughter Hester Woolsey Brewer in 1939; LDS Library; The Wolsey/Woolsey Family of America a manuscript by James W. Woolsey in 1904; and Family Data of Joanne Grider Spulniak compiled by Jimmy D. Woolsey of Oklahoma City, Ok.;

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via son George Woolsey by SmartCopy: Nov 22 2014, 3:23:53 UTC
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89518259/ruth-woolsey