John IV Woolsey (1763 - 1842)








Descendants of John Woolsey IV (1763 - 1842)


Compiled by Marjorie Lewis Young




JOHN WOOLSEY IV (JOHN III5 ,JOHN II4 , JOHN3 , GEORGE "JORIS"2 , GEORGE SR1 , WILLIAM WOLSEY ) was born February 22, 1763 in NY - Marlboro, Ulster, and died August 13, 1842 in TX - Clarksville, Red River, Republic-Texas. He married MARY GILBERT June 14, 1787 in TN - Greene County, daughter of SAMUEL GILBERT and HANNAH. She was born Abt. 1765 in TN - Robertson County, and died Abt. 1846 in TX - Clarksville, Red River, Republic-Texas.

NOTE:
Hannah's parents went to North Carolina sometime between 1794 & 1796. Note the birthplaces of the children. Also I might add that this family also did some travelling.

  1. John Woolsey IV was 21 years of age in 1784 when his parents moved to Jearoldstown, Lick Creek, Greene, Tennessee, by 1784.
  2. By 1796 he had moved to North Carolina ( I will have to see what Woolsey's I have in North Carolina and where).
  3. By 1810 John and wife Mary were in Big Bay area of Illinois. There is one female to age 16 (more than likely Hannah because the next oldest daughter would be over 16) and one white female forty-five and over (must be mother).
  4. John moved to Arkansas Territory by 1821 where he signed a petition.

CORR: 1994 - The following information quoted from material compiled by Marjorie Lewis Young
"John married Mary Gilbert June 14,1787. Samuel Gilbert was their security. We find them on the census in the Big Bay area of Illinois by 1810. Familv #946 lists J. Walsey as head of household. In the household are two white males to sixteen years of age, one white male forty-five and over. John should be forty-seven. There is one white female to age sixteen and one white female forty-five and over. From documents located, the children of John and Mary Woolsey will include Samuel Woolsey (1791-1858), Priscilla Woolsey Cohee (1789), Elizabeth Woolsey Kennedy, William Woolsey and Hannah Woolsey Lick. There could be more. They are in Illinois for awhile. His son Samuel married Matilda Thompson there in 1810 and at least two of their children were born in Illinois.

They moved into the Arkansas Territory. John Woolsev is shown on the Hempstead County census. Also there is his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Joanna Woolsey.

John and Thomas Woolsey sign petition A70 in 1821 and another petition in 1825. These petitions went to Washington. These petitions outlined the many problems the frontier people faced. The petitioners were afraid that the Government would force them from their farms and improvements they had labored for vears to make. This could be the reason for John going on to Texas

There is some conflict on the results of research concerning what next happened to John and Mary Woolsey. Rather than dispute the findings of J. W. Woolsey of Richland, Washington, let us set forth what was uncovered about John and his family from court and deed records. A bill of sale in the Hempstead County Deed Book B, pages 255 and 256, is dated December 9, 1828. John Woolsey for the sum of twenty dollars paid by Samuel Woolsey sold his household goods, furniture, implements, one black horse six years old, one bay mare four years old, and his cattle. Samuel, in turn, agreed to furnish him with comfortable clothing and nourishment during his life.

The 1830 Federal Census for Hempstead shows Samuel Woolsey as head of household. There is an older man in the household who is more than likely his father, John Woolsey. Samuel and Matilda, some of John's other children, and some of Thomas Woolsey's 5 children moved to Washington County and settled near Farmington.

John Woolsey did not remain with Samuel. He applied for land in Texas. He appeared before the land commissioners at Clarksville, Red River County. He was granted Certificate No.372 for 340 acres. He swore that he arrived in Texas December 16, 1839; that he was a single man; and that he planned to remain in Texas. This would dispute the claim of others that Mary died in Texas. She was evidently dead by 1828 when John went to live with his son Samuel. A married man would have been eligible for 640 acres. A survey was made January 16, 1840 for land eight miles north of the Cypress near Dangerfield. Titus County was formed from Red River County in 1846. Morris County was formed from Titus County in 1875.

John Woolsey evidently died about September 1842. Red River court minutes Book A through F records several matters concerning his estate. The court ordered publication in newspapers that unless application be made for Letters of Administration upon the estate of John Woolsey, deceased, Sheriff Edward West would be appointed. William Woolsey, one of the heirs appeared. Jesse Canady (Kennedy) was appointed administrator. He posted bond as the law directed. Jesse Kennedy appears to be the husband of Elizabeth "Betsy" Woolsey. Appraisers are appointed to determine the estate.

William Woolsey on January 16, 1843, sold his share of the headright certificate of his father to Jesse Kennedy for $100. This is recorded in Deed Book D on pages 312 and 313. On February 20, 1843, Henry Lick and Hannah Lick, his wife, also sold their share in the certificate to Jesse. This is recorded on pages 326 and 327. This deed states that Hannah is the daughter of John Woolsey. Henry and Hannah sold their land in Hempstead County, Arkansas in 1837. A deed in Book F, page 136, dated March30, 1843, shows Henry Lick of the County of Red River, Republic of Texas, appointed John Lick to be his attorney in fact. Betsy Kennedy bought from Henry Lick for $300 his furniture and household goods, a wagon's gear, four head of horses, fifteen head of cattle, fifty head of hogs, all his cotton and corn. Henry is later back in Arkansas.

Jesse Kennedy of Nacogdoches County on September 16, 1847, appointed John McLean Kennedy to be his attorney to sell the headright of John Woolsey. It was sold to Garrett Gish April 18, 1849. This is recorded in Morris County deeds Volume B, on pages 136, 137 and 138.

Jesse failed to appear before the Red River court to give an accounting of his settlement of the estate. He owed $11.25 in accumulated court costs. It was believed he was in Rusk County (Texas). A warrant was issued for the Sheriff of Cherokee County to "attach" his body and bring him to the courthouse on September 13, 1850, to show cause why he should not be fined for contempt. He was not located. No further mention of this case is made in the court records so the court must have written off these costs. The land was patented by heirs of John Woolsey January 6, 1850. These transactions are in the General Land Office File No.822."<end quote>

CORR:
1999 March 5 from Diana Carey
There is another daughter - Hannah b. abt 1805 and married Henry Lick

MARR: "Greene County, Tennessee Marriages, 1738-1868" compiled by Goldene Fillers Burgner; Witnesses: Samuel (X) Woolsey


Children of JOHN WOOLSEY and MARY GILBERT are:

    WILLIAM WOOLSEY, b. 1786, TN.

  1. PRISCILLA WOOLSEY, b. 1789, TN - Greene County; d. 1846, AR - Washington, Hempstead; m. JOHN COHEA, 1809, TN - Robertson County; b. 1779, MD - Caroline County; d. December 04, 1845, AR - Washington, Hempstead.

  2. SAMUEL GILBERT WOOLSEY (Source: Renee Stinson), b. August 31, 1791, TN - Greene County; d. 1858, AR - Farmington, Washington; m. MATILDA THOMPSON, January 11, 1810, IL - Randolph County; b. January 20, 1794, KY; d. December 14, 1871, AR - Farmington, Washington.

  3. THOMAS WOOLSEY, b. 1793, TN - Robertson; d. AR - Hempstead County; m. (1) JENNIE "MILLIE" KELLEY, January 19, 1816, TN - Greene County; m. (2) REBECCA, Abt. 1827; b. 1810, OH.

  4. ELIZABETH "BETSY" WOOLSEY, b. 1794, TN - Greene County; d. TX - Red River County; m. JESSE KENNEDY; d. TX - Red River County.

  5. JOHN WOOLSEY 5TH, b. 1796, NC; d. 1869, TX - Red River County; m. MARY E FRANCISCO, Abt. 1839, AR - Washington County.

  6. MICHAEL C WOOLSEY, b. June 10, 1803, NC; d. Aft. 1880, TX - Red River County; m. (1) SARAH W GILL, Bef. 1855; b. GA; m. (2) MARY ANN ORR, July 05, 1855, AR - Union County; m. (3) REBECCA JONES, April 28, 1861, AR - Union County - Book B, Pg 256; m. (4) PERMELY WALTHALL, December 23, 1863, AR - Union County - Book B, Pg 294; b. Abt. 1836.

  7. JOSEPH WOOLSEY, b. 1804, NC; d. TX - Red River County; m. MARTHA, 1830, Georgia.

  8. HANNAH WOOLSEY, b. Abt. 1805, NC; m. HENRY LICK.





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