James Woolsey and Sarah Pyatt

James and Sarah had the following known children:

• William 'Will' Woolsey b: c1862 Crawford Co, MO
• Jefferson Filmore Woolsey b: c1865 Crawford Co, MO
• John Woolsey b: c1868 Crawford Co, MO
• Ferd Woolsey b: c1869 Crawford Co, MO, m: 2 Jul 1902 Steelville, MO, Avie Tinker b: 16 Mar 1885 (d/o Harrison Tinker and Laura "Avie" Piatt) d: 1 May 1977 Ferd and Avie lived in Ozark, AR
  • Grace Woolsey
  • Ruth Woolsey b: 16 Nov 1903 d: 7 May 1984 m: Claude Columbus Jones b: March ???? White Oaks, AR d: 1989 McDade, Texas (grandparents of Diane)
• Franklin (or Francis) Marion 'Frank' Woolsey b: c1872 Crawford Co, MO
• Ava Clara Woolsey b: 8 Aug 1872 (or 1875) Crawford Co, MO, d: 16 Jul 1941 (grandmother of Leattrice Roberts)
• Ida Josephine Woolsey b: c1877 Crawford Co, MO
• Florence 'Florie' Woolsey b: c1879 Crawford Co, MO
• Almeda Woolsey b: c1880 Crawford Co, MO (? died young; not listed by family researchers, but, on 1880 census)
• Susie Catherine Woolsey b: 1882

James and Sarah appeared as follows in Meramec Township, Crawford County, Missouri, on the 1880 census:

• Woolsey, James age 45 born MO / MWM / Farming / father born NY/mother born TN
• Woolsey, Sarah (Wife) age 37 born MO / MWF / Keeps House / father/mother born TN
• Woolsey, William (Son) age 18 born MO / SWM / Farms / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Jefferson (Son) age 15 born MO / SWM / Farms / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, John (Son) age 12 born MO / SWM / Farms / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Ferdinand (Son) age 11 born MO / SWM / Farms / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Franklin (Son) age 8 born MO / SWM / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Ava (Daughter) age 5 born MO / SWF / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Ida (Daughter) age 3 born MO / SWF / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Flora (Daughter) age 1 born MO / SWF / father/mother born MO
• Woolsey, Almeda (Daughter) age 1/12 born MO / SWF / father/mother born MO

Ava Clara Woolsey was the grandmother of Leattrice Roberts who wrote in 1994 in a letter to Michael Pyatt "My grandmother was dark complected (as many of the old Pyatts were) and a small wiry woman; a very clean housekeeper who sang as she did her work (On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand, Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown, How Tedious and Tasteless the Hours). Had the high 'Woolsey' temper, but yet a Saint. Her brother, John, was the cut-up. He threw the geese out of the upstairs window and at age 16 asked the school teacher to go with him. She replied 'When I take a boy to raise, I'll let you know.' They went to the Woolsey school 4 miles south of Steelville. Francis Marion started to school and when the teacher asked his name he answered 'Merry Frank'. Grandma (Ava) took over the household duties when 8 or 10 years old. She had about a 4th grade education but taught me to read at an early age. John Hill Pyeatt, the basket maker, had two brothers; Andrew and George. They lived in primitive log cabins - separately. My grandmother bought the basket about 1939 - 55 years ago. I think they were basically religious, lived alone and bothered no one. John Hill was very dark (I believe there was Indian blood). My Aunts even were swarthy complected."

Ferd Woolsey's wife, Avie Tinker, was the daughter of Harrison Tinker and Laura "Avie" Pyatt. Laura is said to have died in childbirth with twins. Harrison then married Vina Turnbough per Diane.

Sources:

• Michael S Pyatt St. Louis, MO (descendant) MichaelSPyatt@aol.com
• Diane senojveb@netzero.net
• Notes of Leattrice Roberts, Steelville, MO
• Crawford County, MO, marriage records
• 1880 census of Crawford County, MO

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