John Woolcock

b. 19 January 1846, d. 10 October 1927
  • John Woolcock was born on 19 January 1846 in Cornwall, England.
  • He was baptized/christened on 31 May 1846 in Lostwithiel, Cornwall, England.
  • Thomas Woolcock and Susanna Testick Rescorl appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1860 in Belleville Township, Essex County, New Jersey. Other members of the household included John Woolcock, William Thomas Woolcock, Richard Woolcock, Edwin Woolcock and Philippa Woolcock.
  • He married Esther Noble Brown on 19 January 1871.
  • The following appeared on 21 August 1897 in the Putnam County Republican: (Oregon) Mrs. Edward Dennisw, a sister of Judge John Woolcock, is dangerously ill at her home in Baltimore.
  • The following appeared on 20 February 1915 in The Highland Democrat: William T. Woolcock died at his home, Ridge street, about six miles west of Newburgh, on Wednesday, after a brief illness, in his seventy-first year.
         The deceased was born in England, February 18, 1844, the son of Thomas and Susan Woolcock. He came to this country in 1857 with his mother and brothers, his father having preceded them. He was a miner by occupation and with his brother John came here and went to work at the Croft mine in 1867 for Seth Allen, father of the present supervisor of this town. He spent many years here until the blast furnace was closed. His last employment of that nature was with the Sterling Iron Manufacturing Company, Rockland County, as mining superintendent. He resided in Peekskill for some time, and just before June purchased the farm on which he died.
         Mr. Woolcock was a member of Courtlandt Lodge No. 34, F. & A. M., having been initiated July 29, 1867; passed August 28, 1869, and raised December 2, 1869, and made a life member December December 27, 1906. He was also a member of the First M. E. Church.
         The deceased married, in 1870, Miss Fannie Griffin. They have four [sic] children living. She died September 26, 1897. He married, four years later, Mrs. [sic] Carrie Sanger, of Peekskill. She survives him. He also leaves two daughters, Mrs. Charles Adams, of New York, and Mrs. Chas. Wright, of Peekskill; three sons, Edward [sic], of Poughkeepsie, Charles, of Niagara Falls, and Magrain, of Sloatsburg; two brothers, Edwin and John, of Peekskill, and two sisters, Mrs. C. M. Gardner and Mrs. Philipa Dennis, of Peekskill.
         The remains will be brought to Peekskill, and the funeral services will be held from the First M. E. Church this (Saturday) afternoon at 2.30 o'clock, and will be in charge of Courtlandt Lodge. The interment will be at Hillside.
  • John Woolcock died on 10 October 1927 at age 81 in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, at 509 HIghland Avenue at his residence.
  • He was interred at Hillside Cemetery, Cortlandt Manor, Westchester County, New York.
  • The following appeared on 15 October 1927 in The Highland Democrat: John Woolcock died at his home, 509 Highland avenue, Peekskill, at 5 o'clock Monday morning, following an illness of several weeks.
         The funeral services were held at his home at half past two o'clock Wednesday in charge of Courtlandt Lodge No. 34 F. &i A. M. of which he was the third oldest member. Rev. Lloyd B. Holsapple, rector of St. Peter's church conducted the religious service and H. Alban Anderson, Master of Courtlandt Lodge, the Masonic funeral ritual. The bearers were Walter H. Sager, John W. Snowden, F. J. Pierce, Albert W. Mead, David W. Cleveland and Nattie L. Ball.
         The interment was in Hillside Cemetery.
         Mr. Woolcock was a native of Lostwithal, a hamlet near Cornwall, England, where he was born January 19, 1846, the son of Homer and Susannah Recoil Woolcock. The parents came to Peekskill in the early fifties bringing the children with them.
         John Woolcock was a miner by occupation, working in the Cornwall mines in his early days and in mines in various parts of this state after he came to America. For many years he had charge of the Reading Iron Company's mines back of Cold Spring known as the Sunk Mine and resided in Philipstown. While there he was elected a town justice of the Peace, holding the office for a long time, in fact until he removed to Peekskill.
         Since a resident of this village he has had no regular occupation. Fora long period and up to his death he was truant officer and census taker for Oakside school, and after consolidation he continued his work inthat portion of the village.
         Mr. Woolcock was the third oldest member of Courtlandt Lodge No. 34 F. & A. M. His Grand Lodge Number was 149433, his lodge number 132. He was initiated July 29, 1869, Passed August 26, 1869, Raised September 9, 1869. He was granted Life Membership Certificate No. 32 on January 4, 1906 and in 1919 was presented with a fifty year membership certificate.
         Until within a few years he was a regular attendant upon lodge communications except when he resided in Putnam County. He would never accept office but there was no truer craftsman or more interested faithful and loyal mason.
         For a long lime he was a member of Peekskill Lodge No. 744 B. P. O. Elks but withdrew from the lodge some years ago.
         In politics he was an enrolled republican and for a long time active in Party Councils while in Putnam County.
         Mr. Woolcock married Miss Esther Noble Brown, of Fort Ann, N. Y. January 19 1871 . They had four children, one has passed on and the wife died some years ago.
         He is survived bv three children—two daughters, Mrs. William H. Pierce of Boscobel; Mrs. Howard Lent, of 509 Highland avenue; one son, John R. Woolcock, of Richmond Hills, Long Island; one sister, Mrs. Cassius M. Gardner, Sr., of 118 Nassau Place, Peekskill. Besides are five grandchildren—Wrilma, Meita, aud Esther Pierce, of Boscobel, and Elizabeth and John Woolcock, of Richmond Hills.
         Mr. Woolcock was a high type, rugged citizen. From his youth as a miner he was fond of out door life and nature. He was well acquainted with the wild flowers, birds and the four footed denizens of the woods and an enthusiastic devotee of Izaak Walton. He was famed as a hunter, and fisherman. There was not a brook in Putnam County and in fact many other localities that he had not whipped for trout. Strong of stature, wholesome in thought, alert in mind, loyal in his friendships, he was a man held in high estate by all who knew him and a credit to the citizenry of Putnam County and Peekskill.
  • Last Edited: 2 Jan 2015

Family: Esther Noble Brown