Zephaniah Woolsey was born abt. 1805, in rural Greene Co., Tennessee. His father was William Woolsey, who upgraded the original 2-story log home of his parents, Zephaniah & Sarah WOOLSEY Woolsey, with a 2-story brick one. Zephaniah Woolsey, Revolutionary War Veteran, settled on the South banks of the Nolichucky River, at the foot of the Great Smoky Mtns. From Steven H. Alsip; Corbin, KY.: "They came to Greene Co., in 1789. Zephaniah lived abt. 15 miles SE of Greeneville at the Gap near Camp Creek where he had plenty of grazing land & branch where it would be ideal for a cattle driver to spend the night...abt. a days drive to market." Paul Woolsey states in his book: "William Bonapart Woolsey, (Zephaniah's brother) was born Greene Co., Tenn., 9 May 1821; almost 100 years before his grandson Paul Woolsey was born in the same place." Evidently, this family farm remained in the Woolsey family for generations. Zephaniah's mother was Sarah WOOLSEY Woolsey whose parents were Thomas Woolsey & Phoebe Gilbert. Originally the Woolsey Cemetery in Greene, Tennessee was listed in the Camp Creek area; now it's listed in Whitesand area, on private property in middle of a hay field.

On 24 Jan 1825, in Greeneville, Greene County, Tennessee, Zephaniah Woolsey obtained a marriage license to marry Rachel Harrison & the couple was married on 10 Feb. 1825, by Gilbert Woolsey, JP (Zephaniah's brother).

1830 U. S. Federal Census, Eastern District of Greene Co., Tenn., p 4: Zephaniah Woolsey: 1 male 20-30 ** 1 female under 5 ** 1 female 20-30

Will of William Woolsey, Deceased (father of this Zephaniah) 1 June 1846: I, William Woolsey being advanced in age in a sound state of mind & memory deem it necessary to set my earthly affairs in order...
2nd, I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah Woolsey during her natural life or widowhood all my real & personal estate...
I next will to my sone Thomas Woolsey...
I next will to my sone Zephaniah Woolsey's children $50 to be made out of my property that remains after my wife's death & $5 to Rachael Woolsey his wife...
I next will to my sone Gilbert Woolsey...
I next will to my sone William B. Woolsey...
I next will to my dauter Jershe Woolsey...
I next will to my dauter Mariann Woolsey...
I next will to my dauter Sarah Woolsey...
I will to my dauter Kerenhappuck Woolsey...
& the remainder of my property that is not wild is to be sold & equally divided amongst all my children...
As to the land where I now live...that at my wifs death it be equally divided...amongst all my children except Thomas Woolsey & Zephaniah Woolsey's widow or heirs...."

Carroll County Court House, Carrollton, Missouri, Probate Record, Volume A, years 1834-1858, starting at page 23, the following information is found: Zephaniah Woolsey died before 7 May 1838 without leaving a written will.
Page 24; 7 May 1838: "Racheal Woolsey & Simeon Dolph made application to the undersigned clerk of court of Carroll County for the letters of administration of the estate of Zephaniah Woolsey, deceased ..Joseph Dickson, clerk; (signed by): Racheal Woolsey (her mark); Simeon Dolph; Noah Woolsey; E. V. Mar???"

"We do swear that the heirs of the said deceased are myself his widow, (&) (1)Artelitha Woolsey aged about 12 years; (2)George W. Woolsey aged about 10 years; (3)Abigail Woolsey aged about 8 years; (4)Elizabeth ?. Woolsey aged about 6 years, (5)Polly Adaline Woolsey aged about 4 years; (6)Phebe Ann Woolsey aged about 2 years, & (7)Latitia Woolsey aged about 4 months & we know of no others & that their residence is in Carroll County, Missouri on this 7th day of May 1838; (signed by): Joseph Dickson, Clerk."

According to the book: "Carroll County, Missouri" published in 1911, "The 1st burial in Woolsey graveyard was Mrs. Nutting, who died in 1820 & whose body was buried by Mr. Casner, with only the assistance which could be given by a neighboring woman." For this reason & the fact that known relatives are buried here, I have placed Zephaniah Woolsey in this Woolsey Cemetery, although there is no tombstone for him