Newlin Township

Newlin Township, a subdivision of Chester County, was the birthplace of the Woolleys. It was bought by an Irishman, Nathaniel Newlin, although he did not live there himself, having previously purchased land in Delaware County. After the sale, there was quite a bit of trouble over its occupation because Newlin had apparently encroached on Indian lands,

Innkeeper

It appears that Thomas became an innkeeper. Benjamin R. Boggs' collection Inns and Taverns of Old Phildelphia, chapter 20, cites an article from the Philadelphia Gazette of April 18, 1745: "Thomas Woolley late of Marple in Chester County is this day moved into the City of Philadelphia to the sign of the White Horse in Elbow Lane..., with an intent to keep a public House of Entertainment, he having obtained License for this purpose.  It being one of the most convenient houses for the Market people, as well as Travellors in the said city, having good convenient stabling..."

Philadelphia

In 1745, Thomas moved his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Benjamin Franklin was in the process of establishing his printing business and becoming involved in politics.  When "Friends" moved from one district to another, they would take a certificate or recommend to the new meeting. Thomas Woolley and his wife, Sarah, did this with the witnesses being Phebe Coppock and Bartholomew Coppock.

Thomas Woolley and the Quakers

Thomas Woolley and the Quakers



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Quakers

A year after the wedding, Thomas requested permission to become a Quaker. Since he was not a "Birthright Friend," he did not have a certificate from a meeting in New Jersey or England, which would have given some information as to where in England he may have come from.  But the conclusion from this information is that Thomas was a Protestant Episcopalian, and Sarah was a Quaker.

Thomas' wedding

Christ Church, in Philadelphia, was the place where members of the Continental Congress, members of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington, and Betsy Ross worshipped, and had a Protestant Episcopalian congregation.  Because this was where the wedding of Thomas Woolley occurred, it could point to the fact that Thomas was from England.  The original records are still in the Refectory Office, but only the names of the bridal couple are mentioned.

Thomas Woolley

The book, The Utah Woolley Family, by Preston W. Parkinson, states that John's father, Thomas Woolley, was first mentioned in the Chester Monthly Meeting in 1729.  He married Sarah Coppock, a Quaker and she acknowledged her "wrongdoing" in being married at Christ Church by a Priest.  The Friends would "read out of meeting" those who didn't live by the laws of the church, and even more for "marrying out of meeting."