J. M. Woolsey

John Martin Woolsey (c. December 1833 - April 1, 1921) was an American farmer and folklorist, described in his later years as being something of a wandering recluse.

Selected Bibliography

• Woolsey, J. M. (1910), The Original Garden of Eden Discovered and the Final Solution of the Mystery of the Woman, the Tree and the Serpent: Being the Lunar Theory of Mythology and the Analysis and Satisfactory Explanation of the Ancient Mystical Lore, Mt. Vernon, NY: J. M. Woolsey, https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008728743 
• Woolsey, J. M. (1910), The Discovery of Noah's Ark, Final and Decisive, New York: Cockrane Pub. Co., https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008728749 
• Woolsey, J. M. (1911), The Ancient City: Discovery of the City That Cain Built and Discovery of the Most Ancient Site of the City of Thebes and the Lost Europa, the Princess of Tyre, and Origin of the Swiss Lake Dwellings, New York: J. M. Woolsey, https://archive.org/details/ancientcitydisco00wool 
• Woolsey, J. M. (1916), The Whims of the Ages: the Moon the Mother of All Things; The Day of Doom and the Flight of the Gods, New York: T. Taylor, Printer, https://archive.org/details/whimsofagesmoonm00wool 
• Woolsey, J. M. (1917), Symbolic Mythology and Translation of a Lost and Forgotten Language, New York: T. Taylor, Printer, https://archive.org/details/symbolicmytholog00wool 

Press Coverage

• "MARTIN WOOLSEY'S HOUSE DESTROYED. ORIGIN OF FIRE A MYSTERY.", The Newtown Bee (Newtown, CT): 4, 11 Mar. 1904, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newtown-bee-martin-woolseys-house-d/153699435/  — the first fire, this of his farm Eden Hill near Hattertown and Stepney Depot, Fairfield Co., Connecticut
• "J. MARTIN WOOLSEY'S HOME IS DESTROYED: Residence of Noted Writer and Recluse at Willow Grove Prey to Flames.", The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA): 6, 25 Mar. 1912, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-j-martin-wool/153665116/  — the second fire, this of his rental home near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• "J. M. WOOLSEY'S HOME BURNS. Hermit Writer Was in New York and Premises Were Untenanted.", The Sun (New York, NY): 2, 25 Mar. 1912, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-j-m-woolseys-home-burns-herm/153664948/ 
• "An adverse fate in the matter of fires seems to pursue J. Martin Woolsey...", The Bridgeport Times and Evening Farmer (Bridgeport, CT): 7, 28 Mar. 1912, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bridgeport-times-and-evening-farmer/153699529/ 
• "ALLOWS INSANE MAN TO SIGN QUIT CLAIM", The Herald Statesman (Yonkers, NY): 8, 21 Jul. 1920, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-statesman-allows-insane-man-t/153665475/  — Woolsey spent his final year as an inmate at the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co., New York.