To the Editor:
My father, Warren F. “Mike” Willsey, had deep ancestral roots in the area as did my mother, Whilma Wolford Willsey. I think it is important to recognize this remarkable heritage at the time of his passing.

Mike’s ancestors, the Ball and Dietz families, were among the first European settlers in the Hilltowns.   They arrived in the 1740s having emigrated from the Palatine Region of Germany. They had originally settled in Saugerties “West Camp” for the Palatine refugees.

Grandfather Johannes Dietz emigrated from Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany (Palatine region). He was killed during the Dietz massacre, along with his son and grandchildren. It was very lucky for the Willsey family that his daughter, Elisabetha, had already married George Ball and wasn’t living at the Switzkill farm. Apparently Elisabetha’s brother, Peter, was killed during the battles of Saratoga. 

The Willseys moved to Berne shortly after the revolution. They were among the first settlers of Wyltwick (Kingston) and had arrived in the new world in 1623. The patriarch, Hendrick, served in the Ulster or Dutchess County Militia during the revolution and moved to the area to lease land from the Van Rensselaers. Allegedly, the Van Rensselaers described it as “free land for Patriots.”

The Willseys participated in the feudal system for 40 to 50 years before becoming active participants in the Anti-Rent Wars. Shortly after helping overthrow the patroonship, the Civil War erupted. Many of Mike’s great uncles enlisted and fought in the war.

Two of Mike’s great uncles, Lucius and Henry Arthur Ball, served in the 7th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment. Lucius was killed at Cold Harbor and Henry Arthur was wounded several weeks later in the Battle of Petersburg. Mike’s grandfather was much younger than his brothers and was born in 1859.

Two of Mike’s great uncles on the Willsey side, Elias and Stephen Holmes, were also Civil Rar veterans. They served in the 3rd New York Cavalry and fought in the fall of Richmond. 

Mike’s grandfather Charles Willsey was born in 1848 and eventually lived on Willsey Road in Rensselaerville.

This family history inspires my deep commitment to improve the town of Berne.

Joel Willsey

Berne

Editor’s note: See related obituary.