|
||||||||||||
| Spouses | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Notes for Robert & Ann (Family) | ||||||||||||
| "The ancestral lineage of the Willson family begins with Robert and Ann Willson, who were married in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England on the 9th day of the 3rd (May) month of 1672, (Old Style). They were members of the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers and remained in that faith to the end of their lives. Research done by Mary C. (Willson) Vail (7) states that "Robert (was) dismissed from Scarborough March 2 - 1682 to the care of their friend's in New Jersey and Penna.". He with Ann and their four children came to America in 1682, landed at Philadelphia, and settled in New Jersey, Burlington County, Chesterfield Township. According to family tradition, Robert and his wife and family came on the "Welcome" the Spring of 1682, whereas William Penn came in the Fall. Eight days before their marriage, they signed a bond concerning Ann's child by her marriage to Robert Witham. The bond was dated the 1st of the 3rd month of 1672, and is listed on page 28 of the Extracts from Whitby Register at Friends House, London, England. The bond states that, "Thos. Staindridge, deceased bro." of Ann, left ten pounds to Ann's child by her marriage to Robert Witham. One of the witnesses to the bond was Peter Hodgson, who also witnessed their marriage certificate. The name of Ann's child is not known. A copy of the bond is printed in the appendix. Robert and Ann's marriage certificate is recorded in the Register of Yorkshire, England Quarterly Meeting of the Society of Friends and states that the marriage was held in Ann's house in Scarborough, within the limits of the Pickering Monthly Meeting of Friends. The certificate also states that Robert was a bachelor and Ann the widow of Robert Witham. Twenty-one Friends signed the certificate as witnesses and among them was a Danill Wilson. A copy of the certificate is printed in the appendix. In view of Vail's Armstrong's and Shotwell's research and the statements in the bond and marriage certificate, more recently obtained by Albert S. Wilson Sr. (9) in England, it is difficult to determine the maiden name of Ann, unless she was not a full sister of Thos. Staindridge. Both Armstrong and Shotwell state that Ann's maiden name was Hoag or Hogg; that she and Robert Willson were married in 1672; and lived in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, before coming to America in 1682. Robert and Ann brought with them to America a "Breeches Bible", printed in 1606 and 1618, bearing the inscription, "John Willson his book". Whether John was Robert's father has not been ascertained. This rare Bible has been entrusted to the Friends Historical Society Library at Swarthmore College, Pa. Robert's autograph appears on one page of the Bible and those of his son Samuel and daughter Rebecca on another. These original signatures show the surname spelled as: WILLSON. Another interesting object brought to America by Robert and Ann is a large cupboard, which was recently refinished and is owned by Mrs. William Ewing Jr. (Florence W. Green) (9) of West Grove, Chester Co., Pa. The cupboard has always been owned by a Willson descendent. The first legal record found of Robert and Ann Willson in the new world is from "The Survey Book, Volume 21, First Series, page 356, New Jersey Archives," 1st month, 1684. Robert is found in the report of a survey made for Thomas Woods of 300 acres of land on the south side of Crosswicks Creek, N. J. on lands adjoining those of Robert Willson. Since the lands purchased were adjacent to those already owned by Robert prior to March (1st month), 1684, it follows that proof of his residence is rather definitely established. No record of a deed for Robert's property has benn located, although the above reference is made on page 49, Revels Book of Surveys of West Jersey, Liber A, (Testimony of Thomas Revel, 1687). Robert is mentioned many times in the records of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, New Jersey Society of Friends, which was established in 1684. The first reference is as follows: "At ye monthly meeting ye 8th of ye 12th month (February), 1684, at ye place aforesaid, (Francis Davenport's house, near Crosswicks Creek, now called Chesterfield in West Jersey), Robert Murflin did signify there was a difference betwist him and William Black and he desired that it might be ended." It was ordered that Thomas Farnsworth and Robert Willson should speak to William Black concerning it and to give an account to the next monthly meeting. In 1685, Robert Willson was appointed as one of the trustees of the Friends Burial Grounds at Crosswicks, according to page 290 of Woodward and Hagerman's ' The History of Burlington County (New Jersey). On page 17, R. S. of the 98 minutes for Chesterfieldl Meeting, '*-Ye 7th day of ye 12th month 1688, "Robert was selected by the meeting as a representative to the Quarterly Meeting. Other references to him are on pages 5, 17, 34, 36, 52, '06, and 83 and refer to his activities within the Society of Friends. Robert Willson's name, including many others, was recorded as a proprietory of several undivided shares of West Jersey, and from study, it seems that these shares were to Thomas Budd for 15,000 acres, and was referred to the General Assembly on May 12, 1687. For more information and source, see page 427 of West Jersey Records, 1664 - 1707, Volume 21, Liber B. Part I. According to page 277 of Woodman and Hagerman's History- of Burlington County (New Jersey), he was selected in 1688, as constable for Chesterfield Township, which indicates that he must have been a resident for some time to have been choose. Smith's History 2f New Jersey states that Robert' Willson was a member of the Grand Jury, which meet at Burlington, N. J. in February of 1688. The Burlington Co., N. J. Records Volume 11, page 10, gives the cataloged cattle markings for robert Willson as: "Ear marks: Robert Willson: Right car, two slits, ye left undercut next ye head." Robert was also a member of the General Assembly in 1697 and his name appears among the Quaker. members of the House of Representatives of West Jersey, to uphold the interests of the King, in 1696 - 1697. For source, see New Jersey Archives, 1st series, Volume 2, page 147-8, for 1687 - 1703. Consequently, the descendents of Robert Willson are eligible for membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, due to his legislative service. A tract of land, "the thirtieth part of a property", lying In and near the town of Burlington, N. J., was bought on Jan. 12, 1695, by Robert Willson from John Hutchinson. From this tract he sold to Daniel Smith, merchant of Burlington, "a water lot, house lots, and town bound lots in the town of and town bounds of Burlington in 1698 and is styled in the deed as, Robert Willson, yeoman of Crosswicks Creek, Burlington Co." For source, see New Jersey Records, Liber B, Part II, page 532 and 723. In 1702, Robert purchased 260 acres of land from Richard and Susanna Stockton, bordering on Crosswicks Crack, and probably adjoining lands already owned by him. This land descended to his son, Samuel 1 (2), who sold it in 1733 to Henry Coate. The last notice of Robert Willson in the minute books of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of Friends, occurred on 2nd day of the 12th month (February), 1709, when his death was recorded as an overseer and the meeting appointed Jo Bunting to fill his office. The New Jersey Abstracts of Wills list Robert Willson of Chesterfield, Burlington Co. on March 27, 1708, as making a nuncupative will, in which he spoke to his wife, Ann, and son, Samuel. He mentioned his daughter, Rebecca; son-in-law, Cornelius Empson; his granddaughter, Mary Empson; and grandson, Robert Willson. .His wife and son were made executors. An inventory of the personal estate of Robert and Ann Willson, both deceased, was made the 10th month of 1709. It amounted to 181 pound and 6 1/2 shillings, and was conducted by Anthony Woodward, Thomas Foulkes, and John Thom. No death date of Ann has been preserved. Since the inventory covered the personal estate of both Robert and Ann, it is likely that she died before December of 1709. Robert and Ann Willson's four children were all born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. Their names and birthdate were reported by the Pickering Monthly Meeting of Friends to the Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting and are recorded in its register of births, marriages and burials."70 "Robert and Ann Willson were our first ancestors in North America. They were members of the Society of Friends, commonly know as Quakers and they remained in that faith to the end of their lives. The spelling of their surname is confirmed by the personal signitures of Robert and his children Samuel I nad Rebecca in a family Bible that Robert brought to America from England. It is a rare Breeches Bible from 1606 and 1618 and has the inscription "John Willson - His Book". It is not known if John was Robert's father. The bible was donated to Swarthmore College in Philadelphia. Quaker Records from the Pickering Monthly Meeting, within the jurisdiction of Scarborough, Yorkshire, England show that Robert Willson, a bachelor and Ann Witham, a widow, formerly Hoag were married at Ann's home on the 9th of May, 1672. Twenty-one "Friends" signed the register | ||||||||||||
| Last Modified 11 Dec 2001 | Created 16 May 2004 by Reunion for Macintosh |