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From my Book "Line of Descent of George Roger Gilbert", Part IV:

Five Great - Grandparents
and beyond

226. Samuel Willson and 227. Susanna Estell - ( 113. Sarah "Sally" Willson; 56. Gideon M. DeWitt; 28. Martin Hinchman DeWitt; 14. Alvah DeWitt; 07. Loretta DeWitt; 03. Mildred Barber; 01. George Roger Gilbert).

Samuel Willson was born December 23, 1737, son of John Willson. He married Susanna Estell, born January 4, 1743. She died December 27, 1820, almost 78 years of age, and he died April 3, 1824, aged 86 years. They are both buried in the Papkating (Deckertown) Cemetery in Sussex, New Jersey. They were the parents of Sarah "Sally" Willson who married Peter DeWitt on September 30, 1800.


Monday, April 11, 1977

Home for Easter Vacation. Went to the Sussex County "Homestead" Library. The reference librarian gave me a two page mimeo sheet called "Genealogical Research in Sussex County" which I zeroxed and will place in the folder at the back of this volume.

From this list of things genealogical that are available in the library, I asked for and looked through "Sussex County Marriages, 1795 to 1853".

This list is a copy of a copy of the list in the Sussex County Clerk's office. From it I discovered:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30 Sept. 1800 - DeWitt, Peter to Sarah Willson

- Willson, Sarah to Peter DeWitt

THE WILLSON FAMILY

Tuesday, April 12, 1977

After practicing the organ at Drew Methodist Church in preparation for niece Amy (Emi) Gilbert's wedding April 23, 1977, I decided to go to the Papakating Cemetery in Sussex, New Jersey. I was looking for Willsons and found them in the old section at the east end of the cemetery. The last time I visited this cemetery, this section was overgrown with saplings and I could only get a few rows into the growth. This time all the saplings had been cut down. I found the graves of Peter DeWitt and Sarah, his wife among the Willsons below and also the grave of Mary Elizabeth DeWitt, daughter of Gideon M. DeWitt. This makes almost certain that Peter DeWitt above is my relative and his wife a Willson. Here are the inscriptions I copied today:

In memory of Ê Ê Ê In memory of Susanna Ê Ê Ê
Samuel Willson Ê Êwife of Samuel Willson Ê Ê
who died April 3, Ê who died December 27th
1824 aged 86 yrs ÊÊ Ê1820 aged 77 years,
3 months and 21 ds Ê11 months and 23 days
*(b.12/23/1737) Ê Ê Ê ÊÊ*(b. 1/4/1743)

In memory of Ê Ê Ê Ê ÊIn memory of Hannah
Peter Willson Ê Ê Ê Ê Êwife of Peter Willson
who died July 12th Ê Ê who died October 5th
1828 aged 59 years Ê Ê Ê1824 aged 59 years
5 months and 17 days Ê10 months and 1 day
Ê*(b. 1/26/1769) Ê Ê Ê Ê *(b. 12/4/1764)

Asa Willson Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Temperance, wife of Asa Ê Ê Ê
Died Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Willson Died October 5th, 1820 Ê
May 7, 1857 Ê Ê Ê Ê Aged 44 years, 11 months Ê Ê Ê
Aged 84 yrs, 4 mo. Ê Ê Ê Ê and 15 days Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
and 15 days Ê Ê Ê Ê ÊÊ*(b. 10/20/1775) Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
*(b. 12/22/1772) Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê

John W. son of Asa Ê Ê Ê ÊSarah, Wife of Jane
and Temperance Willson Ê Ê ÊThomas L. Truex
Died April 13, 1817 Ê Ê Ê Ê and Dau. of Asa and aged 17 years, 3 mos. Ê Ê Ê ÊTemperance Will-
and 27 days Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Êson, d. Sept. 14,
*(b. 12/17/1799) Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê1862 aged 43 yrs.
Ê ÊÊ Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê ÊÊ Ê Ê 10 months and 12 days
Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê*(b 11/2/1818)

Christie Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê...Also Benjamin Willson
Daughter of Asa & Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Êborn Jan. 7, 1787
Temperance Willson, Ê Ê Ê Ê Êdied April 8, 1829 Ê Ê died April 15, 1859 Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê ( The inscription was Ê aged 57 yrs. Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê so worn I could not Ê Ê*(b.1802) Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Êbe sure Êof it.) Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
John Davis, son of David and Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
Jane Christie, died June 3, 1827
aged 3 months and 28 days

and ......

William Willson 
born 
July 13, 1775  
died 
April 7, 1854 

In memory of Sarah Ê ÊIn memory of William Lewis
wife of Ê Ê Ê Ê ÊÊSon of William and Sarah Willson William Willson Ê Ê Êwho died August 17th, 1819
who departed this life Êaged 9 years, 1 month and 26 Feb. 25, 1843 Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê days *(b. 6/22/1810)
aged 68 yrs
4 months and 23 days
*(b. 10/2/1774)


Sacred to the Memory of Ê Martha, wife of Ê Ê Ê Ê
Samuel Willson Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Samuel Willson Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
who died Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê who died Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê
September 7, 1839 Ê Ê Ê Feb. 15, 1844 Ê Ê Ê
aged 68 yrs,7 mos. Ê Ê Êaged 74 yrs,17da. Ê Ê Ê
and 29 days Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê *(1/29/1770) Ê Ê Ê

Isaac Willson Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Matilda, wife of
Ê Ê died Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Isaac Willson
August 1, 1853 Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Êdied May 7, 1852
aged 61 yrs, 5 mos. Ê Ê ÊÊaged 53 yrs. & 10 da.
and 12 days Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê Ê*( b. 4/27/1799)
*(b. 2/21/1792)

In memory of Sarah, Daughter of
Isaac and Matilda Willson
who died October 20, 1837,
aged 12 years, 7 months and 4 days.
*(b. 3/16/1825)

* the dates that follow this asterisk are my calculations and were not present on the grave stones.

From the list of Sussex County Marriages I copied yesterday -

5 Feb. 1814 - Willson, Isaac to Matilda Adams

Wednesday, April 13, 1977

Practiced the organ again this morning. This P.M. went to New Jersey. I stopped first at the Sussex County "Homestead" Library to check the burials above with the published list in the "Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey" Vol. VIII pp 15-16. I made a copy of the Wilson's buried in the "Papakating" Cemetery south of Sussex, N.J.. and will glue them on the next page. Corrections to be made are in red ink on the previous pages. Seeing that Benjamin could not be Sarah Willson DeWitt's father, I was sure her father was Samuel Willson, Sr.. From the Genealogy file (3x5 cards ) in the Historical Room I discovered:

Willson, Family - George Roy files - Sussex Co. Historical Society

I returned to the library where upon checking the "Wantage Recorder" dates above on microfilm, I discovered the following articles which I made a photocopy of but will copy below as the photocopy will fade in time.

"Genealogical and Historical" 12 Feb. 1931 p.7

[The historical articles now being published in the Wantage Recorder are from the manuscripts left by the late Charles E. Stickney, publisher of this newspaper for many years who died in 1930. No orders for back numbers, except as of recent date, can be supplied, and no booklets will be published. Those families interested should preserve their copies of this newspaper.

Wilson

John Wilson was the first of the name to settle in Wantage, which took place at or before 1751. From a study of the few memoranda we have seen of the family history, it would appear that Andrew Wilson who came to the vicinity a few years later, was a brother of John. Both branches of the family are of Scotch descent and Andrew is said to have first settled near the Wallkill. As he was in the army during the campaign against Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1759, although married in 1750, there cannot be found records of a permanent settlement until later and upon his return from military service it was very probable that he should seek the vicinity of a relatives' location.

John received a deed for 100 acres of unappropriated land from William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, June 14, 1751, recorded in Liber A.B. 3, page 218, etc., the survey of which is recorded in the "Public records of the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey in the Surveyor General's office at Perth Amboy in book S.M.4, page 53." by a transfer by deed this land became the property of his son, Samuel, Viz.:

"This indenture made the seventh day of April, in the thirty-second year of the reign of King George the second, Anno Domino, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine between John Wilson, of Wantage Precinct, in the county of Sussex, of the first part and Samuel , son of the said John Wilson, of the town and county aforesaid of the other part; witnesseth that the said John Wilson in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds proclamation money in hand paid by the said Samuel Wilson, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained, granted, sold, rebased, enfeoffed and confirmed and by these presents doth sell.... all that one hundred and five acres of land, strict measure, situated on the west side of the head of the drowned lands, beginning at a white oak tree standing south six degrees east eight chains, from the head of a large spring by said Willson's house, then ....to the place of beginning; to which said Wilson hath right, by virtue of a deed to him from William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, (referring here to his deed first above mentioned)."

"In witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Sealed and delivered in the presence of

John Havens

Richard Gardner

John Wilson."

The deed was not acknowledged until two years later, before Richard Gardner, so that it is probable that Gardner did not sign as a witness to it at the first dating. It is recorded in the Secretary's office at Perth Amboy in Book k 2, page 401,and is now in possession of Evi. A. Wilson at Deckertown, N.J., Evi, also has another deed, whereby the said Samuel Wilson, purchased of William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, Peter VanBrough Livingston and other, December 17, 1759, "for and in consideration of £ 38,16s,4d," two tracts of land adjoining the first above named 100 acre farm situate "on the North branch of Beaver Run, called Hubb's cabin or run, and one boundary of which was where ïHaven's road crosses said run' containing 40 and 90/100 acres and 13 and 44/100 acres respectively. we judge from this that the witness to the John and Samuel deed - John Havens, was at that time a neighbor and near or at where Asa Havens now lives, as old traditions have kept the remembrance of the old road alive. John Gavens was perhaps the pioneer settler of that family in Wantage.

The 100 acre tract is now included in Evi Vandruff's farm the two other tracts are in the present Evi Wilson farm. On the above mentioned deed is a memorandum as follows

"On March 10, 1804, the snow was four feet on the level." "In the year 1803, May 8, there fell a snow estimated at sex inches on a level. The apple and cherry trees were in full bloom.

Rote by me, John Wilson, Sr."

This establishes the fact he was living in 1804. The deed he gave Samuel in 1759, was not signed by his wife, hence he was at that time a widower. The fact of his deeding away his property then, would also imply that he was an elderly man.

Evi. A. Wilson also has another deed, from Jane and Rachael Drummond, only children of the Earl of Perth, executed by Elias Boudinot, (See Symmes trial of Morgan for murder of Maxwell for mention) their attorney, described as a lawyer of Elizabeth Town, N.J., to John and James Wilson, two sons of the first John, of a tract of land adjoining the first 100 acre tract for £ 29.

Also, a deed from Joseph and William Sharp to John's sons, John and Samuel Wilson, dated December 15, 1796, of a tract of the drowned lands along the Wallkill.

John Wilson the first settler, had but three children that are now known, sons, John, James and Samuel although Andrew, later mentioned, was perhaps a son.

John Jr. married but left no sons. *James married but went west. Samuel married Susan Estel and had eight children born of them. John Wilson, Esq., who married a sister of Nathaniel Martin and had some daughters but no sons. Peter, who left no heirs. William Wilson had no sons - three daughters, Sarah, Wife of Peter DeWitt; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Rorrick, who was a son of Michael Rorick, of Franklin Furnace, N.J. "Michael Rorick was born April 10, 1749, in Bergen County and came to the Furnace about 1765. He was then about seventeen years old and drove an ox team for carting around the forge.

* Jim Shaw, Bowen Island, BC, Canada informed me through an e-mail that
"My wife's late mother was a Willson. Some years ago an unpublished document (275 pp plus appendix) entitled "A Willson Memorandum", 1974, came into our possession. The author is Hildred G. Pinfold of London, Ontario, also a Willson descendant. The main focus is the United Empire Loyalist John Willson who emigrated to Canada in the May fleet of 1783.............. John Willson was born 24 Jun 1739 Middlesex Co., NJ. He married Rebekah Thixton b. abt 1743. She was bap. 10 Jul 1774 St. James Church, Piscataway, NJ. He and Rebekah Thickston had issue, John Jr. b 1761, Stillwill b. 1763 and William Ladner b 1772 all in NJ, and at least one daughter Alice b. (?)Staten Island.
Ms. Pinfold's research shows that this John Willson is the younger brother of "your" Samuel Willson. "

20 Feb. 1931 pg 7

(There follows anecdotes about Michael Rorick)

Mary, the third daughter became the wife of William Chadwick; Samuel Sr.'s third son, Samuel, Jr. left three sons, Thomas L., Samuel and Peter, of whom Thomas L. married a Beardsley of the old Beardsley family near North Church and left sons, Edward (near Unionville),Samuel, Leeport and Thomas. Asa, second son of the first Thomas, married Temperance Decker, and had but one son Asa Wilson, Jr. who was the father of Evi. A. Wilson, of Deckertown.

(There follows the biography of Andrew Wilson, who might be brother to John Sr. or the eighth child of John and Susan Wilson.)


Monday, June 5, 1978

In reading over the quarterlies of the Orange County Genelaogical Society, Volumn 4 no.3, I discovered an article titled "Ulster and Orange Counties Home Guard in 1763" page 20. It begins " A list of the names of the James Clinton Company of militia mustered in 1763 to protect the western borders of Ulster and Orange Counties. (From a "Newburgh News" clipping, 18 Sept. 1936). Company commanded by James Clinton afterwards a Brigadier General in the Revolution."

Thereafter follows a list of the men in the milita with name, birthplace, Occupation, Height, Hair, Complexion. Third from the end of the list appears-

Birthplace Occupation Height Hair Complexion

Willson, Samuel Ireland Cordwainer 5'11" fair ---


Peter DeWitt's father-in-law, Samuel Willson was born 12/23/1737 and so was 26 years old in 1763. I am sure this is one and the same person.

THE ESTELL FAMILY

Thursday, April 14, 1977

Went to church to practice, then went again to the Sussex County Library. I started by looking for Estells. In the New Jersey Archives series - Calendar of Wills 1781-1785 pp 136 and 137 I found:

1782, Sept. 3 Estill, James , of Monmouth Co.Int. Adm'rs - Mary Estill and William Estill. Fellowbondsman - John Meirs; all of said Co. Witness - Hope Burrowes

1782, Sept. 2. Inventory, £47.3.6, made by John Meirs and Jesse Emens. Lib. 24, p 137

1784, Oct. 16, Estill, Joseph, of Salem Co. Ward. Son of John Estill, of said Co., deceased. Said Ward makes choice of Isaac Herbert, as his Guardian.

1784, Oct. 16. Guardian - Isaac Herbert, of Galloway Township, Gloucester Co. Fellowbondsman - William Murrel, of Mount Holly, Burlington Co. Witness - Joseph Read, Surrogate. Lib. 26, p. 113

1777, Aug. 25, Estill, William, of Mendham, Morris Co.; will of. Wife to have £ 30. Baptist Church at Morristown, whereof Reune Runyon is minister, £30. Son, Levi, money from sale of real estate. Daughter, Rhoda Salter, £35. To the children of John Estill, David Estill and Elizabeth Miller, deceased, personal estate; except coat and vest to my brother, Joseph Estill. Executors - friends, Reune Runyon and Andrew King. Witnesses - John Johnson, Thomas Young, Aaron Blackman. Proved April 10, 1786.

1777, Oct. 6. Inventory, made by Isaac Hance and Hartshorn Fitz Randolph. Lib. 28, p.474

I found nothing else about Estells.

Children of John Willson, the first settler : (order of birth unknown)

i. John - married but left no sons.

ii. James - married and went west.

iii. Samuel - b. Dec. 23, 1737, d. Apr. 3, 1824; married Susanna Estell, b. Jan. 4, 1743, d. Dec. 27, 1820

Children:

1. Peter - b. Jan. 26, 1769, d. July 12, 1828; m. Hannah, b. Dec. 4, 1764, d. Oct. 5, 1824; left no heirs.

2. Samuel - b. Feb. 9, 1771, d. Sept. 7, 1839; m. Martha, b. Jan. 29, 1770, d. Feb. 15, 1844.

Children:

a. Thomas L. - m. _______ Beardsley

Children:

1. Edward

2. Samuel

3. Leeport

4. Thomas

b. Samuel

c. Peter

3. Asa - b. Dec. 22, 1772, d. May 7, 1857; m. Temperance ____ , b. Oct. 20, 1775, d. Oct. 5, 1820

Children:

a. John W. - b. Dec. 17, 1799, d. Apr. 13, 1817

b. Asa -

Children:

A. Evi. A. -

c, Sarah - b. Nov. 2, 1818, d. Sept. 14, 1862; m. Thomas L. Truax.

d. Jane - b. 1802, d. Apr. 15, 1859; m. David Christie

Children:

1. John David - b. Feb. 6, 1827, d. June 3, 1827

4. William - b. July 13, 1775, d. Apr. 7, 1854; m. Sarah, b. Oct. 2, 1774, d. Feb. 25, 1843.

Children:

a. William Lewis - b. June 22, 1810, d. August 17, 1819

5. John - m. _____ Martin, sister of Nathaniel Martin. All children were daughters.

6. Sarah - b. June 29, 1783, d. Sept. 15, 1863; m. Peter DeWitt, b. August 16, 1780, d. Apr. 4, 1864.

Children:

a. Jennett L. Johnson - m. John Johnson (perhaps his 2nd wife, his 1st wife was her sister.)

b. Sally Ann Couner

c. James DeWitt - b. August 25, 1805, d. July 25, 1893; m. 1st Mary - d. Feb. 11, 1864 aged 52 yrs, 10 months, m. 2nd Nancy - d. Feb. 25, 1881 aged 61 yrs. 1 month and 18 days.

Children:

I. David H. - b. Oct. 17, 1840, d. Dec. 22, 1863

II. Mary J. - b. Mar. 20, 1842, d. Apr. 21, 1911; m. Humphrey Martin -b. July 19, 1840, d. July 12, 1903.

III. Juliet - m. Merrit Willson

IV Anson - m. Blance

children:

a. Julia B. -b. 1908, c. 1918

V Nettie (Jennett ?) -b. 1856, d. 1925; m. James H. Rolison

d. Gideon M. DeWitt (56) - b. Feb. 26, 1808, d. Mar. 8, 1871; m Elizabeth Hinchman(57) - b. Sept. 29, 1811, d. August 21, 1900.

(See their family on page 210 of Part 3.)

e. Mary Tucker, widow of Austin Tucker

f. Joseph DeWitt,

g. Elizabeth b. June 7, 1815, died May 11, 1845 age 29.11.4 (May have been the first wife of John Johnson).

h. William L. DeWitt,

i. Susan - m. _______ Trainor

7. Elizabeth - m. Jacob Rorick, son of Michael Rorick of Franklin Furnace, NJ.

8. Mary - m. William Chadwick.