Francis Hickman (abt. 1630 - 1685)

Born about 26 Sep 1630 in Wiltshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Stroud) Hickman — married 31 Oct 1664 in Lambourn, Berkshire, England

Descendants

Died Dec 1685 at about age 55 in Chester, Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Caroline Williston [send private message], Syd Rumford [send private message], and Dede Wilkinson [send private message]

Biography

Francis Hickman was born in 1630 in Lambourn Woodlands, Berkshire, England, the son of Simon and Anne (née MICHEL/MITCHELL) HICKMAN. Francis was baptized ^{[1] [2]}on 26 Sep 1630 in Bromham, Wiltshire, England. Little can be reconstructed of his early life until he married ^[3] Elizabeth STROUD Chamberlain on 31 Oct 1664. Together they raised a family and ventured to the New World. The Hickmans immigrated with William Penn and other Quakers aboard the Welcome, which landed in 1682 at what would become New Castle, Delaware. Shortly after Francis arrived in Pennsylvania, he purchased 100 acres of land in the Frankford area of Chester County and settled there.^[4]They were first generations Quakers. Together they had five children, one died before they left England. ^[5]

Children of Francis & Elizabeth

• Mary Hickman Edwards b. 17 Nov 1665  Lambourn Woodlands, Berkshire Parish, Wiltshire, England; m. Joseph Edwards; d. 1733 Concord Township, Chester, Pennsylvania.
• Francis Hickman, Jr. b. 13 Sept 1668, Wiltshire, England; d. 16 Mar 1679 Wiltshire England at the age of 10 ^[6]
• Joseph Hickman b. 23 Sep 1670, Wiltshire, England; m. Mary Eakin d. 13 May 1735, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania.
• Hannah Hickman Way b. 13 Mar 1673 Lambourn Woodlands, Berkshire Parish m. Robert Way in about 1693, Kennett, Chester, Pennsylvania; d., 1727, Pennsbury Township, Chester, Pennsylvania. [Mother of Elizabeth Way Buffington who married John Buffington, son of Richard Buffington and Phoebe Grubb. See Buffingtons]
• Benjamin Hickman b. 4 June 1677, Berkshire Parish, Wiltshire, England; married in 170156 to Ann Buffington (sister of the Richard Buffington who married Phoebe Grubb); d. 7 Dec 1742, Chester, Pennsylvania.

Last Will & Testament

The Will of Francis Hickman ^[7] Philadelphia Book A Number 28 November 27, 1685

In the name of Almighty God Amen this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eight five I Francis Hickman being sick & broken in body but of mind and memory perfect and being disposed to join estate with God hath brought me within the world so that there may be no confusion here after both with my wife and children do make rightfully forward this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

First I do give and bequeath unto my two sons Joseph and Benjamin Hickman my hundred acres of land in the county of Philadelphia that was purchased of Robert Adams that land should be delivered to either of them at the time of their respective days of their marriages or as they shall attain to the age of eighteen years that shall first happen to wit 50 acres to each son and if it to fall out that either of them shall die before the other marries or attains age eighteen years of age then my will is that the survivor have the whole hundred acres and if they should depart this world before they marry or attain the foresaid age then my will is the that the lands be divided betwixt my daughters Mary and Hannah Hickman and my wife Elizabeth Hickman shall be disposed that my said children shall plant upon the said land then my will ------- that she shall have and enjoy the said land ‘til my first son Joseph shall either marry or come to the age of eighteen years.

Secondly I do give and bequeath my foresaid daughters ten pounds English that is to say five sterling a piece to be given to them as they shall attain the age of eighteen years or at their respective marriages on days of their marriages. The remainder of money provision and household goods in hand in America unto by beloved wife Elizabeth Hickman for and toward that ----- maintenance of my foresaid four children until they so respectively receive as I have by law given them. And further more my will is that if my wife shall either marry or be so disposed to return to England that she shall have seventy pounds for her by the overseers of this my will and the remainder of goods, household stuff, tools & money that shall afford to be left behind according to the inventory taken thereof shall be equally divided betwixt my foresaid four children enough as their remains due to me about twenty five pounds sterling in England a solvent as I suppose my will is that it --- of it shall be arranged shall go equally between my foresaid four children. I do appoint executor John Barnes commonly distinguished by Bristoll Barnes thus going by the same name and Thomas Durket to be my overseers of this my last will and testament in the name of God who’s hands I have unto put by faith and soul the day and year above written. --- the twenty five pounds above mentioned is over and above the fifteen pounds my wife hath in England of her own proper money.

The mark of Francis Hickman

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us whose names are under written:

Robert Jeffers Richard Dungworth Mary Jeffers Jonathan Jeffers

Research Notes

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

(Robert Way) He married Hannah, daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Hickman, who bore him nine sons and one daughter.

Sources

1. ↑ Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: 518/3. Ancestry.com. Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017. Original data: Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers, Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Reference Number: 518/3. Ancestry Record 61187 #2843498
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
4. ↑ Coombs Family History: A surprising and exciting journey back in time. Coombs, Jan Gregoire.Publisher: Janet Pulvermacher , 2013, Middleton, Wisconsin.
5. ↑ History of Chester County Pennsylvania This book mentions four children: " Joseph, Benjamin, Mary (married to Joseph Edwards), and Hannah (married to Robert Way) Francis died in England, before their trip to America, at the age of 10 thus was not in his father's will
6. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, England; General Register Office: Society of Friends' Registers, Notes and Certificates of Births, Marriages and Burials; Class: RG 6; Piece: 1269
7. ↑ Will of Francis HICKMAN (1685), Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Liz Harrison

• Source: S-1300436665 Repository: #R-1552298038 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree Text: (http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=48463223&pid=509 DEAD LINK)
• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5T6-PBK : 18 September 2020), Francesse Hickman, 1630.
• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVRK-Z82 : 13 March 2020), Fraunces Hickman, 1664.
• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQD4-RJL : 18 September 2020), Francis Hickman in entry for Mary Hickman, 1665.
• Syd Rumford, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Syd and others.
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 1, p. 465-468)
• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVRK-Z82 : 13 March 2020), Fraunces Hickman, 1664.