James Nesbitt (1665 - 1720)

Descendants

Died 1720 at about age 55 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey

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The Harvey Book

Biography

JAMES NISBET was born in 1665.^[1] He died in Newark, Essex Co., NJ, in 1720 at the age of 55.

James NESBITT is claimed to have been married in 1695, Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, USA to ______ there also is in 1737 James Nisbet (-abt.1737) 10 May Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States 10 May 1737 James Nisbet late of London but now of Perth Amboy Middlesex Co, taylor; «being weak by reason of age» children James, William, Thomas, Anne. Real and personal estate Executors wife Sarah and son Jonathan Witnesses John Nevill John Waterman Francis Neville proved April 1 1741 Lib C p400 New Jersey

Very little is known about James except he was claimed to be father of Samuel Nesbitt born 1696 Newark, Essex, NJ The Nesbitt spelling often indicates an Irish origin and the Y-Dna also points to that.

Branch Y-DNA

YDNA mutation BY3373 defines this group that is found in Northern Ireland. The YDNA of this branch also are found in Ireland and so far not in Scotland for this time period. He should be YDNA R-M269 P312 L21 DF13 DF21 DF25 BY3373

Research Notes

Newark references are they claimed or correct all seem to be from later publications without any reference ? Probably errors that keep getting repeated.

Is there any connection between the Newark Nesbitts and the Perth Amboy Nisbets are has this just been assumed.

• 1692 Note no given name in the 1692 reference-- Rev. Abraham Pierson Jr. was encouraged by four men from Scotland, who had fled from the persecutions and troubles there under Charles II. There names were Young, Nesbit, Clisby, and Douglass who for their zeal and piety had been admitted by the first settlers to great privileges in the town." ^[2]
• 1807 I suspect is taken from the above as exactly same wording and still no given names -Dr. Macwhorter says, in his manuscript history, that Mr. Pierson, after his father's death, "was for introducing more rigid Presbyterianism into Newark, in which he was encouraged by four men from Scotland, who had fled from the persecutions and troubles there under Charles II. (about the year 1670) Their names were Young, Nesbit, Clisby, who for their zeal and piety had been admitted by the first settlers to great privileges in the town. ^[3]

• 1878 Note almost 200 years later given names appear not mentioned in 1692 or 1807-The Rev John Prudden Sr. was installed pastor of the First Church of Newark in 1692, as the successor the Rev Pierson and soon after Prudden's ministry began there was an accession to the town (early 1693) of eleven planters, of whom James Nesbit, James Clizbie, and Robert Young were exiles from Scotland. ^[4]

• The town of Newark, New Jersey was founded in 1666 by Puritans from New England. By 1673, there were 86 male inhabitants, and about 500 total residents just nine years later. It is not known when James Nisbet arrived in the colonies, but it is believed that he was part of a group of exiles from Scotland. James lived first at Perth Amboy and Woodbridge, New Jersey. In 1690, he was part of a group that moved to Newark.(original reference missing and most written has the goal of trying to connect to Scotland which would explain the believed.)
• A later writer commented: “There was an addition to this Church, worthy of notice, about the year 1690. When the impolitic and mad persecution under that headlong and debauched King, Charles II, raged with horror in Scotland…three of these persecuted persons came to this town [Newark], were with great pleasure received by the Church, and became eminent and ornamental members of it. The names of these three young men were [James] Niesbit, [Robert] Young and [James] Clisby, whose posterity are still among us.”^[5]
• WHAT REPORT?? In another report, a Rev. Pierson “was for introducing more rigid Presbyterianism into Newark; in which he was encouraged by four men from Scotland, who had fled from the persecutions and troubles there under Charles II. Their names were Young, Nesbit, Clisby and Douglass, who for their zeal and piety had been admitted by the first settlers to great privileges in the town.” A final quote tells that “…soon after Mr. Prudden’s ministry began there was an accession to the town [early in 1693] of eleven planters…of whom James Nesbit, James Clizbie and Robert Young were exiles from Scotland.”^[6] Inhabitants were granted the privilege of purchasing land and becoming “planters” by a formal vote of the proprietors at a town-meeting.

‘Henry & Francis’ to Perth Amboy, for the Scots’ Colony of East Jersey Three of the prisoners tried for treason on 6 August, 1685, were banished on the ‘Henry & Francis’ to Perth Amboy, for the Scots’ Colony of East Jersey. but no Nisbet as claimed. 22 August, 1685: ‘I James Baird ane of the serjants to Collonell [James] Douglas his oune companie [of Foot Guards] grant me to have receaved out of the Tolbuith of Edinburgh from My John Vanss and Arthure Vdney masters of the said Tolbuith the persons of William Jacksone William Cunynghame John Muirhead prisoners there conforme to ane ordor from his Maties privie Councill direct to Mr George Scott of Pitlochie who hes ordor from his Maties privie Councill to receave them and transport them to the fiorringe plantations and in respect the said Mr George Scott is not present at the recept of the said persons Therfor I bind and obleis me to procure ane recept from the said Mr George and lykwayes to warrand the Magistrats of Edr and Keepers of the said Tolbuith of all hazard that they or aither of them shall happen to sustaine through their said liberation As witnes my hand att Edr the 22 day of August 1685 befor thir witnesss John Blaikie servant there and Mr Thomas Gow wryter heirof and syrvant in the said tolbuith Sic Sub James Baird J Blaikie witnes’ ^[7]

John Corbet was captured by a party of John Graham of Claverhouse’s Troop of Horse in late 1684. He was probably the ‘Jon Corbit’ held in Dunnottar Castle between May and August, 1685 . Banished to East Jersey in August, he was transported on the Henry & Francis and landed at Perth Amboy in December. He returned to Scotland in 1687 and died in 1706. He is buried in a marked grave at Tinwald Kirk in Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire. The inscription is as follows:

‘HERE. LYES. THE. CORPS. OF. JOHN CORBET. WHO. DIED. THE. 17TH. OF MARCH. 1706. AND. OF. HIS. AGE 63. YEARS. WHO. WAS. TAKEN IN. THE. YEAR. 1684. BY. A. PARTI OF. CLAVERHOUS. HIS. TROUPE AND. BANISHED. BY. THE WICKED. COUNSELL. OF. SCOTLAND TO. EAST. JARSEY. 1685. AND RETURNED. THE. YEAR. 1687

Claimed/Disputed Origins

James Nisbet (or Nesbitt) has often been claimed as the son of Alexander Nesbitt, uncle of John Nesbitt. John the Martyr was hanged in Edinburgh, Scotland in December 1685 because of his adherence to the Protestant faith. However, there is no evidence to support the claim that James was closely related to them. Neither is there any support for another claim that James was a merchant in Irvine who sailed to America in that same month. That James was an agent for the shipping company and did not travel. See the discussion below for more on these errors.

He has IN ERROR been claimed to have been James Nisbet merchant in Irvine as agent in connection with the sailing of the ship Henry and Francis of Newcastle that landed in Newark, NJ. on December 20, 1685

They had various persons around in Scotland acting as agents to apply for sailing with this ship and James was one

James Nisbet was not listed on the passenger list for the above sailing He must have just been an agent and did not sail as we find him in records in Irvine for many years after the ship has sailed and he was to have been in New Jersey

I believe the idea that he came from AYR to New Jersey was because of being an agent and it was thought that he sailed. "1685 East Jersey Under the Proprietary Governments By William A. Whitehead" James Nisbet of Newark Jersey who came from Irvine direct to NJ, USA about 1685. ALSO THEN AN ERROR

Common ERROR for many Nisbet pedigrees -There is no connection either to family of John the Martyr or James Nisbet or any of the next mentioned. Error-After seeing his brother John, his father James, and his uncle John all executed for treason by the King, he found passage on a ship bound for the New World. He landed in Newark, NJ. on December 20, 1685, and was always known as "the exile from Scotland. There is NO known or proven CONNECTION TO JOHN AND JAMES

Proof for Errors

Proof that he was not the James Nisbet son of Alexander Irvine Ayrshire showing that James did not immigrate but stayed in Ayrshire 1685 says James Nisbet of Newark Jersey came from Irvine direct to NJ, USA about 1685. Error in pedigree as the following shows he did not leave Scotland but stayed in Irvine-So this is not the same James and connection to Ayrshire and Greenholm was in error

• 1685 James Nisbet merchant in Irvine acted as agent in connection with the sailing of the ship Henry and Francis of Newcastle to New Jersey; Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
• 1686 James Nisbet merchant son of minister at Irvine Alexander Nisbet -^[8] ; Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
• 1687 ^[9] 1687 Elizabeth NISBET dtr and James NISBET son, of minister at Irvine Alexander Nisbet and Agnes Walkingshaw
• 1687 his daughter was born in Scotland children of James Nisbet and Christian (Cunningham) 13 Nov 1687 Elizabeth NISBITE - ^[10]

Sources

The Harvey Book : Giving The Genealogies Of Certain Branches Of The American Families Of Harvey, Nesbitt, Dixon And Jameson, And Notes On Many Other Families, Together With Numerous Biographical Sketches:by Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Publication date 1899] Unreliable source with many errors

1. ↑ Oscar Jewell Harvey, The Harvey Book, (Wilkes-Barre, PA, E.B. Yordy, 1899), page 258.
2. ↑ From Historical Discourses Relating to the First Church of Newark by Stearns. About 1692,
3. ↑ Rev. MacWhorter in his Century Sermon privately printed in 1916 1916 Note almost 250 years later but includes original from 1807
4. ↑ From the History of Newark 1878 by Arkinson
5. ↑ Oscar Jewell Harvey, The Harvey Book, page 268.
6. ↑ Oscar Jewell Harvey, The Harvey Book, page 269.
7. ↑ (Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, XII, 174.)
8. ↑ Deed Dalrymple
9. ↑ Deed Dalrymple
10. ↑ Baptisms OPR Irvine Ayrshire; Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland