Nicholas Stillwell Jr.
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Nicholas Stillwell Jr. (bef. 1606 - 1671)

Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell Jr. aka Stilwell
Born before in Puttenham, Guildford, Surrey, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Husband of — married about 1641 in New Amsterdam, New Yorkmap
Descendants descendants
Died after age 65 in Dover, Staten Island, Province of New Yorkmap
Profile last modified | Created 14 Sep 2010
This page has been accessed 15,052 times.
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Nicholas Stillwell Jr. was a New Netherland settler.
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Contents

Biography

Baptism Nicholas Stillwell was baptized on 1 February 1605/6 at Puttenham, Guildford, Surrey, England. [1] Baptism 1 February 1605/6 at Puttenham, St John the Baptist, Surrey. No parents named. [2] \

He has been inferred to be the son of Nicholas Stillwell and Alice Holmes.

Marriages Nicholas allegedly married (1) Abigail Hopton, daughter of Robert and Jane Kemeys Hopton about 1633 in Dorking, Surrey, England. He married (2) Anne/Annetje Van Cyck (Dyke) about 1641 in Dover, Staten Island, NY. Nicholas Stillwell (1603 Dorking, Surrey Co., England - 12/28/1671 in Dover, Staten Island, NY) married Anne/Annetje (maybe) Van Dyck ~1642. An Overview of the Life and Times of Nicholas Stillwell the Progenitor: 1640 New Amsterdam, New Netherland [3][4]

Dispute regarding Abigail Hopton as his wife

These sources may be the ones which caused the dispute. One names Abigail Hopton as a first wife and goes into some detail about the wife, an English woman, he married in America and her two marriages after his death. That she was an English woman is also reported by a second source and one other that name her as Ann Baxter. Hayden disputes that Abigail Hopton was Nicholas's wife as cited below in the horseback ride. Both identify him as a widower when he arrived in New Amsterdam about 1638 with his two sons, Richard and Nicholas. Another names her as his wife but the only sister of Lord Ralph Hopton, her brother and that her sisters were really her aunts.[5][6][7][8]

Nicholas Stillwell, the ancestor of the Family in America, was an Englishman, who had immigrated to Leyden, Holland with his family to escape the Protestant persecution in England. While there, he supported Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia in the same effort. They were defeated in Prague and these sources recount the story of the horseback ride to Breslau, Silesia and safety. On the ride Ralph Hopton, named as brother of Abigail Hopton, was riding behind the queen on a horse and Nicholas Stillwell was riding behind Abigail on a second horse. Hayden disputes the marriage and Benjamin Stillwell does not. An important note: Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia fled Prague in 1621. At this time, Nicholas would have been only 15 years of age. After this Nicholas made a decision to immigrate to New Netherland about 1638. [9] His first wife Abigail Hopton, supposedly died and he arrived, a widower with his two only children, Richard and Nicholas.[10]

This source names Abigail as the first wife and Ann Van Dyke as the second. It discusses the dispute and clearly does not identify the wives for certain. He points out two sources that have been (thought to be) proven in error.[11]

In conclusion, the work of Saron B. Stillwell and Horace Hayden done in 1899 and 1906, respectively, was strict leg work and yielded very informative sources for the Stillwells in England and America, however, greater access of vital records, biographical and historical works written much later help us to get it right. Abigail Hopton was the first wife of Nicholas Stillwell, the Emigrant, and the mother of Richard and Nicholas Stillwell.

Immigration Nicholas was the progenitor of the Stillwells in America. To escape the persecutions of Protestants in England he sailed to Holland and served Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia to support Protestantism. With the defeat at Prague he as an escort of the queen went to Breslau from there he began his journey to New Amsterdam. (Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia fled Prague in 1621; thus Nicholas would have been 15 years old at this time. John Cooke, his nephew, two brothers, Jasper and John and Richard and Nicholas, his sons, who were born in England. They arrived about 1638 and much more about his arrival and life in America may be found here.[12] His descendants immigrated across America and a record of nine generation may be found here.[13] A discussion of the origination of the family name, Stillwell, may be found here along with memoirs of their journey from England to Holland and New Amsterdam. In addition, it has information about Nicholas's brother John's return to England and his fate. An account of Nicholas' encounters with the Indians are also found here.[14]

Arrival Virginia; Year: 1635; [15]

N.B. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, Jr.'s arrival year of 1635, as stated above, is inconsistent with the birth year and birthplace of Nicholas Stillwell III, cited as 1636 in Holland. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, Jr. arrived in New Amsterdam, a widower, with two young sons. It is not possible that both his arrival year, 1635, and his second son's birth year, 1636, are correct, unless Abigail accompanied them to New Amsterdam and then returned to Holland where she died about 1638, which is an implausible scenario.

Children of Nicholas and Abigail (According to some sources)[16]

  1. Richard b 1634, m Mary Cooke
  2. Nicholas b 1638, m (1) Rebecca Bayless 1662 (2) Catherine Huybert Morgan, widow, Feb 6 1671[17] (3) Elizabeth Corwin Dec 6 1703.
N.B. The genealogy of Hetty Stillwell Lee supports the above account in this subsection, the Children of Nicholas and Abigail.

Children of Nicholas and Anne Van Dyke:[16]

  1. Anne b 1643, m Nathaniel Britton (Brittain)
  2. Alice or Abigail b 1644, m Samuel Holmes Oct 26 1665
  3. William b 1648, baptized May 11 1648
  4. Thomas baptized Jul 9 1651, m Martha Balien Jan 8 1670.[17]
  5. Daniel baptized Nov 13 1653
  6. Mary b 1658, m William Britton (Brittain)[18]
  7. Jeremiah b baptized Jan 13 1663
  8. Elias.[5][14][19]

Church Records

Children's baptisms
  1. July 9, 1651 -- Thomas, Nicolaes Stillewel, Anna. Wit[nesses]: Thomas Hall, Marritie Geerards, Susanna Bresert.[20]
  2. November 13, 1653 -- Daniel, Nicolaes Stilwell. Wit.: Pieter Wolfertszen, Jean Vaen, Hester Ter Neuf, Mary Arbecq.[20]
  3. January 13, 1663 -- Jeremias, Nicolaes Stillewill, Annetje. Wit.: Frans Joosten Bruijn, Hans Stijn, en sijn huysvrouw.[20]

Quotation

According to The History of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell:

"All that is now known concerning Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell has been recited. Perhaps more may come to light, but enough has been rescued, to establish him as one of the most conspicuous and stirring figures of his eventful time. At this late day he seems like an adventurer of fiction, or a hero of the romantic past. With his great natural force he dominated his fellow man, who during his long career perpetuated him in public office, both elective and appointive; and in private life he was the chief adviser of Lady Deborah Moody and a host of his fellow townsmen. Though possessed of a martial spirit, he was free from the swashbuckling and buccaneering qualities which in that day were prone to accompany prowess. Likewise his deportment was such that he avoided the many scandals and lawsuits common to his time, in the vicinity of New Amsterdam. His persistent activity, ready exposure to hardship, and the age he attained, justly creates the impression that he was a man of great physical strength and robust constitution. He was ever foremost where valor was called for, or where Dutch resistance to English aggression was needed. His sense of loyalty to his benefactors was paramount to all personal interests, and the intensely Dutch authority, T. G. Bergen, Esq., who was never accused of favoring any person or thing English, paid him the merited compliment of saying that he never swerved from his allegiance to the Dutch, which is more than could be said of many of his English neighbors. That he was hasty and passionate of speech under excitement, we concede, but it was only by a handful of malcontents and wrongdoers, against whom he had fearlessly stood alone in the turbulent moments, that he was called unreasonable and a disturber of the peace." [21]

Timeline in America

Haller states that he was in Virginia in 1639 and serving in the militia which differs with the timeline given by Teunis G Bergen in Early Settlers of Kings Co., NY on pages 277 which has him on Manhattan Island.[22]

1639 -- Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell Jr. held the position of tobacco viewer at lower side of parish to the Eastern Side of Capt. Uby's creek, Charles River County, Virginia. Charles River County was an early appellation for York County, which, with James City County and Warwick County ranging along the southwest of it, and Elizabeth City County, abutting on the southeast of it, occupied the peninsulas created by the York River, on the northeast, and the James River, on the southwest, and terminated at Point Comfort, in Elizabeth City County, where the peninsula ends in a broad projection into Chesapeake Bay.
November 25, 1646 -- Nicholas Stillwell Jr. sold land at Manhattan Island, New Netherland (now New York City, New York County, New York):
"Before me Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared Nicholas Stillewel who declared in the presence of the undersigned witness, that he sold to Jan Jansen Schepmoes, his house and lot heretofore occupied by ensign Gysbert de Leuw, situate on the North side of the Graft on the Island of Manhatan, and promises to deliver proper deed and conveyance of the aforesaid house and lot, for which lot and house Jan Jansen Schepmoes promises to deliver to the above named Nicholas Stillevell in payment, his plantation heretofore occupied by Nicholas Sloper, situate on the Island of Manhatan near George Hom's plantation, of which plantation Schepmoes also promises to deliver a proper deed in form, which contract parties declared they have made and that Nicholas Stilwell must move out of the house next May day [i.e., May 1, 1647]. If said house be burned before May, Scepmoes retains his plantation.
Done the 25th November A[nn]o 1646 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland."
This is the mark of Nicholas Stillewell Ian Ianson Schepmoes
Witnesses: Gysbert De Leeu
This is the mark of George Homs
To my knowledge
Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary [23]
January 1649 -- Nicholas Stillwell was nominated for and confirmed as one of the magistrates of the town of Gravesend, Long Island, New Netherland (now Kings County, New York).
1653 -- Nicholas Stillwell moved from Gravesend, Long Island, New Netherland to New Amersfoort (Flatlands), Long Island, New Netherland (now Flatlands, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York City, New York).
July 1, 1663 -- Nicholas Stillwell was appointed an Ensign by the New Netherland authorities during the Esopus War against Native Americans.
July 6, 1663 -- Nicholas Stillwell was commissioned by New Netherland authorities a Lieutenant of an English Troup.
Circa 1665 -- Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell moved from Gravesend, Long Island, New York to the southeastern shore of Staten Island, New York.
1667 -- Appointed Constable of Staten Island.[24]
1671 -- Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell resided at Dover, Staten Island, Richmond County, (now New York City), New York.
December 22, 1671 -- date of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell's will at Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.
"In ye name of God, Amen, I, Nicholas Stillwell of Staten Island in ye terrtoryes of his Royal highness, James Duke of York in America, Husbandman, being sick and weake in body, but of perfect and sound understandin, Thanks bee rendered to Allmighty God for the same, doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following, Viz: Imprimis: I give and bequeathe my Soull unto ye hands of Allmighty God who gave it in hopes he saved in and through ye Passion, merritts and mediacon of Jesus Christe my only Savior and Redemer and my bodye to ye earth to be buryed in decent and Christian like Buryall according to ye discretion of my executix hereafter named.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved and affectionate wife Anne Stillwell all my whole estate consisting of Lands, Housing, Corne, Oxen, Kine, Horses, Mares, Sheep, Swine, removeables whatsoever being and lying upon Staten Island aforesaid or elswhere with all maner of debts whatsoever belonging unto me. And
I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife to be my full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament.
Revoking all former wills and Testaments by me formerly made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale ye 22nd day of December in Annon 1671.
Nichola's (x) Stillwell his marke (Seal)
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of N. DE Meyer Richrd Charlton.[25]

Death

December 28, 1671 Staten Island, Province of New York.[26] [27]

Legacy
Stillwell Avenue, a major two-way north/south thoroughfare in southern Brooklyn and the central section of Coney Island, and begun in 1926, was named after settler Nicholas Stillwell (1603-1671), who had a farm in the area and became the progenitor of an influential Brooklyn family by the same name.[28]


Research Notes

Nicholas was the son of William Stillwell and Jane/Joan Curtis William married Joan Curtis on 28 April 1605 in Puttenham, Surrey, England.[29]

William must have died before 1610 as both his father in law Thomas Curtis and his widow Jane/Joan made their wills that year/ Thomas Curtis's probate statement which is translated from the Latin says:[30]

On the fifth day of December in the Year of Our Lord 1610, before Master Thomas Ridley, Doctor of Laws, Commissary, etc., A grant of administration of the goods of the aforementioned Thomas Curtisse, deceased, who died leaving his will to this effect, that because Jane Stillwell, executrix named in the same will, died before the execution of the same testament; to'William Stillwell, natural and lawful grandfather of Nicholas Stilwell, son of the said Jane, during the minority of the same Nicholas, being sworn, etc., reserving rights etc.'

In her will [31][32]Jane (Curtis) Stillwell asks that her child be brought up by her sister in law, Ann Curtis' This proves the parentage of the Nicholas Stillwell born at Puttenham in 1606 although the register does not give father's or mother's names, the wills prove who the parents were. No marriage is to be found for a Nicholas Stillwell to an Alice Holmes and I have seacrhed all the Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex Stillwell wills and in none of them are any Holmes family mentioned as legatees or anything else. No land transactions between Holmes and Stillwells can be found either. Sources used for some of the English Stillwells (= variant spellings) are bordering on fantasy and have significant errors in them Browning-5288 17:19, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

There also was a Nicholas Stillwell, son of John born in 1608 at West Horsley[33] who I am checking Browning-5288 17:19, 3 March 2024 (UTC)

Nicholas the son of Nicholas Stillwell was buried at Dorking on 18 February 1608[34] Browning-5288 11:06, 4 March 2024 (UTC)

Sources

  1. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5LT-DRS : 11 February 2018, Nicholas Stilwell, 01 Feb 1606); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 942.21 P6 V26PU V1-Z.
  2. Parish Register Puttenham St John the Baptist/ 1562-1763 Ancestry UK
  3. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
  4. U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 Author: Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Stillwell. S. B. The Stillwell Family in England and America. Dec 1899. Not Published. pages 16-17. http://worldcat.org/digitalarchive/content/server16079.contentdm.oclc.org/DPL/p16079coll31/WPVolume1/doc_2017_473.pdf
  6. Hayden, Horace Edwin. et al. Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania; New York, Chicago. The Lewis Publishing Company:1906. page 147. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalfami02hayd/page/147
  7. Stillwell Genealogy Descendants of Lt. Nicholas Stillwell. http://haygenealogy.com/hay/sources/britton/stillwelltree.html
  8. Bradhurst, Augustus Maunsell. My forefathers, their history from records & traditions. London. De La More Press:1910. Page 157 Footnote. https://archive.org/details/myforefathersthe00brad/page/n266
  9. Hayden, Horace Edwin, et al. Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania; New York Chicago. The Lewis Publishing Company:1906. . page 147. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalfami02hayd/page/147
  10. Stilwell, Benjamin Marshall. Early Memoirs of the Stilwell Family. New York: National Printing Company, 1878. Ch 1. Pages 25-32. https://archive.org/details/earlymemoirsofst00stil/page/n30
  11. Hennessee, David A, Maintains. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, III, The Immigrant. The Hennessee Family, Genealogy Pages. downloaded by David from ancestry.com #[S10786] http://thehennesseefamily.com/getperson.php?personID=I48268&tree=hennessee
  12. Hayden, Horace Edwin, et al. Genealogical and family history of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania; New York Chicago. The Lewis Publishing Company:1906. Pages 146-147
  13. Ladd. Forest and Jean.Stillwell Families of Oklahoma:And Their Ancestors. Stillwell-Smith_& All Ancestors 11b.ftw Stillwell-Book-2011.pdf. Copyright 2011. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~forladd/Stillwell-Book-2011.pdf
  14. 14.0 14.1 Stillwell, Benjamin Marshall. Early memoirs of the Stilwell family. New York. The National Printing Company:1878. Ch 1. Pages 25-32. https://archive.org/details/earlymemoirsofst00stil/page/n30
  15. U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Author: Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Page 63.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Bergen, Teunis G., 1806-1881. [from old catalog]. Register In Alphabetical Order, of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, N.Y.. New York: S. W. Green's sons, printer, 1881. Reprint 1973. Page 277-278. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t2j67sx0n&view=1up&seq=281
  17. 17.0 17.1 Bergen, Teunis B copied from Gravesend records Van_Cleef-17.jpg
  18. Leng, Charles W. (Charles William), 1859-1941, and William T. (William Thompson) Davis. Staten Island And Its People: a History, 1609-1929. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 19301933.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89072988694&view=1up&seq=367
  19. Stillwell Genealogy. http://haygenealogy.com/hay/sources/britton/stillwelltree.html
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 "New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2HB-SPF : 11 February 2018), Thomas Stillewel, 09 Jul 1651; citing REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH,NEW YORK,NEW YORK,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 17,503.
  21. Stillwell, John E., M.D., The History of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell-Progenitor of the Stillwell Family in America, New York, 1929.
  22. Haller, Eugene Cass, Notes on the Descendants of Nicholas Stillwell, the Ancestor of the Stillwell Family in America by: William H. Stillwell, NY 1883. Grand Prairie Historical Society Bulletin, Vol 6 #4 Oct. 1963
  23. New York State Archives http://iarchives.nysed.gov/xtf/view?docId=tei/A0270/NYSA_A0270-78_V2_152e.xml
  24. Leng, Charles W. (Charles William), 1859-1941, and William T. (William Thompson) Davis. Staten Island And Its People: a History, 1609-1929. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 19301933. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89072988603&view=1up&seq=176
  25. Pelletreau, William S. "Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York. New York: [Printed for the Society], 1893. p. 24.https://archive.org/stream/abstractswillso03kellgoog#page/n42/mode/2up
  26. Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 25 May 2018), memorial page for LT Nicholas Stillwell, II (unknown–28 Dec 1671), Find A Grave: Memorial #103491026 ; Maintained by Vicky (contributor 47173212) Body lost or destroyed.
  27. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Author: Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. SAR Membership Nuber: 86166.
  28. Wikipedia article: Stillwell Avenue
  29. Marriage: "Surrey Marriages"
    FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 3 March 2024)
    William Stillwell marriage to Joan Curtis on 28 Apr 1605 in Puttenham, Surrey, England.
  30. Probate: "London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858"
    London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, Clerkenwell, London, England; Reference Number: DW/PA/5/1610
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1704 #446566 (accessed 3 March 2024)
    Thomas Curts probate on 5 Dec 1610.
  31. Probate: "London, England, Wills and Probate, 1507-1858"
    London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, Clerkenwell, London, England; Reference Number: DW/PA/5/1610
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1704 #446651 (accessed 3 March 2024)
    Jane Stillawell probate on 21 Mar 1610.
  32. Probate: "Surrey & South London Will Abstracts, 1470-1856"
    FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 3 March 2024)
    Jane Stillwell probate in 1610 in Surrey & London, England.
  33. Baptism: "Surrey Baptisms"
    Archive: Surrey History Centre; Reference: HW/1/1
    FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 3 March 2024)
    Nicholas Stillwell baptism on 20 Nov 1608, son of John, in West Horsley, St Mary, Surrey, England.
  34. Burial: "Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
    Surrey History Centre; Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: Dom/1/1
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4790 #1337199 (accessed 4 March 2024)
    Nycholas Stillwell burial (died in about 1608) on 18 Feb 1608 in Dorking, St Martin, Surrey, England.
  • Genealogy of the Family of Longstreet Completed. Edward Mayes. Circa 1935. Privately published. Clark T. Thornton, editor. Reprinted 2009. Pages 91, 93.
  • Compact Disc #21, Pin #700384, (AFN: 2WK6-J8)
  • New York City, Marriages, 1600s-1800s Author: Genealogical Research Library, comp Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
  • Early Immigrants to Virginia from the 1500s and 1600s Author: Kinard, June. comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
  • American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) Author: Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. Ancestry.com Operations Inc.
  • Stillwell, John Edwin. The history of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell, progenitor of the Stillwell family in America. 1929. https://books.google.com/books?id=8dajtgAACAAJ
  • Ancestry Family Tree https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/70379628/person/46303935783/facts
  • ”Stillwell" compiled by Hetty Stillwell Lee. October 1931. Excerpts were distributed at the Stillwell Family Reunions held in New York City during the first half of the 20th century. In addition to her own family observations and private communications with various cousins, Hetty Stillwell Lee used sources from the New York Public Library, the Long Island Historical Society, and church records and from a family Bible. These sources included records from Staten Island regarding the early Stillwell family in the New York area. The titles of two documents were cited among the sources: 1. "Memoirs of the Stilwell family" and 2. “Notes on the Descendants of Nicholas Stillwell, the Ancestor of the Stillwell Family in America.”

Acknowledgments

  • This person was created on 14 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.
  • This profile was created through the import of Wilson.ged on 14 September 2010.
  • This profile was created through the import of WikiTree.ged on 20 February 2011.
  • Robert Adams, Entered by Robert Adams, Jan 22, 2012.
  • Thank you to Greg Wendt for creating WikiTree profile Stillwell-211 through the import of Wendt.ged on May 26, 2013.
  • Thank you to Michele Britton for creating WikiTree profile Stillwell-230 through the import of ANCESTORS OF MARIE ALAINA CINTOLO.ged on Jul 18, 2013.
  • Nicholas Stillwell as entered by Jack Wise, Saturday, July 19, 2014.
  • Stillwell-552 was created by Jean Boland through the import of Boland_Vaughan Family Tree.ged on Nov 25, 2014.




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Comments: 27

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I have now produced enough evidence from primary sources rather than unsourced books proving the parentage of the Nicholas Stillwell born in Puttenham. I propose that the parents currently attached should be detached.

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
Nicholas is the son of William Stillwell and Jane Curtis, not Nicholas Stillwell and Alice Holmes. This is proved by the will of Thomas Curtis.

I cannot find a marriage of a Nicholas Stillwell to Alice Holmes at all so I’m not sure where this info has come from. What is the source for his origin being Puttenham? Did he make a deposition?

Ann

Ann

posted by Ann Browning
A section, "Proposal Regarding Abigail Hopton as the First Wife of Nicholas Stillwell, Jr." has been added to the profile of Abigail Hopton (Hopton-53). The gist of it is that Dr. John E. Stillwell (1929) never disproved the information in either of the other two sources, (KCTB 1881) and (WHS 1883) published prior to Benjamin's Stillwell memoirs that support the hypothesis that Abigail Hopton was the first wife (or partner) of Nicholas Stillwell, Jr. The deletion of Abigail Hopton (Hopton-53) as Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, Jr.'s (Stillwell-18) first wife (or partner) may have been premature. The proposal involves the disconnection of Jane (Kemeys) Hopton as Abigail's mother, and replacing her with "unknown", then replacing Abigail Hopton (Hopton-53) as the mother of Richard and Nicholas, III. "This will provide the Stillwell family with an appropriate connection to Hopton, while acknowledging the elusive nature of Abigail Hopton's origin with mother unknown. "
posted by Marion Ceruti Ph.D.
To follow up on the information in David's and Terry's comments, suppose Abigail Hopton were an illegitimate daughter. Is this something that the family would have wanted to cover up? If so, it would explain the lack of official records. Finding sources can be quite a challenge even when trying to preserve history. If information were hidden on purpose, such records, if they ever existed, may never be found. This theory is not any worse than Benjamin M. Stillwell's "memoirs" that have been called into question by Dr. John Stillwell, whose work is better respected. It would help to explain why Nicholas Stillwell and a farm called "Hopton" and why of his daughters possibly was named "Abigail."
posted by Marion Ceruti Ph.D.
edited by Marion Ceruti Ph.D.
Additional information on Nicholas' time in Manhattan.

From Stilwell, Dewitt; History and Genealogical Record of One Branch of the Stilwell Family; Martin Press; September 1, 1914; pp. 34-35:

"Nicholas and his family in 1639 located on Manhattan Island and engaged in raising tobacco...is frequently spoken of as 'Stilwell the Tobacco Planter'...on the 24th day of November, 1639,' Nicholas Stilwell, the Tobacco Planter of Hopton ', was summoned before the Director and Council...

"Five farms, or boweries, were laid out on the east side of Manhattan Island, the upper one extending to a point about opposite the southerly end of Blackwell's Island. It was on this upper bowery, in the vicinity of Deutil or Turtle Bay, that Nicholas Stilwell [sic] was located as a tobacco planter...

"[I]n 1641 he obtained a grant for this upper bowery upon which he had settled...[T]his bowery, or farm, extended from a creek running into Kipp's Bay about where East Thirty-fourth Street now reaches the East River, 'where they cross the water over stones,' to a large stream emptying into Turtle Bay, about the foot of East 47th Street...

"Upon the land purchased Nicholas erected a stone building as a dwelling for himself and family on the shore of Deutil Bay, upon a point projecting into the river. This building stood on the shore near the foot of East 45th Street, and, during the Revolutionary War, was used as a magazine for military stores, and was captures by the Sons of Liberty on the night of July 20, 1775, and its stores transferred to Cambridge, Mass."


Noteworthy:

1. The location of this farm in Turtle Bay, and more specifically the home built by Nicholas, is now the site of the United Nations.

2. Nicholas was referred to as "the Tobacco Planter of Hopton". Hopton is the birth name of his often claimed but never verified first wife, Abigail Hopton. Did Nicholas name his farm after his recently deceased first wife? Or did this Hopton name refer to something else? At any rate, this name can't be a coincidence.

posted by Terry Morse
edited by Terry Morse
According to John E Stillwell and researchers Ray Stillwell and Forest Ladd, Nicholas had a son John Stillwell (1660-) who should be added to this profile. Little is known about that John, but he is probably the one b. 18 May 1660 who married Rebecca Budd about 1680.

John (son of Lt. Nicholas1) is often confused with Capt. John Stillwell (son of Capt. Richard2). Both had wives named Rebecca and were said to have died about 1724. Capt. John Stillwell of Staten Island (son of Capt. Richard) was born in 1663 based on being age 43 in 1706. His will dated 19 Aug 1724 named wife Rebecca, sons Richard, Thomas, John, Joseph and Daniel, granddaughter Rebecca Salter, daughter Alice Stillwell, daughter Mary Stillwell.

posted by Kay (Offutt) Schmidt
edited by Kay (Offutt) Schmidt
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but are we really sure this person ever existed? She doesn't appear in any of the Hopton pedigrees. Here's a discussion from Family Search that I think is very interesting:

The 1st wife of Lt. Nicholas Stillwell HAS NEVER BEEN DISCOVERED BY NAME IN ANY PROOF BY MEANS OF A BIRTH\MARRIAGE\BURIAL\WILL\DEED RECORD. Several proof books give the names to the sisters of Ralph Hopton, “The visitation of the county of Somerset in the year 1623,” written in 1876 on page 57, shows a proof pedigree given from the archives of Somerset and British Museum. It names all of the children of Robert Hopton and Jane Keymis. There is no daughter named Abigail Hopton. Another book written 90 years before backs the claims of Somerset book, Biographia Britannica: Or, The Lives of the Most Eminent Persons ..., Volume 5 written in 1760, page 3260 also gives the names of Ralph's sisters, with no mention of a sister Abigail. This verifies all the claims below made by John E. Stillwell and James C. Stillwell, and also solidifies that all data passed down from traditional tales for over 200 years was in error.

The traditional tales was put together by two books specifically, "Register, in Alphabetical Order, of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, New York," written in 1881, which derived its information from Benjamin M. Stillwell's book written in 1878, "Early memoirs of the Stillwell family...” Benjamin is the one credited with the research that named her to be Abigail Hopton, but Benjamin offered no other insights into her life, or gave any proofs about her from these family traditions.

In 1929 John E. Stillwell re-examined the Stillwell data and wrote the book, "The history of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell, progenitor of the Stillwell family in America." On pages viii, and 35-36, he explains that Abigail has been disproved to be the wife of Nicholas Stillwell, and that Ralph Hopton NEVER had a sister named Abigail Hopton, nor did the Queen of Bohemia have a servant named Abigail Hopton. It proves that she was a myth to begin with, and the book also explores the further errors of the previous two books (1878 and 1881). On page 36 of John E. Stillwell’s book, he specifically states this wording about Nicholas having a Dutch wife, ... ”With him, Benjamin Stillwell it was merely a belief that she was a member of one of these two families, based upon some remote association in his mind of these names, but proof he had none.”* The asterisk is given as footnote to be read at the bottom of the page, and it states this very clearly of what was just written: *Personal communication of Benjamin M. Stillwell to John E. Stillwell.

The most current research given, adding upon John E. Stillwell’s work, is the book, “Notes on the Stillwell Family in England and America,” written in 1968, by James C. Stillwell, States on page 18: "Nicholas Stillwell's first wife' name is not presently known, but she was the mother of his two eldest children, Richard, born 1634 in England, and Nicholas, born 1636 in England."

posted by David Pierce
Sharon,

Without knowing which parts are due to your efforts, everything looks exceptional. Thanks for your work.

posted by Jack Wise
Dear PM?s,

Please take a look at Nicholas Stilwell-18 and let me know what you think. Be nice.

Sharon

posted by Sharon (Hardman) West
Hello Dave, thank you for permission to replace the pdf, which now is right side up.
posted by Marion Ceruti Ph.D.
Current PDF is upside down. If you have a better image and want to fix it, please do.
posted by Dave Rutherford
If anyone wants to replace the pdf of "Maria Britton Image 2" I have downloaded a better image from the web site I just added to the source section. With permission of the profile managers, I could replace the current pdf image. If you want to preview the replacement pdf, please email me.
posted by Marion Ceruti Ph.D.
I am removing "Cook" from the middle name field. Middle names were exceptionally unusual at the time of this man's birth and the only "evidence" for this claimed middle name seems to be an unidentified user-contributed family tree on the Dutch website GenealogieOnline.
posted by Ellen Smith
Stillwell-1269 and Stillwell-18 appear to represent the same person because: Didn't pick up this profile due to Cook not being in the records I was working from
This site concludes that Stillwell-18 was probably not from the Dorking Stillwell family, based on baptism and death records, and some DNA testing of descendants:

http://stilwellhistory.uk/key-families/us-stilwells

posted by Terry Morse
England Births and Christenings

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5LT-DRS : 11 February 2018, Nicholas Stilwell, 01 Feb 1606); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 942.21 P6 V26PU V1-Z.

posted by Dave Rutherford
Stillwell-1123 and Stillwell-18 appear to represent the same person because: Stillwell-18 has incorrect b year, notes give 1603 which match -1123.
posted by Beryl Meehan