Mary (Watkins) Empson (abt. 1660 - abt. 1689)

Born about 1660 in Yorkshire, England

Wife of Cornelius Empson — married 1679 in Yorkshire, England

Descendants

Died about 30 Jan 1689 at about age 29 in New Castle County, Province of Delaware

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Linda Franks [send private message]

Biography

Mary Sanderson (NOT WATSON) was born in England about 1660. ABout 1679, Mary married Cornelius Empson in England and they immigrated to the American Colonies,^[1] settling in New Castle County, Delarware. Mary bore Cornelius three children before she died on In New Castle County, Province of Delaware on 30 Jan 1689.^[2]

Children of Mary and Cornelius:

1. Richard Empson, b. 24 Aug 1680, Yorkshire, England;^[3] d. 1729; m. Dorothy Smith (7 Aug 1706 declared intention to marry at Darby Monthly Meeting).^[4]
2. Ebenezer Empson, b. abt. 1682; d. 1726; m. Susanna Wood.
3. Sarah Empson, b. 20 Jul 1687; d. 1741; m. Thomas Bird.

After Mary's death, her husband, Cornelius Empson, married her sister Elizabeth Sanderson, against the rules of the Friends.

1689, ___ day 10th mo. [ ___ Dec 1689] The monthly Meeting being held at Valentine Hollingsworth appoints a meeting to be held at New Castle ye first first day after every Quarter Sessions to be held at Edward Blakes. Cornelius Empson & Elizabeth Sanderson signifying their intentions of marriage to mens & womens meeting which being taken into serious consideration. Could in no wise be joyned with by ye meeting by reason of their nearness of kin, she being his former wifes own sister.^[2]

1689/90 4th day 11th mo [4 Jan 1690] The Monthly Meeting being held at Corneliuis Empsons, said Empson addressing himselfe to ye meeting on account of his intentions of marriage and desireing some assistance from ffreinds to go to ffriends of Upland Meeting to take their advice on ye said matter. John Keyham & Thos Perison are appointed to spake to Edward Blake to come to ye next monthly meeting in order to ye settling of a meeting at New Castle.

1689/90 1st day 1st mo [1 Mar 1690] The Monthly Meeting being held at valentine Hollingsworths forasmuch as Cornelius Empson hath proceeded contrary to ye or ___ Trith & ye advice of ffriends in marrying his late wifes own Sister.

It is therefore ye judgment of this meeting yt he ought not be Commeted amoug us any more in our mans meeting untill he give Satisfaction for his os doing & cleareth ye truth & untill then ffriends have with drew the meeting from his house. Morgan Druet & George Harlan are desired by ye meeting to give Cornelius Empsons to give him ye sence of ye meeting and of the proceedings as aforesaid. The Meeting desires Val Hollingsworth to speak to his sone.

Sources

1. ↑ East Nottingham Trustees. The Nottingham Lots: A Tercentenary Celebration 2001. Xlibris Corporation (2006). p. 47-51.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Births and Deaths, 1686-1739, Kennett Monthly Meeting, Chester, Pennsylvania" U.S., Quaker Meeting Recrods, 1681-1935. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. (2014). Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Births and Deaths, 1686-1739; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 267.

   "Mary the wife of Cornelius Empson deceased the 30th of the 11th month 1688/89."

3. ↑ Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: General Register Office: Society of Friends' Registers, Notes and Certificates of Births, Marriages and Burials. Records of the General Register Office, Government Social Survey Department, and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, RG 6. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England..

   "Richard the son of Cornelius & Mary Empson of Gowl was born the 24th day of the 6th mo: 80."

4. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Swarthmore, Quaker Meeting Records. Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes. Hege Friends Historical Library, Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Earlham College Friends Collection & College Archives, Richmond, Indiana.Haverford, Quaker Meeting Records. Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Also see:

• Yorkshire, England records for son Richard Empson born on 24 Jun 1680 in Gowle, Yorkshire, England.
• 1680/09/08 Land Deed for Cornelius & wife Mary, along with Nathaniel Evett & wife Ellin, who sold 250 acres to William Harris & wife Joan.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #142233106
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3HT9-SML
• https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L64M-589

Acknowledgment

Watkins-2804 was created through the import of Julia Ann Empson.ged by Linda DeFrees on Jul 23, 2014.