Benjamin Wilkins (abt. 1655 - 1715)

Born about 1655 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Priscilla (Baxter) Wilkins — married 3 Jun 1677 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 1715 at about age 60 in Middleton, Essex, Massachusetts

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Biography

Benjamin was born in about 1655 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was a son of Bray Wilkins and Hannah Way. His birth year is estimated from a deposition he made in 1692, when he stated that he was about 36 years old.^[1]

Benjamin Wilkins married Priscilla Baxter in Salem, Massachusetts, on 3 June 1677.^[2][3] Priscilla's sister, Rebecca Baxter, (1649-1689) married Benjamin's brother, Henry WIlkins (1651-1737) in 1667.

On Jan. 26, 1702, the will of Benjamin's father, Bray Wilkins, was probated. Benjamin and his mother were co-executors and Benjamin received several bequests. (see below).^[4]

On Nov. 16, 1704, Benjamin was listed on a property deed transfer in Salem, Essex, Mass., with Josiah White, Henry Wilkins, John Wilkins and Thomas Bayley.^[5]

Benjamin died in Salem in 1715. He wrote his will on 15 August 1715 and it was proved on 29 December 1715^[6] Family members named in the will included his wife Priscilla, sons Benjamin, Jonathan, and Daniel, and daughters Anna, Sarah, Abigail (the will also refers to her husband John), Priscilla, and Elizabeth (indicated as not yet married).^[7][8]

Excerpt from "The Family of Bray Wilkins..."

"Benjamin Wilkins, son of Bray and Hannah (Gengell) Wilkins, was born in Salem and died in the autumn of 1715. Benjamin was made a freeman of Salem Mar. 22, 1689-90. He served in King Phillip's War and was in the company of Captain Nicholas Paige which went to Mt. Hope June 27, 1675. He was out of sympathy with the witchcraft delusions of Rev. Samuel Parris and his followers and was a member of the committee appointed Nov. 19, 1697 to secure a successor to Mr. Parris. He married, June 3, 1677, Priscilla Baxter, who was born in June 1652 and survived her husband. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Baxter. Baxter was a seaman who 'Propounded' himself an inhabitant of Salem July 16, 1638 and was granted five acres in Salem Feb. 4, 1638-9. He was in Salem as late as 1653. The will of Benjamin Wilkins was signed Aug. 15, 1715 and was probated (No. 29872) Dec. 29, 1715."^[9] (See photo of will.)

Children of Benjamin Wilkins and Priscilla Baxter

Benjamin and Priscilla had nine known children.^[10]

1. Priscilla Wilkins 1678–1690
2. Benjamin Wilkins 1679–1752, m. Marjery Roff
3. Anna Wilkins 1681–1773, m. Ebenezer Foster, Isaac Wilkins
4. Jonathan Wilkins 1683–1756, m. Hannah Roff
5. Sarah Wilkins 1686–1717, m. Henry Wilkins, her cousin
6. Abigail Wilkins 1688–1737, m. John Wilkins, her cousin
7. Priscilla Wilkins 1691–
8. Daniel Wilkins 1693–1743, m. Mary Hutchinson
9. Elizabeth Wilkins 1695–, m. Daniel Roff/Rolf

Will of Bray Wilkins, Benjamin's father

Benjamin Wilkins was co-executor of his father's estate and received several bequests in the Will of his father, Bray Wilkins, written January 1697 and probated Jan. 26, 1702 in Salem, Mass.

"...Also I do hereby charge require & command my son Benjamin Wilkins if he lives to take care of his aged mother that she many not want anything during her natural life.

I give and bequeath to my son Benjamn Wilkins & to his heirs and assigns forever after mine and my wifes decease my home lot with my house, barns & orchard and appertenances thereunto belonging both within & without fences running over ye hill to pout pond brook together with my thirty acres of land lying at ye head of ye hill to have & hold forever after our decease...

I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Wilkins & to his heirs & assigns forever my lott of land that runs over walnut tree so called for him & them to have & to hold forever after my decease.

...and all ye rest of my meadow that layeth in pout pond meadow between ye aforesaid three acres of meadow and Irelands meadow & pout pond brook I do by these presents give & bequeath ye same be itt more or less unto my son Benjamin WIlkins and to his heirs & assigns to him and them & to hold forever after my decease.

...I give & bequeath unto my son Benjamin Wilkins and to his heirs and assigns all my meadow laying in Andover meadow so called be it more or less.

...All ye rest of my wearing apparrell that shall be left after mine and my wifes decease I do by these presents give and bequeath ye same unto my three sons, Thomas, Henry and Benjamin Wilkins equally to be divided between them.

...I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Wilkins after mine and my wifes decease my great bible and grate iron kettle and all my share in carts, wheels, ploughs, yoakes & chaines.

...I do make, constitute, ordain & appoint my loving wife Anna Wilkins to be my executrix and my dutifull son Benjamin Wilkins executor jointly together with his mother of this my last will and testament..."

^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Anderson, page 1993.
2. ↑ Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Volume 4, Page 471: WILKINS, Benjamin, and Priscilla Baxter, June 3, 1677.
3. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon. New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Volume: Volume 3, Page(s): 1672: WILKINS, Benjamin (-1715) & Priscilla BAXTER; 3 Jun 1677; Salem.
4. ↑ The family of Bray Wilkins : "Patriarch of Will's Hill", of Salem ... Hill, William Carroll, p. 16,17. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062464656;view=1up;seq=34
5. ↑ Mayflower Deeds and Probates, 1600-1850, Essex County Deeds 16:148 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
6. ↑ Essex, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1648-1840, File Number: 29872.
7. ↑ Will of Benjamin Wilkins, Essex County, Massachusetts, Probate Papers database, New England Historic Genealogical Society.
8. ↑ Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Probate Records, Vol 311-312, Book 11-12, 1713-1719. Essex County, Massachusetts, Probate Records and Indexes 1638-1916.
9. ↑ The family of Bray Wilkins : "Patriarch of Will's Hill", of Salem ... Hill, William Carroll, p. 27,28. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062464656;view=1up;seq=34
10. ↑ ibid
11. ↑ The family of Bray Wilkins : "Patriarch of Will's Hill", of Salem ... Hill, William Carroll, p. 16,17. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062464656;view=1up;seq=34

• Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. Vol. III, pages 1991-1994.
• Essex, Massachusetts Probate Records, 1648-1840, File Number: 29872. Ancestry.com, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Original data: Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1638-1840. Salem, MA, USA: Essex County.
• The family of Bray Wilkins : "Patriarch of Will's Hill", of Salem ... Hill, William Carroll, p. 16,17, 27, 28. http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062464656;view=1up;seq=34
• Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0761210. Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, compiler, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, (marriage record) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
• Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Case Number 29872. Item Description: Probate Records, Wilkins, A-Willford, N, 1828-1991. Massachusetts, Essex County, Probate Records; Author: Massachusetts. Supreme Judicial Court (Essex County); Probate Place: Essex, Massachusetts. Source Information: Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.
• Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991, Probate Records, Vol 311-312, Book 11-12, 1713-1719. Essex County, Massachusetts, Probate Records and Indexes 1638-1916; Author: Massachusetts. Court of Insolvency (Essex County); Probate Place: Essex, Massachusetts. Source Information: Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Massachusetts County, District and Probate Courts.
• Mayflower Deeds and Probates, 1600-1850, Essex County Deeds 16:148 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Deeds and Probates: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1994.
• Millennium File, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2003. Original data: Heritage Consulting. The Millennium File. Salt Lake City, UT, USA: Heritage Consulting.
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Source number: 23948.004; Source type: Pedigree chart; Number of Pages: 8. Source Information: Yates Publishing, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012. Original data: Torry, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2004.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Wilkins-595 created through the import of Kezar Family Tree.ged on Dec 12, 2011 by Jerry Kezar. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Jerry and others.
• Entry by Janice Hardin.