John Wilkinson III (bef. 1723 - bef. 1779)

Born before 1723 in Henrico, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Jane (Unknown) Wilkinson — married [date unknown] in Virginia

Descendants

Died before Jul 1779 at about age 56 in Amelia, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Amy Barlow [send private message], Karen Goss [send private message], and Beth Blankenship [send private message]

Biography

John Wilkinson is believed to have been born between 1715 and 1723 in Henrico, Virginia. At an unknown date he married Jane (surname Unknown). They are known to have had 8 known children and 1 who is currently disputed. He passed away before Jul 1779.

Children

1. Sarah Wilkinson b. 1739 - d. 1826, m. Isham Blankenship Jr (brother of Hudson below), 11 children
2. Edith Wilkinson b. 1740 - d. 1726, m. Hudson Blankenship (brother of Isham above), 16 children
3. Benjamin Wilkinson b. 1745 - D. 1817
4. Keziah Wilkinson b. 1748 - d. 1810, m. Josiah Womack
5. Stephen Wilkinson b. 1760 - d. 1816, m1/wid. Tabitha Morgan, 1 child, m2. Sarah Cook, 3 children
6. Jenny Wilkinson b. bef. 1773 - d. UNK, m. UNK Loafman
7. Milly Nelly Wilkinson b. bef. 1773 - d. UNK
8. Priscilla Wilkinson b. bef. 1773 - d. UNK
9. Benjamin Wilkinson b. bef. 1773 - d. UNK
10. Disputed child: John Wilkinson b. bef. 1773 - d. 1835

Early Wilkinsons

The name "Wilkinson" appears in some of the first records of the Colony of Virginia and the early days of New England.

In the early records of Virginia, the names Thomas, William and Richard Wilkinson appear as land-owners. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume they were brothers or at least some relation. In addition, all three came over from England about the same time and is highly likely they came together. A record has been found that Thomas Wilkinson was a "head right" (i.e. legal grant to settlers^[1]). It is likely William and Richard were too. The Wilkinsons are also shown buying land shortly after arriving in the Colonies, as early as 1630. And, is evident the early branches of the family came and prospered.

There are records in the following counties of Wilkinsons: Accomac, Northampton, Surry, Sussex, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Elizabeth City, and York. From the first settlers there, Thomas Wilkinson, William and Richard Wilkinson, came the families found in the more western counties of Henrico, Lunenburg, Brunswick, Amelia, Prince George, Chesterfield, etc. In addition, as new county lines were drawn, people found themselves in a new county. Ex: those in Prince George or Brunswick found themselves residents of the new Amelia County and later Nottoway County. Wilkinsons are found in all three counties records.

The first settlers in the Jamestown settlement with the name Wilkinson are: William, Thomas, Richard and John. The thought is they were brothers. William (a minister) and Richard do not occur in many records except very early land grants. Thomas appears in numerous records and was thought to have been the eldest ancestor of most of the Amelia County Wilkinsons.

Some Debunking

In the book "The Wilkinson Family History: of Virginia and Oklahoma" by Samuel F Wilkinson, originally published in 1950 the research showed a Thomas Wilkinson (b. 1613 in England) landed at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia in 1635 from the ship "Assurance". Research further showed from this Thomas Wilkinson, his son was a John Wilkinson. It was thought this was our John Wilkinson. However, in 2011, records were found that dispute the marriage of Thomas Wilkinson and Elizabeth Lydall and therefore the lineage from this marriage.

It is possible this John Wilkinson is the son of either a Thomas or a John. Further research is still needed (as of 1/9/2020).

Land

• 4 Jul 1747^[2]

Henrico Co VA

Deed Book 1744-1750 p 283

made 4 Jul 1747

Frances Wilkinson of Dale Parish to John Wilkinson of same

forty pounds for 200 acres, Frances to retain life interest

worth side of the Appomattox River, plantation called Black Halls

Winterpock Creek...Anthony Wilkinson's line...Richard Eppes line...John Rowlett's line...

wit: Richard X Wilkinson, John Elam jun, John Rowlett

• 12 Feb 1750^[3].

Chesterfield VA

DB 1 p 182, 183

made 12 Feb 1750

rec 1 Mar 1750

wit: John Elam Jr, James (X) Rid, John Wilkinson

Martin Wilkinson of Amelia County to Anthony Wilkinson of Chesterfield Co, 200 acres on Winterpock Creek

Will

John dated his will on 18 Dec 1773^[4]. The will was entered into Amelia County court for probate on 22 Jul 1779.^[5]

Listed in the will:

John Wilkinson, Sr.?

Sons: Benjamin Wilkinson, Stephen Wilkinson

Daughters: Sarah Blankenship, Edith Blankenship, Priscilla Folks, Keziah Womack, Milly Wilkinson, Jenny Loafman

Executors: Loving Wife, Jane; son, Benjamin Wilkinson

Witnesses: George Markham, Peter Talbot, Joab Meador

Enslaved persons listed in 1773 will:

George, Negro male to Benjamin Wilkinson

Milly, Negro female and her child, Dinah to Stephen Wilkinson

Note: Please notice that he does not have any mention of a son, John Wilkinson. Usually if there is someone the writer of the will does not want to have a part of the estate, the person is left one dollar. That is supposed to prevent that person from being able to dispute the will in court. John Wilkinson (bef.1773-1835) may not be a member of this family. BJS

Will Dispute

After the Will of John Wilkinson, Senr. was provided, Jane Wilkinson refused to abide by it.

On 18 Dec 1773 she filed a claim with the courts for her deceased husbands estate.
Note: Dispute of will entered by Jane for her wife's dower in the court of Amelia County, Virginia appears on Image 171 of 428, Will Book 2, p. 328 in the same will book as the will of John Wilkinson. This is viewable by Ancestry subscribers only. I have also searched on the Library of Virginia site, Virginia Memory in their Chancery Records Index. There are no court records appearing there before 1786 under Wilkinson or Wilkenson. I also searched all counties for years between 1773 and 1782 with no results for Jane Wilkinson. BJS

Transcription of Dispute as read by BJS

Ameila County to wit

I Jane Wilkinson of the County of Amelia do hereby renounce, refuse and disclaim all or any devise, provision, Legacy or Appointment which I can or may have right to claim by or under a written Will of my Late husband, John Wilkerson (sic) deceased dated the 18th of december 1773 and delare myself dissatisfied therewith; and therefore claim in stead thereof the dower and Distribution share Appointed for me by law.

Witness my hand and Seal this 20th day of July in the year 1779

Signd, Seald & Delivered Jane Wilkinson

in the Presence of

John Doswell

Wm Doswell

Thos. Gunn

Stephen Wilkinson

On 24 Feb 1780, the finding per Will Book 3, page 15: "On petition of Stephen Wilkinson it is ordered that...….do lay off and assign unto Jane Wilkinson widow of John Wilkinson, dec'd her dower in land and slaves whereof the sd. John Wilkinson died possessed and also her third of his personal estate and that they divide the residue of the estate of the said John amongst his legatees...."

Date 17 Oct 1780 Will Book 3, Page 16: "Agreeable to the within order and by consent...…we have divided the land of the deceased John Wilkinson as between Benjamin & Stephen Wilkinson...….Widow Jane Wilkinson to have negro man George during her lifetime - Benjamin to pay her 800 pounds yearly of tobacco & Stephen to pay Jane Wilkinson 800 pounds of tobacco yearly during her lifetime. October 17, 1780"

Research Notes

• I do not see a source for the exact birth date of 25 Nov 1723 so have removed it until a source is located and posted on the profile. BJS

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headright
2. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-KHJJ
3. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-VLS7
4. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P4-XQQR
5. ↑ "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Will Books, 1734-1865; General Indexes to Wills, 1734-1974; Author: Virginia. County Court (Amelia County); Probate Place: Amelia, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #1768400 (accessed 22 August 2023)
   Note: To view any shared sources listed, please click on the "X" to the right of the pop-up, Join Ancestry today and start your family tree for free. The first original image of the file is presented on the Ancestry Sharing link but may not be clear. A clear original image and any additional pages of the file can be accessed with an Ancestry subscription.
   John Wilkinson will dated 18 Dec 1773 and the will was entered into probate on 22 Jul 1779 in Amelia, Virginia, USA.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/L8R7-KTJ
• Source: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.
• Blankenship, Freddie. L. And Edith C. Descendants of Solomon Blankenship and Lucinda Vaughn McCoy. 2007
• "The Wilkinson Family History: of Virginia and Oklahoma". Ancestry.com. The Wilkinson family history : of Virginia, Missouri and Oklahoma [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Wilkinson, Samuel Frederick,. The Wilkinson family history : of Virginia, Missouri and Oklahoma. Nowata, Okla.?: unknown, 1950. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/28318/dvm_GenMono007770-00048-0/?backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=dvm_GenMono007770-00009-0
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/14224025/person/29348705357/facts
• Blankenship records: Gougler, Julia.. Blankenship records. United States: unknown, 1979 (approx.). Section: Amelia County, Virginia
• Amelia County Will Books, 1761-1803. Reels 28-31, Local government records collection, Amelia County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
• Burke, Ashworth P. Burke’s Family Records. Baltimore, MD, USA: Clearfield Company (Genealogical Publishing Co.), 1994. Page 387.