Samuel Wilkinson (abt. 1643 - 1727)

Born about 1643 in Lanchester, Durham, England

Ancestors

Husband of Plain (Wickenden) Wilkinson — married 18 Sep 1674 in Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1727 at about age 84 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

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Biography

Samuel was a Friend (Quaker)

Samuel Wilkinson, eldest son of Captain Lawrence and Susannah (Smith) Wilkinson, was born at Lanchester Co., Durham, England, and accompanied his parents to Rhode Island when an infant ^{[1] [2]} sometime between 1645-7. ^[3] Like his father he took a prominent part in public affairs.

• 1682: May 1: The Rhode Island records show that he took the oath of allegiance to Charles II. ^{[1] [2]}
• 1683: July 12: Appointed constable. ^{[1] [2]}
• Surveyor ^{[1] [2]}
• 1693-1723: Served as deputy to the General Assembly twelve times. ^{[4] [2] [5]}
• Justice of the peace, 13 years. ^{[5] [2]}
• 1702: Member of the town council. ^[5]
• 1711: Assisted in running the line between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. ^{[1] [2]}
• 1719: May 14: Appointed as one of the commission to settle the dispute over this boundary. ^{[1] [2]}

Military

He was commissioned captain in the Rhode Island Militia April 4, 1697 and took part in the early Indian wars. ^[6] He was commissioned a justice May 3, 1704; was chosen a deputy to the Colonial Assembly October 1705; October 27, 1707; February 25, 1708; and October 31, 1716, and probably served continuously during the intervening dates. ^[1]

He and his brothers, John and Josias, were soldiers in the Indian wars and the historians of New England say fought valiantly. The records at Providence and the later histories of that section make numerous reference to the public service of Captain Samuel Wilkinson. ^[1]

Wilkinson: Capt. Samuel. 1727 Deputy to the General Court from Providence Rhode Island, 1693-1723.^{[5] [7]}

Family

Captain Samuel Wilkinson married about 1672, Plain Wickenden,^[5] daughter of Rev. William Wickenden, second pastor of the first Baptist Church in America. ^[1] They removed from Providence to Smithfield, Rhode Island shortly after marrying where they remained there, and Samuel was a farmer.^[6]

He was a member of the Society of Friends. ^[5] His sons Samuel and William births are recorded in Narragansett Friends records, as well as that of some of his grandchildren. ^[8]

He died at Providence August 27, 1727. ^{[9] [1] [5]} His son Joseph, only surviving son in remaining in Rhode Island administered his estate. ^[2] His date of death is recorded in the heading of his inventory which was taken on 25 September 1727.^[10]

As his son Samuel Jr. died just prior to Samuel Srs.' death, and his son Samuel Jr. had properties from the father, the family members including sons John and Joseph, son-in-law William and wife Ruth Hopkins, son-in-law James and Susannah Angell, Huldah Wilkinson, and several of the grandchildren, were named in the settlement of his estate, in July 1728. The final documents were recorded at the Providence, Feb. 22, 1730/31, Deeds & Land Evidences No. 8, p. 424-6. ^[2]

Children

1. Samuel Jr. ^{[1] [5]} born at Providence on September 18, 1674; died there January 18, 1726/7^[9]; married Huldeth/Huldah Aldrich. ^{[8] [2]}
2. John, ^[5]born on his father's homestead Loquiesee, Providence Rhode Island, January 25, 1677/8 ^[9], died about 1751; removed when a youth to Hunterdon county New Jersey and there married Mary ___ and resided for some years. later removed to Wright's Town, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. ^[2] John and Mary Wilkinson had eight children, three sons and five daughters. ^[1]
3. William ^[5] born on August 1, 1680 ^{[9] [8]}; eventually went to England and married Mary ___. ^[2]
4. Joseph ^[5] born January 22, 1682/3. ^[9]; died April 14, 1740; married Martha Pray. ^[2]
5. Ruth ^[5] born January 31, 1685/6 ^{[9] [2]}; married William Hopkins and was the mother of two distinguished Rhode Islanders - Stephen Hopkins many years governor of Rhode Island and a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Essex Hopkins the first commander of an American fleet in 1776. ^[1] Ruth died between 1721and 1731. ^[2]
6. Susannah born April 27, 1688 ^{[9] [2]}; married James Angell. ^{[1] [2]}

Research notes

Providence Births

1-23: Wilkinson, Samuel, s. of Samuel and Plaine, Sept. 18, 1674.(p. 257)

1-23: Wilkinson, John, s. of Samuel and Plaine, Jan. 25, 1677/8. (p. 257)

1-23: Wilkinson, William, s. of Samuel and Plaine, Aug. 1, 1680. (p. 257)

1-23: Wilkinson, Joseph, s. of Samuel and Plaine, Jan. 22, 1682/3. (p. 257)

1-23: Wilkinson, Ruth d. of Samuel and Plaine, Jan. 31, 1685/6. (p. 257)

1-23: Wilkinson, Susannah d. of Samuel and Plaine, April 27, 1688. (p. 257)

Providence Deaths

5-548: Wilkinson, Capt. Samuel (3-81), Aug. 27, 1717. (p. 278)

5-548: Wilkinson, Samuel Jr., (3-315), Jan. 18, 1726/7. (p. 278) ^[9]

Friends Record Births

Wilkinson, William of Samuel and Plain, 12 d 6 mo 1680. (p. 159)

Wilkinson, Samuel Jr., 18 d 7m 1674. (p. 159)

" , Huldeth, his wife, 17d 9 m 1689. (p. 159) ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13} Jordan, John Wolf and Wilfred Jordan. Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, Volume 2, Lewis Publishing Company, Pennsylvania, 1911, p. 1129-32
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17} Wilkinson, Israel. Memoirs of the Wilkinson family in America, Davison & Penniman Printers, Jacksonville, Illinois, 1869 p. 325-37
3. ↑ Smith, Kathleen Cooper and Christopher Child. Genetics & Genealogy: William Shakespeare and the Christopher Smith Family in: American Ancestors Magazine, Volume 17.1, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2016, p. 53 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010.)
4. ↑ Bayles, Richard Mather, editor. History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Volume 1, W. W. Preston, New York, 1891
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11} Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island: Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families, Vol. III, J.H. Beers & Company, 1908 p. 1797-8
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Rhode Island, Issue 281, National Biographical Publishing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, 188, p. 57
7. ↑ An Index of Ancestors and Roll of Members of the Society of Colonial Wars: General Society of Colonial Wars (U.S.) By authority of the General Assembly, 1922 p. 534
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Arnold, James N., editor. Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636-1850, First Series -Births, Marriages and Deaths, Vol. 7; Narragansett Friends Records, Narragansett Historical Pulbishing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, 1891
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7} Arnold, James N., editor. Vital Record of Rhode Island 1636-1850, First Series -Births, Marriages and Deaths, Vol. 2: Providence County, Narragansett Historical Pulbishing Co., Providence, Rhode Island, 1891
10. ↑ Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9079/images/007649769_00073). Rhode Island, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line], Wills and Index, Vol 3-4, 1726-1754, image 73-75. Will, Providence, Vol 3, 1726-1741, page 81-85, Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Free ancestry.com image

See also:

• Smith, Joseph Jencks. Civil and Military List of Rhode Island. 1647-1800: A List of All Officers Elected by the General Assembly from the Organization of the Legislative Government of the Colony to 1800. Comp. from the Records, Preston and Rounds Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1900