' was the most talented of Samuel's sons. In regard to his birth we find the following: "In the records of the Greenwich Monthly Meeting, of the people called Quakers." Says Thomas Howland, who was their clerk, "It appears that William, son of Samuel Wilkinson and Plain, his wife, was born on the 1st day of the 6th month in the year of our Lord 1680." He early united with the Friends, or was a birth-right member, and became a public Preacher among them. He appears to have been a man of more than ordinary ability, and was highly esteemed for his sincerity, integrity and zeal in religion. He had lands granted to him in the town of Providence, and afterwards Samuel Wilkinson, Jr. and John Steere, Jr. had a lot laid out to them on Wm. Wilkinson's right, by Samuel Wilkinson, Surveyor, and Richard Sayles his committee man, on the 16th day of May 1724. At a still later period, 1772, Israel Wilkinson of Smithfield purchased a part of said land—"a certain piece of Cedar Swamp situate in Smithfield, and in the Swamp commonly known by the name 'Mattaley,'"—of Hosea Steere of Glocester, County of Providence. Subscribing witnesses, John Steere, Jr. and Richard Steere. These were all relatives, descendants of John Steere who married Rev. Wm. Wickenden's daughter. In 1708, William went to Barbadoes on the northern coast of South America, sic with a cargo of honey and horses, etc., and whether he returned home from this island, or sailed thence to England is not known. The voyage was exceedingly tempestuous and his quaint description of it in a letter to his parents which has been preserved will be read with peculiar interest. He had taken lodgings at Ann Borden's in Bridgetown and while recovering from the effects of sea-sickness was well cared for by these kind friends. His letter commences:
Barbadoes, 20th of the 2d Month, 1708.
Honored Father and Mother:
I think it my duty to write to you at this time, and let you know that I am indifferently well in health—blessed be God for it—and am safe arrived at Barbadoes, although we had a long and tedious passage of thirty-three days for we sailed the tenth day of the first month and the wind at west and by south; and on the eleventh at night, the wind blew a storm, so that we could not bear one knot of sail, but drived before it, and was drove on the Banks called St. George's Banks, lying thirty or forty miles to the eastward of Nantucket, where the waves shined like fire in the night and they flung overboard some of the honey, and would have flung over some of the horses, but Ephraim would not consent until it was day, and then we got over the banks and had sea room enough, and so we sailed eastward eleven or twelve days, and could scarce make any sail, nor keep any reckoning how far we run, but we concluded we run twenty degrees to the eastward before we got far south, and an exceeding great sea running that broke over the stern, and broke the breastwork of the vessel, and killed one horse, and made the rest roar so they talked very much of flinging them overboard, but still we persuaded them to keep them a little longer, and so we kept them all but one. I was very sea-sick almost all the way, but on the 13th of the Second Month we got on shore on Barbadoes; and I perceived that there were two vessels going for New England; one to Boston and the other to Rhode Island, I think to send by them both so you may hear."
Another part of this communication reveals the religious element of his character, his trust and implicit confidence in his Creator, his belief in the superintending and overruling providence of God; and, that high degree of faith manifested in the Apostle's expression "all things shall work together for good to them who love God" stands out in bold relief. The small-pox was then regarded as a terrible disease, baffling the skill of the physician and carrying thousands to premature graves. It had broken out in Barbardoes. In speaking of it, he says:
"The smallpox is also here, not every prevalent yet, for it is but newly come. This I say not to scare you, for as for me, I am freely given into the hand of God for him to do with me as pleaseth him, whether in sickness or in health, life or death, and I don't repent my coming. But as to my coming home at this time, I cannot say much, but expect to write again if it be the will of God; but if it be otherwise, I desire you to be content for it is most certain that we must part one time or other, and my desire is, that whensoever it be, that it may be for the better. So remember my love to my brothers and sisters, and all my relations and friends, telling them I have not forgotten them. My love to you. William Wilkinson
Subsequently he went to England, married a Miss Mary ______ in Yorkshire, and moved to London. His wife's maiden surname is not known. He had one child, an only child, named Hannah Maria. He frequently corresponded with his relatives in America, but never returned to his native land. He published a controversial work against Joseph Jenks, but the most friendly feelings existed between them. A copy of this work is said to be in the possession of Judge Staples of Providence. The work is alluded to in Gabriel Bernon's reply to James Honeyman in regard to settling a young man as Pastor of the Church of England in Providence, Sept., 1722. He says, "We have a great many worthy gentlemen that apply themselves to read the Holy Scriptures, and are very well able to give an account of their faith' as for instance, Mr. Jenks, our Lieut. Gov. by his answer to William Wilkinson, the greatest preacher among the Quakers, and Mr. Samuel Wilkinson, the old man deserves respect for his erudition in divine and civil law, historical narrative, natural and political."* Several of William's letters are preserved. One is dated as late as 1721 at which time it appears his father and mother are both living. He mentions the names of his kinsmen, Joseph Smith, his mother's sister's son, Rufus Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins, his nephew, a lad only fourteen years of age, who afterwards was a member of the Continental Congress, his wife and daughter, his wife's father and mother, the latter being sick in Yorkshire, and several other persons and events which show him to be an active business man, and in the confidence of the capitalists and land owners of both countries. Some of his letters were published a few years ago in the Providence Journal. He died in England. The date of his demise is not known. He was a useful man, leading a godly life, and died in the triumphs of the Faith.
"His youth was innocent; his riper age Marked with some act of goodness every day; And watched by eyes that loved him, calm and sage Faded his last declining years away, Cheerful he gave his being up, and went To share the holy rest that waits a life well spent."'
William was born on 1 August 1680 in Rhode Island.[1]
Dinah died in 1723 and was buried. [2]
Jonathan was mentioned on a memorial in North Burial Ground, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, United States with a death date of 25 June 1717.[3]
Dinah married William Wilkinson.[4]
Dinah died in 1723 and was buried.[5]
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