Elizabeth (Willis) Rakestraw
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Elizabeth (Willis) Rakestraw (abt. 1661 - 1700)

Elizabeth Rakestraw formerly Willis aka Zane
Born about in Warminster, Wiltshire, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married after 1679 (to about 1695) in Philadelphiamap [uncertain]
Wife of — married about 1696 (to 1700) [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Mother of
Died at about age 39 in Gloucester County, Province of West Jerseymap
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Profile last modified | Created 15 May 2013
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Contents

Biography

Elizabeth was baptized February 25, 1660/1661, at the Minster Church of St Denys, in Warminster, Wiltshire, England.[1] Her parents were Quakers. Quakers do not practice baptism, but her father probably had no say in the matter. On February 5, 1660/61, he had been jailed in Sarum (Salisbury), Wiltshire with several other Quakers.[2]

In 1674 (or 1675), Elizabeth emigrated with her family to America, where they settled in what is now the village of Old Westbury, Queens County, New York.[3]

Marriage to Robert Zane

Elizabeth's first marriage was to Robert Zane of Newton Colony, West Jersey.[4] Robert was about 20 years older and twice widowed. The date and location of their marriage is uncertain.[5] Robert died between January 27, 1695, when he wrote his will, and March 1, 1695, when it was probated.[6][7] Robert named his wife Elizabeth as Executrix and left bequests to each of his children. First named was Nathan, grown son of Robert's first wife, Margaret Hammond. Next named were Robert's three minor sons, Robert, Elnathan, and Simeon, followed by his two minor daughters, Mary and Esther. Robert also provided for "that child my wife is with".[8]

Robert Zane's will does not indicate which, if any, of the minor children may have been borne by Robert's previous wife, Alice Alday, whom he had married in 1679, or by Elizabeth. A genealogy written in 1760 by Elizabeth's nephew Samuel Willis states that Elizabeth had "several children" by Robert. He says: "The Next place I propose to trace the Stock of my fathers Sister Elizabeth which married one Robert [Z]ane a widower lived In the West Jersey not far from Philadelphia City; and she had several Children by [Z]ane Viz Esther, Rachel & Robert then her husband dyed & she married one William Reakstraw."[9]

Regardless of maternity, Elizabeth was the mother of all the minor children according to a later court document, dated January 1, 1700/1701, which transferred administration of Robert's estate to Elizabeth's father after her death in 1700. [10] It contains the words "her six children" and "Henry Willis Grandfather to ye sd orphans". The document also provides the name of their sixth child ("Rachell"), whom Elizabeth was pregnant with when Robert wrote his will.

Children

  1. Elnathan Zane
  2. Simeon Zane
  3. Robert Zane
  4. Mary Zane
  5. Esther Zane
  6. Rachell Zane

Marriage to William Rakestraw

Elizabeth's second marriage was to William Rakestraw of Camden, Gloucester County, West Jersey, a widower. William's first wife, Grace Wyron, had died in November 1694.[11] He brought into his marriage with Elizabeth numerous children. The marriage took place sometime between August 28, 1696, when William requested clearance to marry from the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting,[12] and June 25,1697, when the name "Elizabeth Rakestraw" appeared in the Meeting's minutes.[13]

Elizabeth and William had three children, but only one reached maturity. The first two, who were born between 1697 and 1699, died young. One, whose first name is unknown, died November 4, 1707,[14] and the other, whose name was Susanna Rakestraw, died December 22, 1708.[15][16] The third, Sarah Rakestraw, was born probably in 1700, according to information contained in William's will.[17] According to Sarah's nephew Samuel Willis, Sarah "married one James Whiteall had several Children one of which lives in Philadelphia James by name: Her first Husband James dies she Marries one Joseph Herritage Junr..."[18]

Children

  1. Unknown Rakestraw, died November 4, 1707
  2. Susanna Rakestraw, died December 22, 1708
  3. Sarah Rakestraw born c 1700 "married one James Whiteall had several Children one of which lives in Philadelphia James by name: Her first Husband James dies she Marries one Joseph Herritage Junr..."[19]

Elizabeth's Death

Elizabeth died October 8, 1700,[20] leaving behind nine minor children, three by her surviving husband, William Rakestraw, and six by her first husband, Robert Zane. On January 1, 1700/1701, Elizabeth's ageing father Henry Willis, who had obtained a Certificate to move to Philadelphia five months before her death,[21] obtained a court judgment appointing him guardian of Robert Zane's children, each of whom was named, and administrator of their estate.[22]

A dispute lasting two years arose between Henry Willis and William Rakestraw over how much from the children's inheritances should be allocated to William to cover his costs of caring for them during his marriage to Elizabeth.[23] Between December 27, 1700, and October 30, 1702, the dispute was mentioned four times in the minutes of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.[24] Thirteen different members were involved at one time or another in an attempt to resolve it. In the minutes of the Meeting dated March 28, 1701, the dispute was framed as follows:

The Matter of difference between Henry Willis & Wm Rakestraw respecting the Children of Robert Zane deceased is wholly left to the friends of their own choosing and that if the sd Children be found to be indebted to the sd. Rakestraw that then their Estate be awarded to make satisfaction accordingly after the best method the persons chosen can propose and that Henry Willis take no advantage by the judgment of Court already obtained in that case and they make further choice of John Kinsy & John [?] to be added to the persons chosen before who are to meet abt it the next fourth day morning att the house of Anthony Morris.

The dispute's outcome was apparently decided in Henry's favor, to the dissatisfaction of Rakestraw:

23 October 1702. Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. "Henry Willis Complains Against Wm Raikstraw that he doth not performe the Award of ye Friends that were Appointed by ye mo Meeting who Confirmed ye same therfore Phillip England is desired to give him notise that he may Appear at ye next mo Meeting to Inquire."

Sources

  1. Wiltshire Parish Transcripts, 1556-1837, LDS Microfilm 1526635, Item 11 (St. Denys Church, Warminster, 1556-1682). "Daughter of Henry Willis".
  2. Besse, Joseph. A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers (London, 1753), page 40: "Henry Willis, Robert Rasey, Edward Jay and William Amor [Henry's future brother-in-law] came to Salisbury to visit their Friends [Quakers] in Prison, were had before the Mayor, who tendered them the Oath of Allegiance, and sent them to Prison for refusing it."
  3. Willis, David W. Henry Willis of Long Island, Vol. 1: 1550-1800 (San Diego, 2008), pages 28-32.
  4. Newton Colony was just east of Philadelphia.
  5. Robert Elwood Hoagland, C.G.R.S., suggested that the marriage probably occurred about 1685: "His third marriage probably took place circa 1685 to Elizabeth Willis, daughter of Henry Willis of Hempstead, Long Island" (Hoagland, Robert Elwood, C.G.R.S. Robert Zane of Newton, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, 1642 - 1694/95 and Some of His Descendants,, March 1983, page 2, located at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City). In a communication in 2001, Diane Nichols, a long-time researcher of the Zane families, said they were married in New York, but did not give a date: "His third wife was Elizabeth Willis who he married in NY and had several other children by her." A biography of Robert Zane on Geni.com says: "He married (3) Elizabeth Willis in 1681 in Flushing, Long Island, New York" (Geni.com profile http://www.geni.com/people/Robert-Zane-Jr-The-Immigrant/6000000006291982616 retrieved 14 November 2021).
  6. New Jersey State Archives, Series 1, Volume XXIII, page 530.
  7. Robert Elwood Hoagland, C.G.R.S. Robert Zane of Newton, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, 1642 - 1694/95 and Some of His Descendants, March 1983, pages 10-12.
  8. She would be named Rachel.
  9. Darlington, Oscar G., ed. "The Willis-Titus-Mott Genealogy", The Nassau County Historical Journal, v.4, 1941, page 28.
  10. Nelson, William (ed.), Calendar of Wills, Administrations, Etc. Volume I, 1670-1730. Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1901, volume 23, page 530. A copy of the document is contained in Hoagland, page 12.
  11. Hinshaw, William Wade. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. 2, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, page 410.
  12. Philadelphia Congregations Early Records, "A Minute Book of Friends their Quarterly and Monthly Metings (sic}, 1682-1705", page 143. “William Rakestraw desiring a Certificate in relation to marriage, Enquiry having been made & nothing appearing to obstruct, Robert Ewer is desired to draw one for him & sign it in behalf of the meeting.
  13. Philadelphia Congregations Early Records, "A Minute Book of Friends their Quarterly and Monthly Metings (sic}, 1682-1705", page 149. This record is interesting, because Elizabeth announces the upcoming marriage between her stepson Nathaniel Zane, eldest son of her previous husband Robert Zane, and her stepdaughter Grace Rakestraw, eldest daughter of her current husband William Rakestraw.
  14. Ancestry.com, U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Births, Deaths and Burials, 1688-1826, page 116: Rakestraw (no first name given), "child of Wm & Elizabeth Rakestraw dec'd". The word deceased was added because the child was a daughter of William's deceased wife Elizabeth and not his current wife Elizabeth (Archer).
  15. Ancestry.com, U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Births, Deaths and Burials, 1688-1826, page 118: Susanna Rakestraw, "dau. of Wm & -------- dec'd".
  16. FindaGrave.com, Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia. Maintained by L Evans (contributor 47540766).
  17. Philadelphia Will Book D, page 113, written 29 December 1718 and probated 2 February 1718/1719. An abstract of William's will is contained in Bell, Frank F. Bell-Sharpe, Containing Genealogical and Some Biographical Sketches and Illustrations..., unpublished typescript, Dallas, Texas (1960), page 149 (online at Ancestry.com): "To my daughter Sarah, £40, and to each of my daughters Ann and Mary [daughters of William's third wife, Elizabeth Archer], £30 (all these are under 19 years of age)" (sic). Given that Sarah's mother's death date was October 8, 1700, and that Sarah was under 19 years old when William's will was written December 29, 1718, she was probably born in 1700, the year of her mother's death.
  18. Oscar G. Darlington, ed. “The Willis-Titus-Mott Genealogy,” The Nassau County Historical Journal, v. 4 (1941), page 28.
  19. Oscar G. Darlington, ed. “The Willis-Titus-Mott Genealogy,” The Nassau County Historical Journal, v. 4 (1941), page 28. Second husband was likely Joseph Heritage (1704-1756).
  20. Ancestry.com, U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Births, Deaths and Burials, 1688-1826, page 111.
  21. Heiss, Willard. Quaker Biographical Sketches of Ministers and Elders, and Other Concerned Members of the Yearly Meeting of Philadelphia, (1972), page 117. Henry obtained the Certificate at the Flushing Yearly meeting on May 26,1700.
  22. Robert Hoagland, C.G.R.S. Robert Zane of Newton, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, 1642–1694/5 and Some of His Descendants (Philadelphia, March 1983), page 12 (a book located at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City). The court record states: "Whereas ye sd Executrix did afterward depart this life leaving behind her six children begat by ye above-named Testator that is to say three sons and three daughters namely elnathan, Simeon and Robert, Mary Esther and Rachell Zean all ye sd ---- [illegible] under age ye home of ----- [illegible] Dorcas whereupon Henry Willis Grandfather to ye sd orphans was awarded Guardian to take care of their [?] Education…Admitt [?] sd Henry Willis full and sole Administrator to his sd daughter [?] Ealizabeth as Executrix of Robert Zean.…"
  23. Robert Elwood Hoagland, C.G.R.S. Robert Zane of Newton, Gloucester County, West New Jersey, 1642 - 1694/95 and Some of His Descendants, March 1983, pages 10-12. The children's inheritances were substantial. Robert Junior received "the plantation I now live on with all improvements beeing the one third of the whole land and also the one third of my meadow." Elnathan received "one third of land I now live on with all the front upon Coopers Creek.... and one third of my meadow". Simeon received "the Remyning part of my second taking up & Allso all the Remaynes of the one 5th part of A property which may hereafter [illegible]. Mary and Esther would each receive £16 on the day of their marriage. Elizabeth's unborn child, "that child my wife is with" [Rachel] would receive [illegible].
  24. "Philadelphia Congregations Early Records, "A Minute Book of Friends their Quarterly and Monthly Metings (sic), 1682-1705. Pages 188, 189, 192, and 215.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to William Howard.





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England Births and Christenings

Name Elizabeth Residence Place Warminster, Wiltshire, England Gender Female Christening Place SAINT DENYS, WARMINSTER, WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND Birth Date 1660 Father's Name Henry Willis Citing this Record "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9FQ-GYW : 10 February 2018, Henry Willis in entry for Elizabeth, 1660); citing - 2:W1N3P3, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,279,363.

posted by Andrea (Stawski) Pack

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