Robert Willson (1709 - 1785)

Born 1 Sep 1709 in Chesterfield, Burlington Co., New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Lundy) Willson — married 7 Aug 1734 in Plumstead, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 22 Apr 1785 at age 75 in Sussex, New Jersey, United States

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Robert was a Friend (Quaker)

Biography

ROBERT WILLSON, the son of Samuel Willson I and Esther Overton, was born in Chesterfield Township, Burlington Co., New Jersey, the 1st of the 9th month of 1709 and died the 22nd of the 4th month of 1785 in Great Meadows, Warren Co., then Sussex Co., New Jersey. He was probably named for his grandfather, Robert Willson, the emigrant, who mentioned him in his will. He probably lived with his parents at Crosswicks Creek, New Jersey, as there are several references to him in the minutes of the Chesterfield Society of Friends, New Jersey. Robert was buried in the Hardwick Friends Cemetery, New Jersey.

When Robert was twenty-five years old and after his parents had purchased their farm, near Quakertown, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey; he made his first intentions to marry Mary Lundy on the 5th of the 6th month, 1734, at a meeting of the Society of Friends of the Buckingham and Plumstead separate from Wrightstown, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania. The following month, the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, NJ, gave Robert clearance and approval to proceed to marry Mary Lundy. They made their second intentions of marriage at the Buckingham and Plumstead Meeting on the 7th day of the 8th month, 1734 and were granted "liberty to consummate their intentions according to the good order of truth". On the following day, they were married at the Plumstead Meeting and twenty-one of their kinsmen and friends signed the certificate of marriage.

James Shaw and William Michenor, who were appointed to tend s'd marriage to see it decently accomplished made their report the 4th day of the 9th month of 1734. According to W. C. Armstrong's research, Robert and Mary's marriage certificate is copied on the 3rd page of the Record of Marriages for Hardwick and Randolph Monthly Meeting of Friends, New Jersey. Mary Lundy, the daughter of Richard Lundy II and Elizabeth Large, was born the 6th of the 11th month, 171C in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, and died the 4th of the 3rd month, 1807 in Independence Township, Sussex Co., New Jersey. She was eighteen years old when married and became the mother of eight children, the last being born, when she was thirty-eight.

In 1754, she was selected as an Elder for the Hardwick Preparative Meeting of Friends, New Jersey, and held that position until her death, which was the first entry in the Hardwick burial list.

Robert and Mary lived for a short time after their marriage in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, and then moved to Franklin Township, Hunterdon Co., New Jersey. Later they moved to Chesterfield Town ship, Burlington Co., New Jersey, but in 1737 received a certificate of removal from the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of Friends to the Exeter Monthly Meeting of Friends, Berks Co., Pennsylvania. The certificate was issued to only Robert and Mary Willson; consequently, Robert Willson Jr., who was born 10-1-1736, must have died in infancy. Their second child, Samuel Willson, was born 10-8-1737, died, and was buried in Exeter Friends Grounds at Maiden Creek, Pennsylvania. Four other children, Ebenezer, Jonathan, David, and Mary, were born at Maiden Creek, Berks Co., Pennsylvania, to Robert and Mary Willson.

In 1747, Exeter Friends Meeting, Pennsylvania granted a certificate of removal to Robert and Mary Willson to Bethlehem Meeting, New Jersey, which received them 4-14-1748. They settled in Great Meadows, Independence Township, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Their farm was located between Allamuchy Station and the Pequest River and north of the right-of-way of the Lehigh and Hudson Railroad. The farm was deeded by Robert in 1762 to his son, Ebenezer; by Ebenezer in Jan. of 1822 to his son, David; by David in 1842 to his son, Amos; and by Amos to his son, John Willson Sr., who sold it in the early 1900's to Mrs. Lucy Rutherford.

Robert Willson was a member of the first Board of Justices and Freeholders of Sussex Co., New Jersey, which met March 21, 1754 and which governed the county in early times. His brother, Samuel Willson II and brother-in-law, Richard Lundy III, were also members of the board. According to W. C. Armstrong's research, Robert and Mary Willson were the parents of eight children, five of whom lived to maturity and married. (Willson 10-11)

Sources

• Willson, Richard Eugene. comp. The Willson Family 1672-1979 Ottawa, IL:[s.n.],1979. Print. This edition incorporates 2 previous volumes which are available from Hathi Trust online.

• ANCESTRAL FILE NUMBER 3542-TW1

• Find A Grave Memorial# 59298836