George Sills (1773 - 1860)

Born 2 Jul 1773 in Tioga, Tryon, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Apr 1860 at age 86 in Sandhurst, South Fredericksburgh, Lennox and Addington, Canada West

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Hughey [send private message]

Biography

Name

George /Sills/

Given Name: George

Surname: Sills

Name Prefix: Rev.^[1][2]

Birth

Date: 2 Jul 1773

Place: Tioga, Tryon County, New York^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

Death

Date: 9 Apr 1860

Place: Sandhurst, , Ontario, Canada^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

Burial

Place: St. Paul's Anglican Church, S. Fredericksburgh Twp., Lennox & Addington County, Ontario^[13][14][15]

Immigration

Date: 1780

Place: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Event

Type: Alt Death

Date: 9 Apr 1860

Place: Fredericksburgh, Lennox & Addington County, Ontario^[16][17][18]

Event:

Type: Alt. Burial

Place: Anglican Cemetery, Sandhurst, Ontario

Event: 20

Type: Reference Number

Marriage

Husband: George Sills

Wife: Margaret Bell

Marriage:

Date: 1794^{[19][20][21][22]}

Child: William Bell Sills

Child: James Sills

Child: John Sills

Child: John A. Sills

Child: Elizabeth Ann Sills

Child: Elisha Sills

Child: Flora Helen Sills

Child: Mary Peterson Sills

Child: George Bell Sills

Marriage:

Date: 1764

Place: , Dutchess County, New York^[23]

Event: Alt. Marriage

Type: Alt. Marriage

Date: 17 Oct 1764

Place: Dutchess County, New York

Child: John Sills

Child: George Sills

Bio Notez

George Sills is listed as a member of the King's Royal Regiment, listed Jan. 27, 1783. " George Sills. aged 10 years. 4 ft. 4", born in America, 1 year's service"

St. Alban the Martyr UEL Memorial Church, Adolphustown, Ontario. Memorial Tiles: Rev. George Sills SILLS, Reverend George: 1773 - 1860

Tile ordered and paid for by Geoffrey Wright of Belleville, Ontario, January 1889

George Sills was the son of Conrad and Margaret Sills (Tile # 2). He was born in Pennsylvania where he lived with his family on their farm on the Susquehanna River until the family was caught up in the American Revolution, and Conrad left to serve with the Loyalist forces in Butler’s Rangers. George is listed with his father, two brothers and sister on a muster roll in a refugee camp in Three Rivers, Quebec in 1780. His mother, Margaret, had died the previous year. Still young near the end of the war, George nevertheless enlisted with Captain Gummersall in the King’s Royal Regiment of New York (KRRNY) in 1783 as did his two elder brothers. A notation beside George’s name states: “He was the second youngest lad to serve in the KRRNY.”(1) He was discharged the same year and subsequently moved with his father, brothers Lawrence and John, and his sister Margaret to Fredericksburgh, Upper Canada and drew land in his own right as a United Empire Loyalist.

In 1793 George married Margaret Bell (1778-1851) the daughter of Loyalist William Bell Sr. Margaret joined the Methodist Episcopal Church soon after they were married. George became a Christian in June 1798 and felt a calling to spread the word of God. He began to pray with his neighbors, then, on May 11, 1805, was awarded a license to preach. This license was renewed in Kingston, Ontario, August 9, 1806. He was probably the first person elected and ordained a local deacon by the Methodist Church in Canada according to a parchment dated Kingston, August 22, 1830. In 1840 he was elected and ordained an elder in the Church of God by the late Bishop Reynolds. He was highly praised in his obituary as a man “born and trained in rural life, a true gentleman, a faithful friend, a good husband, and an honored father. Religion was the stay, the guide and ornament of his Christian character. . . By industry and frugality all his children enjoy a competence of this world’s goods.”(2)

George and Margaret Bell Sills had nine children. A daughter, Mary Peterson Sills, married Daniel Wright and their son Geoffrey Wright sponsored this tile in 1889 to memorialize his grandfather as well as the tile commemorating his great grandfather Conrad Sills (Tile # 2).

George died in April 1860. He is buried with his wife, who predeceased him, and with other family members in the southeast corner of St. Paul’s Churchyard, Fredericksburgh.

Obituary - For the Christian Advocate

“So long as there is mercy in a God, hope is the privilege of creatures, And so soon as there is penitence in creatures, that hope is exalted into duty.” “O Death what art thou, Antique of Nature’s marvels, The seed and dormant chrysalis bursting into energy and glory! There is found my gain - I triumph, where thou tremblest. He stood in his integrity, just and firm of purpose, Aiding many, fearing none, a spectacle to angels, and to men” -- Extracts. REV. GEORGE SILLS, of South Fredericksburg, county of Lennox, departed this life on Monday, the 9th of April, 1860, in the 94th year of his age. He was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Montreal in 1780. He enlisted with Captain Gummersall in 1783; and was discharged the same year. Having drew land, as a U. E. Loyalist, he engaged, among the pioneers of this colony, to clear and cultivate the soil. The opportunities for mental culture in that day were very few and defective. His marriage to Miss Margaret Bell, which occurred in 1793, was an eventful step in his useful life. A true woman, who early after marriage, embraced religion, and united with the M. E. Church A consistent life, yielding the fruits of true piety, led our late friend to the Saviour. For about 8 months he drank the bitter cup of repentance, and at last obtained mercy in June, 1798. As evidence of the new birth, he erected an altar in his house, and began to exhort and pray with his neighbors. The Church took cognizance of his gifts and graces, and early authorized him to exhort. His first license to preach bears date May 11, 1805, by Rev. Samuel Coates. The first renewal is dated Kingston, August 9, 1806, singed Joseph Sawyer, President. From that date he was honored and useful as a licensed Local Preacher, until the separation from our American Fathers in 1829. He was probably the first person elected and ordained as a Local Deacon, by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada. The parchment is dated Kingston, August 22, 1830, and singed Elijah Hedding, who had been requested by the infant Church to come to Canada and ordain the candidates, no Bishop being yet ordained. After 10 years in this inferior office, he was elected and ordained an elder in the Church of God by the late Bishop Reynolds, and the elders of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada. His labours were abundant, and always appreciated; the ministrrtions of our deceased brother were characterized by that fervor and frankness and force so prominent in all his acts. The solemnity of his manner - the worth of his soul, and an ardent desire to make it free in Christ, called forth in his preaching the beauty of his mind, and the graces of his character; his person and voice commanding, persuasive. His last sermon, a few weeks before his death was founded on Heb. 2: 6; “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” Father Sills exemplified his profession openly, frankly, firmly, with all his energies he laboured to banish and drive away strange doctrines, maintaining that rule, “meddle not with those who are given to change.” In the troubles of Methodism he was steadfast and consistent. Born and trained in rural life, a true gentleman, a faithful friend, a good husband, and an honoured father, religion was the stay, the guide and ornament of his christian character. A minister intimate with him remarked, “He loved the church and the Savior.” By industry and frugality all his children enjoy a competence of this world’s goods. A part of his revenue was consecrated to God. His youngest son, who bears his own name, and succeeds him in his late home, was strongly beloved. Will my brethren, who know him, join me in granting his late request, in furnishing some dates for this obituary. He says “Pray for us that we may all meet around our Father’s throne in glory.” We have no concluding testimony; our brother died suddenly, seated at the breakfast table, partaking of his morning meal. Yet we rest secure. At his own request, made some nine years since, the writer attended at his funeral accompanied by Revd’s D. Nelson, and J. Graham. The remains of his late relict, was disinterred, and they were deposited together, to await the resurrection of the just. It has pleased God to remove him, - he is where and what he would be; his praise is in the churches, his record is on high! And we glory in the grace, that saved him and kept him 62 years and crowned him at last. We hope to meet him above. JAMES GARDINER Napanee April 27, 1860

Name: George UEL Sills. Given Name: George UEL. Surname: Sills. A Given name was found in addition to a first name in the NAME tag.

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S7641
2. ↑ Source: #S258
3. ↑ Source: #S1740
4. ↑ Source: #S6807
5. ↑ Source: #S1129
6. ↑ Source: #S6451
7. ↑ Source: #S1741
8. ↑ Source: #S1740
9. ↑ Source: #S6807
10. ↑ Source: #S1129
11. ↑ Source: #S6451
12. ↑ Source: #S1741
13. ↑ Source: #S1421 Page: Cemeteries Quality or Certainty of Data: 3
14. ↑ Source: #S258
15. ↑ Source: #S2742
16. ↑ Source: #S376
17. ↑ Source: #S258
18. ↑ Source: #S2742
19. ↑ Source: #S376
20. ↑ Source: #S258
21. ↑ Source: #S2742
22. ↑ Source: #S1740
23. ↑ Source: #S258

• Source: S1129 Abbreviation: rahughey.GED Title: rahughey.GED
• Source: S1421 Abbreviation: S.Fredericksburgh Heritage Web Site. Title: S.Fredericksburgh Heritage Web Site. CONT ABBR S.Fredericksburgh Heritage Web Site.
• Source: S1740 Abbreviation: Taborsky Family.FTW Title: Taborsky Family.FTW CONT ABBR Taborsky Family.FTW
• Source: S1741 Abbreviation: Taborsky Hughey Family.FTW Title: Taborsky Hughey Family.FTW CONT ABBR Taborsky Hughey Family.FTW
• Source: S258 Abbreviation: fjsills ancestry.FTW Title: fjsills ancestry.FTW CONT ABBR fjsills ancestry.FTW :
• Source: S2742 Abbreviation: 2727556--MaggieYoung.FTW Title: 2727556--MaggieYoung.FTW
• Source: S376 Abbreviation: Lewis.FTW Title: Lewis.FTW CONT ABBR Lewis.FTW
• Source: Media: Gedcom Abbreviation: 1701508~William de Cantilupe.ged Title: Descendants of Charlemagne; focus group--William de Cantilupe Author: David Blocher Publication: Date: 1 Nov 2001
• Source: S6451 Abbreviation: HUGHEY_JACOB.FTW Title: HUGHEY_JACOB.FTW
• Source: Media: Personal Abbreviation: Hughey~Waggoner~Deboe family Pittsylvania, VA~David V. Hughey.fdb Title: Dave's Bohemian, Canadian, and Southern Kin; focus group--David V. Hughey Author: David V. Hughey Publication: Date: 17 Sep 2006
• Source: S6807 Abbreviation: HugheyJacob.FTW Title: HugheyJacob.FTW CONT ABBR HugheyJacob.FTW
• Source: S7641 Abbreviation: 1851 Census Title: 1851 Census CONT ABBR 1851 Census CONT Call number: CONT Canada - 12 January 1852 (delays led to the late enumeration of the 1851 census) Canadian Archives, Ottawa, Canada. Cruikshank, Ernest A. King’s Royal Regiment of New York, rev. ed. (Global Heritage Press, 1984), p. 308.

Footnotes

Note fjsills ancestry. FTW]A Methodist preacher. Had been with the King's (Roger's) Rangers during the Revolution.

“Obituary written by James Gardiner,” in Canada Christian Advocate, May 9, 1860.

Acknowledgements

This profile was created by David Hughey through the import of Ann Turnbull4.ged on May 18, 2014.

• Source: S1296794940 Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Record Collection 1030Ancestry Family Tree