John Wilkinson (bef. 1740 - bef. 1788)

Born before 1740 in County Antrim, Ireland [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before May 1788 at about age 48 in Chatham County, North Carolina

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Biography

John Wilkinson was born before 1740, possibly in Country Antrim, Ireland. [need source]

According to Family Search, he was born in 1735 and his brother Francis was born in 1736. Both men married McGume girls; John married Margaret and Francis married Elizabeth. More work is needed to know if they were sisters.

According to Family Search, John and Francis were the sons of Thomas Edward Wilkinson and Catherine Brantley. No source given. There are christening records of a John Wilkinson on 26 April 1735 and 21 Mar 1736 in Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire County, England; father Edward Wilkinson. Could these be birth dates and christening dates? Whether or not this record belongs to the John of this profile is not known. I have included the link here, but my subscriptions do not allow full access.

John Wilkinson passed away sometime before May 1788 when his Last Will and Testament was proven in court. His will was dated 14 Dec 1787.

He was born in Ireland and immigrated to America in 1754. [need source]

He settled in North Carolina.^[1]

According to family search, John and Margaret had 7 sons and 3 daughters. [need sources]

According to the Pearly Nicholas Dixon reference, the children numbered nine; Robert, Richard, John, Jacob [Joab], Solomon, Nelly [Eleanor], Margaret, Martha and a daughter that married a Mr Johnson. However, Isiah is a son mentioned in John's will.

Will of John Wilkerson of Chatham County, NC

John Wilkerson Will, dated December 14, 1787 Chatham Co., Record of Estates, Vol. 1, pg. 33 NC State Archives^[2]

In the name of god amen I John Wilkerson of the County of Chatham planter... first I give and bequeath to Margaret my dearly beloved wife one third part of my estate to be possessed by her as her own property with a young Black Mare which I give to her in her third of my estate ... I make my son Robert Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament __ also I give to my well beloved son Solomon and my grandson William my plantation including two Hundred Thirty seven acres of land to be equally divided between them ... also I give to my son Isiah one Black Mare with a bald face as his one property forever,

and the rest of my household goods and moveable Estate I give amongst all my Children equally ...

set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of December in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Seven

Witnesses: John Ratcliff Thomas Rubottom

Signed John (his 8 mark) Wilkerson

Probate Records

• May 1788: Last Will and Testament proven in court^[3]

• August 1788: Inventory^[4]

Research Notes

This is not the John Wilkinson, Rev War private with wife Margaret who filed a pension application in 1853 NC.

This is not the John G Wilkinson of Richmond Co, NC, with wife Margaret, who left a will dated 1831.

This is not the same person as John R Wilkinson whose probate dated 1789 in Gate Co, NC named his wife JUDITH.

The source of most of the information presented here seems to be from Family Search.

There are very few sources for this profile, more work desperately needed.

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Ancestry.com Operations, page 289, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7486&h=54171&ssrc=pt&tid=50738866&pid=26893934164&usePUB=true.
2. ↑ John Wilkerson, Last Will and Testament, Chatham, NC, Deeds, bills of sale, inventories of estates and settlements, and wills 1779-1840, Film # 007513247, Image 67, FamilySearch
3. ↑ John Wilkerson, Original Last Will and Testament, Proven in court in May 1788, Chatham, NC, Wills and estate papers (Chatham County), 1663-1978, Film # 007639835, Image 1873, FamilySearch
4. ↑ John Wilkerson, Inventory, Chatham, NC, Deeds, bills of sale, inventories of estates and settlements, and wills 1779-1840, Film # 007513247, Image 116, FamilySearch

• Baptism John Wilkinson, son of Edward Wilkinson: "England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906"
  Ancestry Record 1351 #5623971 (accessed 3 March 2024)
  John Wilkinson baptism on 26 Apr 1735, son of Edward Wilkinson, in Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire, England.

• https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZZ9-9JM/john-william-wilkinson-1735-1787

• Addenda: "Our book : our ancestors, ourselves, and our children : Pearly Nicholas Dixon, Rachel Maria (Kinkade) Dixon"
  Addenda
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 3 March 2024)

• Atlas of Stark County, Illinois by Warner & Beers 1873

• http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/chatham/wills/jowilkwi.txt

• John Wilkerson, FamilySearch profile