 Abt 1630 - 1667 (~ 37 years)
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| Name |
Benjamin Willson |
| Born |
Abt 1630 |
England
 [1] |
|
|
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth |
2 Oct 1637 |
London, England
|
|
| Death |
4 Jan 1667 |
Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
[1] |
|
| Died |
4 Jan 1667 [2] |
Cause: At sea
|
|
|
| Death |
9 Jan 1667 |
|
Cause: At sea
|
| Reference Number |
2560
|
| _AMTID |
190111183255:1030:113173531
|
| _COLOR |
3
|
| Notes |
- COLONIAL WILLSONS
This paper is an ongoing study of my Willson Family; it is
far from finished, and may not be totally accurate. If you know of
any misinformation, PLEASE contact me.
In the direct Willson (spelled with two L at this time)
Benjamin Willson was the first Willson to come to this New World.
He was born 2 October 1637 in England. His father was Robert
Willson of Stoneleigh, Warwick England. His mother was Susan
(Alice) Ram also from England. (Ref. #1) If this information is
correct, I can find nothing to verify it.
How he got to the Massachusetts Colony, or why is still a
question I'm looking at. In many hours at the Library of Congress
I could not find a "Licenses to pass beyond the seas" for
Benjamin. Which was mandatory to board a ship for the New World.
He could have been one of the 100 or so orphan children in
England, sent to the colony as servants to the settlers there.
(Ref.#2 pg.29) He was 7 years old when his father died (1644).
(Ref. #1) Again if reference #1 is correct.
Pioneers of Mass a book by C.H. Pope pg.506, under Wilson,Willson,
lists
Benjamin, Taunton, abt. 1643. Compare with
Benjamin, Charlestown, Inhabitant 1657: his wife
memb.chh and their son Benjamin bapt 1(3) 1664.
He d. at sea: inv. of his est taken 9 Jan 1666.
Peirces Colonial Lists, By Ebenezer W. Peirce pg75
Taunton Company. Commissioned Officer.-William Poole,
Caption, Benjamin Wilson. Dated 1643.
Benjamin married (Elizabeth) Ann possibly (Fuller) in 1655,
he was 18 years old, and she was a little older (21). The records
of Charleston, Mass. lists their children as (ref.#1)
Ann born 1655
Nathaniel born 1661,
Jeremiah born 1665 (our direct line).
Reference #1 shows Benjamin also as having 4 sons all named
Benjamin but none of them living more than 6 months. Reference #1
has 2 wife.
In 1658 Benjamin draws lots for wood and commons in
Charlestown, Mass. (ref. #3 pg. 152) this gives him property and I
think that makes him a freeman. (Only free men and widows are
allowed property.) But the laws in the town of Charlestown state
he can not sell or rent this property or have anyone live with him
without the consent of the town or the Selectmen, "upon penalty of
ten shillings for every month they keep them without the town
consent" and no man "shall set his house above the distance of
half a mile or a mile at the furthest, from the meeting of the
congregation, where the church usually assembled. (Ref #3 pg. 56)
Selectmen are voted on by the township to run the affairs of the
town, like are city councils of today.
Benjamin dies at sea Jan.1666 his estate is inventoried by
Massachusetts and a copy is enclosed. He could have possibly been
a fisherman? (Ref. 2 pg. 16)
In Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New
England, By James Savage Vol. IV. Pg. 582 states his occupation as
a mariner.
Court records show Ann (Fuller not stated in record.) His
wife as being a "member of church. I do not think there is a
connection between Ann Fuller and the two Fullers that came over
on the first voyage of the MAYFLOWER in 1620. Edward Fuller or
Samuel Fuller. She is not part of the family of Dr. Edward or,
Samuel (Samuel and his wife died the 1st winter leaving their son
Edward). I checked with Fuller Society
Town records show Benjamin's daughter Ann marries Jacob Hurd,
their son Nathaniel marries Thankfull Beaman child of Gamaliel and
Sarah Clark and they have a son named Benjamin Willson, along with
many other children born in Charlestown. Jerimiah marries Hanah
Beaman, (possible connection between sister-in-laws) Benjamin's
wife Ann remarries to George Conoway in 1671.
Thankfull Willson, wife of Nathaniel dies in Charlestown 1
September 1732. Their son Benjamin born 22 Jan. 1684 dies in
Charlestown 6 September 1702.
About this same time in the colony of Boston a woman, Ann
Hutchinson is banned along with her family. Any person with like
ideas is also banned. Rember this is the 1600 and there is not a
lot of places you can go if you are banned from your selltement.
The minister that takes her to court is Reverent John Wilson and I
am happy to tell you I can not find a connection between Rev.
Wilson and Benjamin Wilson. (Indians attack Ann Hutchinson and her
family and most of the family was killed.) (Ref. # 8)
Second Generation of Willson's in Colony
Jeremiah Willson moved to Lancaster, Mass. In reading the
ecord of the town I found. Names first written, at the date of
the renewal of the covenants or not long after probable were ...
Jeremiah Wilson etc. (ref. # 9 hand written on side page by person
correcting" this book) it is a "frontier" town and has many
problems with Indians attacking the settlement in this time
period.
Our Family is in garrison #9 in case of an Indian attack, The
garrison is Gamaliell Beaman house, along with the Snow and Butler
Families. This dates back to 1711 and Jeremiah's family is listed
as 3 men inhabitants, 0 soldiers, and 11 soul. Gamaliell Beaman
is one of the first families in the township he is first recorded
there 31 May 1650. (Ref#9 pg. #52) In talking with the town
Librarian of Lancaster, I learned in battle of 1711 many of the
towns records were burned by Indian raids
Jeremiah marries Hannah Beaman. Beaman family records and
vital records from Landcaster do not list her as a member of the
Gamaliel Beaman Family. There is some conflicting information
here) (Ref. # 11 & 12)
Their children are: Sarah born 1689
Joseph born 1692 (are direct line)
Hannah about 1693
Benjamin about 1694
Jeremiah about 1697 (marries Elizabeth Beaman.
daughter of Moses who is Gamalies brother.)
Mehitable about 1700
Samuel about 1701
Jonathan Sept 1703
Hannah about 1706
Nathaniel April 1711
All born in Lancaster Mass. (ref. #1&6)
Jeremiah Willson dies in 1743, in Lancaster, Mass. He was buried
in the old common burial ground, but there is no stone for his
wife. (Ref. # 11)
Town property records show that his property is divided to
his sons Benjamin, Jeremiah, Samuel, and Nathaniel. Most of the
children have married people from neighboring farms. (Ref # 10) I
did not find Joseph receiving any land in Lancaster; maybe he had
gone off to war by this time or already settled in Petersham?
Many members of the Willson and Beaman family lived in Lancaster
and some later settle in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, and
Western Massachusetts.
Third Generation
Joseph Willson marries Rebecca Phelps; her grandmother on her
father's side is Elizabeth Adams of Newbury, Mass. A distant
cousin of John Adams second President of USA. (Ref. # 1)
Joseph goes to help out with the Indian problem and joins
Capt. John White of Lancaster as a volunteer to fight in the
4-year war with the Indians. For this service he is granted land
in a town to be built, then called Freetown, but latter named
Petersham.
"Joseph Willson said to be the first white man to spend a winter
here, was established in town as early as the autumn of 1731; and
the vital records indicate that Abner, son of Joseph and Rebakah,
was born Oct 10'h 1732, a year before Joseph drew his house lot
o. 66 with other proprietors." (Ref. # 5 pg.2 1)
In May 1736, Lot # 66 is 70 acres laid out to Joseph Willson
bound south on Moses Chandler and every other way on common land.
(Ref #5 pg. 42 &161)
It was reported he still lived on this land in 1750. His sons
David, Deliverance and Joseph succeeded him in ownership until
1775. (Ref #5 pg.58) Town Historian Delight Harris tells me now
there is a Christmas Tree Farm on the property.
The town of Petersham was the first town record that I read.
I found out a lot about Joseph and his sons. Just a note about
the town records of Petersham on July 17' 1776 there is a great
declaration written into the town records on orders of John
Hancock, with the words United State of America penned in bold
beautiful ink. And a great name is recorded a lot in this record,
Wing Spooner, a contemporary of Deliverance.
In 1756 Joseph Willson is voted as a committeeman to divide
the town into school districts. *Check father or son (ref 5 pg.
210)
Select men also governed Petersham. Joseph being on the first
board of select men. Town records show Joseph and his sons serving
on committees for schools and roads and Abner becomes a "sworn
man". Joseph Jr. is a highway server and collectors of highway
Tax. Deliverance at a latter date also surveys for the highway.
(They're plotting a ruff road through the forest) And last but not
least brother Abner along with Philip Spooner take a turn at the
highway and tax thing.
Joseph and Rebecca have 14 children not all of them living to
adults.
Joseph born 1727 in Lancaster and his 2 brothers
Solomon born 1728,
William born 1730,
The family moves to the new town being built out in the
wilderness.
Abner born 1732,
David born 1734,
Elizabeth born 1736,
Elijah and twin sister Lydia born 1738,
Deliverance born July l742 (There are two dates for this birth
checking w/town clerk)
Town clerk of Petersham said the record book has a torn page on
this date and she can not give me a date for his birth.
Mary born July 1744
Releaf born Dec. 1746
William born Sept. 1748 all born in Petersham. *Checking the
dates their are some conflicts here.
(You need that many children to start a new town.)
Fourth Generation
When I was asked how long my family had been in the United
States, Deliverance was the first person I looked at. Deliverance
is a great name, and I thought it very unusually. I have seen the
ame Deliverance more, as I read documents from his time period.
(Both male and female) Deliverance not being a common name it was
easier to trace. I first found him in the book "Massachusetts
Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War". Vol. # 1 7 pg.
561 (top of page it reads)
"Wilson, Deliverance. Private Capt. Jotham Houghton's service
from Nov. 3 to Nov. 19, 1778; company detached from Col. Nathan
Sparhawk's (7"') reg., Gen. Warner's brigade, to reinforce guards
at the barracks in Rutland under Col. Jacob Garrish (Gerrish) and
to escort troops of Saratoga convention to Enfield, Conn. Roll
dated Petersham."
Also found in the same book on pg.572
"Wilson, Joseph, Petersham. Private, Capt. John Wheeler's co. of
Minutemen, Col. Ephraim Doolittle's reg., which marched on the
alarm of April 19, 1775. (* Yes this is Paul Revere and the guys.)
Deliverance's older brother possibly.
Delight has sent me a little article from the newspaper about
April 19, 1775 Enclosed at the end.
About this time we see the second L dropped from the name.
Deliverance married Sarah Smith from Lexington Mass
They have 10 Children. Joe born 13 Nov.1764
Levi born July 1766
Deliverance and his win sister, Sarah born
2 July 1768
Bradley born 11 Oct 1769
Aaron about 1771 all of the above children
was born in Petersham. The family moves to Rindge New Hampshire
and the nest 4 children are born.
Moses born 1775
Dorcas born 1777
Eunice born 1781
Hannah born 1785 (ref #6)
1790 Census for Windsor County, Vermont shows Deliverance Wilson
as head of house, free white males 16 years and upwards including
head of house 3, Free white males 16 years of age and under 1,
free white females 6, other persons 0, slaves 0.
On May 14,1787 Deliverance buys property from Obediah Wells in
Springfield Vermont. (ref.#13)
Deliverance dies in Springfield, Vermont in 1804. Deliverance
Wilson Jr. and his brother Bradley and their families join the
Mormon Church in 1836.records are keep from that time forward.
George Deliverance Wilson son of Deliverance Jr. is a member of
the Mormon Battalion and keeps a journal. (Ref#6) L.D.S. Latter
Day Saints (Mormon) church history records our family and can be
accessed through the church historical Dept.
Reference List
#1. Anceristal File, Family History Center L.D.S. Church
#2. Planters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Charles
Edward
#3.History Of Charlestown by Richard Frothingham Jr.
#4. Pioneers of Massachusetts by Charles Henry Pope
#5. History of Petersham Massachusetts by Mable Cook Coolidge
#6. Micro fiche #6017202 Family History Center L.D.S. Church by
James H. Wilson and Linda E. Wilson, July 1982 Salt Lake City Utah
#7. L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia by Andrew Jensen, Compiled by
Susan Easton Black BYU (used on chart Colonial Willsons)
#8. Four Women in a Violent Time by Deborah Crawford
#9. Town record of Lancaster Mass. Film # 081185 L.D. S. family
history library. *Someone in the town "corrected" this record and
it is very hard to read, maybe a source that has not been
"corrected" would be better.
#10. Property records of Lancaster Mass. Film # 0810292 L.D.S.
family history library
#11. Letter Lancaster Historical Commission dated September 2,1997
#12. Letter from John Doran (Beaman Family) dated September 13,
1997
#13.Jennifer S. Hasenbuhler, Ass Town Clerk of Springfield VT.
Karen Wilson Ringrose 610 Mayo Rd. Glen Bunie, Md. 21061 Ph.# 410
553-6591 e-mail at ringrose@qis.net
May 12,1999
|
| Person ID |
I1854 |
Megan's Big Tree |
| Last Modified |
17 Oct 2016 |
| Family |
Ann Elizabeth Fuller, b. Abt 1634, London, England
, d. 21 Jul 1692 (Age ~ 58 years) |
| Married |
Bef 1655 |
Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
[1] |
| Children |
| | 1. Anna Willson, b. 1 Jul 1655, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. 20 Jan 1728, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
(Age 72 years) |
| | 2. Benjamin Willson, b. 1 Jul 1657, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. Abt 6 Oct 1657, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
(Age 0 years) |
| | 3. Benjamin Willson, b. 4 Jun 1659, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. Y
|
| | 4. Nathaniel Willson, b. 15 Apr 1661, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. 10 Dec 1733 (Age 72 years) |
| | 5. Benjamin Willson, b. 15 Apr 1664, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. 20 Jun 1664, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
(Age 0 years) |
| | 6. Jerimiah Willson, b. 22 Oct 1665, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
, d. 22 Mar 1743, Lancaster, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
(Age 77 years) |
|
| Last Modified |
4 Jul 2019 |
| Family ID |
F816 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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-
| Sources |
- [S228] Family Tree Maker Web Site: Susan C. Johanson
.
- [S376] New England Genealogy
.
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