arthurhistory.com - Person Sheet
arthurhistory.com - Person Sheet
Notes for John Wilson
(2) JOHN WILSON, son of John and IsabeUe (Kennedy)
Wilson, born in County Antrim, Ireland about
1710, married about the year 1735, Jennet Stinson, of
Four Mile Run, County Antrim, and with her emigrated
to Pennsylvania, and settled in lower Buckingham,
Bucks county. The exact date of their arrival is not
known, but they probably came with the Thompsons and
a number of other families that settled in Warwick,
Buckingham, Northampton and Newtown.
On April 7, 1737, John Wilson secured a warrant for
125 acres in Buckingham township, along the line of
Wrightstown toMoiship. This tract was originally surveyed
to Andrew Heath and was so marked on Cutler's
resurvey of 1703. It adjoined on the southwest the
Lacey farm originally surveyed to William Perlet, the
father-in-law of^ William Lacey, the founder of that
noted family, and on the northeast abutted on the Edward
West tract of 1000 acres out of which John Wilson's
later farm was surveyed. The tract lies nearly
midway between the present villages of Wycombe and
Pineville, and is now owned by Warner C. Thompson.
Here John Wilson resided for a number of years but
later took up a tract partly in the John Reynolds and
partly in the Edward West tract about a mile northeast
of his first residence. Both of these tracts had been surveyed
by 1700, but the warrantees never appear to have
claimed or settled on them and they were taken up in
irregular tracts by settlers, mostly Scotch-Irish including
the Simpsons, Samples, Kellys and Smiths, who had no
title but possession. After they had resided thereon for
near half a century, efforts were made to secure patents
and this resulted in the case of the Reynolds Tract in
Escheat proceedings by which the title escheated to the
state and patents issued to the original settlers thereon.
In the case of the settlers on the West tract, however,
they resisted an escheat on the ground they had acquired
title bj^ adverse possession. A small portion of the
Wilson farm, however, he purchased of Robert Strettel,
who had secured a patent for 500 acres in the southeast
corner of the West tract.
On this farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres,
John Wilson lived until his death in February 1767.
Nothing is known of his place of burial or his age or the
time of the death of his widow. She was probably of
the same family as the Stinsons who settled in Warwick
at about the date John Wilson and wife settled in Buckingham.
His will is registered in Will Book 3, page 164,
Register of Wills Office, Doylestown, and is as follows
:
"Be it remembered this Fifteenth day of January in
the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Sixty-seven that I John Wilson of the Township of
Buckingham in the County of Bucks and Province of
Pennsylvania being weak of body but of sound mind
and memory and calling to mind my Mortality do
think fit to make and constitute this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following hereby revoking
and disannulling all other Wills by me either made
in word or writing and do pronounce and declare this
to be my last will. To wit First I give my soul unto
God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried
in a decent manner as my Executors here-in-after shall
see meet.
Item. I Will that all my just debts and funeral expenses
be fully paid.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my well beloved wife
Jannet Wilson my best bed and all the fixtures belonging
there to. One case of drawers, my sorrel mare,
side saddle and bridle, one cow and four sheep.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my son John all my
right to the Plantation I now live on both what I hold
by improvement and likewise by deed to him his heirs
and assigns forever with my bl^ck mare, roan mare,
and black horse, two milk cows, ten sheep and four
swine with all my husbandry utensils on condition he
shall provide my beloved wife meat, drink, washing
and lodging and keep or pasture in summer and hay
in winter one horse or mare one cow and four sheep
and find ground and sow her half an acre of fiax yearly
during her natural life or widowhood or otherwise if
they think best not to live together he shall pay the
sum of Six Pounds to her yearly during her time of
life or widowhood unless it shall so happen that an
owner shall dispossess him of said improvements then
the said allowance or legacy shall cease to be paid or
he to be chargeable therewith.
Item. I give and bequeath One Hundred Pounds now
in the hands of Titus Dewitt to my five daughters,
Jannet Dougherty, Elizabeth, Ann, Isabell and Sarah
Wilson, to each an equal share they allowing or paying
the Interest thereof yearly to my wife until my
daughter Sarah shall arrive at the age of twenty-one
years, but in case any one of my said daughters shall
die before they arrive at the age of twenty-one years
and without lawful issue their share shall be equally
divided among my surviving children.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my son Robert Sixtyfour
Pounds now in the hands of John Sloan and my
Will is to be put at Interest for him until he will arrive
at the age of twenty-one years and one bay mare colt
to be in possession and for the use of my son John until
he arrives at the aforesaid age but in case he shall not
live to arrive to that age the said Sixty-four Pounds
and the said colt shall fall to and be the property of my
son John. Item. I gave and bequeath to my grandson
Samuel Macgrady the sum of Ten Pounds and my
two granddaughters Jannet and Margaret Macgrady
each the sum of Five Pounds to be paid unto the hand
of their Father Gaun Macgrady in two years after my
decease.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my grandson John Miller
the sum of Fourteen Pounds Twelve Shillings and
Sixpence and one cow and one steer and my Will is
the said cow and the steer be sold and the price of
them added to the above said sum and that the whole
be put to Interest for him until he shall arrive at the
age of twenty-one years. But in case he does not live
to arrive to that age his said legacy shall fall to and be
the property of my wife Jannet Wilson.
I likewise give and bequeath to my daughter Jannet
Dougherty one black mare colt a yearling past, two
cows and six sheep to be delivered the first of May
next.
Item. I give and bequeath the remaining part of my
estate to my beloved wife Jannet Wilson, to keep divide
among her children as she may see cause. I do likewise
Will and constitute my beloved wife Jannet
Wilson Executrix and my son John and my trusty
friend Timothy Smith Executors of this my last Will
and Testament.
his
JOHN X WILSON seal,
mark
Signed Sealed Published and Pronounced in presence
of us.
WILLIAM SIMPSON,
JOHN SAMPLE,
JAMES ALEXANDER.
The 27th day of February Anno Domini 1767 then
appeared William Simpson and John Sample two of
the witnesses to the within and above written Will and
upon their solemn oaths according to law did severally
declare and affirm that they were personally present
and saw and heard John Wilson the Testator sign,
seal, published and declare the within and above writing
to be his last Will and Testament and that at the
doing thereof he was of sound mind and memory and
understanding to the best of their knowledge.
Before me Law Growden,
Deputy Reg't.
Wilson, born in County Antrim, Ireland about
1710, married about the year 1735, Jennet Stinson, of
Four Mile Run, County Antrim, and with her emigrated
to Pennsylvania, and settled in lower Buckingham,
Bucks county. The exact date of their arrival is not
known, but they probably came with the Thompsons and
a number of other families that settled in Warwick,
Buckingham, Northampton and Newtown.
On April 7, 1737, John Wilson secured a warrant for
125 acres in Buckingham township, along the line of
Wrightstown toMoiship. This tract was originally surveyed
to Andrew Heath and was so marked on Cutler's
resurvey of 1703. It adjoined on the southwest the
Lacey farm originally surveyed to William Perlet, the
father-in-law of^ William Lacey, the founder of that
noted family, and on the northeast abutted on the Edward
West tract of 1000 acres out of which John Wilson's
later farm was surveyed. The tract lies nearly
midway between the present villages of Wycombe and
Pineville, and is now owned by Warner C. Thompson.
Here John Wilson resided for a number of years but
later took up a tract partly in the John Reynolds and
partly in the Edward West tract about a mile northeast
of his first residence. Both of these tracts had been surveyed
by 1700, but the warrantees never appear to have
claimed or settled on them and they were taken up in
irregular tracts by settlers, mostly Scotch-Irish including
the Simpsons, Samples, Kellys and Smiths, who had no
title but possession. After they had resided thereon for
near half a century, efforts were made to secure patents
and this resulted in the case of the Reynolds Tract in
Escheat proceedings by which the title escheated to the
state and patents issued to the original settlers thereon.
In the case of the settlers on the West tract, however,
they resisted an escheat on the ground they had acquired
title bj^ adverse possession. A small portion of the
Wilson farm, however, he purchased of Robert Strettel,
who had secured a patent for 500 acres in the southeast
corner of the West tract.
On this farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres,
John Wilson lived until his death in February 1767.
Nothing is known of his place of burial or his age or the
time of the death of his widow. She was probably of
the same family as the Stinsons who settled in Warwick
at about the date John Wilson and wife settled in Buckingham.
His will is registered in Will Book 3, page 164,
Register of Wills Office, Doylestown, and is as follows
:
"Be it remembered this Fifteenth day of January in
the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Sixty-seven that I John Wilson of the Township of
Buckingham in the County of Bucks and Province of
Pennsylvania being weak of body but of sound mind
and memory and calling to mind my Mortality do
think fit to make and constitute this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following hereby revoking
and disannulling all other Wills by me either made
in word or writing and do pronounce and declare this
to be my last will. To wit First I give my soul unto
God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried
in a decent manner as my Executors here-in-after shall
see meet.
Item. I Will that all my just debts and funeral expenses
be fully paid.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my well beloved wife
Jannet Wilson my best bed and all the fixtures belonging
there to. One case of drawers, my sorrel mare,
side saddle and bridle, one cow and four sheep.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my son John all my
right to the Plantation I now live on both what I hold
by improvement and likewise by deed to him his heirs
and assigns forever with my bl^ck mare, roan mare,
and black horse, two milk cows, ten sheep and four
swine with all my husbandry utensils on condition he
shall provide my beloved wife meat, drink, washing
and lodging and keep or pasture in summer and hay
in winter one horse or mare one cow and four sheep
and find ground and sow her half an acre of fiax yearly
during her natural life or widowhood or otherwise if
they think best not to live together he shall pay the
sum of Six Pounds to her yearly during her time of
life or widowhood unless it shall so happen that an
owner shall dispossess him of said improvements then
the said allowance or legacy shall cease to be paid or
he to be chargeable therewith.
Item. I give and bequeath One Hundred Pounds now
in the hands of Titus Dewitt to my five daughters,
Jannet Dougherty, Elizabeth, Ann, Isabell and Sarah
Wilson, to each an equal share they allowing or paying
the Interest thereof yearly to my wife until my
daughter Sarah shall arrive at the age of twenty-one
years, but in case any one of my said daughters shall
die before they arrive at the age of twenty-one years
and without lawful issue their share shall be equally
divided among my surviving children.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my son Robert Sixtyfour
Pounds now in the hands of John Sloan and my
Will is to be put at Interest for him until he will arrive
at the age of twenty-one years and one bay mare colt
to be in possession and for the use of my son John until
he arrives at the aforesaid age but in case he shall not
live to arrive to that age the said Sixty-four Pounds
and the said colt shall fall to and be the property of my
son John. Item. I gave and bequeath to my grandson
Samuel Macgrady the sum of Ten Pounds and my
two granddaughters Jannet and Margaret Macgrady
each the sum of Five Pounds to be paid unto the hand
of their Father Gaun Macgrady in two years after my
decease.
Item. I gave and bequeath to my grandson John Miller
the sum of Fourteen Pounds Twelve Shillings and
Sixpence and one cow and one steer and my Will is
the said cow and the steer be sold and the price of
them added to the above said sum and that the whole
be put to Interest for him until he shall arrive at the
age of twenty-one years. But in case he does not live
to arrive to that age his said legacy shall fall to and be
the property of my wife Jannet Wilson.
I likewise give and bequeath to my daughter Jannet
Dougherty one black mare colt a yearling past, two
cows and six sheep to be delivered the first of May
next.
Item. I give and bequeath the remaining part of my
estate to my beloved wife Jannet Wilson, to keep divide
among her children as she may see cause. I do likewise
Will and constitute my beloved wife Jannet
Wilson Executrix and my son John and my trusty
friend Timothy Smith Executors of this my last Will
and Testament.
his
JOHN X WILSON seal,
mark
Signed Sealed Published and Pronounced in presence
of us.
WILLIAM SIMPSON,
JOHN SAMPLE,
JAMES ALEXANDER.
The 27th day of February Anno Domini 1767 then
appeared William Simpson and John Sample two of
the witnesses to the within and above written Will and
upon their solemn oaths according to law did severally
declare and affirm that they were personally present
and saw and heard John Wilson the Testator sign,
seal, published and declare the within and above writing
to be his last Will and Testament and that at the
doing thereof he was of sound mind and memory and
understanding to the best of their knowledge.
Before me Law Growden,
Deputy Reg't.