Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, published 1869
Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869
Fifth Generation, cont.

Joseph Wilkinson4    [50] Joseph3, [11] Samuel2
      and   [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
Alcie Jenks

Of Scituate, R. I.

128.I. Amie,5 b. March 17, 1743, d.
129.II. Alce,5 b. Oct. 26, 1744, d. Apr. 11, 1828.*
130.III. Annie,5 b. March 23, 1748, d.
131.IV. Joseph,5 (265-71) b. March 11, 1750, d.        1810-14.
132.V. Martha,5 b. June 15, 1755, d.

I.  Annie sic [Note: on the scanned copy, the name "Annie" was manually crossed out and "Alce" written above it, but no source was provided for the change.]  married Jonathan Hopkins of Scituate. Their children are:  (1) Alce, m. John Rounds, r. Foster, R. I.; (2) Penelope, m. Jenks Hopkins, r. Foster, R. I.; (3) Esther, unm., r. Scituate, R. I.; (4) Phebe, b. 1778, m. William Bucklin, moved west; (5) Sophia, b. March 28, 1780, unm., r. North Scituate; (6) Rufus, b. 25, 1782 sic, m. Lydia Davis, r. Illinois; (7) Freelove, m. Russel Arnold, r. Scituate, R. I.; (8) Joseph, b. Jan. 30 sic, m. Miss Smith, moved west.

II.  Alce married Bartram Rounds, lived in Glocester, R. I.  [Note:  The name of the town "Glocester" was manually crossed out on the scanned page, and "Richfield" was written above the name of the town of residence, but no source was provided for this handwritten change.]  They had:  (1) Joseph, m. Mary Green. (2) Bartrum, resided in Glocester. (3) James, lived in Richfield, [now Otsego Co.,] N. Y. (4) George, lived in New York. (5) William, r. New York. (6) Alce. (7) Martha. (8) Betsey, m. Mr. R. and moved with his family to Richfield, N. Y., near Troy.

III.  Annie, married Samuel Cole, and had several children, only (1) Samuel and (2) Susanna are remembered.

IV.  Joseph married Mrs. Elizabeth Peckham of Westport, [now Bristol Co.,] Mass. Her maiden name was Brownell. She was born Oct. 25, 1797 sic and died Oct. 30, 1841, aged 92 yrs., 5 dys.*
Joseph was a farmer and tavern keeper in North Scituate. His residence was a little south of his father's dwelling, and the Tavern was the same one now kept or recently kept by Mr. Steere, just on the edge of Foster where the Providence and Killingly stage coaches change horses. This was the third Joseph in the lineal line from Lawrance through Samuel his oldest son. The names of two of his oldest children are recorded in the Town Clerk's Office of Scituate. There were seven in all, six of whom married and had families. He was drafted in the days of the Revolution, and went to Newport to meet the British, but they had left and he saw no service. The people of Scituate had a signal to warn the inhabitants of the approach of the Enemy. It was on Beacon Pole hill, and consisted of a tar barrel set on fire and run up in the night, and a flag by day.
Joseph became a very corpulent man in his last days and died in 1814. His widow survived him many years, and was called by the relatives "Mrs. cousin Joe Wilkinson." It is said she was a notable woman for work and business, and that she was accustomed to ride to Providence on horseback to get cotton yarn to weave from Messrs. Brown and Almy,and the Wilkinson's of Pawtucket. It was the custom at that time in the absence of machinery to send the yarn out into the country to be woven. Edward S. Wilkinson says, "The first cotton used in the steam mill in Pawtucket was Georgia upland, bought of Alexander Jones of Providence at six cents per pound. It was picked by hand, and sent to the adjoining towns for that purpose. The price paid for picking was four or five cents per pound payable in goods at the store. The yarn was sent out to the neighboring towns to be wove on hand looms. Some was sent as far north as Northampton, [now Hampshire Co.,] Mass. The weaving was paid for in yarn at factory or ticket prices.* Mrs. Wilkinson was paid a high price for her work, and, it is said some of the sheets of her weaving are now in use, so well did they work in those days. The business talent manifested by her has been transmitted in this branch of the family, as will be seen in her descendants, Charles Brownell of St. Joseph, Mo., Joseph Brownell of Troy, N. Y., and Andrew Jackson of Keokuk, Iowa.

William Wilkinson4     [57] Joseph3, [11] Samuel2
      and   [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
Hannah Hoar

Of Glocester, R. I.

133.I. William,5 (272) b.             d.        
134.II. Marcy,5 b. d.
135.III. Benjamin,5 b. d.
136.IV. Hannah,5 b. d.
137.V. Freelove,5 b. d.
138.VI. George,5 (273-74)b. d.
139.VII. Martha,5 b. d.
140.VIII. Mary,5 b. d.
141.IX. Stephen,5 (275-88)b. d. March     1838.

I.  William married Sarah Mason, resided in Smithfield, Penn. He had one child.

II.  Marcy married Rev. Erastus Larned, lived in Pomfort, sic [probably Pomfret, Windham Co.,] Conn. Their children were:

V.  Freelove, married James Hunter, resided in Pomfret, Conn.

VI.  George, married Lydia Tidd, resided in New Braintree, [now Worcester Co.,] Mass. They had two children.

VII.  Martha, married Oliver Smith, lived Glocester, R. I.

IX.  Stephen married 1806, Mahala Burgess, who lived in Killingly, Ct. He had a family of fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters, who now live in Pennsylvania and Illinois.

John Wilkinson4     [58] John3, [14] John2 [2]
      and   [4] Lawrance.1 [1]
Ruth Angell, *

Of Smithfield, R. I.

142.I. Ozial,5 (289-298) b. Jan. 30, 1744, d. Oct. 22, 1815.
143.II. Martha,5 b. d. April,     1820.
144.III. Susanna,5 b. d.

I.  Ozial married Lydia Smith, dau. of Jehu Smith of Smithfield, R. I. The following statement obtained in 1862 by Albert S. Wilkinson, a grandson of Oziel, from Nathaniel Smith of Providence, formerly cashier of the Roger Williams' Bank, gives us the lineage of Oziel's wife. Mr. N. Smith was about sixty-nine years of age at that time, and said, "Edward Smith of Smithfield was my great grandfather. Jehu Smith, my grandfather was the first male child born in Smithfield, after the town was set off from Providence. He died in Providence, Oct. 1813, age about 83. He was the brother of Ozial's wife. Another brother of Oziel's wife was killed on the "Plains of Abraham," at Quebec in Canada. His name was Abraham.
Oziel sic had ten children by this wife all of whom were extensively engaged in the manufacturing business. His family may be regarded, with propriety, as the first manufacturers of America. They all married but George, who died in infancy. David and Lydia moved to Cohoes, [now Albany Co.,] N. Y. Smith to Pomfret, [now Windham Co.,] Ct., and the rest lived in Pawtucket. For a more extended notice of Ozial sic, see Biography No. XVI.

II.  Martha married Christopher Arnold, and from the following extract from her will, it appears he died leaving her a widow.
"I Martha Arnold of Smithfield, widow, now residing in North Providence, Relict of Christopher Arnold my late husband deceased, &c.
First. Sell my real estate, and the residue it is my desire should be paid to Deborah Arnold, daughter of my sister Susannah Hopkins.
Second. I give—to my Sister Susannah Hopkins my best suit of clothes, &c.
Third. I give to my neice sic Deborah Arnold, daughter of my sister Susannah Hopkins, my best bed, &c.
Fourth. I give to Joanna J. Peck, wife of Foster Peck, Susan F. Arnold, and Ann M. Arnold, the three daughters of Deborah Arnold, and Ruth A. Hopkins, daughter of William Hopkins, deceased, all the rest of my house-hold furniture.
Dated, April 1st, 1820.                             Martha Arnold. [L. S.]"
Subscribing Witnesses
Pardon Sayles,

Zillah Sayles,
Council held April 22, 1820.*
Ruth M. Thurston

Martha had no children.

III.  Susannah married Daniel, son of Christopher and grandson of William Hopkins, brother of Esek and Stephen whose mother was Ruth, daughter of Samuel Wilkinson. It is singular how kindred become interlinked in the onward course of time, and that frequently without their knowing anything about the degree of relationship existing between them.
The following extracts from his will, like the preceding, reveals the number of the family then living.

Second.  "Sell my real estate bought of Esek Hopkins, to pay debts and funeral charges, &c.
Third.  I give—to my well beloved wife Susannah, all the remainder of my real Estate, &c.
Fifth.  sic  I desire my granddaughter Joanna Arnold to live with her grandmother until she is Eighteen years of age.
Seventh.  sic  I give—to my three children, Christopher Hopkins, Wm. Hopkins, and Deborah Arnold, after the decease of my well beloved wife Susannah Hopkins all of my Real Estate.
Eighth. I give to my granddaughter Joanna Arnold $100, to be paid to her by my three children, Christopher $33.33, William $33.33, and Deborah, $33.33, when she is Eighteen years old.
Lastly, I appoint Joseph Jenks my executor.
Dated, June 26, 1804.
Daniel Hopkins, [L.S.]"
Cod. added, May 9, 1815.

Council held, Sept. 1815.*

From this will it appears they had the following children:  (1) Christopher. (2) William. (3) Deborah married an Arnold. They had (1) Joanna J. who married Foster Peck, (2) Susan F. and (3) Ann M.
In the census of Rhode Island Colony taken in 1774, this family numbered two males above sixteen years of age, one under, three females above sixteen, and one under, seven in all.
I have not been able to secure the names of all of them.

Ahab Wilkinson4     [59] John3, [14] John2
      and   [4] Lawrance.1 [1]
Abigail Scott, *

Of Smithfield, R. I.

145.I. Simeon,5 (299-306) b. March 10, 1756, d. Nov. 27, 1816.
146.II. John,5 b. June 15, 1757, d. June 23, 1826.
147.III. Joseph,5 (307-17) b. Oct. 7, 1759, d. Sept. 25, 1812.
148.IV. Sarah,5 b. March 19, 1765, d.
149.V. George,5 b. Jan. 9, 1767, d.

I.  Simeon married June 10, 1792, Elizabeth Jenks, had a family of eight children—lived in Smithfield, and is buried in the family burying grounds near the Dexter Lime Rock.

II.  John married Martha Jenks. sic  They had no children.

III.  Joseph married Martha Jenks, sic had a family of eleven children, four of whom, only, married. The family became scattered. Samuel S. died in Portsmouth, [now Scioto Co.,] Ohio, George in Montgomery, [now Chatham Co., but it may have been Montgomery Co., too] Ga., Jenckes in New Orleans, [now Orleans Co.,] La., Amy in Smithfield, R. I., Joseph in Claiborne, [now Monroe Co.,] Ala., Ahab in Hartford, Ct.
The name is perpetuated in this line through Ahab, the only son who married. He had but one child, a son, who is now a Government Clerk in Washington.

Joab Wilkinson4     [65] Daniel3, [18] John2
      and   [4] Lawrance.1 [1]
Jerusha Ray,

Of Cumberland, R. I.

150.I. Eunice,5 b.           1778, d. Feb. 25, 1825.
151.II. Joab,5 b.           1782, d. Aug. 31, 1795.
152.III. Melatiel,5 b.           1785, d. Sept.  8, 1795.

I.  Eunice married Joseph Whipple, of Cumberland, R. I. They had two children.
The name is extinct in this line.
In the census of 1774, there were but one male and one female above 16 years of age, and none under.

Daniel Wilkinson4     [66] Daniel3, [18] John2
      and   [4] Lawrance.1 [1]
Anna Whipple, *

Of Cumberland, R. I.

153.I. Lydia,5 b. Mar. 14, 1768, d.
154.II. Joanna,5 b. Aug. 13, 1769, d. Oct. 16, 1825.
155.III. Ruth,5 b. July 12, 1772, d.
156.IV. Shubael,5 (318-23) b. Jan. 11, 1775, d. April 18, 1829.
157.V. Abigail,5 b. Oct. 14, 1779, d. Mar. 12, 1836.

II.  Joanna, born the same year with Napoleon Bonaparte, married Alexander Thompson, of Cumberland, R. I. He was an industrious, and very worthy man, and was highly respected by the community. They had eight children.

III.  Ruth married William Newell and lived in Duchess sic Co., N. Y.  Their children are:

IV.  Shubael married Mahala Smith and had six children. He moved from Cumberland, R. I. to Elbridge, [now Onondaga Co.,] N. Y., and some members of the family are still living in that vicinity. His oldest son moved to Michigan. Another went to California; a third moved to Wisconsin and has become a State Senator.

V.  Abigail married Dexter Brown of Cumberland, R. I. and had seven children, as follows:

Nedabiah sic Wilkinson4     [67] Daniel3, [18] John2
      and   [4] Lawrance.1 [1]
Lucy Whittaker, 

Of Hartford, Conn.

158.I. Candace,5 b.             1781, d. May 24, 1785.
159.II. Otis,5 b.             1782, d. Sept.     1806.
160.III. Lucy,5 b.             1786, d. March    1814.

II.  Otis went to Bolton, Tolland Co., Ct. Upon the death of his father he was appointed Administrator, Sept. 15, 1802.* He received the principal part of his father's property, but did not long enjoy it, as he died four years afterwards. The following is his will:
"In the name of God, Amen; I, Otis Wilkinson of East Hartford in Hartford Co., Ct., being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following; that is to say; Imprimis, I will that all my debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged by my Executors hereinafter named.
Item, I give and devise unto my mother Lucy Wilkinson all my real and personal Estate to her disposal except what is hereinafter excepted.
Item, I give unto my brother-in-law, Stephen Buckland Goodwin, my fowling piece.
Item, I give unto my sister Lucy Goodwin, wife of Stephen B. Goodwin, Sixty dollars to be paid by my Executor.
Lastly, I do make and constitute my mother, Lucy Wilkinson, and Nathan Menow, Executors to this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of Sept. in the year of our Lord, 1806.
        Signed & sealed &c.,

        In presence of,

        Oliver Beaumont,
            Otis Wilkinson [L. S.]
        Esther Bidwell,

        Hannah Goodwin.

Court of Probate held at Hartford, Ct. Oct. 8, 1806 when the above will was presented.*
Inventory of Personal Property  
$2483,72
Real Estate  
 1587,50
Total  
$4071,22

The following is copied from the records and inserted here, as the descendants of this branch of the family were identified by it, and their whereabouts ascertained.
Lucy Wilkinson, having received the personal and real estate of her son, died in 1814, and the property passed into the hands of Mr. Goodwin who had married her daughter. "April 12, 1814, Letters of administration to Stephen B. Goodwin of East Hartford."† Court of Probate was held May 6, 1814, and the inventory gives the following results:
Personal property  
$2463,37
Real property  
 1640,00
Total  
$4103,37

II.  Lucy married Stephen Buckland Goodwin of the Goodwins of Hartford, Ct. His ancestry is of the highest respectability. A Mr. Goodwin of the city of Hartford, druggist, is getting up the Genealogy of the family, and his list includes some of the first men in the early Colony of Connecticut.
There is a brief genealogy of the family already published. Their children are:

The name is extinct in this line.


*[Handwritten addition made to scanned copy.]
*See I Book, Town Records, p. 104, Scituate, R. I.
*See Transactions for Rhode Island Society for D.I., page 88, (1861).
*Census of 1774, 2 males above 16, 1 under; 3 females above 16, 1 under.
*2 Town Council Book, 434. North Providence.
*2 Council and Probate Record 369, North Providence.
*Census of 1774, 3 males above 16, 4 under; 4 females above 16.
*Census of 1774, 1 male above 16, 1 female above and 3 under.
*Book 27, Record of Wills, &c., Hartford, Ct.
*Book 28, Wills, &c., Hartford, Ct.
†Book 31, Wills, &c., Hartford, Ct.
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