While researching the Griggs and Gover families of Pittsylvania and Henry Counties, Virginia, I came to the conclusion that a daughter of John Griggs Sr., whose will was proved in Pittsylvania County in 1819, married one Thomas Wilkinson, not Thomas Wilkins because there were no Wilkins people living there in the early 1800s, However, there were definitely Wilkinsons, including Thomas Sr. and Thomas Jr. Thomas Jr. would be of an age to have married Miss Griggs, although no marriage record has been found for her.

However, I’d like to share a transcription of Thomas Wilkinson Sr.’s will because it is rather unusual, due to the manner in which he referred to his children. Paragraphing is mine to make this easier to follow:

From Pittsylvania County, Virginia Will Book 1:118:

I Thomas Wilkinson of the County of Pittsylvania State of Virginia sick in body tho of well and disposing mind know tis ordained for all men to die. I make this my last will and testament. I give my sole [sic] to God who gave it to me and my body to be buryed in a Christian like manner.

It is my wish and will that all my just debts be paid and my funeral expenses by my Executors hereafter mentioned in this my will.

I give to my supposed son Henry Eckles Wilkinson that land on which I live and the land I bought adjoining, also my mill on Cain Creek and all I hold there adjoining also I give to him the following property, my negro man named James one named [?] a blacksmith and his tools, one negro woman named Creasy with all her present and further increase to him and his heirs forever. This supposed son is the son of Creasy Eckles.

I then give and bequeath to my supposed son John Eckles Wilkinson my tract of land in Caswell County, State of North Carolina and all the land I have adjoining also the negrows (sic) as follows viz Harry [??] Peter Rylon Jenney Juner Agness and Tabbey who together with all her present and futer increase to him and his heirs forever, also this supposed son is the son of Creasy Eckles.

To further my wish and will that my Executors shall pay over to my three supposed sons viz Thomas Pendleton Rober. . . . Wilkinson, Dudley Robertson Wilkinson, and James Robertson Wilkinson the sum of four hundred dollars Cash oute of my Estate from money at hand outstanding debts or from the sail of my stock of every discription, my crops, household kitchening furniture and farming utensils. if the above named property should not be sufficient to rase the sum of four hundred dollars my Executors shall rase it quick as they can without selling property

these three supposed sons are the sons of Peggy Robertson.

the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal not heretofor disposed of I wish equally divided between my two sons Henry Eckles Wilkinson and John Eckles Wilkinson to them and their hears forever.

Further is my wish and will that my Executors shall pay over to Peggy Robertson twenty Dollars annualey as long as she shall live and

lastly I do appoint my two sons Henry Eckles Wilkinson and John Eckles Wilkinson my Executors to carry this my last will and Testament into effect.

I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal this thirtey first day of August in the year of our Lord 1824

Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presents of us and subscribed in the presents of each of us –

James D. Patton
Thomas Jones
Jacob (hisXmark) Apperson
Rawley White Senr

Thomas Wilkinson (Seal)

Given that Thomas Wilkinson named no wife or any children born to a wife, it appears that he acknowledged his children born to Creasy Eckles and Peggy Robertson so they could inherit his estate.

For those tracing this family, Henry Eckles Wilkinson was born, say, 1795, and died after 21 December 1829, when he witnessed Dudley’s will.

John Eckles Wilkinson was born c1797 and died on 10 October 1867 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Although his death was registered, the names of his parents were not known.

Whether Henry or John has descendants today is uncertain.

One question – Might Creasy the enslaved person bequeathed to Henry be his mother?

Thomas Pendleton Robertson Wilkinson was born c1799; died after 1880, probably in Henry County, Virginia, where he was living at the time of the census. He may have married (1) Judith Griggs (per land deed registering naming Thomas and Judith as husband and wife in 1817 and John Griggs’ will giving a bequest to Thomas Wilkins[on] in 18190 and then married (2) Jane Harris Weir, 16 December 1822, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

Dudley Robertson left a will proved on 21 December 1829 in Pittsylvania County, with all his belongings given to his “beloved mother” Margaret Robertson. It was witnessed by Thos. Jones, Henry E. Wilkinson and Thomas P.R. Wilkinson.

James Robertson Wilkinson also left a will dated 10 March 1827 and proved 16 March 1827. He left his horse, two sows and pigs plus the $400 “willed to me by my father Thomas Wilkinson” and what is left after his mother dies to be equally divided between his two brothers, Thomas P.R. and Dudley R. Wilkinson.

Neither Dudley nor James married so only Thomas has descendants today.

John Wilkinson was born 2 March 1690, the eldest child of John Wilkinson and Deborah Whipple in Providence, Rhode Island.

Rebecca Scott, his wife, was born c1699, the second daughter and fourth child of Sylvanus Scott and Joanna Jenckes.

John and Rebecca married on 20 March 1718, Providence, Rhode Island.

John died on 25 September 1756. Rebecca’s death date is unknown.

The Wilkinson family had long lived in the Providence area, but John and Rebecca moved a short distance away, still in Providence County, to the small town of Smithfield, where they raised a family and lived out their lives.

Children (All births are found in the Smithfield, Rhode Island vital records):

1. Amey, born 23 January 1719. Amey reportedly married a Bucklin and may be the Amey Bucklin who then married Elijah Wing, 22 February 1770 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, but that is a BIG maybe!
2. Anne, born 19 May 1721; died 7 September 1722
3. John, born 20 March 1721; he may be the man who married Ruth Angell, 12 November 1743, Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island
   Sarah, born 27 June 1727; she may be the woman who married Amos Arnold, 23 February 1745/46, Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island
4. Susannah, born 20 September 1729; she may be the woman who married Daniel Marsh, 29 December 1754, Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island
5. Ruth, born 5 March 1731; no further record
6. Joanna, born 12 September 1732; married Israel Thornton and removed to New Brunswick, Canada c1761.
   
7. Ahab, born 16 December 1734; married Abigail Scott, 1 June 1755, Cumberland, Providence, Rhode Island

My ancestress, Joanna, married Israel Thornton. They became part of a large group of Rhode Islanders who were enticed to Canada in the 1760s by offers of land.

They were NOT Loyalists – they made the move during the French and Indian War – and sometimes are referred to as pre-Loyalists who had lived in (then) Nova Scotia for twenty years by the time of the 1783 arrival of thousands of Loyalists relocating to what then became New Brunswick, Canada.

I find it quite ironic that this branch of my family – who settled early in Rhode Island, but then left for Canada –  is the only one of my many colonial New England lines that has given me a Mayflower line  – through George Soule.

 

 

Today’s family sketch takes a look at John Wilkinson, son of immigrants Lawrence and Susannah (MNU) Wilkinson, who settled in Providence, Rhode Island by 1651.

As with details about the life of John’s parents, much of the online information about John Wilkinson and his wife, Deborah Whipple, comes from the 1869 book Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family, by Israel Wilkinson and the 1949 book Genealogy of Wilkinson and Kindred Families, by Marcellus McEwin Wilkinson.

Therefore, I am reluctant to include exact dates of birth for the members of this family.

John Wilkinson was born 2 March 1654, Providence, Rhode Island and died intestate there on 10 April 1708. His estate inventory was filed three weeks later on 30 April 1708 and his widow, Deborah, was appointed administratrix of his estate.

Deborah survived her husband by 40 years and never remarried, dying on 24 June 1748 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Deborah Whipple is said to have been quite a bit younger than her husband. Austin’s Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island notes her birth as 1 August 1670, in Providence. She was the daughter of Eleazer Whipple and Alice (?Angell).

John Wilkinson and Deborah Whipple married on 16 April 1689, in Providence, Rhode Island. Source of their marriage date is Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1699.

Both Wilkinson genealogies include exact dates of birth for John’s and Deborah’s children, but I can’t find any other reliable source for those dates.

Children:

1. John, born c1690; died 25 September 1756; married Rebecca Scott, 20 March 1717, Providence, Rhode Island
2. Mary, born c1694; married John Scott, 12 March 1717, Providence, Rhode Island
3. Sarah, born c1696; reportedly married David Hogg . A David Hogg of Smithfield married Mary Smith there on 15 April 1759. If the same man, then Sarah died before that date.
4. Freelove, born c1701; married Michael Phillips. They lived in Smithfield, Rhode Island at least until October 1739 when their daughter Freelove was born there.
5. Daniel, born c1703. A Daniel Wilkinson of Smithfield married Abigail Inman there on 22 September 1740.
6. Jeremiah, born c1707, some say in Smithfield, Rhode Island. A Jeremiah Wilkinson of Smithfield married Patience Hide there on 3 July 1735.

This family sketch is on the brief side because I am unable to find records that document these children, with the exceptions of John Wilkinson Jr. and his sister, Mary, who married John Scott.

If you can add sources to any of these children, I would love to hear from you.