Rash's Surname Index
Notes for John WILKINSON
John Wilkinson, second son of Captain Samuel and Plain (Wickenden) Wilkinson, born on his father's homestead, "Loquiesee", Providence, Rhode Island, January 25, 1677-8, removed when a youth to Hunterdon county, New Jersey, and there married, and resided for some years. In 1713 he purchased three hundred and seven acres of land on the Neshaminy, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, lying partly in the three townships of Wrightstown, Buckingham and Warwick, near what is now Rushland station on the Northeast Pennsylvania railroad, on a part of which some of his descendants of the name still reside. He settled on that part of the tract lying in Wrightstown township, and resided there until his death in 1751, becoming a considerable landowner on both sides of the Neshaminy, and a very prominent man in the community, filling the office of justice of the peace, and of the Court of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, and Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, for the county of Bucks for many years. Though of a family that had taken an active part in military affairs for many generations he chose the paths of peace and was an active and consistent member of Wrightstown Monthly Meeting of Friends. The maiden name and ancestry of his wife Mary is Unknown.
John and Mary Wilkinson had eight children, three sons and five daughters, who intermarried with the prominent families of Ross, Chapman, Ball and Lacey, and their descendants have filled high official position, as state and national legislators, judges, etc., through several generations.
John was born at the homestead of Samuel at "Loquissit" in Providence. He left Rhode Island about 1700, and from facts recently elicited, went first to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, where he married Mary ______. He had a daughter Mary born July 17, 1708, while he was yet in Hunterdon County, and about 1713, he moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and purchased a large tract of land lying partly in Wrightstown, and partly in Warwick Township. This is still called the "old Wilkinson tract," and is divided into beautiful farms with neat dwellings and contains a prosperous community. John's purchase in Wrightstown consisted of 307 acres the deed bearing date May 27, 1713. At this time the primeval forests tenanted with savages and wild beasts, covered the land, and his neighbors were few and far between.
In Aug. 1683 there were but three or four cottages in Philadelphia, and the deer ran among the trees on which the surveyor had marked the courses of the streets, but it grew very rapidly, and in 1720 it contained upwards of 10,000 inhabitants. A ready market was thus opened opened, and the pioneer settlers were greatly favored.
July 3, 1728. John was in Providence and signed a Power of Attorney with William Hopkins, James Angell, Josiah Wilkinson and David Wilkinson, to Joseph Wilkinson to dispose of the Lands and other property of Samuel Wilkinson who had recently died. A few days after the following deed was given, and as it describes the old homestead of the first Samuel and was the means by which the whereabouts of the Pennsylvania branch of the family was discovered, it is the more readily inserted.
Source: Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869
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