Benjamin Wilkinson

Notes:

He moved from Smithfield, RI when he bought Myanexit Farm from Samuel Morris. His daughter, Lydia, married Samuel's son Lemuel 7 years later.
He lived for 10 years in the house that Samuel's father had built. It was built as a tavern for travelers and he continued to operate it as such. He sold the farm and moved to Thompson Hill CT and operated an excellent tavern for many years, He was an enterprising man and left many tokens of his public spirit.
findagrave

Notes:

Son of William Wilkinson.

See Full Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family:
http://archive.org/stream/memoirsofwilkins00wilk/memoirsofwilkins00wilk_djvu.txt


IV. Joseph was one of the first settlers in Scituate. His
grandfather and father both had taken up lands in that part of Providence which lies west of the "Seven mile line." The
" Purchaser's Booke" describes all lands taken up in the early days of the Colony as being on the East or West Side of this line. Lawrence had a right there, and Hannah, the only daughter and heiress of Josias, had "three acres of meadow" laid out to her on this right in 1707.*


The place where Joseph was born was within the present limits of Smithfield near the Harris Lime Rock. At what time he went into that part of Providence since called Scituate, is not definitely known, probably about 1700, when he was less than twenty-one years of age. The high and elevated portions of Scituate can be seen from Samuel's old residence, so when he was established in his new home, he was not out of sight of his birth-place. He married Martha Pray, the granddaughter of one of the first settlers in this part of Providence, and became an extensive land-owner. One hundred and thirty-seven and a half acres of land were laid out to Joseph, west of the seven mile line.

Joseph's Will, being an excellent model of such an Instrument, has been procured by the compiler from the town clerk of Scituate, and is inserted in the appendix. Every member of the Wilkinson family will be amply compensated by perusing it, as it exhibits the business man more perfectly than any sketch drawn at the present time.
------------------

Joseph married Martha Pray before 1708 in Providence Co, Rhode Island. Martha (daughter of John* Pray and Sarah* Brown) was born in 1693 in Rhode Island; died on 22 May 1784 in Scituate, Providence Co, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 20 Oct 1778, Scituate, Providence Co, Rhode Island

Notes:

Mentioned in her father's will as daughter Martha Wilkenson
She married Joseph Wilkinson.

Will:
"Wilkinson, Martha, widow, of Scituate, now aged 88. Will dated 20 Oct 1778, proved 14 Mar 1785, pgs 517-518. Mentions: Daughter Ruth Williams, wife of Benjamin Williams."
Rhode Island Genealogical Register, Second Edition

Died:
"Wilkinson, Martha, widow of Joseph, at Scituate, aged 94 years, May 22, 1784."

Other Events and Attributes:

• Other-Begin: May 1671, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 21 May 1675, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: 1676, King Philip's War, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: Jan 1677, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Residence: 1 Jul 1679, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: Between 1680 and 1684, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Residence: 16 May 1680, Pautuckett River, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: 2 Jun 1684, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: 1687, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: Between 1687 and 1696, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: Abt Feb 1691, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 8 Nov 1696, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: Jan 1697, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 20 Sep 1708, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 7 Apr 1714, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 23 Jul 1717, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 29 May 1721, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 27 Mar 1724, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Will: 29 Apr 1733, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island; written
• Will: 1 Feb 1734, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island; proved

Notes:

Title: The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island
According to this book John Pray was the son of Richard, son of Quentin.
John d. 9 Oct 1733 in Providence, RI. His wife was Sarah Brown who died sometime after her husband. They were married 14 Nov 1678.

Children: Richard, John, Hugh, Mary Pray m. ----- Brown, Catherine Pray m. ------ Comstock,
Sarah Pray m. ------ Brown, Penelope Pray m. ------
Aldrich, Martha Pray m. ---- Wilkinson.

(It looks like this info may have come from a will as they don't have the first names of any of the son in laws.)

"John Pray was a resident of Providence, Rhode Island. It was recorded 14 Aug 1676 that he was one of those "who staid and went not away" in King Philip's War. John was declared a freeman in 1682. He named his father, Richard Pray, in an indenture dated 6 March 1694 and again 27 May 1724 when
he deeded land to David Shippee. He deeded his house and lands where he lived to his son, Richard, 29 Mar 1733.

John Pray died testate. In his will dated 23 July 1717 and proved 1 Feb, he named his wife, Sarah, and each of his children".

A listed source is "The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island", p. 359.

Richard Pray son of Quentin was b. in 1630 in England; d. in 1693, Providence, RI. Wife, Mary. d. in 1686.

Children: Ephraim and John

Elizabeth, widow of Benjamin Hearnden, d. after 1701, m. Richard Pray, 1688.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=070664&id=I0933


Other-Begin:
Makes Oath of Allegiance to Charles II

Property:
Father Richard deeds him house & land
1675 21 May ? Age: 22
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Richard gives him his dwelling house at Loquasqussuck with all its fencing and fruit trees and a half Purchase Right in lands and meadows which Richard was given by the town as an original Purchaser.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 14:214-215

Other-Begin:
Was ?one who staid and went not away? during King Philip's War 1676 ? Age: 23
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Those staying won a share in disposition of Indian captives whose services were sold for a term of years. On 14 Aug. is on the committee of the First Company of Indians meeting to settle disposal of captives; signs letter concerning those plans.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 15:151, 154, 156

Other-Begin:
Signs letter relieving committee of Indian duties
Jan (assuming following January)
Providence, Providence Co., RI

Letter releases Thomas Fenner, William Hopkins and John Whipple Jr. from task of selling the captive Indians? indentures, for which the members of the Company each received 16s 4 pence half penny.

?Early Records of the Town of Providence 15:161-162

Residence:
Taxed 1s 10 1/2d 1679 1 Jul ? Age: 26
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Early Records of the Town of Providence 15:187

Other-Begin:
Petitions for a highway Feb Providence, Providence Co., RI
John and John Wilkenson petition the town council to have a highway laid out at Loquasquassuck ?to goe up into ye country.?
Early Records of the Town of Providence 8:128

Residence:
His dwelling house on valley on Pautuckett River mentioned
1680 16 May ? Age: 27
Providence, Providence Co., RI
The description is for land laid out to Joseph Woodward, husband of sister Mary.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 14:50

Other-Begin:
Chosen constable 1684 2 Jun ? Age: 31
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Early Records of the Town of Providence 8:140

Other-Begin:
Pays a 1s 2d tax 1687 ? Age: 34
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Levied to pay Joseph Woodward for bringing up Thomas Waters? child.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 17:108

Property:
(date not given - only estimate)
Exchanges acreage with John Whipple Mar Providence, Providence Co., RI
John Whipple deeds John 6 acres, part swamp & part dry lowland, on the west side of the Pautuckett River at Loquasqussuck, part of Whipple?s farm. In turn Pray gives Whipple 6 acres adjoining eastern part of Whipple?s farm deeded Pray by father Richard.
?Early Record of the Town of Providence 14:235-236, 264-266

Other-Begin:
(Dated only "February, perhaps 1691?) - witnessed a land deal between John Daley and Ann Pratt.
Probably pertaining to property deal where John Daley had bought 90 acres from a James Phillips on Aug 27, 1689; and exchanged this farm for one owned by Anne Pratt, June 2, 1690.

Property:
Has 22 acres laid out to John* Pray
1696 8 Dec ? Age: 43
Providence, Providence Co., RI
The land was from the Second division in Right of John* Pray's deceased father Richard. The acres were originally laid out on John Mawrey?s land by mistake & the new site is on both sides of the Wanasquatuckett River downstream from Nonplus Hill.

Property:
Sells 1/2 of a whole Purchase Right
Jan (assume of year 1697)
Providence, Providence Co., RI
The land was a Whole Purchase Right of ?thatchbedd? out of the Right which belonged to his father Richard Pray.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 20:176

Property:
sells William Crawford half a 40-foot lot by the Salt Water
1708 20 Sep ? Age: 55
Providence, Providence Co., RI
The acres, purchased by his father Richard, were sold for £2 5s.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 20:278-279

Property:
sells 80 acres to Joseph Davis for £40
Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island p. 359

Property:
Deeds home farm to son Richard
1717 23 Jul ? Age: 64
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Deed for love all his farm where he dwells, with dwelling house, that is half at signing and half at decease of both parents.

Property:
Sells John Inman 16 acres in original Right of Richard Pray
1721 29 May ? Age 68
Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island p. 359

Property:
Sells David Shippe 10 acres for £3 10s
1724 27 Mar ? Age: 71
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island p. 359

Will:
Will: 29 APR 1733 Providence, Providence, RI
Note: "Pray, John, of Providence, husbandman, being aged. Will dated 29 Apr 1726, proved 5 Feb 1733/4, pgs 1-3. Mentions: Wife Sarah. Sons John, Hugh, & Richard. Daughters Mary Brown, Cathrin Comstock, Sarah Brown, Penalopy Aldrich, & Martha Wilkenson."
Rhode Island Families 2:266 abstracted from Smithfield book 1:1

Death: 9 OCT 1733 in Smithfield, Providence, RI


Will:
Will proved 1 Feb. 1734 (1733/4). Inventory: £64, 4s, viz: wearing apparel, books, copper pennies, featherbed, wood bed, flock bed, pewter, warming pan, 2 razors, yarn, 2 cows, calf, 15 sheep.
Rhode Island Families 2:266 citing Smithfield Probate 1:1
U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700

John* married Sarah* Brown on 14 Nov 1678 in Providence Co, Rhode Island. Sarah* (daughter of John* Brown, (immigrant) and Mary* Holmes, (immigrant)) was born about 1657 in Providence Co, Rhode Island; died about 1733 in Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
On 18 Sept. John and Sarah publish their intention to marry and are married on 14 Nov. by Thomas Olney Jr.

Early Records of the Town of Providence 9:188
U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: North Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Emigration: 1642, "Ann Cleave" from London, England
• Property: 25 Jan 1657, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island; from Thomas Walling
• Property: Bef 1671, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Property: 21 May 1675, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island

Notes:

Possibly first lived in York, Maine.

Richard Pray.....He called himself a collier; so calling himself in deeds. He and wife Mary bought of Robert Coles his house and lot near Thomas Olney's house and near the pound. In 1655 he was appointed by the Court of Commissioneds to keep a house of entertainment. A convenient sign was to be set out at the most perspicous place of said house to give notice to strangers. 1667 He and wife Mary having petitioned assembly for a divorce and final parting; it was not granted, so far as to allow either to marry again, though they could live apart. 1672 John Green had given a bill of divorce to Mary and Richard Pray; the act was discountanced there being no authority for any assistant to grant a divorce. 1676 He was one of those "who staid and went not away" in King Phillips war and so shared in the disposition of the Indian captives whose services were sold for a number of years. 1679 Taxed 6s 3d with wife Mary and son Ephraim. 1681 His wife Mary was licenced by town council to keep a public house of entertainment for the relieving of travelers and strangers, providing both horse and man, as also retail to sell unto the inhabitants wine and strong liquor, for one whole year, she not to suffer any unlawful game in the house nor any evil rule there. 1688........Now married to wife Elizabeth, late wife to Benjamin Hearndon. 1691 He deeded son John for love and affection, and also considering how his said son in care towards him from time to time, hath still been manifesting of his duty unto him, 60 acres. 1693 He deeded son Ephraim for love, etc, a 25 acre lot right in town of Providence.
(ancestry)

Residence:
Eighteenth-century settlement was sparse with most
of what is North Providence today divided into five farms
held by Richard Pray, John Smith, Epenetus Olney, John
Whipple and Thomas Angell. The earliest surviving dwellings
are one-and-a-half-story, gable- or gambrel-roofed struc
tures with massive brick chimneys dating from the middle of
the eighteenth century.

Historic and Architectural Resources
of North Providence, Rhode Island:
A Preliminary Report
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
PRELIMINARY SURVEY REPORT
TOWN OF NORTH PROVIDENCE
APRIL 1978
http://www.preservation.ri.gov/pdfs_zips_downloads/survey_pdfs/north_providence.pdf

Property:
He (Thomas Walling) sold a home share of land January 25, 1657, to Richard Pray

Property:
Vol. III:206-7 7 Mar 1671 Deed of sale. Stephen Paine of Rehoboth sold to Samuel Whipple three house lots, with a dwelling house, and all of the out housing standing upon the lots, which Stephen Paine purchased from Mary Mowry, executor of the estate of her deceased husband Roger Mowry. One lot originally belonged to Daniel Comstock, one to John Smith, and one to Richard Prey, all of Providence. Also one right of commoning, one 25 acre right of commoning both reaching westward as the seven mile line. [Rec. 21 Sep 1671]

(do not have record of when Richard Pray became in possession of this property or disposed of it where Stephen Paine would become owner.)

The Early Records of the Town of Providence:
Vol I, p.58-59 4 May 1661 Anne Smith, widow, formerly wife unto John Smith and also unto Samuel Comstock sold to Roger Mawrey the house and home share of land (4 acres) which formerly belonged to John Smith, mason, and was purchased of the said John Smith by her husband Samuel Comstock. Land bounded on the North with home share of Robert Colwell and on the South by Roger Mawrey.

discussion from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~katy/comstk/b290.html

When Mary Mowry, widow of Roger & Administrator of his estate sold property to
Stephen Paine of Rehoboth [senior] in New Plimouth Colony, there was a better description of the property of Samuel Comstock. Mary Mowry sold three house Lotts or home Shares, one originally belonging to Daniel Comstock, another belonged to John Smith, the third belonged to Richard Prey. The lots with housing are in"the north part of ...Towne of Providence. Bounding on the south side the home share of Lawrance Willkenson; the north with a home share formerly belonging to Edward Inman, on the East with the Common, or high way & on the west End with the high way, or Towne streete. She also sold to Stephon Paine, one puchase Right of Commoning within the limits of the Towne of Providence, reading so far west ward as the seven mile line and a 25 acres right of Commoning reaching so far West as the said seven mile, and the lands that belonged to the said two Rights of Comming on the East side the seven mile line which was not devided before my said husband Roger "Mawrey" his decease.
1 Sep 1671
Early Record of Providence, Vol. III, p.209-213

2 Sept 1671 Stephen Paine of Rehoboth of Plimouth, sold to Samuel Whipple of Rhode Island & Providence Planatation, three house lots or home shares with dwellings and out houses, in the north part of the Town of Providence. Bounded on the South with the home share of Lawrence Wilkenson, the north by Edward Inman, the East by the Common, or highway, and on the West with the high way, or Town Street. They were purchased by me of Mary Mawrey, Executrix of her deceased husband Roger Mawrey. One of the lots originally belonged to Daniel Comstock, former inhabitant, another to John Smith, inhabitant of Providence, the third did belong to Richard Prey of Providence. Vol. III, p.206-209

John Smith, the Mason, had sold his house lot to Samuel Comstock in 1654. In 1661, Anne, widow first of Samuel, then widow of John Smith, son of the John, the mason, had sold it to Roger Mowry in 1661.


Property:
Father Richard deeds him house & land
1675 21 May ? Age: 22
Providence, Providence Co., RI
Richard gives him (son John) his dwelling house at Loquasqussuck with all its fencing and fruit trees and a half Purchase Right in lands and meadows which Richard was given by the town as an original Purchaser.
Early Records of the Town of Providence 14:214-215

Richard* married Mary* (..) Pray about 1650 in Providence Co (probably), Rhode Island. Mary* was born about 1629 in Providence Co, Rhode Island; died in 1686. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: Jul 1638, THE MARTIN, England
• Immigration: Jul 1638, Boston, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts
• Property: 28 Jan 1681, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: 29 Jun 1685, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island
• Other-Begin: 2 Dec 1685, Providence, Providence Co, Rhode Island

Notes:

Chaddus Brown & Elizabeth Sharparowe sons:

1. Rev John Brown 2. Jeremiah Brown
his dtr Sarah Brown his son Joseph
Sarah Brown's dtr Joseph m Sarah "Mary" Pray (1st cousin once removed)
Sarah "Mary" Pray

Arrived in Boston from England on ship "Martin" with parents in July 1638.

Property:
The Early History of the Town of Providence
Vol XIV Deed Book 1, p.101-102 Upon ye 28th day of January in ye yeare 1681. Laid out unto Samuell Comstock in ye Right of Thomas Arnold 30 acrs of land, the which belonged unto ye said Thomas Arnold in a second Grant for devision betweene ye 7 mile line & ye 4 mile line & was by Towne order upon ye 27th of Januarey 1681 granted unto ye said Samuell Comstock to be layd out elsewhere upon ye Towns Comon. [proceeded to lay out part of farm formerly belonging to Thomas Wallin Senr, bounded by John Brownes land, to a piece of meadow formerly belonging to Stephen Northrup: Bound on North by Comon, East by Thomas Walling, North by Wallings farm, South by Meadow of Stephen Northup or brook. There is a surveryor's diagram of this piece of property.] Thomas Olney, Sirveior.


Other-Begin:
Vol XIV, p.126-127 Thomas Arnold deeds to Samuel Comstock the 30 acres laid out in 1681 "for and in Consideration of a valuable sum of money" 29 June 1685. Witnessed by Thomas Olney and John Browne. Acknowledged by Richard Arnold, Assistant.

Other-Begin:
Vol VIII, p.159-160 2 Dec 1685. Thomas Olney to lay out highway through the land of Samuell Comstock & John Browne and lay them out other land at the town's charge. In the same session: "Granted unto Samuell Comstock that he may Exchange five acres of land which was layd out unto him in the neck betweene ye great swampe & ye land which formerly belonged to Phillipp Taber..."

John* married Mary* Holmes, (immigrant) in 1654 in Providence Co, Rhode Island. Mary* (daughter of Rev. Obadiah* Holmes, Sr (immigrant) and Katherine* Hyde) was born in 1639 in Lancashire, Leicestershire, England; died after 1690 in Providence Co, Rhode Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: Aft 1639, Didsbury, England
• Immigration: Aft 1639, Rhode Island