Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

Albert Munroe Wilkinson (1860 - 1908)
My great grandfather

Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

No book or genealogical article for a journal has ever been written about the WILKINSON families of New Hampshire and Maine. It seems that everyone is familiar with the Wilkinsons of Rhode Island and the book “Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America” written in 1869 by the Reverend Israel Wilkinson. It outlines the descendants of Lawrence Wilkinson, one of the original settlers at Providence, and it also includes several other Wilkinson lines in Massachusetts. These northern New England Wilkinsons appear to be completely unrelated to the Rhode Island family.  

The first identified Wilkinson in my lineage was Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690, and his marriage to Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire lists him as “from London.” He appears in the New Hampshire Provincial Papers as a proprietor of Barrington, and as a workman at Fort William and Mary. He was taxed in Portsmouth in 1727 and 1732, when he seems to have disappeared from the records. His son is listed as “William Wilkinson, son of Elizabeth, Oct. 17, 1736” in the records of the South Church of Portsmouth (no mention of Thomas). Later his wife remarried to Phillip Jewel on 27 November 1739.

Through his son James Wilkinson, born about 1730 and married to Hannah Mead sometime before 1753, I have a long family tree that grows all along the Piscataqua Region of Maine and New Hampshire, with the descendants moving to the Berwicks, Sanford, Rochester and as far north as Conway, and as far west as around Lake Winnipesaukee. My own branch came to Massachusetts in the 1820’s when Aaron Wilkinson of South Berwick married Mercy F. Wilson on 23 June 1829 in Danvers, Massachusetts.

However, living in the same region of New Hampshire was a man named Samuel Wilkinson, who was born about 1722, and died in 1795 in Deerfield or Epping. He had at least three children, who were all mentioned in deed signed in 1796: Benning Wilkinson of Allenstown, John Wilkinson of Deerfield, and a daughter, Sarah Wallis of Epping. Samuel served in the revolution at age 58 years under Brigadier General John Glover. Was Samuel another son of Thomas? A brother? A cousin? He must have been some sort of relation due to the time and proximity to where Thomas’s family lived.

Through Benning Wilkinson there is another large family tree of descendants that lived near Lake Winnipesaukee. Benning died in Center Harbor in 1851, and his twelve children died in Laconia, Gilford, Campton, etc. One of Benning’s descendants married one of Thomas’s descendants- was this a cousin marriage?

As my list of Wilkinson births, marriages, deaths, deeds and news clippings from New Hampshire and Maine grows and grows, slowly I am able to place nearly all the Wilkinsons into either Thomas’s tree or Benning’s tree. What would really be great would be to find the one clue that ties Thomas to Samuel and Benning Wilkinson.

Wilkinson Line A

Samuel Wilkinson was born about 1722, and died about 1795 in Deerfield or Epping, New Hampshire.  His wife is unknown. His three known children:

1. Benning Wilkinson born about 1764, Epping and died on 20 October 1851 in Center Harbor. Married to Deborah Langley on 4 Dec 1786 in Northwood, New Hampshire. She was born on 17 Jul 1765 in Nottingham and died 20 August 1845 in Center Harbor.
Children:

• 
  1. Hannah m. Benjamin Perkins 26 November 1809 in New Hampton
  2. Jonathan m. Melinda George 1 January 1828 in Gilford
  3. Rhoda born 1787 married Benjamin Libby about 1805
  4. Susan born 1789 married Charles Huckins about 1815
  5. Bradbury born 1793 married Hannah Huckins 23 January 1820
  6. Charlotte born 1794 married Samuel Fogg 21 March 1816
  7. Benning, Jr. born 1797 married Clarissa Johnson 3 Augusut 1823
  8. Samuel B., born about 1800 married Eliza Harper Smith 28 Dec 1824
  9. John A., married Miram Clough 29 Dec 1803
  10. Jacob R, born 1 Jan 1805 on Stonedam Island, married Leah A. Rundlett on 25 June 1825
  11. Leah, born about 1808 married Jonathan Johnson Lovejoy in 1827
  12. Rachel, born 1810 married Richard Hadley 4 August 1833

2. John

3. Sarah, married to an Unknown Wallis. Previously it was believed that she had married Spencer Wallis, born about 3 June 1734 in Portsmouth, son of William Wallis and Comfort Cotton, but there is proof that this is another Sarah!

Wilkinson Line B
Thomas Wilkinson, my 6th great grandfather, was born about 1690 in England and died before 1739.  H was married to Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715 in Portsmouth. She was the daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth. Two known children:

1. William born 17 Oct 1736 in Portsmouth

2. James born about 1730 and died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick, Maine. He was married 1. to Hannah Mead before 1753, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born on 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire. He married 2. Mary Unknown.

Children of James Wilkinson:

• 
  1. James G., born 31 December 1753 in Newington and died 4 March 1827 in Alton, married 1. Mary Unknown before 1775 (eight children), married 2. Rebecca Whitehouse 2 Feb 1798 in Wolfborough (two children), married 3. Lydia Rand on 2 August 1812 in Alton.
  2. Anna, born 16 June 1754 in Newington, died before 1840, married 1. Samuel Hearle on 4 Mar 1779 in Berwick, Maine (five children), married 2. James Urban on 6 May 1796 in Waterborough, Maine.
  3. Joseph, born before 8 May 1757 in Berwick, Maine, died 26 August 1842 in Sanford, Maine, married Dorcas Nason on 23 Nov 1782 in Berwick. She was the daughter of William Nason and Abigail Wadleigh, born about 1761 and died 22 January 1849 in Sanford.
  4. George, born about 1761 and died 1846, married Mehitable Whitehouse on 12 January 1785 in South Berwick. At least two children.
  5. Samuel, born 1761, married Hannah Turner on 27 November 1785 in South Berwick.
  6. Daniel, born 1764 and died between 1850 and 1860, married to Hannah Weymouth on 27 August 1792 in South Berwick. She was born about 1772 in South Berwick, and died on 18 December 1845 in Effingham, New Hampshire. Six children.
  7. William married Mercy Nason on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick. She was born about 1764 in Kittery, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson. They had at least three sons, possibly more unrecorded children. 

William Wilkinson and Mercy Nason were the parents of Aaron Wilkinson, my 3rd great grandfather, born on 22 February 1802 in South Berwick. He died in Peabody, Massachusetts in 25 November 1879, and was married to Mercy F. Wilson on 23 June 1829 and produced eleven children.

Some other Wilkinson blog posts:

Descendants of Thomas Wilkinson:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/p/thomas-wilkinson-descendants_15.html

Descendants of Samuel Wilkinson:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/p/descendants-of-samuel-wilkinson.html

My Wilkinson lineage:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 10, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/08/wilkinson-surname-project-in-northern.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Martha Nason, died 1716 Ipswich, Massachusetts

This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Burying Ground, Ipswich, Massachusetts

HERE LYES INTERRED

Ye BODY OF MARTHA

NASON Ye DAUGH

TER OF Mr. WILLA

BY & ESTHER

NASON WHO DIED

MAY Ye 22th, 1716

AT 21 YEARS

OF HER AGE

Although I have a plethora of ancestors from Ipswich, Massachusetts, I'm not descended from Martha Nason, nor her father Willoughby Nason.  Willoughby turns out to be my 1st cousin 8 generations removed, and I descend from his uncle, John Nason (1640 - 1719).  Our common ancestors are Richard Nason (1607 - 1695) and his wife Sarah, who came from England and settled at Kittery, Maine.  My line stayed in Maine and New Hampshire, and so did most of Richard Nason's children except for a son Joseph who died in Nantucket.  Another son, Charles Nason married Abigail Willoughby and had a son who was Willoughby Nason who removed from Maine to Ipswich.

Martha Nason was born about 1695 and died 22 May 1716 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

For more information on this family, see the Ipswich Vital Records and the book Descendants of Willougby Nason of Ipswich, Massachusetts, by Douglas W. Chase, 2006. 

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Published under a Creative Commons License
Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ Martha Nason, died 1716 Ipswich, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy,  posted October 27, 2015, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/tombstone-tuesday-martha-nason-died.html : accessed [access date]).

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Wilkinsons in Peabody, Massachusetts

These gravestones were photographed at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Peabody, Massachusetts by Jack Parker through a request I made at FindAGrave.com for Nellie Wilkinson's gravestone.  He also found the second gravestone while he was there, and they are all relatives. Mr. Parker was kind enough to grant me permission to post these photos on my blog.  Thanks, Jack! 

The Wilkinson Stone 

Close up version

back of the above stone

This is the additional Wilkinson stone he found

The back of the above stone

The Wilkinson Genealogy:

Generation 1:  Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, Maine, the son of William Wilkinson and Mercy Nason, died on 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 23 June 1829 in Danvers, Massachusetts to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick.  She was born on 17 June 1803 in Danvers, Massachusetts, and died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.  They had eleven children. I am a descendant of the eldest child, Robert Wilson Wilkinson.

Generation 2: George Washington Wilkinson, born 10 February 1832 in Salem, Massachusetts, died in 1865; married on 28 September 1856 in Danvers to Sally Richardson Peasley, daughter of John Peasley and Dorcas Osborn.  Sally was born on 25 January 1832 in South Danvers, and died 24 December 1914 in Peabody.  They had two children.

Generation 3: Frank Augustus Wilkinson, born on 1 December 1856 in Peabody, died in 1941; married on 24 November 1877 in Peabody to Laura E. Tucker, daughter of Charles E. Tucker and Emmeline A. Stone.  She was born on 13 January 1858 in South Danvers, died in 1940. Two children:

1. Nellie F. Wilkinson, born on 18 May 1878 in Peabody, died unmarried on 30 October 1964 in Peabody.

2. Charles Erastus Wilkinson, born on 16 December 1880 in Peabody, died on 27 Mar 1921; married first on 29 August 1906 in Beverly, Massachusetts to Abigail Frances Ravel. Abigail was born on 8 September 1876 in Salem, the daughter of John A. Ravel and Margaret Poor.  He married second to Annie May Robinson, daughter of Charles E. Robinson and Minnie Bertha Heald, born on 10 March 1897 in Lowell, Massachusetts.  

Two children by Abigail:

1. Raymond Ashby Wilkinson, born 23 May 1908 in Salem, married first to Ruth J. Thorner, married second to Charlotte Mathieson.  Three children with Charlotte. 

2. Charles Kenneth Wilkinson, born 9 March 1911 in Salem, died on 29 June 1988 in Danvers; married Edith Annette Wiley.  Three sons. 

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday - Ham

Richmond Island has a causeway attached
to the mainland at low tide.

William Ham was an indentured servant on the Speedwell.  This ship arrived in Maine in on 29 April 1635 with men bound for the fishing colony at Richmond Island off Cape Elizabeth.   This was known as the Trelawny Epedition, due to the patent granted to Robert Trelawny and Moses Goodyear in 1631.   Some of the indentured men ran away to other parts of New England, and one of those was William Ham.  He had a grant of land in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1652, which was known as Ham’s Point.  His will was proved at Exeter, New Hampshire about 17 January 1672, and it named his daughter Elizabeth, wife of William Cotton, and his grandchildren, sons of his son, Matthew Ham:  William, Thomas and John.   William was known as “Old Ham”.   

In the second generation, Matthew Ham arrived in New Hampshire later than his father.  He had a lot in 1654 next to his father’s land in Portsmouth.  In 1656 he registered a cattle brand at Portsmouth, which was a capital “H”. 

John Ham, in the third generation below, may not be a descendant of “Old Ham”, even though there was a grandson named John in the 1672 will.  There are disagreements among the experts as to his place in the family tree.   He appears in the Dover, New Hampshire records.   His will dates from 29 September 1727, and so we assume he died sometime between that date and 19 February 1728 when his will was proved.

My Ham lineage:

Generation 1:  William Ham, born about 1600, died about 17 January 1672 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; married 22 November 1622 at St. Andrew’s, Plymouth, Devonshire, England to Honor Stephen, daughter of William Stephens and Mary Woode.  Two children:

1. Matthew Ham (see below)

2. Elizabeth Ham, born about 1629, married William Cotton

Generation 2:  Matthew Ham, born about 1623 in England, died before 1667 when his wife remarried; He married about 1643 to Sarah Unknown.  She married second on 11 November 1667 to Tobias Taylor of the Isles of Shoals.  Matthew Ham was a fisherman on the Isles of Shoals.  They had four children:

1. John Ham (see below)

2. William Ham, married Sarah Dennett

3. Matthew Ham,

4. Thomas Ham

Generation 3:  John Ham, born about 1649, died between 29 September 1727 and 19 February 1728; married on 6 May 1668 in Dover, New Hampshire to Mary Heard, daughter of John Heard and Elizabeth Hull.  She was born 26 January 1650 in Dover, died 7 December 1706 in Dover. Nine children:

1. Mary Ham, born 2 October 1668; married John Horne

2. John Ham, born 1671; married Elizabeth Knight

3. Elizabeth Ham, born 29 January 1675; married Jeremiah Rollins

4. Joseph Ham, born 3 June 1678; married Tamson Meserve

5. Benjamin Ham, born 1693; married Patience Harford

6. Mercy Ham (see below)

7. Tryphena Ham; married John Tucker

8. Sarah Ham; married Thomas Downes

9. Samuel Ham

Generation 4: Mercy Ham, born 19 July 1708 in Dover, New Hampshire; married Richard Nason.

Generation 5. Richard Nason m. Mary Thompson

Generation 6. Mercy Nason m. William Wilkinson

Generation 7. Aaron Wilkinson m. Mercy F. Wilson

Generation 8. Robert Wilson Wilkinson m. Phebe Cross Munroe

Generation 9. Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 10. Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

There is a sketch of William Ham in the Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire by Noyes, Libby and Davis, page 73.  There is a short sketch on John Ham in the New England Historic Genealogical Register, Volume 6, page 329 and a longer article on William Ham and his descendants in Volume 26, page 388- 394.

Famous descendants:   Brigham Young of the LDS church

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday - Weymouth

Weymouth

There were several New England immigrants named Edward Weymouth in the early 1600s. One lived in Boston by 1633, A father, son and grandson all named Edward Weymouth lived in the Plymouth County, Massachusetts.  Another Edward Weymouth lived in Kittery and also in what is now the town of Eliot, Maine, near the New Hampshire border river, the Piscataqua.  This last Edward Weymouth is my ancestor.

KIttery, Maine in 1872

There are scarce records of Edward Weymouth in Maine, except for two records where he was acting in very anti-social matters.  The first was in found in Sewel’s History of the Quaker’s, Volume 1, page 566. "then one Edward Weymouth took Mary [Tomkins] by her arm and dragged her on her back over the stumps of trees down a very steep hill, by which she was much bruised and often died away."  In the second incident in 1669 he was in court "for cursing and swearing and wicked wishes to his wife."

Edward Weymouth was a tailor, taxed in Dover in 1662, granted land in Kittery, Maine in 1671.  His house was burned by the Indians in 1677. 

I have lineages from two daughters of Edward Weymouth…

The Weymouth Genealogy:

Generation 1:  Edward Weymouth, born about 1637 In England, died 1719 near Eliot, Maine; married on 25 December 1663 in Dover, New Hampshire to Esther Hodson, daughter of Nicholas Hodson and Esther Wines.  She was born 20 September 1640 in Hingham, Massachusetts, and died 11 March 1723 in Kittery, Maine.  Six children.

1. Mehitable Weymouth,  born 1669 in Kittery, (see below)

2. Timothy Weymouth, born 1675 in Kittery, married Patience Stone abut 1702

3. Ichabod

4. Benjamin

5. Nicholas

6. Bridget, (see below)

Generation 2: Mehitable Weymouth, born about 1669 in Kittery, died 13 January 1753 in Berwick, Maine; married on 25 May 1685 in Kittery to William Stacy, son of Thomas Stacy and Susannah Worcester.  He was born 21 April 1656 in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and died 5 March 1706 in Kittery.  Seven Children.

Generation 3. Mary Stacy m. John Thompson

Generation 4: Mary Thompson m. Richard Nason

Generation 5: Mercy Nason m. William Wilkinson

Generation 6: Aaron Wilkinson m. Mercy F. Wilson

Generation 7: Robert Wilson Wilkinson m. Phebe Cross Munroe

Generation 8: Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 9: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

Lineage 2

Generation 2:  Bridget Weymouth married 7 October 1697 in Kittery to John Nason, son of Richard Nason and Sarah Baker.  He was born about 1640 in Berwick, and died 1719 in Dover, New Hampshire.  Three Children.  He was first married to Hannah Heard, daughter of John Heard and Elizabeth Hull, who are my 8x great grandparents in another lineage, and parents of Mercy Ham (below).

Generation 3: Richard Nason m. Mercy Ham

Generation 4: Richard Nason m. Mary Thompson (follow lineage above)

Edward Weymouth and his descendants are mentioned in several books:  The History of Wells and Kennebunk by Edward Bourne, page 159,  The Genealogical Dictionary of New England by Savage, Volume 7, page 129, The Dictionary of Old Kittery and her Families by Stackpole,  and in an article in the New England Historic Genealogical Society Register, Volume 9, page 57.

A good online resource is Don Weymouth’s website “Research of D. G. Weymouth” at http://www.weymouthtech.com/genealogy/   He is very willing to answer email and to share information if you have a Weymouth ancestor descended of Edward of Eliot, Maine.  Don's email is don@weymouthtech.com or his mailing address is 119 Winthrop Lane, Holden, Mass. 01520 

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday - Nason

NASON

My Nason lineage lived along the river
in Berwick, Maine, near Salmon Falls

Our immigrant ancestor Richard Nason first appears in the records when he received 200 acres in Kittery, Maine at Stove Pipe Landing.  His origins in England are unknown.  According to Stackpole's History of South Berwick:
"Richard Nason is mentioned in 1645 in the court records of New Hampshire. He had a grant of 200 acres next south of Thomas Spencer. He is not named among the men of Piscataqua in 1640. The fact that he had so large a grant, equal to that of Thomas Spencer, and his election to the office of selectman in 1654, favor the supposition that he was a man of importance. Perhaps he had been one of Thomas Wiggin's company. He reared a large family, and his surname has spread widely. From the year 1638 to the year 1651 the only persons that appear on records as living at what is now called Great Works were the families of Humphrey Chadbourne, Thomas Spencer and Richard Nason and the two who kept bachelors' hall together, viz., Basil Parker and Peter Weare. There were four houses and decaying mills..." 

Richard Nason appears many times in the early records, usually for minor offenses.  Some are listed below: 

In 1645 he and his wife had a dispute with her father, Richard Baker, who was tried in New Hampshire and fined 5 shillings "for beating Richard Nason that he was black and blue and for throwing a fire shovel at his wife." 
In 1649 Nason served as a juryman. 
In 1653 he was an Ensign, later Selectman, and held other town offices in Kittery. Maine 
In 1655 he was charged at York, Maine with not attending church meetings.
In 1659 was fined £5 and disenfranchised for entertaining Quakers. 
In 1665 he was accused of blasphemy. Philip Chesley of Oyster River was witness against him. The General Court did "not judge him so guilty of that fact as that by our lawe he ought to die," but he had to post a £40 bond for good behavior. 

Richard Nason's will was dated 14 July 1694 and it names his children, wife Abigail, Abigail's children by her first marriage, Nicholas Follett and Sarah Meader, and Abigail's granddaughter by her previous marriage, Sarah, daughter of Mary Witham. 

The Nason Genealogy:

Generation 1:  Richard Nason, died sometime between 15 March 1696 when his will was written and 22 December 1696 when his will was proved; married about 1637 to Sarah Baker, daughter of John Baker and Sarah Wall, born about 1614 and died about 1663 in Kittery, Maine. Nine children.  At about 1664 he married second to Abigail Brewer, widow of Nicholas Follett. 

1. Charles Nason, born about 1639, married Abigail Willoughby

2. John Nason (see below)

3. Baker Nason, born about 1642, married Elizabeth Hatch

4. Jonathan Nason, born about 1645, married Sarah Jenkins

5. Sarah Nason, born aobut 1653, married Henry Child

6. Joseph Nason, born about 1655, married Mary Swain

7. Mary Nason, born about 1655, married Ephraim Trickey

8. Richard Nason, born about 1657, married Shuah Colcord

9. Benjamin Nason, born about 1662, married Martha Canney

Generation 2: John Nason, born about 1640, died 1719 in Dover, New Hampshire; married on 7 October 1697 in Kittery to Bridget Weymouth, daughter of Edward Weymouth and Esther Hodson. Three children.

1. Richard Nason (see below)

2. Hannah Nason, married Nicholas Jellison

3. Joanna Nason

Generation 3: Richard Nason, born about 1704 in South Berwick, Maine; married Mercy Ham, daughter of John Ham and Mary Heard, born 19 July 1708 in Dover, New Hampshire.  Five children:

1. Richard Nason (see below)

2. Nathaniel Nason, married Meribah Tuttle

3. Sarah Nason, 

4. Bridget Nason

5. Moses Nason, married Olive Davis

Generation 4: Richard Nason, born 31 May 1730 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 May 1790 in South Berwick; married Mary Thompson, daughter of John Thompson and Mary Stacy. Ten children:

1. Bridget Nason, born before 12 September 1756

2. Mercy Nason, (see below) 

3. Amos Nason, born before 3 May 1764, married Hannah Nason, daughter of Moses Nason and Olive Davis- his first cousin

4. Sarah Nason

5. Nabby Nason

6. Betty Nason

7. Sarah Nason

8. Mary Nason, married Richard Shackley

9. Amos Nason, 

10. Moses Nason, married Lucy Tebbitts

Generation 5: Mercy Nason, born about 1764; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick to William Wilkinson, son of James Wilkinson and Hannah Mead. Three children:

Generation 6: Aaron Wilkinson m. Mercy F. Wilson

Generation 7: Robert Wilson Wilkinson m. Phebe Cross Munroe

Generation 8: Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 9: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

There is an article about Richard Nason in The American Genealogist, Volume 68, pages 106 - 112.  Most of the vital records for the Nasons are available in early Maine records for York County.  There is also an outline on the Nasons in the Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire by Davis, Libbey and Noyes. 

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday – Caverly

CAVERLY

Charles and Comfort Caverly Family and Cat
by Joseph H. Davis, ink and watercolor, 1836

(See the UPDATE below dated 3 August 2018)

The first Caverly in New Hampshire was William Caverly, who left a will naming his wife, sons and daughter.    His marriage was unrecorded in town records, but we know his wife’s name from his father-in-law’s will (Walter Abbott), which called her Mary Caverly.   The Caverly family has descendants with the name still in New Hampshire.  Many still meet up every two years at the Caverly Family Reunion at the historic Bow Lake Grange Hall in Strafford.  

William Caverly’s origins are unknown, although he married a wife whose ancestry went back to the first settlers in New Hampshire. There are other Caverly families in the USA, who have different DNA from our branch.

Generation 1.  William Caverly, born about 1650, died before 1732 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire when his will was proved; married about 1696 to Mary Abbott, daughter of Walter Abbott and Sarah Steward, born about 1652 in New Hampshire.  Four Caverly children.  Mary married first to Thomas Guptill about 1672, and he was lost at sea in 1686 after having five children.  Mary married third on 4 November 1707 in Boston, Massachusetts to Leonard Drown (1646 – 1729), a ship builder in Portsmouth and in Boston, and her sister's widowed husband.  Leonard Drown had nine children with his first wife Elizabeth Abbott, and one daughter, Mary Drown, married James Kettle of Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of my 8x great grandparents, Jonathan Kettle and Abigail Converse (but that's a different story to tell another time!). 

            1. Nathaniel married Jane Fitzgerald

            2. Moses, born about 1694; married Margaret Cotton

            3. Elizabeth, born about 1696; married Thomas Wilkinson

            4. Thomas, no further information

Generation 2. Elizabeth Caverly, born about 1696 in Portsmouth; married  first in August 1715 in Portsmouth to Thomas Wilkinson, immigrant from London, born about 1690, died before 1739.  Two known sons, James born about 1730 and William born 17 October 1736 in Portsmouth.  Probably more children.   Married second on 27 November 1739 in Portsmouth to Phillip Jewell, born in Yanton, Biddeford, England.  No known children with Jewell.   For more information see my Surname Saturday post on Wilkinson here at this link: http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html

Generation 3. James Wilkinson (b.abt 1730) m. Hannah Mead (1730 – bef. 1759)

Generation 4. William Wilkinson (d. aft. 1840) m. Mercy Nason

Generation 5. Aaron Wilkinson (1802- 1879) m. Mercy F. Wilson (1803- 1883)

Generation 6. Robert Wilson Wilkinson (1830 – 1874) m. Phebe Cross Munroe (1830 – 1895)

Generation 7. Albert Munroe Wilkinson (1860 – 1908) m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 8. Donald Munroe Wilkinson (1895 - 1977) m. Bertha Louise Roberts (1897 - 1990) My grandparents.

The Caverly family was written up by Robert Boodey Caverly in 1879 in the book Genealogy of the Caverly Family.    In 2008 Paul Caverly revised this book and has published it at Lulu.com and he also has a blog at http://caverly.blogspot.com/.

 The Caverlys have also been written up at the website www.kimvarneychandler.com/caverly  but there are some mistakes in the first two generations, so be aware and check your own sources.   The Caverly Family Newsletter has several new articles on Moses and Nathaniel Caverly in the second generation, and their descendants.  You can contact the Caverly Family Association at maryecav@metrocast.net

There is a Caverly DNA project at www.familyTreeDNA.com  

Update 3 August 2018

An email from Christopher Childs 
"I'm finding (MA VR) that Leonard married Mary _Caley_, widow of Robert Caley (Torrey's "New England Marriages" has "Calley") of Malden... not Mary _Caverly_, widow of William. (Mary is, from best evidence, my ancestress, with 1st hubby Thomas Guptill.) Thanks for any info you may have. (If William didn't die till somewhere relatively near 1732, this also would call into question a 1707 remarriage of his widow!) I've laid out the argument with source links on Leonard's WikiTree profile at wikitree (dot) com/wiki/Drowne-62"

 Please see the link  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Drowne-62   

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday – Caverly", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 1, 2011, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/10/surname-saturday-caverly.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday- Wilkinson

Janet and Donald M. Wilkinson
(my great aunt and grandfather)

After blogging for more than two years, I finally decided to try participating in the Surname Saturday meme.  I usually don’t blog on weekends, but thanks to the magic of blogger, I can post this ahead of time.  Yes, it took me two years to learn how to do this!  Don’t laugh.  I'll be working my way through the family tree, tracing each surname in order. 

WILKINSON (my maiden name)

The first recorded Wilkinson in my line is Thomas Wilkinson.  He appears in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire records as marrying Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715.   The record reads “Tho. Wilkinson of London in Great Britain and Elizabeth Caverly of Portsmouth were married August 1715”.  From this I can see that he was probably an immigrant, with no other Wilkinsons before him in New England.  However, there were other Wilkinsons living nearby, including a Samuel Wilkinson born about 1722 who was living in Deerfield (a son? A cousin?) and a Wilkinson in New Castle (an island off Portsmouth), where his brother in law Moses Caverly lived.    These are important clues I continue to research, since all the New Hampshire/Maine Wilkinsons lived in close proximity and had similar naming patterns for their children.

Thomas Wilkinson was taxed for land in Barrington, New Hampshire in 1722, and in Portsmouth in 1727.  He was last taxed in 1732.  He died sometime before 1736 when his son is listed as “William Wilkinson, son of Elizabeth,  Oct. 17, 1736" (Records of the South Church of Portsmouth, New Hampshire).  His wife remarried to Phillip Jewel on 27 November 1739.

Generation 1.  Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690, probably in London, England, died before 1739; married in August 1715 to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott.  Two known sons:  James and William (no further information). There were probably more children.

Generation 2.  James Wilkinson, born about 1730, died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick, York County, Maine; married about 1753 to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759.  Seven children.

                1. William, married Mercy Nason (my 4x great grandparents)

                2. James G., born 31 December 1753 in Newington, New Hampshire; married Mary

                3. Anna, born 16 June 1755 in Newington, New Hampshire; married Samuel Hearle

                4. Joseph, baptized 8 May 1757 in Berwick, Maine; married Dorcas Nason

                5. George, born about 1761; married Mehitable Whitehouse

                6. Samuel, born about 1761; married Hannah Turner

                7. Daniel, born about 1764; married Hannah Weymouth

Generation 3.  William Wilkinson, died after 1840; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick, Maine to Mercy Nason, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson, born about 1764 in Kittery, Maine. Three children.

                1. Willliam H., born about 1797, married Mary Lord

                2. George,  born about 1800, married Jane Furbish

                3. Aaron, born 22 February 1802, married Mercy F. Wilson (my 3x great grandparents)

Generation 4.  Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 23 June 1829 in Danvers, Massachusetts to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick, born 17 June 1803 in Danvers, died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.  Eleven children.

                1. Robert Wilson, born 26 May 1830, married Phebe Cross Munroe

                2. George Washington,  born 10 February 1832; married Sally Richardson

                3. William Prescott, born 3 May 1833; married Sarah Ellen Proctor

                4. Samuel Warren, born 14 November 1835, died 28 November 1836

                5. Samuel Warren, born 15 November 1837, died 23 September 1844

                6. Henry Harrison, born 28 January 1841, died 4 Feb 1842

                7. Henry Harrison, born 30 May 1843, died 13 June 1917

                8. Margaret, born about Oct. 1844, died 4 September 1845

                9. Mary Elizabeth, born 1 Oct 1844, died 4 September 1845

                10. Abba, born about June 1846, died 23 December 1846

                11. Abby Wilson, born 17 June 1846, died 17 June 1846

Generation 5.  Robert Wilson Wilkinson, born 26 May 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 23 March 1874; married on 24 November 1853 to Phebe Cross Munroe, daughter of Luther Simonds Munroe and Olive Flint, born 28 October 1830 in Danvers, died 31 January 1895 in Salem, Massachusetts.  Three children.

                1. Robert Henry, born 14 January 1855; married Eliza Harris Poor

                2. Walter, born 3 November 1856, died 2 April 1858

                3. Albert Munroe, born 7 November 1860; married Isabella Lyons Bill (my great grandparents)

Generation 6. Albert Munroe Wilkinson, born 7 November 1860 in Danvers, died 12 May 1908 at the Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline, Massachusetts; married on 18 October 1894 to Isabella Lyons Bill, daughter of Caleb Rand Bill and Ann Margaret Bollman, born January 1863 in Machias, Maine, died 19 January 1935 in Beverly, Massachusetts.  Two children.

                1. Donald Munroe, born 23 October 1895; married Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

                2. Janet, born 14 June 1898; married William John Blades

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To Cite/Link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ Wilkinson", Nutfield Genealogy, posted 24 September 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html: accessed [access date]). 

Ten Hours Until Dawn - The Blizzard of ‘78

Last summer a distant cousin I never knew or met contacted me via my blog, having seen my Wilkinson family tree. We have been emailing, exchanging photos and Facebook messages, but had never met even though we live only an hour apart. It was great to find a missing branch of the Wilkinson family tree.  One of the tidbits of genealogical trivia I learned via my “new cousin” was that a Wilkinson cousin had died during the Blizzard of 1978.

This cousin’s name was Donald Wilkinson, and he was part of the crew of the pilot boat Can Do out of Gloucester harbor. The five men on board were attempting to rescue a Coast Guard cutter which was attempting to rescue an oil tanker, Global Hope, off Salem, Massachusetts. This was a disastrous chain of events, and the Can Do sank during the height of the storm. I had learned that a book named Ten Hours Until Dawn, by Michael J. Tougias, had been written about the incident. You can read this book online through Google Books, or pick up a copy at your local book store.

Last week I read that Michael Tougias was speaking on his book at the Cove Community Center in Beverly. This building is just blocks from Hospital Point, which overlooks the scene of the disaster.  The Can Do disappeared just off shore near Misery Island and Baker’s Island. I contacted several Wilkinson cousins, and my new cousin I had never met, and we all went to hear Tougias’s lecture.  At the lecture I picked up an autographed copy of Ten Hours Until Dawn, and another book he co-authored with Eric Schultz King Phillip’s War. Tougias is a prolific history writer of maritime and local history, and a very engaging speaker.

A whole row of Wilkinson cousins
at Tougias's lecture in Beverly 14 February 2011

Besides having a mini Wilkinson family reunion, I learned a lot about the Great Blizzard of 1978, and about the disaster at sea. I lived in central Massachusetts during the storm, so I only saw snow and didn’t witness the destructive two day coastal storm, which generated several days of destructive waves and tides along coastal New England. Many homes were lost, property damaged, and the coastline was permanently changed and damaged during this storm. It is amazing that more lives weren’t lost at sea that week.

I also learned several new bits of historical trivia. You can read the list of the over 5,000 names carved on the Gloucester Fisherman’s memorial online. Even if you haven’t any ancestors in Gloucester you probably remember the names carved under 1991- the men of the Andrea Gail who perished at sea during the Perfect Storm. But, did you know that only fishermen are listed here? You won’t find the names of the men lost from the Can Do in 1978, or any other Gloucester men, or women, lost during rescue missions, shipping, naval exercises or pleasure boating.

I never knew that the disaster that claimed Donald Wilkinson’s life took place right off Hospital Point. The Can Do was attempting to locate the Coast Guard cutter which foundered right off Manchester just offshore from the beach club right across the street from where my uncle Bob Wilkinson lived on Raymond Street. And Hospital Point Lighthouse was my parent’s favorite spot for “parking” before they were married. They were engaged to be married right there next to the lighthouse. Right next door is Lynch Park where they met on the beach in the 1950s. My father, John Wilkinson, loved that view, but he never knew that a cousin died there nine years after we removed from Beverly, Massachusetts.

Hospital Point Lighthouse
Beverly, Massachusetts

The five men lost from the Can Do February 7, 1978:
Frank E. Quirk II
Charles Bucko
Kenneth Fuller, Jr.
Norman David Curley
Donald R. Wilkinson

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Genealogy

Generation 1.  Thomas Wilkinson "of London", born about 1690, died before 1739; married in August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth. Two children.  Elizabeth remarried to Phillip Jewell on 27 November 1739.

Generation 2. James Wilkinson, born about 1730 in Berwick, Maine, died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick; married to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759.  Seven children.  James remarried to Mary Unknown, named in his will.

Generation 3. William Wilkinson, died after 1840 probably in South Berwick, Maine; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick to Mercy Nason, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson, born aobut 1764 in Kittery, Maine. Three sons.

Generation 4. Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 23 June 1829 in Danvers to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick, born 17 June 1803 in Peabody, died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.  Eleven Children.

Generation 5. George Washington Wilkinson, born 10 February 1832 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 1865; married on 28 September 1856 in Danvers to Sally Richardson Peasley, daughter of John Peasley and Dorcas Osborn, born 25 January 1832 in South Danvers, died 24 December 1914 in Peabody. Two children.

Generation 6. Frank Augustus Wilkinson, born 1 December 1856 in Peabody, Massachusetts, died 1941; married on 24 November 1877 in Peabody to Laura E. Tucker, daughter of Charles E. Tucker and Emmeline A. Stone, born 13 Jan 1958 in South Danvers,  died 1940. Two children.

Generation 7. Charles Erastus Wilkinson, born 16 December 1880 in Peabody, Massachusetts, died 27 March 1921, married about 1911 to Annie May Robinson, daughter of Charles E. Robinson and Minnie Bertha Heald, born 10 March 1897 in Lowell, Massachusetts.  Charles was married first to Abigail Frances Ravel on 29 August 1906 in Beverly.

Generation 8. Sumner Kirkland Wilkinson, born 17 August 1918 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 31 January 1996; married on 29 May 1938 to Jane Lucille Cobb, daughter of Willis Lester Cobb and Grace Ellsworth Manning.  One son, Donald.

Generation 9.  Donald R. Wilkinson, b. 11 August 1941 in Massachusetts, declared dead 8 February 1978, married with children

UPDATE 14 August 2013
An email from Scott Ellis:

"So very glad you found a new part of your family tree. Just a point of technical fact for your blog.  The Pilot Boat Can Do was not heading out to rescue a USCG cutter.  They headed out in support of two USCG small boats, one a 41 foot patrol boat and a 44 foot motor life boat.  These units were attempting to reach the tanker Global Hope which was reporting a may day.  The Pilot boat became lost due to loss of radar and loran.  And was subsequently lost in the storm.  Thanks so much."

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Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, by Michael J. Tougias, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005

Names on the Gloucester Fisherman’s Cenotaph:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030308210445/www.downtosea.com/cenotaph/

also:
King Phillip’s War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict, by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press, 2000

Michael Tougias's website http://www.michaeltougias.com/

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To Cite/Link to this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Ten Hours Until Dawn - The Blizzard of '78", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 28, 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/02/ten-hours-until-dawn-blizzard-of-78.html: accessed [access date]). 

Baker Nason, murdered his brother? 1691

It is interesting to find a Blacksheep ancestor. They always leave behind court records! I used to peruse the message boards at the International Black Sheep Society Genealogists (now defunct) and heard over and over again how the records left behind by some naughty or miscreant relatives helped family members to trace their genealogies. This was the case with me in investigating Baker Nason, and other relatives.

Baker Nason was the son of Richard Nason and Sarah Baker, born in Berwick, Maine about 1642. In those days, this section of Maine was known as York County, Massachusetts. Berwick is located near the border of New Hampshire, which roughly follows the Piscataqua River down to the Atlantic Ocean in Portsmouth. The fine harbor in Portsmouth is formed near where the river empties out near the Great Bay, which is a large estuary. To cross from Maine to New Hampshire today you still must cross one of several bridges across the river, estuary or marshlands.

In 1691 Baker Nason “accidentally” dispatched his brother Jonathan with an oar on the Piscataqua River. Judge Samuel Sewall’s diary entry for the date 11 March 1691/2 reads ..."Capt Wincoll brought us the Jury's verdict about Baker Nason killing his elder brother Jonathan Nason with his Oar in the Canoe in Piscataquer River: and asks advice whether to keep him there, or send him to Boston Prison. Seems to have done it in's own defence March 1 1691/2"

There are only a few court records on this case, and not enough to satisfy my curiosity. In the Province and Court Records of Maine, Volume IV, The Court Records of York County, page 10-11, April 1693 "The Grand Jury passing upon the Indictment against Baker Nason brought in their verdict and found that Baker Nason Did Kill his brother Jonathan Nason". In the same book for 4 July 1693 for the Court of Sessions of the peace, "Whereas Baker Nason was Indicted to this court for wilfully murthering of his brother Jonathan Nason... The Jury finds him not Guilty"

I don’t know how Baker got off on this one, but it must have been an interesting trial, especially if Judge Samuel Sewall was writing about it in Massachusetts. Baker Nason came from a family that was infamous for being in the courts. His father, Richard Nason, was in the records in 1645 for a dispute with his father-in-law, Richard Baker, who was tried in New Hampshire and fined 5 shillings “for beating Richard Nason that he was black and blue and for throwing a fire shovel at his wife [his own daughter?]” In 1655 Richard Nason was fined at York for not attending church meetings. In 1665 he was accused of blasphemy. Philip Chesley of Oyster River was witness against him. The General Court did "not judge him so guilty of that fact as that by our lawe he ought to die," but he had to post a £40 bond for good behavior.

Death? For blasphemy? Jeez, I wouldn’t have survived in those days!

---------------

The NASON genealogy:

Generation 1: Richard Nason, baptized on 3 August 1606 at Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England; died after 15 March 1696 in Kittery, Maine; married about 1637 to Sarah Baker, daughter of John Baker and Sarah Wall, born about 1614, died about 1663 in Kittery. They had nine children.

Children:
1. Charles Nason, born about 1639; married to Abigail Willoughby
2. John Nason, born about 1640, died 1719 in Dover, New Hampshire; married on 7 October 1697 in Kittery to Bridget Weymouth. My 7x great grandparents.
3. Baker Nason, born about 1642 and died 1729 in Berwick, Maine; married to Elizabeth Hatch, daughter of Phillip Hatch and Patience Edge.
4. Jonathan Nason, born about 1645, murdered in 1691; married about 1668 to Sarah Jenkins.
5. Sarah Nason, born about 1653; married to Henry Child
6. Mary Nason, born about 1655; died after December 1723 in Newington, New Hampshire; married in 1681 to Ephraim Trickey
7. Joseph Nason, born about 1655 in Kittery, died 1714 in Nantucket, married to Mary Swain.
8. Richard Nason, born about 1657’ married to Shuah Colcord
9. Benjamin Nason, born about 1662, died about Jul 1714; married on 30 June 1677 to Martha Canney.

UPDATE October 2013, Roxanne Saucier of the Bangor Daily News has written an article about Baker Nason, ancestor of Stephen King, the spooky author.
http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/27/living/did-stephen-kings-ancestor-suffer-death-by-canoe-oar/


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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Baker Nason, murdered his brother?  1691", Nutfield Genealogy, posted on February 4, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/02/baker-nason-murdered-his-brother-1691.html: accessed [access date]).

George Peabody Merit Scholarship Medals

1879 set of Dickens inscribed by the Peabody Scholarship Committee

Sometimes I Google the names of ancestors and wait to see what happens next. I usually know their vital statistics, such as birth, marriage or death records, and I often know their children, or their parent’s names. However, I want to know the stories that might come up in obscure books or newspapers, or their mentions in town records, annual reports, and church bulletins. You never know what you’ll find.

Imagine my surprise when I found the name of my great grandfather on a list of George Peabody Merit Scholarships recipients in the 1879 graduating class of Peabody High School. George Peabody was a famous resident of Massachusetts, and when South Danvers broke off from Danvers, the citizens named their new town after him- Peabody, Massachusetts.

George Peabody (1795 – 1869) was an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. In 1851 he found a company called “George Peabody and Company”, and later went into business with Junius Spencer Morgan to form “Peabody, Morgan and Company.” Peabody retired in 1864, and firm was renamed “J. S. Morgan” and later “J.P. Morgan” after his son. The international bank JPMorgan Chase traces its roots back to Peabody’s original business. Peabody was the only American ever buried inside Winchester Cathedral in London. He was later re-interred at the Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. One of his philanthropic ventures was this lasting Scholarship, which is still awarded by the city of Peabody, Massachusetts.

I found a website by the Peabody Public Schools that lists each group of Peabody Scholars. Apparently the first award was in 1855. Albert Munroe Wilkinson, my great grandfather, won the award in 1879. Albert’s elder brother, Robert Henry, was also a recipient in 1873. Robert’s future wife, Eliza Harris Poor, won the scholarship in 1871. In 1885, a cousin named Rosetta Mary Munroe won the medal. Another distant cousin, Alice Hubbard Munroe, won in 1913 and her brother Allan Breed Munroe in 1917. Other Wilkinsons won the award in 1941, 1958, and 1974 (perhaps distant cousins?).

From School Committee Report on Peabody Prizes - "...determined that a suitable medal shall be awarded and presented to every pupil who shall pass three years, - constituting the entire course, - in either of these schools (Peabody and Holten), and whose attendance, deportment, and advancement shall have been uniformly satisfactory to the teachers and committee. The die, from which the medals are to be struck, will soon be completed, and the following individuals, who have accomplished the amount required, will be entitled to a "Peabody Medal," and will receive the same at an early day. It is hoped that each and all, thus favored, will feel a strong and sincere determination to have their subsequent deportment and standing in life such as will do them credit, and thus honor the Peabody Medal and the generous friend to whose liberality and thoughtfulness they are indebted for this act of encouragement. By habits of industry and perseverance, by acts of kindness, by manly and upright deportment, and by fidelity in all of life's relations and duties, they will best their appreciation of the gift and the giver."

I don’t know what happened to Albert’s medal, but I do know he also received a set of Dickens books from the Peabody School Committee. When my Dad passed away in 2002 my Mom sorted out his books, and gave me a boxful, including a set of Dickens. Months later I noticed that the inside of the books were inscribed to Albert, my Dad’s grandfather, from the Peabody School Committee. Now I know the full story!

Albert Munroe Wilkinson was in the 1886 Peabody City Directory and he is listed as a bookkeeper at Thomas Proctor's, boarding with his mother at 14 Elm Street in Peabody. He is listed in the Salem City Directory as a bookkeeper at 9 Webster Street, living at 15 Stevens St. in Peabody, Massachusetts. After his marriage to Isabella Lyons Bill they lived on Loring Avenue in Salem. Albert died fairly young at age 47 due to "shock following the removal of gall stones, about 12 hours" signed Dr. Benjamin E. Sibley on his death certificate on 12 May 1908 at Corey Hill Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts. My Dad never knew his grandfather, because of his early death, and I wish I could have told Dad the story of the George Peabody Merit Scholarship.

The Wilkinson Lineage:

Generation 1. Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690 in England, died before 1739; married August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth, married second 27 Nov 1739 to Philip Jewell.

Generation 2. James Wilkinson, born about 1730, probably in Berwick, Maine, died between 1795 and 1805 in Berwick; married first about 1753 to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759; married second to Mary Unknown.

Generation 3. William Wilkinson, died after 1840; married 7 February 1788 in South Berwick to Mercy Nason, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson, born about 1764 in Kittery, Maine.

Generation 4. Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, died 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married 23 June 1829 to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick, born 17 June 1803 in South Danvers, died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.

Generation 5. Robert Wilson Wilkinson, born 26 May 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 23 March 1874 in Peabody; married 24 November 1853 in Danvers, Massachusetts to Phebe Cross Munroe, daughter of Luther Simonds Munroe and Olive Flint. Three sons:

1. Robert Henry Wilkinson*, born 14 January 1855 in South Danvers, died 22 September 1884 in Peabody; married 18 April 1883 in Peabody to Eliza Harris Poor*, daughter of Nathan Holt Poor and Abigail Morrill.

2. Walter Wilkinson, born 3 November 1856 in South Danvers, died 2 April 1858 in South Danvers.

3. Albert Munroe Wilkinson*, born 7 November 1860 in Danvers, died 12 May 1908 in Brookline, Massachusetts; married 18 October 1894 in Salem to Isabella Lyons Bill, daughter of Caleb Rand Bill and Ann Margaret Bollman.

*denotes Peabody Merit Medal Scholars


For more information:

A list of the George Peabody Merit Medal Scholars
https://ma01001873.schoolwires.net/Page/409

The History of the George Peabody Merit Scholar Program  https://ma01001873.schoolwires.net/Page/407

“George Peabody: A Biography” by Franklin Parker, Vanderbilt University Press, 1995

www.peabodyhistorical.org The website of the Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "George Peabody Merit Scholarship Medals", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 29, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/george-peabody-merit-scholarship-medals.html: accessed [access date]).