Elizabeth Kester's Ancestors |
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Note: Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning. |
They lived in Quakertown, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and had ten children and were members of the Kingwood Meeting. See Anne’s bio below for children. Some researchers say Hermanus Kester died after May 11, 1780 in Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, but do not give any supporting documentation.
It is believed that Anne Large Kester died in 1756 in Kingwood, Hunterdon New Jersey, the year after her last child was born. She was only 43 years old. |
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Samuel Large was born on August 3, 1686 in Amesbury, Essex Massachusetts. Some researchers say he was a twin, but his birth record doesn’t support this. When Samuel was 23, he was part of Burk’s Falls Monthly Meeting. He married Rebecca Willson, 32 years old, on November 2, 1710 at the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, in Burlington County, New Jersey.They had at least five children together, see Rebecca’s bio for more about them. In 1729 the family moved from Burlington County, New Jersey to Bethlehem Township, now Franklin in Hunterdon County. Here they purchased 300 acres of farmland near Rebecca’s brother Samuel’s farm. Samuel Large was active in the Kingwood Monthly Meeting of Friends (Quakers). In 1733 he, along with his brother-in-law Samuel Willson and others, were appointed to act as trustees for four acres of land for the use of the meeting. In 1744 and 1752 he was appointed to attend the Quarterly Meetings in other towns. In 1754 he was appointed to visit the families of Friends at Kingwood and elsewhere and bring back a report to the monthly Meeting. His wife Rebecca died in 1760 and two years later he married again. The New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956 collection and the Kingwood Meeting Monthly Minutes both record that on October 14, 1762 a marriage between Samuel Large Sr. and Elizabeth Myers took place. She was born about 1739, making her 23 years old at the time of marriage, much younger than Samuel who was 76 years old. Elizabeth never remarried after Samuel’s death and died on September 12, 1820 at age 81.
“This our said Antient Friend Samuel Large Departed this Life at his House in Kingwood, The 9th. Day of the 6th Month 1765, and was decently Inter'd in Friends Buring place there. He was Religiously Enclined when young in years (as he related at times) By being Early Visited, insomuch, he thought he could freely Declare to others of the Goodness & merciful kind dealings of God to his Soul. But for want of Giving diligent heed to the inshineings of that inward Light which had Measureably Redeemed him, he came to a loss of the Sweet and Heavenly Communion which he had been made a Sharer of, and began to join with Folly and Vanities which youth is apt to, but in Process of time being re-Visited by an All Merciful God, Gave up to bear the Cross, and about the Thirtieth Year of his Age, he was made willing to give up to bear a publick Testimony, & to Declare to others what God had done for his Soul, which Testimony was Living and Powerful, & Tending to the refreshing and Watering of the Lords Heritage and People, being often concer'd, where his Lot was cast, to invite and persuade people to seek the Lord for themselves that So they might know the work of Regeneration wrought and Completed in and for themselves, he freely gave up to Spend both his time and substance on Truths account, when call'd thereto. |
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When she was about five-years-old, in the Spring of 1682, she came with her family on the ship Welcome to Philadelphia. But the family soon settled in Burlington County, Chesterfield Township, New Jersey. Rebecca was a member of the Chesterfeld Monthly Meeting when, on November 2, 1710, she married there, Samuel Large, who was nine years younger than she was. (Mouse over and click on marriage record image left to enlarge in a new window/tab.) They had at least five children together – Samuel about 1711, in what was Burlington County, Pennsylvania; ancestor Anne; Jacob about 1714 in Kingwood; Robert about 1716 in Kingwood; and Joseph born about 1718 in Falls,Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. Some researchers say there was another daughter named Rebecca born about 1720 in Kingwood, but she it is uncertain if she is their daughter. It should be noted that these children’s names, birth years and places have been estimated by other researchers. This researcher has not found any birth records for these children except for ancestor Anne. Rebecca Willson Large died about 1760 in Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey at the age of 83. She was probably buried in the Friends Ground at Kingswood, New Jersey (Now Quakertown). |
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Joseph took Oath of Allegiance at Amesbury, Massachusetts on December 20, 1677, and was one of the original settlers there. As a soldier and a member of the "training band,” in May of 1680, he signed the petition requesting a conductor and leader for the band. After his military service, the family moved to Long Island, New York, probably to be nearer to his patents. Then in the mid to late 1680’s, about the same time that his father left New York, they moved to Burlington County, New Jersey, then to Bucks County, Pennsylvania and settled in Falls Township. In a deed dated “4-7-1687 . . . for £100 paid, a tract of land [200 acres] in Buckingham Township to Joseph Large, weaver.” Joseph and his brother, Henry Large were among the earliest settlers in Buckingham Township and were members of the Falls Meeting. Joseph wrote his will on February 9, 1705, listing his occupation as weaver. The will was proved on September 16, 1709 in the Philadelphia County Court. Joseph Large died on July 26, 1709 in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 63. He was probably buried in the Falls Meeting Burying Ground. |
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Elizabeth Simcoche Large died on May 7, 1727 in Fallas Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She was probably buried in the Falls Meeting Burying Ground (mouse over picture left) with her husband. |
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The records of the Scarborough Society of Friends state that on March 2, 1682, Robert was “dismissed to the care of their friend's in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” Robert, with his wife and family then traveled on the ship, Welcome, the same ship William Penn took later that year, and settled in Philadelphia. They then moved to Chesterfield, Burlington, New Jersey, which is within the limits of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of Friends, where they were members and where Robert probably farmed. Robert and Anne brought with them to America a Breeches Bible, printed between 1606 and 1618, bearing the inscription, John Willson his book. This rare Bible has been entrusted to the Friends Historical Society Library at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania. Robert's autograph appears on one page of the Bible and those of his son Samuel and daughter Rebecca on another. These original signatures show the surname spelled as Willson. Another interesting object brought to America by Robert and Anne is a large cupboard. The last known owner of the cupboard was Florence W. Green Ewing of West Grove, Chester County Pennsylvania. It has always been owned by a Willson descendent.
In 1688, Robert was appointed constable for Chesterfield Township, which indicates that he must have been a resident for some time. He was a member of the Grand Jury, which met at Burlington, NJ in February of 1688. Robert was also a member of the General Assembly in 1697 and his name appears among the Quaker members of the House of Representatives of West Jersey, “to uphold the interests of the King,” in 1696 - 1697. Consequently, the descendents of Robert Willson are eligible for membership in the Society of Colonial Wars, due to his legislative service. A tract of land, “the thirtieth part of a property,” lying in and near the town of Burlington, N. J., was bought on Jan. 12, 1695, by Robert Willson from John Hutchinson. From this tract he sold to Daniel Smith, a merchant of Burlington, “a water lot, house lots, and town bound lots in the town of and town bounds of Burlington in 1698.” The deed records him as, “Robert Willson, yeoman of Crosswicks Creek, Burlington County.” In 1702, Robert purchased 260 acres of land from Richard and Susanna Stockton, bordering on Crosswicks Creek, and probably adjoining lands already owned by him. This land was left to Robert’s son, Samuel, who sold it in 1733 to Henry Coate. The last notice of Robert Willson in the books of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting of Friends occurred on February 2, 1709/10, when his death was recorded as an overseer and the meeting appointed Jo Bunting to fill his office. The New Jersey Abstracts of Wills list Robert Willson of Chesterfield, Burlington County on March 27, 1708, as making a nuncupative will, in which he spoke to his wife, Anne, and son, Samuel. He mentioned his daughter, ancestor Rebecca; son-in-law, Cornelius Empson; his granddaughter, Mary Empson; and grandson, Robert Willson. His wife and son were made executors. An inventory of the personal estate of Robert and Anne Willson, both deceased, was made in December of 1709. It amounted to 181 pounds, 6½ shillings, and was conducted by Anthony Woodward, Thomas Foulkes, and John Thom. He is probably buried in the Friends Burial Grounds at Crosswicks. |
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Anne Staineridge was born about 1652 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England. Her ancestry is truly a mystery. Many researchers say her maiden name was Hoag or Hogg and her parents could have been James and Marjorie Hoag, but documentation for this does not exist. But documentation does exist for a more likely maiden name, that of Staineridge or Stainridge of Whitby, Yorkshire. This documentation comes in the form of the will of Thomas Staineridge, written in “Scarborough the ffifth day of the Month Commonly called January Anno Dom One thousand Six hundred Seventy” and other Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting Minutes. Anne had married Robert Witham and they had a daughter named Susana on November 29, 1668, who was baptized in the Church of England on March 27, 1669 in Hutton Bushel, which is only about 7 miles west of Scarborough. This seems to indicate that Anne wasn’t a Quaker, at the time of Susana’s birth. In his will Thomas Staineridge wrote: “I give unto Susanna Witham, daughter of Anne Witham, my sister, tenn pounds in money which she my said sister Anne oweth mee to her and her heirs forever. . . . I give unto Robert Staineridge, my brother, three elevenths part of all my aforesaid estate to him and his heirs forever and other three elevenths part unto Anne Witham my sister to her and her heirs forever and other three elevenths part unto Ffrances Staineridge my sister to her and her heirs forever and the other two elevenths part unto my sister Elizabeth Dickinson wife of George Dickinson to her and her heirs forever and I do. . . . I do further appoint them the said Robert Staineridge my brother, Anne Witham, Ffrances Staineridge and Elizabeth Dickinson my sisters joynt executors of this my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seals this day and year above written.” In 1678 an entry into the Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting Minutes states that Robert Wilson of Whitby and Robert Stainridge of Whitby were involved in a difference with George Allatson concerning money he owed them. George was withholding payment because he claimed the deceased Thomas Stainridge owed him money. The Quarterly Meeting instructed the Monthly Meeting to find out is this was true and if so, the executors, including the wife of Robert Wilson, ought to pay. Years later in June of 1683, after Robert and Anne left for America, the Monthly Meeting reported that they had been spoken to George several times but “He will make neither answer nor payment unless forced by Law.” So the Quarterly Meeting judged Robert Wilson was not to blame and he is to be “Left to his freedom.” Thomas’ will and this record support Anne being in close relationship with the Staineridges, strongly suggesting she was one of them. Records exist in the England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 collection, that confirm the existence of the Staineridges in Whitby, Yorkshire, some with the same names in Thomas’ will, but none for an Anne. They all had a father named Robert. There is another record that shows the marriage of a Robert Stainrig to Elisabeth Dowson on February 11, 1658 in Whitby. These folks could be their parents. There is another possibility- she may not have been a full sister of Thomas Staineridge. They may share the same mother, but not father. Yet another possibility is that Robert Witham was a half brother to Thomas. So Anne's maiden name remains somewhat of a mystery.
The exact date of Anne’s death has not been recorded. Since the inventory taken after her husband's death covered the personal estate of both Robert and Anne, she died before December of 1709 in Chesterfield, Burlington, New Jersey. Anne Staineridge Willson is probably buried with her young daughter and husband in the Chesterfield Friends Burying Ground. |
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William married Rebecca (maiden name unknown, but some say it was Large also) in Hingham County, England, prior to their arrival by ship in Massachusetts in 1635. Rebecca and William were about the same age. William’s name is on a list of new arrivals of Bare Cove, which later was renamed Hingham. These new arrivals received house-lots, drawn on September 18, 1635, under the direction of Rev. Peter Hobart. William and Rebecca settled in Hingham and had three children born there – John was born about 1639 and married Phoebe Lee on November 1, 1659 (this may be how the name Phebe Lee was mistakenly identified as William’s mother); ancestor Joseph; and Henry, born about 1648. It is believed that the family moved from Hingham to Cape Cod, then to Long Island, New York, and in about 1690, moved to Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Most researchers believe they died in New Jersey about 1701, but no official government, town, land, church nor cemetery record has ever been found to document their whereabouts after leaving Hingham. |
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