Notes:

. 1837 Jan 26, Thurs. - By Mr. Robinson, The Petition of Stillwell Willson*, & 7 others, & of George Wilson & 53 member; all of the Home District; of John Carthew, JP & 47 others of the Western part of Medonte, Simcoe & of John Warren & 56 other all of the Home District praying that the macadamization of Yonge Street, may be continued to the Holland Landing.
On motion of Mr. Robinson, seconded by Mr. Gibson,
Ordered - That the petitions of Stillwell Wilson, & George Willson be referred to the same Committee, to whom was referred the petition of George P. Ridout, Esquire, & others. On motion of Mr. Burwell, seconded by Mr. Merritt.
Ref: Journal of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, published 1837.1.26, 13 Sess., 13th Parl.

Note*: Stillwell Willson the Younger. George's father, the Stillwell the Elder was deceased in 1832.

. Nason's County of York Directory - 1871, Newmarket:
George H & George N, Registry Office Clerks. [Verify this George]. - - -

Birth:
Verify.

Died:

George married Jane MCMURRAY on 22 Jun 1837 in Pickering Twp., Durham Co., Ontario. Jane was born est 1816 in York Twp., York Co., Ontario; died in in York Twp., York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

PART ONE:

. Northumberland Co., New Brunswick, Deed Registry Books:
1793 June 27 - Stillwell Wilson to Joseph Sanders / Saunders, for £8 5s,
Ref: Vol 2, Pg. 46, Q.C.D., W.S. of N.W. Miramichi.

. UCLPetition 85, York 1797. C2951, p70. To The Hon. Peter Russell, Esq., President of His Majestic Province of Upper Canada Etc. Etc. Etc.
The Petition of Stillwill Willson, son of John Willson, Esq. at the Humber, Most Humbly shewth that your petitioner was a child in time of the American Revolution being under my Father's protection, went with him from Jerseys to Staten Island [ c Dec 1776.], & from thence to NB [May 1783]. & remained there with my father till he removed to this Province, when he left me to settle his Business there & in the State of New Jersey. [11 July, 1793.]

Now being desirous to become a Settler in this Prov. & to have discard of Some Lands, & other property their with that design. Most Humbly Prays your Honour in Council, pleased to grant to your Petitioner the Lot Number 32 on the east Side of Yonge Street with a town Lot & what ever more your Honour in his goodness shall think proper & your Petitioner as in Duty bound Shall ever pray. November 8th, 1797, Stillwell Willson.
X-Reference: Uncle Samuel Willson, & New Jersey land transactions in 1796 deed to John Willson. This Petition is in John Willson own neat handwriting, with Stilwell Willson signature. - PJA
Envelope: Confirmed if the Lot prayed for is vacant, & a Town Lot in York. PR. 13 Nov 1797.
XRef: UCLand Book C, p240.

. 1797 - An earlier owner of the lot*, at which we are now pausing, was Stillwell Wilson In 1799, at the annual York Twp. meeting, held on 4 march 1799 at York, we find Stillwell elected one of the Overseers of Highways & Fence views for Lot 26 to Lot 40 Yonge Street, in Markham & Vaughan.

. Golden Lion Inn / Hotel: The southwest corner of Yonge Street & Sheppard Avenue on Farm Lot 15 West of Yonge. One of the important landmarks & stagecoach stops on early Yonge Street was at the famous Golden Lion Inn or Hotel. The farm lot had been granted first to Thomas Hill in 1801, & he built a hotel at the Yonge corner. 4 years later he sold the Lot & hotel to Stillwell Wilson, who sold it to Adam Everson in 1806. What happened to this first building is not clear, but the site was purchased in 1824 by Thomas Shephard who built the hotel named the Golden Lion. Trained as a woodcarver, he made a sign for the hotel out of locally cut oak, & added putty to help fashion the lion’s mane. The hotel was a large square frame building with verandahs on the east & south sides. This Golden Lion may be found in a glass case at the North York Reference Library, Yonge St. (2016) Another building made of mud bricks was on the property, but its location is uncertain, & it may be the building known as Hill House.
Ref: JH Beers, Commemorative Biographical Record of County York.

. 1802 - 1809 Crown to Stilwell Willson, Part Lot sold to D'Arcy Boulton.
. 1802-1809, then Jacob Fisher 1815-1838. #360 Balliol St., Toronto, ES Yonge St., at Mount Pleasant St., near Davisville Ave. Native soils predominantly consisted of sand with trace to some silt, to silty. The local ground water flow direction was determined to be in a northwesterly direction. The ground water table is located above the bedrock in the native soil. Regional ground water flow as expected to be in a southerly direction, towards Lake Ontario.
Ref: Terraprobe Environmental Site Assessment, 2014. (Extracted from Ontario Land Registry - PJA)

. 1803-1808 - 108 -128 Balliol Street, North Toronto, Patented from Crown to Stillwell Willson in 1802. Next Residential Use, Nancy Boulton, Jacob Fisher, Wm. Proudfoot & in 1986 688288 Ontario Limited. Bailol St is near Yonge & Davisville Ave.The area under assessment is an irregular shaped parcel of land with an area fronting Balliol Street, located approximately 300 meters west of Yonge
Street in the City of Toronto. The municipal address of the Property is 118 Balliol Str. The property is currently developed as residential land uses with townhouses occupying a majority of the lands. Historical mapping resources & aerial photographs, the property was used
for residential purposes in the 1920s with several residential dwellings located on the property. The structures have subsequently been demolished & the construction of the rental townhouses that currently occupy the property. A review of the water well information system database from the Ministry of the Environment revealed that a total of 6 water wells have been installed.
Ref: Environmental Assessment 2014 by Ont. Ministry of Environment.

. 1803 - Upper Canada, Home District} York to wit:
I Stillwell Wilson of the Twp. of Vaughan, yeoman, do hereby give notice that I will claim before the Honorable Commissioners for ascertaining & securing titles to Lands in the Home District, at their sitting which shall be holden next after 15 days for the putting up of this notice, the Lot No. 30, East side of Yonge Street, in the Twp. of Markham, containing 190 acres: Thomson Maxwell being the original nominee. Witness my hand at York this 20th Day of October, 1803. Signed, Still. Willson
Ref: UC Heir & Devisee, Doc. page 205, H1148 film p. 591. Archives of Canada.

. 1806 Feb 22, the 2nd. Sat., Meeting held at Cooper's Tavern. Upper Canada Agricultural & Commercial Society.
Agriculture being the happiest mode which industry can be applied we unite for the purpose of promoting its advancement & protection: $2 annual membership. Signed, Peter Russell, Justice Powell, Thorpe, D'Arcy Boulton, Sol. Gen., Hon. Rob Hamilton, James Baby, John Chrysler, Sheriff Jos. Willcocks, Robt Baldwin, JP Rev G O Stuart, Fred. Baron De Hoen, John Ashbridge, Wm Chewett JP, Thos. Ridout, Elisha Began, JP & STILLWELL WILLSON.
Resolved, members will exert themselves to engage their neighbors among the farmers, to cultivate annually a portion of however small of ground with Hemp, specifying the portion, quality of ground, the expense of culture & cleaning the Hemp for marketer, & the quantity & quality of Hemp produced.
Ref: Report on the mCanadian Archives, 1892.
Note3: Stillwell was in the illustrious company of the gathering power of the Family Company members. PJA.

. TORONTO SUNDRIES, City of Toronto Archives: Jury Duty:
1804 June 22. King Vs. Eliphat Hale & Abraham Cutter. Charge: Riot.
Puts Petit Jury: 4. Stillwell Willson 5. Richard Lawrence.
Wit: Prisoner, John Vanzante, Duke Kendrick, T. Hamilton, Not Guilty. Adjourned Monday, 9 November next.

. 1807 Nov. 11 - Promotions in the Militia of the East Riding of the County of York, Ensign Stilwell Wilson, to be Lieutenant. Signed: John McGill, Lieut. of the County.

. 1808 - Stillwell Willson: 1 Man, 1 Woman, 2 male children under 16, Total 4.
. 1808 Mar 7, Monday, Annual Town Meeting held at Thos. Stoyells, Stillwell Wilson elected Assessor.
Ref: York, UC, Minutes of Town Meetings.

. Of the assault cases, it would seem the punishment imposed (usually a small fine) - that none of these was of an aggravated nature. In the York Home District Sessions records there is little indication of the lawlessness that caused some citizens in remote & frontier areas to live in fear of their lives. In a few cases, nonetheless, the magistrates did not hesitate to use their authority to protect citizens from their neighbours. In 1810 for example, Ephraim Payson told the court that he lived 'in continual bodily fear' of one Stillwell Willson & asked that Willson be 'bound under recognizance.' The magistrates ordered the fearsome Mr. Willson to be 'fined forthwith good & sufficient security for him to keep the peace towards all His Majesty's subjects for 1 year, himself in £100 & each surety in £50.

. 1808 Apr 16, Saturday. Stillwell Willson, the other assessor declared upon oath that John Denison has refused to act or do his duty of assessor which he had been nominated by the Town Meeting. Court are not aware Mr. Denison's objections are legal, & therefore this fine to be levied. John Cameron of York, Gent., to be appointed in his stead.

. 1808 Oct 22, the Upper Canada Gazette informs us, the sheriff, Miles Macdonell, is about to sell "at Barrett's Inn, in the Town of York," the goods & chattels of Henry Hale, at the suit of Elijah Ketchum. Likewise, at the same time, the goods & chattels of Stillwell Wilson, at the suit of James McCormack & others.

. 1808 Stilwell Willson sold the south east 3 quarters Lot 30, Markahm to d'Arcy Boulton. This land was turned over several times before 1819 when it was bought by Sir Alan McNab as a mill site.
. 1810 Willson sold 50 A north west corn to Sutton Fizzell who is believed to have built the house on Yonge St., near the corner of John St, occupied by Mrs. Richard Simpson.
St. John Street as it seems to have been called in the old days should have run along the north boundary of Lot 30, as a concession line, but the survey disclosed such deep ravines that the road allowance was put through the middle of the Lot. It is possible the John Street being the most direct route from Yonge St. to German Mills, follows the old Berczy trail.
Ref: The Liberal Newspaper, Richmond Hill, written by Doris M FitzGerald.

. 1809 May 17: Vaughan, I moved with my family into Stillwell Willson's hope on Yonge Street.
. 1809 Aug 10 - John Arnold & Ely Plater came home in the evening. Stillwell Willson & Arnold abused each other, stripped to fight but halted.
Ref: Eli Playters Diary.

. 1809 - 5086 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington.
The southeast part of Lot 5, Con 4 SDS (or BF), South of Dundas St., on the east bank of Appleby Creek, Burlington, was granted by the Crown to Stillwell Wilson; in 1809 (registered 1811) it was sold to Philip Triller Sr. 5086 & 7 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, located at the corner of Pineland Drive, opposite the Forlong or Furlong property on what is now Colonial Court. Large lot with row of conifers, mature trees.
Ref: Burlington Historical Society, 2012.

"Capital was coming into the area from Britain & the United States & the site of Thornhill, Lots 30 & 31, Con 1 ESYonge Street, which Robt. Jarrets shared with other Thornhill Citizens:
Capital was coming into the area from Britain & the US & the site of Lots 30 & 31, Thornhill was a favorite stopping place for travellers between York & farther north. As a result, Lot 30 granted to Daniel Soules in 1805, was divided into lots in 1816 & sold to newcomers who put up two shops in 1817. One of the shops closed in 1818, however, & the other in 1820. It was not until about 1830 that new shops were started & this community began to enjoy a steady growth. Lot 30, originally granted to John Wilson, Sr., in 1810, was sold in 1811 for £300 to Stilwell Wilson. It was bought in 1822 by Hon. William Allan & broken into lots in 1824. These were quickly sold & resold to such persons as John McGill & D'Arcy Boulton. In 120 Business man Mr. Thorne from Dorestshire settled at Thorne Hill.
Ref: Pioneering with Billy: The story of the Jarretts / Jarrots, Mary Jarrott Cassar, 2000.

WAR of 1812
. 1812 Sep 19th to Sep 22 6 o'clock evg. , retd. 22nd. Cpt Ridouts Company granted leave of absence.
. 1812 Sep 8 - 22, Capt Ridouts Company marched into York Garrison: Privates Stillwell Willson & Thos Johnston, Discharged afterward.

. 1813 Oct 10 - I went up Yonge St. after Mr. Ward's mare. She had strayed away. Was at Arnold's & Langstaff's. Could not find her. Came home early & found the mare at Stillwell Wilson's & brother's home. Prepared a roasting pig for dinner.
Ref: Ely Playter Diary.

Quarterly Sessions of Peace, York County:
. 1813 Jan 13. Tuesday, Thomas Ridout, Esq. Grand Jury Called: 1 John Dennison, Foreman 3. Henry Webster, 6. Samuel Heron, 7. Jacob Coomer, 8. Stillwell Willson, 9. Malcolm Wight, 10. Richard Lawrence, 12. John Weston, 15. John Arnold, 16. Daniels Soules, 14. Martin Snider, 18. Joseph Johnston. Withdrew & a true Bill of indictment. Isaac Pilkington Vs. Wm. S Forrier.
Returned Grand Jury were called & & sworn as follows: 1. John Denison, p 131 foreman, 7. Jacob Coomer, 8. Stillwell Willson, 10. Richard Lawrence, Thomas Ridout issued affidavit against Lewis Stiles a Petty Constable of Town of York.

. 1813 Aug 16 - Information of Stillwell Willson, York Twp., yeoman, taken an oath before me Thos. Ridout, a JP of Home District, who saith that on or doubt 1st day of present month August, he heard Gideon Orson, Markham Twp., Blacksmith says, that we would be better used by the American than the Gov. & he would soon have them him than under the present Govt. or words to that effect & further that he thins the said Gideon Orson to be a bad subject & a dangerous person.
Sworn, Still. Willson.

. 1813 Aug 16 - Information of Stillwell Willson, York Twp., yeoman, taken an oath before me Thos. Ridout, a JP of Home District, who deposseth that some time in the past month of August he told John Lyons that the American Fleet had been beaten, to which John Lyon answered that he was sorry for it that he wished it has been otherwise, & the he hoped to see the American colors flying in the Country again. That shortly after the last visit of the enemy to this place in the beginning of this month, he heard John Lyon say he had some wheels, a bathing machine which he & some other property belonging to Government which had been given to him last spring by General Dearborn, that he head been obliged to carry it back & that then the enemy came last he had applied for it & gotten the wheels again, then he had hauled down some public stores in its boats for the Americans, & had been all paid for his trouble.
Signed, 17 Aug., 1815, Thos. Ridout, Jr. & Still Wilson. Same day Timothy Wheeler, Markham Twp., yeoman, came with Lyon to the gaol & took a pair of dog irons & other articles belonging to Government
. Affidavit of Wm. Knott, Town of York, On Sunday, 1 August he saw John Lyon, Twp. Vaughan drawing with his waggon Public Stores down to the waterside for the Enemy. He saw no appearance of compulsion & appeared voluntary. Same Nathaniel Hastings, Twp. York, yeoman, who was liberated from the Goal by the Enemy came back to the goal & took by force several green rugs belonging to the goal. Wheeler said had they had been taken when the Enemy were in York in the Spring & had been forced to take.
Ref: Upper Canada Sundries, C4508, p6552-3, & 6561-2. Aug 17, 1813 (Pg. 370).
Note1: John Lyons, Lot 33 Con1 ESY, Patent 1796. Stillwell resided at Lot 30.

. 1815 Mar 6 - Annual Meeting Twp. of York at Aaron Leonard, clerk & watchmaker of the Union Inn, York. Assessor for the Town of York, Stilwell Wilson.
. Stillwell Willson at St. John's Road [Dundas St. West] & it was later owned by Sir Allan McNab.

. 1819-20 Stillwell Wilson is in command of a slip-keel shooter, carrying passengers & freight between York & Niagara.
. 1821 Stillwell Willson is landlord of the Waterloo House in York & is offering to let that stand; also to let or sell other valuable properties.
. 1820 Mar 25 - for sale or let, 4 imported farms on Yonge street, composed of Lots 20 & 20 on the west side & Lots 15 & 20 on Side of the street in Twps. of York & Vaughan. The lands are so well known that they require no further comments than the virtues they posses. Tor title of which please apply to the subscriber at Waterloo House, York, the proprietor of said lands.
P.S. The noted is known by the name of Waterloo House, which the subscriber at present posses, is also offered to be let on easy terms; as also an excellent Sawmill, in the third Concession York Twp., east of Yonge Street, only 10 miles from town, on the west Branch of the river Don. Stillwell Willson.
Ref: York Gazette Newspaper.

. 1828 Jan 31, for moneys due apparently to Jairus Ashley, some of Stillwell's property has been seized. Under the editorial head of the Loyalist of December 27th of that year, we find the following item:
. Sheriff's Sale: At the Court House, in the Town of York, on Saturday, 31st January next, will be sold, Lot No. 30, in the first Concession of the Township of Vaughan, taken in execution as belonging to Stillwell Wilson, at the suit of Jairus Ashley. Sale to commence at 12 o'clock noon.
Ref: Toronto of old; collections & recollections illustrative of the early settlement & social life of the capital of Ontario" By HENRY SCADDING, D.D.
Note2: Perhaps Jaris Ashley got wind of Stillwell ill health, as he died in July of 1828 or was it this Sheriff's sale that pushed Stillwell The Elder into deterioration?

. 1828 - Stillwell Wilson's mill, which was swept away by a flood caused by the bursting of a water-spout, about 1828. The property afterwards passed into the hands of Thomas Sheppard, who ran a grist-mill here for some time, until it was burned in 1869.

. Wm. Morton, of Cavan Twp. to Florida Burk of York Twp., Stillwell Wilson Sr., Innkeeper of Town of York, 28 Jun 1828.

. WILL of STILLWELL WILLSON, late of the Town of York, Upper Canada, carpenter, deceased, (to be registered pursuant to the Statues...) Devised to his wife Sarah Willson certain parcels of land in situated in Township of York East Side of Yonge street containing five? acres with a sawmill erected thereupon. Whereupon the said Stillwill Willson bequeath to Sarah his wife his right & title to certain building lot in the Market Square within Town of York, being Lot 9 at the Corner of Church Street & Market Square.
He leaves his wife Sarah certain lands in Gwillimbury township...east clergy reserve. ...eight (eighty?) acres more or less with a building & apperturances for use during her natural life.
Then to be divided equally between Thomas Willson & Catherine Willson. Also the proper in Whitby Twp., Lot 31, Con. 3. Died 18 Jul 1832, Signed & Sealed, Sarah Willson. Registered by John Ridout, 8 August 1832, Reg. County York.
Ref: Registry Office at York. [Sorry blurry copy - PJA.]

Ontario Land Registry, Toronto Book 685, p158, 228.
Lot 9, South side King St., Corner of Church Street, Town of York
. 1803 OCT 7, Patent, Crown to Peter Russ, A Shaw, Jno McGill & Henry Allcock, 5.5 Acres.
. 1832 Jun 16, WILL, Registred 7 Aug 1832, Stillwell Willson, to his wife. Lot 9, Corner Church & Market Lane.

Ontario Land Registry, North York Book 39, p3
Lot 12, Con 3 East of Yonge St. [Shepard Ave E & Leslie Street]
. 1807 Oct 26, Patent, Crown, to James Lymburn, All 200 Acres
. 1813 Mar 15, B&S, Wm. Marsh etux, to Alex Montgomery, £100, Half 100A.
. 1832 Jun 16, WILL, Stillwell Willson, Part 2 Acres
. 1833 Dec 31, B&S, Wm. Marsh Jr., to Sarah Wilson, £25, Part 2 Acres
. 1834 Apr 24, B&S, Jessie Ketchum, to James Elliot, £200, Part 98

Lot 15, Con 1 East Yonge St., North York Book 9, p3 & Markham Book 91, p311
. 1805 Feb 7, Patent, Crown, to John Everson, 190 Acres.
. 1819 Mar 26, Bargin&Sale, James Everson etux heir at law, to Stillwell Willson, £250, Part E 75A.
* 1820 Apr 2, B&S, James Everson et ux, to Stillwell Willson, £250. Part 87 A
. 1820 Apr 13, B&S, Thos. Humberston, to Thomas Wilson, £30. 13 A.
. 1822 May 8, Mortgage, Stillwell Willson to Wm Allan, £153, 190A
*1822 May 23, B&S, Stillwell Willson, to Wm. Allen etal, 5 Shillings, All 190A.
. 1823 Jun -, M., Thomas Wilson, to Simonson Washburn, £12.12.0, Part Half A
XRef: Ont Heir & Devisee, H1146, p455 - Quit Claim letter York, 3 Apr 1820, from James HISXMARK Everson & Dorothy HERXMARK EVERSON to Stillwell Willson.
XRef: Memoiral 4281 Indenture registred. 8 Oct 1822, York to Wm. Allan. Satisfied. Ref: OntHeir & Devisee, H1146, p483.

Lot 15, Con 1EYS , Book 9, p5
[Note 4 seperate patents 1828, for Lot 15 - only one PATENT to Stillwell Willson. - PJA]
. 1828 Nov 13, Patent, Crown, to Stillwell Willson, part 173 5/10 acre
. 1828 Nov 24 B&S Stillwell Willson, to Jacob Cummer, £400., Part 173A.
. 1830 Sep 17, Mortgage, Stillwell Willson, to Jacob Cummer, £400
. 1830 May 18 Jacob Cummer etux, to Jos Harrison, £275.

Lot 15, Con 1 WEST Yonge Street, North York Book 103, p3
. 1801 June 30, Patent, Crown, to Thos. Hill, 210 Acres
. 1805 Nov 23, B&S, Thos. Hill, to Stillwell, All acres
. 1805 Jan10, B&S, Stillwell Willson et ux, to Adam Everson, £200, All.

Ontario Land Registry
Lot 20, Con 1 East Yonge St. North York Book 12, p47
. 1800 Sep 4, Patent, Crown to Nicholas Johnson, All 190 arces
. 1807 Sep 19, Bargain & Sale, Nicholas Johnston, to Stilwell Willson et ux, £200, All 190A.
. 1819 Sep 10, Mortgage, Stillwell Willson to Wm. Allan 190 Acres.
. 1822 May 23, B&S, Stillwell Willson, to Wm. Allen, 5 shillings, All 190A.

Lot 20, Con 1 WEST Yonge Street, North York Book 108, p3
. 1800 Sep 4, Patent, Crown to Jos. Johnson, All 200 Acres
. 1816 May 25, B&S, Jos Johnson, to Stillwell Willson, £200. ALL
. 1820 Jan 20, Mortgage, Stillwell Willson etux, to Wm. Allan, £300, ALL
. 1822 May 23 B&S Trust, Stillwell Willson et ux, to Wm. Allan, 5 shillings, ALL.

Lot 30, Con 1, East Yonge St., Richmond Hill, Markham. Book 91, p311.
[Later renumbered as Lot 5, C1 WSY, Markham Twp.]
. 1808 Apr 8, Patent, Crown, to Stillwell Willson, All 190A
. 1808 Jun 21, B&S, Stillwell Willson, to Martin Holder, NW part 50A.
. 1808 May 10, Bargain&Sale, Stillwel Wilson et ux, to d'Arcy Boulton Jr., £200. SE Quarter
. 1808 July 27, Stillwell Willson, to Martin Holder, NW 50A.
. 1815 Jun 14, DArcy Boulton, Jr.
. 1817 Sep 3, Thomas Arnold, to Alan N McNabb, SE & NE pt, 100A.

Lot 40, Con 1, WYS, Richmond Hill, Abstract Book 170, p 99
. 1807 May 2, B&S, Daniel Laughlin, to Stillwell Willson, All 210A
. 1808 Mar 8, B&S, Stillwell Willson, to Julien LeBugel, £200, 210 Acres,
. 1820 Mar 11, B&S, Peter Vanderburgh et ux, to Richard Vanderburgh, £750, All 210A.

Lot 41, Con 1, WYS, Richmond Hill, Abstract Book 170, p 101
. 1807 May 2, B&S, Daniel Laughlin, to Stillwell Willson, [no amount registered], All Acres [100 acres?]
. 1807 Nov 5, B&S, Reg. 1824 Feb 16, Stillwell Willson et ux, to Nicholas Johnson, £200, All Acres, [100 acres?]
. 1815 Jun 14, B&S, Nicholas Johnston, to Henry Vanderburg, £131.5.0., 100 Ac. - - -

PART 2 or THE FAMILY COMPACT vs STILLWELL WILLSON:

Early Victim* of 'Family Compact' 1824:
A interesting explanation of the how Stillwell lost his Yonge St. property may be found in:
Union is Strength, W. L. MacKenzie, the Children of Peace, & The emergence of joint stock democracy in Upper Canada, Albert Schrauwers.

. Stillwell Willson was a tavern keeper & land speculator who had attempted to develop the much conveyed land & mill site at what is now the village of Thornhill.
However, he has fallen deeply into debt of Wm. Allan & others, who in late 1821 launched suits in the Court of Kings Bench. Willson's lawyer was none other than Henry John Boulton, whose legal bill amounted to £12 10s 0d. which he held on Willson's property & which he auctioned off parts & granted other parcels on advantageous terms to various creditors, including H J Boulton.
Boulton in turn rapidly resold this property on 20 May 1824 for £100 with days of the setting of the debtors' gaol:

* In the satire, Willson: 'would only observe, that the great liberality & public spirit of Henry J Bolton were well known to him'. He would not allude to the sale of a part of his own property on Yonge St. to satisfy a judgement against him (originally about £12 10s 0d.) at the suit of this Patriot - no Mr. Boulton had only got a piece of land worth £100, for £20 or £25.

This property was subsequently subdivided by the purchaser, Daniel Brooke, Jr. & formed the eventual nucleus of the village of Thornhill, adjacent to the mill property of Allan MacNab, a clerk first in Darcy Boulton, Senior's law office & that of the owner of Dundurn Castle.

. Lawyers like Boulton, Jones & Robinson, later dubbed the family Compact, controlled the Bank of Canada. As speculators in land, they used such malicious arrests to obtain the property of of others at a fraction of its value.

For further research of William Allan D, S345, Ledger 1822 26 - 15 -16, at the Toronto Reference Library, may reveal more information. - Transcriptions by PJA. Thank you. - - -

PART 3, Stillwell Elder, The MARINER [or The Family Compact At Work, Again:]

. 1816 May 4. Extracted from 8 pages: st Session & 2nd, 12th Parl. Wm IV, January 19th, 1835:
Report 102 on the PETITION OF LEONARD WILCOX:

1835 Apr 7th, Toronto, Report of Petition of Leonard Wilcox,
That Wm. Baldwin Esq., Attorney of Petitioner in trail of the seizure. 4AP'A. Bond between Mr. Allan, the late Collector of Port of York, & Hail Wilcox, Stillwell Willson & John Montgomery, dated 4 May 1816, for a boat named the Lark ( supposed to mean the boat seized) with certain tackle, to be returned by the boat seized) with certain tackle, to be returned by the parties bound to the Collector of Port of York, in the want of the said boats being adjudged forfeited, together with the tackle & furniture of the same, E, & Stilwell Willson's receipt for the boat & certain table therein enumerated, in good order, dated 8 May 1816.
Ref: Journal of House of Assembly of UC, 2nd Session/12th Provincial Parliament., Report 102, pages 1-8

To the Commons House of Assembly. Committee Members: Jesse Ketchum, Geo. Hamilton, John Cawthra, Esqs.
Petition of Leonard Wilcox [of Davenport St., Town of York, Carpenter, praying that his case may be taken into consideration, & such relief granted against a certain Custom House seizure of goods imported by him.
. Bond between Hon. Wm. Allen, the late Collector of the Port of York & Hail Wilcox, Stillwell Willson & John Montgomery, for a boat (supposed sized) named The Lark, with certain tackle, to be returned by the parties bound to Port of York [Toronto]. The Deputy Collector, in the want of the said boats being adjudged forfeited, together with the tackle & furniture of the same, & Stillwell Willson's receipt for the boat & certain tackle therein enumerated, in good order, dated 8 May 1816.
Better built than usual on this side; she was from 50 to 53 fo 4 feet keel & 10 or 11 beam. Appraised 13 Jun 1816 amounted to £259 1s 9d. Rigging tacking were not sold with the boat, supposed stolen.

. 1816 May 8, York, Received from Wm. Allan, Collector of the Port to York, as being one of the parties suing on the within-name Bond the boat named Lark - in his possession under seizure; together with 4 oars, 3 iron sparred poles, 1 Russia shedding sail & some rigging apparently in good order.
Signed, Still. Willson, Witness, Silas Crane.

. 1816 June 19 - (Extracted) Bond1. We Stillwell Wilson & John Montgomery of York Township, Yeoman & Hail Wilcox, Vaughan Twp., Yeoman, bond of £19, 15s lawful money of Upper Canada shall return the Boat Lark to Hail Wilcox in good repair.
Bond2. We Leonard Wilcox, York Town, Yeoman, Stilwell Willson, York Township, Mariner, & John Willson of same place, Yeomen, are firstly bound until Wm. Allan, Esq. York Town, Bond for £518.1.16 for payment by 19 Jun 1816. Stillwell Wilson, now commanding a schooner on Lake Ontario & John Willson of York Twp., enter into security for Leonard Wilcox for there performance of this agreement on the part of the said Hail Wilcox [yeoman crossed out, physician] & Leonard Wilcox.
Signed, Leonard Wilcox, Still. Willson, John Willson.
Wit: Geo S Boulton, & John W Gamble.
Ref: Journal of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, Second Session of the Twelfth Provincial Parliament, 1836, publisher William Lyon MacKenzie, Toronto.

Notes3: It is not completely apparent if this is Capt. John Montgomery (b1754 Conn.) or John Montgomery (1784 NB-1879 Ontario).
The names of Hail Wilcox [a doctor b. 1778 Connecticut, res.1819 in Vaughan Twp.] & Leonard Wilcox [a carpenter form NY State & also Vaughan Town Clerk & Constable] are present in this Petition. Goods valued £750 were seized by Deputy Customer Collect who was also a well known York storekeeper! {i.e. deprive the competition of goods to sell & confiscates the competition's goods! - PJ Ahlberg.

. 1817 Feb 26 - Account of sundries seized from L Wilcox & sold at auction by the late Thomas Hamilton on 1817 Feb 26. By the above affidavits, it will appear that a certain boat & goods, the property of Lenard Wilson were seized & condemned by legal proceedings, the Port of which seizure & the authority go the Government to take legal proceedings therein dated Oct 1816 & that the whole of the proceedings relating to the same were not wholly completed till 2.26.1817.

. 1830 Jan 22, House of Assembly, Committee appointed to enquire into the matter of Petition L Wilcox, Chairman Jesse Ketchum Esq. Chairman, John Cawthra, W W Baldwin, Esqs. [Brief summary:]
Affidavit of Petitioner Leonard Wilcox. Boat goods contained glassware, crockery & coffee. Didn't know the goods were against the law, when they were seized by the Deputy Collector. Goods sold, proceeds never could be accounted for. Attorney General Ridout, his attorney, made inquiry & was informed, no return has been made in the Inspector General's Office. Leonard Wilcox came into the Province in his brother's boat & cargo, about 2 months before the time the boat was seized.
. Deputy Collect Hamilton examined: He seized the boat & goods, locked them up in Mr. Allan's Custom House store; the boat he hauled up a little on the beach. Goods inc. Shawls, muslin & other merchandize, 3 men required to lift the case.
Proceeds of the sale of boat & goods about £20 paid to Mr. Allan Att. General.
. Jonas Duncan: He saw in the Maj Allan Custom House, the Carding machined made by brother Charles Wilcox, brother of Leonard Wilcox, being 6 months in his employment.
. Mr Monis Lawrence. Went with Wilcox in Aug 1815 to Mr Hamilton, Deputy Collector & saw him deliver Bill of Lading; an hour after, the boat was seized for having contraband goods on board. He was with Wilcox's brother when he entered the boat in the spring at the Custom House, the goods were landed & boat returned on her voyage with no difficulty about the entry of goods.
. Thomas Bright purchased the boat for very low £20. Could not buy sail & rigging, told they were stolen. Boat now by the shore side; boat built for under £300, yet she is able to work, double well built.
. 1830 Feb 24, Leonard Wilcox, called again: State value of articles: Wilcox saw his goods about £100 worth in Mr Hamilton's store or shop. He was then a merchant grocer & had goods for sale. Goods belong to you in Hamilton's store: some large soup dished, plates, knives, forks, quart & pint decanters, & other glass ware were for an inn, crate of crockery cost him $200, crate of glass $160.
. Charles C Small, Clerk of Crown Pleas: Evidence Nov 1 1815 found any Attorney General goods of Hail Wilcox for Leonard Wilcox, imported from US & are for sale: glass, whiskey, oil, crockery, glassware pails, chairs, tobacco, miner, turpentine, hats, saddlery, dry goods, coffee, cutlery. Goods keep at a Public House, on a piece of land on Yonge St, about 13 miles from York. [Steeles & Yonge Sts.?]
. 1829 Apr 2nd, In Council. The selling of liquor with License papers to have been disposed by Gov. in 1826. Bill of Lading totaling £259., Wit: E Benson, T Stoyell, Wm Smith, S Crane.

. The Petitioner Leonard Wilcox who came into Upper Canada 1815 to be settler bring his family in with the first sleighing that following winter & has resided since. He also brought with him a boat & cargo, his own property. On his arrival at Port of York, he reported the boat & cargo to the then Collector Wm. Allan Esq., through his Deputy at the late Thos. Hamilton, who then seized them. He paid import duty of 30% for an imported Carding Machine thereon, which have not been credited to the public. The Collect Hon. Colonel Allan both fined Wilcox & failed to turn over this (& many duties ) to the public purse. Thus because of the plundered of his goods, Leonard Wilcox was left to became a Inn & Tavernkeeper.
* Our public affairs have been allowed to be carried on for nearly half a century, the appeal was made to a Council wholly irresponsible & composed chiefly of the same exclusive persons & influenced by the same political policies as have over characterized that Body. The Executive Council, forebears to notice the amount readied in the seizure, under these circumstances of oppression, was never paid into the Public Treasury. It does seem exceedingly disgraceful, that part of the cargo bought at a very reduced price at Auction by the Deputy Collector, was for sale at his private store.
* It ought to be a matter of surprise that the same Honorable Colonel Allan, who was Collector in the above proceedings, was the same Colonel Allan who pursued this vicim for the fine & costs in the latter case. If no relief was afforded by a grant of land, your Committee suggest passing an act compelling the Honorable Colonel Allan to indemnify him, inasmuch as the public have never received the proceedings of the property, to which neither the Collector nor his Deputy can have, to say the least of it, a better claim than the Petitioner.
Signed, Committee House of Assembly, April 15, 1835 ! T D Morrison, Chairman. . - .

Birth:
b. at Grandfather J Willson's farm.

Died:
Will 16 Jul 1832.

Stillwell married Sarah TRAMMER [?] in 1782 in Long Island, Queens Co., New York. Sarah was born in 1768 in Long Island, Queens Co., New York; died before Oct 1868 in Whitby, Whitby Twp., Durham Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

* Subject to further research:

. Sarah Willson, 74 years, Born: 1796 in Ontario, Married,
Died: Sep 1870, Religion: Christian.
Census Pickering A, South Ontario 47, Ontario, Canada.
Ref: Library & Archives Canada, Number: C-9973. - - -

Birth:
Verify surname.

Died:

Notes:

A great deal of Canadian documents exist for John Willson, Esq., of which a selection is recorded here:
Note: No reference can be found that John Willson, Esq. was ever called or used the name John Miller Willson. - PJA 2010.

PART ONE:
John is the son of Sara Ladner & John Willson, Senior. .
* Deed (of unknown date) to John & James Willson for more land adjoining the first 100 Acres £29 - Jane & Rachel Drummond, only children of the Earl of Perth, Executed by Elias Bouodinot, Esq. Elizabeth Town, NJ.
Executed Elias Boudion, Esq. lawyer, ElizabethTown, NJ. [Date as below??]
* 1796 Dec 15, Tract of drowned lands along Wallkill, deeded to John & Samuel Willson from Joseph & William Sharp. (Deeds in the possession of Eva A Willson).
Ref: "Line of Descent of George Roger Gilbert"

. 1760 Oct. 16 - WILL of John Langstaff of Piscataway, NJ. To wife Mary & grandson John Langstaff, lands south of Ambrose Book. Witnesses John Willson, Jr. & John Arnold,
Note1: The 2, Langstaff & Arnold, also went to Upper Canada, where they were amongst many New Jersey exiles located near each other on north Yonge Street, Toronto. - PJ Ahlberg.

. John Wilson of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., Memorial, Summary now of Miramichi, Northumberland Co., 1786, joined troops at Woodbridge in 1777 in Forge Dept. Claim for 50 Acres & an house.
Ref: Commission for Loyalist Losses. # 12 /16 /187 -192, 63/115 & 109/320. Jan. 1787.

. Old United Empire Loyalists List
Wilson John Senr., (Home District) From Staten Island. Came in a settler in 1878 with 3 sons.
Ref: Appendix B.
Willson, John of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., Memorial, now of Northumberland Co., NB, sworn St. Johns, NB, 1786. He fled to the Army at Perth Amboy in 1777.
Schedule of LOSSES 81 Acres of land in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., East New Jersey; 1 house, barn, out houses, Orchards, £1000; 3 Acres of Salt Meadow, £10; confiscated & sold by Congress; 5 Horses, £50; 9 Cows, £45; 4 young cattle, £8; Farming utensils & Household furniture £60,
Total: £1173. New York currency.

. 1784 May, Settled New Brunswick, Canada: John Wilson, Esq.:
8 in the family, 2 acres improved & a house.

. 1789 - 11 Jul 1793. John Willson, Esq. Sr., JP was the first Registrar for Northumberland, NB, 1787 to 1793.
John Willson & Family landed in New Brunswick, Canada in 1783 & was granted land on the Miramichi River, in Northumberland County. Gov. Thomas Carlton made him a Magistrate & Justice of the Peace. The salary for a magistrate in NB was £300 a year. His adventures there in this wild land would be enough for one lifetime, & to speak nothing of what preceded the Miramichi or what would come after.
A full history with documentation may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto & the Richmond Hill Public Library may be found under Richard Lawrence, John Brown Lawrence & John Willson of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. by P J Ahlberg, U.E., May 2009.

1791 Nov. 18 - Upper Canada Proclamation, creating the new province; & John Willson had already visited Governor J G Simcoe in Quebec City by the 17 Jun 1792 when Simcoe arrived Montreal & then again 26 July 1793 when he arrived in Niagara, Upper Canada).

. 1793 Apr 26, John Willson, JP, paid for a tombstone at Willson's Point, Miramichi, NB made for his grandson, Abraham Willson.

. WHY HE LEFT NEW BRUNSWICK:
Mr. Wilson further says, that when he left the Miramichi Settlement in the NB, he did it because the lands are not valuable for farmers & not worth clearing from the severity of the climate; that one of his sons-in-laws had already left the Settlement. Mr. Wilson says that a due care to provide for his family was the sole reason of this quitting Miramichi. He is his own person being better off there then he would possibly be elsewhere living almost without labour upon offices he possessed in that Country. A true statement, Signed, E B Littlehales, 16 July, 1794, Niagara.

. 1796 UPPER CANADA LAND PETITION & REVOLUTIONARY MUSTER:
UCLPetition 57. To John Graves Simcoe, Lieut. John Willson, Jur. He suffered much by this Rebel party (at the point of the bayonet) before the British Army Landed on Staten island, the making several attempts to join them but always hindered till when the British Army was Advancing [22 Oct 1776] from the White Plains (NY) to the Jersey. I then joined them at Woodbridge [New Jersey Dec 3, 1776] & went with them to Brunswick (NJ, Dec 16, 1776).
I then entered into James Christies' employ [i.e. the Quartermaster ] as a Forage master & ran Many risks of my Life, being twice taken Prisoner & confined but maid my escape & returned to my service again, till when the army returned from the Jerseys to Staten Island,
& embarked for the Head of Elk [river flowing towards Philadelphia, Dec. 1777] were my health would not admit of my going on board, to retrieved with my family on said Island where I continued till the commencement of the peace.
I then embarked with my family for Nova Scotia (since New Brunswick), where I drew 270 acres in Northumberland where I served in Sivil Commission & offices under Governor Carleton till July the 19th, 1793. There I set out with 60 men, women & children (Including my own family) for Niagara where we arrived on the 7th of next October. ... He wants Lots 4 & 5 on the River Humber & Lot 30 on west side of Yonge Street. March 25th, 1796, John Willson.

. 1777 Apr 26, OYSTER BAY, NJ: Upon the requisition of the Commissary General of Forage. You will be pleased to Detach a Captain, 2 Subalterns & 60 ranked & file, to cover and conduct a Foraging Party from the East end of Long Island & this shall be your sufficient Authority for so doing. Signed, T. Paterson.
. 1777 Dec 6, NYC HQ: Captains having horses are permitted to draw one ration of Forage from the 10th instant till further Orders,
no Forage to be drawn but for effective Horses.
Ref: Orderly book of the 3 battalions of Lowlier, commanded by Brigadier Gen. Oliver DeLancy 1776-78 at NYC.

. 1795, Jul 29 - John Willson, Junr. Town Lot and 400 Acres.
Ref: YORK REPORT, Summary of Land Grants. Ref: C2980, Page 178, etc.

. Schedule of grants to pay full fees to the Home District - William Jarvis Copy Books: Grant # 166 Wilson, John, Jun, 190 Acres, York, 12 Mar. 1794, U.E., Fee £3.5.2 Ref: Wm. Jarvis Papers, TPRL.

. UCLPetition 37C, W Bundle 2, Microfiche C2950.
Willson I, John Sur. UE, On March 16, 1810 John purchase York Town Lots 3 & 4 N side, Hospital Street for £100 & sold it at an apparent lost of £50, the next year to Jesse Ketchum.

. 1800 Apr 8 * FIRST APPOINTMENT for the first HOME DISTRICT, Toronto, are Magistrates Wm. James, John Willson, J Small, J McGill. Ref: Toronto Sundries, Quarter Session Minutes.

PART TWO, New Brunswick, Canada to Toronto:

X-Reference: Richard Lawrence & John Willson Petition for RATIONS AT NIAGARA
The Simcoe Papers Toronto Public Reference Library & John McGill papers, TPL also, at the Baldwin Room: comprising 3 boxes of'True' hand written duplicates of correspondences & accounts for Upper Canada. Documents are In precarious state. Photocopies of the original documents may be seen in my book on R Lawrence & J Willson.

MAY FLEET's ARRIVAL AT YORK Summary:
John Willson & 46 people assembled & left New Brunswick together in 1793 to come to Ontario. Many of these people had known each other back in the United States, during & previously to the Revolutionary War. The May Fleet journey began in May 1783 at Staten Island, New York with the British evacuation to New Brunswick & Nova Scotia.
* About Nov. 1791 John Willson visited the new Governor, John Graves Simcoe during his arrival in Quebec City. In 1792 new land was offered in Upper Canada. Here is part of that journey from Kingston to the Town of York, today's Toronto, on north shore of Lake Ontario:

On 11 July, 1793 the group took a ship around NB & UP the St. Lawrence River to Montreal. On the 17th of August, at Montreal, Commandant Isaac W Clarke* assigned the group an 6 extra Canadians to guide the 3 bateaux past the Rapids of Lachine. The open bateau were 30 feet long & propelled with both a moveable sail, ropes & barge poles.
Note2*: Com. General Isaac Winslow Clarke, Head Quarters at Lachine, War of 1812.

When they arrived at the Port of Kingston they were sick & needed treatment from the kind doctors at Fort William Henry. They promised to repay the Fort for the 1543 rations they had been assigned. Even though the Commandant risked having to pay for the rations from his own military salary, Capt. Porter* wrote, " humanity induced me to act as I have done."
Note3: Capt. Richard Porter, Esq., Justice of Peace, 60th Regt. granted 1200 Acres of land in the Town of Kingston, 1794.

The Assembly had arrived at Kingston 28th day of August. For a month they waited for the next bateaux "but did not gain Niagara until 7th October, 1793." The late Chief Justice, the Honorable William Osgood, said he would speak to Simcoe for the further 1529 Rations the starving & sick families again required upon their arrival at Fort George at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Upper Canada. (Also referred in the documents as Newark or Head of the Lake (Ontario). By return poste, Governor Simcoe ordered the Fort commandant to convey the Loyalist by the Government boat, to north bank of Lake Ontario to the Town of York. Gov. Simcoe & his Queen's Rangers had themselves only arrived on the 29th of July, 1793 in the new Capital of York.

* 1793 Oct 7 - THE SIXTY PEOPLE of this new MAY FLEET arrival at York, included an additional 14 members of whom it is likely the Kendricks joined up at Kingston. The names of those 12 families who made the journey are:
John Willson, Richard Lawrence, Patrick Cobgon (Colgan, Colgin?), Joseph Kendrick, Peter Whitney (signed), John Kendrick, Titus Fitz [Fitch], Duke William Kendrick, Samuel Sinclair, Samuel Osborn, Hiram Kendrick, Peter Long.

John Willson had signed for army provisions for the group & it was he that was required to sign a receipt on 2 Nov., 1793 for £100 their repayment in 3 years. Some of the assembly had already moved on from the area & thus leaving no chance of their earning money for to repay Willson.

THE KINGS MILL ON THE HUMBER - Now known as The Old Mill, Etobicoke, (Toronto), Ontario:
Gov. Simcoe gave a License to John Willson & to John Brown Lawrence to build & operate the Kings Mill on the Humber River. Both Willson & Lawrence were lawyers who had done legal business together on occasion back in Burlington, NJ. As well both were friends of Gov. Simcoe.

* 1797-99 KINGS MILL First Hand DESCRIPTION *
* The Kingsmill was located between the 2 roads on the west side of the Humber at the spring above at the meadow. * The Mill seat was a log structure 30 feet by 60 feet long built on a small island in the Humber. A dam & mill race were built to allow salmon & other fish free passage up & down without being destroyed in the race or by the mill wheel. No one was allowed to catch these fish. It was here also that one of Governor Simcoe's own horse was stolen while in pasture on John Brown Lawrence's land & it was recovered sometime after his death.
A beautiful cedar swamp provided fencing for the house at the spring on the high banks. The Kingsmill was on the lower end of the famous Toronto Carrying Place Trail. On the high sandy bank opposite Kingsmill there stood for over thousand years a large village of Seneca longhouses.

The best British regulations to preserve the large runs of salmon & trout, also encouraged the cutting of trees along the river habitant. Old photos show graphically the hazards of spring break-up as ice boulders overflow onto the mill race & pond & on the island adjacent the Kingsmill.

. LUMBER from the HUMBER: One fourth of all lumber cut was due as rent payment to the Government. Thick pine slabs from the Kings sawmill were used in the Navy Hall at Niagara-on-Lake, Gov. Simcoe's home called Castle Frank; the First Parliament Buildings on Kings St., Toronto, & cedar was used to build the Howland's the Lambton Mill, a mile up stream at Dundas Street.
- Willson was paid from the public purse to deliver by oxen, the thick pine planks to Castle Frank on Bloor Street.
- 1798 May John Willson had cut lumber to build on his front lot in the Town of York.

. 1797 Jul 17 - Inhabitants to York Township & adjoining Townships, assembled, Inhabitants of the Humber:
John Willson, Esq.: Men 2, Women 1;
John Wilson, Junr.: Men 3, Women 2.

. 1797 Nov 9th - Lt. John McGill registered in his papers, an application from John Willson to purchase the Kings Mill which Willson found in need of improvements when he first took up the lease. A total of £299 income had been generated from 1794 -1796 the saw mill operations. Willson might have had an opportunity to purchase the Kingsmill, if Lieut. Gov. Simcoe remained in Upper Canada when the Mill lease opened up again in 1799.

. 1796 July 16 - From the government stores, Gov. Simcoe ordered to be issued to John Lawrence, Esq., a pair of French Bur Mill Stones & grist mill irons as needed for the befit of the settlers in that district. John Willson send the Government the first seven barrels of corn ears of flour that he had milled & measured on 20 October, 1796.
Note4: Is this the same French Burr mill stone sitting outside of current 'Old Mill Inn' on the Humber River? -PJA.

. Lease from the Kingsmill ran from 1 Jan 1796 to end of 1798. Unfortunately his partner John Lawrence died about the 10 July, 1798 & Willson friend & sponsor, Gov. Simcoe had returned to England due to ill health.

. ICE JAMS: Photos of ice jams at spring break up show clearly that the British engineers who chose this location in Upper Canada had no idea of the force of the Humber River in spring or the storm run off, especially with the increased deforestation would decimate the salmon fishery... Since Hurricane Hazel in 1957 the Humber Valley is considered a flood plain & is preserved as park land only. Contractors hired by the British to build the mill did not finish the job. The millstones cut too slowly & the mill race & pond & other repairs had to be done at the expense of John Willson. Willson was granted Lots 4 & 5 on the Humber River, but the Government mill on this property had to be leased out at the cost of half of the wood cut. The normal fee was usually one quarter of the wood cut. - P J Ahlberg 2009.

. 1799 Feb 13 - Petition for machinery for the mills at the Humber rejected. p226.
. 1800 Jan 12 - Proposal by the President respecting the mill on the Humber, p.202
. 1801 Oct 15 - Repairs authorized for the Mill at the Humber. page 156.
Ref: Report on Canadian Archives, 1891 edition.

( . 1804 Sep 15, York, Upper Canada. We understand the late heavy rains have done material damage to the roads in different parts of the country, insomuch as to render them in some places told impassible, by sweeping away the causeways & bridges. At the Credit the water suddenly rose to such a height as entirely to overflow the ground occupied by the Indians as an encampment, for the purpose of fishing, carried away all before it. The Indians, in the greatest consternation, narrowly escaped in the night, with their lives, after having lost their canoes, arms & other property. Considerable damage has also been sustained by individuals in many places in loss of corn, hay etc & particularly at & near Don river, in the breaking of Mill dams. We are informed that the Humber Mills are entirely destroyed.
Red: Morning Chronicle Newspaper, New York, NY., published Oct 2, 1804.)

. Nicholas Clinkenbroomer (Klingenbrunner) the first tailor of the Town of York states that he married a Sarah Sally White in York in January of 1799. The marriage was conducted by John Wilson J.P. because there was no Anglican Church in York as yet. Settled Yonge St. [1837 Chas Clinkenbroomer, 229 King St.; J. Clkinbroomer, Tailor , Duchess St.]

. 1799 Mar 23rd, John Willson advertised in the Oracle, York to sell Lots 4 & 5, the 50 acres & a most beautiful cedar swamp. Persons willing to purchase may know the conditions by applying to John Wilson, Esquire, on Yonge Street. When the lease expired it was purchased by Peter Whitney.

. 1800 May 26 - A Memorial of Indenture of Bargain & Sale, made A Memorial of Indenture of Bargain & sale dated 26 May, 1800, made between John Willson, Markham Twp., Esqr. & Rebecca his wife & Peter Whitney*, York Twp., whereby said John Willson hath granted a certain tract of land lying Lots 4 & 5, on the Humber, York Twp., 200 Acres. Signed & Sealed 26 May, 1800, John Willson, Wit: John Willson Jr. & Still. Willson., sworn before T. Ridout.
Ref: York Land Registry Office, Toronto
Note5: Peter Whitney resided on the Miramichi R. near John Willson & was one of the families brought with Willson to York. Later he lived Lot 3, Con 8 Markham near him.

. 1803 Apr 16, Sat. - On Tuesday night last, the saw mill situated on the Humber accidentally caught fire & was entirely consumed. We have not yet learned how the fire originated.
. 1804 Sep 22 - In our last week's paper, under the Oracle, we mentioned the Humber Mills as being destroyed. We are now happy to have it in our power to contradict that report & to inform the public that they have sustained little or no injury by the late floods.
Ref: The Oracle Newspaper.

. 1800 Jun 15 - Thomas Humberstone, Jr. was married to Ann Nancy Harrison, daughter of Christopher Harrison & Priscilla Peddle on 15 Jun 1800 in York, Ontario. They were married by Justice of the Peace John Willson of the Town of York because "there [was] no minister of the Church of England living within 18 miles of them." Thos. Humberston, L24, Con 1 W of Yonge St., He has a wooden leg, loss in War of 1812.

PART THREE, Life in Upper Canada:

. 1798 May 4, John Willson, Esq. Identification marks of Cattle, hoggs, sheep & swine: a swallow-fork in each ear.

UC LAND GRANTS:
. 1200 ACRES - Lots 4 & 5, on the Humber (adjoining the Kings Mill (Old Mill) June 1797;
. Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, Con 3,
. Dorchester Twp. South, Elgin County, 800 Acres (in the 'future Capital of Upper Canada', also near the land of Lt. Gen. John Graves Simcoe.) Lots 11-14, Con 480 acres. Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, Con 3, Dorchester South, 800 Acres
. Lot 30, Con 1 West Yonge Street, Vaughan, Settlement Duty paid 1801, finally granted Feb. 1809;
. Town of York Lots 3 & 4 N side of Hospital St., Purchased £100, Ontario St. to Sherbourne St. [1827 Bank of Upper Canada Building, 252 Adelaide St. E. 1830 Toronto's First Post Office, 260 Adelaide St. E.]

. From 1798 to about 1820 John lived at Lot 30, Con 1 Yonge Street. He ran a saw mill on his property & he was also a Justice of Peace. John's wife, Rebecca Thixton, died in June 1804 & was buried on her son property, at Lot 26, Yonge Street & Steeles.
(X-Ref: Wm. L. Willson for description of first burial site.)

A Record of the Marks of Horn Cattle, Sheep & Swine. For the Inhabitants of the Townships of York, Scarboro & Etobeconk:
. 1798 May 4th, 1798, John Willson, Esqr. - A Swallow-fork in each ear.
Ref: York, Upper Canada Minutes of Town Meetings, Toronto Ref. Library.

. UPPER CANADA SUNDRIES:
Willson J., 1814 February 8, York, page 7839 & Willson, John, 1814 March 12, York, Pg. 8019-21.
Ref: Archives of Canada, microfiche C 9822-25.

* 1798 Dec 19th, York Officers of the York Militia: John Willson, Esq., Justice of the Peace, formerly Capt. of Militia, in Nova Scotia, to be a Captain in the York Militia.

. " 1802 June 28th, a wolf's scalp certified by J. Wilson, Esq., taken in part of assessment £1. "Page n515.

* 1800 Apr 8, Tuesday. The First Sitting in Upper Canada of the Home District Magistrates:
Wm. Jarvis, JOHN WILLSON, John Small, James Macauly, Wm. Willcocks, Wm. Allan, John McGill, Alex Wood, Wm. Chewett, James Ruggles, signed. Justices of our said Lord the King, assigned to keep the Peace of our said Lord, the King in the Home District & also to hear & determine divers felonies, trespasses & other incidences in the said District. Wm. Jarvis, Esq., chose chairman. Commission opened & read.
Ref: Home District Quarter Session of the Peace Minutes. [i.e. Toronto, York County, Ontario.]

. 1805 Sept 18. John married Catherine B Kuhn who was the widow of a man also named John Willson, who had died 1788 in Duchess Co., New Jersey. They moved northward to Hope (Sharon, Ontario) which is very near Lake Simcoe. Catherine's s on David Willson had split off from the local Quaker group, to start his own group called the Children of Peace, who were having a renaissance of intellectual thought & music. John taught school at the Children of Peace, & John & his 2nd wife Katherine were buried in the Sharon Burial Grounds. John remained Anglican & Bishop Strachan said officiated at his funeral. When eventual son Wm. Ladner Willson's land was sold, Rebecca & John were reburied together under cairn at the Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill, not far from their home on Yonge Street. The Sharon Temple / Children of Peace celebrated their 200 anniversary in 2008 with candlelight concerts & is open as a museum.

WAR of 1812.
. 1812 Sept 14-15. Wilson's & Denison's Companies were dismissed from the Garrison with the detachments from other companies.
. 1812 Oct 17: Ely Playter: I sent the company home as not more than half the company appeared & went down to Captain Wilson's to see after the rest. Stayed all night at Wilson's as my horse left me. On Oct 16 I received a letter from Col. Chewed wording me to march the 1st company to York. Went early to some peoples houses but they keep out of they way. I was much vex at their conduct.
Ref: Ely Playters Diary.

Garrison Orders: Captains for the day tomorrow, Capt. Willson
. 1812 Oct 19 & 29th 1s Militia; Nov 3rd; Nov 8th; Nov 11th; Nov 14th
. 1812 Dec 22, York, - This day the Militia Garrison at York, Officers & men, unanimously contributed to the use of the Society one day's pay per muster.
Ref: The report of the Loyal & Patriotic Society of Upper Canada (for the relief of militiamen's families.)

* * Recapitulation of Fort York, (Toronto), WAR of 1812,
As a captain of the 1st Regiment, York Militia on duty at the captured at Fort York, John Willson was arrested & jailed. John Willson was one of the six officers that signed the papers of Recapitulation to the American invaders. Geo. Playter's Diary tells us, like him, John Willson was armed with a musket & ready for action!

1812 Sep 13, Thos. Ridout's Garrison Orders, Captain for the day tomorrow: Capt Willson. Capts Willson & Denisons Companies together will the Detachments of the Country. Companies now attached to the different companies in the York Garrison shall be permitted to return to their respective homes until further orders, but to hold themselves in readiness to return at shortest notice if required & the officers belong to the companies will take the necessary steps for collecting the men if it is found necessary to recall them.

* 1813 Apr 25 - York. Capt. John Willson, 1st York Militia, Prisoner of War at surrender of the Garrison of Ft. York 27 Apr 1813, captured by the Army & Navy of the US at York.
VERIFY UC SUNDRIES JR OR SR?
WillsonJ.1814 February 8York PAGE 7839
Willson John1814 March12York PAGE 8019-21

. 1814 Jun 10 - Men drafted in Capt. Wm. Jarvis Co., York Militia: STILLWELL WILLSON* formerly of Capt. Ridout 3YM,
Ira Kendrick, substitute for PETER LAWRENCE*,
Wm. Kendrick substitute for THOMAS JOHNSTON* formerly 3rd Reg. Capt Hamilton,
JOHN VANZANTE, Osborn Cox, all formerly 3rd Regt. York,
Isaac Vanderburgher* of 1st York Militia who is a substitute for Joshua Leack & John Willson of Capt Ridout's 3YM,
Jenlay Cameron of 1YM under Capt. Wilson, substitute for Thomas Wilson(*?) of Ridout's 3YMilitia.
Note6: All these are relatives* or neighbors & acquaintances.
Verify: It would appear that John Willson Jr. was likely still ill for him to hire a J. Cameron as his substitute . - PJA].

. John Willson #14005, Capt. of 3rd Reg. York Militia, Captured by Dearborne & Chauncy on 27 May 1813 at York U.C.,
. John Willson #14006, Lieutenant of 3rd Reg. York Militia, Captured by Dearborne & Chauncy on 27 May 1813 at York U.C.
Ref:

. UCLPetition 219, L Bunde 3, C2954, p660
To Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieu Gov. of UC, In Council
The Petition of John Willson, The Elder, Esq., of Markham,
Humbly Sheweth
That your petitioner, an American loyalist, and in the royal service during the American Rebellion, was among the first settlers of this Province, wherein he has ever since remained, & was again on service as Captain commanding a company of the 1st Regiment of York Militia during the late war, part of the time (in York Garrison) in 1812 & was on duty till the capture of York [ June 1813].
Your petition has received from Colonel Allan, who commanded the militia at York whilst your petition was on the duty, the accompanying certificate of his service, but as your petitioner did not command a Flank Company, he is informed by the Adjutant-General of Militia he cannot obtain his (the Adjutant-General's) Certificate for Land. John Willson, York, 28 June 1820.

. I certify that Capt. John Willson, of the 1st Regt. York Militia, was on duty in the Garrison of York during the winter of 1812, and the spring of 1813, under my command, as well as subsequently. He at all times did his duty faithfully and punctually, and with great zeal., Signed, Colonel Wm. Allan, Commander Militia & York Garrison, 15 June 1820.
Envelope: Deferred for Lt. Gov. Maitland, Entered Land Book K, page 411.

. Obituary notice: "At Hope Village, East Guillimbury, on the 8th inst., much & generally regretted, John Wilson, Esq., a native of the Province of New Jersey, aged 90 years & 14 days. Mr. Willson was a U.E. Loyalist & for a long period an active magistrate in the province of New Brunswick. He emigrated into Upper Canada 35 years ago [1793] & contented to enjoy good health until with a few days of his demise. At his request, expressed on his death bed, Doctor Strachan, Archdean on of York, went out to Gwillimbury & performed the last offices of the church over the remains. The venerable dignitary delivery a funeral oration in the chapel of the Children of Peace, in Hope, on the occasion, which was attended by a great concourse of friends, acquainted & relate vies the deceased.".
Ref: Colonial Advocate, Published 16 Jul 1829.
Hope, E. Gwillimbury is also now know as Sharon, Ontario.

* DEATH OF JOHN WILLSON: In your letter of the 24th ult., 1829, you asked about one John Willson who died at Hope (Sharon, ON) about. This old man was called Squire Willson. He was David Willson's stepfather, my father's stepmother's second husband (Katherine Kuhn). Her first husband, also called John Willson, died about 1788 in Duchess County, New York). She soon after married Squire Willson who was a man highly respected. He came, I believe for NS in Gov. Simcoe's time & was by the Governor much thought of. He had a large family by a former wife, but none by this one. There are a number of great grandchildren, living in the Twps. of York & Scarborough. Service of the Canada Company at the time of the settling of Goderich & neighborhood. When these old people became helpless, David Willson took them home and kept them until they died. They died poor but honest. They once had property which his children spent for them.
Ref: Extracted from a letter of 5 December, 1869, Holland Landing Richard Titus Willson.

. A still more complete family history & pictures may be found at North York Public Library, Toronto & at the Richmond Hill Library, under Richard Lawrence, U.E., John Willson, & John Brown Lawrence of New Jersey, NB & Ontario. Research & transcriptions by P J Ahlberg, U.E, May 2009. Thank you. - -- -

Lot 4 - 5, Con 2 & 3 on Humber [River]
North York Book 86, p45 & NY Book 87, p 3
. 1798 Oct 24, Patent, Crown, to John Willson, All (170?) Acres
. 1800 May 26, John Willson et ux, to Peter Whitney, Lots 4 & 5, in all Acres
. 1807 May 8, Peter Whitney et ux, to Jos Haines Jr, Lot in all
. 1827 Mar 19, B&S, Jos. Haines, Wm. Cooper, £320, Lot 4 & 5
. 1880 Apr 21, Grand, Peleg Howland to Mary Ford, $1800, Part 1 Acres S. Dundas Street.
. 1883 Apr 2, Ken Chrisholm, to Credit Valley Railway, $333, Part acre.
Note:7 Adjacent lots 1, 2, 3 belonged to John B Lawrence, Esq.

Ontario Land Registry Abstract Vaughan Book 179, p96
Lot 30, Con 1 West of Yonge Street { later renumbered as Lot 4, Con 1 West side Yonge St.
. 1810 Mar 29, Patent, Crown, to John Willson, Senior, All 210 Acres.
. 1811 Sep 15, Bargain&Sale, John Willson Senior et ux, to Stilwell Willson, £300, All 210A.
. 1819 Jan 30, Mortgage, Stillwell Willson, to Wm. Allan £175, All Acres
. 1822 May 23, B&S, SW, to Wm. Allan £175, All Acres
. 1823 Jul 26, Wm Allan to Henry John Boulton, £168, NE 55A.
. 1824 Jul 16 Indenture, SW, to Andrew McKendry, £12.10, 1/4 Acre.
. 1831 Aug 2, B&S, Stillwell Willson, to Jos. Milburn, £125, SWHalf 50 Acres of rear.
Note8: Lot 30, Con 1 WSY, Vaughan was a given for his partipation in the War of 1812.

Ontario Land Registry Abstract, Town of Toronto Book 684, p127
Lot 3 North side of Richmond St.,
. 1802 May 19, Patent, Crown, to James Elliott, 3/5 Acre
. 1804 Feb 23, B&S, Jas Elliott etall, to Jno Vanznate, 3/5 Acre
. 1805 Sep 5, B&S, Jno Vanzante, to T B Gough, All
. 1810 Mar 12, B&S, T B Gough, to Jno Willson, Senior, All
. 1811 Jan 29, B&S, Jno Willson, to Jesse Ketchum.

Ontario Land Registry, Toronto Book 683, p78
Lot 2, West side of George St, TOWN OF YORK
. 1801 May 20, Grant, Crown, to Saml Nash
. 1805 Feb 14 B&S, Saml Nash, to Jon Willson
. 1806 Oct 28, B&S, John Willson Senr eteux, to Joseph Willocks, W Half.
Note: Adjacent Lot 1 George St., is registered 1811 JANY 13 to daugher, Alice Osborn Vanzante. - - -

Birth:
Lawyer, Burlington, NJ.

Buried:
Children of Peace Burial Grounds.

Died:
Aged 90 years, 14 days. = 14 Jul 1739.

John married Rebekah /Thixton THICKSON(E) in 1760 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey. Rebekah (daughter of Jonathan THICKSTUN, .1 and Mary Coats MARTIN) was born on 10 Jul 1743 in St James, Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ; died on 6 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario; was buried on 7 Jun 1804 in Thornhill, Markham Twp., York Co., Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The spelling Rebekah Thixton is based on her own signature dated 1793.6.27.

From the biography of Rebecca & John's grandson:
. Mr John Willson OSBORN's mother was Alice WILSON, the daughter of John Willson & Rebecca THIXTON, his wife. She was born on Staten Island. She was educated in New York, where the family lived always a part of each year, her father being an officer in the British army, loyal to his king.
They, [John & Rebecca] left the United States & made a new home in Canada, living sometimes at Halifax, Quebec, Montreal, Canancoqua*, & finally settling down at Toronto, buying land & laying, as they supposed, a permanent foundation for a home.
Ref: HISTORY OF VIGO & PARKE COUNTIES Together With Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley, by H.W. Beckwith - 1880, Terre Haute - pp. 169-175.
Note1: Original native place name for Kingston, Ontario. Fort Frontenac also named: Canacoqua or Kateracoui. Cataraqui is the French pronunciation.

. 1773 March 4, Piscataway, New Jersey, a William Thickstun was a witnesses to Rebecca Thixton's father-in-law, John Willson, senior.
Signatures known by Rebekah Willson:
. 1789 Oct 2 - Witnesses: New Brunswick land deed at Beobars Point, Miramichi, NB, Canada, granted by Jonathan Odell.

. 1792 Jun 26 - Likewise Rebekah Willson wife of the said John Willson relinquished her right of dower, 26 Jun 1793. Entered & registered at NewCastle, 29 Jun 1793, Book 2, p 103-6, John Willson, Register.

. 1793 Jun 21 - Indenture #69, between John Willson, Esq. & Rebakah his wife, & Geor. Roy £11 11 shillings, a lot on the point called Boars point, parish of New Castle, bounded by an alder bush marked standing on the north shore, SW Branch of Miramichi R., west of lot sold to Wm. Davidson. Signed & sealed, John & Rebeka Willson.
Registered John Willson, 2 July 1793.

. 1797 - January 18 - A weekly mail is established between Canada & the United States.
. 1797 - January 18 - "A mail for the upper counties, comprehending Niagara & Detroit, will be closed, at this office on Monday, 30th instant, at 4 o'clock in the evening, to be forwarded, from Montreal, by the annual winter express, on Thursday, 2nd February next."
Ref: Quebec Gazette, official government newspaper, Quebec, Canada.

. Obituary:
On Wednesday the 6th instant, at two in the morning, departed this life, much lamented, Rebecca Wilson, wife of John Wilson, Esq., of Yonge street, in the 63 year of her age. The following day her remains were followed by a numerous train of mourners, & friends to the place of interment, where a suitable oration was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Stuart on the solemn occasion.
Ref: THE ORACLE, York. Published Saturday, June 16, 1804, No. 8, Total # 684 (subscribers.)

Rebecca & John Willson were living with their son Wm. Ladner, at the time of Rebecca's death.

. BURIAL CAIRN
Willson - East face: John Willson Esq., aged 90 years & 11 days died July 8th 1829. Moved 1940 from East Gwillimbury. In mind Rebecca Willson wife of John Willson Esq. departed June 6th 1804, aged 61 years. Moved in 1940 from Lot 26 in Markham, which was a Loyalist grant to her son W. L. Willson. [Wm. Ladner Willson.]

West face: John Willson, U.E.L. born in Middlesex Cy, New Jersey, 1739. died in York Cy, Upper Canada, 1829. Also his wife. Rebecca Thixton, born in New Jersey, 1743 died in Markham Tp., Yonge St 1804.
John Willson brought his family to St. John, N.B. in the "May Fleet" in 1783, & came to Upper Canada in 1793. He held the lease of the "Kings Mill on St John's Creek" on the site of the present ruin known as the Old Mill on the Humber, from 1793 till 1799, when he came to Yonge St. with his son & a nephew, John Arnold. He was among the officers of the 1st York Regiment held prisoners at Fort York in April, 1813.

. RE-BURIALS: John had been buried in 1829 in Queensville Burial Grounds, with his second wife Katherine Kuhn. Rebecca had been buried in 1804 on her son's William's farm on 1 Jan.,1940, descendant Alice Willson of Toronto had them reburied together & had build also the stone cairn near south side fence, in Holy Trinity Cemetery. This incidentally would be adjacent to the property of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Willson Lawrence, which is the last lot in the Toronto. (This stone cairn is near south side fence, in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Richmond Hill on Yonge St., behind Baptist Church Holy Trinity Church which since has been moved when Yonge Street was widened from two lanes.)
Ref: North York Ref: Library, North York Enterprise, Newspaper Collection, R E. Wm. C H Dowson & Alice Willson. - PJ Ahlberg, 2010.

. 1940 Oct 10, North York: Erects Memorial Cairn of Boulders
Mr. W C H Dick Doson of 68 Parkview Ave., Willowdale has just completed the erection of a memorial cairn of field boulders in Thornhill Anglican Cemetery. This is to the memory of Capt. John Willson, Esq., & his wife Rebecca Thixton. ... His wife predeceased him in 1804. She was buried in what is now the lawn of Mr. Hugh Wilson (no relation) on the north side of Steeles Ave. near Bayview.
Her gravestone the oldest in the area is believed to have been carved & erected by her husband himself. It is a piece of unhewn river slate such as is found in the Humber river area. The lettering, crudely carved reads, "In Mind, Rebecca Willson, wife of John Willson, Esq. who died June the 6, 1804. " The two old head stones are set together in the east side of the cairn facing the rising sun, wind & storms. The cairn boulders are not hammer dressed but remain as they came from the field.
The cairn contains, history of Thornhill Anglican Church; other records, coins & stamps inc. a letter, sealed in a glass container.
The work was done for Miss Alice Willson of Toronto, who is a retired teacher of languages; & a direct descendent of those to whom the memorial is erected. She is also a descendent of Mr. Jacob Cummer founder of Willowdale.
Ref: North York Enterprise Newspaper.

Note: New Jersey Will mentions Arnold relations & Yonge St. neighbours Langstaff:
1797 Sept 15 Arnold, John, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co. Administrators James Arnold, David Thorn. Fellow bondsmen Henry Fourat & Joseph Thicksun all of said County.
Inventory £266 made by John Langstaff, senior & Junior.

St. James Episcopal Church, 2136 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, Piscataway, NJ. ' Founded 1666. Organized in 1704, this is the second church on the site. It was erected in 1837 in the new Greek Revival style, Although the cemetery does not appear well tended, the church has been kept us exceptionally well.' Edison was formerly called Raritan Township. Revolutionary War skirmishes took place in Bonhamtown, Piscataway on Woodbridge Avenue. St. James Episcopal Church building served as a barracks hospital for wounded British soldiers during the war. Piscatawaytown Burial Ground is also referred to as the White Church Cemetery.

For Research:
1. Thikston, Wm. & Ruth, daughter Patience, born Dec. 20, 1714.
Ref: Piscataway Town Hall, Register of Births, Vol. 2, 3rd series.
2. Rebecca Thicksun, born 18 May 1798, Bonhamtown, Middlesex, NJ d/o Lewis Wm. Thickstun & Mary Molly Compton. Is this a brother or some relation? & she married Chamberlain.
3. Rebecca Thickstun, b 1751 Piscataway, Middlesex NJ, d 23 Sep 1819 Woodbridge, Middlesex, NJ. Relationship?
4. NJ Calendar of Wills: 1711-12 Feb. 12. Blackford, Samuel, of Piscataway, Witnesses: William Thick Stone, Wm. Lang, Ad. Hude. Proved April 29,1712.
5. WILL of Azariah Dunham of NB, Middlesex Co., NJ, 1789 Dec 23, to Daughter Jane, wife of Joseph Thixton of Piscataway, 30 Acres. - - -

Birth:
Rebekah Ref: Signatures dated 1793.6.27 Thickston, Thicksun, Thitston.

Died:
on property of son Wm. L Willson.

Buried:
Lot 26, Con 1 Yonge East Side, Wm L Willson property.

Notes:

Married:
St. James Church

Notes:

. 1701 Dec 19, born, John, son of John & Hannah Wilson.
Ref: Piscataway Town Hall, Register of Births, Vol. 2, 3rd series.

. John Willson, the weaver, left his farm in Piscataway & moved in about 1746 to Sussex County, NJ.

* 1759 Apr 7 - "This indenture made the 7th day of April, in the 32 year of the reign of King George the Second, Anno Domino, 1759 between John Wilson, of Wantage Precinct, in the county of Sussex, of the first part & Samuel, son of the said John Wilson, of the town & county aforesaid of the other part; witnesseth that the said John Wilson in consideration of the sum of £50 proclamation money in hand paid by the said Samuel Wilson, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained, granted, sold, rebased, engeossed? & confirmed & by these presents doth sell.... all that 105 acres of land, strict measure, situated on the west side of the head of the drowned lands, beginning at a white oak tree standing south 6 degrees east 8 chains, from the head of a large spring by said Willson's house, then ....to the place of beginning; to which said Wilson hath right, by virtue of a deed to him from William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, (referring here to his deed first above mentioned).
In witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their hands & seals the day & year first above written.
Sealed & delivered in the presence of John Havens, Richard Gardner,
John Wilson."
Ref: NJ Secretary Office, Perth Amboy, Book K2, P401.

* 1759 Dec 17 - Evi. A. Wilson at Deckertown, N.J., Evi, also has another deed, whereby the said Samuel Wilson, purchased of William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, Peter VanBrough Livingston & other, December 17, 1759, "for & in consideration of £ 38.16s.4d," two tracts of land adjoining the first above named 100 acre farm situate "on the North branch of Beaver Run, called Hubb's cabin or run, & one boundary of which was where Haven's road crosses said run' containing 40 & 90/100 acres & 13 & 44/100 acres respectively. We judge from this that the witness to the John & Samuel deed.
Note: John Havens, was at that time a neighbor & near or at where Asa Havens now lives, as old traditions have kept the remembrance of the old road alive. John Gavens was perhaps the pioneer settler of that family in Wantage.

. 1751 June 14, John Willson received 100 Acres of unappropriated 'drowned lands' from William Alexander, Earl of Sterling, Scotland from the East Jersey Proprietors.
[About 1760 this land was transfer by deed this land to son, Samuel Willson.]
Ref: Liber A.B 3, p 218, Public records of the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey in the Surveyor General's office at Perth Amboy in Book S.M. 4, page 53."

. Then John & wife Sarah returned about 1760 to Piscataway with John Junior (i.e. b. 1739, later to be referred to as Senior), with is wife Rebekah Thickston from Piscataway & their son John Willson Sr. lived on the Piscataway farm until he died in 1775.

John Willson Sr. purchased small amounts of land, forming one farm from:
. 1728 John Willson, weaver, purchased 32 Acres from Stephen Arnold.
. 1734, Samuel Leonard, 1743, Chas. Wilson, 1764 & 1766, Robt Martin. 1751 Perth Amboy drowned lands & deeded to son Samuel Willson.

* From the testimony of his son, John Willson junior (later called John Willson, I. Senior, UE., born 1739-1829.)
United Empire Loyalist, Part 2, New Claim:
John Wilson, late of Jersey, Claimant appears & being sworn saith he came to this N.B. Province in the May Fleet. ….Was possessed of one estate in Piscataway, came by this father's will, Produces Probate whereby it appears that his father, John Wilson gives Claimt., after few Legacies, all the remainder of his estate real & personal, to him. Will dated 4 March, 1773. Claimant had 2 elder brothers, who were both provided for in his father's lifetime. He died in April 1775. Claimant was in possession with his father, & continued in possession after his father's death till he came.
... The Estate consisted of about 100 Acres purchased by his father at different times. Produces deeds. These lands were in his father's possession, after he had portioned out claimant's two brothers'. There was a large orchard, an dwelling house & barn. Vals. It at £1,000 York Cury.
They were confiscated & sold Monday, 22 March, 1779. It has gone thro several hands; was in possession of Simeon Randal, & one Little, who claimt. heard last left a stock on his farm, 4 horses, 2 cows, 4 young cattle, farming utensils, some furniture. Enough of the farm was clear. This farm was well improved, buildings good. Vals. xx per acre. He heard it was confiscated & sold. A Rebel Commissary was the first purchaser. He had good team & was in good circumstances.

There were many Willson relatives in County Antrim, the descendants of William of Orange's soldiers from Northumberland England/ lowland Scotland.

. 1700 Dec. 22. Confirmation to William LAWRENCE of Middletown, holding 1-20 of 1-24 share of the Province, in full for his second dividend, of:
1. 10 acres, W. of Wakake Creek & Richard HARTSHORNE, N. said HARTSHORN, E. J. ROCKMAN Junior & J. WILSON Junior, S. J. WILSON Senior;
2. 15 a. of meadow on the Eastside of said creek, from said HARTSHORN's to the mouth of the creek, including 2 sedge banks on the West side;
3. 17 a. of upland on the West side of & along said creek, adjoining Zebulon CLAYTON;
4. 36 a. on Manasquam R., below Stony Point, adjoining R. Hartshorn;
5. 40 a. there, between John Lawrence, the Rock Pond & the sea;
6. 47 a. being all the sedge islands in Manasquam R., from Joseph Lawrence's upper corner to the sea; 7, 70 a. on the South side of said river below Hartshorns Island to the sea; 815 a. on a branch of Leonard's Sawmill brook, called Mirry Bog Brook; in all 250 acres.
Note1: Verify this John Willson.
Ref: NJ Colonial Documents.

. 1763 - Wilson, James, Monmouth married Catherine Stillwell of Monmouth on 1 Jun 1765.
Note2: Grandson is Stillwell Willson, born NJ. - PJA.

. 1773 Mar 4, WILL of JOHN WILLSON of Piscataway, Middlesex Co.,
Advanced in age. Son Samuel 20 shillings, Wife, Sarah, furniture,
Son John rest of personal & real estate.
Executor: Son John Willson.
Witnesses: William Thickstun*, Sarah Ross, John Ross.
Proved: 1774 Jun 14.
Inventory £174.2.0, made by Thomas Munday* & John Arnold*.

* Note3: * Thomas Munday is the husband of dau. Sarah Willson. Thomas Mundy Sr. was dead 8.10.1773, I suppose he could have done the inventory between Mar. 4 1773 and the time he died, before the Will was proven OR possibly his son Thomas Munday, Jr. married 3 years previous in 1770 to Sarah Willson.
Ref: Nick Mundy Sanborn Sr., 2016.)
. Wm. Thickstun is related to daughter-in-law Rebekek Thickston (John Willson.1 ( & John Arnold are Willson-in-laws.)
Ref: NJ Lib L, p.147, volume XXXIV, Abstracts of Wills 171-1770.

. (The date of landing of the Willsons has not yet been established. This John Willson was born 1701 in Piscataway, New Jersey: - PJA.)

Recorded for further research:
. 1725 Aug. 26. Cock, Walter, of Burlington Township, brickmaker; … 1727 April I. Account of the estate by the executor, Robert Jones, who has paid debts due to John Willson.
. 1688 Sept. 2. WILL of Tartt, Edward, of Monmouth Co.; Divides real & personal estate between Margery Joebes, John Rutman, junior, Thomas Renshall, Sara Rutman, John Willson junior, sister Elizabeth & her daughters.
James Grover & John Willson junior.
Witnesses: John Throckmorton & John Stout. Proved September 25, 1688.
Ref: N.J. Archives, XXL, p. 131

. 1700 Oct. 15. WILL of Tatham, Elizabeth, of Burlington, widow.

. 1724 July 14. WILL of Tan Hook, Lawrence, of Monmouth Co., Esq're …bonds & mortgages due by John Lawrence, John … John Willson & others.

. Witness: WILL Proved. 1761 May 26, John Willson, son, Henry salt meadow in Piscataway,
Grandsons, John & Wm. Hopkins,
Dau. Sarah Hopkins, deceased, Son Henry.
Witnesses: David Conger, John Wilson, Jr., John Arnold, NJ
Archives, first Series, Vol. XXXIII, p. 241
Ref: Bonham & related family lines.

. Further research, (Verify which John Willson): Along with Capt. Wm. Lawrence, a John Wilson was one of the original purchases of land from the Indians, 1667. He was awarded town lot # 3 Middleton & others.
Ref: Salter’s History of Monmouth & Ocean Counties New Jersey. - - -

Birth:
Older spellings: Piscataqua Town. Wilfon. Also Styled himself as 'junior', relative to your perspective.

John married Sarah LADNER in 1738. Sarah was born in 1705 in New Jersey; died in 1773 in New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Verify this Sarah Ladner is the daughter Elizabeth Jouet & Absolom Ladner of Elizabethtown, NJ.

Recorder for further research:
. There were Ladner's living in Piscataway, NJ: Anna Ladner, born 1728 married 1748 in Baptist Church of Piscataway to Peter Martin of Piscataway, NJ.

. Mary Ladner, born 1689, Essex Co., NJ - 1733.1.5, Elizabeth, NJ, d/o Elizabeth Jouet & Absalom Ladner.
Mary Ladner married 1709 NJ to Anthony Little, 1685-1733. Six Little children.
. Peter Ladner, b 1693 Elizabethtown, NJ.
. Daniel Ladner, b 1695, Elizabethtown, NJ.
. Sarah Ladner, 1705- c1773 NJ.

. WILL of Robert Ladner, of Elizabeth Town, Essex Co., saddler;
Wife Sarah sole heiress & executrix of real & personal estate.
Witnesses: Benjamin Trotter, Jacob Mitchell, Samuel Whitehead.
Proved August 25, 1718. Lib. A, p. 109.
Robert's WILL is dated 29 Jun 1718.
Ref: NJ Archives Vol 23, P 278.

* Additionally, in this WILL, a grandson of John & Sarah is named William Ladner. {of which 1718 would be too early for William Ladner Willson of Vaughan Twp., Ontario.
Further research to identify relationship.

. Also recorded for further research, as demonstrated, Ladner family in NJ:
. April 1779 Tax List. New Brunswick, North Ward, Middlesex Co., NJ:
Ladner, Andrew L, householder.

. COMPARE WITH: 1793 New Jersey Militia Census Piscataway, Middlesex Co., NJ: Robt. Ladner, aged 22, that is born 1771. - - -

Birth:


Died:
verify.

Notes:

Ulster & Orange Counties, NJ Marriages:
. 1737 Oct 25, Samuel Willson, Piscataway X Mary Martin, Piscataway, NJ.
. 1743 May 11, Mary Martin, Piscataway X John Thickston, Piscataway, NJ.
Ref: History of the First Baptist Church of Wantage, Sussex, New Jersey.

. History of Long Island: Hempstead. In 1647 there were 57 freeholders in the [Hempstead] township, & a formal division of the land was made anions'.
X-Ref: Compare Samuel's brother John Willson, Jr. married Rebecca Thickston/Thixton. -PJA.
. 1746 Nov 18, WILL of Jeremiah Bloomfield, 1693-1746. Witness: John Thickston.

They were as follows: Richard Gildersleeve, William Lawrence, William Thickstone (Thickstone), Thomas Willet, John Lawrence, Thomas. (etc.)
In 1673 the list had passed the hundred mark, as may be seen from the enumeration preserved in A'anderkemp's Translation of Dutch Records, XXII.

. 1747 May 26, WILL of John Thickston of Middlesex Co., NJ, blacksmith.
Mary Thickston, widow, renounces her right of administration & desires that William Clawson be appointed.
Witnesses: Samuel Martin, Isaac Manning.,
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib 3, page 476.

XRef: 1749 May 26. Bond of William Clawson of Essex Co. & Isaac Manning of Middlesex Co., yeoman, principal creditors, as administrators.
John Deare of Perth Amboy, Fellow bondsman. - - -

Birth:
(Original English name was Theakston).

Died:
Verify this John Thickston.

Jonathan married Mary Coats MARTIN on 11 May 1733 in Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Mary (daughter of Benjamin MARTIN, .Jr. and Philoreta SLATER) was born on 10 Mar 1710 in Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., New Jersey; died in 1755 in Woodbridge, Piscataway Twp., Middlesex Co., NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary is the daughter of Susannah Alger & Joseph Josiah Martin, both of Piscatawy, NJ.

. 1747 May 26, WILL of John Thickston of Middlesex Co., blacksmith.
Mary Thickston, widow, renounces her right of administration & desires that William Clawson be appointed.
Witnesses: Samuel Martin, Isaac Manbing.

. 1747 May 26. Bond, Wm. Clawson of Essex Co. & Isaac Manning of Middlesex Co., yeomen, principal creditors, as administrators. Jean Dear of Perth Amboy, Fellow Bondsman.
Ref: NJ State Archives, Lib E, p46

. 1750 July 7, WILL of Josep Martin, of Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., yeoman
wife Elisabeth, Children: William, Merrit, Valentine, Benjamin, John, Joseph, Katherine Codington, Sarah Connet, Rebecca Morgan, Sussanah Kelley, Mary Coats. Personal property.
Proven 1757 Jun 7.
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib. F. P429.

Martin Family Land:
. 1755 Jul 1 - WILL of Benjamin Martin, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co.,
Wife Philerato,
Sons: Benjamin, Nathanael, Peter.
Daughter Zerviah, wife of Jeremiah Blackford,
Grandchildren: Athanasius, James, Luther;
Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Ruben - sons of Benj;
Mary, Isiah & Benj - children of Nehmiah & Elizabeth Bonham;
Zerviah, d/ of Zedekiah & Anna Bonham.
Leaves Land bough of father Ben. Martin, home farm on the Mill Brook, Woodbridge, bought in part of John Martin & John Bloomfield; land bought of brother Jonathan Martin; 16 A. in Essex Co. bough to Samuel drake & Isaac Chandler; a lot at vineyard not of Wm. Edinfield?.
Executors: son Benjamin, son-in-law, John Blackford, & cousin James Martin.
. 1757 May 10, Inventory £190.16.3, incl his purse, £37.8.8. Large Bible, a Bible in another gone, other books.
. 1757 May 3 Proved.
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib F, p422.

Her Grandfather's WILL:
. 1755 Apr 2, WILL OF Peter Martin, Piscataway, Wife Sarah, Children Robt., Peter, Zirviah Runyon, Priscilla, Mary Faurat & Sarah Martin. Grandsons: Thos. (s/o of late eldson son Mulford Martain), Mulford & Sam. Martain, Lot of 39 Acres in Woodbridge, adjoining Gershom Martain, salt meadow; home farm, adjoining John Willson*; salt meadow in Martain's Neck, & same at the moth of the Great Pond.
Ref: NJ Wills, Lib 10, p293.

Note* - Adjoining John Willson's land:
This is the land of the father of John Willson, Sen. (1739-1829);
- So we see here that his future spouse to be, Rebecca Thickson's grandparents,
lived on the land adjoining in Piscataway, NJ. - PJA.
Is this the same home farm as on Mill Brook, Woodbridge?

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. 2019. - - -

Birth:


Died:
Verify DOD.