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Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869
Sixth Generation, cont.

Stephen Wilkinson5    [141] William,4 [57] Joseph,3
      and   [11] Samuel,2 [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
Mahala Burgess,

Of Gloucester sic, R. I.

275.I. Amey,6 b. d.
276.II. George,6 (508-515) b. Jan. 27, 1810, d.
277.III. Nelson,6 (516-523) b. Dec. 13, 1811, d. March 10, 1864.
278.IV. William,6 b. d.
279.V. James,6 b. d.
280.VI. Mary,6 b. d.
281.VII. Sarah,6 b. d.
282.VIII. William,6 (524-526) b. March 6, 1821, d.
283.IX. Hazel,6 (527-534) b. June 5, 1823, d.
284.X. James M.,6 (535-538) b. Feb. 26, 1825, d.
285.XI. Truman B.,6 b. d.
286.XII. Joseph,6 b. d.
287.XIII. Asaph,6 (539) b. d.
288.XIV. Nancy,6 b. d.

I.  Amey, m. Erastus Freeman, r. Amboy, Lee Co., Ill.

II.  George, m. Julia Ann Manton, resides in Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., Ill. They have eight children.

III.  Nelson, born in Glocester, R. I., m. Elizabeth Niles, of Charleston, Pa., Dec. 13, 1840, r. Buda, [Bureau Co.,] Ills., he was a farmer, and honest man and a christian. He had a family of eight children.

VII.  Sarah, m. Philander Niles, r. Middleburg, Pa.

VIII.  William, m. Mary Hill, r. Charleston, Tioga Co., Pa., has three children.

IX.  Hazel, m. Jane West, b. May 4, 1827, r. Buda, Ill.

X.  James M., m. A. J. McInroy, has four children, r. Charleston, Pa. He was in the Union Army and lost a leg in front of Petersburg, June 18, 1864. James enlisted Feb. 8, 1864, and went to Harrisburg and thence to the front via Port Royal, Rappahannoch and Bowling Green. June 18, they were ordered to charge a fort that commanded the Weldon road, and advanced so close that the enemy was obliged to throw their shells almost straight up into the air in order to let them fall upon our troops. One burst about twenty feet from James, and threw a small round shot into his knee joint. He crawled back about two miles, and found an ambulance which took him to the Division Hospital. His leg was amputated on the following day, and he was taken to City Point, with three in an ambulance. This he describes as hard times. During July his life was despaired of, but he, putting his trust in God, survived, and left Alexandria for Washington Nov. 28, where he remained till Jan. 19, 1865. Two days after this he arrived home, disabled for life in the service of his country. He is highly respected by his fellow townsmen, and as an appreciation for his patriotism and worth, they have made him Collector and Constable.

XIII.  Asaph, m. Mary A. Short, r. Charleston, Tioga Co., Pa., has one child.

This branch of the family are noted for their energy, industry and perseverence, and deserve the favorable consideration of their fellow citizens.
For many years this branch of the family had been lost.

Oziel Wilkinson5    [142] John,4 [14] John,3
      and   [11] John,2 [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
Lydia Smith,  *

Of Pawtucket, R. I.

289.I. Lucy,6 b. Nov. 20, 1766, d. Dec. 3, 1840.
290.II. Abraham,6 (540-47) b. Oct. 10, 1768, d. Apr. 15, 1849.
291.III. Isaac,6 (548-49) b. Oct. 10, 1768, d. Mar.  2, 1843.
292.IV. David,6 (550-53)b. Jan. 5, 1771, d. Feb. 3, 1852.
293.V. Marcy,6 b. Mar. 19, 1773, d. Sept. 29, 1855.
294.VI. Hannah,6 b. Dec. 15, 1774, d. Oct. 2, 1812.
295.VII. Daniel,6 (554-58) b. Jan. 26, 1777, d. Mar. 19, 1826.
296.VIII. George,6 b. Jan. 23, 1779, d. Jan. 25, 1783.
297.IX. Smith,6 (559-64) b. July 5, 1781, d. Nov. 5, 1852.
298.X. Lydia,6 b. Sept. 1, 1783, d. July 28, 1836.


I.  Lucy, married Timothy Greene, son of Paul Greene of Potowam, Warwick, R. I. He was a relative of Gen. Greene of Revolutionary fame, and was born June 12, 1760. In the early part of his life he was a tanner and currier, and continued in that trade till some time after his removal to Pawtucket, where he did an extensive business.
The Rev. Mr. Goodrich, in his centennial address, makes the following allusion to Mr. Greene, ______, in 1799, the second cotton mill was begun. This was reared by Mr. Oziel Wilkinson and his three sons-in-law, Samuel Slater, Timothy Greene, and William Wilkinson, and was built on the Massachusetts side of the river. I have named Mr. Greene as a son-in-law of Oziel Wilkinson. He had been previously engaged in the manufacture of leather. His tannery occupied the site of what are now called Greene's Mills. Indeed, his original business was the manufacture of shoes, and even after he gave his attention to tanning, he employed several men in the former business. As illustrating the extent of his operations in in tanning, the incidental statement of one of his workmen may be quoted:  "We ground 200 cords of bark per year, while I worked for Mr. Greene. We tanned 1000 hides a year for him, and fulled 1500 for others." Mr. Greene's activity contributed to the prosperity of our town, and his descendants have continued to do their share of the business of this place."
He at length abandoned the employment of tanner and currier and engaged with Slater and Wilkinson in the manufacturing business which was then in its infancy, and by his perseverence and energy he gave an impetus to the cause that the State of Rhode Island still feels on many of its tributaries. He aided in building the "White Mill" above alluded to in 1799-1800, and was associated with Slater a great many years, and finally purchased his share in the above mill, and managed the affairs alone for a number of years under the name of "Timothy Greene & Sons."
He ranks among the first and most enterprising of New England Manufacturers, and the State of Rhode Island is greatly indebted to his enterprise in this branch of domestic industry.
Their children are as follows:

  1. Mary G., b. Aug. 8, 1822, d. March 9, 1824;
  2. Stephen, b. Sept. 26, 1824, d. July 25, 1842;
  3. Thomas, b. Dec. 3, 1825, m. Kate Dexter, of Boston, Oct. 14, 1852.  She died Sept. 18, 1854, leaving a daughter who also died.  He m. 2d wife, April 17, 1861, Sarah Bullock;
  4. James, b. Feb. 23, 1827;
  5. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 1828, m. James Vila, of Boston, July 21, 1850. He died Nov. 22, 1850.  She m. 2d husband, Oct. 27, 1858, Edward B. Reynolds of Boston.
  6. Edwin, b. Nov. 4, 1830, m. Clara Crowly, Oct. 1, 1861;
  7. Benjamin C., b. Aug. 17, 1833;
  8. Robert, b. May 14, 1835;
  9. Anna Greene, b. June 22, 1837;
  10. John, b. May 31, 1839, d. Nov. 1, 1839;
  11. Carolina A., b. Aug. 27, 1840;
  12. Charles F., b. Apr. 2, 1844, d. Feb. 2, 1845.

  • Anna W., b. April 15, 1803, married May, 1822, Edward Walcott. Their children are:

    1. Anna G., b. April 1, 1823, m. Thomas T. Phillips, of Philadelphia, April 3, 1845. They reside south and have a family of children.
    2. Edward, b. April 5, 1827;
    3. William, b. Aug., 1829, married.

    Thus it will be seen Timothy and Lucy are the progenators sic of a numerous posterity. They were members of the Friends' Society and led consistent christian lives. He was noted for his business talent and for the promptness with which he fulfilled every engagement. Multitudes of poor people found employment and received aid at his hand, and after fulfilling his mission he fell asleep on the 8th of the second month, 1834. His wife closed her earthly pilgrimage the 3rd of the twelfth month, 1840, at the advanced age of 74, well stricken in years. She has left a life-record that will be long remembered by her surviving relatives. They are both interred in the North Providence Cemetery.

     II.  Abraham
    		 
    III.  Isaac
    		  (twins) were the oldest sons of Oziel Wilkinson, and were
    born in Smithfield, R. I., on the same day. They removed with their father to Pawtucket in 1783, where they labored together in their father's anchor shop. Isaac took the whole charge of the shop with a large number of men, at 17 years of age. The two brothers continued to labor for their father until about 1790 when they commenced a partnership in business, which continued till 1829. Their iron business became very extensive, as they had furnaces in Pawtucket, Providence and Fall River. They also built some kinds of cotton machinery, and built and operated extensive cotton mills at Pawtucket, Valley Falls and Albion in Smithfield. Abraham in consequence of an injury received in the discharge of his arduous labors in the anchor shop, became unfitted for heavy labor, and took the management of their financial affairs, while the extensive business of their anchor shop, machine shops, and furnaces devolved upon Isaac. The latter eminently fitted for such work by his extraordinary physical powers, and great mechanical skill, continued in his labors until he was nearly seventy years of age. The great revolution in cotton business in 1829, caused a dissolution of the partnership of the two brothers, and their remaining years were passed in comparative quiet.

    Isaac Wilkinson was a devoted and consistent christian, having been baptized and received into the first Baptist Church in Pawtucket in 1816. His house was ever after the home of the Baptist clergy, and his ample means were liberally contributed to build and sustain Baptist churches. No member of his church did more to sustain the cause. He bore his pecuniary reverses with great fortitude and equinimity, sic and only lamented the loss of power to help the needy.
    As the world with its pleasures and cares faded from his vision, his faith in the Divine providences became stronger, and his hopes of a blessed future with his Savior, and the loved saints who had gone before became brighter. He died after a short illness in the 75th year of his age. Isaac married Lois Marsh and had two children.
    Abraham was a member of the Legislature of Rhode Island in 1807, and was frequently returned by his constituency. He held many town and county offices and filled them to the entire satisfaction of the people. He survived till 1849 in his 81st year, and fell asleep, bidding adieu to surrounding friends. He married Lydia Whipple, and had a family of eight children.

    IV.  David, was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, married Martha Sayles, daughter of Jeremiah Sayles, who was the son of Thomas Sayles and Esther (Scott), who was the son of John Sayles and Elizabeth Sayles, who was the son of John Sayles and Mary (Williams) his wife, the eldest daughter of Roger Williams. The last mentioned John Sayles signed the original compact in company with Lawrance Wilkinson as may be seen ante. His son John was born Aug. 17, 1654, and his son Thomas was b. Feb. 9, 1698-9, and his son Jeremiah was born Dec. 17, 1743, and his daughter, Martha, David's wife, was June 11, 1776. Thus we go back to Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island in this branch of the family.
    Albert S. Wilkinson, son of David, sends the following sketch of the Sayles family, being his mother's line of descent as far back as was remembered by them:
    "Jeremiah Sayles, son of Thomas Sayles and Esther Scott, his wife, born in Smithfield, R. I. on "Sayles Hill,"—so called, 17th Dec. 1743, O. S. He died in North Providence, 27th June, 1818. He married Anna Steere, dau. of Jonah Steere and Lydia Whipple his wife, born in Glocester—it is supposed—Rhode Island 10th Jan., 1753 (O. S. 1st Jan.) She died in North Providence, 16th July, 1835.
    The above were married—it is believed—1st Aug., 1775.  Their children were:  (1) Martha, b. in North Providence, June 11, 1776, who married David Wilkinson, of Pawtucket; (2) James, b. in Providence, Oct. 11, 1777, died unmarried Jan. 27, 1794; (3) Abigail, b. in North Providence, Aug. 18, 1788, m. Ira Pidge, of Providence. She died 3 or 4 years ago leaving a family of children [about 1863 or 1864?].  (4) Stephen, b. in North Providence, Sept. 3, 1791, d. unm. Dec. 27, 1823."

    The author has in MS quite an extensive genealogy of the Sayles family and the Steere family from the first settlement of the Colony to the present time.
    David had four children. He was a man of great mechanical skill, and invented some of the most valuable machines ever used in the mechanic arts. For a more extended notice see Biography No. XXI.

    V.  Marcy, married William Wilkinson of Providence, R. I., Dec. 31, 1798. Their children:

    Two of the family still live in Providence, on George Street. Marcy's husband had been previously married.
    For further particulars, see ante p., and Biography No. XV.

    V.  Hannah, married Oct. 2, 1791, Samuel Slater of Belper, Eng. He was the first successful cotton manufacturer in America. Their children are:

    Several biographical sketches of Samuel Slater have been written. One may be found in Bliss's "History of Rehoboth." A book of about 550 pages was published in 1836 entitled "Memoir of Slater and History of manufacturers" by Geo. S. White, a very readable book, but did not prove satisfactory to all the parties concerned, and is out of print.
    He was born in Belper, Derbyshire, England June 9, 1767, and died in Webster, Mass. April 21, 1835.
    Hannah, his wife, died at Pawtucket, R. I. Oct. 3, 1812.
    For other facts concerning Slater, see Biographies.

    *Census, 1 male above 16, 3 under; 2 females above, 2 under.
    *See "Memoir of Slater," by Geo. S. White, p. 241.

    VII.  Daniel was born in Smithfield, R. I., m. Nancy, daughter of Ichabod and Elizabeth Tabor. She was born in Tiverton, [now Newport Co.,] R. I., July 20, 1778, died in Pawtucket, May 5, 1860. They had five children. Daniel was a quiet unassuming man and a worthy citizen, and was concerned in the Pomfret Factories as one of the firm.

    IX.  Smith married Elizabeth, daughter of Sampson Howe of Killingly, [now Windham Co.,] Ct. She was born May 19, 1785 in Killingly, and died Jan. 14, 1843. Smith was a successful manufacturer and for many years resided at "Pomfret Factories," now Putnam, [now Windham Co.,] Ct. He was born in Smithfield, R. I., and died in Putnam. He was the principal owner of that fine estate and the following extract from a letter to G. S. White refers to the cotton manufacturing business in it inception. He says:
    "Mr. Slater boarded in my father's family, at which time there were only a few houses in Pawtucket, while building his first machinery, and in the course of a year was married to my sister Hannah, who died in 1812, leaving six sons quite young, having buried four children. When the manufacturing business first commenced in Pawtucket, it may be very naturally supposed that it was frequently a subject of conversation, especially in a family so immediately connected with it. I recollect to have heard frequent conversations on the subject, in which the state and progress of the business was discussed.
    "An attempt to manufacture cotton was made at Derby [now New Haven Co.,] Ct., under the patronage of Col. Humphreys, late minister to Spain. One at or near Hurlgate sic, N. Y., under the patronage of Mr. Livingston, was commenced, but failed and was abandoned. I believe nearly all the cotton factories in this country from 1791 to 1805 were built under the direction of men who had learned the art or skill of building machinery in Mr. Slater's employ. Mr. Slater used to spin both warp and filling on the water-frame up to 1803. The operations of manufactories up to 1817, were confined to spinning yarn only, which was put out in webs, and wove by hand-loom weavers. Mules for spinning filling had not then been introduced. The cotton used to be put out to poor families in the country, and whipped on cords, stretched on a small frame about three feet square, and the motes and specks were picked out by hand at four to six cents per pound, as it might be for cleanness."

    Smith was an active energetic man, strictly honest in all his dealings, and may well be classed among the first manufacturers in America. He had six children.

    X.  Lydia married Hezekiah Howe, Nov. 8, 1809. He was son of Sampson Howe, and Huldah (Davis) his wife, and was born in Killingly, Ct., July 9, 1783. Their children are:

    Lydia, the wife of Hezekiah, died at Cohoes, July 28, 1836, but he still lives with his daughter at Saratoga Springs. He has been extensively engaged in the manufacturing business, and Cohoes is greatly indebted to him for his enterprise and activity in this branch of industry.


    Simeon Wilkinson5    [145] Ahab,4 [59] John,3
          and   [14] John,2 [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
    Elizabeth Jenks,  

    Of Smithfield, R. I.

    299.I. Mira,6 b. Aug. 21, 1792, d. Nov. 24, 1857.
    300.II. Sarah,6 b. Aug. 3, 1794, d.
    301.III. Ahab W.,6 b. July 3, 1796, d.
    302.IV. Lydia,6 b. Dec. 24, 1798, d.
    303.V. Rebecca S.,6 b. Sept. 25, 1800, d.
    304.VI. Washington A. J.,6 (565-570)b. Oct. 7, 1804, d.
    305.VII. Elizabeth,6 b. Mar. 30, 1808, d.
    306.VIII. John J.,6 (571-577) b. Mar. 3, 1811, d.

    II.  Sarah married Philip Thomas. They have one child, George Henry, who m. Elizabeth J. Woodward, of Franklin, [now Norfolk Co.,] Mass., resides in Buffalo, [now Erie Co.,] N. Y.

    VI.  Washington Adams Jefferson was born at the old homestead in Smithfield. His early years were spent upon the farm, but at the age of twenty-one he became involved in manufacturing. In 1833 he married Mary T. Remington, daughter of Capt. Peleg Remington, of Pawtuxet, R. I. In 1844 he moved with his family to Southbridge, [now Worcester Co.,] Mass., and in company with I. P. Irwin, purchased the cotton mill at Ashland. This was destroyed by fire a few years after, and in 1856 he returned to Rhode Island, residing for many years near the old homestead. His character from early boyhood was unexceptionable sic. By nature very retiring a man of few words and conscientiously strict in the performance of duty. During a long, active business life he experienced various misfortunes through which he manifested a noble christian character. Although of quiet habits, he is always cheerful, enjoying whatever the present offers, not regretting the past.
    Three of his family are living and three are dead. His sons are faithful and efficient business men, one living in Providence, and another in South America.

    VII.  Elizabeth m. Edward A. Hale. He is engaged in manufacturing, resides on the same spot where John Wilkinson, the second son of Lawrance, first built his house on the Blackstone River near Aston 200 years ago. Their family are:

    VIII.  John J. m. Lydia W. Bentley. They have seven children and live in Bristol, R. I. He is a manufacturer.


    Joseph Wilkinson5    [147] Ahab,4 [59] John,3
          and   [14] John,2 [2] Lawrance.1 [1]
    Martha Jenks,  

    Of Smithfield, R. I.

    307.I. Samuel Scott,6 b. Jan. 27, 1786, d. Oct. 12, 1821.
    308.II. George,6 b. Aug. 8, 1789, d. Oct. 22, 1824.
    309.III. Abby,6 b. June 10, 1791, d. Mar. 20, 1862.
    310.IV. Jenckes,6 b. Mar. 3, 1794, d.             1819.
    311.V. Amy,6 b. Nov. 20, 1795, d. Dec. 10, 1820.
    312.VI. Joanna,6 b. Dec. 27, 1797, d.
    313.VII. Joseph,6 b. Nov. 14, 1799, d. July   5, 1820.
    314.VIII. Mercy,6b. Sept. 6, 1801, d. Mar.   4, 1822.
    315.IX. Julia Ann,6b. Dec. 4, 1803, d. Aug.   3, 1838.
    316.X. Ahab,6 (579) b. Jan. 7, 1806, d. Oct.  20, 1833.
    317.XI. Martha,6b. Aug. 21, 1809, d.

    I.  Samuel Scott never married. He was a finished classical scholar and graduated at Brown University in 1809. He studied law in Maine with Judge Baily, of Wiscassett [now Lincoln Co.], was admitted to the bar in 1812, and practiced in that state until 1817. He died in Portsmouth, [now Scioto Co.,] Ohio whither he had gone to engage in business. He was a worthy young man, highly esteemed by the community, and a good lawyer. The death angel seemed to hover over this family and no less than six of them fell beneath his shafts from 1819 to 1824.

    II.  George was about 22 years of age when his father died. He took charge of the younger children superintending their education. In 1814, he went to Ludlow and connected himself with the Springfield Manufacturing Co., but left in 1818 for Mobile, [Mobile Co.,] Alabama, still holding his shares in the Co. His object in leaving was to find a place for his younger brothers, as they desired to be in business with him. The first year in Mobile he did a commission business and purchased cotton for manufacturers, &c. He purchased a township about 200 miles up the Alabama river from Mobile, and it was the design to colonize it, introducing the business life and talent of New England into the Southern Plantations. A company of sixteen was formed, and they purposed sic erecting mills and engaging in the manufacturing business. This township was at Montgomery, [now Montgomery Co.,] Ala., which has since become the capital sic of the state. George became a leading man in the place, was Intendant sic of the town. He died at the early age of 35. The plans of the company were never fully carried out.

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