Notes:

Robert Willson, Sr. married Mercy (or Mary) Heaton in 1775 probably in Warren Co., New Jersey. Although he was thought to have died in Kentucky in 1816, it appears that is not the case from the following information found by Kim Holly. "Redstone Monthly Meeting House in Fayette Co., PA reads as follows Mar. 11, 1797: Mercy & children John, Benjamin, Isaiah, Robert, Mercy, Caleb, Gabriel & Rebecca, rec'd Kingwood MM, dtd 1796, 9, 8. There is a Jeremiah & w/ Joanna Wilson in this same MM house." This is definitely the wife and children of Robert Willson, Sr. However, since Robert is not listed in this move, it is likely that he died previous to 9/8/1796. There is a deed record for a Benjamin Wilson who received land in Guilford Co., NC in 1797 which might be a dispersal of land to his son, Benjamin after Robert dies that needs checked. (C-906)

I also descend through Esther's brother Gabriel, so the Dna matches this far back in time are likely showing up because we descend through two siblings of the Willson family.

Robert married Mercy HEATON in 1775. Mercy (daughter of Benjamin HEATON and Rebecca DOANE) was born on 3 Sep 1756 in Hardwick, Sussex, New Jersey, United States; died after 1796 in Of Fayette, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mercy is listed as Mercy Willson in her father's will.

Notes:

When Gabriel Willson married Elizabeth Lundy, both were members of the Kingwood Society of Friends at Quakertown, New Jersey. They settled "on the Great Meadows along the Pequest River, near Allamuchy, Warren Co., New Jersey." (C-256)

Either this Gabriel or his son, is likely to be the Gabriel Willson who in 1783 signed an anti-slavery petition from the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to the U.S. Congress in behalf of Quakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. There were about 500 signatures on this petition, including a Gabriel Willson, William Wilson, Moses and Isaac Coates. (C-758)

Gabriel married Elizabeth LUNDY on 9 Dec 1748 in Kingwood M.M., Hunterdon, NJ. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard II LUNDY and Elizabeth LARGE) was born on 10 Mar 1730 in Plumstead, Bucks, PA, USA; died on 25 May 1811 in Green Meadows, Warren, NJ, USA; was buried about 28 May 1811 in Hardwick M.M., Warren, NJ, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Rebecca DOANE. Rebecca (daughter of Elijah DOANE and Kathrine DOAN) was born on 12 Jun 1723 in Wrightstown, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States; died on 25 Dec 1792 in Independence, Sussex, New Jersey, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

His parents brought him to America at age one. The Home Visitor, a newspaper that published an article on him, states that in was on the "good ship Welcome" with William Penn along with his 3 sisters and parents in 1682. Their purpose was to help found "The Green Country Towne" which is now Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Samuel grew up in Burlington Co., NJ. He married Hester Overton in 1705 and settled at Crosswicks Creek, Chesterfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ on land that his father gave him at his wedding. They lived there for 25 years, having all their children at this location. They were members of the Chesterfield M.M., in Burlington Co., NJ at the time. In 1730, they moved to Franklin Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ where they built a stone mansion on 600 acres of property which he bought from Jacob Doughty. It was a strong well built home with enormous chimneys and a large beam running across the top. This home built by Samuel and Hester housed many generations of their descendants, according to R E Willson's 1979 The Willson Family 1672-1959. On page 6 of that book - "By 1907, it became necessary to tear down the mansion, which was then beyond repair. William D Wolverton, M. D. husband of Annie E. Willson ... (d/o) James Willson and Mary A. Laing, built a new house on the original plot. The original carved stone is still in the west gable, which has the initials S.H.W. 1735 but under it is another similar stone marked - Rebuilt, W. D. W. - 1907." It was a mile southwest of Quakertown (C-199, C-740, 1509b) They helped establish the Kingwood Monthly Meeting in Quakertown sometime after this move.

The dates of their children's births come from a family bible with both Samuels' signature in it. I believe this bible might be preserved at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Samuel was a Quaker minister for a number of years. A memorial was issued by the Society of Friends Kingswood Monthly Meeting after his death. It is transcribed here from "The Jerseyman", c1898, Vol. 4, pg. 36 retaining spelling and capitalization: "Our antient Friend Samuel Willson Died thee Ninetheenth Day of the Twelfth month 1761 and was Inter'd in Friends Burying Ground at Kingwood the Twenty-Second Day of the Same Month about the Eightieth year of his Age. He was a Minister many years which in a general way was well received amongst his Friends. He was a Diliglent attender of our Meetings both of Worshop and Discipline, till of late years when through his ability & Natural Strength failed so much that he was not able to Stay during the time that Meetings are geneerally held, His life and Coversation (in a good degree) was Solid Sober and Orderly, agreeable to his Ministry. He was Suddenly Siezed with Death not Lying any time Sick so that he had no time to declare any that might be on his mind to Speak to any of his Friends. Yet we have good reason to Hope when we consider his former Conduct while he was in his Health and Strength that he has gone to Enjoy that Immortal Crown that is laid up for the Righteous. Aged 80 years, 5 months, & 14 days." (C-865, 1525)

The following is from a book called Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey. "IV. Samuel Willson I, born 1681, brought to America when he was one year old, died 1761 in the 8lst year of his age; married Hester Overton, born 1682, daughter of Samuel and Hannah Overton. They settled in Chesterfield township where eight children were born to them: in 1730 they removed to Franklin township in Hunterdon County, N. J.

About a mile southwest of the village of Quakertown in Hunt-erdon County, N. J., stands an old mansion. It is built of stone and high up on its western gable appears the inscription "s H W 1735." The initials are those of Samuel and Hester (Overton) Willson who builded there a house which was destined to shelter many generations of their descendants. The house gives evidence of having been well built; the walls laid up in clay are firm and solid and will endure perhaps another century if no ruder hand than that of time is laid upon them. The enormous chimneys almost stone enough to build a modern sized house. In the western gable near the date stone there is a small square loop-hole which one might suppose had been intended for use in defending the castle against the attacks of Indians were it not for the fact that the owners thereof were members of the peace-loving sect called Quakers. An ancient pent-house protected one of the doors. The partitions of the interior are of wood and are paneled all the way up to the lofty ceiling.

Originally the huge beams were exposed to view, the ceiling being a comparatively recent innovation. Two small windows set quite high in the thick walls admitted but scant light and the general appearance must have been somewhat gloomy. The great fireplace with its stock-hole in the jamb speaks eloquently of the pleasures of the olden time, for here the young people of the family with their neighboring cousins and friends gathered around to enjoy social converse and innocent games.

Among the many relics still preserved in the Willson family is a large cupboard brought from England by Robert Willson the founder of the American family. Another momento is the original deed dated 1730 for 600 acres of land given by Jacob Doughty in consideration of 300 pounds of lawful silver money. But the oldest and most interesting souvenir is a 'well worn Bible, the several portions of which were printed at different dates and afterward bound together; the last part is dated 1618. Robert Willson's autograph appears on one page, and those of Samuel and his sister, Rebecca, on another. Eight children of Samuel and Hester Overton Willson of Quakertown, N. J.:I. Samuel Willson II, born 1706, died 1785, married Deborah Willets.II. Robert Willson, born 1709, died 1785, md. Mary Lundy.III. Esther Willson, born 1711, married in 1731 Henry Coate of Buckingham, pa.; no further record.IV. James Willson, born 1713, died 1777, married in 1736 Martha Laing.V. Sarah Willson, born 1715, married in 1736 Richard Heath; no further record.VI. Ann Willson, born 1720, removed when a widow in 1784 from. Warren County, N.J., to Carroll County, Va., and died there at the age of 101 years; married Richard Lundy III. Most of their descendants now live in Virginia and Canada.VII. John Willson, born 1723, died before 1772; married Margaret Lundy. The main purpose of this article is to register some of their newly discovered descendants.VIII. Gabriel Willson, born 1725, died 1805, married in 1749 Elizabeth Lundy.

Note that four Willsons, a sister and three brothers, married four Lundys, a brother and three sisters. The four Lundys referred to (Mary, Richard, Margaret and Elizabeth) were children of Richard Lundy II and his wife Eliza-beth Large; grandchildren of Richard Lundy I and his wife Jane Lyon, and of Joseph and Elizabeth (-----) Large. "

I have an autosomal DNA match with a Terri S. Hayden at Ancestry where we have both this Samuel Overton and Hester his wife in common and Richard Lundy, so we don't really know what our DNA confirms.However, I have many triangulations with cousins whom descend from Samuel Willson and Hester Overton's ancestors at 7 cM's or above on MyHeritage. This is possible even this far back in time because I descend from 2 of their children, Esther and Gabriel which do prove this line is correctly traced.

Samuel married Hester (Esther) OVERTON on 12 Jun 1705 in Chesterfield Twp., Burlington Co, NJ, USA. Hester (daughter of Samuel OVERTON and Hannah HALL) was born on 26 Oct 1682 in , Hunterdon, NJ, USA; died on 6 May 1736 in Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her death date could be the death date usually attributed to her daughter Esther as 5/6/1736. She was definitely living in 1731. She and her husband could easily be the E.W. and S.W. on the stones in the oldest cemetery in Quakertown, NJ. That is the only information on the stones, but the initials on stones next to each other would statistically apply to them. Photos of them have been provided by Patti Sue McCrary.

I now have an autosomnal DNA cousin match whom also descends from this line through our mutual ancestor Robert Overton married to Anne Gardiner helping to prove the Coate descent through this line by the name of Bonnie Scudder via 23andMe.

Notes:

Richard Lundy II was married to Elizabeth Large the 3rd day, the fourth month, 1714 at the Hardwick and Randolph Monthly Meeting in Warren and Morris Counties, New Jersey. All nine children were born in the early residence in Buckingham Township, Bucks Co, Pennsylvania From 1737-1747, they lived at Maiden Creek, Berks Co., Pa and then moved again in 1747 to Allamuchy Twp, Warren Co., New Jersey.

They changed membership from the Exeter Monthly Meeting to the Kingwood Monthly Meeting at Quakertown, NJ in that same year. All of their children married and settled in Warren Co., NJ, living and dying in Johnsonburg, Allamuchy and Newton. Four of his children married children of Samuel Willson and Esther Overton. (C-256,C-257, 2540)

His Last Will and Testament dated Feb. 21, 1772 states him to be a resident of Hardwick in Sussex County, New Jersey. The researcher should note that Warren Co. formed from a part of Sussex Co. at a later date. He lived just where described in the previous paragraph. His will is recorded in WILLS, Liber. 14, pages 440-442 in the Office of the Secretary of State, Trenton, N.J. (C-257)

A Memorial was written about him by the Kingwood Quaker Monthly Meeting after his death. To quote one line of it, "He was an affectionate Husband a tender Father and Kind friend".

Richard married Elizabeth LARGE on 3 Apr 1714 in Hardwick M.M., Warren, NJ, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Joseph LARGE and Elizabeth SIMCOCK) was born on 31 Jan 1695 in , Bucks, Pennsylvania, USA; died in 1737 in , Bucks, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Sarah HEATON. Sarah (daughter of Capt. Jonathan M. ROBERTS and Mary HART, *) was born in 1694 in Crosswicks, Burlington, New Jersey, United States; died in 1731 in Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elijah married Kathrine DOAN in 1716 in Wrightstown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Kathrine (daughter of Jacob WILSON and Susan ROSS) was born in 1698 in Cape Cod, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA; died in 1732 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]