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- 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 Dough
ty 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.
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1681 - 1761 (80 years)
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