Dea. William Darby, II

William Darby (abt. 1693 - 1775), son of William (Darby) Derby and Elizabeth Jane (Hawkins) Derby

Married (1): Mary Durfee (1699-1761), at Scotch Plains, NJ, Baptist Church

Married (2) Ann Bedell (1697- ), Scotch Plains Baptist Church.

Children: Elias, Abigail, William, Ephraim, John, Mary Margaret, Samuel, Ezra.

Biography

Before 1730, he lived in Essex County, NJ, aand in July of 1744 was a petitioner of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in Union County. On Oct 14, 1747 he was named the first Ruling Elder and acting Deacon in the Baptist Church of Scotch Plains, which he had helped to found on August 5th of 1747.

His will reads: ..." leave to my son Samuel Darby, deceased, 20 shillings, son Ephraim (?) the plantation where he lives. Son John, the plantation where he lives. Son, William what land I have lying between the land I old to Melvin Parse, and my son John's land. Sons, William and John, all my right to certain land and meadow, not now in my possession, within the bounds of Elizabethtown, if they can get the same. My Executors are to sell the land where I live, viz., what land I bought off Rev. Benjamin Miller and Abraham Clark. (NOTE: Perhaps the Abraham Clark (1726-1794) of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who in 1776, signed the Declaration of Independence); also part of a piece of mountain land, which I bought of William Line, vis., that part of it which lies to the south of the road that runs through it; also my Falls Mill and land belonging to it; also what mountain land I have between that I sold to John Shotwell and my Falls Mill lot. Son , Ephraim, 20 shillings. Grandson, Elias Darby, son of my son, Elias, deceased, the land between what land I sold to Milvem Parse, and that I gave to Elias by deed; also my mountain land to the south of what I sold to John Shotwell; but if he die under 21, then to his brother and sister , Ephraim and Mary Darby. My son Elias' widow is have use of what I have given her children till they come of age. Grandson Samuel Darby, son of my son, Samuel, deceased 5 pounds. Daughter, Mary Conger, 20 shillings. Daughter Margaret Casterline, 20 shillings. Rest of estate o sons William and John. Executors: sons William and John. Witnesses---Abner Hamton Sarah Hamton, William Coles. Proved March 8, 1775." Lob. L p. 353.

Found in the DAR application of Lucille Darby Scott.

Current research disputes the position of Ezra Darby in the following lineage

From the Cyclopedia of American Biography, vol. 47, 1931:
"The Darby family, of which Mr. Miller s mother is a member, is one of the earliest found in America. So far as can be ascertained, the immigrant ancestor was Ezra Darby, who came to America from Devonshire, England, in 1620. The first of the line of whom definite records are still in existence was William Darby, who was probably a son of Ezra Darby, and who settled at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, about 1684. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had several children, the oldest of whom, William Darby, was known as Deacon William Darby, and was born about 1693. He died February 26, 1775, and is buried in the old cemetery at Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The fourth of their seven children, Samuel Darby was born about 1730 and apparently predeceased his father. His son, Samuel (2) Darby was born about 1752, and died July 21, 1850. He was married to his first cousin, Hannah Darby, and left New Jer sey, settling in what is now Preston County, West Virginia, some time between 1774 and 1784. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Samuel (3) Darby, the oldest son of Samuel (2) and Hannah (Darby) Darby, and the grandfather of Mr. Miller s mother, was born in 1784 and died March 20, 1848. He mar ried, in 1808, Elizabeth Benson, a granddaugh ter of William O. Benson, who also served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Sam uel and Elizabeth (Benson) Darby came from what is now Preston County, West Virginia, to Spring Hill Furnace, Fayette County, Penn sylvania, in 1839. Harrison Hagan Darby, son 348"

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 25 2020, 0:01:40 UTC
• Scotch Plains Baptist Church Marriage Records, 1758-1761 Bedell, Ann, and William Darby. 1761 Aug. 20 link