Dr. George Stillman

"Came to Hadley, Mass. around 1701, then Wethersfield, CT, and finally to Westerly, RI." - RW Greene

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Born in London in 1679, George Stileman Pickering, Jr. Gent, was educated and apprenticed to the trade of tailor when he first moved to the colonies to live with his father in 1689. Not liking that profession, George persuaded his father that he should be a Medical Doctor and returned to England, studied medicine and became known as Doctor George Stileman Pickering, Jr.. Rejoining his father in around 1700, Doctor George dropped the last name Pickering, took the new surname spelling of his father - Stillman - moved to Wethersfield with his father, then on to Westerly, Rhode Island, where he was made a freeman or citizen.

Professor Thomas Bliss Stillman writes that George Jr. on a journey from Wethersfield to Boston, passed through the town of Westerly, RI, the seat of a Society of Sabbatarians, who observed the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and he was much surprised to see the people at their work on Sunday and thought they must be a very deluded set. Upon his return from Boston, he thought he would stop at Westerly and inquire into the matter. Accordingly, he had an interview with their pastor, Elder Thomas Hiscox, but instead of convincing them of error, he became convinced himself and took up his abode with them.

In 1706, Doctor George Stillman, Jr. married Deborah Crandall, daughter of Reverend Joseph Crandall and Deborah Burdick of Westerly, RI. Deborah Burdick was grandaughter of Samuel Hubbard, charter member of the 1st Seventh Day Baptist Church in America at Newport, RI in 1671.

Doctor George Stillman, Jr. purchased a large tract of land in Westerly, RI, situated in the bend of the Pawcatuck River, where he settled after his marriage and practiced medicine. Doctor George Stillman, Jr. was a member of the Westerly Seventh Day Baptist Church where he was appointed lay preacher and served as Clerk of the Church for over 30 years. Doctor George Stillman, Jr. died in 1760.

1700 (about) Joined father in Hadley, MA after he came of age and finished apprenticeship. Evidence that he came from Steeple Ashton., Wilts., was on the fly leaf of his Bible, written in court handwriting of that day. His Bible contains name of Abraham Silverthorne, Taylor, believed to be the one to whom he was apprenticed. Bible owned by Sanford Stillman, Westerly, stated "purchased from Robert Silverthorn, London, Eng, in 1698 when 18 yrs. of age". Legend is that he passed through Westerly on business trip, became acquainted with Seventh Day Baptists and decided to settle there

1703 Mar 22 - made a freeman in Westerly, about same time his father moved to Wethersfield

1704 Juryman

1708 July 17 - joined Seventh Day Baptist Church, giving evidence he had been baptized in England.

1708 bought land of William Crumb and Thomas Shaw, built first two-story house in Westerly at Crumb's Neck on a bend in the Pawcatuck River.

1710 appointed to assist minister of Seventh Day Baptist Church. He was a lay preacher and also practiced medicine.

1711 purchased land of General Assembly

1720 purchased land of Samuel Langworthy

Doctor George Stillman, Jr. deeded land to his sons, after they became 21, and they settled on Crumb's Neck. His will divided a considerable estate. His home went to the youngest son, with provision for life use of part of it by his widow.

The account of the life of Doctor George Stillman contained in Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield is not entirely accurate and should be considered in the total context of this document. One plausible interpretation is that the name appearing to be "Picard, partly blotted out." is the surname of his deceased mother, Jane Pickering, and her brother Sir John Pickering, Baronette of Nova Scotia 2nd, brother-in-law of Mr. George Stileman Pickering, and uncle to George Stileman Pickering, Jr., with whom the latter most likely would have lived with while obtaining his medical degree in London, England during 1689 - 1700.

Source: http://www.stillman.org/b1.htm

Source: MIscellaneous Comositions in Poetry and Prose, by William Stillman, printed 1852 by F. H. Bacon, New London CT., p. 2

GEDCOM Source

@R-2142249960@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Ancestry Family Trees http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=27479803&pid...

GEDCOM Note

[3026504.ged] Became a freeman, 3/22/1703, in Westerly RI, indentured from England (?). He was a tailor's apprentice in England.