Israel Wilkinson

Biography

Israel Wilkinson 1711 – 1784 was in a partnership called “The Nicholas Brown and Company” important in the American Industrial Revolution. He operated textile mills. The Nicholas Brown and Company papers 1762-1783 (bulk 1762-1774) , Ms. 4, John Carter Brown Library, has an 18 page finding aid describing the partnership between Israel Wilkinson, Nicholas and Moses Brown: “The partnership agreement was signed by Stephen Hopkins, Israel Wilkinson, the members of Nicholas Brown and Company, Job Hawkins, and Caleb Arnold. The furnace, subsequently named Hope Furnace, was managed by Rufus Hopkins. Employing a mold and casting method, the Hope Furnace manufactured pig iron and various iron products, such as pots and pans. With the onset of the American Revolution, the business flourished as the furnace manufactured cannon.”

There are letters between Nicholas Brown and the Continental Congress and some with John Hancock. His partner Moses Brown backed Samuel Slater in Slater's first mill. Samuel Slater also worked with Israel's cousin, Oziel Wilkinson and Oziel's son David Wilkinson. The Wilkinson Mill is next to the Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Slater also married Hannah Wilkinson a cousin of Israel Wilkinson.

According to the Wilkinson Genealogy book and The History of Smithfield and some older SAR and DAR applications as well as Rhode Island General Assembly minutes (page 1 of 6) Israel Wilkinson was deputy from Smithfield at the Rhode Island General Assembly, April 22, 1775. He cast Cannon in support of the Continental Army during the Rev. War.

Israel Wilkinson4 (Samuel3 [8], Samuel2 [2] Lawrance.1 [1]) married Mary Aldrich of Smithfield, R. I. Children:

97. I. Hannah,5 b. Feb. 1, 1733-4, d. May 26, 1826. 98. II. Huldah,5 b. Nov. 22, 1735, d. 1737. 99. III. Jacob,5 (213) b. Oct. 27, 1737-8, d. Jan. 19, 1766. 100. IV. Israel,5 (214-21) b. Mar. 10, 1741, d. Sept. 13, 1818. 101. V. Robert,5 (222-29) b. Apr. 18, 1743, d. Apr. 18, 1788. 102. VI. Wait,5 b. Sept. 29, 1746, d. Nov. 2, 1777. 103. VII. David,5 (230-34) b. Oct. 10, 1748, d. Apr. 12, 1780. 104. VIII. Martha,5 b. Aug. 13, 1750, d. Feb. 17, 1779.

I. Hannah, married Joseph Davis of Cumberland, R. I., a man much respected in his own town. He was born Aug. 14, 1723, died May 29, 1777, leaving an only child. (1) Asenath, b. Nov. 30, 1756, d. Nov. 22,1783. She married Ebenezer Metcalf of Cumberland, a very worthy man, who died Oct. 23, 1820. Their children were:

       Liberty, b. Aug. 18, 1776, m. Selinda Brown, d. Mar. 5, 1853.

       Davis, b. Feb. 16, 1778, m. Sarah Newell, d. July 15, 1848.

       Amon, b. Dec. 28, 1779, m. 1, Hannah Wilkinson, 2, Sarah Thompson, d. Sept., 1845.

       Ebenezer, b. Dec. 17, 1781, m. Phebe Almy, had Jacob.  Ebenezer d. March 2, 1854.

       Joseph, b. Oct. 27, 1783, m. Eunice Peck.

They all lived in Cumberland, R. I., and were members of the Friends' Society, and are noted for their humanity and benevolence, and for every good word and work. Firm in their convictions of the truth of Quaker principles and practices, they have led consistent christian sic lives, free from persecution and bigotry. To these people as well as well as to the Baptist, Rhode Island and the world is indebted for the best form of Civil government established among men. A Government which recognizes no authority in the civil arm to enforce conscience, no external power to interfere with "Soul liberty," but leaving every man, woman and child free to worship God, or not to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience without molestation.* So careful were the early settlers of Rhode Island, that no infringement of this rule should be allowed that Joshua Verin was denied the privilege of voting for restraining his wife from attending religious meetings.† The descendants of this family are not very numerous, but they are abundantly blessed in worldly matters, and are able financiers. The "Tax list" of Cumberland exhibits their taxable property real and personal amounting to $1,300,000, or about one-sixth of the whole town. Joseph is still living, a firm Friend, and a follower of our blessed Savior, and is now (1866) over eighty-three years of age. His life is an example of industry, economy, and piety worthy of all imitation. The Bible containing the record of the Metcalf family was printed in America in 1731, purchased in 1745, (price £3.10s.) and it was presented to Joseph David, April 30, 1755, by his mother. It is now owned by Joseph Metcalf. The senior Ebenezer Metcalf was thrice married. By his second wife Anna, he had Whipple, b. May 29, 1788, d. Sept. 28, 1795. By his third wife Abigail Dexter, he had Dexter b. 1799, m. Polly Bishop, d. June 20, 1853.

III. Jacob married Mary Potter, Aug. 21, 1763, and died at the age of twenty-nine, and is buried at the Friends' burying ground at Woonsocket, [Providence Co.,] R. I. His wife was a Quaker. They had but one child Cynthia, and lived in Smithfield and Cumberland, R. I. His widow never married, but in 1794, moved with her daughter, who had married Welcome Capron, to Easton, Washington Co., N. Y. She died in Mayfield, Fulton Co., N. Y., and is buried there. Jacob was admitted freeman in 1760.

IV. Israel married Silence Ballou, (or Bolough) daughter of Elisha Ballou of Mendon, [Worcester Co.,] Mass., Feb. 14, 1772. Her mother's maiden name was Hephzibah Thayer, daughter of William Thayer, son of Captain Thomas Thayer of Mendon, Mass. The children of William Thayer were (as mentioned in his will) 1, William; 2, Alexander; 3, Increase; 4, Amasa; 5, Hepzibah; 6, Beulah; 7, Silence; 8, Abigail; 9, Beriah. The oldest son William married and had a son, Alexander, who seemed to be a great favorite with his grandfather. The second son, Alexander, married Parley ______. Hephzibah sic m. Elisha Ballou and had daus. Lucy, Silence, &c., Beulah married a Ballou; Abigail m. Phineas Lovett. Silence m. an Ammidon, and Beriah an Eaton, and had Mary M., Sarah, John E. and William. The will alluded to makes provisions for Hepzibah sic as long as she remains a widow. She died in Mendon, "about the ninth hour of the morning, June 30, 1804, aged 73 years, 6 mos., 18 days. She was," says Israel, "Widow to Elisha Ballou, and mother to my wife." Her husband died "In Penn. at the Yellow Springs, Nov., 1777, aged about 48." "Lucy Ballou the youngest dau. of Elisha, died Sept. 3, 1802, aged 32 yrs., 6 ms., 15 ds. Lived with her mother many years before her death." The will speaks of land lying near "Caleb's Hill" in Mendon, and the old homestead was in that vicinity. A deed of gift from William's father, Thomas, describes him as a wheelwright,* and is dated Feb. 25, 1728-9. Israel was a farmer, and purchased the old homestead in Smithfield, of his father, in 1776, and engaged extensively in buying and selling Real Estate. The following are some of the purchases made by him:

In 1763, of William Gaskell, 25 acres in Cumberland, paid 200 Spanish mill dollars. In 1772, of Tho's. Arnold, 107 acres on Crookfall River, paid £570

"   "       of Hosea Steere, 3 acres on Cedar Swamp, Smithfield, paid "Valuable Sum of money." In 1773, of Dan. Jer'h Wilkinson, 8 acres, Rehoboth N., Purchase 6.10s.

"     "     "   Daniel Stanly, 10 acres Rehoboth N., 9.

"     "     "   Oliver Mann,  12    "     Attleboro, Mass., paid 1.16s.

"     "     "   Benj. Tower, 11    "     Attleboro, Mass., paid 9.9s. In 1774, "   Sam Cooper,  8    " Rehoboth, Mass., paid 6.3s.

"  1775, "  Abner Lapham, 1/8 Iron Mill & Refinery, Smithfield, paid 50. In 1776, "   David Wilkinson, 20 acres, Smithfield, paid 300.

"     "     "   Israel sic Wilkinson, sen. 1/2 Homestead farm, paid 600.

"     "     "   Rob't. Wilkinson, 1/4 Homestead farm, paid 300.

" 1780,  "   Nat. Randall, 25 acres Cumberland, paid 25 Spanish m. dols.

" 1781,  "   Stephen Inman, 23 acres Cumberland, paid 150 Spanish m. dols.

" 1783,  "   David Wilkinson, 22   "    "Bellingham Propriety," paid 88 Spanish m. dols.

" 1784,  "   David Wilkinson, 8 Com. Right Dedham Purchase, paid 1.

" 1787,  "   Welcome Capron, 23 acres, Cumberland, paid 100.

"    "       "   Robt. Wilkinson, 3 pieces Cumberland, paid 200.

" 1788,  "   Samuel Arnold, 1/8 Iron Mill & Coal Barn Purchase, paid 30.

" 1816,  "   Jo. & Dav. Wilkinson, &c., 1/8 Homestead farm, paid $608.

He owned a saw-mill on Crookfall river, and what with his farm, his traffic in real estate, and saw-mill he managed to keep himself busy. James Wilkinson, the only surviving son of Israel, says: "My father never held any office. He and his brothers were Quakers, birth-right members, but as he married out of their society against their rule, I Cor. 6:14, and would not acknowledge that he was sorry for so doing, he was dropped from their communion; but he always attended their meetings and dressed plain." Joseph Metcalf says, "he was a small, spare man, very quick in speech and action." He was in his prime during the war of the Revolution, and although his pacific principles would not allow him to bear arms, yet he aided otherwise, and saw with delight the triumph of

"This firm Republic, that against the blast Of opposition rose;"

and rejoiced in the establishment of our National Independence. He did not seek notoriety, but was content to be a tiller of the soil, and an active business man in that department, rather than a popular, public character. His old account book is still in existence, and the earliest entry is as follows:

   "Rufus Bartlett,           Dr.

   1772.  To paid Bet. Leland for schooling two

              Scholars six weeks @ 7 1/4                     7s.3d."

This is the characteristic of the man. He was a friend of schools, and education found in him a ready advocate. He was an honest man, noted for his veracity, and was highly respected as a citizen, and lived and died in the midst of a large circle of acquaintances, and relatives on the old homestead in Smithfield. The decease of his wife occurred several years before his own, and the following record was made by him: "In Smithfield, Oct. 8, A. D. 1805, then Silence Wilkinson, wife to Israel Wilkinson, Departed this life, aged 55 years, 6 months and 6 days, between the hours of 1 and 2 in the day."

"She passed through glory's morning gate, And walked in Paradise."

V. Robert married Dec. 29, 1768, Mary Lapham, and had eight children. He was a farmer and lived two miles south of Woonsocket, on the Blackstone River near Mott's dam; the same farm was subsequently occupied and owned by his son Joseph. He built a good substantial house which still stands. He received a gift deed from his father Israel, the description being as follows: "One quarter part of my homestead farm, whereon I now Dwell, Situate, Lying and being within the Township of Smithfield—Together with one-quarter part of the buildings thereunto belonging." The Consideration was "Fatherly love and affection which I, the said Israel Wilkinson, have and do bear towards my son Robert Wilkinson of Smithfield." Dated the "Third day of August, and in the fifth year of of His Majesty's Reign, George the Third, King over Great Britain, Anno. Dom. 1765."* This same property was sold by Robert to his brother Israel, jr. for £300, Feb. 27, 1776,† a few months before the Declaration of Independence, and these old deeds bear marks of the people's rejoicing. Robert owned real estate in Cumberland, and 1787, he sold his brother Israel, jr., three parcels lying on the east bank of the Pawtucket river.

VI. Wait married David Buffum and lived in Smithfield. Their children are:

       Lavina, m. Ahab Mowry, r. Smithfield.

       George, b. 1773, m. a Daniels, r. Smithfield, d. Aug. 11, 1865.

       Huldah, m. Caleb Comstock, r. Greenfield, [now Saratoga Co.,] N. Y.

VII. David married Apr. 25, 1773, Lydia Spear, and had five children, all sons. Two of them married and became quite noted men in their native town and state. David was a farmer and occupied lands originally laid out to Lawrance Wilkinson. [See also, Eliab Wilkinson Family Papers.]

VIII. Martha married Joseph Buffum—lived in Smithfield, R. I. They had no children.

Sources

Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869 Available on google books and transcribed here:

http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bbunce77/Wilkinson010....

[S1019] Rev. Israel Wilkinson, Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America (Jacksonville, Illinois: Davis & Penniman, Printers, 1869). Images of the book are on line as part of Genealogy.com's Family & Local Histories Cellection.

Ingenious Machinists: Two Inventive Lives from the American Industrial ... By Anthony J. Connors

• Original Bill is in the Secretary of State's office, Providence. See Letters, 1746-50.
• See Book of Wills, Town Clerk's office, Pawtucket.
• In the census of 1774, this family numbered two males above 16 years of age and one below, one female above 16 and one below; in all five.
• Book 27, Records of Wills, &c., Hartford, Ct.
• Census of 1774, 1 male above 16, 2 under, 3 females above, 1 under, 2 blacks.
• 2 Record of Marriages, 166, B'd of Health's Office, Providence

†Book of Wills, p. 975-6, Providence, R. I.

• Census of 1774, 3 males above 16, 1 under; 3 females above, 1 under.
• 1 Bancroft's History U. S. 369 et seq.

†See Backus' Church Hist., 50, A.B.P.S. Edition, also old Record in City Clerk's Office, Providence.