new this year (2019), only on Geni

William Preston, Junior, Quaker may be a close relative from the Isle of Man

But her parents are Unknown. See <Discussions>

Isle of Man Quaker

In her early years of adulthood, into her child-bearing years, Jane lived on the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. She was illiterate, signing her name with a simple mark. It has not been established where she was born, <PRESTON> is an abundant surname on the Island and in neighboring Lancashire, just across the Irish Sea.(see list in the <DISCUSSION>

Converting to the Quaker faith, Jane and her sister were among the very few Quakers on the island during this period.

We read: " According to the Calendar of State Papers, court records, Presentments and wills, it appears that the initial movement in Maughold first peaked in 1662 at approximately 40 men, women and children, reaching similar perhaps more converts in the early 1670s of between 40-50, until it rapidly declined after 1700. Quakerism never converted many outside Maughold, with less than thirty followers between all other parishes. This is perhaps why, even in its early inception, rarely did Manx Quakers marry within the movement and if they did marry Quakers they were not Manx residents. It is likely that there were Quaker meetings in Malew and the town of Ramsey, but if there were any records they do not appear to have been delivered to Quaker clerks by their Manx correspondents." (see source 1 below)

Jane fell from grace at least twice, at least in the eyes of her Quaker Elders. As a young woman on the Isle of Man, she took to bed with her sister's husband Samuel Sharples and bore their child out of wedlock. This child was Ann who followed her parents to West Jersey and married John Kaighn. But before going to the American colony, Jane had a "disorderly" marriage with William Alberson in Ireland. Though obscure, these facts are well-documented in Quaker records of the day.

Jane and William remained in the extended Quaker fold, and travelled to West Jersey Province to restart their lives in America. Once in a new land, the Alberson family rose to prominence and a measure of respect in the Quaker settlement at Newton.

Jane's wronged sister remained married to Samuel Sharples and did not leave the Quaker Irish community where all had lived before.

None of these families were from longstanding Irish backgrounds. Nor were the Prestons and the Sharples from early Isle of Man families. {MMvB Oct. 8, 2019}

Of some interest would be this 1843 map that shows Kaighn descendants living in the Newton/Camden area:
1843 = A Map of the County of Philadelphia from Actual Survey, 1843, Map ( https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/item/11764 ) Creator Name: Ellet, Charles Jr. - Publisher
Kennedy, D. H. - Surveyor
Young, J. H. - Engraver
Cramer, C. - Draftsman
Ellet, Charles Jr. - Engineer

Marriage

No official record has been found of the marriage of Jane Preston (already a mother of the child of Samuel Sharples) to William Alberson. Might it be that their union was common-law, similar to the tradition of "handfasting"? vis. text elsewhere on this topic: "However, another possibility is that these 'marriages,' as well that of Thomas Curghey and Mary Kneale who were 'unlawfully married' but subsequently legally married then separated in 1665,333 were a relic of the pagan custom of handfasting. This involved, '...pledging by word and hand - by which an unmarried man and woman made a trial-contract to live together for a year, after they might separate at the option of either party, or recognise the union by formal marriage.334 Though not acceptable in the ecclesiastic courts, it was permissible in statute law, which stated that if a maid became pregnant, as long as she married the father within a year or two, the child was considered the legitimate heir. 335 Their decision to cohabit was nevertheless unusual at a time when it was in the communities interest to ensure that marriage was kept within the domain of the Church, which otherwise could result in a burden for the parish due to illegitimacy or future controversy surrounding land transfers. 336 It was therefore highly probable that one would expect Presentment and possible imprisonment for disregarding these practices. Furthermore, it seems odd there is no record of any of their subsequent legitimate marriages." ~* Man & the Quakers: Quakers in the Isle of Man 1655-1735; Conal F. Carswell

Quaker Mtg Records in Ireland

1. Jane Alberson — 1681 Sufferings Mountmellick View transcript. (VIEWED… SHE WAS A WITNESS TO THIS DOC = 3rd day, 5th mo 1681… meeting was at “Castledermot" in Ireland)
2. Jane Alberson — 1681 Sufferings Mountmellick (Laois,Ireland) witnessed marriage of Thomas Denis of Mobigranogo (sic) and Jane Tatnall of Arbash , Kings Co. 24th day 5th mo. 1681 at John Edmondson’s House in Edonderry, Kings. Presented at the general Men’s Mtg. Rosenallis. Note: both William Alberson and Jane Alberson witnessed this. This Dennis couple also went to West Jersey where both couples would later witness weddings there, including one of their own children. Note Jane makes her mark with an upper case letter i .. ie. does not sign her name (illiterate)

( ~• and Only here on GENi! •~) Jane Alberson a search of Quaker Meeting records of marriages in which she stood as witness with her husband at several Quaker marriages in West Jersey. These two discoveries effectively erases uncertainty over the place of origin of the couple... They came from Ireland and went by <ALBERSON> No "T" !. Purple and other early published research clearly jumped to conclusions when it comes to assertions that William was Dutch... ( as now proven: MMvB , GENi curator)

Jane had at least one child with William Alberson. She witnessed the Quaker marriage under care of the Haddonfield MM : 10th day, 9th month, 1686 'November 10th, 1686 and others

Thus we know that she was with William and several of his children at Newton, West Jersey.

One connection pedigree to even earlier settlers

William Clayton, of the ‘Kent’
William Clayton came on The Kent. Did William Alberson and his Jane come on that voyage too? William Clayton was known to have been in Ireland. Did he recruit families such as the Albersons while there?

• Register type: Disownments
• Reason: Had a child by Samuel Sharples, her sister's husband
• Further: Self-condemnation. She worked as a servant, after coming from the Isle of Man
• Reference: MSS Box 75B
• Country: Ireland
• Archive: Friends Historical Library, Dublin
• Record set: Ireland, Society Of Friends (Quaker) Congregational Records

sources

1. http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/parishes/nc/quakerp.htm

research item

• possible relation on the Isle of Man: William Preston