Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, III

Nicholas, the emigrant and ancestor of the Stillwells of this vicinity (English), came to this country about 1638 from Holland, and settled at first on Manhattan I. He m. 1" Abagail dau. of Robert Hopton; m. 2d Ann Van Dyke of Holland; d. Dec. 22, 1671, at Dover, S. I. His wid. m. 2d W mWilkins. In 1639 he located a tobacco plantation on Manhattan I., and in 1643 purchased a house and lot on the present Beaver St. in N. A. When the Lady Mody in 1643, accompanied by several Englishmen from Massachusetts, undertook the settlement of Gd (" Graoenzande"), he with other Englishmen who had previously settled on Manhattan I. joined her and took up lots in the new settlement. In the Indian war which took place shortly after \he commencement of the settlement, and caused its temporary abandonment, as Lieut. StillweU he defended the place, and afterwards appears to have returned to N. A. In 1648 he bought of Richard Dunn the village lot in Gd which Dunn had bought of Ralph Cardell, this being the first account of his owning land in said town after its abandonment during the Indian war, his name not appearing among the associates who in 1646, '47, and'48 were allotted plantationlots of 50 A. Oct. 6,1649, he bought of George Homes, for his s. Richard, Homes's plantation-lot, for which he agreed to pay 900 lb. of good merchantable tobacco. This plantation he agreed Oct. 10, 1650, to sell to Richard Cluffe for the use of Thomas Doxsey. By O'Callaghan's Register he was a mag. of Gd in 1650 and '51, a mag. of Fld" in 1654 and 'q5, where he probably resided at that date, and a mag. of Gd in 1657 and '64. Dec. 27, 1657, he sold to John Bowne 12 A. lying on the " Cellers Neck" (Sellers Neck), being part of plantation-lot No. 40, which lot No. 40 he bought Aug. 25, 1654, of the agent of William Hallet. Aug. 29, 1659, he sold John Wilson a part of plantation-lot No. 40—all as per Gd rec. Feb. 9, 1660, he bought of Anthony Jansen from Salee his patent of 100 morgens. Apl. 2,1660, he sold to Richard Aste 12 A. of the E. end of the plantation he bought of Anthony Johnson, as per Gd rec. Jan. 15, 1663, he sold to Mr. Francoys de Bruynne, for 700 gl. in wampum, the balance of said plantation; reasonable satisfaction to be made by said Francoys to " my son in law Nathaniell Brittanie at or upon the 25th of March next for the house and housing which hee the said Nathaniell built upon said land." All the above Gd and N. U. purchases copied from the Gd town rec., on which numerous other purchases and sales of Nicholas are entered. NicholasStillwell is entitled to credit for, never swerving from his allegiance to the Dutch government, which is more than can be said of many of his English neighbors, who, on what they supposed to be the first favorable opportunity, proved themselves to be traitors to the colony to which they fled from persecution, and to which they were indebted for protection and the enjoyment of religious liberty. In 1663 he was an ensign in the Esopus expedition against the Indians, and the same year commissioned as lieut., as per Col. Man. He finally removed to Dover, S. I., where he d. Dec. 22, 1671, his will being da. Dec. 22, 1671; pro. June 17, 1672; and rec. p. 161,Lib. 1, N. Y. surr. off. His wid., Ann Stillwell of Dover, bought June 21, 1672, of Jan Jansen Ver Rhyn plantation-lot No. 18, with the buildings in Gd, as per town rec. Issue by 1" w., as per Memoirs of Stillwell Family:—Richard, b. 1634; Nicholas 2d, b. 1636; (by 2d w.) Anne, b. 1643, m. 1660 Nathaniel Brittan; Ales or Abagail, b. 1645, m. Oct. 26,1665, Samuel Holmes; William, bp. May 11, 1648; Thomas, bp. July 9, 1651; Daniel, bp. Nov. 1, 1653, in N. A.; Jeremiah, bp. Jan. 13, 1663, in N. A.; and Elias. Made his mark to manuscripts with a bungling reversed " N," in no manner resembling that which would be made by a scholar with his left hand, who had had the misfortune of losing his right one as has been claimed. Dr. J. E. Stillwell of N. Y., in behalf of the claim that Nicholas made his mark in consequence of the loss of his right arm, has exhibited to the compiler of this work an original and genuine document (stating that he had seen another) on which his name was subscribed in full in a good and legible hand. Against this evidence are documents of a prior date, with numerous ones later, with the bungling mark, from which it may fairly be inferred that the name on the document exhibited had been written by some other person at Nicholas's request, as is occasionally done at the present day.

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Birth: 1603 Surrey, England Death: Dec. 28, 1671 Kings County (Brooklyn) New York, USA

Burial: Unknown, Dover, Staten Island, Richmond Co. NY. The Stillwells were descended from one of the most influential and important families, which first settled in New Amsterdam (New York) in the late 1630's while it was still controlled by the Dutch. The family originated in Surrey England. The progenitor of the family in America was Lt. Nicholas Stillwell, 1603-1671. To escape religious persecutions in England he went to Holland. There he offered his services as a soldier to Elizabeth the queen of Bohemia in support of Protestantism. After suffering defeat at Prague, he was one of the queen's escort during her flight to Breslau. It is rumored that he married one of her maids of honor, Abigail Hopton. Extensive research had yet to prove that that marriage happened. After the disbandment of the queen's army he and other family members came to New Amsterdam. He emigrated with his family to New Amsterdam, apparently in the 1640's. The Stillwells eventually settled at Graves End on Long Island with the Lady Moody colonists. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell commanded forces against the Indians in Virginia and later aided Governor Claybourne in MD. He owned one of the original 20 acre farms at Graves End. and eventually resided on 200 acres near Graves End. He was a lieutenant and commander in charge of the expedition against the Indians in the Esopus war. After completing that mission successfully he returned to New Amsterdam and served as a friend and confident of Gov. Peter Stuyvesant, the last of the Dutch governors before the English takeover of New Amsterdam.

His second son was Captain Nicholas Stillwell 1636-1714/15. He served as a justice and a constable at Graves End for a number of years. He also served as captain of the Graves End militia. From 1691-1698 he was a member of the colonial assembly from King's County NY. In 1693 he commanded the King's County contingent of men with the Fletcher expedition to Canada against the French and the Indians. He was a man who received many honors during his lifetime. He was also well educated which was an exception in the times in which he lived. (Source: Genealogical and Family History of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys, Pennsylvania, vol. II, pp146-147.

Family links:

Children:

 Nicholas Stillwell (1636 - 1715)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Body lost or destroyed

Created by: Vicky Record added: Jan 13, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 103491026

__________________________ Biography Lt. Nicholas Stillwell Jr. was born in 1609 at Collopmore, Surrey, England. He was the son of Nicholas Stillwell Sr. and Alice (Unknown). Lt. Nicholas Stillwell Jr. married Abigail Hopton circa 1630 at England. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell Jr. held the position of tobacco viewer in 1639 at lower side of parish to the Eastern Side of Capt. Uby's creek, Charles River County, Virginia. Charles River County was an early appellation for York County, which, with James City County and Warwick County ranging along the southwest of it, and Elizabeth City County, abutting on the southeast of it, occupied the peninsulas created by the York River, on the northeast, and the James River, on the southwest, and terminated at Point Comfort, in Elizabeth City County, where the peninsula ends in a broad projection into Chesapeake Bay. He married Anne (Unknown) circa 1642 at New Netherlands. Lt. Nicholas Stillwell Jr. sold land Before me Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared Nicholas Stillewel who declared in the presence of the undersigned witness, that he sold to Jan Jansen Schepmoes, his house and lot heretofore occupied by ensign Gysbert de Leuw, situate on the North side of the Graft on the Island of Manhatan, and promises to deliver proper deed and conveyance ot the afore said house and lot, for which lot and house Jan Jansen Schepmoes promises to deliver to the above named Nicholas Stillevell in payment, his plantation heretofore occupied by Nicholas Sloper, situate on the Island of Manhatan near George Hom's plantation, of which plantation Schepmoes also promises to deliver a proper deed in form, which contract parties declared they have made and that Nicholas Stilwell must move out of the house next May day. If said house be burned before May, Scepmoes retains his plantation. Done the 25th November Ao 1646 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland. This is the mark of Nicholas Stillewell Ian Inason Schepmoes Witnesses: Gysbert De Leeu This is the mark of George Homs To my knowledge Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary Dutch Records, Albany, Vol. III, p. 366 on 25 November 1646 at Manhattan, New York County, New York. He was nominated and confirmes as on of the magistrates of the town in January 1649 at Gravesend, Kings County, New York. He removed to at New Amersfoort, Kings County, New York, in 1653. He appointed Ensign during the Esopus War on 1 July 1663. He Commisioned Lieutenant of an English Troup on 6 July 1663. He resided at at Dover, Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, in 1671. He left a will on 22 December 1671 at Staten Island, Richmond County, New York. In ye name of God, Amen, I, Nicholas Stillwell of Staten Island in ye terrtoryes of his Royal highness, James Duke of York in America, Husbandman, being sick and weake in body, but of perfect and sound understandin, Thanks bee rendered to Allmighty God for the same, doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following, Viz: Imprimis: I give and bequeathe my Soull unto ye hands of Allmighty God who gave it in hopes he saved in and through ye Passion, merritts and mediacon of Jesus Christe my only Savior and Redemer and my .bodye to ye earth to be buryed in decent and Christian like Buryall according to ye discretion of my executix hereafter named. Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved and affectionate wife Anne Stillwell all my whole estate consisting of Lands, Housing, Corne, Oxen, Kine, Horses, Mares, Sheep, Swine, removeables whatsoever being and lying upon Staten Island aforesaid or elswhere with all maner of debts whatsoever belonging unto mee. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife to be my full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. Revoking all former wills and Testaments by mee formerly made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale ye 22nd day of December in Annon 1671. Nicholas (x) Stillwell his marke (Seal) Sealed and Delivered in the presence of N. DE Meyer Richrd Charlton. He died on 28 December 1671 at Staten Island, Richmond County, New York. Nicholas' first wife was Abigail Hopton the daughter of Sir. Robert Hopton of Hopton Priory, England. Nicholas Stillwell the ancestor of the Family in America was an Englishman, who came from Leyden, in Holland, about 1638, after the death of his first wife Abigail Hopton, bringing with him his two only children Richard and Nicholas. He settled on Manhattan Island and married Ann Van Dyke. (Notes on the Descendants of Nicholas Stillwell, the Ancestor of the Stillwell Family in America by: William H. Stillwell, NY 1883). Grand Prairie Historical Society Bulleting, Vol 6 #4 Oct. 1963 by Eugene Cass Haller, states that Nicholas Stillwell in 1639 was in VA., and was a tobacco planter and in the militia but became discontent there and went to New Amsterdam ca. 1645. this is in disagreement with 'Early Settlers of Kings Co., NY' which places him in New Amsterdam in 1639. The History of Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell-Progenitor of the Stillwell Family in America by: John E. Stillwell M.D., NY 1929. Moved from Gravesend, Long Island, NY ca. 1665 to the south eastern shore of Staten Island, NY. Emigrated to New Netherland in 1638. He was in the military and a farmer. Sources Settlement of Gravesend, Long Island Stillwell Tree, part of HayGenealogy.com. Bucks County Genealogy for Lieut. Nicholas Stillwell. Source N16068: Compact Disc #21, Pin #700384, (AFN: 2WK6-J8) Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Ancestral File, Ancestral File Number: AFN: 2WK6-J8 Source: S13 Record ID Number: MH:S13 User ID: 0BE0704E-D57E-488D-90FB-E27570430AE7 Author: Kell Schmidt Title: Schmidt Web Site Text: MyHeritage.com family tree CONT Family site: Schmidt Web Site CONT Family tree: ldp24a_489641r3f245d04q6z5e2j Media: 332583-5 Type: Smart Matching Record ID Number: MH:SC132 Page: Lt. Nicholas Stillwell Event: Smart Matching Role: 5004782 Data: Date: 14 MAR 2013 Text: Added by confirming a Smart Match Quality or Certainty of Data: 3 Source S306: Media: Book: Abbreviation: Daniel Perrin: Title: Daniel Perrin, "The Huguenot," and his descendants in America, of the surnames, Perrine, Perine, and Prine, 1665-1910: Author: Perrine, Howland Delano: Publication: South Orange, N.J.,publisher unknown,1910: Date:

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STILLWELL, Nicholas , 1612- 1671 , Kings County, N . Y . Lieutenant, 165 9 ; Lieutenant , English Troop of Horse, 6 July, 1663, second Esopus War .