Stephen Wilson

Falls Meeting early member (see documents)

"The 500 acres of Thomas Rowland, extending from Newtown creek to Neshaminy, probably included the ground the Presbyterian church stands upon. It was owned by Henry Baker in 1691, who conveyed 248 acres to Job Bunting in June 1692, and in October 1697 the remainder, 252 acres, to Stephen Wilson. In 1695 Bunting conveyed his acres to Stephen Twining, and in 1698 Wilson did the same, and Twining now owned Thomas Rowland's whole tract. In 1757 part or the whole of this land was in the possession of Benjamin Twining. In 1702 Stephen Twining owned 690 acres in Newtown, which John Cutler surveyed March 10th.

Dates for him are OS.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 14 2020, 15:37:22 UTC

GEDCOM Note

STEPHEN WILSON immigrated to America in 1688, from Cumberland County, England. From the few facts about him available to us today, we are able to construct a reasonably accurate general description.
STEPHEN was a member of the Society of Friends for several years prior to his leaving England. It is unlikely that he left for religious reasons, the period of widespread religious persecution having long since passed. We may then assume that he left England simply because the future held more promise in America. Undoubtedly, he heard about the opportunities in this land through the steady correspondence that passed between Friends in America and those who remained in England. Since STEPHEN WILSON was young, possibly in his twenties, and unmarried, it would not have been too difficult for him to break ties with the Old World and take a ship to the New. His friends in England provided STEPHEN with a sort of "To whom it may concern" character reference. This was a common practice of the day and the responsibility for its accuracy was not taken lightly by the person or persons who wrote and signed it. Viewed in the context of the times, this document shows STEPHEN WILSON to be a sober, hard working, God-fearing, young man. Apparently his feeling for religion was genuine, for upon his arrival, he proceeded directly to the Chesterfield Meeting, Burlington County, New Jersey, and made himself known to the membership. From first to last, his life in America was closely associated with the Quaker movement. The following document from the Society of Friends in England was copied in full into the records of the Burlington Meeting: "WHEREAS, a Stephen Wilson of Eglishfields in ye Parish of Bugham & County of Cumberland, Haveing a purpose in his mynd to goe to Pensilvania to settle himself there is some Employmt. Of honest Labour in yt Country: THEREFORE This is to Certifye and Alsoe to satisfye Friends or any other People in that Island that may employe ye said Stephen Wilson yt he hathe not come away or left his owne country for anye Misdemeanor or Miscarriage or matter of dishonestye of any Kinde yt wee knowe of never since he owned ye Truth but hath walked pretty orderlye for Severally yeares amongst us, and onlye yt it is his owne free will purpose a resolution to settle himselfe in that Plantaceon Beeing a Single Man. John Banches Richard Richison Philip Burnyeatt Kerem: Bowman Christ Wilson John Serugham James Dickenson Jere: Spencer John Bobinson Peter Hudson Richards Head Jon: Spencer. " Shortly after he presented the above certificate, Stephen Wilson settled on a tract of land "above ye falls" on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Apparently, he had some skill or training as a carpenter since in 1690, he was employed in that capacity in the construction of the Falls Meeting House in Falls Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This new Meeting House must have been situated much closer than the Chesterfield Meeting to Stephen Wilson's farm because from this point on, we find him mentioned only in connection with the Falls Meeting Group. Although he continued to live on the New Jersey side of the Delaware, he now becomes rooted, at least for historical purposes, in Bucks County. We may assume that fortune smiled on Stephen Wilson and that his affairs prospered, for he was soon prepared to take on an added responsibility. In 1692, in the Falls Meeting House he had helped build, Stephen Wilson married SARAH BAKER. Sarah, born in West Darbye, Lancashire, England on October 18, 1672, came to America with her parents, Henry and Hanna (Hardiman) Baker in 1683-84. HENRY BAKER, in later years was a respected member of the Provincial Council and also a member of the Assembly. An interesting insight into the rigors of Colonial life is provided by the Quaker records of this period. As you may know, these people always showed the strictest adherence to their obligation to meet together for worship. It would not be a matter of convenience but rather of necessity that would prompt them to permit a number of their members to meet separately. Yet the records show that Stephen WILSON was granted permission by the Falls Group to hold separate meetings for worship in his home on "First Days". The records go on to tell us that this permission was granted only during the winter months when the Delaware was "impassable". Was it a series of near drownings, or an actual tragedy while crossing the ice-swollen Delaware that brought about these separate services? We may never know, but it is interesting to find that "Crossing the Delaware" in the dead of winter plays a small part in the Wilson Family History long before the time of that legendary crossing by Washington at Trenton. Incidentally, STEPHEN WILSON was by now a member of the Provincial Council, so we may be sure the meetings were in good hands. Once again, in 1706, STEPHEN WILSON helped to build a Meeting House. This time it was the Buckingham Meeting House in Buckingham Township, Bucks County. Wording used in the records and the fact that he kept the accounts indicate that he was in charge of the construction. STEPHEN WILSON died in 1707. Presumably, his death was sudden and unexpected for his accounts of the Buckingham building were not completed at the time of his passing. The next year, on August 19, 1708, his widow married one ISAAC MILMER. She died in April 1715. STEPHEN and SARAH (BAKER) WILSON had six children: Stephen, Sarah, Mary, Rebecca, John, and Samuel. Friends, or Quakers, as were his Bucks County descendants. Because the records of births, marriages and deaths, habitually kept by this group, are still in existence, we have a clear picture of the Wilsons of that time and place. The information herein, covering the period 1688 to 1825, is based on these Quaker records, and as such, is to be considered authentic and accurate. (from genealogy compiled by ORAN C. WILSON, 15 Jun 1958, Sandusky, Ohio)