William Compton, Jr.

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Compton-1133

William Compton Jr. (abt. 1645 - 1709)

William Compton Jr.

Born about 1645 in Gravesend, Long Island, New York

Son of Weilleum Compton and [mother unknown]

Brother of Mary (Compton) Whitlock

Husband of Mary (Bowne) Compton — married 1666 in New Jersey

Father of Judith (Compton) Devell, Cornelius Compton, Richard Compton and Jacob Compton

Died 1709 at about age 64 in Monmouth County, New Jersey

William Compton Jr. was a New Netherland settler.

Biography

William Compton Jr., son of William "Weillum" the immigrant from England, moved from Gravesend, Long Island, NY sometime before 1666.

In the History of New Jersey, Volume I, we read: "some 20 Long Islanders got (purchased) land from the natives n December of 1663. Little progress was made before 1664.

"The first planters were John Bowne, Richard Stout, and three other families. By 1668 there were a hundred purchases withing two towns. They came mostly from Rhode Island and Upper Long Island and were persecuted Quakers and Baptists."[1]

In The Town Book of Old Middletown we read that the home lots in Middletown were 36 in numerical order. William Compton appears as number 15, purchasing 280 acres of land and as coming from Long Island. Another item in the book shows William Compton as a Baptist, and as one of the founders of the first Baptist church in Middletown Township. [2]

Benedict's "History of the Baptists" states that for the origin of the first Baptist church in Middletown we have to look to the year 1667, for that was the year when Middletown was purchased from the Indians by twelve men and twenty-four associates. Their names are listed in the Town book. Of them the following were Baptists:

Richard Stout
John Stout
Obadiah Holmes
Walter Hall
Jonathan Holmes
William Compton
John Brown
and 11 more [3]
(I have only posted the people known to be part of the Compton family through marriage. I suspect that John Brown might actually be John Bowne, who was actually Rev John Bowne, the pastor of the first Baptist church and brother to Mary Bowne, who married William Compton. John's wife was Lydia Holmes, daughter of Obadiah Holmes. William's son Cornelius according to family tradition married a widow of one of the Stout men, who asked Cornelius to take care of his widow after his death. Since he was married to Elizabeth Applegate, I don't know what to make of this story. But we know without doubt that these families were closely allied at this time.)

According to "The Loyalist Comptons of PEI" page 3, there was also a John Browne (distinct from John Bowne who was certainly one of the founders of Middletown) married to Jean Hume, whose daughter, Jean or Jane Browne, married William Compton, s/o Cornelius Sr. in 1738. [4]. Interestingly enough, the Hume surname appears in Prince Edward Island again amongst our Compton cousins and In-laws. Did this same Hume clan migrate to Canada as UEL's? Interesting line of research.

Notes

"The Gravesend, New York, William lived with the Dutch and was referred to as Weilleum. Gravesend was an early English settlement in an area in modern Brooklyn adjacent to Coney Island. It is a mere hop, skip and a jump to Sandy Hook, New Jersey and Monmouth County. (Sandy Hook is also known as one of the haunts of Captain Kidd.) William was one of the 39 original settlers of Gravesend, became a leading citizen and was appointed constable in 1677. Both the elder and the son William, who migrated to New Jersey appear in the early records [5] [6]

Comptonology and Blalock, among others, then opine that his son, William, married Mary Bowne, daughter of Captain John Bowne and Mary Haverland [whose descendants also reportedly include Daniel Boone], and went with a number of others in 1666 to Monmouth County, New Jersey, and were among the founders of Middletown. In December 1667, the records indicate William was was identified with lot 15 in the town itself, and lot 14 in the "Poplar field [sic]". (Aside: Mary's sister Sarah's descendants include Abraham Lincoln, see Blalock, also Comptonology, V. 1, No. 4, p. 17).

It is reported both Comptons and Bownes were Baptists and left to escape religious persecution, but the political and land patent conflicts between the Dutch and British between 1650-1670, which ultimately resulted in New Netherlands being titled to the British and becoming New York around 1670, were undoubtedly the principal cause for this particular migration. We do know they founded a church. It is reported that there was an earlier migration of the Bownes and Comptons from Massachusetts, probably for religious reasons (as "accursed Baptists"), but the documentation is scant. William and Mary had ten children. William died ca. 1709 [7]. One of his sons, Richard, married Prudence (Providence) Isselstyne [or Usselton] (of Dutch extraction), and had a son (among other children, Isselstyne, the father of John I, who in turn married a Lydia Carhart and after her death Margaret Raemer, a German lady. Richard was born December 1673. He and Prudence had seven children.

It is from this theory that this genealogy is based. In [8] [9] Richard signed a petition to the King to appoint a suitable person as Governor, 17 July 1701. It is relevant to note that the next signature on the document is that of William Bowne, thus reinforcing the Dutch (and New York) circumstantial evidence supporting the New York identity of William. (See also [10]. Richard died prior to 1711 [11] Others believe the William here is the son of John Compton of Roxbury Massachusetts and Kent County England. There is some discussion of this in [12]

There is certainly a William of Middlesex County with a family with issue including an eventual John, but the William of Monmouth (New York) has the virtue of the multiple Dutch and Bowne historical connections. We also believe with Comptonology (Comptonology, V. 1, No. 3, p. 1) that the Middlesex Comptons eventually migrated through Maryland to Virginia. My research, particularly a copy of an old family Bible and an accompanying analysis, at the Maryland state archives, indicates this branch migrated to Culpeper County Virginia, and includes Zachariah, although I have not thoroughly researched it.

NEW from Deborah Compton 6/13/16: I found the documentation for Jacob as son of William Compton and Mary Bowne Compton and Jacob's issue in Comptonology Vol 2 No 8 page 39. Gary McKinnie's line through Jacob is now sourced in Comptonology.

Well sourced explanation of several of the William Comptons in the area that have been confused over time.

Sources

↑ History of New Jersey, Volume 1
↑ The Town Book of Old Middletown
↑ Benedict's "History of the Baptists"
↑ The Loyalist Comptons of PEI" page 3
↑ inter alia, Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, New York and New Jersey, 1930, Blalock, Comptonology, V. 1, No. 1, p. 1
↑ History of Monmouth County 1664-1920, Lewis Hist. Publ. Co., pp. 321 et seq.; Mandeville, The Story of Middletown, Christ Church (pub.), 1927, pp. 36.
↑ (Comptonology, V. 2, No. 6, pp. 28-29)
↑ Whitehead (ed.), New Jersey Colonial Documents, v. 2, 1687-1703, p. 397,
↑ Comptonology, Blalock (pp. 2-3)
↑ Comptonology, V. 1, No. 1, p. 1; V. 2, No. 7, p. 31; V. 3, No. 9, p. 121; V. 4, No. 3, p. 161).
↑ (Comptonology, V. 2, No. 9, p. 42.
↑ Comptonology, v. 1, No. 1, pp. 2-3.
Harold S. MacLeod, “The Loyalist Comptons of Prince Edward Island”, published in Canada, All Rights Reserved Copyright October 28, 1996. Page 1
History of New Jersey, Volume I
Town Book of Old Middletown, its first history dated 30 December, 1667.
Benedict's "History of the Baptists"
http://www.geocities.ws/ResearchTriangle/Forum/3876/GenealogyLDS/pa... Stephen Laurence Compton genealogy of the Island Creek Comptons
Acknowledgements

Compton-1133 was created by Gary McKinnie through the import of bgm.ged on Jun 20, 2014.

It is thought this William Compton was the son of William Compton, of Gravesend by “an unknown Dutch lady.”

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM1 COMPTON1 was born 1644 in Long Island New York1, and died Abt. 1709 in Middletown Monmouth New Jersey1. He married MARY BOWNE1 Abt. 1666 in Long Island New York1, daughter of WILLIAM BOWNE and ANN. She was born Abt. 1645 in MA1.

Children of WILLIAM COMPTON and MARY BOWNE are:

• i. RICHARD2 COMPTON, b. Abt. 1674, Monmouth Co. New Jersey; d. Abt. 1709, Monmouth Co. New Jersey.
• ii. JUDITH COMPTON1, b. Abt. 1667, Monmouth Co. New Jersey1; d. Rhode Island1; m. BENJAMIN DEVELL1, June 11, 1689, Essex Co. New Jersey1.
• iii. MARY COMPTON1, b. November 1667, Woodbridge Middlesex New Jersey1. 3.
• iv. CORNELIUS COMPTON, b. Abt. 1669, Monmouth Co. New Jersey; d. January 1758, Monmouth Co. New Jersey.
• v. JACOB COMPTON1, b. 1681, Monmouth Co. New Jersey1; d. Abt. 17531; m. ELIZABETH RHEA1, 1709, Freehold Monmouth Co. New Jersey1; b. , Perth Amboy New Jersey1.

Notes for JACOB COMPTON: [family tree.FTW]

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Re: Compton Ancestry Descendants of William Compton Posted by: Unknown (ID *****6724) Date: October 04, 2009 at 21:57:45 In Reply to: Compton Ancestry by Unknown of 3990

Descendants of William Compton Generation No. 4

6. JOHN4 COMPTON (ISSELSTYNE3, RICHARD2, WILLIAM1)1 was born Abt. 1730 in New Jersey1, and died April 1778 in Boutetrout Virg.1. He married (1) LYDIA FRANZ CARHART1 Bef. 1754 in New Jersey1. She was born in New Jersey1, and died Abt. 1755 in New Jersey1. He married (2) MARGARET RAEMER1 1755 in New Jersey1. She was born Abt. 1734 in Germany1, and died in Botetourt Co. Virg.1.

Notes for JOHN COMPTON: [family tree.FTW]

John and Abraham Compton ( presumable his brother though the relationship is unclear) went to Boutetrout, Augusta Co. Virg in fall of 1772. John bought 411 acres of land there on May 5, 1775. There is a Court Order entered Feb. 11, 1778 commissioning John to determine a suitable landing for the ferry crossing the James River from Crows Island. He died in 1778 in Virg. after being struck by a tree while clearing land.

Notes for MARGARET RAEMER: [family tree.FTW]

Family left Germany in 1735 to escape religious persecution. After John Compton's death married William Astor, Margaret and John Compton's son, Joseph, brought suit against Margaret and William Astor for the division of the Compton Estate. There is a land transaction on record between these same parties when Joseph sold 281 acres of land in Botetourt Co. Virg. to William and Margaret Aston for 200 pounds of continental money.

Children of JOHN COMPTON and LYDIA CARHART are: i. AMY5 COMPTON1, b. December 10, 1755, New Jersey1; d. December 12, 1827, Potosi Mo.1; m. GARRARD BRICKEY1, January 20, 1781, Botetourt Co. Virg.1; b. April 10, 1760, Westmoreland Virg.1; d. February 24, 1841, Festus Mo.1. ii. GEORGE COMPTON1, b. Abt. 17541.

Children of JOHN COMPTON and MARGARET RAEMER are: iii. JEREMIAH HORN5 COMPTON1, b. October 1754, New Brunswick Middlesex Co. New Jersey1; d. June 19, 1844, Sevier Co. Tenn.1; m. ELIZABETH LAYMON1, Abt. 1784, Botetourt Co. Virg.1. iv. JOSEPH COMPTON1, b. Abt. 17591; m. ELIZABETH ALLEY1, December 25, 1887, Montgomery Mountain Co. Virg.1; b. Abt. 1759, Montgomery Mountain Co. Virg.1. v. JOHN COMPTON1, b. Bef. 17601; d. March 28, 1828, Tazewell Co. Virg.1; m. ELEANOR MCGUIRE1, Bef. 17801; d. March 18341. Notes for JOHN COMPTON: [family tree.FTW]

John served as a private in the Revolutionary War.

vi. STEPHEN COMPTON1, b. Abt. 17621. vii. RICHARD COMPTON1, b. Abt. 17651; m. ELIZABETH CUMMINS1, 1791, Madison Co. Ky.1. viii. WILLIAM COMPTON1, b. 1767, Middlesex Co. New Jersey1; d. November 08, 18161; m. ELIZABETH GARLICK1, 1785, Montgomery Mountain Co. Virg.1. ix. LYDIA COMPTON1, b. Abt. 1770, Botetourt Virg.1; d. Bet. 1820 - 1830, Morgan City Ky.1; m. STEPHEN OGDEN1, October 15, 1781, Botetourt Co. Virg.1; b. 1752, New York1; d. May 01, 1842, Paris Edgar Co. Il.1. x. ELIZABETH COMPTON1, b. Abt. 17721; m. ROBERT LEASTLY1, 1787, Mountain Co. Virg.1.

=========================================================

Descendants of William Compton

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM1 COMPTON1 was born 1644 in Long Island New York1, and died Abt. 1709 in Middletown Monmouth New Jersey1. He married MARY BOWNE1 Abt. 1666 in Long Island New York1, daughter of WILLIAM BOWNE and MARY HAVERLAND. She was born Abt. 1645 in MA1.

Notes for WILLIAM COMPTON:
[family tree.FTW]

Baptist who left Long Island, New York to escape religious persecution. Moved to Monmouth Co. New Jersey in 1666. Descendents include Frank Compton, who founded Compton's Encyclopedia. Because of the Dutch/English conflict he went with Capt. John Bowne to Monmouth Co. NJ, married Capt. Bowne's daughter and they had 10 children.

Parents may have been John Compton b. Kent, England d. Boston, Mass. and Susanna Freeman b. 1595, England d. 1664 Boston , Mass.

Father may have been a Freeholder, living among the Dutch, who spelled his name "Weilleum". Born before 1630 in Kent, England and died Sept. 21, 1694, Gravesend, Long Island, New York. Arrived in Long Island, New York 1645. Relocated to Gravesend, Long Island, NY. sometime prior to 1647. He was on a list of 39 patentees in New York in 1645. November 24, 1657, he bought lot plantation #29 in Gravesend from Nicholas Stillwell and was involved in other land transactions in Gravesend in 1658 and 1659. On June 29, 1677 he was sworn in as Constable of Gravesend.

The reason the Compton and Bowne families originally left Long Island, New York in 1666 was to escape religious persecution. Both families were Baptist and their faith was unpopular with the New England hierarchy. The Compton and Bowne families established the first Baptist Church in Middleton New Jersey. William Compton received a warrant for 280 acres of land in New Jersey. He was also awarded Salt meadows. William Compton had his livestock earmark recorded as a half penny under the left ear. He paid quit rent to the King in 1696 on 250 acres of land which was located on Shoal Harbor near Middleton, New Jersey.

William COMPTON • Surname: COMPTON • Given Name: William • Sex: M Marriage 1 Mary Bowne b: ABT 1650 in born Long Island; of,Middletown ,Monmouth Co.,NJ 2. Married: 1668 • Birth: ABT 1647 in Gravesend LI; of,Middletown ,Monmouth Co.,NJ • Christening: lots 1668 Middletown lottery got lot 15 of 280 Acres • Death: 1709 in Middletown, Monmouth,NJ • Burial: comptonology pg,2,3 •

Origins

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?o=10&m=6.12.161.162.165...

It is generally been accepted (and we're probably not going to publish until we can confirm) William Compton of Gravesend had at least two children:

• William Compton (who settled in Middletown, Monmouth Countin 1664) and
• Mary Compton who married 1st Thomas Seabrook and 2nd Thomas Whitlock. Mary and her second [SIC: third] husband ended up living in Shoal Harbor and their house (known as the Whitlock-Seabrook house) is still standing.