William Gilson

William Gilson or Gillson was one of the early resettlers of Scituate, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts.

Gilson was born c. 1590 in England to William Gilson/Gillson and Hannah Tower. He arrived in Scituate in 1633 and lived at Kent Street. He operated the first windmill in town, located on the Third Cliff.

His wife was Frances; they had no children. He was very close to his sister Hannah's children, John Daman Jr. and Hannah Damon, and left them (along with Frances) his inheritance when he died c. 1649.

< http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/families/GilsonWilliam.htm >

He immigrated to Massachusetts in 1632

His will was dated 26 Jan 1639/40 and proved 3 Mar 1639/40. His inventory taken 12 Mar 1639/40 says that he "died at Scituate the first day of February 1639" (calendar year 1640). It was said that he died without children . He did bring over from England two of his sister's children, Hannah and John Dammon (who he called cousins in his will). He had married Francis (Maiden Name Unknown) by 8 Jan 1634/35, and he was reported to be "ancient" when he arrived, so his birthdate is assumed to be before 1610.

The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010), (Originally Published as: New England Historic Genealogical Society.