William Shotwell

William, son of Benjamin and Ame (Hallett) Shotwell, was born at Rahway, New Jersey, April 27, 1766, buried in the Friends' burying-ground in lower Rahway, April 29, 1855. He inherited the family homestead from his father, and there engaged in farming, manufacturing brick and shipping same by vessel to New York and elsewhere. About the year 1800 twenty vessels freighted with brick left "Shotwell's Landing" and neighboring docks for New York. In 1879 not a brick was made within seven miles of that place. He married a second wife in 1827, and about ten years later sold the old homestead at the "Landing" and removed to Waterloo, New York, where he purchased a farm. In 1855 he returned to his old home at the "Landing" much broken in health, and went to the residence of his son William, where he lived but a short time, dying April 26 of that year, his burial occurring three days later. He was a man of great industry and of great, kindly heart. He owned slaves, but in 1816, when New Jersey became a free state, his negroes willingly remained with their old master. He was a member of the Society of Friends, was married by their ceremony, and was buried in the faith which he loved and honored. He married (first) at Rahway, New Jersey, October 25, 1792, Elizabeth Moore, of Woodbridge, who died at Shotwell's Landing March 13, 1826, aged sixty-four years. He married (second), in Friends' meeting, Junius, Seneca county, New York, September 27, 1827, Achsah (Lundy) Laing, widow of John Laing, and daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Willits) Lundy. She was born March 21, 1777, died September 26, 1854. They settled at Rahway, and she became a member of the Rahway meeting by certificate from the Junius monthly meeting. It was in regard to her wish that the removal, in 1838, was made to New York state, where they both became members of the Junius meeting. Children:

  1. Benjamin (mentioned below).

  2. Elizabeth, born 1795, died 1827; married, 1815, Samuel Moore (2).

  3. William, born 1798, died 1876; married Catherine Pettit.

  4. Harvey, born 1800, died 1848; married, 1823, Louisa Shotwell, born 1800, died 1889, daughter of Nathan Shotwell.

Child of second marriage:

  1. David, married Margaret Prall.