John Wilkinson

by


John Wilkinson probably was born during the 1740s. Several birth senerios are plausible including that he was an English emigré. He also could have been a child in the large family of Albany residents Thomas Wilkinson or Thomas Willis. The wide variety of spellings encountered of "Wilkinson" - perhaps even encompassing variants of "Willis," complicate our task.

In 1766, his name first appeared on an Albany assessment roll. In 1767, he was a sergeant in an Albany militia company - his rank possibly suggesting a military background.

In April 1769, he married Ann Marshall at the Albany Dutch church. The marriage produced several children who later became Albany residents.

In September 1769, he first was named constable for the first ward. A few months later, he joined the Albany night watch. He served as constable and as high constable for several years.

Probably still a young man during the 1770s, we expect to find him on wartime service rolls.

After the war, he was paid for services several times from the city treasury. During these years, his first ward house and holdings were assessed modestly.

In 1790, his household had eight members including five boys under sixteen.

In 1799, his house and lot were included on the first ward assessment roll but his family was not configured on the Albany city census in 1800. However, in 1810, the household of "John Wilkenson" with seven men, two girls, and two women appeared on the Albany census. After that, his name drops from Albany rolls.

Later, a John Wilkinson (perhaps a son) was listed on the city directory at 203 South Pearl Street. We seek defining information on his later life and passing.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of John Wilkinson is CAP biography number 6890. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 10/30/09