Name: Ann Staineridge
   Born: c1652
  Place: England
Immigtd: 1682
   Died: Dec 1710
  Place: Burlington Co NJ
 Buried: 

Ann arrived in the colonies with her second husband, Robert Wilson. Her parents are unknown. But there is a reliable reference to the family she was born into in the will of her brother Thomas Staineridge (see below). This is what we learn from that document.

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
          |               |               |              |               |          |
        Jane            Anne           Ffrances      Elizabeth         Robert    Thomas
    m John Ridere   m Robert Witham              m George Dickinson            (See will)           
                          |
                    Susanna Witham

One would readily conclude that Anne's maiden name was Staineridge. But as noted in the article below, two histories give her maiden name as Hoag or Hoge. Sources are not cited.

The following was taken from Bonnie K Gorman's GEDCOM file, available online. It's effectively a biography of Ann's second husband, Robert Willson. It states that Ann had one daughter, Susannah, with her first husband, Richard Witham. In 1702, Robert purchased 260 acres from Susannah and her husband, Richard Stockton.

Chesterfield Township Heritage Burlington County, New Jersey, 1964

Published By Chesterfield Township Tercentenary Committee

Robert Willson married to Ann Hoag,¹ arrived from Scarborough Yorkshire, England in 1682. In 1688 he was Constable of Chesterfield Township. Robert was a member of the Grand Jury which met at Burlington, New Jersey, in Feb 1685. The Feb. 11, 1709/10 inventory indicates both are deceased. His only son, ll Samuel, married Hester Overton and moved to Quakertown, Hunterdon County. (Smith History of New Jersey, pg. 579).

Today we find the name Robert Willson, a member of the Chesterfield Township Committee living in one of the earliest homes.

Robert brought a Breeches Bible to America with him. It is at the Quaker Library at Swarthmore. It is considered quite rare. It has the signature of Robert & of our ancestors, Samuel & Rebecca - surname written as Willson. It is leather bound & was printed in 2 parts, 1606 & 1618 & then bound together as 1 book. It has the inscription "John Willson -- His Book". No one has ever discovered the relationship between Robert & John, It does have other information written inside, some written in the early 1600's. It seems significant that a person of that time period was literate, as lots of folks weren't in that time period.

In the early 1800's, several descendants of Robert, through his son Samuel 1, came to live in Ontario, Canada. Fifteen years after they arrived, there was only 1 Crown Lot, that was not settled in their area & it became available for lease. At this time, a Joshua Willson came from New Brunswick, where he had migrated after the Revolution, to settle on the vacant Lot. This Joshua was a descendant of Stephen Willson & Sarah Baker. It would seem that Joshua had prior knowledge of the availability of the land.

Robert immigrated to Philadelphia 1682. He made a will Mar. 27, 1709. Robert's will was probated Mar 27, 1709/1710 in Burlington, NJ, USA. The original immigrant ancestors of this Willson line were Robert and Ann Willson. The spelling of their last name is confirmed by the personal signatures of Robert and children, Samuel & Rebecca in the family bible brought over from England during immigration. The Bible is inscribed with, "John Willson, his book." and the inside cover has the inscription:"Robert Barker-London-1606." (C-915) We are not sure if this indicates Robert's father and a second relative or not. The Bible is currently in the care of the Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. (C-865)

This family line is again of the Quaker faith. "Robert (was) dismissed from Scarborough (ENGLAND) March 2 - 1682 to the care of their friend's in New Jersey and Penna." Robert, his wife and all four children supposedly came over on the ship, "Welcome" during the spring of 1682. They landed at Philadelphia and proceeded to Chesterfield Twp., Burlington Co., New Jersey. Knowing the tragic loss of life on the Welcome to scarlet fever, this family was very lucky to all make it across.

Ann had been married previously and had Susannah. Recorded in the extracts from Whitby Register at the Friends House, London, England is a bond concerning her previous child. "Thos. Staindridge, deceased bro." of Ann, left 10 pounds to her and husband, Robert Witham's child. This is not proof that Ann's maiden name was Staindridge as two major sources, Armstrong and Shotwell, state her name to be Hoag or Hogg. Perhaps Thos. Staindridge was a half brother. This discrepancy has not been proven either way.

Ann, "widow", and Robert, "bachelor", were married at her home in Scarborough, England, within the Pickering Monthly Meeting district. After arriving in America, Robert can be found owning 2 adjoining properties on the south side of Crosswicks Creek, New Jersey. Deeds do not seem to be available though he is mentioned in a survey of his neighbor, Thomas Wood's land. The land was originally a parcel of the15,000 acres owned by Thomas Budd referred to in the General Assemby on May 12, 1687.

Robert is mentioned often in the Friends Records. He was appointed a trustee of the Friends Burial Grounds at Crosswicks in 1685.

He was also active in local government. In 1688, he was a constable for Chesterfield Twp. In February, 1688 he was a member of the Grand Jury meeting in Burlington, New Jersey. He was a member of the General Assembly in 1697 in the House of Representatives. Family members are entitled to membership in the Society of Colonial Wars because of his legislative services.

"In 1702, Robert purchased 260 acres of land from Richard and Susanna Stockton, bordering on Crosswicks Creek, and probably adjoining lands already owned by him. This land descended to his son, Samuel I, who sold it in 1733 to Henry Coate," (Esther Willson's husband).

His death occurred February 12, 1709. The New Jersey Abstracts of Wills list Robert Willson of Chesterfield, Burlington Co., on March 27,1708, as making a nuncupative will, or a verbal will to his wife, Ann and son, Samuel. He mentioned his daughter, Rebecca, son-in-law, Cornelius Empson, granddaughter, Mary Empson and grandson, Robert Willson. Executors were his wife and son, Samuel. An inventory of his estate was submitted the 10th month of 1709 for a total of 181 pounds, 6 and a half shillings. This inventory covered the personal estate for both Robert and Ann as Ann had also died before December of 1709 when it was taken.

Will of Thomas Staineridge, 1670

The following transcription was made by Barbara Willson, using "Ann Marie's transcription to correct mine." In an August 2009 email from Barbara, she says "I am fairly sure this name is STAINERIDGE, it could be STAINDRIDGE. This is an exceedingly rare name. If you look at a map of the map of the Scarborough/Whitby area, and'll find a town called Staintondale. The word 'stain' means 'stone' and in the case of Ann's family, we think it may refer to the topography of their homeland."

Scarborough the ffifth day of the Month Commonly called January Anno Dom One thousand Six hundred Seventy know all people to whom this present writing shall come That I Thomas Staineridge of Scarborough in the County of York Maister Mariner being sick in body but in perfect memory and of good understanding and being desirous to dispose of my estate which God hath given mee I do make this my last will and testament as hereafter followed Imprima I give unto my Sister Jane Ridere wife of John Ridere of Whitby in the County of York and to Anne Weams of Whitby aforesaid widow All the household goods or utensils that belong to mee and are in the possession of the aforesaid Jane Ridere to bee divided betwixt them, to them and their heirs forever, Item, I give unto Ffrances Cooper wife of Joseph Cooper of Yarmouth ffive gold rings and two hundred shillings coins of Gold with a feather bedd ticking to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give unto Susanna Witham, daughter of Anne Witham, my sister, tenn pounds in money which she my said sister Anne oweth mee to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give unto William Nash and Jonathan Robinson tenn pounds to be disposed of by them (in money) to the use and service of God Truth and people called Quakers in Scarborough. Item after all my debts are paid and all my funeral expenses are satisfied and disposed of I do give all the residue of my estate of what nature or kind sooner itt bee in goods or chattells movable or immovable in such manner as hereafter follows. Viz. I give unto Robert Staineridge, my brother, three elevenths part of all my aforesaid estate to him and his heirs forever and other three elevenths part unto Anne Witham my sister to her and her heirs forever and other three elevenths part unto Ffrances Staineridge my sister to her and her heirs forever and the other two elevenths part unto my sister Elizabeth Dickinson wife of George Dickinson to her and her heirs forever and I do
I do further appoint them the said Robert Staineridge my brother, Anne Witham, Ffrances Staineridge and Elizabeth Dickinson my sisters joynt executors of this my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seals this day and year above written

Thomas Staineridge
Witnesses
William Robinson
John Baumbrough
George Allatson

¹In an August 2009 email, Barbara Willson says, "Witham was married to Ann Staineridge of Whitby. For some reason, prominent genealogy authors William Clinton Armstrong (The Lundy Family) and Ambrose M. Shotwell (The Shotwell Family) both state Ann's name as 'Ann Hoag or Hogg.' Her name was 'Ann Staineridge.'" Barbara cites the will of Thomas Staineridge, which mentions his sister Ann Willson.