William Garrett (1643 - 1724)

Born 21 Aug 1643 in Harby, Leicestershire, England

Husband of Ann (Kirke) Garrett — married 19 Apr 1668 in Hose, Leicestershire, England

Descendants

Died 7 Feb 1724 at age 80 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania

Biography

William Garrett was a part of William Penn's Pennsylvania Settlers community.

William was a Friend (Quaker)

William Garrett was born in Hose, Leicestershire, England on 21 Aug 1643,^[1][2] the son of John Garrat (as the name is spelled in the old family Bible, printed 1634, which William brought with him to Pennsylvania) and Mary (Maiden is debated, see Research notes). He was baptized on 3 Sep 1643. William became a member of the Society of Friends and married Ann Kirke (b. 19 Mar 1642 possibly May based on Quaker dating) on 19 Apr 1668. They resided in Harby, Leicestershire, England from 1672 until 1684 when they left for Pennsylvania. They had 9 children all of whom were born in England except John:^[2][3][4]

1) Anne, b. 4 Feb 1669, Hose, Leicestershire, bur. 10 Nov 1672 at Harby, Leicestershire.

2) Mary, b. 4 Nov 1670, Hose, Leicestershire, d. 16 Jan 1704; m. Abel Noble.

3) Samuel, b. 7 Jul 1672, Harby, Leicestershire, d. 4 Mar 1744; m. Jane Pennell.

4) Hannah, b. 23 Jun 1674, Harby, Leicestershire, d. 24 Jun 1738; m. (1st) George Emlen and (2nd) William Tidmarsh.

5) Sarah, b. 23 Jun 1676, Harby, Leicestershire, d. aft. 26 Feb 1723 ; m. Randal Croxon.

6) Alice, b. 24 Jun 1678, Gloucestershire;^[5] d. 13 Sep 1748; m. Joseph Pennell.

7) William, b. 4 Apr 1679, Harby, Leicestershire, d. 5 Mar 1727; m. Mary Smith.

8) Thomas, b. Jan 1682, Harby, Leicestershire, d. Feb. 1717; m. Rebecca Vernon.

9) John Garrett, b. 22 Mar 1686, Darby, Pennsylvania, d. 21 Oct. 1713; unmarried.

Before leaving England William Garrett, a webster (weaver), purchased 500 acres land in PA by deeds of Aug 9 and 10, 1684 from John Lobe, a Bristol land speculator. The land was afterwards located in Willistown township. William left to permanently settle in Pennsylvania, along with his friends Samuel Levis, John Smith and Robert Cliffe, from Bristol, England in Aug 1684 aboard the ship Bristol Merchant under the command of John Stephens. They all carried a joint certificate from the Friends Meeting in Harby, Leicestershire dated 20 Jul 1684 and presented their joint certificate to a meeting of Friends held at "The Governor's house" in Philadelphia on 4 Nov 1684.^[6][7][8]

William Garrett was a prominent member of Darby Meeting of Friends for thirty-seven years. He was elected a member of Provincial Assembly of Pennsylvania in the years 1706 and 1707. His wife died (or was buried 7 Apr 1722) in Philadelphia,^[9][10] after which he removed 4 Jul 1722 (received 27 Jul 1722) to Philadelphia ^[11], leaving his homestead in Darby to the care of the younger generations. His original land in the Willistown Township that he purchased from John Lobe prior to leaving England would stay in his family and be used, in part, for the development of mills. A letter from the Darby Meeting prior to his removal to Philadelphia lauds William for his years of service and admirable conduct as a member of the Society.^[6]

William Garrett died on 7 Feb 1724 in Philadelphia, PA.^[2][4][12] His will was dated 26 Feb 1723 and proved 3 Dec 1724.^[13] He was 80 years old.

Research Notes

There are three major controversies with William's father, John Garrett and unfortunately a number of Garrett family lines have been crossed and errors perpetuated with many online trees. One line went to Virginia and the other stayed in Pennsylvania.

1) John Garrett, the father, is not the same John Garrett that many lines have coming to America as an indentured servant to his brother in law, John Dunston, in 1631 and returning to England to married a so called "Lady Mary Bible."^[14] This John Garrett stayed in England.^{[15] [16]}

2) John Garrett (b. 1635), the son, is not the same John Garrett (b. 1631) that came to America and ended up in Virginia marrying Elizabeth Ware. From this Leicestershire Garrett line only William and Thomas are known to have emigrated to America and they stayed in Pennsylvania.^[6][17]

3) John Garrett, the son, has two conflicting birth years from the same genealogist and author in different books! Gilbert Cope, one of the best Quaker genealogist in Pennsylvania, wrote in one book published in 1881 that the bible stated that John and Mary had 6 children with John's birth year as 1631.^[18] However, 6 years later in a book published in 1887, Cope clearly shows all 7 children (Elizabeth was the missing child) with John's birth year listed as 1635.^[17] It is probable that during those 6 years Cope uncovered better transcripts of the bible and/or updated research.

"William Garrett was a member of the Quaker meeting at Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. His marriage to Ann Kirke was recorded at Hinckley MM. Leicester on Feb 19, 1667/68. His brother Thomas was one of the witnesses.

"Another brother, John Garrett of Leicester, married Elizabeth Ware. An Elizabeth Garrett witnessed both the Quaker marriages of Mary Bramston and Hannah Bramston. These marriages were recorded at Southwark, Surrey,England...

"William Garrett and Thomas Garrett went to Pennsylvania. John Garrett reportedly went to Virginia. John married Elizabeth Ware. Many of their descendants are found in early Virginia records near some known and unknown Bransons...I think those who went to PA were Quakers, while those who went to VA were possibly Baptists.^[19] Note: There's still some question as to whether John Garrett who moved to Virginia was a brother to William. Some indicate that William's brother, John, remained in England. Perhaps yDNA will eventually prove or disprove this relationship.

John E. Garrett shows differences in the dates of birth for the above children of William and Ann. He shows Samuel born in June and deceased January 4, 1743-43. His records show Thomas born in December and a death date of December 28. There are a number of variations in the birth/death dates of the 9 children of William and Ann as seen in this compilation by C and M Fox. For this reason, original sources are really needed.

"Mary Smith was born on 1 September 1686 at Darby, Chester Co., PA, USA.6 She married William Kirke Garrett, son of William Garrett and Ann Kirke, on 7 October 1709 at Darby, Chester Co., PA, USA. Mary Smith witnessed the will of William Kirke Garrett on 3 January 1726 at Darby, Delaware Co. (Chester Co. bef 1789), PA, USA; from Brimmer 12 Aug 2014 email: The Will of John Garrett's father William Garrett."^[20]

For further study: Will abstracts in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery & Philadelphia counties, especially the Will of Jane (Parker) (Bethell) Smith (sister-in-law to Mary Garrett) , the will of William Smith (to sister, Mary Garrett) and the Will of Mary (Smith) Garrett. Also, the will of John Smith (3) To my 3 aunts Mary Garrett, Sarah Sellers and Martha Parker the household goods left me by my To my 3 aunts above named £20 each and to their children 40 shillings each.^[20]

~*~

ID: I5768

Name: William GARAT 1

Birth: 21 AUG 1643 in Leicestershire, England 1

Death: 1724 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1

Baptism: 3 SEP 1643 Leicestershire, England 1

Probate: 3 DEC 1724 Chester Co., Pennsyvania 2

Will: 26 FEB 1722/23 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1

GARRATT, WILLIAM. Late of Darby, Chester County, now of Philadelphia. Yeoman. February 26, 1723. December 3, 1724. D. 409.^[13] Persons mentioned in William's will:

Children:

William

Samuel

Sarah, wife of Randal Croxton, and her children (no names given)

Alice Pennell

Hannah Tidmarsh and children of the two later (no names given).

Grandchildren: Hannah, Job and William Noble

Joseph Noble

Children of Thomas Garratt deceased:

William

Susanna

Hannah

Sarah Dun [his niece, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Raworth) Garat, m. William Dunn.]

Executors receive land in Bucks County.

Executors: son, Samuel and sons-in-law Joseph Pennell and William Tidmarsh.

Witnesses: John Burge, Elizabeth Burge and Joseph Lawrence.

Sources

1. ↑ William Garrett’s Find A Grave: Memorial #153461382
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} https://www.pennock.ws/fam/fam14566.html
3. ↑ Jordan, John W. Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs. Vol 1. New York, The Lewis Pub. Co.,1911. Pg 177. (See also: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924092226806&view=1up&seq=203)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Cope, Gilbert . Genealogy of the Smedley family descended from George and Sarah Smedley, settlers in Chester Co., Penna., Wickersham Printing Co., 1901. Pg 171-172. (See also: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t9571gp5s;view=1up;seq=6) Note: Dates from this book are Quaker until 1752. For more about dates, see Sue Roe's The Problem of Dates.
5. ↑ Alice Garrett’s Find A Grave: Memorial #153573140
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} Carter, Jane Levis. The paper makers : early Pennsylvanians and their water mills. Kennett Square, PA : KNA Press, 1982. Pg 1-2, 19-20, 41.
7. ↑ Comly, George Norwood. Comly Family in America. Privately published under supervision of J.B. Lippincott. Philadelphia, Pa, 1939. Pg 923. (See also: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89066037615;view=1up;seq=5) Note: Dates from this book are Quaker. For more about dates, see Sue Roe's The Problem of Dates.
8. ↑ Mahler, Leslie: "Samuel Levis, Quaker Immigrant to Pennsylvania", The Genealogist, Spring 1999, Vol 13, No 1, p. 35-36 (PDF download)
9. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935. Pennsylvania; Births and Burials, 1686-1807; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 365. Note: Dates from this book are Quaker. For more about dates, see Sue Roe's The Problem of Dates.
10. ↑ U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943. pg 365. Note: Dates from this book are Quaker. For more about dates, see Sue Roe's The Problem of Dates.
11. ↑ Quaker arrivals at Philadelphia, 1682-1750; being a list of ... Myers, Albert Cook, 1874-1960. Pg 79. Note: Dates from this book are Quaker until 1752. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044018841783;view=1up;seq=7
12. ↑ Ancestors of Alexandra Catlin Vaut. https://www.acvancestors.com/g1/p1545.htm#i46345
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Pennsylvania Wills, 1682 - 1834
14. ↑ Family History : Choate, Allen, Casey, Burton, and Garret (http://kenchoate2.blogspot.com/2013/11/family-history-choate-allen-casey.html)
15. ↑ Louise Garrett. Help! John Garrett & Mary Bible (https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/garrett/7831/).
16. ↑ http://www.pennock.ws/surnames/fam/fam05581.html
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} Cope, Gilbert. Genealogy of the Sharpless family; Philadelphia, 1887. Pg 87, 154-155. (See also: https://archive.org/details/genealogyofsharp00cope/page/154) Note: Dates from this book are Quaker until 1752. For more about dates, see Sue Roe's The Problem of Dates.
18. ↑ Futhey, John and Cope, Gilbert. History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches. Philadelphia, 1881. Pg 560. (See also: https://archive.org/details/cu31924005813518/page/n789)
19. ↑ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRANSON/2009-12/1260227544
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} http://www.acvancestors.com/g1/p1545.htm

See also:

• The Names of the Early Settlers of Darby Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania., compiled by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1912, p. 182-183

Acknowldgements

• John W Sigh, Jr for cleaning this profile and creating the Biography as part of the Profile Improvement Project.
• Debra Allison for adopting this profile.
• WikiTree profile Garrett-1320, Garrett-1330, and Garrett-1340 created through the import of Turnham Family Tree.ged on Mar 6, 2012 by Blake Turnham.