General Notes

The Wilkinson surname is Norman in origin. The first rexord of the surna
me was found in Durham, were the clan was first seated fro ancient time
s. They were descended from Robert de Witona, of Glamorgan, one of the twe
lve Kinghts who came to Glamorgan with Robert Fitzhamon, a Norman nobl
e, in 1066. Fitzhamon was Sheriff of Kent and founder of tewkesbury. Wilki
nsons held esteates in severl places, including Durham & Northumberland. T
hey also held estates in Scarborough, York, Pontefract, Kirkbrigg & Winter
burn Hall in Yorkshire. On e of the most notable at this time was Lancel
ot Wilkinson, born 1530 at Harpley House, KYO in Durham. Married Catheri
ne Leigh Durham. Lancelot died 1592. Other noteworth Wilkinsons of Harpl
ey House....Durham....
In 1615 a Coat of Arms was granted to William Wilkinson of Harpley Hous
e, Lanchester, Durham Co., England. His son Lawrence, a Lt. in the ar
my of King Charles the Dirst, was captured in the battle of Newcastle-Upon
-Tyne, bu forces of Oliver Cromwell. His lands were sequestered by Parliam
ent and sold. Lawrence received special permission from Lord Fairf
ax to go to the New Word (USA). Samuel Wilkinson the oldest son of Lawren
ce was the Grandfather of Stephen Hopkins, the Governor of Rhode Island, w
ho was the last signer of the Declaration of Independence. The ancest
ry of the wife of William Wilkinson, a Mary Conyers, goes back to King Edw
ard the First and to the de Bohuns, signers of the Magna Charta in 1215.