GEORGE STILLMAN

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Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, England

Wethersfield, Hartford Co, Connecticut

General Notes

Stillman, George
Life of Mr. George Stileman/Stillman

Founder of the largest North American Stillman branch, Mr. George Stillman was born George Stileman - the first of three sons of George Stileman (1621- ) in 1654 - as per the spelling of the last name on the bronze plaque dated 1670 that hangs in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire County, England.

A decendent of the Stylleman/Styleman/Stileman/Stilman Family of Steeple Ashton - which included many landowners, church officials and civil officials - in 1677 George Stileman married the daughter - Jane Pickering - of a deceased Baronet Sir Gilbert Pickering, Baronet of Nova Scotia 1st, a strict Puritan and Oliver Cromwell's Lord Chamberlain to the Protector - a combination of supreme court judge and attorney general. As was the custom of the time - George Stileman took Jane Pickering's last name - rather than the reverse - so that Jane Pickering could retain her societal status and inheritance - thus George Stileman became George Stileman Pickering. Jane Pickering gave birth to their first son - George Stileman Pickering, Jr. - in August 1679.

Through Lady Elizabeth Montagu Pickering - the wife of Sir Gilbert Pickering - a royal lineage has been thoroughly documented by John R. Sprague III. The Stillman Family Genealogy Home Page extends sincerest gratitude to John R. Sprague for researching and documenting this lineage. All direct decendents of Mr. George Stillman may rightfully claim this lineage as theirs for whatever purposes such claim may serve.

In those times, there was a tremendous amount of termoil everywhere with the monarchy in constant struggle to wrest control from the Parliament and with religious groups fighting openly to gain control as well. Sir Gilbert Pickering died in 1668 leaving his elsest son Sir John Pickering in charge of the Pickering family. The throne of the King of England was once again claimed by the Roman Catholics through the Stuart family when Charles II died and his misfit brother James II - who, as his beheaded father Charles I, believed in the "devine right of kings" - became King of Great Britain in 1685. Most likely the the strongly protestant George Stileman Pickering and puritan-heritage wife - Jane Pickering - became involved in the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth rebellion of 1685. Though George and Jane Pickering were apprehended and charged with treason, they were enabled through wealth and influence to leave England - leading to their immediate setting sail for the American Colonies from London in late 1685 with all that they could carry with them. George Stileman Pickering Jr., a second son - Samuel Stileman Pickering , and a daughter - Jane Stileman Pickering, were left behind to be sent for when their new home in the New England colonies had been established. Tragedy struck during the trip when Jane Pickering died at sea of complications resulting from premature childbirth.

George Stileman Pickering settled in Hadley, Massachusetts - dropped the Pickering name - re-possessing his surname name of Stileman. George was joined by his eldest son George Stileman Pickering, Jr. Why son Samuel Stileman Pickering and daughter Jane Stileman Pickering did not remove to the colonies with their eldest brother is not known - perhaps they chose to stay in England and be raised by the family of Sir John Pickering. George Stileman Pickering, Jr. - unhappy with following his father's new trade - returned to England, and completed studies and qualifiications to practice as a medical doctor. In 1689 George Stileman changed to the surname spelling of Stillman. Doctor George Stileman Pickering, Jr. returned to the colonies permanently around 1700 - dropped his last name of Pickering and assumed the surname spelling of Stillman, the same as his father.

A man of education, George Stillman's merchantile business grew to make him wealthy and one of three in Hadley that were entitled to the title - Mr. - in front of their names. Mr. George Stillman served as a Selectman - which is a member of the Board of Governors - for Hadley, MA. Mr. George Stillman married Rebecca Smith of Hadley, MA. When King Phillip's war threatened his property, wealth, and family, Mr. George Stillman moved everthing to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where many of his wife's [Rebecca Smith] relatives lived. As per the inscription on his grave site - Mr. George Stillman served as a Selectman for Wethersfield and was Representative at the Court of Massachusetts in 1698.

In 1699, Mr. George Stillman and wife Rebecca had a daughter - Anna Stillman - who married Deacon Hezakiah May and they had a daughter - Elizabeth May - who married Daniel Newcomb they had a daughter - Lydia Newcomb - who married Timothy Bush and thus began the Stillman relationship to the Bush Family lineage.

Mr. George Stillman carried on a large trade business with the West Indies and England until his death in 1728. His will - which I personally have seen - is signed George Stileman. Mr. George Stillman left his large property to his wife, children and grandchildren. Mr. George Stillman established his son John Stillman in business, provided son Benjamin Stillman with a Yale education and a very fine residence nearby. Mr. George Stillman gave his son Nathaniel Stillman a good homestead and helped his daughters at the time of their marriages. To Doctor George Stillman Jr., he gave 100 pounds sterling besides what he already had. The Will of Mr George Stileman - which I have personally seen - is signed with the last name spelled Stileman - the l ending in a distinctly downward curled loop creating a small e . Alfred William (Bill) Stillman, Jr. - 12 Mar 2004

Last Will and Testament of Mr. George Stilman
Land records and tax rolls, quoted by Judd show that his name was spelled both Stileman and Stillman.
1687 bought house and lot
1688 paid taxes as Stileman
1689 paid taxes as Stillman
1689, 1692, 1696 Selectman
1693 "had liberty to fortify Stillman house for benefit of those in North End without the palisade," His stockaded house had also a secret room in the chimney. One of the Regicides took refuge there. It is believed he was the one who appeared mysteriously during an Indian battle and rallied the colonists and disappeared by the time the battle was over.
1696 list of grand jury
1698 Representative from Hadley to General Court
1703 moved to Weathersfield, where second wife's relatives lived, for greater security for his family during Indian troubles. Engaged in mercantile business there and trade with West Indies and England
Real estate transactions in Weathersfield show that he transferred considerable land to his sons before he died and his will divides a large property. His children were educated - at least one (Benjamin) went to Yale.
The preceding was written by Hannah Amelia Stillman Bradfield in FAMILY HISTORY OF HANNAH STILLMAN (MRS. RICHARD) BRADFIELD dated November 1, 1963 - edited for this page

The account of Mr. George Stillman contained in Genealogies and Biographies of Ancient Wethersfield
is not entirely accurate and should be considered in the total context of this document - curator

Other EXCELLENT sites related to the history of the American Stillman Family of Mr. George Stileman/Stillman are
The Babcock Family
The Bliss Family
The Burdick Family
The Chesbro Family
The Crandall Family Association
The Davis Family
The Langworthy Family
The Maxson Family

Children of Mr. George Stileman/Stillman
and 2nd wife - Rebecca Smith
daughter of Lieutenant Philip Smith and Rebecca Foote
Lieutenant Phillip Smith was the son of Lieutenent Samuel Smith - one of the founders of Wethersfield, CT - in 1634, and Hadley, MA - in 1659.
Rebecca Foote was the daughter of Nathaniel Foote, one of the first settlers of Wethersfield, CT.
Mr. George Stileman/Stillman, Lieutenant Samuel Smith, and Nathaniel Foote are considered Pilgrims by the National Society of Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims.

Rebecca Stillman
Born: 15 Jan 1688
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 18 Oct 1712
Place: Wethersfield, CT

Mary Stillman
Born: 12 July 1689
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 30 June 1735
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married: Deliverence Blinn
Born: 12 July 1688
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died: 3 Nov 1736
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 5 Feb 1713

Captain Nathaniel Stillman
Born: 1 July 1691
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 1 Jan 1770
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married:1) Anna Southmayd
Born: 18 Jan 1693
Place: Middletown, CT
Died: 6 Jan 1730
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 3 Mar 1715
Married:2) Sarah Allyn
Born: 17 Aug 1708
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died: 4 Mar 1794
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 4 Mar 1731

Deacon John Stillman
Born: 19 Feb 1693
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 17 Aug 1775
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married: Mary Wolcott
Born: 14 May 1694
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died: 2 July 1777
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 26 May 1715

Sarah Stillman
Born: 28 Dec 1694
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 18 Jan 1774
Place:
Married: Colonel Samuel Willard
Born: 1693
Place: Saybrook, CT
Died: 1779
Place:
Date Married: 18 Jan 1715

Martha Stillman
Born: 28 Nov 1696
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 2 Oct 1712
Place: Wethersfield, CT

Anna Stillman
Born: 6 Apr 1699
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 7 Nov 1767
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married: Deacon Hezekiah May
Born: 14 Dec 1696
Place: Roxbury, MA
Died: 5 Sep 1783
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 5 Feb 1713

Elizabeth Stillman
Born: 19 Oct 1700
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 22 Apr 1735
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married: William Blinn
Born: 17 Oct 1701
Place: Boston, MA
Died: ca 1740
Place: Boston, MA
Date Married: 22 Aug 1722

Esther Stillman
Born: 1701
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 9 Aug 1705
Place: Wethersfield, CT

Hannah Stillman
Born: 7 Nov 1702
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 22 Apr 1755
Place: Hartford, CT
Married:1) John Caldwell
Born: 1688
Place: Hartford, CT
Died: 17 Sep 1734
Place:
Date Married: 1726
Married:2) Dr. Neil McLean
Born: 1701
Place: Scotland
Died: 15 Jan 1784
Place: Windsor, CT
Date Married: 5 Jan 1737

Lydia Stillman
Born: 7 Nov 1702
Place: Hadley, MA
Died: 3 Sep 1750
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married: Reverend Daniel Russell
Born: 3 June 1702
Place: Middletown, CT
Died: 16 Sep 1764
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 13 Nov 1728

Deacon Benjamin Stillman
Born: 29 July 1705
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died: 1780
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Married:1) Sarah Doty
Born: 18 Nov 1708
Place: Saybrook, CT
Died: 4 Oct 1732
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 29 Aug 1727
Married:2) Catherine Chauncey
Born: 1714
Place: Durham, CT
Died:12 Jun 1736
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Date Married: 1732
Married:3) Anna Pierson
Born:
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died:
Place:
Date Married: 14 Dec 1737

Ebenezer Stillman
Born: ca 1708
Place: Wethersfield, CT
Died:
Place:

CREDITS:

The genealogy of Mr. George Stillman is based on Stylleman (Stillman) of Steeple Ashton Co. Wilts Sheet I English Ancestry Issue 2 Amended 1973 signed by Geoffrey Stillman and received from Raymond W. Stillman of Holt, Trowbridge, Wiltshire County, England as contained in Stillman Geneology from Steeple Ashton complied by Geoffrey Stillman of Australia in 1969 and received from Raymond Stillman of Holt, Trowbridge, Wiltshire in 1984.

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GEORGE STILLMAN

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