Solomon Wilkins Papers, 1715-1847, undated
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Not requestable
Scope and Contents
The Solomon Wilkins papers consist mostly of financial documents including records of tax payments, labor earnings, purchases of goods, and a payment made to Wilkins in exchange for “advice”. There are also records of deeds of land sales and a receipt of a pew purchased in Middleton Meetinghouse for Wilkins and his heirs. The collection also includes records of labor for and of Solomon Wilkins, sales of hay, rum and other goods and an invitation to a gathering celebrating the birthday of George Washington. Additionally, there are receipts of medical treatment payments made by Wilkins and a letter stating that Wilkins repaired a bridge and should be allowed a lesser highway tax payment. It also includes records with the names of many of Wilkins’ relatives, and a document giving Wilkins guardianship of John, George and Joseph Thomas, and Joseph Thomas’ record of indenturement with Wilkins. The collection is arranged chronologically.
Dates
- Creation: 1715-1874, undated
Creator
- Wilkins, Solomon, 1764-1849 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical / Historical
Solomon Wilkins was born in Middleton, Massachusetts on December 5, 1764. He married Eunice Kenney (1769-1814) in 1790, and was married to her until her death in 1814 (Ancestry.com Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records). In 1815 he remarried a woman named Sophia Wilkins (1779-1861) from Amherst, New Hampshire (Ancestry.com New Hampshire Birth Records). Solomon died in 1849. All three are buried in Old Fuller Burying Ground in Middleton, Massachusetts (Ancestry.com Compiled Birth, Marriage, and Death Records). Solomon Wilkins served in the Massachusetts militia in the late 1800s. His father, Enos Wilkins (1741-1828) served as a private in Captain Asa Prince’s company, Colonel John Mansfield’s Regiment, Massachusetts Line, during the Revolutionary War (Middleton Board of Selectmen). Solomon worked as both a farmer and an esquire, executing last wills and testaments and administering estate sales. Sophia also worked as a farmer. It is not clear whether Solomon had children with either of his wives. His last will and testament included assets left to Abigail Fuller, Solomon Wilkins Weston, Sophia Wilkins, and Samuel Wilkins Weston (Ancestry.com Wills and Probate Records).
Extent
.21 Linear Feet (1 box, 1 flat file)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Solomon Wilkins papers consist mostly of financial documents including records of tax payments, labor earnings, purchases of goods, and a payment made to Wilkins in exchange for “advice”. There are also records of deeds of land sales and a receipt of a pew purchased in Middleton Meetinghouse for Wilkins and his heirs. The collection also includes records of labor for and of Solomon Wilkins, sales of hay, rum and other goods and an invitation to a gathering celebrating the birthday of George Washington. Additionally, there are receipts of medical treatment payments made by Wilkins and a letter stating that Wilkins repaired a bridge and should be allowed a lesser highway tax payment. It also includes records with the names of many of Wilkins’ relatives, and a document giving Wilkins guardianship of John, George and Joseph Thomas, and Joseph Thomas’ record of indenturement with Wilkins.
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
This material was found in the collection, it was formerly cataloged as Fam. Mss. 1095.
Bibliography and Related Collections
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Ancestry.com. New Hampshire, U.S., Birth Records, 1631-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021.
Hill, William Caroll. 1943. “The Family of Bray Wilkins : ‘Patriarch of Will’s Hill’, of Salem (Middleton), Mass.” Hathi Trust Digital Library. 1943. Accessed May 9, 2023. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ssd?id=wu.89062464656;page=ssd;view=plaintext;seq=138;num=112#seq138.
Middleton Board of Selectmen. 2008. “Town of Middleton Public Streets, Parks, Buildings and Other Public Facilities Naming Policy.” Town of Middleton. Accessed May 9, 2023. https://middletonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1232/Street-Parks-and-Public-Facilities-Naming-Policy.
Commission of appointment as Captain in the sixth regiment, first brigade, second division of Mass. militia issued to Solomon Wilkins by Gov. Samuel Adams, Dec. 1, 1796 : oaths Mar. 11, 1797. Courtesy of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley MA.
Commission of appointment as Ensign of a company in the 6th regt., 1st. brig., 2d div. of militia of Mass. issued to Solomon Wilkins by Gov. Samuel Adams of Mass., May 3, 1796 : oaths Oct. 19, 1796. Courtesy of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley MA.
Honorable discharge of Major Solomon Wilkins of the fifth regiment of the first brigade and second division of militia of Mass., March 1, 1804. Courtesy of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley MA.
Solomon Wilkins Weston Diary, DIA 231. Courtesy of Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Rowley MA.
Processing Information
This material was placed in acid free folders.
- Title
- Solomon Wilkins Papers, 1715-1847
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Christine Hill
- Date
- May 2023
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository