The Wilcockson quest in the UK is particularly blessed with available sources, especially (as this blog will reveal) Manorial and Quaker records. We can’t say the same about the Boonie Wilcockson early years in America.

Quaker George, the first Boonie migrant from the Biggin families, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1718-19, married Elizabeth Powell from the ‘Welsh tract’ of PA and lived with their several children in frontier conditions. Sadly for descendants, they didn’t maintain unity with the Quaker Meetings so are missing from those records – from all records in fact, until they died in 1739 and 1740. We don’t even know the numbers and names of their children, other than their youngest, five year old Mary, who was taken under the wing of Quaker Philip Yarnall when she was orphaned.

Y-DNA testing however happily confirmed that the eldest child of George and Elizabeth was most likely “1720 John” who seems to have had a weaving apprenticeship with Squire Boone, father of the famous Daniel Boone, and then married Daniel’s sister Sarah. Their descendants and ancestors are, of course, called Boonies.

The story of these interwoven Boone and Wilcockson lives in 18th century frontier America is like a film Western. Full of adventure, tragedy and survival against the odds. But very lacking in official genealogical records.

Chris Robinson, a US Boonie descendant who has researched these families for many years recently summed up the state of knowledge and speculation regarding the final days of Sarah (Boone) Wilcockson in a fascinating article which can be found here.

Isaac Wilcockson

Chris has also recently speculated on the fate of Quaker George’s brother Isaac, who we know was a Cloth Worker resident in Cossall at the time of his father John’s death there in 1718-19. Breach MM Minutes show that Isaac was granted a certificate for travel to America in 1721, though if he went he came back. From 1723, Monyash MM Minutes show him in active unity with them until 1727. He was even a Trustee of the Monyash Meeting House. After 1727 however, no mention has been found of him in any UK records, no burial, no nuttin. The Monyash Friends despaired of trying to locate him. As a result, I thought it likely he made his life permanently in America from 1727 or soon afterwards.

Now Chris has told us this:

“We now believe that Quaker George and Elizabeth (Powell) Wilcockson had sons, including 1720 John; George (ca1730-1785), and likely Isaac (ca1724-1765)–all of whom eventually settled in Rowan Co., NC. What intrigues me though is the presence of another Isaac Wilcockson in Middletown, Bucks Co., PA.

“We know that this Isaac is named in a Middletown MM list of attendees at the wedding of Thomas Goinks in 1731. Years ago, a reference to a Bucks County lawsuit (dated June 17, 1732) was brought to my attention, in which Richard Mountain sued Isaac Wilcockson [Bucks County PA Criminal Papers–Court of Common Pleas]. Joseph Wildman of Middletown, PA was named as a surety in the lawsuit.

“It would be great to know whether any other details regarding this lawsuit still exist within Bucks County records. It is also interesting to note that Squire and Sarah (Morgan) Boone also lived in Bucks Co., PA from 1720 to ca1730–during which time their first child, Sarah (Boone) Wilcockson was born. In ca1730, Squire Boone moved his family to Berks Co., PA. Might Quaker Isaac Wilcockson of Middletown, Bucks Co., PA have known the Quaker Squire Boone family during their time of residence in Bucks County? More food for thought!”

From Biggin to Cossall, to Pennsylvania and beyond – always more to find out.