Person:Francis Wilkinson (6)

We know of Francis Wilkinson from his son Joseph's records in the Quaker Meetings of Chester Co PA. As a Quaker living in Ireland, Francis was most probably from the second generation of Welsh Quaker immigrants to Ulster. Francis is important as the progenitor of this Wilkinson Family before their arrival in America.

From Joseph's letter of dismissal dated 2/23/1737, we learn the family was from Ballinacree, County Antrim, Ireland. And, we learn that Francis had died prior to the date of the letter; as Joseph is listed as "Son to Francis Wilkinson Deced." Of note, son Joseph's marriage records from Kennett MM mentions parents. Does this indicate that Francis' wife, Joseph Wilkinson's mother, also immigrated to Pennsylvania and was still alive in 1740. Or, is this simply Elizabeth Fisher's parents.

The biography of John W. Wilkinson's (b. 5/27/1793 in North Carolina) states that four of Francis' sons--Joseph, Thomas, William, Samuel--three of his daughters, and nephew Francis Wilkinson immigrated to Chester Co PA in about 1737. As Irish Quakers, the Wilkinson descendants were part of the Scot-Irish Migration Stream to America.