Person:Michael Williamson (1)

Origins

In his will of 15 December 1623, “Lawrence Williamson of Sharnebrooke in the County of Bedford, blacksmith,” included a bequest to “Lawrence Williamson, Michaell Williamson, Paull Williamson, John Williamson and Thomas Williamson my sons,” demonstrating that Michael and Paul were still alive in their late teens. Note that Lawrence Williamson called himself a blacksmith, while Michael claimed the related profession of locksmith. Also, GEORGE GIDDINGS {1635, Ipswich}, master of Michael Williamson in 1635, was baptized at Clapham, Bedfordshire, just a few miles to the southeasst of Sharnbrook [GM 2:3:52-56].

Life in New England

Michael was in Ipswich by 1635, when land grants list his land in the boundaries of others' grants.

“Moyles Williams” was one of the original proprietors of Hempstead; his proprietary share totalled 344 acres. ^[3]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Michael Williamson, in Great Migration Newsletter. (Boston, Massachusetts: Great Migration Study Project).

   ORIGIN: Sharnbrook, Bedford.
   MIGRATION: 1635 on the Planter (on 2 April 1635, “Michell Will[ia]mson,” aged 30, one of three “servants to Geo[rge] Giddins,” was enrolled as a passenger for New England on the Planter [Hotten 46]).
   BIRTH: Baptized Sharnbrook, Bedford, 2 December 1604, son of Lawrence Williamson (aged 30 on 2 April 1635 [Hotten 46]).
   DEATH: By 1648. See also sketch of Ann Pankhurst: her first child with second husband Henry Pearsall was born about 1648.

2. ↑ Date also given for John Williams (previously incorrectly linked as father).
3. ↑ Great Migration, citing Hempstead TR 8:324; The Nassau County Historical Society Journal 29:24-37