Antill family index [OCR source: The Antill Family by R.V. Pockley]

The Antills ...page 8

of the Seventeenth Century, and His Descendants".

I quote the preface: "Edward Antill never held an office and never sought one. Nevertheless, the sketch of the private citizen given and gleaned from many sources presents an interesting glimpse of political, commercial and social conditions in the metropolis over 200 years ago.

There is an aura of romance over the fact that the fortune of Edward Antill II, originally garnered in the suspected and much-maligned Madagascar trade, was bestowed upon him by a grateful client of his father's, and was finally dispensed in bucolic enjoyment on the peaceful banks of the Raritan. In the third generation we find one son, Dr Lewis Antill, giving his life, and another his sword, in the cause of American Independence, while a third wielded his blade against his brothers and under the banner of the King".

Early references to Edward Antill in the public records would seem to indicate that he was a young man of unusual prominence for one of his age at this time. In 1682 he took a voyage from New York to Maryland, and in 1683 he was appointed, at the age of 24, with such eminent citizens as Anthony Brockholls, Matthias Nicolls and Stephen Van Courtland, to inspect and catalogue the papers in the New York Secretary's office.

On 12 October, in the same year, he was admitted as a Freeman of the City of New York, "a privilege of much value".

In September the Governor, Thomas Dongan, had appointed Antill to convey the ship Cameleon to London, and deliver her and the Captain and crew, who were charged with conspiracy to defraud, to the owners. Antill's extensive mercantile ventures are indicated by some litigation in which he was concerned in 1686. On 5 July the brig Pensilvania was attached to answer a claim of his. Two days later he petitioned for, and was given, leave "to sell some perishable goods consigned by Roger Jackson, of the Island of Jamaica, to Richard Phillips of New York, for the benefit of said Jackson".

it While engaged in the Jamaica and New Foundland trade, in 1686, was alleged that Governor Dongan was improperly associated with him in business which, however, the Governor denied. Antill wrote to the author of the story, Lucas Samten, saying that he "would bee satisfied with an acknowledgement that hee had done him wrong in speaking those scandalous words, & that it was the effects of drink".

In 1686 Antill bought a tract of 80 acres of land on Staten Island, "near the Fresh Kill"; he sold it in 1694. He also began buying New Jersey lands, adding to his purchases from time to time, until his ....