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

The Antills ...page 11

Antill, in such a manner as to outwit the Attorney-General. Antill's astuteness was to prove the foundation of the wealth and position that set his son on the road to the elevated position he held in the society of his day.

Lord Bellomont did not hesitate to declare: "There's a violent presumption that Mr Graham was brib'd by Shelley and so contrived his escape". It was reported that the New York merchants had cleared £30,000 by Shelley's voyage to Madagascar. Despite Lord Bellomont's hostility, Captain Shelley was in later years counted among the most reputable merchants in New York. Antill had undoubtedly saved his life. Shelley was duly grateful, as will be seen.

William Penn wrote his friend James Logan, from Pennsbury, "3d 7th mo, 1700", saying: "I think to be in town the first fair day, and so let Edward Antill know".

In the exciting election held on 29 September, 1701, Antill was one of the 41 freeholders, or freemen, of the South Ward of the City of New York. He supported his friend Brandt Schuyler against Nicholas Roosevelt. So restricted was the franchise that Schuyler won by 53 votes to 37.

Antill was one of the East Jersey Proprietors who in 1702 signed the surrender of that colony to Queen Anne.

His wife Elizabeth died, and on one of his trips to England, prior to 1701, he married a woman named Sarah. In a list of the inhabitants of New York, made in 1703, his family is shown as 4 children, but in his Will, dated 10 June, 1704, he refers to his 6 children. He left his "dear, tender and loving wife Sarah", half his land lying to the north of Hudson's River, and the other half to his 6 children Ann, William and Charles, born to Elizabeth who is number 4 in our story - Elizabeth and George, children of Sarah. He also left Sarah all his interest in a certain Proprietyship in East Jersey, purchased from David Toshak, Laird of Minnevarre. His executors were Sarah, Giles Shelley and James Emmott. Though no record of his death has been found, he is thought to have died shortly after making this Will.

There is a record of an action in the Supreme Court of New Jersey against William Antill of New Brunswick, for payment of "1£06.8.8 current money of New York". On 2 October, 1742, a jury awarded Mary Bickley £16.11.6, and sixpence for costs and charges, against William Antill. further suit was brought against him for the sum of £28.3.1, "it being on the part of said Mary sufficiently testified that the said William lyes hid and skulketh in the old country".

(HON.) EDWARD of New York was born on 17 June, 1701, the son of his father's second wife Sarah.