John Aylesworth (5) of Porter County Indiana

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ARTHUR AYLWORTH (1) Born probably in England or Wales, about 1656, and died a resident of Kingstown, 
Rhode Island, between November 7, 1723, (date of codicil to his will), and September 13, 1726, (when his will 
was proved).

The opinion prevails, founded on tradition, that Arthur Aylworth left England on account of religious troubles. His 
childhood and youth must have been in the troublous times of Charles II. What part his father or other relatives took,
 if any, in the contests of that day may never be learned.  According to tradition, his relatives were adherents of the 
Cromwell party and some were officers in his army.

He came to America from England, or Wales, before July 29, 1679, on which date, at "Kings Town," he and forty-
one others, of Narragansett, signed a petition to the King, praying the King "would put an end to these differences 
about the government thereof, which had been as fatal to the prosperity of the place; animosities still arising in
people's minds, as they stand attached to this or that government" (that is, of Rhode Island, or Connecticut, both of 
which claimed jurisdiction). Of special interest regarding this petition is the fact that another signer, Richard Smith, 
Jr., was from Gloucestershire, England, and had been a major in Cromwell's army. This information strengthens the 
theory that Arthur Aylworth's home in England had been Gloucestershire.

September 6, 1687, he was taxed 3s., 5 l/2d September 21, 1697, he deeded certain land to Henry Tibbets. He 
was appointed to some kind of inspectorship, February 6, 1698-9. In May, 1699, he was elected rate maker, and 
iewer of fences, and supervisor of highways, June 5, 1699.

The record of his will, at Wickford, Rhode Island, is in such poor condition that many words are missing, but from 
what remains, it is known that the bequests were as follows in abstract:

To my son Philip, all real and personal estate, including my farm. If he die without issue, my son Chad shall 
enjoy said farm. If he die without issue, said farm shall descend to the male heirs of my son Robert. To eldest 
son Robert, five pounds. To my son Arthur, three pounds. To my son Chad Aylworth half of my personal 
estate and forty pounds. To my eldest daughter Mary Green (Three?) pounds (number illegible). To my 
daughter. Elizabeth Dolliver 

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T(hree?) ditto. To my daughter Katherine Three pounds and one feather bed and 
bedding. To my daughter Martha Three pounds and a bed and bedding. Which several bequests my son 
Philip shall pay, and he be sole executor of my will.

The codicil makes certain changes in bequests of personal property and bedding. An inventory of his personal estat
 included carpenter's and farm tools, cooking utensils, a pair of worsted combs, sheep, lambs, cows, heifers, steers, 
geese, fowls, a churn, etc. Receipts are found which were given by Robert, Arthur, John and Chad Aylworth for
their legacies, also John Green for his wife, Mary; Peleg Card for his wife, Elizabeth, and John Davis for his wife Martha.
 
Notice that the name at this time was spelled Aylworth. Later the "e" and the "s" were added at different times by 
different branches of the family. Arthur Aylworth married Mary Brown, of Providence, Rhode Island, who evidently 
died before her husband. She was the daughter of the Reverend John and Mary (Holmes) Brown, and granddaughter 
of The Reverend Chad Brown, and of the Reverend Obadiah Holmes
 
Children: (exact order not known)
Robert (2), married May 20, 1708, Ann Davis; died before February 25, 1760.
Arthur (2), of whom further.
John (2), married Dorcas Jones; died before May 15, 1771.
Philip (2), born in 1692; married Rachel Greene.
Jediah or Chad (2), born in 1696; married (first) November 15, 1725, Elizabeth Major; (second)
      before 1749, Mary   Wood; died before May 22, 1773.
Thomas (2), mentioned in Sylvester Aylsworth's "Register" (1840) as "deaf and dumb had no issue."
     He evidently died before the date of his father's will.
Mary (2), eldest daughter; married, before the date of her father's will, John Green.
Elizabeth (2), married (first), before the date of her father's will, Mr. Dolliver; (second), before November 23, 
     1726, Peleg Card.
Katharine (2), married Mr. Green.
Martha (2), married, before December 1, 1727, John Davis.

                                             Second Generation

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ARTHUR AYLWORTH, JR. (2) Born, probably, at Quidnesset, in the town of North 
Kingstown, Rhode Island, about 1684 or 1685, and died, probably, in what is now West Greenwich, Rhode Island, 
between July 4, 1761, date of his will, and August 1, 1761, when it was probated, "aged 76 years."

Before June 29, 1723, he removed from North Kingstown to that part of East Greenwich which now lies within the 
imits of West Greenwich. He bought of William Wanton, June 22, 1724, for the sum of L100, three hundred and
twenty acres of land, it being the "31st farm in 3d or last division," and was recorded as a farmer and innkeeper, also 
a carpenter. Drovers from Saybrook, Connecticut, named Elsworth or Ellsworth, often stopped at the inn. Abel (a 
grandson of Arthur, Jr., son of Judiah) often heard them talk with his grandfather concerning the possibility of their 
relationship.

Another interesting story is told by this Abel. He says his grandfather, Arthur Aylworth, warned him never to drop 
the Y from the name because his was the original Welsh name and never mixed blood with the Danes. He took the 
boy, held up his hand, looked through between the first and second fingers of his right hand, and told him never to 
leave out the Y as long as he could see the two fingers.

    While working in a hayfield, Arthur Aylworth was taken sick on a Thursday and died the following Sunday. His will 
was signed "Arthur Aylworth." The will does not mention his children, James, John and Dimmis, but does mention a 
grandson, John Phillips, and a granddaughter, Edey Whitman. The inventory of his personal estate amounted to L672

    The tradition existing among some of his descendants, that his wife, Mary Franklin, was "an aunt of Benjamin Franklin"
is not verified by any record found. If, as is supposed, the reference is to the well known Benjamin, the Philadelphia
printer and author of "Poor Richard's Almanac," the tradition is not substantiated by the family chart made by 
Benjamin Franklin's own hand, wherein he names seven brothers and one sister of his father, Josiah; the sister being 
Hannah, born in 1654, who married John Morris. The seven brothers of Josiah, and, therefore, uncles of Benjamin, 
were Thomas, Samuel, "A son, name lost, died young," "A son, name forgot, died young," John, Joseph and Benjamin.
The said tradition also comes from Abel Aylsworth, who, when seventy-nine years of age, states that he "was named 
Abel by his grandmother, called Aunt Mary, the wife of Arthur, and was so named for her brother, Abel Franklin, the 
uncle of Benjamin Franklin."

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    Arthur Aylworth married, according to the Aylworth Genealogy, no other record found, Mary Franklin, who, though 
younger than her husband. predeceased him.


Children: (Order of the first six not known)
Philip (3), of whom further.
David (3), married March 8, 1741-2, Martha Franklin, daughter of James Franklin, of Scituate; died 
     between August 9, 1791, and the last MondaY in November. 1791.
James (3), married February 8, 1733, Mary Wood, and had a child: Eddy (4), born March 5, or 15, 
     1733-4; probably  married Mr. Whitman, and may be the granddaughter Edey Whitman mentioned in 
     the above named will.
John (3), married April 19, (year missing in record), Ann Reynolds, daughter of Samuel Reynolds.
*Judiah or Chad (3), married (first) April 1, 1745, Ruth Draper; (second) March 11, 1764, Mrs. Rosanna 
     Edwards) Stafford; died at Pownal, Vermont, in July, 1800.
Freelove (3), married July 29, 1740, John Tenant.
Dimmis (3), born January 22 or June 22, 1725; married (first) Mr. Phillips: (second) Mr. Travis.
Austis or Anstress (3), born November 22, 1727; married a Colvin.
Barbara (3), born June 13, 1729; married January 30, 1747, Jonathan Hill.
*  Revolutionary War soldier, served in Rhode Island. His
    descendents are eligible for DAR membership.

                                       Third Generation

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PHILIP AYLWORTH (3)  Born ca. 1704-5, probably in North Kingstown, 
Rhode Island; married, about 1734, Elizabeth, whose surname is not known; and died, a resident of Coventry, 
Rhode Island, on, or after, November 14, 1789, on which date he "old and feeble" made his will May 29, 
1742, his father deeded to him land in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, but in 1745-6 he removed from there to 
Coventry, Rhode Island. Records list him as yeoman.

His will mentions "My Homestead farm whereon I now Live, part Lying in said Coventry and part in West 
Greenwich, . . . my Right in the narrow Lane Saw mill, . . . my Right to the fourteenth Lot Lying in the Grait Grass 
pond Swamp . . . Called the freeborn Lot and the one half of the thirteenth Lot Lying in said Swamp Called the 
Bates Lot and all my Right in the Easternmost Lot in said Swamp Called the Picket Lot." The legatees named 
were his wife, Elizabeth, daughters Hannah Aylsworth and Marcy Aylsworth; sons, Benjamin, Philip and James; 
three daughters, Freeborn Wells, Sarah Aylsworth and Cory. These three were to have one half, and his son, 
James, the other half of "my Right in the Susquehannah purchases." His daughter, Hannah, was named as 
sole executrix.
 

Children: (first two recorded in East Greenwich, next four in West Greenwich, and last four in Coventry)
Benjamin (4), born February 5, 1735; married (first) Mary Parker; (second) Molly Eldredge, who died in
   Milford,  Otsego County, New York; died in Washington County, Virginia, about 1810.
Philip (4), born June 7, 1737
John (4), born November 23, 1738: probably married and left descendants.
Freelove (4), born January 7, 1741; married November 15, 1761, James Wells.
James (4), born April 3, 1743; married (first) Rhoda Jenks, (second) Lois Harrington.
     Note: This line descends to Judge Eli Aylesworth of Common Pleas Court, Providence Co., RI and 
               President of Westminister Bank of Providence and a Member of the General Assembly of 
               Rhode Island.
Phebe (4), born November 15, 1744.
Sarah (4), born November 11, 1746; married March 26, 1765, son of Philip and Rachel (Greene) Aylworth.
Hannah (4), born December 15, 1748; married June 24, 1793, Captain John Harrington.
Mercy (4), born October 2, 175(); unmarried.
Elizabeth (4), born December 21, 1752; married Mr. Corey, and resided at Plainfield. Connecticut.

                                               Fourth Generation

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PHILIP AYLWORTH, JR. (4)  Born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, June 7, 1737, and died in Milford, 
Otsego County, New York, about 1809-10. Land in Coventry, Rhode Island, was deeded to him by his father, 
February 12, 1761, and in the latter's will, twenty-eight years later, he states "I give and bequeath to beloved 
Son Philip Aylsworth five Shillings in Silver money the Reason why I Give my said Son Philip no more is 
because he hath already Received his proportion in my Estate."

Philip Aylworth, Jr, settled in Coventry, as appears from various real estate transfers. He sold land there, in 1766, 
1769 and 1777, and in West Greenwich, in 1765, 1776-7. To these deeds, he signed his name as Aylworth. He 
removed to Pownel, Vermont, and later to Milford, Otsego County, New York.

He married, ceremony performed by Philip Greene, Justice, at West Greenwich, June 14, 1762, Martha Slocum, 
who was born in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, March 9, 1744-5, died, at the residence of her son, Samuel, in 
the town of Butternuts, Otsego County, New York, in July, 1822, and was buried at South New Berlin. New York.
 

Children: (exact order not known)
John (5), born ca. 1763-4.
Phebe (5), born "about 1765"; married, before 1787, at the age of nineteen John Bowdish.
Hannah (5), married David Arnold.
William (5), married, before 1796, Phebe Brownell.
Benjamin (5), born August 2, 1774; married August 2, 1796, Elizabeth Mumford; died at Milford, New York,
   February 2, 1861, aged eighty-seven years; his will was proved in Otsego County, April 15, 1861.
Ira (5), born November 5, 1780; married Margaret Roach, from New Jersey; died in Clovesville,
  Delaware County, New York, April 10, 1845.
Sally (5), born about 1785; married, before 1813, Rufus Harrington; died at Davenport, Delaware County,
   New York. about 1866.
Samuel (5), born November 22, 1787; married December 1 7, 1809, Mary Titus.
 NOTE: The line of Samuel is continued in the book "Caleb Sheldon Butts Aylesworth" by Owen R. 
              Aylesworth 1982.

                                               Fifth Generation

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JOHN AYLWORTH (5) Ancestry: Philip 4, Philip 3, Arthur 2, Arthur 1 -- Born in Kent County, Rhode Island, 
about 1763-4, and died at Milford, Otsego County, New York, probably, about 1810. He was a farmer and 
resided for a time at Pownal, Vermont, and later at Milford, New York. After his death his widow and children 
removed, in 1815, to either Ashland County or Wayne County, Ohio, or perhaps near the line separating these 
two counties.

 He married, perhaps at Pownal, Vermont, about 1784, Elizabeth Humphrey, ancestry unknown; that she was 
possibly a daughter, or a sister of an Ira Humphrey, is suggested by the name of one of her sons.


Children: (born in Vermont and in Otsego County, New York)
Esther (6), born about 1785; married Justus Wells.
Ira Humphrey (6), born in Vermont, June 3, 1786; married (first) in 1810, Esther Gray; (second) in 1849,
   Mrs. Oliver Williams; removed to Wayne County, Ohio, in October, 1816, where he was a justice of the
   peace; died at Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, April 24, 1861.
Polly, or Mary (6), married Zelotes Bills; resided at Clarence Hollow, Erie County, New York.
Philip (6), born 1793
Reuben (6), married, at Buffalo, New York, February 1, 1818, Clarissa Hodge; resided at Monroe,
   Michigan; died in May, 1826.
Eunice (6), married Porter Seward.
Martin (6). Probably died young.
Diantha (6), married Samuel Chase.
Giles (6), May 28, 1807


                                               Sixth Generation

Note:  
As observed earlier above, those children shown in bold type are continued in the next generation.

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PHILIP AYLESWORTH (6)  Born in Otsego County, New York, in 1793, and died in Wayne County, 
Ohio, June 27, 1866. In the spring of 1815 he removed to Wayne County, Ohio, with his wife and two 
year old son, John. "He settled a short distance northwest of Dogtown, on eighty acres which he entered
 from the Government, and the family had to camp out until he put up a cabin, 16 x 18 eet, with stick and
mud chimney and puncheon floor. He remained on this place for six years, then sold it, and removed to 
the farm where Mr. Carl now (1878) lives, which he bought of Elder French, paying $500 for fifty acres. 
Here he lived until about 1830, in the meantime buying the balance of the quarter, one hundred and ten acres, 
all of which he then sold and moved to where John Aylesworth now (1878) lives.

Philip Aylesworth married, in Otsego County, New York, in 1811 or 1812, Mary Gray, sister of the wife of his 
brother, Ira Humphrey, and daughter of James Gray, of Massachusetts.


Children: (first one born in Otsego County, New York, others in Wayne County, Ohio)
a.  John (7), March 1, 1813
b.  Alvira (7), born November 10, 1815
c.  Ira (7), born November 5, 1780 
d.  Aurilla or Orrilla (7), born December 7, 1819
e.  Elliott (7), married Caroline Priest; resided at Big Prairie, Ohio; died October_, 1857.
f.   Electa (7), married Washington Porter who was a soldier in the Civil War; resided at La Clede,
          Vinn County, Missouri; died , 1864.
e.  Eli (7), was a cripple, and died aged 21 years, of lung fever.
h.  Eunice (7), married John Au; resided in Mansfield. Ohio.



GILES AYLESWORTH (6)  Born in Milford, Otsego County, New York, May 28, 1807; moved to 
Ohio in 1815 with his mother and acquired some education there.  Married Mary Jones in Wayne County, 
Ohio, March 24, 1831; died near Hebron, Porter County, Indiana, June 29, 1880, having settled there

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in 1842  He was the first one of the name to move on west from Ohio and locate in Porter County.
      Years of hard labor against great odds appears to have been the chief factor in this decision to move 
westward. Ohio had been entirely solvent before she contracted for a system of canals which became 
out-moded before they were finished by the new railroads. "Pet Banks" of Andrew Jackson's time 
encouraged speculation and all greenbacks became worthless. Then came the panic of 1837. Giles 
migrated west with two wagons, household goods tools, grubbing hoe, axe and musket, five children 
and Mary, his wife. With $2,000.00 in gold which had been sealed in a false bottom of a dinner bucket 
he bought the farm which is the present family home.
     Giles Aylesworth married Mary Jones in Wayne County, Ohio, March 24, 1831; died near Hebron, 
Porter County, Indiana, June 29, 1880, having settled there  in 1842

Children:
a.  Arvilda (7), born _, 1832; died _, 1848 single
b.  Porter (7), born July 16, 1834.
c.  Agnes (7), born _, 1836; died _, 1848 single
d.  Jones (7), born _, 1838; died _. 1848 single
e.  Thomas (7), born June 24, 1840
f.   Adaline (7), born May 22, 1842
g.   Irvin (7), born March 21, 1851

                                        ———o———
                                THE SEVENTH GENERATION
Note:
The continuing data has been coded using an alfa/numerical system developed by the Editor. By removing the letter or number following the dash you have the code for the parent of that person.  Part One codes are preceded with a "P" for Philip and likewise preceded with a "G" for Giles.