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William Henry COMPTON

Male Abt 1740 - 1804  (64 years)


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  • Name William Henry COMPTON 
    Birth Abt 1740  Compton Creek, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 1804  St. John, New Brunswick, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • information from"The Loyalist Comptons of Prince Edward Island" by Harold S. MacLeod with Tilly Compton MacLeod and Pamela Hatton Compton, page 4.

      William Henry Compton was a carpenter, engaged mainly in shipbuilding. When the revolutionary war broke out, William remained loyal to his British training, and it was told that he took an active part in running the blockade. On one occasion while so engaged, their ship was pursued by an American vessel and at one point because of insufficient winds both ships lay at no great distance apart. A boat was lowered from the American ship and rowed towards the English vessel. Whether William Compton was in command is not known but at this point t isi told that he took charge of oeprations. When the boat came near enough Compton had the ship's gun trained on it and a volley was fired, killing some and wounding others. Later, with a change of weather, they were able to make Halifax, Nova Scotia. Great was their surprise the following day to discover that an English ship had entered the harbour, bearing in tow the American vessel that Compton had encountered.

      After the revolution, William Compton requested land from the British on the Hammond River in New Brunswick. In 1783 he drew lot number 1104 in Parrtown, renamed St. John in 1785. The market of that early town was held in Compton's field.

      Last Will and Testament of William Compton from the Probate Court, St. John, N.B.
      In the Name of God, Amen. I, William Compton of the Parish of St. Martins, County of St. John, Province of New Brunswick, carpenter, being infirm in body though in perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling to mind the mortality of this life and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say:
      First of all I desire to give and recommend my soul in the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this.
      I give, devise and dispose of in the following manner and form:
      All my just debts and dues to be paid first after my burial.
      And I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Elizabeth five shillings to be given in twelve months after my decease.
      And I give and bequeath unto my well belved daughter Phoebe five shilling to be given in like manner.
      And I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Cornelius five shillings to be given to him the like manner above.
      And I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Catherine five shillings to be given in like manner above.
      And unto my well beloved son William I give and bequeath five shillings to be given in like manner as above mentioned.
      And unto my well beloved Granddaughter Sarah Compton one cow to be given her when she is eighteen years of age.
      All the rest of my Estate Real and Personal I give and bequeath unto Sarah Compton, my well beloved wife, to be for her life and at her disposal after my decease.
      And I do likewise constitute, make and ordain my well beloved son William Compton and well beloved friend Phillip Mosher the sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I hereby disallow, revoke and disannul all and every former Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four.
      (Sgd)William Compton
      Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced
      and Delivered by the said William
      Compton as his last Will and Testament
      in the presence of us who in his
      preference and in the presence of
      each other have hereunto subscribed
      our names
      (sgd) Daniel Vaughan
      (sgd) Ebenezer Vaughan
    Person ID I3281  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 1 Aug 2005 

    Father William COMPTON   d. 11 Sep 1758 
    Mother Jean Or Jane BROWNE 
    Family ID F528  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sarah SWEET,   b. 17 Nov 1740, Rhode Island Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown 
    Children 
     1. Elizabeth COMPTON,   b. Abt 1763, Compton's Creek, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     2. Phoebe COMPTON,   b. Abt 1765, Compton's Creek, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     3. Catherine COMPTON,   b. Abt 1767, Compton's Creek, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     4. William COMPTON, Shipbuilder,   b. Abt 1771, Compton Creek, Monmoouth Co. NJ Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1867, Belle River, P.E.I., Canada Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 96 years)
     5. Cornelius COMPTON,   b. Abt 1789, Compton's Creek, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F28  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 1 Feb 2010