Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Earliest Weeks/Weekes/Wickes/Wicks in the Colonies


(This information was provided by Walter Weeks)


1. Francis Weeks b. prior to ca.1607, whose inventory was taken around Jamestown in 1627 would seem to be the first on American soil besides some Weeks sailors who were documented as early as 1622. Who this Francis was and where he came from, prob. Eng., is not known for certain or if he left any descendants.

2. Francis Weeks 1618-1689, who probably came from Devon(shire) in England and lived in MA, RI and finally Oyster Bay, New York is well documented. At least one researcher that I am aware of has some doubts about this Francis being from the Devon Weeks' because Francis apparently was not literate. I can't confirm or deny this statement, but it could be a consideration.

3. William Weeks of MA ca. 1615-1689 was prob. the son of Robert Weeks of Staines Parish, Middlesex England who left a will in 1638 naming 4 sons, John, Thomas, William and Robert. This William Weeks was in the Barnstable area of MA. When he migrated is uncertain, but it was before 1638.

4. John Weeks of MA/RI 1609-1666 arrived in prob. Plymouth, MA aboard the Hopewell, Nov. 1635 with his wife Mary,b. 1607 and dau. Ann, 1 yr. old. I believe he was listed as a Tanner. He is probably the s/o Robert of Middlesex England as he is mentioned in his Father's Will as living in New England in an add on to the will. If true, William and John are brothers.

5. George Weeks of Dorchester MA, ca. 1600-1659 is from Devon, England but not related to others who claim to be from Devon.

6. Joseph Weeks 1620-1692 is first found in 1647 in IoW, VA and he then migrated to Kent Island, MD in 1650,where he lived his well doumented life as a Justice among other things. He is prob. from the Bristol area of England.

7. Walter Weeks 1615-1666 was first found on Kent Island, MD in 1642 and by 1650 he was in Northumberland, VA where he d. There is evidence that he was literate and a tutor.

8. Abraham Weeks 1630-1692,is first found in Lower Norfolk, VA in the late 1640's near Joseph Weeks who migrated to MD. Abraham was in Lancaster, VA and finally a very well known person in Middlesex Co., VA which was formed from Lancaster.  No known surviving male heirs for Abraham.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear Walter or Bob - I also posted a query on Ancestry Weeks DNA forum for you guys - desperate to make contact with one of you concerning a new DNA match for our ancestor Michael Weeks (1784 to 1860, Edgefield SC to Colquitt, GA).
Michael is the (supposed) son of William Weekes (1757-1815) of Abbyville & Edgefield, SC - possibly Greene or Morgan Co. GA; and supposed grandson of Thomas Weeks (1638-1762) of Perquimans.
I had spoken to Walter in the past concerning the similarity of names of the Weekes from Rhode Island and Oyster Bay and the possibility that a son of either John, Samuel or Capt. Joseph Weeks (sons of Francis Wicks/Weeks of Dorchester, RI and Oyster Bay) might have migrated south to the Carolinas and Georgia. In the late 1700s and early 1800s we have my Michael weeks, plus a John, Benjamin, Joseph, Samuel, Charles, Luke (son of Michael) all marrying and receiving land grants in Morgan County and Green County, GA.
My Michael went on further south to settle in Colquitt Co, Ga; along with sons - and some brothers - including his brother Benjamin, which many are now confusing with the Benjamin who migrated to Alabama and then Mississippi.
On FTDNA, our recent match was 1 marker off 37 with a Morris Weeks of Ontario, who descended from the line that includes a Solomon Weeks (born Oyster Bay, NY 1765, died Prince Edward, Ontario 1830), descended from Abraham Weeks (born Oyster Bay 1735, died Fish Kill, NY 1805). So far, we have matched no one in the Weeks DNA project - even those who are claiming ancestry to some of our known ancestors. Our DNA haplogroup is the very rare E M35.
We are finding a deep ancestry that one should expect from the Devonshire Weeks line, with matches up to 37 with numerous Lancasters, Satterwaite, Burnell, Burneley, Spencer, York, Warren, DeWarren, Hatfield (numerous) Compton, Boleyn, Ball, Bryan, Plant, Howard, Stafford, DeVere and other names prominent during the Plantagenet and Tudor periods. However, our lack of matches within the group has been worrisome.
It has long been my suspicion that my Michael Weeks line migrated either from the Quaker Rhode Island Weekses, or possibly Maryland, rather than Virginia. I have been researching any connect between sons of Capt Joseph Weekes or his brother Samuel, both of whom have sons Michael or Micah. Joseph's wife Hannah Reddocke mentions her grandsons Michael and john, and I also found an Elizabeth Reddick married to Samuel Weeks in NC. Any thoughts on this?
Any idea of which line the above Abraham Weeks is from? I know some of the New York Weekses were Loyalists who fled to Ontario.
On the current tree laid out by wiki and other genealogists - I have found a possible link between the Cox/Cocks family who married into the Thomas Weeks of Perquimans, NC line through residence in both the Rhode Island Colony and Barbados. I have also had a suspicion that Thomas Weeks may not go back to the Virginia Francis Weeks, but to the Hobbs/Cox/ Weeks lines who first settled and traveled back and forth from the Colonies to Barbados. Any insights on this?

Any help or comments would be much appreciated. The Weeks lines seem to be all the more confusing in recent times - particularly with the Benjamin, William, Thomas Weeks southern lines.
Blessings,
Rhonda Weeks Parker
(Colquitt Co, Ga Weeks line)

Unknown said...

I also wanted to add - we have on 12 from an Andrew Cox (1804-1880) from Virginia. Interesting correlation with several maternal surnames - although we only had to Y tested. Anyone else having that experience?

Lee Anne S. said...

I notice that some of the Weeks settled in Mississippi. I would possibly be related to this line. Does anyone have any information on any of them?