WEEKS FAMILY ROOTS

WILLIAM WEEKS
Of England and New England

This line of Weeks came from England to [Martha's Vineyard] New England. It appears that William Weeks was the progenitor of this family. He came from Staines, Middlesex, England [most probably with roots in 1216 North Wyke, western Devonshire near Exeter] and died about 1688 or 1689 in New England.

This William is believed to be the son of Richard Wickes (Weeks) who names his son, William in his [1638] will and being in New England. It is thought William came to this country after his brother John had already made the journey across the sea and was in New England, per the father, Richard's will in England.

William was married at least twice. The first wife's name is not known, they did have children. The second wife was Mary Lynde Butler, widow of John Butler. She was born 1628 and died 1693.

William was a tavern owner and appeared in court many times in lawsuits. In January 1666 he was fined for selling strong liquor. He promised for himself and family that they shall no more sell strong liquor.

There were at least six children who reached adulthood: William Weeks Jr. born 1645 was still living in 1693; Elizabeth Weeks born 1648 married John Robinson 1 May, 1667; John  Weeks was born 5 April, 1640; Samuel Weeks was born in 1651; Richard Weeks 1653-1724 married Abigail Norton; John Weeks, born 1655, married Mary Rowley 7 January, 1676; Abigail Weeks born 1658 married Jonathan Hatch, son of Jonathan Hatch and Sarah Rowley, 4 December, 1676 in Martha's Vineyard.

WILLIAM WEEKS JR.

William Weeks Jr., born in Massachusetts in 1645, was married twice. He died in 1744.

William married Mercy Robinson 16 March, 1668 (or 1689). Mercy was born to Isaac Robinson and Margaret Hanford - 4 July, 1647 and was baptized at Barnstable, MA. Mercy was remembered (three pounds) in the will of Miles Standish in 1655, who stated whom I have tenderly love for Marcy Robinson for her grandfather,'s sake. Her grand father was the Rev. John Robinson, born 1575, son of John and Ann Robinson, was pastor of the Pilgrims at Leyden, Holland. Later, William Jr. was married to Mary Hatch, daughter of Jonathan Hatch.

William was with his father on the vessel of Fifteen Toones in 1667 when it was making a trading trip from the Vineyard, it was laden with miscellaneous freight, mostly food and household items when the vessel was wrecked at Quick's Hole. The vessel was seized and looted by the Indians of Elizabeth Island.

The following children were produced from the two William Weeks Jr. marriages: Mehitable; Aaron Rowley, born 7 March 1690; Sarah, born 24 June 1677; Experience, born 24 June 1677; Mercy, born April 1679; Jonathan, born 1 May 1681; Benjamin, born 4 April 1685, married Mary Chase; and Lydia, born 30 June 1687, married William Swift 9 October 1707.

BENJAMIN WEEKS
Son of William Weeks Jr.

Benjamin Weeks was born 4 April, 1685 in Falmouth, MA. He died 1744 in NC. His will was probated in Carteret Co. North Carolina in 1745.

Benjamin married Mary Chase 14 January, 1704 in MA. She is the daughter of Isaac Chase and wife Mary Tilton Chase. According to Mary's will she died 11 August, 1788.

While Benjamin lived in MA. he owned a ferry that was given to him by his father-in-law, Isaac Chase as stated in the History of Martha's Vineyard, volume 1.

Benjamin moved southward and into Carteret Co. North Carolina about 1730. He lived in the area of White Oak River and died there in 1744. He is buried in the Weeks family Cemetery in the area.

Benjamin and Mary were the parents of ten children: Benjamin Weeks, Jr.; Theophilus Weeks, born 1708; Lydia Weeks married Thomas Whitton 1 September 1733; Archelaus Weeks; Mary Weeks married Weston Williams; Christian Weeks married Mathew Rowley; Thankful Weeks married Thomas Hicks; Isaac Weeks married Sarah; Jabez Weeks married Mary Rhodes; and Elizabeth Weeks.

THEOPHILUS WEEKS
Son of Benjamin Weeks

Theophilus Weeks Sr. was born in Falmouth, Barnstable Co. MA. Bay Colony in 1708. He removed to North Carolina with his family about 1730 and settled in Carteret County and then moved to Onslow Co. by 1735. Theophilus married Mrs. Grace Green the widow of Jonathan Green. Grace the widow was deceased by August 1792 as evidence by minutes of the August 1792 Court in Carteret Co. which concerned a lawsuit against the estate of Grace Weeks.

Theophilus laid out and established the Town of Swansboro, NC., in 1770. He surveyed forty-eight lots which are still part of the town.

Theophilus was inspector for the port, which was called Weeks Landing, Week's Whard, The Whard, Weeks Pint, Bogue, New Town and Swansboro. His house was just up from the wharf so he could see the ships as they came in.

Grace had one son by Jonathan Green and four sons for Theophilus Weeks. If they had daughters they are unknown. Those children were: Jonathan Green Jr. born before 1735 and died 7 February, 1777; Benjamin Weeks; Silas Weeks, Revolutionary War soldier, died 22 May 1778; Silvanneus Weeks, Revolutionary War soldier; and Archelus Weeks who married Abigail Edwards, widow of Thomas Edwards.

SILAS WEEKS
Son of Theophilus Weeks

Silas Weeks was the son of Theophlius Weeks and Grace Green Weeks. He was born in North Carolina.

Silas was a soldier in the America Revolution and died in service on May 22, 1778. A Military Land Warrant # 1533. in the name of Silas Weeks was sold by his heirs on February 22, 1785. From this land sale by the heirs three children are known , Theophilus, James and Ada Weeks. The signature of Theophilus is identical with that found on Military Land Warrant Nr 1806, issued in the name of Tehophilus Weeks and sold by him on 23 May, 1785.

Silas Weeks is the proven son of Theophilus Weeks Sr. of Carteret County by land deeds.

Zillar Hunter the wife of Silas Weeks, was the daughter of Nicholas and Rebecca Hunter. Zillar was listed as one of twelve children listed in the will of her father Nicholas who died in 1750 in Carteret Co.

Only three children are known born to Silas and Zillar: James Weeks, believed to be the oldest; Theophilus Weeks; and Ada Weeks who married John O'Steen brother to Ann and Esther O'Steen.

THEOPHILUS WEEKS
Son of Silas Weeks

Theophilus Weeks, like his father was a soldier of the American Revolution. He was born in Carteret County, North Carolina on 21 October, 1760. He died 20 July, 1839 near Alligator Settlement (now Lake City) Columbia County, Florida.

He was a soldier with the 6th Regiment of the North Carolina line, commanded by Colonel Lytle and then by Captain Griffins. He served for two (2) and a half years.

After the war he returned to Carteret Co. where he married Ann O'Steen about 1782. Ann was born 25 October, 1763; she was the daughter of John O'Steen Sr. and wife Elizabeth Jones of Carteret County.

During the late 1790's Theophilus moved his family South into Beaufort District, South Carolina for a few years. By 1803 he had settled in Camden Co. Georgia, for a brief time he was in Louisiana and finally settled in Columbia County, Florida.

Their Children were: Mary Weeks born 1782; Silas Nathaniel Weeks born 17 September 1784; Betsey Weeks born June 1788; Alsey Weeks born 6 April 1790; Sarah Weeks born 7 March 1792; Ezikla Weeks born 3 January 1795; Ezekiel Weeks born 18 March 1797; Theophilis Weeks born 29 February 1800; John Weeks born 9 June 1804; James Weeks; Silas Weeks born 23 December 1811; Leonard Weeks born 21 September 1816; Betsie Weeks born 22 February 1819; Zach Weeks born 20 October 1820; and John Weeks born 5 January 1820.

Above history/research from Mallen with additions and corrections from other sources. Photographs from Ancestry.com

JAMES WEEKS

Son of Silas Weeks

James Weeks was a son of Silas Weeks and Zillah Hunter. He was born in North Carolina before 1755. James married a lady named Rebecca (possibly Rebecca O’Steen). Sometime about 1794, James moved his family to the Sumter-Clarendon section of South Carolina and bought 150 acres from Joseph Corbett of the Orangeburg District. This move allowed them to join an O’Steen family already living in the Sumter District. James and Rebecca had four sons:

William, Philip, Chosel (also known as Joseph) and James Jr.^[1]  

The James Weeks Family came to South Carolina when “Things were bursting loose.” The best documented records on the lands occupied by the family are the records reference the land grant for James, Jr., who received a 1000 acre State Land Grant about 1802 on a location near Sammy Swamp about two miles north of Pinewood, South Carolina.^[2] This 1000 acre State Land Grant included 298 acres surveyed for his brother Chosel Weeks, and 455 acres surveyed for his brother William Weeks.^[3]

During those early years, the daring settlers would often build what were called Settler’s Houses on their allotted tracts. Usually, these houses had only one room.  In one end of the building  was a fire place for cooking and keeping the building warm.  In the other end of the building, one might find a “rope bed” used by the head of the household and his spouse. Ladders were provided for the children to reach the attic where they slept. The Sumter County Museum in Sumter, South Carolina, has been able to acquire the Weeks Settle House and has moved it from the original tract area near Pinewood, South Carolina, to the backyard of the museum in Sumter, South Carolina, as an Early Settlement Display.^[4]

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^[1] Jean Brunson, WEEKS OF SUMTER DISTRICT (1985) 3 and 16.

^[2] Marsha Trowbridge Ardila, EARLY SETTLEMENT IN OLD SUMTER DISTRICT, (Presentation to Sumter County Historical Society by Marsha Trowbridge Ardila, November 17, 1996).

^[3]Marsha Trowbridge Ardila, TIMELINE FOR SETTLER’S HOUSE, 1996.

^[4] Ardila

Above James Weeks history submitted by Robert Weeks