William Meeker

     William was born in 1620 in England.² He is first seen in records in New England in New Haven Colony Records in 1643. He and his brother, Robert, then are recorded taking the Oath of Fidelity on 1 July 1644. In the fall of 1664, William, with some of his neighbors in New Haven, joined the settlers of Long Island in establishing the first English settlement in New Jersey which came to be known as Elizabethtown. This early group formed the “Elizabethtown Associates”. Tradition has it that William transported this group in his own sloop. This could be true as his oldest son, Joseph [17 in 1664] later owned a sloop named “Snow”. In 1671, William became involved in a political struggle between the Association and the Governor, Phillip Carteret. As the leader of the group, the struggle became known as the “Meaker Riot”. The Association eventually received recognition to the rights of land they had purchased from the Indians. However, the struggle continued with the governor and the New Jersey government and worsened to the point that in the mid 1670’s, William was heavily fined and he lost all of his real and personal property. However, the people of Elizabethtown and other communities collected money for him that at least partially paid for his losses. They also donated land to him for his new home.³ William married Sarah Preston, daughter of William Preston and Elizabeth Sales, circa 1645. In the fall of 1664, William, with some of his neighbors in New Haven, joined the settlers of Long Island in establishing the first English settlement in New Jersey which came to be known as Elizabethtown. This early group formed the “Elizabethtown Associates”. Tradition has it that William transported this group in his own sloop. This could be true as his oldest son, Joseph [17 in 1664] later owned a sloop named “Snow”. In 1671, William became involved in a political struggle between the Association and the Governor, Phillip Carteret. As the leader of the group, the struggle became known as the “Meaker Riot”. The Association eventually received recognition to the rights of land they had purchased from the Indians. However, the struggle continued with the governor and the New Jersey government and worsened to the point that in the mid 1670’s, William was heavily fined and he lost all of his real and personal property. However, the people of Elizabethtown and other communities collected money for him that at least partially paid for his losses. They also donated land to him for his new home.³ William's wife, Sarah, died before 1690 in Elizabeth Town, Essex County, New Jersey, leaving him a widower. William married 2nd Hannah (?) before 1690 in New Jersey. William made his will in 1690 at Elizabeth Town, Essex County, New Jersey. He mentions his wife, Hannah. William departed this life on Saturday, 9 December 1690 in Elizabeth Town at age 70 years.