William Winder (1714/15-1792)
MSA SC 3520-1397
Biography
Born: on March 16, 1714/15, in Somerset County; youngest son.
Native: third generation.
Resided: near Rewastico Creek, Rewastico Hundred, Somerset County.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Father: John Winder (1676-1716) of Somerset County.
Stepfather: by 1720, John Handy.
Mother: Jane (Jean) (1675-?), daughter of James Dashiell (ca.
1634-1697) and wife Ann Cannon.
Uncle: Thomas Dashiell (1666-ca. 1756).
Brothers: Thomas (?-1745), who married Eleanor (last name unknown);
John.
Sisters: Rachel; Elizabeth, who married first, in 1720, Christopher
Dashiell (1694-1727/28), and second, Walter Jacobs; and Bridget, who married
James Dashiell (1690-1736/37).
First Cousins: George Dashiell (1690/91-1748); Anne Dashiell
(1707-?), who married Isaac Handy (?-1762).
Married first, Esther (1724-by 1770), daughter of Thomas Gillis
and wife Priscilla Denwood. Her brothers were Levin (1721-?), who married
Sarah; Thomas (1729-?). Her sisters were Betty (1722-1725); Lean (1726-?),
who married by 1763 William Adams (?-1795); Betty (1727-?), who married
first, (first name unknown) Fountain, and second, (first name unknown)
Pollit; Mary (1731-?), who married (first name unknown) McClemmey; Priscilla
(1732-?), who married (first name unknown) Evans; Sarah (1734/35-?), who
married Thomas Irving; Nelly (Nellie) (1736-?), who married Capt. George
Handy (1727-1782), son of Isaac Handy (?-1762); and Ann Denwood, who married
John Irving.
Married second, by 1770, Mary (?-1799), widow of Dr. Thomas
Denwood (?-ca. 1760).
CHILDREN
Sons: John
Winder (1745-1822); William
Winder, Jr. (?-1808); Levin
Winder (1757-1819); and possibly Thomas, who was lost at sea early
in life.
Daughters: Jane, who married first, Henry Handy (1747-?), son
of Isaac Handy (?-1762), and second, by 1792, Jacob Kerr; Lean (ca. 1760-?),
who married James Round Morris of Worcester County; Esther (?-ca. 1790),
who married first, Isaac Handy (1743-ca. 1774), and second, William Polk
(1752-1812); and Priscilla (ca. 1740-by 1779), who married David Wilson
of Somerset County, son of David Wilson (1704-1750).
PRIVATE CAREER
Education: literate.
Religious Affiliation: Presbyterian, Wicomico Presbyterian Congregation,
Somerset (now Wicomico) County.
Social Status and Activities: Gent., by 1755; Esq., by 1792.
Occupational Profile: mariner, 1743; master of sloop Polly
of which he was co-owner with John Handy and William Venables, 1749; co-owner
of schooner Betty with Benjamin Venables and William Venables, 1750;
ship captain, by 1777; probably planter.
PUBLIC CAREER
Legislative Service: Lower House, Somerset County, 1765-1766.
Local Offices: elder, Wicomico Presbyterian Congregation, Somerset
(now Wicomico) County, 1753; justice, Somerset County, 1756 to 1788 (quorum,
1762-1788); justice, Court of Oyer, Terminer, and Gaol Delivery, commissioned
1770 (quorum, 1770); justice, Orphans' Court, Somerset County, 1777; judge,
Court of Appeals, appointed under the Act to Procure Troops, 1778;
commissioner of the tax, Somerset County, appointed 1777, 1778, 1779; subscription
officer. Continental Loan Office, Somerset County, commissioned 1779; associate
justice, 4th District, Somerset County, 1789 to 1791.
Stands on Public/Private Issues: Subscriber to Washington College,
Chestertown, 1783; designated in his will that he wanted a Christian burial
but "without the formality of a funeral sermon," which appeared to him
"to be a concomitant of the introduction of the Romish superstition."
WEALTH DURING LIFETIME
Personal Property: assessed value £1,787.5.0, including
44 slaves and 15 oz. plate, 1783.
Land at First Election: 1,516 acres in Somerset and Worcester
counties (all by purchase or patent; 100 acres of the Somerset County land
in what is now Sussex County, Delaware).
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death:
purchased 1,328 acres in Somerset County; patented 1,368 acres in Somerset
(now Wicomico) County; sold 130 acres in Somerset (now Wicomico) County
and 151 acres in Worcester County; and purchased 887 acres of confiscated
British property in Somerset County, all between 1782 and 1792.
WEALTH AT DEATH
Died: between October 15 and November 10, 1792, in Somerset
County.
Personal Property: £3,556.11.12 current money; Final balance,
£3,027.6.3.
Land: 3,831 acres in Somerset and Worcester counties (2,019
acres now in Wicomico County), 100 acres in Sussex County, Delaware, and
887 acres of confiscated British property probably located in Somerset
and Worcester (now Wicomico) counties, and a warehouse on a lot near Salisbury.
Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al., eds. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Vol II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985, p. 903.
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