THE WILTBANK WATCH
CIRCA 1650
Halmanius Wiltbank,
emigrated from Sweden on a Dutch ship which wrecked in the
Delaware Bay off
Broadkill River circa 1650. He and a little girl were the only
survivors.
The watch was in his pocket
when Wiltbank swam ashore, saving himself and the girl.
Halmanius Wiltbank died in
1695 we know, so it is assumed he was maybe 20 years old
when the ship wrecked.
Wiltbank married a dutch
woman and they had three sons, Cornelius, Abraham and John.
Cornelius had a son,
David, David had a son David A. who had a John C, a doctor, who
had a son Cornelius M.
Wiltbank who died in 1983 at the age of 83. Six generations and
353 years linage in
Broadkill hundred. Cornelius M. had no children and was an only
child,
therefor the linage ended.
The watch was passed to each generation, ending with Cornelius
M. Wiltbank.
Facts about the Wiltbanks
family : John and David in 1868 owned lands, Wilkbank
Landing, on the Broadkill
Creek which were owned by Halmanius,1650's, also large tracts
on Pilot Town Road,
Lewes. The Wiltbanks were farmers, grist mill owners,
merchants,
doctors and dentists.
Facts about the watch:
The watch was made by Jno. Stephens, London, circa 1650. The
'works' made in France or
Germany, sent to London for assembly in pewter cases which
was the practice in the
17th century. The watch is key wound , Roman Numeral
face, and
silk paper repair records
re with it in the box.
Cornelius M. Wiltbak, of
Milton died 30 January 1983, his father Dr. John Wiltbank ,
Dentist, his mother a
daughter of Samuel Martin of Milton, niece Elizabeth Black Lingo,
nephew, Joseph Black. Upon
Cornelius death , the watch was left to Herman Black, of
Broadkill, Milton.
Abstract 07/01/18 by
Harrison H. from February 1987, Chamber Clipper, Milton, an
article by Herman F.
Black, titled The Ship Wreck and The Watch.
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