It was during the early period of Pennsylvania’s history, before the name of William Penn, the Founder, had been applied to the section referred to, that the first of the Wiltbank family made his appearance in the then comparatively unknown country.

Precisely when he came is not known to date nor or we certain of his nationality, some claiming that he was a Swede while others maintain that he was a Dutchman.

In Lyman Powells (Education in Delaware ) we find this statement:

“A family tradition so unique as to be noteworthy, if not credible, claims that a dutchman named Harmanus Wiltbank was settled in Lewes as early as 1650, when it was an Indian Village, Donated land for a school house.”

Another chronicler gives the origin of the family in America:

“Hermanus Frederick Wiltbank came to New York from Holland, about 1650 and lived there, later received grant of land from the Duke of York and sailed for Sussex County, Delaware. The vessel was wrecked off the coast, Wiltbank, his wife and two sons were saved, also his man-se rvant and a child who was so young that she was unknown and unable to give her own name or that of her parents."

For a matter of convenience the emigrant ancestor will in this sketch be called Hermanus Wiltbank, though in conformity with the early colonial custome or the lack of it, his name is variously given. In some instances he is called Hermanus Frederick, other instances he is called Frederick Hermanus, some times Hermanus is Harmanus and Halmanus , and the s urname is frequently given as Wiltbanck.

Definite information concerning the date of his advent on the Delaware is lacking. A writer in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History, Biography, Volume 23, Page 117, states: Hermanus Frederick Wiltbank then progenitor of this family, was evidently from Holland, and is found at Whorekill as early as 1665. The earliest positive record of him is found in his appointment, Feb. 28, 1669, as High Sherriff of Whorekill, now Sussex County. We next find him, his wife, two Sons and a manservant, named in a census return dated May 8, 1671. Two years later he was re-commissioned to the post of high High Sheriff. According to ancient records Wiltbank seems to have held this office until 1679. He may not however have held this post all this time, for during most of this time in question, he also held the office of Justice, and the two would seem to have been incompatible.

In 1673 a Court was established at Whorekill, over which Herrnanus Wiltbank presided from its establishment until 1678. His commissions bear dates of Nov. 28, 1673, Oct. 26, 1676, and Nov. 20, 1676. His name appears first in these documents, among a number of colleagues, indicating that he was chosen for the post of Presiding Justice. The second of the three papers reads as follows:

“A commission granted to the justices of the Whorekill on the Delaware River. By vertue of his Majesty’s letters, Patent, and the commission and authority devised unto me, I do hereby in his Majesty’s Name appoint and authorize you, Hermanus Wiltbank, ---------- to Justices of the Peace and any three or more of you to be a court of Judicature ----------- Etc.
Given under my hand and seal in New York, this 26th day of October 1676.”
(Signed) E Andross

The Pennsylvania Archive s , Second series Vol. VII, pages 837 , 840, and 842, contain three very interesting letters written by Wiltbank, in 1677, to Gov. Andross, in New York. The writer, it must be remembered, was a Dutchman, who until the later years of his life, following the Duke of York regime had never had any acquaintance with the English language . His letters, however, show him to have been a man of much intelligence and of great observation, and a zealous, public-spirited citizen.

Opening and close of the third letter as follows:

Whorekill, Sept. 18, 1677 Honorable Sir; Whereas by accidental of some sickness of body by feaver and ague, and lameness of my one legg, cannot by no possibility appear at the High court of Aseizes, please your Honor to pardon mee.
One favor shall request of your honor that whereas it was your Honor’s pleasure the last year to depute meee for one of the magistrates of these partes which now the time of Limitation thereof Expired therefor hereby begg yor Honor may be pleased to discharge by writ of Ease shall Humbly thank yor Honor for the same being but little lernet and weak of apprehension and understanding of the Laws; Have no more at present to acquaint yor Honor only take leafe to conclude and remain with all due love and respect.
               Your Honors humble
                     Servant to Command
                               Herm Wiltbank.

In the last mentioned letter the writer speaks of lameness of my one legg”. It is evident that like his famous contemporary and compatriot, Gov. Peter Styvesant, Justice Wiltbank was a cripple, having lost a leg either in some accident or possibly in warfare.

We have few details concerning the character and career of this hardy old Dutch pioneer. If we could draw the veil which the elapsing centuries have let down and follow Hermanus Wiltbank from his embarkation in Holland in the middle of the 17th century, his wearisome and dangerous voyage across the Atlantic, his arrival and settlement in New Amsterdam, his passage to the extreme part of Delaware, his shipwreck which ensued and his escape the refrom and his location and residence there in a barren wilderness with few save Indians for his neighbors, the picture presented to our view would doubtless exceed in graphic interest the recital of any modern romance.
 
 

LAND GRANTS TO HERMANUS WILTBANK

150 acres of land Oct. 22, 1669, The Comanys Fort.
Granted July 1st 1671 800 acres--Duke of York record page 201.
March 5th 1680 -1 425 acres called “Luck by Chance”
Mar. 3rd 1680 -1 469 acres called “Hopewell”

Hermanus was still living at the Whorekill, the present town of Lewes, Delaware, the extremity of the latter day State of Delaware, when William Penn’s ship, the Welcome, passed between the Delaware capes toward the new city which his agents had mapped out the year previously. We have no record that the Welcome stopped at the Whorekill. So far as we are aware, the historic ship dropped anchor a few miles farther north at New Castle where Oct. 28, 1682, Penn received possession of the town. It does not require any great stretch of imagination to suppose that the people at Whorekill saw the ship sail by and had gone off post-haste on horseback and otherwise to watch the disembarkation of the passengers, whoever they might be at the first satisfactory landing place up the bay. Thus doubtless Hermanus and his neighbors witnessed the interesting ceremonies attendant upon the transferral to Penn by John Moll, and Ephriam Herman, of all authority within the region in question.

Certain it is , Wiltbank was in New Castle two or three days later, Penn having invited him to meet with him Nov. 2, 1682. Penn had sent out notices a day or two after his arrival. Hazard thus refers to it:

William Penn notifies Wm. Clarke, Luke Watson, John Roads, John Avery, Hermanus Wiltbank, Alexander Molestvn, of the Deeds of Feoffment; desires them to meet him next Thursday at New Castle (Nov. 2, ) where he intends holding a general court for settling jurisdiction of these and parts (your), in which they will oblige him. If there be any persons of note, or others that desire to come, they may come freely.

On Nov. 5, three days after the time fixed for the assembling of the Justices at New Castle the ‘Three Lower Counties” as Delaware was called until after the revolution gave in their adhesion to Penn, William Markham acting as his deputy. The document acknowledging his sovernity was signed upon behalf of that constituency by thirteen of the leading men Hermanus Wiltbank among them.

Though Hermanus Wiltbank had held office under the Duke of York and William Penn he subsequently found it advisable for some reason unknown to us to become naturalized and this event took place Mar. 27, 1683, at a court held in Sussex, or the former Whorekill. Possibly the fact that he was a Dutchman by birth made this necessary.

Wiltbank survived this latter event only a few months . In a letter written by William Clark one of the Former’s judicial collegues, to William Penn, the latter is informed of the death of the justice as follows:

Lewes, Ye 15th 10 mo. 1683
Dear Governor-­Cornelius Verhoofe is dead, and Hermanus Wiltbank on a sudden taken speechless and has no use of his right side, hand or foot, and have laven soe ever since the last seven day two weeks not likely to live long. . . ...
I remain thine to serve thee to my unmost power whilst---
Wm. Clarke
Since my writing Herrnanus Wiltbank departed this life.

Thus passed away one of the founders of Delaware and an able upright man, who had been an honored citizen among his Neighbors and an incumbent of several of the most conspicuous posts which the earliest colonists were called to fill. He was buried at Lewes although the exact place of his sepulcre is not known.

The only children of Hermanus Wiltbank of whom we have knowledge were three sons, two of whom seem to have accompanied their parents in the voyage from New York. The third was probably born at Lewes. The three sons were Cornelius, Abraham, and Isaac. Their name s are found in the order of the court for the division of their estate: See Sussex deeds Liber A.
 
 

THE FAMILY OF CORNELIUS

Cornelius Wiltbank apparently the eldest was like his father a man of prominence in Delaware. We find him serving on the grand jury of Sussex County in 1695, 1703, 1705. In 1698 again in 1708 and probably in other years he served in the assembly of the (three Lower Counties). He was also commissioned December 14, 1708, and again in May 3, 1709.
Justice of the Peace for the county in Question.
The early archives of Sussex County contain quite a number of references to Cornelius Wiltbank some of which afford us valuable information concerning his domestic relation. In one document he conveyed on consequence of good will and affection certain land unto his brother-in-law John Williams, Rebecca his wife, and Rebecca their only daughter. Cornelius became the administrator of the John Williams estate. James Sealton, in his will dated Feb. 4, 1717, mentions as one of his beneficiaries, Jane, wife of Cornelius and speaks of Cornelius as the uncle of his, Sealton’s wife, who was a fisher.

* * * * * *

Revolutionary War Record
A muster roll of Captain Williams Peerys Company of . . . . . . . . Battalion.

William Peery, Capt.
Hugh King, First Lt.
John Sheldon Doorman and Lt
John Hazzard ensign
Sergants Corporals
Robert Hood John Bar
Emanuel Russel John Vent
Jame s Vent Jo0hn Dutton
Robert Prettman Joseph Darby

 — — —
Enrolled 18th Dec. 1776
Samuel Wiltbank and thirty others.
aken from the Delaware Archive s Volume III Page 1953
 — — —
WILTBANK FAMILY LINE
 Halmanus Wiltbank Wife Jonakin

Came from Holland or Sweden and was in Sussex Co. Del in 1665

Sisters -
Josephine Wiltbank (Hamblin)
Rebecca Wiltbank (Hall)

Children -                                            Spouse
Cornelius Wiltbank                     Wife / Hannah Kollock
Isaac Wiltbank                            Wife / Mary
Samuel Wiltbank                         Wife / Augusta Heaveloe
Jonathan Wiltbank                      Wife / Elizabeth Spencer
Spencer Watson Wiltbank          Wife / Annie Sanders
William Ellis Wiltbank                Wife / Hannah Mary Hall
 
 

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Most of this information taken from Wills of Sussex County by
Mrs. Matilda Spicer Hart (Genealogist)
1520 Delaware Ave.
Wilmington, Delaware