1. WALLIS1 FFINLAYSON1 was born 1685 in Perthshire, Scotland1, and died WFT Est. 1722-1727 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire1. He married FRANCIS BENNETT1 November 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, daughter of HENRY BENNETT and FRANCES BURR. She was born September 08, 1694 in Ipswich, Massachusetts1, and died December 1765 in Scarborough, Maine1.
Notes for WALLIS FFINLAYSON:
Wallis, as Willis Finderson merchant, arrived in Boston, June 6, 1712, a passenger in the sloop "Tryall" - Jethro Furber master, from Fayall. He settled in Portsmouth, N.H. where he build ships.The first record of Wallace Finlayson in New England is on the British impost record of June 6, 1712 for the port of Boston (Fenderson 1992:1-3). He is listed as follows: "Impost Office, Boston; Vessels Entered in the Month of June, 1712; 6th Jethro Furber ye Sloop Tryall from Fyall [Azores]; George Alvis and 3 servants; Willis Finderson, Merchant; James Huistin Corugon."
He settled at Portsmouth, NH [Jethro Furber's home port], next appearing in the town tax records for the province rate in 1715 as Capt. Finleson, and marrying Frances Bennett of Newington, NH the same year. He is listed in Portsmouth records variously as Capt. Walas Ffinlason, Capt. Willis Finlayson, and Capt. Walis Fenleson, last taxed in 1722. He appears in the North Parish records of the New Meeting House in Portsmouth as Capt. Walter Ffenlayson in 1717 and rented a pew for a substantial sum. He does not appear to have owned property in the Portsmouth area and may have resided with his wife's family in Newington. A copy of his signature as jury foreman in Portsmouth shows his name spelled as "Wallace Finlayson."
Little is known about Capt. Wallace Finlayson. He was a sea captain and ship builder, "but soon died" (Noyes:229). [I've not found the proof of him as a "ship builder."] He was active in the coastal trade as attested to by his testimony in 1720 before the Provincial Council: "Wallace Finlayson, master of the Sloop Success, and John Hooper, a mariner, belonging to said sloop, personally appearing at the Board, voluntarily made oath, that on Wed. the 5th day of Oct. last, being on a voyage from Barbados hither, in ye latitude of twenty and one half the aforesaid Sloop Success with her cargo and men were taken by a pirate ship, mounted with about twenty eight guns, commanded by Capt. Roberts (which ship was accompanied by a sloop) and that Mr. Edward Sherburne, mate of the Sloop Success was forcibly and very much against his will detained on board the said pirate ship, who openly declared he would be sooner cutt into pound pieces than joyne with the pirates in their piratical designs; to which some of the pirates replyed, if he did not forebear such talk they would cutt off his ears; and further that Argalus [Archelaus] Hunking carpenter of the said sloop, was also detained against his will on board the said ship and beaten and abused for refusing to obey ye commands of ye pirates; and further, the Deponents testify that James Clement a mariner on board the said sloop was also forcibly and very much against his will detained on board the said pirate ship." Attest, Richard Waldron, Cler. Con. At a Council held at Portsmouth Nov. 11, 1720; Present in Council, His honor John Wentworth, Esq. Lt. Gov.; Sam'l Penhallow, Esq.; George Jaffrey, Esq.; Tho's Packer, Esq. (N.H. Provincial Papers II(I):735).
On June 22, 1720, he obtained an 80 acre grant from the Proprietors of Scarborough, ME. He likely died between 1722 [last taxed Portsmouth] and 1727 as the proprietors, Sept. 20, 1727 listed "Widow Francies Fanderson" among those to settle in 3 months or forfeit (Noyes:229). It appears that Frances secured the grant, possibly moving to Scarborough at that time. She married 2nd. John Babb of Scarborough 25 Aug 1731 at Scarborough, ME (1st Congregregational Church records; also Noyes:229). John Babb and his brother, James, removed from Portsmouth to Scarborough in 1728 (Noyes:71). Capt. Henry Sherburne of Portsmouth, NH took administration of Capt. Wallace Finlayson's estate in 1738 as executor and principle creditor and listed the Scarboro grant as Finlayson's major asset. He proceeded, between 1738 and 1741, to manuever the grant ownership to Wallace's only surviving son, Nathaniel, age 22. He accomplished this by having Nathaniel deed him the land on Dec. 24, 1741 for L160, then deeded the land back to Nathaniel on Dec. 30 1741 for L210. This settled Wallace's debts of approximately L41 and gave his son clear title to the Scarborough land. [See York deeds].
The preceding action, as well as Sloop Success crew members Sherburne and Hunkings (listed above), suggest a close friendship/connection between Finlayson and the Portsmouth Sherburnes engaged in the shipping industry. It is unclear as to which of several "Henry Sherburnes" was adm. of the Finlason estate, but ? maybe "Hon. Henry," mariner, ship master, merchant as well as prominent political figure & Justice of NH Supreme Court. This "Henry" was also uncle of 1st mate Edward Sherburne, mentioned in the pirate incident, above. Edward Sherburne was deceased by 1729, also leaving a wife and children.
Questions: Who settled the Scarborough lot? It had to have the required improvements or it would have been forfeited to the proprietors. Check York deeds/probates.
Check for Edward Sherburne probate. Did a ship go down/missing with both Finlayson & Sherburne on it?
Children of WALLIS FFINLAYSON and FRANCIS BENNETT are:
