Josiah TOMLINSON

                   Josiah Tomlinson was a Quaker who received a grant for land in 1751 onthe West Wateree River, near what is now Camden, South Carolina.  He camefrom Ireland with his wife and four oldest children. Three more childrenwere born after their arrival in South Carolina.


By 1757, Josiah Tomlinson was married to a woman named OLIVE. Some thinkshe was the daughter of John Unthank, but she was named as a daughter inthe will of Samuel Russell probated in South Carolina in 1757. Onesolution is that she was born Unthank, but her mother married Samuel as asecond marriage when Olive was a small child. It is interesting thatJosiah and Olive had a son named Samuel, but did not name son JOHN.

Josiah had 7 children.  Olive and the three oldest daughter all appear tohave died around 1760. The three sons and daughter Sarah survived toadulthood.  Presumably Olive must have died sometime after the birth ofthe youngest child, Josiah (Aug 1759 or Mar 1760 depending on sources),but probably before her husband who left a will dated 15 Dec 1760 andprobated Feb 16, 1761.

Materials supplied by Keith Tomlinson, March 12, 1996 quotes informationfrom Randolph county Library, including documents showing removal ofJosiah Tomlinson from the Mens Meeting in Dublin, dated 30th 2nd month1751, approving Josiah Tomlinson and his family to emigrate to NorthCarolina or elsewhere.  Another document is a Quaker marriage certificatedated 25th of 8th month, 1744 certifying the marriage of JosiahTomlinson, son of Stephen, dec'd of County Wicklow, to Elizabeth Watson,daughter of William Watson, late of Balinamolah, County Kildare. Thenames of the persons who signed
as witnesses comprise many of the same names as the Quaker settlers ofCamden, South Carolina, including Samuel Russell. It is thereforepossible that the Josiah Tomlinson mentioned married twice, once toElizabeth and second, to Olive Russell. Others suggest, however, thatthis Josiah Tomlinson may be a cousin or other relative to the Josiah whomarried Olive.

If Josiah Tomlinson married Elizabeth, then their child William does nothave the same mother as the son Samuel Tomlinson, whose mother would havebeen Olive.