Chester) under English jurisdiction (1676) show a number of names of undoubted English and Scotch origin. "Dunck" was a contraction of Duncan, and the "Williames" soon became Williamson. Duncan Williamson must have had some influence with the Court of St. James, for at the time of his arrival he was able to join with eight others in obtaining title to a tract known as Passyunk, and thus became one of the first settlers to get title in the Philadelphia area. The patent was granted by Governor Richard Nichols, in 1667. On July 18, 1676, Governor Sir Edmund Andros granted to Duncan Williamson and Francis Walker four hundred and fifty acres on the lower side of Neshaminy, in the present limits of Bensalem Township.[1] This land extended back from the river. Williamson established a ferry across to New Jersey, which still bears his name. On the Jersey side, at Beverly, some of his descendants settled.
The first Williamson's name is on the list of "Tydable persons under jurisdiction of the court," as belonging to Taokanink (now
- ↑ These grants were afterwards confirmed by William Penn.
