Wm. Matlack came in the ship Kent, Gregory Marlow Master. The number of passengers was 230 mostly of the persons called Quakers; and some of them had good estates in England. They landed the 16 day of 6 mo. 1677 at Chester and also about Rackoon Creek on Delaware River, where the Swedes had some scattered habitations, but insufficient to receive or accommodate them. It was the second ship which arrived in West Jersey with passengers.
After them arrived the commissioners viz; Thomas Ollive, Daniel Wills, John Kinsey, Joseph Helmsler, Robert Stacy, Benjamin Scott, Richard Guy, & Thomas Foulke proceeded up the river to the place where Burlington was afterward built, then called Lehygoe's Island from an Indian sachem who lived there.
Here they traded with the Indians and entered on the regulation of their settlements. Wm. Matlack being the first man of the company that put his foot upon the Island and afterwards helped Thomas Ollive build two of the first houses there, being a carpenter about 30 (or 50) years of age and served Thomas Ollive four years.
The place of his nativity was at Cropwell Bishop in Nottinghamshire, England. He married Mary Hancock in 1682 [1682-4] and settled at Penshawkin &c.
(Children listed next, omitted.)
William's wife Mary died 20th of 11 mo. 1728-9 aged 62 years. She came from England in the ship Paradise, married 1681 to Wm. Matlack about 16th year of her age. Wm. Matlack's house was built in 1709 as appears on the thumb latch of the door now in being as I have seen.
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