Major James Giles

Major James Giles

• Name Variation: Major James Gyles

• Marriage*: Spouse: Elizabeth (?)¹
• Death*: between 17 June 1688 and 6 August 1688; Will written and inventory. NJA 23:184-5

Family:

Elizabeth (?)

• Marriage*: Spouse: Elizabeth (?)¹

Children:

Matthew Giles⁷
Eliza Giles⁷
Mary Giles⁷
Anne Giles+ ⁷ b. 15 Apr 1669

Notes

• Immigration*: 9 November 1668; Boston, Massachusetts
• Note*: James Gyles wrote an account of his family's sojourns.
  
  This compiler's abstract is posted below.
  
  The full text is printed in John Adams Vinton's book, The Giles Memorial, pp. 112-118.
  
  A copy of those pages is available on the web in J. Michael Frost's WorldConnect database 'frostinaz01'. It is recommended.
  
  A very informative commentary on those pages was posted by jfrench1 'at' earthlink.net, 20 Sep 2004, on RootsWeb 'French' surname archives, subject: 'Abstraction - James Gyles Journal including additional notes/comments', at http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/FRENCH/2004-09/1095740764.
  
  Abstracts of seven documents related to James Gyles were also posted by jfrench1 'at' earthlink.net, on the same date, subject 'Documentation - James GYLES (GILES) possible ancestor of Lafford FRENCH' at http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/FRENCH/2004-09/1095729790.
  
  There is another abstract of Gyles account from Wheeler's book, Part III, Chapter 1, page 747, at http://www2.curtislibrary.com/history/wheeler/ww_pt3_ch1.html^2,3
• Note: Abstract by compiler of James Gyles' account:
  
  We journeyed 22 August 1668 from the Park to Faversham to London. Sailed from London 5 Sept 1668, arrived Boston 9 Nov 1668. The next spring settled in Whidby on Kennebec River Maine, staying two years. April 1672 moved to house on Muddy River, and lived there three years until the Indian War (King Philip's War) began about June 1675, forcing him in August into a series of garrisons. A temporary peace was made in April 1676; but in August, livestock killed and house burnt, they had to flee to Boston. After staying several years in Southold area, removed 1680 to Staten Island, removed October 1681 to Piscataway, New Jersey, removed April 1682 to his own house at the Bound Brook upon Raritan River in Piscataway.
• Note: "1688 April 25. Do. to James Gyles of Piscataway, for 100 acres in Middlesex Co., N. Mathew Gyles, W. grantee, S. Benjamin Clark, E. unappropriated land. 375"⁴
• Note: Four abstracts in NJA pertain to the probate of James Giles: The will appears to have been recorded in Middlesex Co & abstracted as 21:177 & as 33:560; and recorded with the state abstracted as NJA 23:184-5 (will & inv) & 23:198 (admin). Daughter Anne is named in the Middlesex abstracts, not in the others.
• Note: "1688 June 17. Will of James Gyles of Piscataway. Wife, Elizabeth, son Matthew, daughters Eliza Olden, Anne Gyles, Mary Booth. Real and personal estate. Executors the wife and son(-in-law?) William Olden with Edward Slater as overseer. Witnesses Edward Slater and William Sharpe. Proved 3d Tuesday of March 1690. 201⁵
• Note: "1693 April 12. Deed. Matthew Giles of Piscatuay as administrator of the estate of Major James Giles of the same place, to John Peterson Melot of Perth Amboy, blacksmith, for all the real property of said James Giles in Piscatway, 180 acres, as per patent of January 6, 1681; and 100 a. there, N. Matthew Giles, S. Benjamin Clerk, E. unappropriated land. (Side patent of April 25, 1688, Liber B, p. 375, supra) 34"⁶