George Rays 05

Arkansas Post 225th Anniversary & Stillwell Gathering

Click here to see: Arkansas Post Flags flying

BACK IN THE DAY

Click here: for "Arkansas Post Cannon Blast" video

My Family was one of Arkansas' 1st settlers over 200 Years Ago

John Stillwell - Colletmore, Dorking Born 1515

Nicholas Stillwell (Born 1570.......John Stillwell born 1539

Nicholas Stillwell (Came to America 1638)...Richard Stillwell born Dirk in NY

John Stillwell born 1663 New York Landowner .... Joseph Stillwell Born 1705 Staten Island, NY

Joseph Stillwell -born 1752 Middleton, NY) - *1798 TO ARKANSAS* In the Mid 1780's Joseph Stillwell took his family to Kentucky to join relatives, Elisha Winter and his sons Gabriel and William Winter. Between 1790 and 1798 they went to New Orleans and began the manufacture of cotton rope. The business was involved in the Boardwalk of the city of New Orleans. When the the Boardwalk was later destroyed by fire that business was lost. As a recompense for having introduced a manufacture to the province, On June 22, 1797, Baron De Carondolet, who was the Spanish Governor of the Territory of Louisiana, made made an enormous grant of land to Elisha, William, and Gabriel Winter, Joseph Stillwell, and six other men. The Total of this land grant was said to be 1 million arpens of land (old French measure - about an acre) on the north side of the Arkansas River from Argenta to Arkansas Post. The Official Designation was Spanish Land Grant No. 2399. The purpose stated was "to form a settlement in the Post of Arkansas for the cultivation of flax, wheat, and hemp". (page 1. from the book: Heritage of Stillwells in Arkansas; by RW. Dhonau)

Below is a replica of the state record of this Grant. It was photographed from "Spanish Land Grants"-oldest book in Office of State Land Commissioner, Arkansas State Capitol Building, Little Rock, Arkansas. (photographed by Noble A. Robinson) (page 1. &2. from the book: Heritage of Stillwells in Arkansas;by RW. Dhonau)

In 1798 Stillwell and Winter Families arrived at the village of Arkansas Post and began a survey of their lands. Stillwell selected land about 4 miles up the river from the Post and built a cabin. He perfected his title by settlement and occupancy and afterwards received a patent under the Homestead Laws of the United States. Under number 2294, this patent is listed as shown above. Below is the plot of the land grant as shown on the regular land records. This shows its position in relation to location of other land owners. (page 3.&4. from the book: Heritage of Stillwells in Arkansas;by RW. Dhonau)

In 1820 Joseph was again appointed a Judge of the Court at Arkansas Post and served there until he was elected a representative in the Territorial Legislature. This position was a vacancy created when Representative W.C. Allen was killed in a duel with Representative R.C. Oden on March 10, 1820. Joseph Stillwell's announcement of candidacy was published in the Arkansas Gazette April 29, 1820 in both English and French for the benefit of the old settlers who only spoke French. By a vote of 97 to 82 Joseph defeated Richmond Peeler. While he was in the Legislature the capital was moved from Arkansas Post to Little Rock. (page 3. from the book: Heritage of Stillwells in Arkansas;by RW. Dhonau)

Since there were no schools in Arkansas at the time Sarah and Joseph Stillwell raised their family he taught the children. On legal records available his children signed their names instead of making an "X", which was very common at the time. Joseph could speak French, Spanish, and the Quapaw Indian Dialect as well as his native English. His was not a wealthy family, but appeared to be in good circumstances. In the earliest Land Assessment Lists of 1818 he was shown to own 1,1,56 acres of confirmed land. In 1821 he was shown with plotted lots at Arkansas Post valued at $1,150, one house at $200. It was reported that when Joseph last wrote home to New Jersey he states he owned nineteen hundred head of cattle.

Joseph died at his home on September 10, 1822 and was buried on the homestead. The location on his grave is now in the Stillwell Cemetery near the Boggans Cemetery in a wooded area southwest of Gillett. (page 5. from the book: Heritage of Stillwells in Arkansas by RW. Dhonau)