William Rakestraw b. 1652 m Elizabeth Willis as his 2nd wife abt?29 Aug 1696, Long Island City, Queens, New York or England.?Elizabeth was the dau. of Henry Willis and Mary Pease. Elizabeth was b. abt 1658/60 at Devizes, Wiltshire, England and christened 25 Feb 1661, Warminster, St. Denys, Wiltshire, England. She d. 8 Oct 1700, Philadelphia. Children born to William and Elizabeth: i. Mary b. abt 1696, Long Island City, Queens, New York, d. bef. 1780. ii. Sarah b. 1697, Long Island City, Queens, New York, m. James Whitall abt 1717, NY. James was b. abt 1695, NY. iii. Elizabeth b. abt 1697 (twins?) d. 4 Sep 1707 iv. Susannah b. abt 1698, Long Island City, Queens, New York, d. 22 Dec 1708. v. Ann b. 1700, Long Island City, Queens, NY, d. 9 Jul 1707 Here is an interesting fact. Before Elizabeth m. William, she was married to Robert Zane abt 1681, Wiltshire, England son of Robert Zane b. abt 1614 and Wilmot_____ b. abt 1618. He was b. 29 Mar 1642, gives the same date for christening so he may have been born somewhat earlier. He died 1695. They had 8 children: i. Robert b. 1684/1691, Newton, Gloucester, NJ, d. 1774 ii. Simeon b. Abt 1685, Newton, Gloucester, NJ. iii. Mary?b. abt 1687, Newton Gloucester, NJ. iv. Elnathan b. abt 1689, Newton, Gloucester, NJ, d. 5 Oct 1732, Gloucester, NJ. v. Esther b. 1693, Newton, Gloucester, NJ, Esther m. Joshua Delaplaine 4 Oct 1716. vi. Sarah b. 1694, Newton, Gloucester, NJ, d. 1720, New Camden, Gloucester NJ. vii. William b. 1694, Newton, Gloucester, NJ. No further info. viii. Rachel b. abt 1695,?Newton, Gloucester, NJ, m. 1st Jonathan Peasley 1704, NY. Jonathan b. abt 1680, England.Second Rachel m. Samuel Pine 1 Apr 1720. Before Robert Zane m. Elizabeth he was married 1 Nov 1664 to Margaret Hammond, Dublin, Meath, Ireland. Margaret was ?b. 1641, Midlam, Yorkshire, England, d. 1670, Dublin, Meath, Ireland. Robert was a serge weaver. Emigrated from England in 1673. Settled in Salem where he has friends named Thompson. Moved in 1682 to Newton with Thomas Sharp. I believe the Sharps were Quakers. Robert and Margaret's children: i. Nathaniel b. 24 Oct 1670, Dublin, Meath, Ireland, d. 31 Dec 1728, Newton, Gloucester, West ). m. Grace Jane Rakestraw 27 Jun 1697, Newton Gloucester, NJ, Ohio or Philadelphia. (Interesting family ties!) Would that make Grace and Nathaniel step-siblings? ii. Robert Zane b. Abt 1664, Dublin Meath, Ireland. iii. Elnathan b. Abt 1664, Dublin, Meath, Ireland. Okay, that's the second installment, 3rd coming up.