All that is now known concerning Lieutenant Nicholas Stillwell has been recited. Perhaps more may come to light, but enough has been rescued, to establish him as one of the most conspicuous and stirring figures of his eventful time. At this late day he seems like an adventurer of fiction, or a hero of the romantic past. With his great natural force he dominated his fellow man, who during his long career perpetuated him in public office, both elective and appointive; and in private life he was the chief adviser of Lady Deborah Moody and a host of his fellow townsmen. Though possessed of a martial spirit, he was free from the swashbuckling and buccaneering qualities which in that day were prone to accompany prowess. Likewise his deportment was such that he avoided the many scandals and lawsuits common to his time, in the vicinity of New Amsterdam. His persistent activity, ready exposure to hardship, and the age he attained, justly creates the impression that he was a man of great physical strength and robust constitution. He was ever foremost where valor was called for, or where Dutch resistance to English aggression was needed. His sense of loyalty to his benefactors was paramount to all personal interests, and the intensely Dutch authority, T. G. Bergen, Esq., who was never accused of favoring any person or thing English, paid him the merited compliment of saying that he never swerved from his allegiance to the Dutch, which is more than could be said of many of his English neighbors. That he was hasty and passionate of speech under excitement, we concede, but it was only by a handful of malcontents and wrongdoers, against whom he had fearlessly stood alone in the turbulent moments, that he was called unreasonable and a disturber of the peace.

There is nothing extant which proves the religious convictions or affiliations of Nicholas Stillwell, but the tone of his last will indicates that he possessed the piety of his day, which is confirmed by a letter dated, April 12, 1660, to the Director and Council, signed by Nicholas Stillwell, and other residents of Gravesend, wherein they bitterly lament the licentiousness of their town, the desecration of the Sabbath, confusion of religious opinions, and: "as the fear of the Lord alone holds out promises of temporal and eternal blessings, and as we, your petitioners, to our sorrow and constant regret, see no means by which to make a change for the better, we have concluded to address ourselves to your Honors as being the only hope for us and the well-being of the Community and humbly and respectfully do ask and pray that a preacher or pastor may be sent here that the glory of God may be spread, the ignorant taught, the simple and innocent strengthened and the licentious restrained."

Certain it is that Nicholas Stillwell lived for the ultimate betterment of the human race. Amid quieter scenes Nicholas Stillwell's life drew to its close. His mantle of authority descended to his children, who were called to fill many high offices in the government. Surrounded by a numerous and respected family, his last years were spent in reposeful dignity awaiting the final summons which came Dec. 28, 1671. Post tempestatem tranquillitas.

A few days prior to his demise he made a will conveying practically all of his state to his wife Anne:

In ye name of God, Amen, I, Nicholas Stillwell of Staten Island in ye terrytoryes of his Royal Highness, James Duke of York in America, Husbandman, being sick and weake in body, but of perfect and sound understanding, Thanks bee rendered to Allmighty God for the same, doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following, Viz:

Imprimis: I give and bequeath my Soull unto ye Hands of Allmighty God who gave it in hopes to be saved in and through ye Passion, merritts and mediacon of Jesus Christe my only Saviour and Redeemer and my bodye to ye earth to be buryed in decent and Christian like Buryall according to ye discretion of my executrix hereafter named.

Item. I give and bequeathe unto my youngest son Jeremiah one Iron Grey Mare of about 4 years old to runn upon ye Island for his use.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved and affectionate wife Anne Stillwell all my whole estate consisting of Lands, Housing, Cattle, Corne, Oxen, Kine, Horses, Mares, Sheep, Swine, bee they of what nature or kind soever, as also all manner of Household goods moveable and Immoveables whatsoever being and lying upon Staten Island aforesaid or elsewhere with all manner of debts whatsoever and of Right belonging unto mee.

And I do also hereby constitute and appoint my said wife to be my full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. Revoking all former Wills and Testaments by mee formerly made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale ye 22nd day of December in Annon 1671.     NICHOLAS STILLWELL
his marke      (Seal)

Sealed and Delivered in the presence of 
N. de Meyer
Rich^d Charlton

June 17th, 1672, Letters of administration were granted unto Anne Stillwell ye widow and relict of ye deceased as executrix of this his last will, and testament above written. New York Wills, Book 1, p. 161.

A custom frequently kept among the early English settlers in this country was the observance of a year and a day of widowhood before remarriage. Inasmuch as Anne, the widow of Nicholas Stillwell, married December 29th, 1672, a second husband, it has been deduced that the exact date of Nicholas Stillwell's demise was December 28th, 1671. This may be correct, but we are only sure of the fact that he died between December 22nd, 1671, and June 17th, 1672, the respective dates of the execution and probate of his will.

Issue

--Capt. Richard Stillwell born between 1633 and 1638; died 1688-9.
--Capt. Nicholas Stillwell born about 1640, died 1715.
--Ann Stillwell born between 1635 and 1640; married between 1653-1656, Nathaniel Britton, who died on Staten Island in 1684.
--Alice Stillwell born about 1644; married first, in 1665, Lieut. Samuel Holmes; married second, in 1680, William Osborne; married third, Daniel Lake, Esq.
--William Stillwell born about 1650; progenitor of the Cape May, N. J., family.
--Capt. Thomas Stillwell baptised at New Amsterdam, July 9, 1651; died 1704. His widow, Martha Billew married the Rev. David de Bonrepos.
-- Daniel Stillwell, Esq. baptised at New Amsterdam Nov. 13,1653; died 1719 (?)
-- Mary Stillwell married July 16, 1678, Adam Mott, Jr., Esq., of Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y.
-- John Stillwell (supposed).
-- Capt. Jeremiah Stillwell baptised at New Amsterdam, Jan. 13, 1663; died about 1749 in Monmouth County, N. J.

Of Ann, the wife of Nicholas Stillwell, the First, little is known. She was probably an English woman, for she subsequently became the wife of William Wilkins and of William Fostert both Englishmen, and nowhere among the Dutch records, wherein her name appears and where the opportunity has been ample, has her surname been given, as was common among the Dutch of that day. The earliest mention of her name that I have so far seen occurs in the Dutch Church Records of New Amsterdam, when 1647, Jan. 14, Anne, the wife of Nicholas Stillwell, was a sponsor, with Richard Cool, at the baptism of Anna, daughter of John Harten, in the Dutch Church, at New Amsterdam. She was a lady of good birth and breeding and was alluded to in contemporary records as Mistress Anne Stillwell, an appellation of restricted use and confined to those of good station.

Ann Stillwell was the mother of many, if not all, of Nicholas Stillwell's children, and was presumably somewhat younger than her husband Nicholas Stillwell, and perhaps somewhat older than her last husband William Foster. Nicholas Stillwell may have married her in Old England, or perhaps in Virginia. She proved a capable, energetic woman, a loyal and untiring companion, and a mother whose wise councils and loving admonitions reared an admirable family.