A decendent of the Stylleman/Styleman/Stileman/Stilman Family of Steeple Ashton - which included many landowners, church officials and civil officials - in 1677 George Stileman married the daughter - Jane Pickering - of a deceased Baronet Sir Gilbert Pickering, Baronet of Nova Scotia 1st, a strict Puritan and Oliver Cromwell's Lord Chamberlain to the Protector - a combination of supreme court judge and attorney general. As was the custom of the time - George Stileman took Jane Pickering's last name - rather than the reverse - so that Jane Pickering could retain her societal status and inheritance - thus George Stileman became George Stileman Pickering. Jane Pickering gave birth to their first son - George Stileman Pickering, Jr. - in August 1679. In those times, there was a tremendous amount of termoil everywhere with the monarchy in constant struggle to wrest control from the Parliament and with religious groups fighting openly to gain control as well. Sir Gilbert Pickering died in 1668 leaving his son Sir John Pickering in charge of the Pickering family. The throne of the King of England was once again claimed by the Roman Catholics through the Stuart family when Charles II died and his misfit son James II - who, as his beheaded grandfather Charles I, believed in the 'devine right of kings' - became King in 1685. Most likely the the strongly protestant George Stileman Pickering and puritan-heritage wife - Jane Pickering - became involved in the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth rebellion of 1685. George and Jane Pickering were apprehended and were enabled through wealth and influence to leave England - leading to their setting sail for the American Colonies from London in late 1685 with all that they could carry with them. George Stileman Pickering Jr., a second son - Samuel Stileman Pickering , - and a daughter - Jane Stileman Pickering, - were left behind to be sent for when their new home in the American colonies had been established. Tragedy struck - during the trip Jane Pickering died at sea of complications resulting from premature childbirth. George Stileman Pickering settled in Hadley, Massachusetts - dropped the Pickering name - now spelling his last name Stillman. George was joined by his eldest son George Stileman Pickering, Jr. Why son Samuel Stileman Pickering and daughter Jane Stileman Pickering did not move to the colonies with their eldest brother is not known - perhaps they chose to stay in England and be raised by the family of Sir John Pickering. George Stileman Pickering, Jr. - unhappy with following his father's new trade - returned to England, and completed studies and qualifiications to practice as a medical doctor. Doctor George Stileman Pickering, Jr. returned to the colonies permanently around 1700 - dropped his last name of Pickering and spelled his name Stillman, the same as his father. A man of education, George Stillman's merchantile business grew to make him wealthy and one of three in Hadley that were entitled to the title - Mr. - in front of their names. Mr. George Stillman served as a Selectman - which is a member of the Board of Governors - for Hadley. Mr. George Stillman married Rebecca Smith of Hadley, MA. When King Phillip's war threatened his property, wealth, and family, Mr. George Stillman moved everthing to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where many of his wife's [Rebecca Smith] relatives lived. As per the inscription on his grave site - Mr. George Stillman served as a Selectman for Wethersfield and was Representative at the Court of Massachusetts in 1698. In 1699, Mr. George Stillman and wife Rebecca had a daughter - Anna Stillman - who married Hezakiah May and thus began the Stillman relationship to the George Bush lineage. Mr. George Stillman carried on a large trade business with the West Indies and England until his death in 1728. His will - which I personally have seen - is signed George Stileman. Mr. George Stillman left his large property to his wife, children and grandchildren. Mr. George Stillman established his son John Stillman in business, provided son Benjamin Stillman with a Yale education and a very fine residence nearby. Mr. George Stillman gave his son Nathaniel Stillman a good homestead and helped his daughters at the time of their marriages. To Doctor George Stillman Jr., he gave 100 pounds sterling besides what he already had - Alfred William (Bill) Stillman, Jr. - 19 Sep 1999 http://www.stillman.org/a1.htm The data and information contained in theses pages - except as noted - is based on The Stillman Family compiled and published in 1989 by Francis (Frank) Duane Stillman, 15 Waverly Drive, Greensburg, PA, 15601 USA