John Wilkinson

John Wilkinson (November 13, 1758 – 1802) was born in Rhode Island, United States. He was a direct descendant of Lawrence Wilkinson who fled the oppression of Oliver Cromwell in 1652 and settled in America and the son of Roger Wilkinson, an early colonist, who settled in Rhode Island where Roger Williams promoted the concept of freedom of religion.John Wilkinson settled in Troy, New York and seventeen years later moved his family to Skaneateles, New York. His son, John Wilkinson Jr. was the first Postmaster of Syracuse, New York and gave the city its name. Great-grandson, John Wilkinson invented the air-cooled engine and helped found the Franklin Automobile Company.