James Wilson (abt. 1775 - bef. 1845)

Born about 1775 in Province of South Carolina

Died before 3 Mar 1845 before about age 70 in Decatur, Georgia, United States

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Biography

James was born about 1775 in South Carolina, United States. He was married to a Mary at the time his will was written, ^[1] and she was potentially the mother of some or all of his children. From this will, we also learn the names of his children:

1. Sarah (Wilson) Bailey (b. abt. 1795)
2. Elizabeth R (Wilson) Walley (b. abt. 1795)
3. Francis (Wilson) Roberts (b. abt. 1795)
4. John T J Wilson (abt.1801–abt.1863)
5. James J Wilson (b. abt. 1810)
6. Steven G Wilson (b. abt. 1813)
7. Richard H Wilson (b. abt. 1819)
8. Benjamin F Wilson (b. abt. 1823)
9. Jesse M Wilson (b. abt. 1831)

Based on the known birth locations for some of his children, he was living in South Carolina at least though 1819. He appears in the 1830 census of Gadsden County, Florida with four of his sons. ^[2]

By 1840, they had moved to Decatur County. ^[3]

He passed away before 3 Mar 1845 in Decatur County, Georgia. ^[1]

Research Notes

Many important details about the family are left in his will. James apparently had cattle pastures he left to his sons on both sides of the Chattahoochee River. This would suggest that records of his offspring could be found not only in Decatur, Georgia, but also in Jackson County, Florida or Henry County, Alabama. Additionally, it mentions that Benjamin F Wilson and Jesse M Wilson are his youngest sons, and son Richard H Wilson is to become guardian of Jesse at the time of his death. His parentage is currently unknown. There were several similarly aged Wilsons at the same time and area. These are David S Wilson (abt.1776-aft.1850), Simpson Wilson, and Robert H Wilson. Wills have been located for Simpson Wilson ^[4] and Robert H Wilson, ^[5] James is potentially related to these individuals.

Potential father of William Wesley Wilson (abt.1805-abt.1856).

As far as James's family, James S Willson (abt.1780-bef.1820), who died in Columbia Co. in 1820, Georgia might be of particular interest, since he had sons James Madison and David, the same names of some Wilsons encounted in Gadsden Co. during the 1800s, who were born in South Carolina. His will lists his friend Robert Lazenby, and in the will of a David Wilson of Warren Co., Georgia, David lists a daughter Harriet Lazenby. However, James S Willson is not the same individual as James, because James S Willson died in Columbia County, Georgia in 1820. Also, there are wills in Marion County, South Carolina listing Wilson, Cooper, and Davis families on the same wills (also listed on this James Willson's will). Additonally, Marion County is the place of death for Collins Woodbery's mother, Elizabeth (Dunham) Woodbury (1748-1831). Methodist minister Collins Woodbury (abt.1781-bef.1856) is the alleged father of James Madison Wilson's suspected wife, Martha Woodbery and was allegedly involved in the building of one of the first Methodist churches built in Florida, in Escambia County. David S Wilson, his son James Madison Wilson, and other family members were carpenters that came from South Carolina. It is possible there is a common connection between these families in the South Carolina Methodist Conference's mission to Gadsden County, Florida in the 1820s.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Decatur County, Georgia, Will Book A, 1839–1873: 43–44, will of James Wilson (recorded 10 November 1843, probated 3 March 1845); Court of Ordinary, Decatur County, Georgia; consulted as "Wills, 1817-1913 [Decatur County, Georgia]," browsable images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L935-BY72?i=80 : accessed 27 April 2024), path: Wills 1817-1913 > image 81 of 456; FHL Film 249484, IGN 5764667.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPX-TN1 : Fri Mar 08 22:04:39 UTC 2024), Entry for Jas Wilson, 1830.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBF-Y9M : Sun Mar 10 18:55:22 UTC 2024), Entry for James Wilson, 1840.
4. ↑ Gadsden County, Florida, Will Book A, 1831–1850: 69–73, will of Simpson Wilson (recorded 11 November 1835); County Judge, Gadsden County, Florida; consulted as "Record of wills, 1826-1930," browsable images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Q5-JCQ1?i=87 : accessed 17 April 2024), path: Wills, v. 4 1826-1831 Wills, v. 6 1831-1850 > images 88–90 of 180; FHL Film 915828, IGN 5885791.
5. ↑ Gadsden County, Florida, Will Book A, 1831–1850: 98–99, will of Robert H Wilson (recorded 15 August 1837); County Judge, Gadsden County, Florida; consulted as "Record of wills, 1826-1930," browsable images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Q5-JCZX?i=103 : accessed 17 April 2024), path: Wills, v. 4 1826-1831 Wills, v. 6 1831-1850 > image 104 of 180; FHL Film 915828, IGN 5885791.