Birth: 1689
County Cavan, Ireland
Death: 1773
Northampton County
Pennsylvania, USA
Hugh was born "in the land of Corabaugh" [pronounced "Curba"] near Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland, the son of Thomas and Ann Boyers (or Byars) Wilson. His father died about 1711 and his mother about 1716. His mother gave him the lease of his father's estate when she died. He married Sarah Craig about this time and they continued in his fathers living by bleaching and dying wool. The story says that he disliked living among the Papists so much that he sold this estates and emigrated to America where they settled in "the Irish Settlement" as early as 1736.
Hugh bought 400 acres from William Allen, Chief Justice of PA in August of 1739. He added that to the 730 acres he already had in an area northwest of Howertown, where he built his home. He built Wilson's Blockhouse near his mill to provide protection from Indian attacks. The structure has been moved to the municipal park. In 1740 he erected a grist mill on Hockendauqua Creek which was noted in the entire region and was not torn down until the spring of 1857.
Upon the erection of Northampton county on March 11, 1752, he was one of the commissioners named to purchase land at Easton for the court house and prison, and was commissioned one of the justices of the peace for the county on June 9, 1752. His last commission as justice was issued March 15, 1766.
He was a pious man, retiring daily to a secret place, and, prostrate on the ground, pleaded with God. Wilson died in the autumn of 1773 at the age of 84 and in his dying hour he united with his family in singing the fortieth Psalm; "I waited for the Lord, my God."
He had 9 children: William (abt 1717), Thomas (1718), Mary Ann (1719) McHenry, Elizabeth (1721) Craig, Charles (1726), Samuel (1730), James (abt 1732), Margaret (1734) McNair, and Francis (1736).
In the second picture you can just see the bottom part of Hugh's stone in which the top part is leaning on. In the third picture is the bottom part in which you can see the carver's name (S. Hoffman), the town where the stone was carved (Bath), and the date the stone was carved (A. D. 1842). This stone replaced what was probably a field stone in 1842.
Family links:
Parents:
Thomas Wilson (____ - 1711)
Ann Boyers Wilson (____ - 1716)
Spouse:
Sarah Craig Wilson
Children:
Thomas Wilson (1718 - 1799)*
Charles Wilson (1726 - 1768)*
Mary Ann Wilson McHenry (1729 - 1793)*
*Calculated relationship
Inscription:
In Memory of HUGH WILSON Esqr Who was born in Ireland in the year of our Lord 1689, and departed this life in the autumn of 1773, Aged 84 Years
Burial:
Presbyterian Cemetery
Northampton
Northampton County
Pennsylvania, USA