Benjamin Wilson Davidson

Benjamin Wilson, born May 20, 1787, died September 25, 1829, age 42. Married Elizabeth Latta in 1818. They lived at Oak Lawn Plantation which he bought from his father. He served as a Justice of the Peace. Benjamin died in 1829, leaving six sons under the age of 11. His widow married Major Rufus Reed of Mount Mourne in 1835. Oak Lawn was originally near Cedar Grove, but today has been moved a short distance away, off McCoy road. It is privately owned.

Independence Ben? Benjamin Wilson Davidson was born on May 20, 1787. Family tradition is that he was often called “Independence Ben” as he was born on the 12th anniversary of Mecklenburg’s famous proclamation. Historian Chalmers Davidson in his biography of Benjamin Wilson states that local people did not make much note of this historic date until 1818 – more than forty years after the event – when Thomas Jefferson and John Adams disputed whether Mecklenburg had declared independence a full year before the Continental Congress did so. Therefore he doubts that “Independence Ben” was attached to the boy in childhood. There is also some doubt as to whether he was called “Ben” at all. In 1828 Benjamin Wilson’s sister-in-law Nancy Latta married Rufus Reid. Benjamin Wilson’s niece Mary Graham Morrison wrote to her brother: “Nancy Latta is married to Rufus Reid. All the friends are pleased, but Uncle Willson. He went and heard the ceremony and left the house.” “Uncle Willson” is believed to be Benjamin Wilson Davidson, so it is quite possible that he was called by his middle name. The use of middle names was common during this time when many extended family members shared the same names.