James Wilson

DAR Ancestor # A127489

WILSON, JAMES Ancestor #: A127489
Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank(s): PRIVATE
Birth: 9-25-1757 ANSON CO NORTH CAROLINA
Death: 4-11-1843 MARSHALL CO TENNESSEE
Pension Number: *S3565
Service Source: *S3565
Service Description:
1) CAPTS IRWIN, BARNETT, REED, COLS ALEXANDER,
2) DAVIDSON, IRWIN

RESIDENCE
1) County: MECKLENBURG CO - State: NORTH CAROLINA

SPOUSE
Number Name
1) X X
2) SARAH OGILVIE

Child [Spouse #] Spouse
AARON J. [1] HANNAH MARTIN
ANN [1] JOHN HUGH MCCRORY
MARGARET [1] JOHN BURNS

CURATOR CLEAN-UP NOTE 12-23-2019: There is an ambiguation here in which two distinct James Wilsons have been merged. One was the son of Robert Wilson and Eleanor Carruthers, the other the son of Thomas Wilson and Catherine Carson, James Hazzard Wilson, Sr. who married Ruth Wilson. One has a will recorded in 1838, the other died in 1843.

THIS James was born in Mecklenburg County, NC on 25 Sept 1757, son of Robert and Eleanor Carothers Wilson, and migrated to central Tennessee.
He reportedly served in the Revolutionary War.
He married c 1788 Sarah Ogilvie.
He died April 11, 1843.
[NOTE: while often listed as being married to Ruth Davidson, she is believed to have been the wife of the other James Wilson].

Their children were:

• (1) Eleanor Wilson, b.c. 1780, m. Samuel Graves, Eleanor "Ellen" Graves
• (2) Aaron J. Wilson, b. 13 Nov. 1784, m. Hannah Martin, Aaron J. Wilson
• (3) John Henderson Wilson, b.c. 1785, m. Susannah Wilson, John Henderson Wilson
• (4) Ann Wilson, b. 11 Oct. 1791, m. John McCrory, Ann McCrory
• (5) Margaret Wilson, b. 4 March 1794, m. John E. Burns, Margaret Burns
• (6) Samuel D. Wilson, b. 3 March 1796, d. 31 Dec. 1854, Samuel D. Wilson
• (7) Susannah Wilson, b.c. 1797, m. Elihu Whitfield Hunter, Susanna M Hunter
• (8) James Wilson, b.c. 1799. James Hazzard Wilson, Jr.

estate records do not indicate Samuel & James-- he likely belongs to the other James and is disconnected here and added there

From Wikitree, which did a good job separating out the two intertwined James Wilsons:

Biography James Wilson was born on 25 Sep 1757 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina to parents Robert (Old Robin) Wilson and Eleanor Carothers. He married Sarah Ogilvie about 1778 in North Carolina. Children: Eleanor Ellen, Aaron J, John H, Ann, Margaret, Susannah M. He died on 11 Apr 1843 in Marshall, Tennessee.

Research There is a great deal of confusion regarding the wives or wife of James Wilson.
Most sources state his wives were
(1) Ruth Davidson and
(2) Sarah Ogilvie;
however, the genealogy of another James Wilson, who died1838 in Williamson, Tennessee, also claims Ruth Davidson as his wife.
This man is most commonly known as James Hazard Wilson.
It's likely the records of the two men have been confused.
This confusion is evident in the article written by Louise Lynch in Our Valiant Men where she lists the children of James Wilson of Marshall, Tennessee as those who were children of James Hazard Wilson of Williamson, Tennessee.
Yet another record claims the wife of James Wilson was Sarah Curry.

James Wilson lived in the area of Bedford, Tennessee which became Marshall County in 1836.
He lived near the Thick Community and received Revolutionary War Pension #S3565.

"JAMES WILSON, NC Line S 3565, soldier was b. 25 Sep 1757 in Mecklenburg Co., NC and he lived there when he enlisted and he lived there three years after the Revolution, then moved to the state of Georgia; then moved to Williamson Co., TN and about 1809 he moved to Bedford Co., TN where he lived when he applied 6 Feb 1833 and was referred to as James Wilson, Sr.
In 1838 he received his mail at Chapel Hill in Marshall Co.,TN. Soldier died 11 April 1843."

James Wilson died intestate, Marshall County, TN. AdministratorSettlements Bk. A-84, 1846. It is believed he was buried in the Wilson Cemetery at the Thick Community north of Duck River on Thick Road. A record of his children and heirs was recorded in Marshall County Court Minutes, August Term, 1843, Bk. B-308 in a deposition made by Thomas C.HMiller and Nathan A. Forrest.

"TCH Miller and N.A. Miller appeared in open court and after being first sworn to answer questions deposed and said that James Wilson was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $53.33 per annum; was a resident of Marshall County, State of Tennessee and died in Marshall County, State of Tennessee in the year 1843 on the 11th day of April and that he let no widow but the following heirs, to wit; Ann McCrory formerly Ann Wilson; Susannah Hunter, formerly Susannah Wilson; Margaret Burns formerly Margaret Wilson; Ellen Graves formerly Ellen Wilson; Aaron J. Wilson's heirs viz, Ewing A Wilson, Sarah Wilson; Susannah Roberts formerly Susannah Wilson; the heirs of John H. Wilson viz, James M. Wilson, Milas N. Wilson, Isaac S. Wilson, Ann M. Wilson, Susannah M.Wilson, Mary Wilson, John Wilson."

I am not too sure about this marriage to wife or wives, but this estate settlement shows his children as heirs. Our Valiant Men by Louise Lynch confused James Wilson with another James Wilson who lived and died in Williamson, Tennessee, with his will probated in August 1838. Williamson Co. Will Bk. 6-516, 1838

Mecklenburg Co. Deed Bk. 14-441: 25 Jan 1794, Jas. Willson of GA to Aron Willson, for 60 lbs NC currency 170 acres on Sugar Crk. adj Frances Young and Robert Hunter to the east. Wit: Zacheus Wilson and Moses Wilson. Pr. in Jan. 1794 Crt.

"We in our branch of the family also have a copy of a power-of-attorney granted by my GGGrandparents John Burns and Margaret Wilson Burns after they were in Polk County, MO so that James Wilson's estate could be settled to their benefit. One of James' brothers left part of his estate to Margaret too and one cousin was wondering if Margaret was not his daughter. I think he did it just because he was fond of her.

1830 census, Bedford Co. TN, pg 103 these first four adjacent: A.J. Wilson (b.1780-1790, age 40-50)

• John Wilson (b.1770-1780, age 50-60)
• Aaron A. Wilson (b.1750-1760, age 70-80)
• James Wilson (b. 1740-1750, age 80-90)
• John A. Wilson (b. 1790-1800, age 30-40)

1830 census, Bedford Co. TN pg. 102: Jas. Wilson (b. 1780-1790, age 40-50) this one married Jane Wilson, d/o Robert & Jane Wilson. Jas Wilson died 1833.

Possibly son of Jas Wilson was James M. Wilson 1794-1833 married Jane Wilson, daughter of Robert & Jane.

Another possible connection from Goodspeed's History of Marshall Co. TN: Richard Ogilvie born NC came to TN about 1796 locating in Williamson.
Married Cynthia M. Wilson, a native of Georgia; Seven children, and died 1822;
Widow lived with youngest son.
A son was William H. Ogilvie born17 Dec 1818 who married (1) Elizabeth N. Demumbrane (2) Mary R. Gentry. BUT this Cynthia seems to be the daughter of Jason Wilson of Williamson Co.

Others list children of James Wilson as:

• Eleanor Wilson 1780
• Aaron J. Wilson 1784
• John Henderson Wilson 1785
• Ann Wilson 1791
• Margaret Wilson 1794
• Samuel D. Wilson 1796-31 Dec 1854 Samuel D. Wilson
• Susannah Wilson 1797
• James Wilson 1799 James Hazzard Wilson, Jr.

estate records do not indicate Samuel & James

Sources

• US Federal Census 1790,
• 1820 US Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files.
• US Federal Census 1840, Marshall, Tennessee

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REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOTS OF MARSHALL COUNTY, TENNESSEE Compiled by JANE WALLACE ALFORD

American Bicentennial Publication of Robert Lewis Chapter

Daughters of the American Revolution

James Wilson was born September 25, 1757, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. and died April 11, 1943 in Marshall County, Tennessee. He was one of the seven sons of Robert and Eleanor Wilson, of Mecklenburg County who served in the Revolutionary War for its duration.
James married Ruth Davidson [believed to be INCORRECT].

He enlisted in the war August 1, 1776, in Mecklenburg County in the Company of Captain Robert Irwin in the Regiment of Colonel Adam Alexander and served in many campaigns against the Cherokee Indians as well as the British.
In 1780 he took part in the Battle of Hanging Rock under General Sumter, and was in skirmishes around Charlotte, North Carolina.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 6, 1833, while a resident of Bedford County (now Marshall), Tennessee.

About 3 years after the war he lived for a time in Georgia then moved to Williamson County, Tennessee. In 1809 he settled in Bedford County (now Marshall) where he lived until his death in 1843.

He and his wife are believed buried in the Moses-Wilson Cemetery on the Thick Road, north of Highway 99 in Marshall County, Tennessee in unmarked pyramid type graves.

Samuel Wilson. born 1782, married Jane who was living in the 1860 Census is the only known heir of James and Ruth Wilson.

References:
Wilson, Alma Lackey, Veterans of the American Revolutionary War of Sumner Co.. Tn., p. 45
National Genealogical Society Quarterly, June 1962, Vol. 50, No.2, p. 1246.
Pension No. S.3565.
Armstrong, Twenty-Four Hundred Tennessee Pensioners, p.118.