Rebecca (Burr) Willson (1802 - 1874)

Born 3 Aug 1802 in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Mar 1874 at age 71 in Sharon, East Gwillimbury, York, Ontario, Canada

Biography

In 1821 John married Rebecca Burr, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Cleaver Burr, born 3 Aug. 1802 in Catawissa, Pa., died 5 March 1874. They were Quakers, and Rebecca was disowned for her marriage to a non-Friend 13 Dec. 1821. Her family had immigrated to Whitchurch twp. in 1805 (Lot 85, conc. 1). After a short stay near Richmond Hill, the Burr family had moved to Lot 17, Conc. 2 of E.G. in 1816. Rebecca’s sister Jane was married to Jeremiah Graham, another member of the Children of Peace. John was a member of the Children of Peace for only a short time; Rebecca never joined. John and Richard worked for two years providing fresh beef for the naval establishment at Penetanguishene, but in 1823 split up the farm they had worked together. Although John had originally settled his farm with his brother Richard’s help, they were on opposite sides in the Rebellion of 1837. Richard wrote “I was then a Lieutenant and my brother John, a captain in East Gwillimbury. When I went to my brother’s ( John), to ask him to turn out he was not at home, but at Sharon. His wife said “He would not and should not go.” I then asked her for his arms, for we were in great want of them. She said “I know nothing about them.” I then went into another room to look for his rifle, which I could not see, but I saw his sword hanging by the head of his bed. Th is I took down and as I did so his wife (who had followed), caught hold of the hilt and jerked it partly out. To save myself from being stabbed I was obliged to pull her close to me and at the same time towards the door. I then wished myself clear of both her and the sword, but I dared not let go of her and seized the hilt of the sword giving her a heavy push, and walked off with it. But instead of following me she ran into the house and called for the rifl e, the children following her. It was ridiculous to see one of her Brittanic Majesty’s offi cers, with a sword in his hand, running from a woman, but run I did, and in a diff erent way to what she had expected. I ran around the house when she looked for me in front, and before she saw me I got some 25 rods away. She, however, levelled the rifle at me, but did not fire. She told me afterwards her reason for not firing was that, as I was some distance away and in motion, and she greatly excited, she might not kill me, etc. She, however, went immediately for her husband who in short time came to my house not well pleased. I then demanded of him, in Her Majesty’s name, to either turn out in defense of the government or lend me his sword. He choose the latter and I still have the sword, as I bought him a new one some time after.” John was elected a Township Commisioner (Councillor) in 1836-38, and again in 1850. John and Rebecca are both buried in the Sharon Burial Ground.9 children: 1. Jane, 2. Rowland, 3. May, 4. Rodney, 5. Reuben, 6. Franklin, 7. Charlotte Willson Doan (married Geo. M. Doan, son of Jesse Doan and Wait Ann Brooks), 8. Stephen, 9. John Albert.

Sources

• *http://www.sharontemple.ca/pdf/Genealogy%20%28By%20Family%29/family_willson.pdf