Mary E. (Speed) Wilson (1805 - abt. 1891)

Born 1805 in South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Jeconius Wilson — married about 1826 in Greene County, Alabama

Descendants

Died about 19 Jun 1891 at about age 86 in Haleyville, Winston, Alabama, USA [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: A Fabry [send private message]

Biography

Mary E. Speed was born in South Carolina in 1805;^[1] she was the daughter of Robert Wages Speed and Elizabeth (Martin) Speed.^[2]

In 1810,^[2] Mary E. Speed's father, Robert Speed, was enumerated in the 1810 federal census, and he was living in Abbeville, South Carolina as head of household with the following persons in his household: a) males - 1 (<10), 2 (10 - 15), 1 (>44); b) females - 2 (<10), 1 (10 - 15), 1 (>44); in addition, he held 43 enslaved persons. Mary E. Speed would have been 1 of the 2 females under 10 years of age.

In 1820,^[3] Mary E. Speed's father, Robert Speed, was enumerated in the 1820 federal census, and he was living in Abbeville, South Carolina as head of household with the following persons in his household: a) males - 1 (<10); b) females - 1 (10 - 15), 1 (16 - 25), 1 (>26); c) enslaved persons - 6. Mary E. Speed would have been probably been the 1 female aged 10 - 15.

On 7 Jan 1826 in Greene County, Alabama, a marriage license was issued for "Polly Speed" and Jeconias Wilson. ^[4] It is assumed that the marriage occurred shortly thereafter, as the birth of their first child, Elizabeth Wilson, occurred in 1826. Note: the date the marriage license (7 Jan 1826) was issued in Greene County, Alabama was a few days after the death on, or about, 2 Jan 1826 of Mary E. "Polly" Speed's father, Robert Wages Speed, in Abbeville, South Carolina.^[5] The question is whether Mary E. "Polly" Speed had already moved to Greene County, Alabama, and if so, then how and with whom. By this time, both of Jeconias' parent had already died; Mary's father had just died and her mother, Elizabth Speed, died in 1830 in South Carolina. So, neither sets of parents appear to have moved from South Carolina to Alabama. It is speculative, but a possibility is that Mary E. "Polly" Speed and Jeconias Wilson had met and become engaged in South Carolina, and intended to immigrate to Alabama, and that is where they were subsequently married.

In 1830,^[6] Mary E. Wilson's husband, Jaconias Wilson, was enumerated in the 1830 federal census, and he was living in Greene County, Alabama as head of household, which included (age range) [probable names]: a) males - 1 (20-30) [Jaconias Wilson, b) females - 2 (<5) [Elizabeth & Mary A Wilson], 1 (20 - 30) [Mary E. Wilson].

In 1840,^[7] Mary E. Wilson's husband, "Zechonias" Wilson, was enumerated in the 1840 Census, and he was living in Greene County, Alabama as head of household, which included (age range) [probable names]: a) males - 1 (40-50) [Zechonias Wilson], b) females - 3 (<5 ) [Sarah Ann & Frances Wilson & ??], 2 (5-10 ) [Martha C. & Missouri Wilson], 2 (10-15) [Elizabeth & Mary A. Wilson], 1 (30-40) [Mary E. Wilson].

On 1 Jun 1850,^[1] Mary E. Wilson (age 45) was living in Greene County, Alabama in the household of her husband, Jeconias Wilson, with their children (listed in table below). Neither Jeconias nor Mary E. Wilson could read or write. The younger children, starting with Misouri, had all attended school in the prior year.

On 8 Oct 1859,^[8] Mary Wilson's husband, Jechonias Wilson, died in Hale County, Alabama

1860 - see Research Notes below

On 1 Jun 1870,^[9] Mary E. Wilson (age 64) was living in "Beat 3", Hale County, Alabama as the head of household with her son-in-law, W. B. McKane, daughter, and McKane grandchildren (listed in table below). Mary owned real estate valued at $200 and personal estate valued at $500.

On 16 Jul 1870 in Hale County, Alabama,^[10] Mary E. Wilson provided information on her farm: a) acres of land - improved (170), woodland (30), b) present cash value - farm ($200 ), farm implements ($25 ), c) total amount of wages paid ($60 ), d) livestock (#) - horses (0), mules (2), oxen (4), cattle (0), sheep (0), swine (2), value of all livestock ($250 ), e) produce - "Indian corn" (200 bushels), cotton (65 bales); total value = $9,500.

On 1 Jun 1880,^[11] Mary E. Wilson (age 60 [sic]) was living in Enumeration District No. 56, Hale County, Alabama as the widowed, head & sole member of her household (listed in table below). However, immediately preceding her enumeration was the family of her son-in-law, Whitfield B. McKane (age 52, born Alabama), with his wife (Mary's daughter, Martha C. McKane (age 47, born Alabama)), and their McKane children.

On 14 Jun 1880 in Hale County, Alabama,^[12] Mary E. Wilson provided information on her farm, which she owned (valued at $160) and which included 200 acres of land (none of which was tilled). The farm at that time had no animals on it, nor was it producing any crops for sale.

Mary E Speed may have died on 19 Jun 1891 in Hale County, Alabama.^[13] [See Research Notes below regarding this source.]

Research Notes

• Marriage information - The marriage of Mary E. Speed to Jechonias Wilson is mentioned in a genealogical history of Mary's great grandson, Artemas Killian Callahan, which was written by Artemas' wife, Ida Marguerite Tarwater Callahan.^[14] Hiestand-529 13:01, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

• 1860 - unable to identify a credible 1860 federal census enumeration for Mary. Some genealogical websites list an 1860 enumeration for her living in South Carolina with the head of house being Jno Wilson. However, this enumeration also records her race as "mulatto". While its possible that subsequent to the death of her husband circa 1859, Mary then moved to South Carolina. However, all things considered, this seems unlikely. Hiestand-529 13:01, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

• 1866 Census - In 1866,^[15] a Mary E. Wilson was living in Greene County, Alabama as head of household with a total of 17 "white" persons in her household, as follows: a) males - 2 (<10), 1 (10 - 20), 1 (30 - 40), 1 (40 - 50); b) females - 5 (<10), 3 (10 - 20), 1 (20 - 30), 1 (30 - 40), 1 (50 - 60), 1 (60 - 70). As reflected on this enumeration sheet, this number of people in a single household was common, as consequent to the end of the American Civil War and the financial ruin that many Southern white families experienced and the need for extended families (& sometimes neighbors) to live together. Hiestand-529 13:01, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

• Death - there is a Find a Grave profile for Mary, but it currently does not include a photo of her headstone nor any other primary sources to confirm her date & location of death. Hiestand-529 12:48, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 30; Digital film/folder number: 004187296_001_M9C4-K34; FHL microfilm: 2348; Image number: 76; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01174-9
   FamilySearch Record: MH5M-8DY (accessed 8 May 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-68V3-D3S
   Mary E Wilson (45) in Greene, Alabama, United States. Born in South Carolina.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1810 Census: "1810 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/567129:7613?ssrc=pt&tid=165941105&pid=352201402577); accessed 23 Oct 2021, citing Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Abbeville, Abbeville, South Carolina; Roll: 60; Page: 13; Image: 00012; Family History Library Film: 0181419; entry for Robert Speed
3. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/955752:7734?tid=&pid=&queryId=b9ab3ffba487ba7a251eb83d11fd0fd2&_phsrc=uEC440&_phstart=successSource); accessed 25 Oct 2021, citing: Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Census Place: Abbeville, Abbeville, South Carolina; Page: 22; NARA Roll: M33_118; Image: 34; entry for Robert Speed
4. ↑ Marriage: "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9HV-7D15?cc=1743384&wc=3LJP-SPN%3A1586968102 : 21 July 2015), 007316958 > image 36 of 701; County Probate Courts, Alabama.
5. ↑ Last Will of Robert Wages Speed: "South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/51523:9080); accessed 24 Oct 2021, citing: Wills, 1787-1868; Author: Abbeville County (South Carolina). Judge of Probate; Probate Place: Abbeville, South Carolina; entry for Robert Speed
6. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTL-9MV1?cc=1803958&wc=35Y4-W36%3A1588469604%2C1588470607%2C1588469601 : 14 August 2015), Alabama > Greene > Not Stated > image 42 of 105; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYN-376T?cc=1786457&wc=31SV-D57%3A1588665921%2C1588666934%2C1588665902 : 24 August 2015), Alabama > Greene > Not Stated > image 27 of 103; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ Death of husband, Jechonias Wilson: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26055499/jechonias-wilson : accessed 24 October 2021), memorial page for Jechonias Wilson (13 Dec 1795–8 Oct 1859), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26055499, citing Harris Cemetery, Akron, Hale County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by AJ (contributor 46933295) .
9. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 11; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 89; Digital film/folder number: 004257571; FHL microfilm: 000545517; Image number: 83; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01443-7
   FamilySearch Record: MHKC-3GS (accessed 8 May 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DZ2C-M
   Mary E Wilson (64) head of household in Election Precinct 3 Harrison, Hale, Alabama, United States. Born in South Carolina.
10. ↑ 1870 Non-population schedule: "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1276/images/32786_1220706416_0010-00418?usePUB=true&_phsrc=uEC446&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=6298156); accessed 25 Oct 2021, citing: Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Beat 1, Hale, Alabama; Archive Collection Number: M279; Roll: 27; Page: 3; Line: 1; Schedule Type: Agriculture; entry for Mary E. Wilson, row #31
11. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
    citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00008; Digital film/folder number: 005157233; FHL microfilm: 1254015; Image number: 35; Sheet number: 276; Sheet letter: C
    FamilySearch Record: M4JV-YRJ (accessed 8 May 2024)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB7-HW5
    Mary E Wilson (60), widowed, Keeping House, head of household in Election Precinct 3 Harrison, Hale, Alabama, United States. Born in South Carolina, United States.
12. ↑ 1880 Non-population Schedule: "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1276/images/32786_1220706416_0029-01152?usePUB=true&_phsrc=uEC446&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=6185380); accessed 25 Oct 2021, citing: Census Year: 1880; Census Place: District 56, Hale, Alabama; Archive Collection Number: M279; Roll: 27; Page: 9; Line: 2; Schedule Type: Agriculture; entry for Mary E. Wilson
13. ↑ Death: Find a Grave (no image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #125765549 (accessed 8 May 2024)
    Memorial page for Mary E. "Polly" Speed (25 Dec 1805-19 Jun 1891).
14. ↑ "Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61266/images/41904_539686-00653?pId=90216113); accessed 22 Jan 2022, citing Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M84.0398; genealogical record for Artemas Killian Callahan, including mention of his great grandparents marriage
15. ↑ 1866 Census: "Alabama, U.S., State Census, 1820-1866", database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1576/images/31075_174431-00504); accessed 25 Oct 2021, citing: Alabama State Census, 1820, 1850, 1855 and 1866. Montgomery, Alabama: Alabama Department of Archives & History. Rolls M2004.0008-M2004.0012, M2004.0036-M2004.0050, and M2008.0124; County: Greene; entry for Mary E. Wilson

See also

• FamilySearch profile for Mary E. Speed