Hugh L. Willson (abt. 1768 - 1828)

Born about 1768 in Carrickfergus, Larne, County Antrim, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Titus) Wilson — married 1790 in Nine Partners, Dutchess, New York, USA

Descendants

Died 3 Jan 1828 at about age 60 in Sharon, East Gwillimbury, York, Ontario, Canada

Biography

Hugh Willson served in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): 1st Regiment of York Militia, Canada
Service ended:

Hugh L. Willson was born 1768 in County Down, Ireland, son of John Willson and his fi rst wife (who died shortly after his birth). Between 1768 and 1775 John Willson immigrated to America, and Hugh L. was left in the care of his uncle Hugh Willson until the entire family left for America in 1775. On the death of John Willson (1794/5?), Hugh L. Willson took over the rented family farm near Poughkeepsie NY. He had married in 1790 Mary Titus , eldest daughter of Israel Titus, a Quaker minister and blacksmith, and Waite Giddley, a “Dutch” woman. In 1798 Hugh moved to New York city where he purchased a share in the sloop, Th e Farmer , which ran between New York and the West Indies “where he had been severaltimes before while on the farm, as it was a good market for much of their produce, such as fl our, pork, horses &c.” In the spring of 1800, he sold his share in Th e Farmer, and moved to Upper Canada, fi rst settling about 4 miles from Kingston where he “worked on Mr. Ferris’s farm for two summers and taught school in the neighbourhood in the winters. In the spring of 1803, we moved upon Wolfe Island …” In 1810, the family again moved, this time to East Gwillimbury, “leas[ing] the farm opposite the Temple in Sharon.” In 1815, the family moved again, this time to “the farm on the east side of Yonge Street known as No. 1 opposite Montgomery’s Tavern” (in Toronto), no doubt to be closer to Hugh Willson’s step-mother Catherine, who had remarried to the unrelated Squire John Willson of Th ornhill. Th ey remained there 3 or 4 years before returning to East Gwillimbury where Hugh died 3 Jan. 1828. Mary Titus Willson lived until 3 June 1857. They are both buried in the Sharon Cemetery. [For more details, see Reminiscences of Richard Titus Willson , Newmarket Historical Society

During the War of 1812, Hugh Willson served as a private in the 1st York Militia with some of his sons. From Sept. 25 to Oct. 3, 1813, he was absent with leave from Captain Thomas Selby’s Company. ^[1]

From July 8 to 24, 1814, he deserted from Capt. Reuben Richardson’s Company. ^[2]

Although Hugh was absent on both of these payrolls, he may have served at other times as well because the surviving militia rolls are incomplete.

Sources

1. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 676-677
2. ↑ Collections Canada, War of 1812: Upper Canada Returns, Nominal Rolls and Paylists, Microfilm t-10384, pages 1169-1172

• http://www.sharontemple.ca/pdf/Genealogy%20%28By%20Family%29/family_willson.pdf
• The War of 1812 Militia Rolls and Payrolls can be accessed online