Uriah Wilson Sr. (bef. 1765 - abt. 1824)

Born before 1765 in New Jersey

Husband of Deborah (Unknown) Wilson — married 1775 in Yohogania County, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1824 after about age 59 in Nicholas, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

A Puzzle: The Three Uriah Wilsons

Researchers please be aware there was more than one Uriah Wilson living in the same time frame and in the same areas. Thus far, DNA has proven Uriah Wilson Sr and Uriah Wilson are NOT RELATED even though they lived within a few miles of each other in both Pennsylvania and Kentucky. IN PARTICULAR there are:

1 Uriah Wilson, b Apr 1766,Virginia, died 1852 Owen County, Kentucky, married Mary Newkirk

2 Uriah Wilson, b bef 1765, New Jersey, died abt 1824 Nicholas County, Kentucky. married Deborah (maiden name unknown but probably Cassity/Cassidy)

3 Uriah Wilson, b a 1765, New York, died 1833 Columbiana County, Ohio, married Deborah Howell

Early History

Uriah Wilson Sr came to Pennsylvania from New Jersey. In 1774 he settled on Cross Creek in what was then Yohogania Co VA but would become Washington Co PA. ^[1][2]Families from New Jersey began settling in the area that is today south of Pittsburgh at the tip of the county in an area that was called the "Jersey Settlement." James Wilson came in 1768 and Zacheus Wilson came in 1769 from Monmouth Co., NJ. Additional families came from Morris Co NJ in 1778 and settled Amwell Twp., Washington Co PA.

Land Records

At this juncture we should mention there is a definite connection shown through the land records between Abner Wilson, David Decker and Uriah Wilson. However, we are not sure which Uriah Wilson. Uriah Wilson, b bef 1765, New Jersey, Uriah Wilson, b Apr 1766, Virginia OR whether the records are combining the two men. It is hoped DNA from the descendants of Abner Wilson and David Decker will eventually shed light on the matter. The records show that Uriah Wilson Sr had settled in what was then Yohogania County, Virginia but later became Washington County, Pennsylvania prior to 1774.^[3] Because of Uriah's early settlement on the frontier he was eligible to receive a Certificate of Settlement (also known as a Virginia Certificate) entitling him to 400 acres of land plus a pre-emption warrant for 1000 acres to be selected at a later date. Uriah kept the 400 acres, which was on Raccoon Creek, and sold the 1000 acre pre-emption to a land speculator. ^[4]Uriah signed over his Virginia Certificate in 1784 ^[5]to Abner Wilson and David Decker who jointly applied for and received a warrant (#154) from the state of Pennsylvania on January 24, 1787 based on a survey made January 18, 1787 for 350 acres on Raccoon Creek.^[6] A land patent was issued from Pennsylvania on 1 Jan 1787. This tract was called "Richfield". ^[7] After receiving the land patent Abner Wilson (wife Lydia) sold their property leaving Pennsylvania. ^[8][9]Abner came to Fayette County, Kentucky by 1790 and owned 181 acres on David’s Fork near Lexington by 1791. Both Uriah Wilson's also came to Kentucky and were on the Fayette County tax list in 1789. One later moved to Bourbon County (the area that later became Montgomery County) where he signed over a land warrant to two men believed to be sons of Abner Wilson.^[10]

Military Service

Private Uriah Wilson Sr. served with Washington County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Uriah Wilson Sr. is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A127862.

Revolutionary War Washington County, Pennsylvania. Uriah Willson. These men were Frontier Rangers who were employed against the Indians of the Seneca Tribe and the western tribes of the Ohio country. They defended their homes against severe Indian attacks along the western frontier in 1781, 1782 and 1783. The fighting was so severe that Pa exonerated the inhabitants along the frontier from paying taxes because most had been driven from their homes and no crops were grown. Among those exonerated from paying taxes 1781 residing in Smith Township were: Uriah Willson, David Wilson, Abner Wilson, John Wilson, William Wilson and William Willson. ^[11]As the Indian War continued the dire situation of the settlers was recognized by taxes being exonerated in 1782 and again in 1783.^[12][13] NOTE: Of the two Uriah Wilson's living in Washington County, Pennsylvania at this time we know the man who served in the militia was Uriah Wilson Sr. because the other Uriah Wilson was about 16 then and he applied for a pension in the Indian Wars 1789-1791 from Kentucky. If the younger Uriah had service in the Revolutionary War he would have mentioned it and applied for a pension from that war. The DAR recognizes Uriah Wilson's services, Ancestor # A127862^[14]

Tax Lists

Tax lists show the approximate date the Wilsons left Pennsylvania and arrived in Kentucky. According to tax lists Uriah Wilson (SR) was living along Hinkston Creek as early as 1795, in what was then Bourbon County, but became Nicholas County, Kentucky in 1800. Bourbon County tax lists show he had 104 acres of land on Somerset Creek 1802. A county boundary change between Bourbon and Nicholas Counties in 1816 placed Uriah's farm in Nicholas County. This land had originally been acquired from John Fleming who made a 99 acre survey (#VA7648) in 1785 but no deed from Fleming to Wilson has been found.^[15]

Death

The property division map made at the time of Uriah's death matches the 99 acre Fleming survey.^[16] In fact that is probably why a map was made at Uriah's death because no deed was on record for the property.

Uriah Wilson Sr. died about 1824 in Nicholas County, Kentucky but did not leave a will. Deborah Wilson, Uriah's widow, is listed on the Nicholas Co. KY tax list with 103 acres on Hinkston Creek in 1825. In 1826, Jesse Wilson, their son, is listed with this acreage and the notation "for the heirs of Uriah Wilson, Sr." ^[17]

Sources

1. ↑ The National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol 45, p 135
2. ↑ Perrin, William Henry, editor. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison, and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky. 1882.
3. ↑ The National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol 45, p 135
4. ↑ Land Warrant: Certificate of Settlement and Preemption, 18 Feb 1780, Yohogania Co., VA. Preemption Warrant #2148 Wilson, Uriah Yohogania County. Certificate Issued at Coxe's Fort: 18 Feb 1780.
5. ↑ Orders of the Board of Property for PA dated 15 Sep 1784 and 7 Mar 1785 accept the warrant of Uriah Wilson for 400 acres.
6. ↑ Land Survey: recorded in plat book, 4 Jul 1785, Washington Co., PA. Survey for "Richfield"-350 acres in Washington Co PA- 4 July 1785 survey by Presley Neville and Matthew Ritchie is recorded in Survey Book D-12, p 107.
7. ↑ Land Patent: recorded, 23 Feb 1787, Washington Co., PA. Patent for 350 acres in Washington Co., PA called "Richfield" adjoining the land of Thomas Merchant, James Wells, Robert Lisle, -- Wallace, Robert Stephenson was issued by the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Abner Wilson and David Decker 23 Feb 1787. (Patent Book P10-56)
8. ↑ Sale of 79 ¼ acres, "part of Richfield" on Raccoon Creek by Abner Wilson and David Decker to James Brown. Dated 23 Nov 1787. Recorded 3 Dec 1789. (Washington Co PA Deed Book 1D, p 415) Brown must have sold to Lyle.
9. ↑ Sale of 80 ½ acres by Abner Wilson, Lydia Wilson, David Decker and Susannah Decker all of Smith's Twp, Washington Co PA to John Brown. Dated 23 Nov 1787. (Washington Co PA Deed Book 1D, p 198)
10. ↑ Deed: sale of land assigned by Uriah Wilson to David and William Wilson, 22 Dec 1817 Montgomery Co KY Deed Book 8 p 466 22 Dec 1817 David Willson and William Willson of Fayette Co to Michael Everman of Montgomery Co., KY $89, land in Montgomery Co on Grassy (sic Grassy Lick) Creek.
11. ↑ 1781 Smith Twp. Exonerated Tax List, p 96.
12. ↑ 1783 Smith Twp Exonerated Tax List, P 309,310. Abner Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Uriah Wilson.
13. ↑ Private in the 4th Battalion, 6th Company, 6th Class of the Washington Co., PA Militia, Capt. Henry Graham's Company Sept 29, 1781, Washington, Pennsylvania.PA Archives 6th Series Vol II, 1906, Muster Rolls Relating to the Associators and Militia of the County of Washington (PA) Page 134. Also listed on this same page are Jeremia Willson, Elias Newkirk and Jacob Johnston.
14. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed June 30, 2016), "Record of Uriah Wilson", Ancestor # A127862.
15. ↑ Records of the Office of the Kentucky Secretary of State, Frankfort, Kentucky, Virginia and Old Kentucky Patent Series
16. ↑ Nicholas County, Kentucky Will Book B, p338, 339 dated 6 Dec 1826 records a Division of the Property of Uriah Wilson, Sr.--108 1/2 acres among his heirs: Jesse Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Uriah Wilson, Jr., Sarah Prather, and Hannah Kern.
17. ↑ Nicholas Co., KY Will Book B, p 338,339 Division of the Land of Uriah Wilson, Sr Decd