John Wilson (abt. 1811 - abt. 1883)

Born about Oct 1811 in Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Husband of Jane (Blue) Wilson — married 28 Nov 1841 in Whiteside, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died about 9 Mar 1883 at about age 71 in Clyde Township, Whiteside, Illinois, United States

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Ancestor of Ronald Reagan 40th US President

Biography

John Wilson was born in Scotland.

John was born in Scotland around 1811. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} He emigrated from Scotland in 1832 and to Illinois in 1839. There, he married Jane Blue on 23 Nov 1841. ^[5] John died at his home in Clyde Townshipe, Illinois on 9 Mar 1883.^[6][7]

Research Notes

Primary sources;

• 1850 Census for John Wilson ^[1]
• 1860 Census for John Wilson ^[2]
• 1870 Census for John Wilson ^[3]
• 1880 Census for John Wilson ^[4]
• Marriage ^[5]
• Headstone ^[6]

Primary sources not definitively linked to this John Wilson:

• Manifest for a John Wilson ^[8]
• Birth record for a John Wilson ^[9]

Secondary sources

• Famous Kin ^[10]
• William Reitwiesner ^[11]
• The Peerage ^[12]
• Find A Grave (Ancestry) ^[13]
• Family Central Database ^[14]
• GENI:^[15]
• The Family of Ronald W. Reagan ^[16]
• Unidentified obituary ^[7]

Lineage: John was the great grandfather of Ronald Reagan ^[17] through his son Thomas who is shown living with his parents in the census records for 1850 ^[18] and 1860. ^[19]

Birth and death are a subject of discussion based on the following:

• Birth Date (range 1810 to 4 Jun 1812)

- 1810 ^{[1] [2]}

- 1811 ^[13]

- 1811/2 (age 58 on 29 Jul 1870) ^[3]

- 1811/2 (age 68 on 4 Jun 1880) ^[4]

- Jul 1811 ^[6]

- 09 Feb 1812. ^{[10] [11] [12] [7] [14]}

• Birth Location

- Scotland ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [20]}

- Renfrewshire, Scotland^[7]

- Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland^{[10] [14]}

• Death Date

- 09 Mar 1883.^{[6] [10] [11] [7]}

- 09 Mar 1889 ^{[12] [13]}

• Conclusion: Death was on 9 Feb 1883 and the birth appears to be Jul 1811 or 9 Mar 1812. The midpoint is 'about' Oct 1811. For the birth location, it is probable that the county is correct but we cannot be certain. Less certain is the town of Paisley so the county is currently selected but set to 'uncertain.' [N.B. although the 9 Feb 1812 birth date has the most 'votes' they are all secondary sources and one cannot apply 'democracy' to vote on facts.]

Notes on John Wilson by Curt Gronner: ^[16]

• Migrated to Nova Scotia in 1832
• Probably met his wife in Canada.
• Took part in the "Patriot War"
• Migrated to Clyde township in 1839
• Married 23 Nov 1841 in Whiteside County, IL per marriage record #54
• Whiteside County, IL death record #930
• Land grants:

- 24 Jun 1845: FD NWSW S9 22N 5E, 40 acres, $1.25, $50 v714 p131

- 19 Jul 1848: NWSW S17, 22N, 5E, 40 acres, S $50, 014623

- 30 Dec 1853: 40 acres, $50, 091044

- 30 Dec 1853: FD NWNE S23 22N 4E, 40 acres, $50, 091045

• Per Elizabeth Carroll: Donald Blue, Richard Beswick, John WIlson, and WIlliam Wilson migrated to Canada together.
• Per Ronald V. Jackson in 'Reagan/Davis Ancestry': parents are Andrew Wilson and Ameila [sic] Glassgow but his credibility suffers in providing a death date of 06 Feb 1879 counter to county and Federal records.

The general story is that John went to Canada before entering the United States but there is a manifest for a John Wilson arriving in New York from Scotland in 1832. ^[8]

The parents are yet to be firmly established. Some point to re Andrew Wilson and Amelia Glassgow and there is a baptismal record reported by scotlandpeople.com:

WILSON JOHN ANDREW WILSON/AMELIA GLASGOW FR312 (FR312) M

06/08/1812 573/1 10 503 Paisley High Church

This would not conflict with the headstone date of Jul 1811 as a baptism could occur weeks, months, or even years after birth. There is also an 1810 birth of a John Wilson to James Wilson and Elisabeth Love^[9] that might be worth investigating even if it does not line up with the 1811/1812 dates. It does match the 1850 ^[1] and 1860 ^[4] census dates.

Another potential set of parents are Claudio Wilson and Margaret Downie. In the census for Whiteside Illinois 1850, their son William and parents, Claudio and Margaret live 3 houses from this John and Thomas, their other son is across the street, down a couple lots.

There are many census records for John Wilson in Renfrewshire, Scotland of the proper age but these all follow his emigration in 1832, so should be ignored. They are included for reference when looking at possible birth records .^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85W-P9Q : 12 Apr 2016), John Wilson, @40, b: Scotland; occ: farmer; res: District#37, Clyde Twp, Whiteside, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; citing family#484, NARA#M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHN-P2Z : 13 Dec 2017), John Wilson, @40, b: Scotland; occ: farmer; res: 1860 Clyde Twp, Whiteside, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6WT-4YL : 12 Apr 2016), John Willson, b: Scotland; occ: farmer; res: Clyde Twp, Whiteside, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; citing p11, family#73, NARA#M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL#545,789.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXKB-J3V : 14 Aug 2017), John Wilson, res: Clyde Twp, Whiteside, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; occ: retired farmer; with wife Jane @56 & son Charles @14; citing ed#192, sheet#85A, NARA#T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll#0258; FHL#1,254,258.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1}

   Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920

   Name	John Willson
   Gender	Male	Marriage Date	23 Nov 1841
   Marriage Place	Whiteside, Illinois, USA	Spouse Name	Jane Blue

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Headstone at gravesite: John Wilson, died Mar 8, 1883. Aged 71 Yr. 8 Mo.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Obituary from Illinois paper soon after 9 Mar 1883 shows death 9 Mar 1883 at his home in Clyde. Indicates age 70 years and 1 month and states further that he was born on 9 Feb 1812 in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Lists marriage date as 28 Nov 1941 to Jane Blue. Dates immigration from Scotland to Canada as 1832. Dates immigration to Dents Grove to Sep 1839.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1}

   New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957

   Name	John Wilson	Arrival Date	24 Apr 1832
   Birth Date	abt 1812	Age	20
   Port of Departure	Greenock, Scotland	Port of Arrival	New York, New York
   Ship Name	Eldon	Search Ship Database	Eldon

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQWL-F4W : 10 Feb 2018), John Wilson, b: 09 Nov 1810 Abbey Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL#1,041,088, 102,049.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3} Famous Kin with sources
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} The Ancestors of Ronald Reagan by William Addams Reitwiesner
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} The Peerage: John Wilson
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #24505102
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} Family Central: John Wilson
15. ↑ GENI: John WIlson
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Gronner, Curt J, Family of Ronald W. Reagan, The, (Clearfield Co. Inc. & Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc, 2004) page 55
17. ↑ Relationship of John Wilson and Ronald Reagan
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85W-P94 : 12 Apr 2016), Thomas Wilson in household of John Wilson, res: Clyde Twp, Whiteside, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA; citing family#484, NARA#M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHN-P26 : 13 Dec 2017), Thos Wilson in entry for John Wilson, 1860.
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXKB-KXR : 14 Aug 2017), Thomas Wilson, 1880; citing ed#192, sheet#77A, NARA#T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll#0258; FHL#1,254,258.
21. ↑ Men named John Wilson from Paisley who are not THIS John Wilson

    John Wilson in the 1841 Scotland Census

    Name	John Wilson	Age	30
    Estimated birth year	abt 1811	Gender	Male
    Where born	Renfrewshire, Scotland	Civil Parish	Paisley Low
    County	Renfrewshire	Address	Maxwelton
    Occupation	Cotton H L W	Parish Number	559
    Household Members:		Name	Age
    		John Wilson	30
    		Margt Wilson	30
    		William Wilson	14
    		Mary Wilson	12
    		James Wilson	5
    		John Wilson	4

    John Wilson in the 1851 Scotland Census

    Name	John Wilson	Age	40
    Estimated birth year	abt 1811	Relationship	Lodger
    Gender	Male	Where born	Paisley, renfrew
    Parish Number	644/1	Civil Parish	Glasgow St George
    County	Lanarkshire	Address	19 Possil Road
    Occupation	Engine Fitter	ED	25
    Page	4	Household schedule number	15
    Line	19	Roll	CSSCT1851_154

    John Wilson in the 1881 Scotland Census

    Name	John Wilson	Age	68
    Estimated birth year	abt 1813	Relationship	Head
    Gender	Male	Where born	Paisley, Renfrewshire
    Registration Number	573	Registration district	Paisley
    Civil Parish	Paisley Low Church	County	Renfrewshire
    Address	5	Occupation	Cotton Weaver
    ED	60	Household schedule number	85
    Line	5	Roll	cssct1881_174
    Household Members:		Name	Age
    		John Wilson	68
    		Isabella Richardson	46

See also:

• "Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois" p487 published in 1885 by Chapman Brothers of Chicago, IL & available online at HeritageQuest

• "History of Whiteside County, Illinois" p145 by Bent & Wilson

• Roberts, Gary Boyd, comp., Ancestors of American Presidents, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society (2009), pp. 120, 175.

• Wikidata: Item Q75763089