Josiah Wilson (1766 - 1851)

Born Oct 1766 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Polly (Allen) Wilson — married [date unknown] in Rutherford, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 1851 at about age 84 in Marshall, Tennessee, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michelle Brooks [send private message]

Research Notes

Josiah Wilson: He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.

Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. ^[1]

There are many variations on the history of Josiah Wilson andmanyconfused him with his nephew Josiah Wilson who was born about 1787.These records claim Josiah married (1) Mary Allen (2) Polly Boone, but documents show it was his nephew who married Mary Boone in 1832.

1840 census Marshall County, TN: Josiah Wilson 70-80, female 70-80

1850 census Marshall County, TN: page 63-55

Josiah Wilson 82 NC

Mary 81 NC blind

alt death 1840-10-20

Biography

The Deposition of Josiah Wilson

State of Tennessee

Marshall County

In the matter of the application of Jane Wilson, of Williamson Co. Tenn, widow of Robert Wilson, decd for the benefit of the Act of 7th June 1838, & other acts for the benefit of widows of Revolutionary Soldiers.

On this 14th day of May 1849 at his own house, before me L.L. Fox, a Justice of the Peace of said County personally appeared Josiah Wilson aged about 81 years, who having been duly sworn declared that he is the same Josiah Wilson who was examined in this case before Esq. May on the21st day of October 1848 and he now makes this additional statement in relation to the Revolutionary services of Robert Wilson Jr.

Robert Wilson Senior, of Steele Creek, Mecklenburgh, North Carolina, in 1775, was the father of Robert Wilson Jr. as well as witness. The elder Robert Wilson had six sons who were subject to military duty and did perform military duty during the war of the Revolution between the years 1775 and 1783, under Genl. Rutherford, Col. Sumpter, Col. Irwin, Genl Lincoln, Genl Greene and other American Generals.

Witness was present at the marriage. The marriage was by publication of banns and took place at the house of William McDowell. Moses Wilson, a brother of witness, & Phebe Reid both of Marshall County, State of Tennessee are the only persons now living known to witness who were present at this marriage, besides himself.

About the year 1785 or 1786 Robert Wilson moved with his family to Lincoln County in the State of Georgia, where he lived until 1795. He then moved to Cumberland Valley in 1795 and was the first man who brought a wagon across the Cumberland Mountains. He first lived in Sumner County near Cumberland River, but in the year 1800 he settled near Harpeth Lick in Williamson County, State of Tennessee, where he continued to live until the year 1819; when he died, leaving his wife Jane Wilson surviving---, who has continued to live a widow; & to reside in said County of Williamson until the present time. Witness came to Tennessee in 1795 or1796, and has always since lived within from three to fourteen miles of the residence of his brother Robert Wilson, and since his death, of his widow Jane Wilson. First while witness lived in Williamson Co. Tennessee but for near a dozen years last, in Marshall County Tennessee distance often or twelve miles.

Witness remembers some of the events of the Revolutionary War especially those connected with his own family and neighborhood. He knows seven of his older brothers were soldiers at different and various times during the Revolutionary War to wit, Joseph, Aaron, John, James, Robert, Samuel & Zaccheus. He also knows that his own father Robert Wilson was a prisoner in the hands of the British in fall of 1780 and that his Uncle Zaccheus Wilson, Sr. was a signer of the Mecklenburgh Declaration of Independence, yet he does not think that he can at this late period in his life recollect all and each campaign in which his brothers may have served in the war.

He knows that Joseph & Robert Wilson were out in the North Carolina Militia under Genl Lincoln before and during the siege of Charleston but he cannot now name even the general officer, who commanded the North Carolina Troops, nor the Colonels or Captains, who commanded the particular Regiment or Company in which Robert Wilson & Joseph Wilson served. Witness remembers the names of Genls Ashe, Rutherford, Sumpter,Davidson & Caswell, who at different times commanded the North Carolina Troops, & he also knows that his brothers served under these men at various times but he cannot now state whether either or which one of these men commanded at Charleston. He remembers distinctly that both Robert & Joseph Wilson were at the siege of Charleston under Genl Lincoln and they were both surrendered prisoners of war at the surrender of Charleston, laid down their arms, and were paroled and returned to their fathers house at Steele Creek about the 1st of June 1780 being about two or three weeks after the surrender.

Witness cannot say how long his brothers were out before the siege of Charleston but he knows they were out before the British Army besieged Charleston, for he remembers distinctly that Joseph Wilson often spoke of his return from the army, of having applied to Col. Washington, before the British Army --- down before the City of Charleston to be admitted into his corps of mounted men or dragoons and that Col. Washington objected on account of his being too large. This took pace before the siege, the dispersion of Col. Washington's Corps, with others by the British, during the siege, near Monks Corner, fixed this circumstance in their minds.

Witness believes that service of his brothers were under the command of Thos. Sumpter, --- but afterwards a Brigadier General, after the fall of Charleston. He remembers that his father Robert Wilson and his brother John Wilson were both taken prisoner near Genl Sumpters camp about five miles from Steele Creek while engaged in hauling provisions or supplies to the Republic troops under Sumpter & that they were dragged to Camden and confined with other of the Whig inhabitants of Mecklenburg in the Camden jail for about five weeks and that his father & brother John with ten others were started to Charleston under an escort of twelve soldiers and that on their way the prisoners were ---their guard - overpowered them, took their guns, locked them all up in a house in which they were quartered and all of them made their way, some to Marion County and some back to Mecklenburg & that his father & brother came back after near three months captivity. James Hart and John Bacste? were of the number of the prisoners who were most active in the rescue. The British guard was put on parole, when overpowered.

He believes that Aaron, James, Robert & Joseph Wilson were with Genl Sumpter in the summer of 1780 but he cannot state whether they were at the battle of Rocky Mount & Hanging Rock although he believes they were with Sumpter at that time in what was called the Wilmington Campaign which --- in 1780, and in ---North Carolina Troops, were --- under the command of Genl Rutherford. Witness can state that Robert Wilson was a private of Militia ---- Mecklenburg. Witness believes that his tour ---was for three or four months.

He cannot now state or specify any other campaigns, marches or tours of duty in which his brother Robert Wilson served but he knows that in nearly every campaign from 1775 (the "Snow Campaign") until 1780 or the end of the war, which occurred in North or South Carolina, either against the British, Tories or Indians, one or more of the brothers of witness were engaged.

None of these seven brothers ever applied for or received as witness believes, any pension whatever, except James Wilson who died in 1845. The others all departed this life either before the passage of a pension law or soon after, and none of them, so far as witness remembers, has now living any widow except Robert Wilson's widow. She was about 17 years old when married & is now over eighty.

Witness would further state that so far as he remembers his brother was a private at the time he was under Lincoln at Charleston, belonging to the North Carolina Militia & likewise a private of North Carolina Militia on all other occasions. He does not think he ever belonged to the Regular or Continental Lines or to the State Line. He was always an infantry soldier. He was quite a young man during the War of Independence but in the Indian War in Georgia in 1790 or 1791, or about that time Robert Wilson was a Captain & served as such in the Indian War under the authority of the State of Georgia. He was also engaged in the Indian struggles in the Cumberland Valley in 1795 & 96 after he came to the State of Tennessee.

This witness is not either directly or indirectly interested in the application of Jane Wilson for a pension for her husbands services in the War of Independence.

Josiah Wilson (seal)

Will

In the of ( ) God Amen. Be remembered that I Josiah Wilson of the State of Tennessee and Marshall County being in a low state of health but perphitly sound in mind do make this my last Will and Testament and as touching the distribution of my property which God in his goodness has blessed me with in this life I make the following distribution:-

1st My Will and desire is that my funeral expenses be paid out of my estate-

2nd I allow all my just debts to be paid-

3rd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Polly for her special benefit during her life and laid off as follows. Beginning at a stake on the westline running east so as to include the improvements opposite to the barn continuing that direction untill it strikes the Woods lot fence with that fence south until it reaches the 2nd cross fence thence east with that fence until it strikes Caney Spring Creek then North with the meanders of the Creek until it strikes a Hickory corner thence west agreeable to the old lines to the beginning-

4th I also give her the household furniture consisting of following articles, three feather beds and furniture one cupboard & furniture the kitchen furniture as it stands & as many of the farming utensils as will be neccessary to carry on the farm my riding mare being a bay mare one mare to be chosen out of the stock by executor for her benefit two milkcows & calfs to be chosen by herself twelve head of sheep of her choice as many hogs as her & my executor may think sufficient for her support -Now on condition my wife should die before myself & she do not need these things named in my will for her benefit & I myself should be deprived of making any further distribution of the same My desire is that the property named shall be sold & equally divided among my legatees-Otherwise if she should need these things named the sale & division shall not take place untill after her death-

5th And further my desire is that all the property not specified above at my decease shall be sold and equally divided among my legatees-

6th Further my desire is at my decease that my Negro man Adam if he should be still alive at that time he shall be sold or hired this matter I leave to the discretion of my Executors-

7th As to my son Samuel I have heretofore paid money for his benefit Now upon examination whatever part of the money I paid for him remains unsettled it shall be taken out of his part of the division Otherwise what ever --- of his part of the money remains --- of one hundred &ninety dollars borrowed from Moses Wilson whatever part of the debt remains unpaid with the interest arising on said debt until the division shall take place shall be taken out of his part of the division-

8th My desire that the proceeds of the sale of the property as above described shall be equally divided among the living heirs of my own body---Samuel accounting for as above named. My sons Samuel, Robert, Aaron C. Wilson, Polly Baccom, Josiah J. Wilson- I do make & constitute this my last Will & Testament & by it do disannull & revoke all other wills by me made heretofore & nominate and appoint Aaron C. Wilson and William Neil my executors. Signed Sealed & acknowledged in presence of Josiah Wilson (seal) October 23rd 1840

G.D. Neil

Marquis D. Wilson, Jurate 1st Dec 1851

Handwriting of G.D. Neil proven by JHL Neil

State of Tennessee

Marshall County Court December Term 1851

Personally appeared in open court Marquis D. Wilson one of the subscribing witnesses to this foregoing will after being sworn here in open court proved said will as the law directs and also J.H. L. Neil appeared in open court & after being sworn do say that he was acquainted with G.D. Neil whose name appears as a subscribing witness to the foregoing will & was acquainted with his hand writing & that the signature of the said G.D. Neil is in his own hand writing & that he has departed this life. It is therefore ordered by the court that said will be entered of record. Witness my hand at office this 1st day of December 1851

John Elliott, clk

by his deputy J.J. Elliott

JOSIAH WILLSON, Will Bk. A-266 Marshall Co. 1851, A.C. Wilson exec. of last W & T.

Sources

1. ↑ Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters. Pension application of Jane Wilson, widow of Robert Wilson W216 Transcribed by Paulette Hayneshttp://revwarapps.org/w216.pdf. Page 9. Last paragraph.

• Source: S1 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; Repository: #R1 NOTEThis information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created.