John Wilson (1730 - 1779)

Born 1730 in Norfolk, Virginia

Husband of Margaret (Bruce) Martin — married about 1772 in Norfolk, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1779 at about age 49 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Colonel John Wilson served with Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

John Wilson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A127626.

According to his stepfather William Bradley's 1768 will, John is the son of Willis (potentially Willis Wilson (1683-1760)) and Mary Wilson (later Bradley) (potentially Mary (Chichester) Wilson (abt.1683-)) and the brother of Malachi Wilson and Mary Wilson Boush.^[1] John Wilson (1730–1779) was Norfolk County lieutenant in 1777–1778, a burgess in 1769–1771, and a delegate to the General Assembly in 1776–1778. In December 1775, Colonel John Wilson led the Norfolk militia in the Battle of Great Bridge, combining forces with other Patriot militia from across the Virginia and North Carolina colonies, to defeat the British and shutting off their access to Virginia's agricultural resources.^[2]

In 1760, John Wilson marries Mary Happer.^[3] After Mary's death, he marries second Margaret Bruce in 1772.^[4]

When John dies in Norfolk in 1779, his recorded will includes the following references:^[5]

• Names wife Margaret Wilson; sons William, John, and Holt, and daughters Sarah, Molley, Nancy, and Charlotte H.; and friends William Happer and Henry Wilson executors along with Margaret as executrix.

• Leaves "Susanna Tucker, daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Tucker formerly of Great Bridge one Negro girl Named Sabina (provided she be living or not Marryed to an Enemy to the Independence of America)"

• Leaves plantation to Margaret: "I give to my loving Wife Margaret Wilson the plantation & Land called the North West Landing containing about four hundred acres, during her Widdowhood, or continuous [?] on the Land, to enjoy the same in the fullest manner, only reserving to my good & kind Mother Mary Bradley the same possession Liberty and Freedom that she at the present time holds & Occupies."^[6]

Witnesses are Andrew Mcpherson, Elizabeth Bradley (perhaps his half sister, daughter of his mother's second husband William Bradley), and Sally Bruce.

Daughters of the American Revolution Records

• WILSON, JOHN Ancestor
• #: A127626
• Service: VIRGINIA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, COUNTY LIEUTENANT
• Birth: 1730 NORFOLK CO VIRGINIA
• Death: 12-15-1779 NORFOLK CO VIRGINIA
• Service Description: 1) MEM OF HOUSE OF DELEGATES 2) CTY LT WITH RANK OF COLONEL,NORFOLK CO
• RESIDENCE: 1) County: NORFOLK CO - State: VIRGINIA
• SPOUSE: 1) MARY ANN HOPPER 2) MARGARET BURCE

Research Notes

Excerpts from the 1768 will of William Bradley, stepfather of John Wilson:

"I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary the use of the other third part of my Estate during her natural life, with power to dispose thereof by her last will in writing amongst my said Two Children and my said Wifes two other Children Mary Boush and John Wilson which she had by her first Husband Mr. Willis Wilson but in no case is any part thereof to be given or __pass to her son Malachi Wilson (potentially Malachi Wilson (bef.1745-aft.1785)) But it is my will and desire that if my said wife shall happen to die before my said Son shall attain to the age of twenty three years, in that case the part of my Estate devised to my said Wife."

"I give to my ___ said two Children [i.e., son James Whittall, daughter Elizabeth] and their Heirs equally divided between them, And it is also my Will and desire that if my said son shall die before he shall attain to lawfull age or if my said Daughter depart this life before she...I give all the Estate mentioned in the life time of my said wife then I devise the same (Estate so given to my said Children) to my said wife during her life with power to dispose thereof between her said children Mary Boush and John Wilson and their Heirs by her last will in writing as she shall ___ think proper but in no case in any part thereof to be give or __ pass to the said Malachi Wilson or his Children and I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Mary Bradley executrix and my worthy friends Goodrich Boush and John Wilson Executors of this my last Will and Testament."

Sources

1. ↑ [1]. William Bradley Will. Wills, 1755-1868, 1968; General Index to Wills, 1755-1950; Author: Virginia. County Court (Norfolk County); Probate Place: Norfolk, Virginia. Family Search Film# 007645684, Image 154 of 752.
2. ↑ [2]. "The Battle of Great Bridge" By Elizabeth Hanbury and Jim Hodges.
3. ↑ [3]. Entry for John Wilson and Mary Happer, 29 Dec 1760. Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989 FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66K1-L6M5 : Tue Dec 26 21:43:01 UTC 2023).
4. ↑ [4]. Entry for John Wilson, Gent., and Margaret Bruce. Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984., p. 343.
5. ↑ [5]. John Wilson Will. Wills, 1755-1868, 1968 ; General Index to Wills, 1755-1950; Author: Virginia. County Court (Norfolk County); Probate Place: Norfolk, Virginia. Family Search Film# 007645684, Image 406 of 752.
6. ↑ [6]. Original Wills, Vol 1, 1774-1779, Norfolk County. Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2021.

• https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-01-02-0076
• https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A127626
• [7]. Entry for John Wilson, Gent., and Margaret Bruce. Bentley, Elizabeth Petty, indexer. Virginia Marriage Records: From the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, the William and Mary College Quarterly, and Tyler's Quarterly. Baltimore, MD: Genealogy Publishing Co., Inc., 1984., p. 343.