Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of James Wilson

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Descendants of James Wilson

Generation No. 1

1. JAMES¹ WILSON was born Abt. 1760 in Ireland, and died Aft. 1857 in Ireland.

Notes for JAMES WILSON:
A good portion of the information on the first four generations of Wilson is taken from the original letters written by various members of the family, relatives and friends between 1850 and 1920 and some brief notes in a few remaining pages of a dairy written by Isabella Wilson Huston in the 1870's. The original letters to the family in Ireland were apparently brought back to the United States by Isabella Wilson Huston and her daughter, Ellen Jane Huston Dunlap, who visited Garvagh, County Londonderry, Ireland in 1876. These letters found their way into the possession of her son, James Wilson Houston, then to James Garfield Houston, then to James Moore Houston, then to Janet Houston Rhein and are now in the possession of John Duff Houston II. This information was supplemented and further documented, principally through examination of records of the First and Second Garvagh Presbyterian Churches in County Londonderry, Ireland, and other sources as noted for the individual family members.

The first known member of the family is James Wilson, born between 1770 and 1780, who is believed to have resided in the Townland of Ballyagan, Parish of Desertoghill, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Province of Ulster. The Townland of Ballyagan (523acres) is located about one mile northwest of the Townland of Garvagh (786 acres), Parish of Errigal, Barony of Coleraine.

The 1796 Flax Growers Bounty List contains the name of a John Wilson in the Civil Parish of Desertoghill, County Derry. Assuming that the traditional naming pattern of the Scotch-Irish was followed, that is the first son was named after his paternal grandfather, then it is possible that this John is the father of James and the grandfather of John Wilson married to Mary Woodburn. On the other hand the names John and James were very common names in the Presbyterian community, in the North of Ireland, at that time.

When the family first came to Ireland from Scotland is not known. There were three Muster Rolls for the Province of Ulster in the year 1630 (a) County of Donnagall (Donegal) which contained the name of nine Wilsons (b) The Mercers Company which contained the name of one Wilson, and (c) The British on the Ironmonger's Estate which contained the name of one Wilson. It may be that one of the two Wilsons in (b) and (c) above is the ancestor of James Wilson. (Note to File - Janet Houston Rhein)

Due to the close relationship among the Houston (Huestan, Hueston and Huston), Wilson, Young, Boice (Boyce), Dunlap, Gilmore and Woodburn families, the following summary is inserted in the Notes Section of the first individual listed in each of these family lines.

HUSTON/WILSON/YOUNG/BOICE

John Huston and Isabella Wilson and their three children arrived Port of New York May 14, 1850, on the William Rathbone, from Liverpool. Accompanying them on that voyage were Isabella's sister (a) Martha and her husband Hugh Young, and (b) Mary J. Young, a sister of Hugh Young, and her husband, Hugh Boice, and their five children. They all settled in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

On October 19, 1854, John Huston, Hugh Boice and Hugh Young each purchased a 1/3 interest in Lots 28 and 30, Range 4, Section D in Mount Union Cemetery (later Union Dale Cemetery), Pittsburgh, from the Trustees of The First Associate Reformed Church. On October 29, 1874, Hugh Boice sold his 2/3 interest, having purchased earlier the 1/3 interest of Hugh Young, to James Wilson Houston. There are 10 individuals listed as buried in these lots and all have been associated specifically with the existing families, except Nannie Boyce, buried on August 12, 1870.

William Wilson, brother of Isabella, Martha, Mary and Nancy (see Wilson/Dunlap following), married Nancy Young, sister of Hugh. William and Nancy remained in Ireland and are buried at Desertoghill Parish Burying Ground, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry.

WILSON/DUNLAP (DUNLOP)

Nancy Wilson, a sister of Isabellaand Martha, married Hugh Dunlap in Ireland about 1843. In a letter dated December 3, 1867, Pittsburgh, to her brother James Wilson Houston, in Plumer, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Hannah Isabella Huston, age 14, states that they (presumably her mother, Isabella, and her sister, Ellen Jane) went over to visit Uncle Hugh and Aunt Nancy Dunlap. She says... "Aunt Nancy is Mother's sister ... and the oldest child is James Dunlap and he is about 23 years of age". Hugh and Nancy apparently came to the United States after 1852 and sometime prior to 1859 as Hannah Huston, sister of John Huston who remained in Ireland, sent in the late 1850's two thimbles to the Pittsburgh area, one for her niece Ellen Jane Huston and one for Elizabeth Dunlap, who is believed to be a daughter of Hugh and Nancy. I have been unable to locate a High Dunlap (Dunlop) Allegheny County on any census for Pennsylvania for the years 1860 or 1870. It may be that Hugh Dunlap never applied for citizenship. Further, I have been unable to locate Hugh, Nancy and James Wilson Dunlap on any ship's records detailing their arrival in the United States.

As seen from the inscriptions from the gravesite marker at First Garvagh Presbyterian Church, below, Hugh Dunlap died in Ireland on March 1, 1905, age 88 years and his wife Nancy died October 18, 1867, age 47 years. Assuming that Nancy died in Pittsburgh on October 18, 1867, it would appear that Hannah Isabella, although 14 years of age would have been aware of this. I am unable to account for the difference in dates in Hannah Isabella's letter and the date of death on the gravesite marker.

A plausible scenario is that Nancy died in Pittsburgh. Hugh remained in Pittsburgh until 1876 when he accompanied his son James Wilson Dunlap, Isabella Wilson Houston and her daughter, Ellen Jane, who was married or about to be married to James Wilson Dunlap, on the ship Indiana on their trip to Ireland and Garvagh. Further, that the remains of Nancy Wilson Dunlap were taken back to Ireland at that time, hence the inscription on the gravesite marker below. Further work will need to be done to resolve this.

Inscriptions from the gravesite marker of Hugh Dunlop-Garvagh at the First Presbyterian Church Graveyard, Garvagh, County Londonderry, Ireland as transcribed by Charles and Lavonne Bradfield and as listed at Bann Valley genealogy follow.

His father Andrew died on October 4, 1850 aged 72 years
His mother Jane on May 24, 1856 aged 67 years
His son James Wilson on June 17, 1844 aged 8 months
His wife Nancy died on October 18, 1867 aged 47 years
His son James Wilson Dunlop died November 18, 1876 aged 29 years
And the above Hugh Dunlop died March 1, 1905 aged 88 years
Also Ina Dunlop died 1912 aged 42 years
Also John Dunlop died July 7, 1937
Also Jemima Dunlop July 12, 1944

WILSON/GILMORE

Jane Wilson, sister of Isabella, Martha and Mary married John Gilmore on August 20, 1845 at the Second Garvagh Presbyterian Church. They had four children. Daughter Mary Jane Gilmore married Thomas Cunningham and they immigrated to Australia. Sons James Wilson Gilmore and John Gilmore immigrated to Pittsburgh. James remained a bachelor and John married Annie (nee?) and had a daughter Laura. Jane's husband John died on July 6, 1856 as is buried at Desertoghill Churchyard, Parish of Desertoghill.

Jane married a second time to Hugh Gilmour (relationship, if any to John is not known) on October 3, 1859 at 3rd Coleraine Presbyterian Church. Jane and Hugh remained in Ireland and had two children.

HUSTON/WILSON/WOODBURN

John Huston's father was William Huston, born about 1790 in Tamnymore, Parish of Errigil, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry. He died about 1857. He married a Hannah Woodburn who died after 1857. William and Hannah were married on August 4, 1809 in the First Presbyterian Church in Garvagh. Both William and Hannah remained in Ireland and John Huston's letters refer to the death of his father and mother.

Isabella's father, John Wilson married Mary Woodburn on March 12, 1810 in the First Presbyterian Church in Garvagh. They also remained in Ireland and are buried at the Desertoghill Parish Burying Ground, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry.

Also listed on the ship manifest of the William Rathbone, arriving Port of New York on Mary 14, 1850, is an Isabella Woodburn, servant, age 17. There were no other Woodburn's listed on the ship manifest. She is believed to be the daughter of John Woodburn, born May 2, 1788, married to Mary Witherow, who came to America.

HUTCHESAN

In a letter, dated August 29, 1852, John Huston addresses a Mrs. Hutchesan as "Dear Cousin". He writes, "We received' your kind and welcome letter we are sorry for the delicate state of your health but glad that you are improving. Mrs. Woodburn left the letter for us and is some three miles out of the city in the Family her son James lives with". The 1850 United States Census for Pennsylvania lists a James Woodburn, age 22, occupation laborer, residing in Baldwin Township, Allegheny County, with the Chambers family. It may be that Mrs. Woodburn came to the United States after the 1850 Census and was also residing with that family.

In his letter, John Huston inquires as to Mrs. Hutchesan's brother Matthew and sister Nancy. There is a William Hutchinson married to a Nancy from Edinban, who had a son William, born March 9, 1842, baptized June 13, 1842 in the First Garvagh Presbyterian Church. It is listed here for future reference.

B. AND E. WILSON, SISTERS OF ISABELLA, MARTHA, MARY AND NANCY

In an addendum to the letter dated, August 29, 1852, John Huston says "The former part of this letter was written some weeks since & we deferred sinding it waiting for a letter from Ireland to know if our sisters was coming Hugh Boyce has rec'd a letter from Br W Wilson Ballyagan date August 21st & he states that your sister Margaret & our sisters B & E Wilson & one of H Dunlap's sisters was to come by Partrush to Liverpool the next day and that H.D. or him intended coming to Liverpool with them so that if spared they will be with you in a few weeks, we think it would be as well for them to come by railway from Phila to Pittsburgh...

There is a high degree of probability that Mrs. Hutchesan's sister is Margaret Young and is the Maggie Young who died in December 1872 and is buried in Lots 28 and 30, Range 4, Section D, Union Dale Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Sister E. is Elizabeth Wilson who is residing with Hugh and Martha Wilson Young in Pittsburgh in 1870. The given name of Sister B. is not known. She may have married a Smyth who later immigrated to the United States.

The given name of the Dunlop sister is not known. (Note to File - Janet Houston Rhein)

More About JAMES WILSON:
Education: John Huston in a letter to his mother dated March 28, 1857 refers to "old grandfather James Wilson" as being alive.

Children of JAMES WILSON are:

2.	i.	JAMES² WILSON.
3.	ii.	JOHN WILSON, b. 1778, Ireland; d. 06 Aug 1851, Townland of Ballyagan, Civil Parish of Desertoghill, Barony of Coleraine, County Londonderry, Province of Ulster, Ireland.
4.	iii.	WILLIAM WILSON, b. Abt. 1790.

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