Wilson and Allied Families; Billew, Britton, Du Bois, Longshore
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genealogy collection? ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY . 833 01400 5810 -—- — > \ ARCHIBALD WILSON’S HOUSE Old York Road Wilson and Allied Families Billew, Britton, DuBois, Longshore, Polhemus, Stillwell, Suebering Compiled by Alfred Rudulph Justice 1452 N. 53rd Street, Philadelphia Other works by same author Ancestry of Jeremy Clark of R. I. and Dungan Genealogy Descendants of Robert Taylor Gilpin Family (in preparation) Philadelphia, 1929 ABBREVIATIONS. b. born. d. died, m. married, bapt. baptized, pr. proved or probated. NUMBERING. The number preceding the name, refers to this person in the text. The number following the name, refers to his or her parentage. INDEX. An asterisk * indicates a marriage. THE WILSON FAMILY. William Wilson, the pioneer ancestor of this family, emigrated from Stewardstown, County of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1732, when 19 years of age. The Town of Stewardstown is in the parish of Donagheny in the province of Ulster and eighty-two miles northwest of Dublin, long noted for its very superior linen cloth. William Wilson followed the trade of weaver after his arrival in this country, which he no doubt learned in Stewardstown. Two traditions exist as to the parentage of the pioneer William Wilson. Mr. William H. Wilson of 730 Goodrich Avenue, St. Paul, Minn., now 1929, 65 years of age, writes under date of February 21, 1929: “My grandfather (William Hart Wilson) told me when I was about 14 years of age that the William Wilson Bible which he had given to me on Aug. 3, 1864, had been owned by ancestors of his since first bought new in 1650, whose names from father to son had been William Wilson and that he was the sixth in direct descent to own the book.” The following copy of a letter sent the writer by Mrs. W. B. Wilhelm of Cleveland, Ohio, found among the Longshore papers, corroborates this: “Statement of William Hart Wilson of Beaver Meadow. Beaver Meadow, July 27, 1865. “My Grand Father William Wilson was the only child of William Wilson of Stuard Town, Tirone County Ireland, he came to this country in the year 1735, and purchased a Farm of two hundred Acres in Philad. Co. shortly after his Arrival, and resided there till his death, which was about 1775. he brought with him a Pocket Bible presented to him by his Father, whose name was writ¬ ten in it, the Bible is now in my possession, the name has been torn out, but I recollect it distinctly, others now living not connected with the Family recollect it. I think he was a member of the Presbyterian Church when he left Ireland. The Records of the Church will show if he was a member, and also the date of his Christening—his cir¬ cumstances must have been good when he arrived, as he had the means to purchase the Farm and erect good buildings thereon, which are to this day good & substantial. Sig. W. H. Wilson.” (3) 4 GENEALOGY OF WILSON AND ALLIED FAMILIES Beaver Meadow, Aug. 26, 1873. “Dear Mary: I am sorry I cannot give you more information in relation to the Boileau and Wilson Families, but will give you all I can and will see Aunt Longshore and if she can add any will write you again. Isaac Boileau my Grand Father emigrated from France (I cannot say from what part) about the year 1730 setteled on Staten Island, a few years after purchased a large tract of land in Moreland Town¬ ship Montgomery Co., a well improved property, the House known as Chamberlin castle about two years after married Rachel Brittan of Bensalem Phila. Co. They raised four daughters and one son, Nancy & Elizabeth the two oldest married Joseph and John Folwell Brothers, both wealthy men, Sarah married William Wilson, and Rachel, Robt. Barnes. The son Nathaniel B. Boileau, was for many years a leading Politician, had more political influence than any man who ever lived in the state, was once very wealthy, but died poor. Of my three aunts and Mother on the Boileau side, my Mother was the only one married with the consent of her Parents and shee the one who had the least personal property. My Grandfather Wm. Wilson came from Stewart town, Tyrone Co. Ireland in 1735, purchased two hundred acres of land six miles from Philada. built a handsome residence, considered at that time the best house on the York Road, the House is standing yet & is a handsome residence; he married Hannah Hart, he died when about Fifty years old, his Wife survived him many years, they raised five sons and one Daughter. Thomas the oldest died in seventy second year, William in his ninety seven, Archibald in his seventy eight year, James in his ninety ninth & Silas sixty three. Priscilla the Daughter lived till near ninety. I am sorry that I cannot give you more information, give my very best respects to your Mother, tell her I think of her oftener than I do of any other woman, and will try and get to see her when the weather gets cooler. I am in good health but so cripeld, can scarcely get about, I have been lame in both feet since a Boy, and now that old age makes it hard for me to travel, I have no desire to leave Beaver Meadow, but would be much pleased to see my Brother’s Wife and any of his children, and do assure you, that you would one and all be as kindly treated if you would come to see me as I could possibly do. Very truly Your Beautifull old Uncle W. H. Wilson.” in his 81 year WILSON FAMILY 5 This letter was written to his niece, Mary Wilson, No. 65. Before receiving these letters, the writer investigated the tradi¬ tion that the pioneer William was the son of Thomas Wilson, and as it is not without interest, it is given exactly as found without change.* The northern counties of Ireland were occupied by the Scotch Covenanters at the time of the Battle of the Boyne, and among them was William Wilson’s father, Thomas Wilson. The names which seem to have been perpetuated among his posterity are Archibald, William, Thomas and Silas. Mr. Warren S. Ely, historian of Bucks County, states that a tradition exists in the Wilson family of Bucks County identical with the following story taken from the “Tombstones of the Cove¬ nanters,” by James Gibson, page 282 : “Gilbert Wilson of Glenvernock in Castlewartsland being a man to ane excesse conform to the guise of the tyrnes and his wife without challenge for her religion, in good condition as to worldly things with a great stock on a large ground (fitt to be a prey) was harassed for his children who would not conform, they being required to take the test and hear the curates, refused both, were searched for, fled, and lived in the wild mountains, bogs, and caves. Their parents were charged, on their highest peril, that they should neither harbor them, speak to them, supply them, nor see them; and the country people were obliged by the terror of the law to pursue them, as well as the soldiers, with hue and cry.” In February, 1685, Thomas Wilson, 16 years of age, Margaret Wilson, 18 years, and Agnes Wilson, 13 years, children of Gilbert Wilson, the said Thomas keeping the mountains, his two sisters Margaret and Agnes went secretly to Wigtown to see some friends and were there discovered and taken prisoners, thrust into the thieves’ hole as malefactors, and after a time brought up to the tolbooth with several other prisoners particularly one Margaret McLachland, of Kirkinner parish, a woman of 63 years of age. After being imprisoned for some time they were brought up before the sheriff, the Laird of Lagg, Major Winram and Captain Strachan who were holding an assize. They were charged with being guilty of rebellion at Bothwell Bridge, Airsmoss, (twenty field conventicles, and twenty house conventicles) yet it was well known that none of the three women were within 20 miles of either Bothwell or Airsmoss *It is much to be regretted that the fire in Dublin in October, 1922. destroyed the wills, marriage licenses, parish registers and other muniments, making it prac¬ tically useless to make a search. 6 GENEALOGY OF WILSON AND ALLIED FAMILIES and the Wilsons were only children at the time these battles were fought. They were nevertheless found guilty and sentenced “to be tyed to palisadoes fixed in the sand, within the flood mark, at the mouth of the Blednoch stream, and there to stand until the flood overflowed them and drowned them.” Gilbert Wilson got his younger daughter, Agnes, out of prison, upon his bond for £100 to produce her when called upon, but no persuasion could prevail upon Margaret Wilson to take the oath or hear the curates and she remained condemned and in prison. On the nth of May, 1685, Margaret McLachland and Marga¬ ret Wilson were brought forth for execution. The old woman was placed nearest the advancing tide that the sight of her suffering might overcome the scruples of the young martyr, but in vain. Some of her relations being on the spot called out, “She is willing to con¬ form” when Major Winram offered the oath of abjuration, which she again refused, they then returned her into the water where she “finished her warfare, at the age of 18 years.” Their bodies were taken out of the water at low tide and buried in the church yard of Wigtown, where two gravestones were erected during the lifetime of many who were witnesses of the drowning.