Saturday, March 31, 2012

Surname Saturday: More on WILSON of Old Rappahannock & Richmond Co VA: JOHN WILSON & SARAH MAULDIN


Continued from previous post....


4) JOHN WILSON I b about 1710 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA (son of HENRY WILSON)  & SARAH MAULDIN, dau of RICHARD MAULDIN aka THOMAS RICHARD MAULDIN & JANE TAYLOR of Caroline Co VA. They were likely married sometime before 1737, in Caroline Co VA.

For the longest time I couldn't figure out how JOHN WILSON from Richmond Co VA could have possibly ended up in Caroline Co VA--or later generations in Orange, Culpeper & Madison Co VA.  Then I took a close look at a map of Virginia.  The peninsula called the "Northern Neck" of Virginia is on the eastern shore of the Rappahanock River, and contains  Richmond, Lancaster, Northumberland & Westmoreland counties.  Spotsylvania, Caroline, Orange, & Culpeper are all along the Rappahanock River, heading northwest.  So basically JOHN WILSON & subsequent descendants  simply went up the river, either by trail or road, or more likely by boat--probably the easiest form of transport in the 1700s, as there weren't many roads.

It's hard to say why JOHN WILSON might have moved to Caroline County; he may have been bound out or apprenticed to someone there, or his father HENRY may have owned land there & wished his son to work that land (there is some indication in Caroline Co records that he was a planter). 

At any rate, it appears that he was there by the time he was age 21.

The  most interesting story I found was in the book, Colonial Caroline by T. E. Campbell, page 74. The incident took place in 1731 or 1732 :

"Mobilization of the militia prevented acts of violence in Caroline, but it did not keep planters from grumbling. Constables seized JOHN WILSON for cursing King George, and when he reached the court, the magistrates made an example of him by ordering the sheriff to lay twenty lashes on his bare back at the public whipping post.  Two justices, THOMAS RUCKER and THOMAS MAULDING, did not agree with this sentence and publicly proclaimed the fact.  For this boldness and certain other remarks against the unpopular law, Governor Gooch removed them as Magistrates."

THOMAS MAULDING is actually RICHARD THOMAS MAULDIN, whose daughter SARAH MAULDIN later married JOHN WILSON.  There is significant documentation that MAULDIN was the magistrate in early colonial Caroline County who was dismissed by Gov Gooch,  and that he was a merchant in business with THOMAS MALLORY.  In records he mostly appears as RICHARD MAULDIN, but sometimes as THOMAS MAULDIN.  Here is a short bio (Colonial Caroline, Campbell, p 393)

RICHARD MAULDIN was the first trader of St Margaret's Parish of record.  He operated a trading post at Chesterfield when Caroline Co was organized.  Gov Gooch made him a magistrate but removed him from the court for criticizing the tobacco laws (and JOHN WILSON's public whipping). After his remval from the court, MAULDIN sold his business at Chesterfield to his partner THOMAS MALLORY, and opened a new establishment further north in St Margaret's.  He remained in business here until about 1750 when he sold out to PETER COPELAND and left the county"

Here is a link to a website on the MAULDIN  family with tons of records on RICHARD MAULDIN (his start about halfway down the page).  Not sure exactly where he ended up after leaving Caroline County, probably Orange County? 

And on that page there is reference to a deed which "seals the deal" so to speak,  and really proves that JOHN WILSON of Richmond Co VA was the same JOHN WILSON who endured the public whipping in Caroline County

24 March 1747 Orange County VA Deed Book 11 Pg 40
Richard Maulding of Caroline County VA to John Wilson of Richmond Co., VA for natural love and fatherly affection .. land  in Parish of St. Marks, north side of Robinson River.
[John Wilson wife Sarah Mauldin - Will 6 Mar 1759 VA]


( on a side note:  my own LANGFORD, LYON & GUINNEY families were living in Caroline County at the time of JOHN WILSON's public whipping.  They may have even witnessed it! My ancestor MICHAEL GUINNEY owned a tavern--I'll bet JOHN's whipping was a hot topic of conversation there!)

JOHN WILSON inherited his father HENRY's Richmond Co VA plantation in 1737 and likely moved there with his wife.  JOHN died in Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA 1760, his will written March 6, 1759 and proved Feb 4, 1760.  Here is a link to his will in book Richmond County Wills by Robert K Headley, p 120

JOHN WILSON & SARAH MAULDIN had the following children:

--JOSEPH WILSON b bef 1742 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA (under 18 at time of father's will; inherited his plantation)
--JOHN WILSON II  b about 1746 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA m 1st)  ANN NEWMAN; 2nd) unknown; died 1781 Rev War battle of Eutaw Springs, SC. He was to be  bound  to JAMES KELLY (likely his father's 1st cousin) when he reached age 14, according to will; also received land in Culpeper VA
--JAMES MAULDIN WILSON b 1740s-1750s Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA; named after his mother's brother; received land in Culpeper VA.
--TARPLEY WILSON b 1740s-1750 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA. Tarpley is a surname from Richmond Co VA; received land in Culpeper VA
--SPICER WILSON b 1740s-1750s Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA; m JANE; died after 1808 Madison Co VA. Received land in Culpeper VA. Spicer is a surname from     Richmond Co VA.
--SUSANNA WILSON b 1740s-1750s Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA
--SARAH WILSON b 1740s-1750s Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA
--ANN / ANNE WILSON b abt Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA m WILLIAM CARR LANE; married ; Robert Headley indicates they moved to Loudon Co VA. 

 Have a great day!

Betty
© Betty Tartas  2012

Surname Saturday: WILSON of Old Rappahannock & Richmond Co VA

I am not descended from this WILSON family, but in researching them for a friend-and-cousin, I discovered a great number of records in Old Rappahannock and Richmond County Virginia (not to be confused with the city of Richmond, which is in Wise Co VA). So I thought I would share them!


1) Looking first at HENRY WILSON or WILLSON  born about 1620 probably England , whose will was proved March 10, 1688 in Farnham Parish, Old Rappahanock Co VA (which part became Richmond Co VA in 1692-- Not the same place as modern day Rappahanock Co, just to make things more confusing).

 HENRY's  will was written March 14, 1686 & probated March 10, 1688, this from book Wills of Rappahanock Co VA 1656-1692 by William Sweeney p 146: 

"Son THOMAS; grandsons WILL & THOMAS JEFFERY, sons of EDWARD JEFFERY & ELIZABETH; four grandchildren WILL, THOMAS, PRUDENCE & ELIZABETH JEFFERY; son-in-law EDWARD JEFFERY, daughter ELIZABETH JEFFERY.  Nephew HENRY WILLSON, son of brother CHARLES WILLSON. Son THOMAS to be executor.  Item:  Give to WILLIAM BRASIER all Chirugeon (surgeon) weights & scales and other instruments belonging to a Chirugeon. Neighbors Capt SAMUEL TRAVERS & Mr GREGORIE GLASCOCKE to be overseers & assist the executor."

The biggest shock  is that HENRY WILLSON / WILSON apparently did not have a son ELIAS WILSON.   I have seen literally hundreds of online trees showing this HENRY WILSON who died March 1688 as father of ELIAS WILSON Sr of Richmond Co VA.  And I can see how one might think that, since ELIAS did have  a son named HENRY.  But unless there is a deed or historical reference proving otherwise, ELIAS WILSON Sr was not the son of HENRY WILSON.  And so far I haven't been able to trace HENRY's son THOMAS WILSON.

2) Fortunately there are more records documenting ELIAS WILSON Sr b abt 1650 & his wife SUSANNA.  

She was not SUSANNA JACOBUS, by the way.  SUSANNA JACOBUS married 1st) ROBERT DAVIS, and 2nd) JOHN DOZIER ("Married Well & Often"  Headley p 103) Anyway, ELIAS' wife SUSANNA, after he died in about 1700married 2nd to Lt Col GEORGE TAYLOR in 1705, Richmond Co VA.

Here is a list of the children of ELIAS WILSON Sr  & SUSANNA unknown, as per his will proved 1699/1700 Sittenburne Parish , Richmond Co VA. (formed from Farnham Parish, old Rappahanock Co VA)

--HENRY WILSON b abt 1681 m 1st) unknown; 2nd) WINIFRED JACOBUS (widow of FRANCIS YEATS, JOHN PYCROFT, & THOMAS WILLIAMS)

--JAMES WILSON b 1680s m 1st) MARY CRASKE; 2nd) MARTHA unknown

--ELIAS WILSON Jr b 1685  m MARY LANE (widow of ALVIN MOUNTJOY); he died 1707 Richmond Co VA as per his will, naming wife MARY, son ELIAS, bros HENRY & JAMES. His wife MARY married 3rd)  to Dr  JOSEPH BELFIELD in 1708

--ELIZABETH WILSON b 1680s m Major EDWARD MOSELEY, son of CAPT WILLIAM MOSELEY & MARTHA BRASSEUR

--MARTHA WILSON b 1680s m EDWARD MORRIS, her son EDWARD MORRIS mentioned in ELIAS Sr's will

--SHEBA/PHEBA WILSON b 1676, died before 1700 m CHARLES SNEAD; her two sons CHARLES & ELIAS SNEAD mentIoned in ELIAS Sr' s will

--***BRIDGETT WILSON b about 1678 died before 1700 (not named in ELIAS Sr's will) married THOMAS NEWMAN Sr ; one son THOMAS NEWMAN. (Married Well & Often, Headley p 262)

--***JOHN WILSON b about 1675 (not named in ELIAS Sr's  will, at least not in the abstracted transcription)  m FRANCES (widow of McMILLION) in 1701, Richmond Co VA.  He died 1709. His will only mentions brothers HENRY & JAMES, wife FRANCES, who was to give two years of schooling to THOMAS NEWMAN (his nephew, apparently), and Major EDWARD MOSELEY.  He was definitely the son of ELIAS WILSON & SUSANNA, as per the very interesting 1676 will of THOMAS BLISSED of Old Rappahanock Cosee below.

Here is a link to the will of ELIAS WILSON Sr who married SUSANNA  from book Wills of Richmond County 1699-1800 by Robert K Headley, available on Ancestry.com


Here is a transcription of the interesting will THOMAS BLISSED of Old Rappahanock Co VA, from book Wills of Rappahanock Co VA 1656-1692 by William Sweeney, p 58-60:

Will of THOMAS BLISSED (BLISFED?) written Feb 7, 1676, proved 1676/1677, Old Rappahanock Co VA: 

 "I bequeath unto JOHN WILLSON, sonne of ELIAS WILSON & SUSANNA his wife, to which child I am God-father, 3000 pounds of tobacco to be conveniently laid out for his edification when he shall attain to the age of eight years old, in learning the word of God.  Secondus, I bequeath to PHEBE WILLSON, daughter of said ELIAS WILSON & his wife SUSANNA, 30 shillings or value in tobacco to buy her a ring when she should arrive at age of seventeen years...(bequests to several more women: ELIZABETH JONES, dau-in-law of GEORGE TAYLOR;  Mrs MARY HARPER & dau ELIZABETH BOWLWARE; SARAH HARPER)...but if any legatees should die before the probate of my will, then...all the remaining part of my estate in what sort or kind so ever to be equally divided between them, only my silver tobacco box  to be given to SUSANNA WILLSON, and my signet ring to Mr JAMES MILLER of York..."


3) HENRY WILSON born about 1681, died 1737,   Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA married 1st) to an unknown wife, probably the mother of his children (not "SUSANNA WINIFRED JACOBUS" as so incorrectly listed on so many online trees), and 2nd) late in life, in about 1734 to WINIFRED JACOBUS, widow YEATS, PYCROFT & WILLIAMS (see Married Well & Often by Headley).  The children of HENRY WILSON and his unknown first wife were:

--JOHN WILSON b abt 1710 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA, m SARAH MAULDIN, d/o RICHARD MAULDIN of Caroline Co VA (much more on them later)

--ELIAS WILSON b 1700-1710 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA, wife unknown

--GEORGE WILSON  b abt 1708 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA m ELIZABETH EIDSON; he was bound out as apprentice to learn the trade of joiner, according to HENRY's will

--THOMAS WILSON b 1700-1710 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA m ANN BRICKEY; Headley indicates THOMAS later moved to Bute Co NC

--SUSAN / SUSANNA WILSON  1700-1710 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA m EDWARD EIDSON, who recd an indentured servant RICHARD MOSS in HENRY's will; SUSANNA died 1778 in Richmond  Co VA.

--MARTHA ELIZABETH WILSON b abt 1710  m ALEXANDER DONIPHAN KELLY; he died Oct 1754 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA; wife may have died previously

--SARAH WILSON  b abt 1710 died before 1736, when husband JOHN DOZIER married 2nd) SUSANNA JACOBUS, widow of ROBERT DAVIS.

Here is a link to the will of HENRY WILSON who died 1737 Lunenberg Parish, Richmond Co VA (Headley, p 76-77) 


Have a great day!

Betty Tartas

© Betty Tartas  2012