Major Samuel Willson was born in either Rockbridge County or Augusta County, Virginia, on 2 May 1786 and died on 25 or 28 Jun 1866, aged 80 yrs. According to his daughter Miss Sallie ("S.F."), he was the son of John Willson and Rachel Downey Willson (His marker says he died on 28, so is listed above).

Samuel Willson married Phebe Tate on 26 Oct 1809 in Augusta Co., VA. Per the First Marriage Record of Augusta County, Virginia, 1785-1813, by Col. Thomas Hughart Chapter, D A R, Augusta Co., VA, p 52.

On the 1850 Dist. 53, Rockbridge Co., VA census, I found farmer Samuel WIllson, 64, with $11,425 in real estate; other Willsons: Sally, 22; Estaline, 20 and farmer James, 18, all VA born.

On 6 Mar 1856, widower John Wilson, born in Rockbridge Co., the son of Samuel and Phebe Wilson, married Mary Jane Snyder, age 24, born in Augusta Co., the daughter of Joseph and Rosanna Snider ,in Rockbridge Co., VA at the bride's home. Minister Jacob Winters officiated. Original Rockbridge Co., VA Marriage Statement, Familysearch.

On the 1860 Rockbridge Co., VA census, I found farmer Samuel Wilson, 73; Sarah, 32; James 27 and Sarah Tate, 61, all VA born. They resided next to John Wilson, 49 and his family.

Major S Wilson was born in about 1786 in Rockbridge Co. (VA), to parents Jno and Rachel Wilson. On 25 Jun 1866, he died in Rockbridge Co., VA from heart disease, aged 80. His daughter Mifs S F Wilson was the informant. Original 1866 Rockbridge Co., VA Death Register, in alphabetical order, unlisted page #, line 37 (see photo).

Samuel Willson was born in "Augusta Co., VA." He had a daughter Estaline (married Andrew A McClung) and a son James A Willson, CSA. Samuel was the son of James Willson (abt 1750 - abt 1811), who was the son of Col. John Wilson (member of the House of Burgesses, lived 1701 - 1773) and his wife Martha (died 1775), buried at the Glebe. James Willson McClung's 5 Mar 1938 Works Progress Administration of VA Historical Inventory #352, for the Glebe Burying Ground, includes data on his direct Willson kin. Immigrant Col. John Willson of Ireland and his wife Martha were buried at the Glebe. More data in this source at the Library of Virginia.

James Willson McClung wrote about his family home, he called the old home of Samuel Willson: "1 mile east of Brownsburg on the road leading to Fairfield, built in 1740 by John Skeen. He says this home has been in the possession of Andrew A McClung and his son since 3 Jan 1861. Andrew served for the 4 full years, and for the most of time in the 14th Virginia Infantry, Co. H, and for a while in the Commissary Department. He surrendered his arms at Appomattox in 1865. He had 4 brothers who served in throughout this war, and his wife had 3 brothers in service. Her youngest brother, James Willson, was a Color Bearer and was the last man killed in this war, having been shot from the rear, after the surrender. It appears that he was a little slow in dropping his flag, and was shot down." James Willson McClung's Historical Significance of Rockbridge Co., VA., 1939, page 63-64. More data on his family is given in this great source. (The author has a very interesting history of his own.)

According to John Alpheus Willson's undated bio, he was a grandson of Samuel Willson and Miss Tate and had children: John, Robert, Mary, Rachel, Rebecca, Sallie, Estaline, James and Samuel. Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California, by James Miller Guinn, year unlisted, pp 329-330 (see photo). John was the son of John and Jane E Weir Willson.

His marker says:
OUR FATHER
SAMUEL WILLSON
departed this life
June 28th 1866
In the 80th Year
of his age.

Bio by LSP