Hillory Madison Wilder was born 1784 in Johnston County, NC, just near the Wake County line. He was the 2nd of 7 known surviving children (6 boys/1 girl) born to Samuel Wilder and his wife, Frances "Fanny" Ervin/Irvin. His parents were born in Franklin County, NC, but removed to Johnston County ca. 1780.
Hillory Madison Wilder is descended from a long line of Wilder's in America, dating back to this family's patriarch, Edward Wilder (1614-1687), who immigrated from England to the Virginia Colonies ca. 1650. It was his great-grandfather, Samuel Wilder (b. 1685), that first come to North Carolina, settling in Granville County. The Wilder family originated in Reading, England, where the family home still stands. It was called Sulham Manor and was built in 1497. This branch of the famlil is reportedly related to the well-known American Wilder from this same family -- Almonzo Wilder of New York State -- husband of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House on the Prairie" books. This Hillory was named after his father's brother, Hillory Wilder, who in 1791 was declared by the NC courts as "insane and in a state of lunacy".
Hillory was just 19 years old when he married 17-year old Esther Avera on November 14, 1803, daughter of Jacob Avera and Anne Fail of Johnston County.
Following his marriage to Esther, the young couple removed to Wake County where Hillory purchased an 1,800 acre farm he named "Wilder's Grove", where he later established himself as a wealthy and prominent planter and major slaveholder. He was a contemporary to some of Wake County's earliest and most prominent planter class -- the Hinton and Lane families.
The couple would have 8 known children (2 boys/6 girls):
* Nancy Wilder (1805 - aft 1850)
* Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilder (1807-1865)
* Caroline Wilder (ca. 1809-bef 1870)
* Frances Wilder (1808-1863(
* Mary "Polly" Henly Wilder (1811-1866)
* Gaston Henry Wilder, Gen. (1814-1873)
* Esther Ann Wilder (1816-1854)
* Hillory Madison Wilder, II (1825-1849)
A possible 9th child, Samuel Wilder, was noted as brother of Gen. Gaston Henry Wilder (UNC Collection Title: Gaston Hillary Wilder Papers, 1838-1916.), but this researcher found no Samuel Wilder born during the period 1805-1825 as a child of Hillory "Till" Wilder & Esther Avera. It is possible this reference in Gaston Wilder's papers to Samuel Wilder mistakenly names him as a brother, when he may have been Gaston's son, Samuel Wilder (1857-1931), known to have removed to Birmingham, AL.
Hillory Wilder, Sr. represented the County of Johnston in the NC State Legislature (1821-1835) and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1835 convened to amend the Constitution of North Carolina.
In 1837, Hillory built a 10-room, 2-story frame house on "Wilder's Grove", which was situated about 4 miles west of modern-day Raleigh. A large pecan grove was planted in front of the house, and stood there until torn down to make way for a shopping center built in the 1990's.
Col. Wilder died at his home on March 22, 1849 at the age of 65. His wife of 46 years survived him 8 years, passing in 1857 at age 71. They were both buried on the plantation. Upon his death, a contemporary wrote, "Known for frugality, humility, industry and common sense, but above all was strictly an honest man, he made his mark upon the age in which he lived and left the world without a blot upon his character."
After Col. Wilder died, his plantation, "Wilder's Grove", passed to his only surviving son, Maj. Gaston Henry Wilder, who served in the Mexican war of 1847. Gaston lived there with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Hinton, through the Civil War and until his death in 1873. His widow continued to live on the land until 1890, when at age 59 she removed to Alabama to live with her son. It is not known if any family members occupied the house after that. The house itself burned down in the first half of the 20th century, and all that is left of the Wilder estate is the family burial ground, now located on a busy highway near Raleigh.
As for his children, 4 are buried here. Daughters Mary "Polly" and Esther Ann, both married and removed to Greene County, AL, where they are buried.
Of his other children, Eldest daughter, Nancy Olive Wilder married John Whitley of Johnston county, by whom she had Hillory Madison Whitley; and after he died, married (2nd) to Reuben Wilder, by whom she had James Reuben Wilder. She died sometime between 1850-1860 and is believed buried either in Johnston or Franklin County.
Daughter, Caroline Wilder, married wealthy planter Rufus W. Edmundson, son of Wright Edmundson, of Stantonsburg, Wilson County, and was mother to 3 known daughters. She died in Wilson County sometime between 1860-1870.
Hillory Madison Wilder is descended from a long line of Wilder's in America, dating back to this family's patriarch, Edward Wilder (1614-1687), who immigrated from England to the Virginia Colonies ca. 1650. It was his great-grandfather, Samuel Wilder (b. 1685), that first come to North Carolina, settling in Granville County. The Wilder family originated in Reading, England, where the family home still stands. It was called Sulham Manor and was built in 1497. This branch of the famlil is reportedly related to the well-known American Wilder from this same family -- Almonzo Wilder of New York State -- husband of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House on the Prairie" books. This Hillory was named after his father's brother, Hillory Wilder, who in 1791 was declared by the NC courts as "insane and in a state of lunacy".
Hillory was just 19 years old when he married 17-year old Esther Avera on November 14, 1803, daughter of Jacob Avera and Anne Fail of Johnston County.
Following his marriage to Esther, the young couple removed to Wake County where Hillory purchased an 1,800 acre farm he named "Wilder's Grove", where he later established himself as a wealthy and prominent planter and major slaveholder. He was a contemporary to some of Wake County's earliest and most prominent planter class -- the Hinton and Lane families.
The couple would have 8 known children (2 boys/6 girls):
* Nancy Wilder (1805 - aft 1850)
* Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilder (1807-1865)
* Caroline Wilder (ca. 1809-bef 1870)
* Frances Wilder (1808-1863(
* Mary "Polly" Henly Wilder (1811-1866)
* Gaston Henry Wilder, Gen. (1814-1873)
* Esther Ann Wilder (1816-1854)
* Hillory Madison Wilder, II (1825-1849)
A possible 9th child, Samuel Wilder, was noted as brother of Gen. Gaston Henry Wilder (UNC Collection Title: Gaston Hillary Wilder Papers, 1838-1916.), but this researcher found no Samuel Wilder born during the period 1805-1825 as a child of Hillory "Till" Wilder & Esther Avera. It is possible this reference in Gaston Wilder's papers to Samuel Wilder mistakenly names him as a brother, when he may have been Gaston's son, Samuel Wilder (1857-1931), known to have removed to Birmingham, AL.
Hillory Wilder, Sr. represented the County of Johnston in the NC State Legislature (1821-1835) and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1835 convened to amend the Constitution of North Carolina.
In 1837, Hillory built a 10-room, 2-story frame house on "Wilder's Grove", which was situated about 4 miles west of modern-day Raleigh. A large pecan grove was planted in front of the house, and stood there until torn down to make way for a shopping center built in the 1990's.
Col. Wilder died at his home on March 22, 1849 at the age of 65. His wife of 46 years survived him 8 years, passing in 1857 at age 71. They were both buried on the plantation. Upon his death, a contemporary wrote, "Known for frugality, humility, industry and common sense, but above all was strictly an honest man, he made his mark upon the age in which he lived and left the world without a blot upon his character."
After Col. Wilder died, his plantation, "Wilder's Grove", passed to his only surviving son, Maj. Gaston Henry Wilder, who served in the Mexican war of 1847. Gaston lived there with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Hinton, through the Civil War and until his death in 1873. His widow continued to live on the land until 1890, when at age 59 she removed to Alabama to live with her son. It is not known if any family members occupied the house after that. The house itself burned down in the first half of the 20th century, and all that is left of the Wilder estate is the family burial ground, now located on a busy highway near Raleigh.
As for his children, 4 are buried here. Daughters Mary "Polly" and Esther Ann, both married and removed to Greene County, AL, where they are buried.
Of his other children, Eldest daughter, Nancy Olive Wilder married John Whitley of Johnston county, by whom she had Hillory Madison Whitley; and after he died, married (2nd) to Reuben Wilder, by whom she had James Reuben Wilder. She died sometime between 1850-1860 and is believed buried either in Johnston or Franklin County.
Daughter, Caroline Wilder, married wealthy planter Rufus W. Edmundson, son of Wright Edmundson, of Stantonsburg, Wilson County, and was mother to 3 known daughters. She died in Wilson County sometime between 1860-1870.
Hillory Madison Wilder was born 1784 in Johnston County, NC, just near the Wake County line. He was the 2nd of 7 known surviving children (6 boys/1 girl) born to Samuel Wilder and his wife, Frances "Fanny" Ervin/Irvin. His parents were born in Franklin County, NC, but removed to Johnston County ca. 1780.
Hillory Madison Wilder is descended from a long line of Wilder's in America, dating back to this family's patriarch, Edward Wilder (1614-1687), who immigrated from England to the Virginia Colonies ca. 1650. It was his great-grandfather, Samuel Wilder (b. 1685), that first come to North Carolina, settling in Granville County. The Wilder family originated in Reading, England, where the family home still stands. It was called Sulham Manor and was built in 1497. This branch of the famlil is reportedly related to the well-known American Wilder from this same family -- Almonzo Wilder of New York State -- husband of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House on the Prairie" books. This Hillory was named after his father's brother, Hillory Wilder, who in 1791 was declared by the NC courts as "insane and in a state of lunacy".
Hillory was just 19 years old when he married 17-year old Esther Avera on November 14, 1803, daughter of Jacob Avera and Anne Fail of Johnston County.
Following his marriage to Esther, the young couple removed to Wake County where Hillory purchased an 1,800 acre farm he named "Wilder's Grove", where he later established himself as a wealthy and prominent planter and major slaveholder. He was a contemporary to some of Wake County's earliest and most prominent planter class -- the Hinton and Lane families.
The couple would have 8 known children (2 boys/6 girls):
* Nancy Wilder (1805 - aft 1850)
* Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilder (1807-1865)
* Caroline Wilder (ca. 1809-bef 1870)
* Frances Wilder (1808-1863(
* Mary "Polly" Henly Wilder (1811-1866)
* Gaston Henry Wilder, Gen. (1814-1873)
* Esther Ann Wilder (1816-1854)
* Hillory Madison Wilder, II (1825-1849)
A possible 9th child, Samuel Wilder, was noted as brother of Gen. Gaston Henry Wilder (UNC Collection Title: Gaston Hillary Wilder Papers, 1838-1916.), but this researcher found no Samuel Wilder born during the period 1805-1825 as a child of Hillory "Till" Wilder & Esther Avera. It is possible this reference in Gaston Wilder's papers to Samuel Wilder mistakenly names him as a brother, when he may have been Gaston's son, Samuel Wilder (1857-1931), known to have removed to Birmingham, AL.
Hillory Wilder, Sr. represented the County of Johnston in the NC State Legislature (1821-1835) and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1835 convened to amend the Constitution of North Carolina.
In 1837, Hillory built a 10-room, 2-story frame house on "Wilder's Grove", which was situated about 4 miles west of modern-day Raleigh. A large pecan grove was planted in front of the house, and stood there until torn down to make way for a shopping center built in the 1990's.
Col. Wilder died at his home on March 22, 1849 at the age of 65. His wife of 46 years survived him 8 years, passing in 1857 at age 71. They were both buried on the plantation. Upon his death, a contemporary wrote, "Known for frugality, humility, industry and common sense, but above all was strictly an honest man, he made his mark upon the age in which he lived and left the world without a blot upon his character."
After Col. Wilder died, his plantation, "Wilder's Grove", passed to his only surviving son, Maj. Gaston Henry Wilder, who served in the Mexican war of 1847. Gaston lived there with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Hinton, through the Civil War and until his death in 1873. His widow continued to live on the land until 1890, when at age 59 she removed to Alabama to live with her son. It is not known if any family members occupied the house after that. The house itself burned down in the first half of the 20th century, and all that is left of the Wilder estate is the family burial ground, now located on a busy highway near Raleigh.
As for his children, 4 are buried here. Daughters Mary "Polly" and Esther Ann, both married and removed to Greene County, AL, where they are buried.
Of his other children, Eldest daughter, Nancy Olive Wilder married John Whitley of Johnston county, by whom she had Hillory Madison Whitley; and after he died, married (2nd) to Reuben Wilder, by whom she had James Reuben Wilder. She died sometime between 1850-1860 and is believed buried either in Johnston or Franklin County.
Daughter, Caroline Wilder, married wealthy planter Rufus W. Edmundson, son of Wright Edmundson, of Stantonsburg, Wilson County, and was mother to 3 known daughters. She died in Wilson County sometime between 1860-1870.
Hillory Madison Wilder is descended from a long line of Wilder's in America, dating back to this family's patriarch, Edward Wilder (1614-1687), who immigrated from England to the Virginia Colonies ca. 1650. It was his great-grandfather, Samuel Wilder (b. 1685), that first come to North Carolina, settling in Granville County. The Wilder family originated in Reading, England, where the family home still stands. It was called Sulham Manor and was built in 1497. This branch of the famlil is reportedly related to the well-known American Wilder from this same family -- Almonzo Wilder of New York State -- husband of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House on the Prairie" books. This Hillory was named after his father's brother, Hillory Wilder, who in 1791 was declared by the NC courts as "insane and in a state of lunacy".
Hillory was just 19 years old when he married 17-year old Esther Avera on November 14, 1803, daughter of Jacob Avera and Anne Fail of Johnston County.
Following his marriage to Esther, the young couple removed to Wake County where Hillory purchased an 1,800 acre farm he named "Wilder's Grove", where he later established himself as a wealthy and prominent planter and major slaveholder. He was a contemporary to some of Wake County's earliest and most prominent planter class -- the Hinton and Lane families.
The couple would have 8 known children (2 boys/6 girls):
* Nancy Wilder (1805 - aft 1850)
* Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilder (1807-1865)
* Caroline Wilder (ca. 1809-bef 1870)
* Frances Wilder (1808-1863(
* Mary "Polly" Henly Wilder (1811-1866)
* Gaston Henry Wilder, Gen. (1814-1873)
* Esther Ann Wilder (1816-1854)
* Hillory Madison Wilder, II (1825-1849)
A possible 9th child, Samuel Wilder, was noted as brother of Gen. Gaston Henry Wilder (UNC Collection Title: Gaston Hillary Wilder Papers, 1838-1916.), but this researcher found no Samuel Wilder born during the period 1805-1825 as a child of Hillory "Till" Wilder & Esther Avera. It is possible this reference in Gaston Wilder's papers to Samuel Wilder mistakenly names him as a brother, when he may have been Gaston's son, Samuel Wilder (1857-1931), known to have removed to Birmingham, AL.
Hillory Wilder, Sr. represented the County of Johnston in the NC State Legislature (1821-1835) and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1835 convened to amend the Constitution of North Carolina.
In 1837, Hillory built a 10-room, 2-story frame house on "Wilder's Grove", which was situated about 4 miles west of modern-day Raleigh. A large pecan grove was planted in front of the house, and stood there until torn down to make way for a shopping center built in the 1990's.
Col. Wilder died at his home on March 22, 1849 at the age of 65. His wife of 46 years survived him 8 years, passing in 1857 at age 71. They were both buried on the plantation. Upon his death, a contemporary wrote, "Known for frugality, humility, industry and common sense, but above all was strictly an honest man, he made his mark upon the age in which he lived and left the world without a blot upon his character."
After Col. Wilder died, his plantation, "Wilder's Grove", passed to his only surviving son, Maj. Gaston Henry Wilder, who served in the Mexican war of 1847. Gaston lived there with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Hinton, through the Civil War and until his death in 1873. His widow continued to live on the land until 1890, when at age 59 she removed to Alabama to live with her son. It is not known if any family members occupied the house after that. The house itself burned down in the first half of the 20th century, and all that is left of the Wilder estate is the family burial ground, now located on a busy highway near Raleigh.
As for his children, 4 are buried here. Daughters Mary "Polly" and Esther Ann, both married and removed to Greene County, AL, where they are buried.
Of his other children, Eldest daughter, Nancy Olive Wilder married John Whitley of Johnston county, by whom she had Hillory Madison Whitley; and after he died, married (2nd) to Reuben Wilder, by whom she had James Reuben Wilder. She died sometime between 1850-1860 and is believed buried either in Johnston or Franklin County.
Daughter, Caroline Wilder, married wealthy planter Rufus W. Edmundson, son of Wright Edmundson, of Stantonsburg, Wilson County, and was mother to 3 known daughters. She died in Wilson County sometime between 1860-1870.
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