While in Caswell Co., NC, the last name was usually spelled Willson.
James was commissioned on April 19, 1777, a Captain in Col. Abraham Sheppard's 10th North Carolina Regiment. On May 12, 1778 he signed his Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, against Great Britain. He resigned May 20, 1778 but again entered the service and fought in the Battles of Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs and others. In the book "When the Past Refused to Die, A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977" by William S. Powell of the Caswell County Historical Association Inc., Yanceville, North Carolina, James Wilson is mentioned two times: 1) page 73 "...his company, commanded by Captain James Wilson, soon left for Kingston where it joined the Tenth Regiment. From Kingston the unit marched north to Halifax near the Virginia line and soon afterwards to Georgetown, South Carolina, a straight distance of over 225 miles. From Georgetown the Regiment next retraced a portion of its route on the way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania..." 2) page 79, 80 "Colonel Abraham Sheppard of the Tenth Regiment also had problems with his officers. On February 16, 1778, he wrote from camp in Hanover County, Virginia, to Governor Caswell: 'If your Excellency would please to remind Captain [James] Wilson of the purposes for which he was sent to Caswell County, I am inclined to think it might be of service, as I am something doubtful if such methods are not taken, he may be rather supine and inactive, as well in regard to that part of his duty, as to his joining the Regiment.' By April 7 Wilson had rejoined his regiment and Col. Sheppard informed Caswell that the captain had been able to collect twenty of his deserters and had left them at Halifax."
James' mother was a widow during the Revolutionary War and he was responsible for her care along with his two sisters, Catherine (Dobbins) and Agness (Swann). On the 1850 Caswell County, NC Census, his sister, Agness Swann lists her birthplace as PA. During the War the British took their livestock and destroyed much of their personal property. Agness Swan wrote in an affidavit that her brother James Willson settled on County Line Creek in NC after the War before he married Amelia Burgess.
On December 10, 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, James married a red haired lady, Amelia Burgess, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Burgess of Pittsylvania Co VA. He was several years older than her. The Caswell Co., NC property and home was sold December 21, 1810, to Samuel Smith. The deed mentions that land borders William and Robert Willson. The deed was proven in the Caswell Co., NC Court, July of 1811 by Robert Willson.
During the spring of 1811 he and his family arrived in Livingston Co., KY. His nephews John and Hugh Dobbins and a niece Margaret Dobbins Farley Hinton were in Livingston County or moved there around the same time. (Note: In an affidavit Margaret states that she moved to Livingston County in 1808 while James Wilson moved there in spring of 1811.)
Family tradition has it that James returned to NC to take care of business. On his return to KY down the Ohio River he contracted what was thought to be cholera, and later died at his residence near Berry's Ferry. He was buried the next day in a cemetery very close to the Ohio River. The family commented that the grave was farther from the Ohio River after the Earthquake of 1812. Several years ago, Ada Day told that a large poplar tree marked his grave and she knew the exact site. Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 4; Serial 9504; Volume 6 indicates the gravesite as being 1.5 miles from Golconda, IL in Livingston Co., KY. An article in the Paducah Sun dated February 5, 1933, page 14, contained an article "Hero of Revolutionary War Buried in Livingston County Cemetery..." It tells of Mrs. Purchell's 1893 journey to visit the grave site in what is referred to as the Koch Burial Ground (now known as the Koe Cemetery.)
James and Amelia had seven known children:
1) John Matthew (born Aug 1794 and died 1797-buried in NC);
2) Margaret Peggy (married Samuel Craig and John C. Adcock);
3) Agness (married James Pringle);
4) James S. Wilson;
5) John Green;
6) Parmelia (married Ephrim Parmley);
7) William B.
Bio by: Jerry Bebout
Edited by Mark Wells
James was commissioned on April 19, 1777, a Captain in Col. Abraham Sheppard's 10th North Carolina Regiment. On May 12, 1778 he signed his Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, against Great Britain. He resigned May 20, 1778 but again entered the service and fought in the Battles of Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs and others. In the book "When the Past Refused to Die, A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977" by William S. Powell of the Caswell County Historical Association Inc., Yanceville, North Carolina, James Wilson is mentioned two times: 1) page 73 "...his company, commanded by Captain James Wilson, soon left for Kingston where it joined the Tenth Regiment. From Kingston the unit marched north to Halifax near the Virginia line and soon afterwards to Georgetown, South Carolina, a straight distance of over 225 miles. From Georgetown the Regiment next retraced a portion of its route on the way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania..." 2) page 79, 80 "Colonel Abraham Sheppard of the Tenth Regiment also had problems with his officers. On February 16, 1778, he wrote from camp in Hanover County, Virginia, to Governor Caswell: 'If your Excellency would please to remind Captain [James] Wilson of the purposes for which he was sent to Caswell County, I am inclined to think it might be of service, as I am something doubtful if such methods are not taken, he may be rather supine and inactive, as well in regard to that part of his duty, as to his joining the Regiment.' By April 7 Wilson had rejoined his regiment and Col. Sheppard informed Caswell that the captain had been able to collect twenty of his deserters and had left them at Halifax."
James' mother was a widow during the Revolutionary War and he was responsible for her care along with his two sisters, Catherine (Dobbins) and Agness (Swann). On the 1850 Caswell County, NC Census, his sister, Agness Swann lists her birthplace as PA. During the War the British took their livestock and destroyed much of their personal property. Agness Swan wrote in an affidavit that her brother James Willson settled on County Line Creek in NC after the War before he married Amelia Burgess.
On December 10, 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, James married a red haired lady, Amelia Burgess, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Burgess of Pittsylvania Co VA. He was several years older than her. The Caswell Co., NC property and home was sold December 21, 1810, to Samuel Smith. The deed mentions that land borders William and Robert Willson. The deed was proven in the Caswell Co., NC Court, July of 1811 by Robert Willson.
During the spring of 1811 he and his family arrived in Livingston Co., KY. His nephews John and Hugh Dobbins and a niece Margaret Dobbins Farley Hinton were in Livingston County or moved there around the same time. (Note: In an affidavit Margaret states that she moved to Livingston County in 1808 while James Wilson moved there in spring of 1811.)
Family tradition has it that James returned to NC to take care of business. On his return to KY down the Ohio River he contracted what was thought to be cholera, and later died at his residence near Berry's Ferry. He was buried the next day in a cemetery very close to the Ohio River. The family commented that the grave was farther from the Ohio River after the Earthquake of 1812. Several years ago, Ada Day told that a large poplar tree marked his grave and she knew the exact site. Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 4; Serial 9504; Volume 6 indicates the gravesite as being 1.5 miles from Golconda, IL in Livingston Co., KY. An article in the Paducah Sun dated February 5, 1933, page 14, contained an article "Hero of Revolutionary War Buried in Livingston County Cemetery..." It tells of Mrs. Purchell's 1893 journey to visit the grave site in what is referred to as the Koch Burial Ground (now known as the Koe Cemetery.)
James and Amelia had seven known children:
1) John Matthew (born Aug 1794 and died 1797-buried in NC);
2) Margaret Peggy (married Samuel Craig and John C. Adcock);
3) Agness (married James Pringle);
4) James S. Wilson;
5) John Green;
6) Parmelia (married Ephrim Parmley);
7) William B.
Bio by: Jerry Bebout
Edited by Mark Wells
While in Caswell Co., NC, the last name was usually spelled Willson.
James was commissioned on April 19, 1777, a Captain in Col. Abraham Sheppard's 10th North Carolina Regiment. On May 12, 1778 he signed his Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, against Great Britain. He resigned May 20, 1778 but again entered the service and fought in the Battles of Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs and others. In the book "When the Past Refused to Die, A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977" by William S. Powell of the Caswell County Historical Association Inc., Yanceville, North Carolina, James Wilson is mentioned two times: 1) page 73 "...his company, commanded by Captain James Wilson, soon left for Kingston where it joined the Tenth Regiment. From Kingston the unit marched north to Halifax near the Virginia line and soon afterwards to Georgetown, South Carolina, a straight distance of over 225 miles. From Georgetown the Regiment next retraced a portion of its route on the way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania..." 2) page 79, 80 "Colonel Abraham Sheppard of the Tenth Regiment also had problems with his officers. On February 16, 1778, he wrote from camp in Hanover County, Virginia, to Governor Caswell: 'If your Excellency would please to remind Captain [James] Wilson of the purposes for which he was sent to Caswell County, I am inclined to think it might be of service, as I am something doubtful if such methods are not taken, he may be rather supine and inactive, as well in regard to that part of his duty, as to his joining the Regiment.' By April 7 Wilson had rejoined his regiment and Col. Sheppard informed Caswell that the captain had been able to collect twenty of his deserters and had left them at Halifax."
James' mother was a widow during the Revolutionary War and he was responsible for her care along with his two sisters, Catherine (Dobbins) and Agness (Swann). On the 1850 Caswell County, NC Census, his sister, Agness Swann lists her birthplace as PA. During the War the British took their livestock and destroyed much of their personal property. Agness Swan wrote in an affidavit that her brother James Willson settled on County Line Creek in NC after the War before he married Amelia Burgess.
On December 10, 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, James married a red haired lady, Amelia Burgess, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Burgess of Pittsylvania Co VA. He was several years older than her. The Caswell Co., NC property and home was sold December 21, 1810, to Samuel Smith. The deed mentions that land borders William and Robert Willson. The deed was proven in the Caswell Co., NC Court, July of 1811 by Robert Willson.
During the spring of 1811 he and his family arrived in Livingston Co., KY. His nephews John and Hugh Dobbins and a niece Margaret Dobbins Farley Hinton were in Livingston County or moved there around the same time. (Note: In an affidavit Margaret states that she moved to Livingston County in 1808 while James Wilson moved there in spring of 1811.)
Family tradition has it that James returned to NC to take care of business. On his return to KY down the Ohio River he contracted what was thought to be cholera, and later died at his residence near Berry's Ferry. He was buried the next day in a cemetery very close to the Ohio River. The family commented that the grave was farther from the Ohio River after the Earthquake of 1812. Several years ago, Ada Day told that a large poplar tree marked his grave and she knew the exact site. Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 4; Serial 9504; Volume 6 indicates the gravesite as being 1.5 miles from Golconda, IL in Livingston Co., KY. An article in the Paducah Sun dated February 5, 1933, page 14, contained an article "Hero of Revolutionary War Buried in Livingston County Cemetery..." It tells of Mrs. Purchell's 1893 journey to visit the grave site in what is referred to as the Koch Burial Ground (now known as the Koe Cemetery.)
James and Amelia had seven known children:
1) John Matthew (born Aug 1794 and died 1797-buried in NC);
2) Margaret Peggy (married Samuel Craig and John C. Adcock);
3) Agness (married James Pringle);
4) James S. Wilson;
5) John Green;
6) Parmelia (married Ephrim Parmley);
7) William B.
Bio by: Jerry Bebout
Edited by Mark Wells
James was commissioned on April 19, 1777, a Captain in Col. Abraham Sheppard's 10th North Carolina Regiment. On May 12, 1778 he signed his Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America, against Great Britain. He resigned May 20, 1778 but again entered the service and fought in the Battles of Guilford Court House, Eutaw Springs and others. In the book "When the Past Refused to Die, A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977" by William S. Powell of the Caswell County Historical Association Inc., Yanceville, North Carolina, James Wilson is mentioned two times: 1) page 73 "...his company, commanded by Captain James Wilson, soon left for Kingston where it joined the Tenth Regiment. From Kingston the unit marched north to Halifax near the Virginia line and soon afterwards to Georgetown, South Carolina, a straight distance of over 225 miles. From Georgetown the Regiment next retraced a portion of its route on the way to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania..." 2) page 79, 80 "Colonel Abraham Sheppard of the Tenth Regiment also had problems with his officers. On February 16, 1778, he wrote from camp in Hanover County, Virginia, to Governor Caswell: 'If your Excellency would please to remind Captain [James] Wilson of the purposes for which he was sent to Caswell County, I am inclined to think it might be of service, as I am something doubtful if such methods are not taken, he may be rather supine and inactive, as well in regard to that part of his duty, as to his joining the Regiment.' By April 7 Wilson had rejoined his regiment and Col. Sheppard informed Caswell that the captain had been able to collect twenty of his deserters and had left them at Halifax."
James' mother was a widow during the Revolutionary War and he was responsible for her care along with his two sisters, Catherine (Dobbins) and Agness (Swann). On the 1850 Caswell County, NC Census, his sister, Agness Swann lists her birthplace as PA. During the War the British took their livestock and destroyed much of their personal property. Agness Swan wrote in an affidavit that her brother James Willson settled on County Line Creek in NC after the War before he married Amelia Burgess.
On December 10, 1792 in Caswell Co., NC, James married a red haired lady, Amelia Burgess, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Burgess of Pittsylvania Co VA. He was several years older than her. The Caswell Co., NC property and home was sold December 21, 1810, to Samuel Smith. The deed mentions that land borders William and Robert Willson. The deed was proven in the Caswell Co., NC Court, July of 1811 by Robert Willson.
During the spring of 1811 he and his family arrived in Livingston Co., KY. His nephews John and Hugh Dobbins and a niece Margaret Dobbins Farley Hinton were in Livingston County or moved there around the same time. (Note: In an affidavit Margaret states that she moved to Livingston County in 1808 while James Wilson moved there in spring of 1811.)
Family tradition has it that James returned to NC to take care of business. On his return to KY down the Ohio River he contracted what was thought to be cholera, and later died at his residence near Berry's Ferry. He was buried the next day in a cemetery very close to the Ohio River. The family commented that the grave was farther from the Ohio River after the Earthquake of 1812. Several years ago, Ada Day told that a large poplar tree marked his grave and she knew the exact site. Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Volume 4; Serial 9504; Volume 6 indicates the gravesite as being 1.5 miles from Golconda, IL in Livingston Co., KY. An article in the Paducah Sun dated February 5, 1933, page 14, contained an article "Hero of Revolutionary War Buried in Livingston County Cemetery..." It tells of Mrs. Purchell's 1893 journey to visit the grave site in what is referred to as the Koch Burial Ground (now known as the Koe Cemetery.)
James and Amelia had seven known children:
1) John Matthew (born Aug 1794 and died 1797-buried in NC);
2) Margaret Peggy (married Samuel Craig and John C. Adcock);
3) Agness (married James Pringle);
4) James S. Wilson;
5) John Green;
6) Parmelia (married Ephrim Parmley);
7) William B.
Bio by: Jerry Bebout
Edited by Mark Wells
Bio by: Jerry Bebout
Gravesite Details
No Marker-only tradition that a tree grew by the grave
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
