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Spouse: Samuel STARK. Samuel STARK and Martha Jane WILSON were married on 11 Aug 1866 in Union Co, Iowa.3,206,578 Reference Number:1328448 Children were: Wilbert H. STARK, Jesse STARK, Mary Frances STARK, Eva E. STARK.
Mary WILSON.19 Parents: W. L. WILSON and Mollie PITTS.
Spouse: Boyd PORTER.
Mary WILSON.3
Spouse: Robert BOYD. Children were: John BOYD.
Mary WILSON3,456 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 68444. Parents: Nathaniel WILSON and SARA.
Mary WILSON3,405 was born WFT Est 1661-1693.3,405 She died WFT Est 1699-1776.3,405 She is reference number 98387.
Spouse: Miles CARY. Miles CARY and Mary WILSON were married WFT Est 1678-1727.3,405 Reference Number:1533464 Children were: Anne CARY.
Mary WILSON.5,94,424
Spouse: David HOYT.
Mary WILSON3,405 died on 10 Nov 1794.3,405 She was born WFT Est 1731-1762.3,405 She is reference number 98271.
Spouse: Robert HARRIS. Robert HARRIS and Mary WILSON were married WFT Est 1753-1787.3,405 Reference Number:1572569
Mary WILSON3,88 was born in 1716.3,88 She died WFT Est 1761-1811.3,88 She is reference number 70080.
Spouse: Alexander GASTON. Alexander GASTON and Mary WILSON were married WFT Est 1732-1762.3,88 Reference Number:1163745 Children were: Phebe GASTON, William GASTON, John GASTON, Robert GASTON, Mary GASTON, Janet GASTON, Margaret GASTON, Alexander GASTON, David GASTON, Thomas GASTON.
Mary WILSON3,303 was born before 1720.3 She died Unknown.3 She is reference number 57062.
Spouse: William BOYD. William BOYD and Mary WILSON were married in 1733.3,303,1770 Reference Number:981669 Children were: Alexander BOYD, Hugh BOYD, Daniel BOYD, William BOYD, Mary BOYD, Ezekiel Davis BOYD, James BOYD, Adam BOYD, Jane BOYD, Kitty BOYD, Anne BOYD.
Mary WILSON5,128 was born about 1800.5,128 She is reference number 9022.
Spouse: Kedar HALSTEAD. Kedar HALSTEAD and Mary WILSON were married. Reference Number:33636 Children were: Frederick W. HALSTEAD, James T. HALSTEAD, Kedar Wilson HALSTEAD.
Mary WILSON3,294 was born about 1816 in VT.3,294 She died Unknown.3 She was buried Unknown in Center Cemetery, Southington, Trumbull Co OH.3,294 She is reference number 37866.
Spouse: Jonathan RICE. Jonathan RICE and Mary WILSON were married on 3 Oct 1833 in Farmington, OH.3,294 Reference Number:696223 Children were: Nancy RICE, Lidia Ada RICE, Hess RICE, Lane RICE, Levina RICE, Annice RICE, George RICE.
Mary WILSON3,413 was born in 1829.3,413 She died in 1917.3,413 She is reference number 93276. [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Ethnicity/Relig.]3,413
Spouse: James Blaine ELLIOTT. James Blaine ELLIOTT and Mary WILSON were married on 24 Jan 1854 in Carroll County, OH.3,413 Reference Number:1484226 Children were: William C. ELLIOTT, Corella Bell ELLIOTT, John Mark ELLIOTT, Frank Wilson ELLIOTT.
Mary A. WILSON3,717,846,1274,1328 was born in 1829.3,717,846 She was also known as Mary Ann Wilson. She died Unknown.3 She is reference number 39412. Parents: Samuel WILSON and Ann Elizabeth BOYD.
Spouse: John DINSMORE. John DINSMORE and Mary A. WILSON were married. Reference Number:715835 Children were: Margaret DINSMORE.
Mary A. WILSON3,186,474 was born on 31 Jul 1850.3,474,475 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Birth]3,186 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Birth]3,281 She was also known as Mary A Wilson.3,475 She was also known as Mary A. Wilson.3,281 She died Unknown in Y.3,281 She is reference number 47791. [boyd-trees.ged]
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Family Record, Descendants of John and Mary-Fulton-Boyd, Mo nograph, prepared by M. Hillis Boyd, Freeport, PA. Parents: Joseph WILSON and Mary BOYD.
Mary A. WILSON5,128 was born about 1881.5,128 She died in Oil City, PA 16301 Vanango, PA..5,128 She was buried in His First Wife.5,128 She is reference number 9540.
Spouse: John Henry Dr. D. D. S. FOQUET.. John Henry Dr. D. D. S. FOQUET. and Mary A. WILSON were married. Reference Number:36036
Mary Almeda WILSON5,128 was born about 1826.5,128 Parents: William Stafford WILSON and Sabrina Boushell COX.
Mary Ann WILSON3,1254 died on 3 Feb 1870.3,1254 She is reference number 52160.
Spouse: Arthur YOUNG. Arthur YOUNG and Mary Ann WILSON were married. Reference Number:906922 Children were: Mary Ann Eliz. YOUNG.
Mary Boone WILSON3,426 was born on 1 Aug 1887 in Kentucky.3,426 She died on 28 May 1982.3,426 She is reference number 81089. [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: _MFA1]3,426 [boyd-trees.ged]
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Facts about this person:
Fact 1
buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Texas Parents: Samuel Harding WILSON and Martha Elizabeth BOONE.
Spouse: James William CLOWERS. James William CLOWERS and Mary Boone WILSON were married on 30 Oct 1904.3,426 Reference Number:1319204
Mary C. WILSON3,1317,1506 was born before 1840.3 She died Unknown.3 She is reference number 64.
Spouse: Oscar F. RANKIN. Oscar F. RANKIN and Mary C. WILSON were married in 1855 in Winchester, Kentucky.3,1317,1506 Reference Number:10857 Children were: Eugene B. RANKIN, William RANKIN.
Mary Eliza WILSON3,468 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 50085.
Spouse: Eli Toliver ROBERDS. Eli Toliver ROBERDS and Mary Eliza WILSON were married on 20 Jul 1865.3,468 Reference Number:874529
Mary Elizabeth WILSON3,1294 was born in 1871 in , , Illinois.3,1294 She died in 1933.3,1294 She is reference number 25774. [boyd-trees.ged]
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Please, this information is not to be used for any commercial purpose. Please see the database disclaimer at http://www.jessee.org. Corrections of errors and additions of information are welcome. [email protected]
Spouse: Alfred Leo BOYD. Alfred Leo BOYD and Mary Elizabeth WILSON were married in 1891.3,1294 Reference Number:498621 Children were: Living BOYD, Alma Ethel BOYD, Alva Vernard BOYD, Harold Everett BOYD, Dr. Ivan Lewis BOYD.
Mary Estella WILSON3,203,205,206 was born in 1886.3,203,206 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Birth]3,205 She died in 1974 in Buried In Leavittsville Cemetary, Carroll County, Ohio.3,203,206 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,205 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,205 She was also known as Estella Wilson.3,203 She was also known as Mary Estella Wilson.3,205 She was buried Unknown in Leavittsville, Carroll Co. OH.3,205 She is reference number 52566. [boyd-trees.ged]
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Hospital[boydtrees.GED]
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Hospital Parents: William WILSON, JR and Louiza Buelah POULTON.
Spouse: Thomas Boyd SMITH. Thomas Boyd SMITH and Mary Estella WILSON were married on 6 Dec 1906 in Carroll Co. OH.3,205 Reference Number:735574 Children were: Living SMITH, John Meredith SMITH, Jane Mercedes SMITH.
Mary Minerva WILSON395 was born on 15 Mar 1832 in Crawford Co MO.395 She appeared in the census on 14 Aug 1860 in Age 23 Franklin Twp Dent Co MO Image 1Of 5.395 She appeared in the census on 24 Jun 1870 in Age 35 Franklin Twp Dent Co MO Image 25 Of 176.395 She appeared in the census on 12 Jun 1880 in Age 46 Franklin Twp Dent Co MO Image 25 Of 27.395 She died on 19 Dec 1893 in Dent MO Based On Tombstone.395
Spouse: John William WELCH. John William WELCH and Mary Minerva WILSON were married on 16 Sep 1852 in Courtois Twp Crawford Co Marriage Book A Page 220.395 Children were: George John WELCH, Margaret Lucinda WELCH, Stephen Edward WELCH, Frances Mary WELCH, Robert Harrison WELCH, William (Billy) John WELCH, Anna Manerva WELCH, Clementine America WELCH, Phelding (Fielding) S WELCH.
Mary Susan WILSON2,3 died on 31 Dec 1823 in , Jackson Co., Ohio.2,3 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]2,3 She is reference number 30480. [boyd-trees.ged]
!(1) "Hanna of Castle Sorbie, Scotland, and Descendants," by Rev. James Arthur
MacClannahan Hanna (Edwards Bros., Ann Arbor, MI, 1959) p.376.
!Death: (1) 31 Dec 1863.
(1) Of VA.[alice-boyd.FTW]
!(1) "Hanna of Castle Sorbie, Scotland, and Descendants," by Rev. James Arthur
MacClannahan Hanna (Edwards Bros., Ann Arbor, MI, 1959) p.376.
!Death: (1) 31 Dec 1863.
(1) Of VA. Parents: WILSON.
Spouse: Robert Graham HANNAH. Robert Graham HANNAH and Mary Susan WILSON were married in , WV.2,3 Reference Number:573213 Children were: Talitha HANNAH, Alvira HANNAH, Joseph Wilson HANNAH, Tyrus John HANNAH, Anson HANNAH, Jane HANNAH, James HANNAH.
Matilda WILSON4,5 was born about 1793.4,5 She is reference number MC102208s.
Spouse: John WALLACE. John WALLACE and Matilda WILSON were married on 1 Sep 1813 in , Sumner, Tennessee.4,5
Matthew WILSON3,848 was born about 1797.3,848 He died before 1846.3,848 He is reference number 70857. [boyd-trees.ged]
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Listed among the heirs of Edward WILSON in his estate settlement were "the
heirs of Matthew WILSON, dec'd, names unknown." Thus he must have died
by 1846, but probably was married and left heirs.
Spouse: Rebecca BOYD. Matthew WILSON and Rebecca BOYD were married on 4 Apr 1844.3,848 Reference Number:1176506 Children were: James WILSON.
Mattie S. WILSON3,1125 was born on 2 Dec 1849 in Marshall County, Tennessee.3 She died Unknown.3 She is reference number 47252.
Spouse: Thomas A. BOYD. Thomas A. BOYD and Mattie S. WILSON were married. Reference Number:833134
Maudie WILSON3,717,846 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 39481. Parents: Thomas WILSON and Grace CINNAMON.
Spouse: Robert AUTERSON. Robert AUTERSON and Maudie WILSON were married. Reference Number:716760 Children were: Helen AUTERSON, Georgina AUTERSON, William AUTERSON, Maxie AUTERSON.
Melissa WILSON4,5 was born about 1798.4,5 She is reference number MC102211s.
Spouse: Joseph Bradner WALLACE. Joseph Bradner WALLACE and Melissa WILSON were married on 17 Mar 1818 in , Sumner, Tennessee.4,5
Melissa G. WILSON3,413 was born about 1860.3,413 She died WFT Est 1887-1954.3,413 She is reference number 94534.
Spouse: Lewis GUTHRIE. Lewis GUTHRIE and Melissa G. WILSON were married on 13 Oct 1880 in Coshocton, County, Ohio.3,413,638 Reference Number:1506579 Children were: Harry GUTHRIE.
Meneroy WILSON.395
Spouse: William WELCH.
Merton Truesdell WILSON.5,94,126,127,128 Parents: Wilbert Ernest WILSON and Estelle S. CRAWFORD. Parents: Wilbert Ernest WILSON and Estella Sarah CRAWFORD.
Spouse: Helen MACDONALD.
Spouse: Living MACDONALD.
Michael Chase WILSON.19 Parents: Philip Gregory WILSON and Teresa Anne MILLER.
Michael Dean WILSON.19 Parents: Philip Wayne WILSON and Mary Alice THORNTON.
Miles WILSON3,1087 died Unknown.3 He is reference number 42809.
Spouse: Harriet Birdella REA. Miles WILSON and Harriet Birdella REA were married. Reference Number:765979
Minnie WILSON3,717,846 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 39477. Parents: Thomas WILSON and Grace CINNAMON.
Spouse: Bertram WALLACE. Bertram WALLACE and Minnie WILSON were married. Reference Number:716720
Missouri WILSON3,399 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 14412.
Spouse: Cummins PRESLEY. Cummins PRESLEY and Missouri WILSON were married. Reference Number:333018 Children were: Hettie PRESLEY.
Monroe WILSON3,399 was born in 1879 in Patrick Co., VA.3,399,400 He died Unknown.3,399,400 He is reference number 7684. [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 Parents: Nancy WILSON.
Spouse: Maggie M. RAKES. Monroe WILSON and Maggie M. RAKES were married on 17 Dec 1913 in Patrick Co., VA.3,399,400 Reference Number:155541
Morris S. WILSON5,94,424 was born on 21 Oct 1836 in Perch River, Brownville, Jefferson County, New York.5,94,424 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Birth]5,94,424 He died on 18 May 1900 in At His Home, Pulaski, Oswego County, New York.5,94,424 He was buried in Pulaski Cemetery, Oswego County, New York.5,94,424 He is reference number 19072. Parents: Almarin WILSON and Caroline PECK.
Moses WILSON2,3,868 died Unknown.3 He is reference number 24883. [boyd-trees.ged]
!(1) "Pennsylvania Genealogies, Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German," by William
Henry Egle (Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1969; originally pub. Harrisburg,
1896) p.114.
(1) Of Hanover. (NOTE: York Co., PA.)[alice-boyd.FTW]
!(1) "Pennsylvania Genealogies, Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German," by William
Henry Egle (Genealogical Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1969; originally pub. Harrisburg,
1896) p.114.
(1) Of Hanover. (NOTE: York Co., PA.)
Spouse: Elizabeth BOYD. Moses WILSON and Elizabeth BOYD were married in , Pennsylvania.2,3 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Marriage]2,3 Reference Number:486352
Mrs. Aubrey WILSON3,405 was born WFT Est 1780-1842.3,405 She died WFT Est 1863-1932.3,405 She is reference number 97737.
Spouse: John KELLY. John KELLY and Mrs. Aubrey WILSON were married after 1860.3,405 Reference Number:1563736
Myron WILSON5,128 was born about 1837.5,128 He is reference number 3487. Parents: Augustus WILSON and Judith Diantha HALSTEAD.
Nancy WILSON3,399 was born.3,399,400 She died Unknown.3,399,400 She is reference number 7685. [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400 [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE: Alt. Death]3,399,400
Children were: Monroe WILSON.
Nancy WILSON3,88 was born WFT Est 1852-1896.3,88 She died WFT Est 1867-1977.3,88 She is reference number 69597. Parents: John WILSON and Mary WOOTEN.
Nancy M. WILSON3,95 was born on 7 Feb 1835 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio.3 She died on 8 Apr 1906.3 She is reference number 54619. She has Ancestral File Number G2PP-5J. Parents: John M. WILSON and Eliza DUFFIELD.
Nancy Moore WILSON3,294 died Unknown.3 She is reference number 38695.
Spouse: Roger Perry WEST. Roger Perry WEST and Nancy Moore WILSON were married. Reference Number:699550
Naomi Adaline WILSON3,38 was born about 1838 in , Haywood, Tennessee.3,38 She died Unknown.3 She is reference number 21526. Parents: John Sevier WILSON and Dicy HATCHETT.
Narcissa Belle WILSON3,281 died in 1913.3,281 She was born in Of Warsaw, Indiana.3,281 She is reference number 52925.
Spouse: Thomas BOYD. Thomas BOYD and Narcissa Belle WILSON were married. Reference Number:918623
Nathaniel WILSON Jr.3,456 died Unknown.3 He is reference number 68417. Parents: Nathaniel WILSON Sen. and Elizabeth BROWN.
Nathaniel WILSON3,456 was born about 1660 in Scotland.3,456 He died in 1753 in Cumberland Co., PA.3,456 He is reference number 68420. [boyd-trees.ged]
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1. Nathaniel1 WILSON; (The Scot) was born circa 1660 at Scotland. He married Sara (--?--).1 He died between 26 February 1748 and 3 April 1749 at Pennsborough Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.1 The traditional date and location of his death is 1753 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. (Cumberland County was formed from Lancaster County in 1750).2,3
He was reportedly present on 22 June 1679 at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, Scotland, where family tradition states; "Nathaniel Wilson was captured with Richard Cameron, the Lion of the Covenant. Cameron's hands were cut off with his own sword and it was returned to him. He presented it to nineteen-year-old Nathaniel as a mark of favor. He later escaped and made his way to the American Colonies where he settled in the Province of Pennsylvania."3,2 This account contains several historical inconsistencies. At the time of the battle, Richard Cameron was absent from Scotland, having left for Rotterdam, Holland to receive his ordination as a minister of the gospel in May. Cameron returned in October 1679 and later made his famous Declaration for the deposing of the Stuart King, Charles II at Sanquhar, Dumfries on the anniversary of the Covenanter's bloody defeat. One month later on 22 July 1680, Cameron and 63 of his followers were met by the King's forces at the farm of William Mitchell at Meadowhead, Ayrsmoss and nine fell dead including Cameron and his brother Michael. His head and hands were severed from his body and returned for the bounty of 5,000 marks. Murray, the Government official who carried them into the Privy Council chamber said; "See, there the head and hands of a man who lived praying and preaching and died praying and fighting." Cameron's final prayer included the words; "Lord, take the ripe and spare the green." It is unknown whether Nathaniel Wilson was at any of these events.4,5,6
Nathaniel is said to have carried a sword used by Cameron with him across the Atlantic. His son later raised it above the door of his cabin in Fairfield County, Ohio and inscribed under it the words; "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon."3,2
Possible related events include the following. In March of 1685, Margaret and Agnes Wilson were captured and charged with the guilt of Bothwell Brig and Ayrsmoss and the Apologetical Declaration. It is unlikely they were present at any of these events due to their youth. Their sixteen-year-old brother Thomas had remained in hiding in the mountains. Their father, Gilbert Wilson, saved the life of thirteen-year-old Agnes with a journey to Edinburgh, and the payment of a hundred pounds sterling. Eighteen-year-old Margaret was executed by drowning in the Bladnoch River with Margaret Lachlison on 11 May 1685. This event is known as the "Wigtown Martrydom" or the "Death of the Two Margarets." The relationship between this Wilson family and our Nathaniel is unknown.4,6
Also, a William Wilson of Galloway was charged by the Privy Council of Scotland, in a trial held 18 August 1685, with the high crime of being a Covenanter. He was held prisoner at Leith Tolbooth, and ordered transported to America, by George Scott of Pitlochie on the ship "Henry and Francis," Richard Hutton, master. The ship arrived in Perth-Amboy, New Jersey on 5 September 1685. Once again, there is no known relationship to our progenitor, but it offers a reasonable method of immigration.7,8
He left a will on 26 February 1748 at Pennsborough Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, proved 5 June 1749. Mentioned are nephew William Wilson, wife Sara, daughters Elizabeth Wilson and Mary Wilson. Executors named are Sara Wilson and William Parkeson. Witnessed by Robert McNitt, John Elder and John Dicky. Sworn before Jas. Armstrong by Robt. McNitt and John Dicky on 3 April 1749.1
The three known children of Nathaniel1 Wilson and Sara (--?--) were as follows:
+ 2 i. Hon. Nathaniel2 Sen., born 31 March 1742/43 at Lancaster (Cumberland) County, Pennsylvania; married Elizabeth Brown.
3 ii. Elizabeth.
4 iii. Mary.
________________________________________
THE SUNDAY MORNING PRESS
Columbus, Ohio
Sunday Morning, April 5, 1896
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STRANGER THAN FICTION
REMARKABLE STORY OF TWO TRACTS NEAR LANCASTER, OHIO
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INVESTED IN THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. & HIS SUCCESSORS
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THE SWORD OF THE OLD COVENANTER & HOW IT WAS INHERITED
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A Burying Ground Unlike Any Other in the World,
Around Which Cluster Faint Memories
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By Reporter: George E. Kelley
Lancaster, Ohio: April 4 - Three miles west of this city, just off the Maysville and Zanesville Pike, are two plots of ground, the title to which is securely vested in the President of the United States. The circumstances under which the conveyance was made has a peculiar interest, while romance is not wanting to weave additional charm about events which belong to the early days of the century.
A bit of Scotch history by way of introduction, with particular reference to Presbyterians, who though of late years more or less exercised over the "Confession of Faith," and other doctrinal points are a mighty factor in the social and religious world and anything which pertains to them has a great interest.
After the restoration of the Stuarts to the throne of England in 1660, almost the first act of Charles 11 (after visiting his vengeance on the supporters of the commonwealth, was a bitter persecution of the Scotch Covenanters and the re-establishment of Episcopacy in England and Scotland; and then, in further pursuance of his perfidious treatment of his subjects, he in 1670 entered into a secret alliance with Louis XIV of France for the destruction of the Protestant Dutch republic. Finally, the Presbyterians became desperate and resolved to resist the persecutions of the tyrannical king, and under the leadership of Richard Cameron, from whom the sect known as Cameronians took their name, decided to fight if necessary for their religious freedom.
This resulted in the King ordering the Duke of Monmouth to take the field against the Cameronians, and on June 22, 1679 the Battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought and the Covenanters were disastrously defeated. Among the prisoners taken by the troops of the King was the leader, Richard Cameron, and one of his faithful adherents, Nathaniel Wilson, a youth of 19 years. As soon as Charles heard of the capture of Cameron, he ordered his hands cut off with Cameron's own sword and nailed up in a public place as a warning to all Presbyterians.
Nathaniel Wilson escaped from his captors, but before he left Cameron, the latter presented him with his own sword which had been returned to him after his hands had been cut off. The persecutions of the Presbyterians continued, and finally young Wilson, with a number of his compatriots made his escape from Scotland, and coming to America settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he married, and died in 1753, bequeathing to his eldest son, Nathaniel, the old Scotch Bible, the Sword of Cameron, and his Presbyterian faith. This son continued to reside in Pennsylvania until 1798, when he resolved to try his fortunes in the great Northwest Territory, glowing accounts regarding the fertility of which had come to him, and accordingly, he with a large family and friends came direct to the central portion of Ohio into what is now Fairfield County and located on lands three miles west of Lancaster; and when he reared his cabin in the midst of the Ohio wilderness, he placed over the door the unsheathed sword of the great Cameronian leader, the blade of which was rusted with the blood which came from his mutilated hands, and over the sword in large letters the words: "The Sword of the Lord, and of Gideon."
While living in Pennsylvania, Wilson had often heard his father refer to the fact that the people of his country did not show the same reverence and respect for the memory of the dead as in Scotland, followed by a stern criticism of those who violated the sanctity of burial grounds, and this criticism took deep root in the mind of the boy as indicated by the subsequent action of his son, who had been told of the views of his grandfather in this respect.
Nathaniel Wilson died in 1815 (actually 1814), and in the partition of his estate which followed, the homestead went to his eldest son, who was also named Nathaniel, and who continued in the good work of raising crops and good Presbyterians. In 1817, he decided to set aside a certain tract of land on his estate for a burial ground for himself and heirs, and to insure this plot of ground from desecration or intrusion, he conveyed on October 24, l8l7 by deed to James Monroe, President of the United States, and his successors in office forever, this tract, which is described in detail in the deed, giving the metes and bounds, and the instrument then states that the measurements "shall pursue courses and distances so as to form a regular duodecagon (12 sided), all of which is to be appropriated and used by the said Nathaniel Wilson and his heirs for and as a place of family burial, and for no other purpose whatsoever." This land was conveyed to President Monroe and his successors in fee simple forever in trust for Nathaniel Wilson, and the president, formally, in writing, accepted such trust, which likewise has formally been accepted by all his successors.
In 1838, Wilson, who was then becoming exceedingly eccentric, decided to enclose the twelve-sided plot of ground with a stone wall, having obtained through the aid of friends in Washington, a small cedar tree from Lebanon, in Palestine, which he planted in the center of the duodecagon. He accordingly, at considerable expense, had the stone quarried some distance from his burial ground, and under plans made by him- self had the stone all dressed at the quarry before being brought to the spot. He went down four feet for a foundation, which is made of sandstone, and is three feet wide. Then on top of this foundation, the work of laying the dressed stone was begun, no mortar being used. (It is considered one of the best examples of dry masonry in Ohio.) At the angles of the twelve sides there are no seams, but the corners are cut from the solid rock and then by an ingenious arrangement of the seams between the stone each is made to bind the other, forming one compact wall, the edges of the stone meet. He was a very religious man, so he had the stone dressed at the quarry site, then hauled to the cemetery where he read from the old Scotch Bible which had been brought from Scotland by the stern old Covenanter. Thus, the stones were put in place without the sound of a hammer or loud talking. With the evident desire to liken the building of his wall to the building of Soloman's Temple, he frequently read to the workmen the seventh verse in the Sixth Chapter of Kings: "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither; so that there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was building."
At this time Wilson decided to make his Will, and in that instrument carried out further plans toward, the preservation of the burial ground. It was his wish that at some distance from the stone enclosure a fence should be built and maintained around the same, and in order to provide plenty of timber of good quality for making the necessary repairs to this fence, he set aside a grove of small locust trees an the north side of the Maysville & Zanesville Pike about a mile from the burial ground, and in the Will referred to, which is dated April 12, 1838, he gives and devises to Martin Van Buren, President of the United States, and his successors in office forever a certain grove of locust trees to be held in trust, the same as the burial plot, and the timber from these locust trees he directs to be used in making any needed repairs to the fence around the stone enclosure, and that said grove shall be used for no other purpose whatsoever. He describes just how this fence shall be constructed, giving the dimensions of the posts and the length and width of the boards, and directs that the said grove shall remain forever unoccupied and that none of the timber from the said trees shall be used for any other purpose except that specified. The Will also directs and enjoins these provisions upon whomsoever has this grove included in the land they become possessed of and that they shall be given a title to said land only after they have entered into an agreement in writing, to abide by the provisions of the Will, which further provides that the grove shall, in August of each and every year be cleared of all briars, brambles and undergrowth and the leaves all raked up in the Fall of each year. These provisions have been faithfully kept, and the grove looks as clean as a carpet, the fence however, having been somewhat neglected, but the present owner of the land where the grove is situated realizes that he can be compelled to carry out the agreement under which he acquired title to the same. But while Wilson was superintending the building of the wall, he was called to pay the debt of mortality and passed to his reward on May 12, 1839, the work being completed by his son, Gustin Wilson.
The wall around the burial plot is of light brown sandstone, 18 inches thick and eight feet high, surmounted by a capstone two feet thick and four inches in height. It is 159 feet in circumference, each of the twelve sides being 13 feet and three inches in length. There is not a crack or crevice to be found anywhere in the structure, and the joints in the capstones are perfectly level and not sunken in the least. The enclosure fronts north, and the entrance was by a heavy iron door, the key to which, however, was lost many years ago. Over the entrance cut into the stone is the following inscription:
THIS WALL which encloses the family burying ground of NATHANIEL WILSON, one of the early pioneers of the West, who emigrated from Cumberland County PA and settled near this place A.D. 1798, when all around was the continued & uninhabited wilderness, was commenced by him A.D. 1838, and finished in the following year by his son GUSTIN, the former having suddenly died, May 12th, 1839.
Inside the enclosure, which can only be reached by the aid of a ladder in scaling the wall, are nine graves, and in their arrangement another provision of the Will is carried out which directs that lines shall be drawn due north and south and east and west across the enclosure, and in the center established by these lines the testator & his consort are buried while in the four corners formed by these lines, the four sons lie, one of whom (according to the inscription on the stone) was killed when six years old by a tree falling on him. The Cedar of Lebanon in the center of the enclosure is now a very large tree, the spreading branches of which in summer almost entirely shade the interior, making it damp, while the atmosphere is heavy with that indescribable odor of tombs; not a pleasant place to linger in.
The locust grove on the other side of the pike is a decidedly more pleasant place to visit and is known all over the county as the "President's Grove." It is near the pike and is at once noticeable from its neat and clean appearance. The locust trees have grown large and beautiful, and while many have been cut down and the timber used in carrying out the provisions of the Will, others have been set out, and these are in rows which give a very trim appearance to the grove, which is about a half acre in extent. Rumor of its proposed use for sporting purposes, by reason of the claim that the State of Ohio has no jurisdiction over it have met with stern rejoinder from Farmer Miller, whose house is just next to the grove, and who has the same Presbyterian abhorrence of such indulgences as characterized his predecessors in the ownership of the land.
During the 57 years which have elapsed since the wall around the old burial ground was completed has withstood the ravages of time, and the battling of the elements with scarce and indication of the conflict, and if we may judge from its present condition, it will stand for all time. During the summer months damp and noisome vapors are the tenants of the interior, sharing it only with the garter snake and rattle snake, which during the brief intervals of sunshine which penetrate the dense foliage, may be seen sunning themselves on the flat tombstones. The seclusion desired for this has been fully realized, for the farmer takes good care to turn his nearest furrow through the "stubborn glebe" some distance from the wall, and the shadows which come and go amid the branches of the Cedar of Lebanon are painfully silent. There is something uncanny about the place and the little children in the neighborhood talk about it in whispers, while they avoid the locality as though the presiding genius of the realm of darkness had taken up his abode therein.
And so, we leave it as we found it, a monument to man's eccentricity, but a curiosity nevertheless.
The above article was obtained from the Ohio Historical Society Genealogical Library (Newspaper Collection), I-70 and 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio by
Grace & Richard Durig, Xenia, Ohio in 1984. This article is in our family holdings of old letters but was too deteriorated to use.
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STONEWALL CEMETERY GRAVES
In Memory of
ALICE WILSON
Wife of
NATHANIEL WILSON
who was born June
A.D. 1770
and died March 3rd
A.D. 1850
aged 79 yrs, a mos,
and 7 days In Memory of
NATHANIEL WILSON
who was born April
A.D. 1772
and died May 12
A.D. 1839
aged 67 years
and 27 days
In Memory of
ALICE PETERS
Daughter of
N. and A. Wilson
who died
14 Oct. 1839
Aged 39 Yrs 10 Mo. In Memory of
POLLY M. WILSON
Daughter of
N. and A. Wilson
who died
15 September 1824
Aged 23 Yrs 2 Mo. In Memory of
Infant Daughter
of
Gustin and
Margaret Wilson
In Memory of
HARVEY WILSON
Son of
N. and A. Wilson
who was removed from
time to Eternity by
the falling of a tree
which instantly deprived
him of life on the
11 of July 1817
Age 6 Years and 7 Days
In Memory of
NOBLE WILSON
Son of
Gustin & Margaret Wilson
who died
19 December 1836
Age 3 Months
Two Markers Broken
and Unreadable
Note - 1907 Newspaper Clipping:
Nathaniel Wilson grave in the Old City Cemetery in Lancaster was moved in 1907 to the Stonewall Cemetery. No sign of a marker.
Total: 9 Marked Graves Copied from Markers 1920 by Charles R. Goslin Lancaster, Ohio
The above was copied from the STONEWALL CEMETERY (also known as PRESIDENT'S CEMETERY) BOOK in the Fairfield County District Library, Lancaster, Ohio.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Lancaster, Ohio - On July 5, 1961
James M. Hengst, the Great-Great-Grandson of Nathaniel Wilson II purchased one acre of land, including the Wilson Family Cemetery, which is now known as the "Stonewall Cemetery." At his death, his Will disclosed a trust fund set up for the perpetual care of the cemetery.
On May 5, 1966, his widow transferred the care of this cemetery to the Fairfield Heritage Association, the successor to the Fairfield County Historical Society. The solid iron gate was so deteriorated that it was removed and set inside the walls. A new gate with iron bars permits visitors to look inside. It is planned to reforest the surrounding acre and to enclose the tract at a later date.
(The above is from the Historical Collection of the Fairfield County District Library, Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio.)
The Fairfield County District Library, Lancaster, Ohio, contains a compilation of papers, reports and newspaper articles called the "Stonewall Cemetery Book" and has been confirmed and correlated through Wills, Deeds, Bible & Marriage records, Census and Estate records of Fairfield County, OH and Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
The Wilson Family Bible does exist and the sword also exists, but their location is confidential. Richard Cameron was not at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, Lanark, Scotland, but there were other Cameronian leaders who were there. I believe the sword is the one used by young Nathaniel Wilson of Scotland. (The above statement concerning the Battle of Bothwell was confirmed through research by Mr. George Wilson, Circleville, Ohio.)
Grace I. Durig
Xenia, Ohio
1 August 1988
Spouse: SARA. Nathaniel WILSON and SARA were married. Reference Number:1134225 Children were: Elizabeth WILSON, Mary WILSON, Nathaniel WILSON Sen..
