Wilson
From: Lila Sandstrom lilasandstromg@att.net
Hi Jeannette,
James Lewis Wilson is my brickwall. I would like to know who his wife & parents were. Here is what I know about him.
He entered Princeton U in his JR year and graduated in Sep 1776 & was ordained in 1777. He died c 1805 after preaching a funeral sermon in Scotland neck in SE Halifax CO, NC.This was the last anyone could find about him. From a hand copied letter from his brother, Robert, I know he(James) was married and had a daughter and a sister. Robert was a Lt in the British Navy at the time (1797) and was on sick leave in Portsmouth, GB.Robert mentions his wife but not by name. The letter was addressed to Rev James Lewis Wilson, Roanoke (now Edenton) NC.
James was part of the effort to revive the Anglican Church in NC. He settled in Halifax Co, NC, first but the 1790 census shows him a resident of Martin Co. He also preached in Edgecombe Co and in 1795, he purchased atown lot in Williamston, Martin Co, NC. As a clergyman of the Episcopal faith, his chief focus was in Tarboro. James also had dealings with a Mr. Blount (also a minister). I don't know if they were related or not.
Susan M Wilson Whedbee, his daughter, had one son whom she named James Lewis whedbee. He died at age 16 in Athens, Ga. Susan had daughters born in TN & GA. She lived in several different counties in GA. She married Joseph Whedbee. I have never found proof of this marriage.
I know this is very long, but I tried to give as much information as I could. I have been looking for this ancestor for years. I just found Susan's will on your site. I never knew when she died or where.
Hope you can help me with something. Thanks in advance,
Lila Sandstrom
From: Jeannette Austin March 23, 2013
Conclusion: I did not find anything in Halifax County, North Carolina except some deeds between James Wilson, Sandford Wilson and Joshua Wilson, of Warren county, then Halifax County. The 1803 deed of Edwin Clifton to the trustees of Methodist Episcopal Church, is interesting, as it names Sandford Wilson and James Wilson. Probably the last transaction James Wilson performed for the church. A search of the Mercer county, New Jersey records is indicated. I do not have access to New Jersey records, so cannot help you there.
Sources: Halifax county NC deeds
Directory of Scots in North Carolina