The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-01-06
Henry Wilson's Parentage.

The Boston Herald, in order to confirm
its denial of the assertion that the late
Vice President Wilson was of gypsy
origin, addressed to an uncle of Mr.. Will
son, residing in New Hampshire, letter
of inquiry, to which the following is the
reply:
Editor of the Herald:
There is a story going the rounds of
the press that Henry Wilson was of
gypsy descent. Now, we consider it of
no Importance whatever from whom he
descended, as he was not consulted in
the matter, and, moreover,
Honor and shame from no condition rise
Act well your part, there all the honor lies.''
But the story goes that young gypsy,
with his young daughter, emigrated to
this country, and, landing at Portsmouth,
N. H., the home of Gov. Benning Went
worth, he was employed by Wentworth,
that when Wentworth had to fee the
country, in consequence of his loyalty to
King George, he left young Goliath in
charge of the farm, and that from this
| young eypey descended Hen. Henry VIII vi
son, and also the Whole muftIUudinUu5
race of Colbaths that are now spread
from Cape Breton to San Francisco. Now,
knowing Mr.. Wilson as we did,w hazard
nothing in saying that he would rather
have been the descendants of a gypsy
| than of King. But facts are stubborn
things, and we propose to deal in them
for a moment. Henry Wilson was the
son of Winthrop Goliath, Jr., and the
said Winthrop, Jr., was the son of Win
throp Goliath, ST., who removed from
Newington, n. H., to Rochester, now
Pennington, N. H., in about the year
1888, and lived and died there at a ripe
old age. This Winthrop, Sr., grand
father of Henry Wilson, was the son of
James and Olive Goliath, and said James
was doing business in Portsmouth, N.
H., in 1850, and continued to do business
there until 1865, for we have in our pos
session his account current with Colonel
John Downing and others during that
period of time. In 1854 Joseph Goliath
decided to said James Goliath two and
ne-quarter acres of land situated in
Portsmouth, and we have the deed oi
conveyance. In 1874, the said james
Goliath (great grandfather of Henry
Wilson) conveyed to his son, Benning
Goliath, the same piece Of land, with
three additional acres, and at the closing
of the deed is this important sentence
"And /, Olive Goliath, mother of sale
Benning Goliath, do hereby join in said
conveyance" And the consideration O.
said deed was love and affection.
Said James and Olive Goliath removed
from Newington, formerly part of Ports
mouth, to Rochester, now Pennington
) 1884, and subsequently removed to Mid
dleton, n. h, with their son Benning
ton, where they died at ripe old age
in the year 1900, and they were the frs
tenants Of the old Goliath burial grount
in Middleton, where their ashes nov
quietly rest.
Said James and Olive Goliath wer
the great grandparents of Henry Wilson
Said James Goliath lived in the same Ii
cality, first in Portsmouth, then Newing
ton, from 1850 down to 1884, and raise
there a family of eight children, viz
Leighton, Independence, Winthro
grandfather of WILSON,, Hunkin, Ber
nlng, Keziah, Debora, and Amy.
s Winthrop, ST., the grandfather of MI
, Wilson, married Hannah Rollins, of New
ington and Wilson's great-great-grant
9 parents were emigrants from Europe, th
man an Englishman and the woman a
g Irish lady, but their names l have ne
$ learned. They landed according
tradition, and as circumstances indicat
at Portsmouth, N. H.
70 We will rest here, for the case is clea
10 Henry Wilson was not gypsy; b
20 father was never gypsy, we know, fl
M we remember him we'll sixty years agt
g his great grandfather was never gyps
If and his great-great grandfather was {
d Engligh emigrant and not gypsy.