The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-29
A CORNER IN ANCESTORS
THE WILSON FAMILY
By FRANCES cowLEs.

w isOn Is a name Saiu TO De deriFeu
from Williams. The process of evolu-
ton is something as follows: VIII
| liams, Wills. Bills, Bilson. Wilson.
Other names derived from Williams
are Wilks, Wilkins. Wilkinson, Wick
ems, Wickeson. willet, Willy. wylie,
TIL. Tillot, Tilson.
In old records we find that GER
tain John designated himself John
sc of William. the son of John de
Hunchelf." In another later record he
wrote himself John Wilson. In this
way was the name formed.
1t was free and easy way each man
had of Identifying himself In the long
ago. Sometimes the same person bore
different snrnamea at different periods.
Thus man who described himself as
William son of Adam Emmotson. in
1906. calls himself William Emmotson
10 years later.
In Battle Abbey deeds, the names
john Hervy, John Fitz-Hervie de Sud-
work, and John de London, are all of
one and the same person.
We must not suppose that an abbre-
waited name implies any disrespect. or
that the Wills and Wilson's are less
"worshipful'-as the old records would
say-than the Williams and the Will
liamsons.
Before 100 number of Wilson's had
found homes in this country.
One was almost a Mayflower pilgrim.
This is an instance of miss being as
good as a mile. He who might have
conferred a distinguished honor upon
his descendants by taking passage in
that historic boat was Roger born in
England, and one of the company who
helped to fit out the Mayflower. How
ever, his son John, born in England
1881, came over 20 years later and did
valiant service in fighting both In
dams and Frenchmen. To do and dare
was one of his objects in coming to
tho new world. His great grandson,
John of Rehoboth, Mass, was in the
revolution.
A Pilgrim father, William, of Con-
cord, the same state, died a soldier
for the continental army and his son,
Samuel, born here, entered the army
when only 16, and served to the end.
The pastor of the first church built
about 1880 in Boston was John Wilson,
who is supposed to have been one OF
Governor Winthrop's fleet. Johns wife
was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John
Mansfield, and his mother was niece of
the famous Puritan Archbishop Grin
dial. John Wilson traced pedigree to
William Wilson, gentleman" of Wells
bourne, Lincoln county, England, who
died 1887, and was buried in the ia
nous chapel of Windsor castle. Here
his SON. Rev. william, canon OF the
chapel was also buried In 1915. The
Rev. John was nearly related to the
Weilsbourne family, doubtless son OF
Canon Wilson.
Gowen Wilson was one OF the AZ men
admitted citizens of Kittery, Me-, in 1647.
His name is also spelled Gavin, Gown,
and Coin. 1t is an uncommon name, but
q favorite in the Wilson family, and found
in nearly every generation. Gavin, prob
ably the original form, is we'll known
name in Scotland, the native land OF
Gowen Wilson.
The progenitor of the New York branch
of the family was William, son of Will
liam, a famous doctor in Scotland. The
New York William settled at Livingston
Manor, and was executor of the will of
Chancellor Livingston. William was in
the war of 1912.
The PENNSYLVANIA family claim Thomas
Wilson, who came over in 1730, and was
one of the founders of Gettysburg. He
married a sister of Major Dunwiddie, OF
Revolutionary fame.
James Wilson, signer of the Declare
ton of Independence, was one Of the foun.
ders Of the North Carolina branch of the
family. He was born in Scotland, anf
possessed the splendid characteristics o.
that Observation-Disclosures which hav,
| made its people notable the world over
James was a member of the Continenta
Congress- and also the one of 1885. Soor
after he was appointed chief justice. Hi.
reputation as an able lawyer has never
diminished and for profound insight few
have been his equals.
The South Carolina family trace back tc
DR.. Robert Wilson, who settled In Charles
town the middle of the eighteenth century
The Wilson's have their statesmen, sen
ators, lawyers, physicians, artists, must
clans, historians, educators, engravers
journalists.
The strenuous man of affairs wa,
George, who laid out the city of De,
Moines, Ia.
One of the we'll known members of tn,