Notes on Edward Wilson
Notes from Source 366 via Gary Finckel:
Edward Wilson In Virginia
The earliest record I have of Edward Wilson in Virginia, is found in a Ust of Colonial Soldiers of Virginia, (1916). On page 89 of this book, Edward Wilson is listed under Dunmore's War. Dunmore's War was fought in 1774.
This can also be found on page 408 in R.G. Thwart's Dunmore's War.
The next earliest record I have of Edward Wilson in Virginia, is the attached Deed Record found in Shenandoah County Deed Book B, pages 261-2. This was an agreement between Joseph Berry and Edward Wilson. The date of the agreement was 12 August,
1775. Edward was to farm the 180 acres described and pay Joseph Berry an annual rent. The agreement also mentions Edward's wife Ann and daughter Elizabeth. (Elizabeth later married William Bonifield; she was born 2 August, 1774: Elizabeth was
probably the first and only living child of Edward and Ann at the time of the agreement.) Edward may have rented this farm until he left for Ohio about 30 years later.
The third record I have of Edward Wilson bears the date 20 August, 1775.
This was 8 days after the last record. This record is found in Shenandoah County Deed Book B, pages 259-60. This record is an agreement between Joseph Berry and John Dukes. A partial description of the property follows:
".......standing on a branch of Happy Creek then up the branch with the said Berry line, thence up Edward Wilson's spring branch, . . . joining Thomas Neals land...... containing 180 acres." The agreement was made in the presence of Edward Wilson,
Charles Smith and James Dove.
I believe that the location of the two parcels of land was in Chester's Gap. Chester's Gap was a passage through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Happy Creek drained from the western side of the Gap Into the Shenandoah River In 1775, the boundary line
between Shenandoah County and Culpeper County crossed the middle of the Gap. Gregory Bonifield, the father of William Bonifield, purchased a 250 acre tract of land in Chester's Gap right on the County line a few years later In 1780.
Edward Wilson In Virginia - Cont.
The fourth record I have of Edward Wilson pertains to the sale of property in the estate of Henry Threldkill in Culpeper County, Virginia on 3 November, 1775. Edward Wilson is listed as a purchaser, along with many other names.
The Threldkill's lived in the northern part of Culpeper County near Chester Gap. There were also Threldkill'S that migrated to Hopewell Township, Muskingum County.
In the Census of Dunmore County, Virginia, 1775, there is an Edward Wilson listed. His household consisted of one male and two females. Dunmore County became Shenandoah County during the Revolutionary War.
In the Revolutionary War Records, Virginia by Brumbaugh, Edward Wilson shows up in a list of men living in the Lower District, Dunmore County, under the command of Captain Joseph Bowman. No year recorded.
The next record I have is a 1787 Personal Property Tax list for Shenandoah County that has Edward Wilson. He is listed with 0 boys between the ages of 16 and 21 years, 0 blacks, 3 horses and 3 cows. I have not looked at any other years for
personal property tax. This would be a prime area for additional information about Edward Wilson.
In 1792, Edward Wilson is listed on the marriage bond between William Bonifield and Elizabeth Wilson. He is listed in the column typically reserved for the father of the bride. In 1798, Edward Wilson is listed on the marriage bond between John
Weekley and Prisilla Wilson. Both of these marriage records were in Shenandoah County Marriage Bonds.
In 1798, Edward Wilson shows up for the first time paying taxes on land. It was an 81 acre tract of land. Then, for 6 years, he did not pay taxes on this land. Then in 1805 thru 1807, he paid taxes on the same 81 acres, again. I looked thru the
land tax record from 1782 thru 1810. Edward Wilson only shows up in the 4 years mentioned above. Strangely, William Bonifield and Arnold Bonifield similarly show up paying taxes on land in 1798 and then again in 1805. I wonder how complete these
records are.
Edward Wilson In Virginia - Cont.
On 7 January, 1804, Joseph Baldwin sold three tracts of land, one each to Edward Wilson, William Bonifield and Arnold Bonifield. For Edward Wilson, it was the same land that was in the land tax records described In the previous paragraph. The
deeds can be found in Shenandoah Deed Book N, pages
478-9.
The 1804 deed from Joseph Baldwin to Edward Wilson was for 81 acres. It was made in the presence of A. Bonifield and W. Bonifield. The description of the property mentions ".... next to Wilson's other lot. . . along William Weekly's line. . .
Neal's tract and corner. . .". My guess is that this 81 acres was next to the 180 acre farm that Edward rented from Joseph Berry starting in 1775.
The 1804 deed from Joseph Baldwin to William Bonifield was made in the presence of A. Bonifield and John Weekley. The 1804 deed from Joseph Baldwin to Arnold Bonifield was made in the presence of Wm. Bonifield and John Weekly. My assumption is,
that this John Weekly was the one who married Prisilla Wilson.
The Auditor of the State of Ohio has records for the first owners of land in Ohio. The Wilson's that show up In Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, Ohio are as follows:
Sec. Quar. Acres Name______ Date_______ Where living
19 NW 160 Hensle & Wilson Dec.30, 1805
13 SE 147 Edward Wilson Jun.13, 18O6 Shen. Co, VA
22 Edward Wilson Jul. 10, 1806 Musk. Co,OH
8 NW 160 Nathan Wilson Jul.11, 1807
23 NE 164 Nathan Wilson Jul.10, 1810
18 NE 184 Henry Wilson May 2, 1815
Did Edward Wilson migrate to Ohio in June/July of 1806? He last paid land taxes in Shenandoah County, VA in 1807. It would be interesting to see when he last paid personal property taxes in Virginia. Most of the above described property was still
owned by children of Edward Wilson in 1826.
Edward Wilson In Virginia - Cont.
In the Federal land Series (1799-1835) Edward Wilson is listed twice. Both times Front Royal, Virginia is mentioned as Edward's place of residence. Front Royal is located a few miles north of Chester's Gap. Edward is listed once with William
Bonifield concerning a piece of land in Section 12 in Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. The second listing shows Edward by himself in connection with land in Section 13, Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. With regard to the latter
record, it mentions a second payment of $75 made on June 14, 1809.
In September, 1808, William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Bonifield sold their Shenandoah County property they acquired from Joseph Baldwin. William and Elizabeth were living in Muskingum, Ohio at the time of the deed transfer.
The transaction was made in the presence of William Wilson, James Wilson and Levi Whipple, the Justice of the Peace for Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. William and James Wilson were also listed as residence of Muskingum, Ohio. This was
recorded In Shenandoah County Deed Book Q, Page 432.
This concludes my Edward Wilson Virginia information. Some additional information on Edward can be found in Ohio.
Edward Wilson has a Muskingum County Will. It was recorded in Muskingum County Will Book B, page 142. The location was Falls Township, Muskingum County. Ohio. The date on the Will was August 27th 1810. Mentioned are his daughter Sarah, sons Henry
and John, and wife Ann. The Will was executed in April of 1814.
Edward Wilson was buried in Drumm Cemetery, Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, Ohio. The cemetery inscriptions indicate that Edward Wilson died at 70 years of age, with no date of death. His wife Ann died at 86 years, and was buried in the same
cemetery.
More About EDWARD WILSON:
Burial: Drumm Cemetery; Hopewell TWP; Muskingum County, Ohio
Census: 1775, An Edward Wilson and 2 females appear on the Dunsmore County, VA Census for this year.
Military: Colonial Soldier; reportedly fought in Dunmore's War in 1774 see page 408 in R. B. Thwart's Dunmore's War. In Brumbaugh's Rev. War Records, an Edward Wilson is on the list of men living in the Lower District, Dunmore County, under Capt.
Joseph Bowman.
Note: 1787, Appears on Personal Proberty Tax List for Shenandoah County. as owning 3 horses, mules, etc. and 3 cows.
Resided: 1775, Dunmore County, Virginia
Will: August 27, 1810, Will probated April Term, 1814. Mentions wife Ann, sons Henry and John and daughter Sarah. Muskingum County Will Book B, page 142. Falls TWP; Muskingum County, Ohio
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