My great grandfather, John Wilson, born 1817 in NC, died in Jan. 14, 1876, in Starrville, Smith Co., Texas, three days before my Grandfather, Henry Clarence was born to his second (maybe third) wife and widow, A. Catherine Lowry, b.1833 in Georgia, d. 1903 in Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas.

There were other children of this marriage:

Laura b. 1863 married H. H. Sheppard
Sarah Catherine b.1868 married E.A.Carpenter
John Samson b. 1872 married Lillian Porter
Della b.1874 married W. L. Wilder
Dora b. ?

Henry Clarence and John Samson, brothers by John and Kate, married sisters, Marion Alice Porter and Lillian Porter, (my grandmother and her sister), in a double ceremony on May 17, 1900.

John Samson and Lillian had no natural children, but adopted a Hazel and Jack (siblings). Jack never married that I know about. (I met him once when I was a teenager) Hazel married Jack Hollingsworth, lived in Yoakum, Texas and stayed with us during family reunions.

Sarah married a E.A.Carpenter and had only one daughter, Edith. She married a Peticord, and never had children. She also was a frequent visitor at reunions and played the accordion like you wouldn�t believe.

My John had at least four children by previous marriage(s) (wife's name unknown), Pinkney Washington, b. 1839 in NC, married Mary Kelly in Oct.1863 and lived in Smith Co. and Anderson Co. Texas during part of his adult life.Pinkney was a Texas state trooper. Lydia A Wilson, married Henry Lowery on Dec. 5, 1866 in Smith Co., William S. Wilson born in Tn., lived in Pinkney�s household at the time of the 1870 Smith Co. Census., and Westley �West� Wilson, (remembered by my Aunt as Uncle West) no further information.

Pinkney and Mary had nine children. I have made contact with a researcher who has much information on the descendants of Pinkney's daughter (not his sister) Lydia Annie Wilson Buchanan.

Looking for Birthplace and parents of John Wilson.

1850 Census for McNairy Co., Tennesse shows the following Wilson family:

John Wilson 35, Rebecca 38, Pinkney 14, Allen 12, Westley 10, Lydda 7, Martha 6

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE WILSON'S? Similarity in given names could be part of my John's family. Were they in Tennessee when that census was taken and in Texas in 1870?

1870 Census reports a John Wilson being a Justice of the Peace.

I also believe he was the Postmaster in Starrville from February to August of 1871.

I have found several bits of evidence while on a sojourn to Tyler in Smith Co.

A John Wilson was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Starrville. I had an Uncle who was Grand Potentate of the Lodge in Palestine and his daughter was a member of Eastern Star. I had her try to get information from their headquarters but all they would give her was the office he held (sergeant at arms) and the fact that at one time he was "suspended" briefly then reinstated. No personal information was included so I can't be certain this is THE John Wilson.

There are records that indicated a John made deliveries around Smith Co. that required his being paid by the County and information from another researcher that he was a storekeeper.

Also in my notes, (shame on me, I didn't record it properly), I have it written that I found a John Wilson listed as County Commissioner of Smith Co.

There was a second John Wilson in Smith Co., a John Henry Wilson, during that same period of time which has muddied the water a bit. I wrote for what I thought was probably my John's pension records from the Civil War, but it was evident that he was not Catherine's (Kate�s) husband. That wife's name was Mary C. and they lived in Arp, Smith Co. I have his pension file #30385 and his wife�s #41793, if anyone has need of them I will be glad to fax them to you.

Email any information to: [email protected]

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