The Mary Wilson Family

Children:

1. James M. Wilson (m. Dorcas George)
   b. abt 1790-1800
   m. 7 Mar 1818, Montgomery Co, AL
   d. Mar 1839, Perry Co, AL
   *Autosomal DNA matches with descendants of James M. Wilson's children: Elias Wilson (b. abt 1821), William Hayes Wilson (1825-1881) and Mary Wilson Brown (b. abt 1837).
   
   

2. Elizabeth Wilson [DNA] (m. William Parks Chatham)
   b. abt 1798-1799, GA or SC
   m. 19 Nov 1822, Perry Co, AL
   d. 1881, Carroll Co, MS
   *The bondsman to their marriage was Thomas Wilson, presumably the same Thomas Green Wilson who relocated to the same general area in Carroll County, Mississippi as the William Parks Chatham family.
   
   

3. William J. Wilson (m1. unknown; d. bef. 1832)
   b. abt 1799, SC (m2. Martha Ryan)
   m1. abt 1825 (+/-)?
   m2. 3 Jan 1833, Perry Co, AL
   *The 1830 federal census shows Wm. J. Wilson enumerated in Perry Co, AL, very near Lambeth Hopkins, brother of Mahala and Permilia Hopkins. The previous page shows the widowed Mary Wilson. The household shows himself as 30-40 years old, a wife aged 20-30, and two sons under 5 years.
   *The bondsman to his second marriage on 21 Dec 1832 with Martha Ryan, was William Wilson (m1. Mary Wilson; m2. Mahala Hopkins).
   
   

4. William A. Wilson (m1. Asenath K. Pullen)
   b. abt 1800-1801, GA (m2. Milly Miller)
   m1. 1 Mar 1825, Greene Co, GA
   m2. 28 Jun 1832, Perry Co, AL
   *The bondsman to his second marriage with Milly Miller was Wyatt S. Pullen.
   
   

5. Thomas Green Wilson [DNA] (m. Mary M. Cameron)
   b. abt 1805, GA
   m. 29 Dec 1828, Greene Co, AL
   d. aft. 1850, Carroll Co, MS
   *Autosomal DNA matches with descendants of Thomas Green Wilson's daughter, Margaret V. Wilson Andrews (b. abt 1830/1835).
   
   

6. Abigail Wilson [DNA] (m. Stephen Smelley)
   b. abt 1810, GA
   m. 9 Sep 1830, Perry Co, AL
   d. ?
   *Autosomal DNA matches with descendants of Abigail Wilson Smelley's children: James T. Smelley (b. abt 1841) and Mary Ann Smelley Cook (b. abt 1847).
   
   

7. Cynthia Wilson [DNA] (m. John B. Ryan)
   b. abt 1814-1815, GA
   m. 21 Jan 1833, Perry Co, AL
   d. aft. 1880, Hale Co, AL
   *Autosomal DNA matches with descendants
   *John B. Ryan and wife Cynthia sold 119 acres to Dorcas George Wilson, widow of James M. Wilson, on 1 Apr 1844 in Perry County, Alabama.

Chronological Timeline:

The 1830 federal census has Mary Willson enumerated in Perry County, Alabama. His household consisted of the following:

1 Male 15-20 - (1810-1815) - unknown
1 Male 20-30 - (1800-1810) - unknown
1 Female 15-20 - (1810-1815) - Cynthia
2 Female 20-30 - (1800-1810) - Abigail
- (1800-1810) - unknown
1 Female 50-60 - (1770-1780) - Mary
0 Slaves

NOTE: Neighboring many Shaffer's and listed directly above Adam Shaffer.

SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYT-9C11

On 18 Oct 1830 at the land office in Cahaba, Dallas County, Alabama, William Wilson and Mary Wilson paid $199.78 in cash for account #98 and receipt #5758. This resulted in land grant #5758 for 159.82 acres of land described as being the SW1/4 of S22 T22 R6E in Perry County.
SOURCE [tract book]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-CT8P

On 1 Jun 1831 in Perry County, Alabama, William Wilson and Mary Wilson were issued land grant #5758 for 159.82 acres of land, described as being the SW1/4 of S22 T22 R6 in Perry County. They were issued the land grant "as tenants in common & not as joint tenants."

NOTE: Does this land grant reflect Mary Wilson and one of her eldest sons, William Wilson? If Mary was a widow, holding land as a tenant in common gave her a legal, "fee simple" ownership of a portion of the property. This provided her with more security and autonomy than a "dower right" (which usually only granted a life interest in one-third of a husband's estate).

NOTE: I cannot locate any deed or probate record that transfers ownership away from William or Mary Wilson. Ultimately, part of this land was later in possession of Isaac Ryan, son of John B. Ryan and Cynthia Wilson. The probate records for Isaac Ryan, stating he died on 18 Feb 1896 in Hale County, Alabama, show he owned the "South west quarter section twenty two township twenty two Range Six East less sixty acres off south end." What happened to the remaining sixty acres, and does this reflect that Cynthia Wilson was a daughter, and heir, of Mary Wilson?

SOURCE [grant]: https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL0240__.153&docClass=STA&sid=ptyqui4c.okr
SOURCE [tract book]: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WS-CT8P
NOTE SOURCE: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C914-K349-N

On 18 Oct 1830 at the land office in Cahaba, Dallas County, Alabama, Mary Wilson paid $100.25 in cash for account for account #98 and receipt #5760. This resulted in land grant #5760 for 80.20 acres of land described as being the W1/2 of the NW1/4 of S11 T18 R6E in Perry County.

On 1 Jun 1831 in Perry County, Alabama, Mary Wilson was issued land grant #5760 for 80.20 acres of land, described as being the W1/2 of the NW1/4 of S11 T18 R6E in Perry County.

NOTE: This land was later sold to John Barron on 2 Jun 1832 in Perry County, Alabama.

SOURCE: https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=AL0240__.155&docClass=STA&sid=arxxtqiy.ppd

On 2 Jun 1832 in Perry County, Alabama, Mary Wilson sold 80.20 acres of land to John Barron for $200. The land was described as being the W1/2 of the NW1/4 of S11 T18 R6E in Perry County. Mary Wilson appeared in court on the same day and swore oath proving the deed.

NOTE: This land was obtained through BLM land grant #5760 to Mary Wilson dated 1 Jun 1831.

SOURCE: Perry County, Alabama deed book NNNN, page 267
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKN-1SNV-X