James
Wilson and Elizabeth Charles
James Wilson was born on May 21, 1792, in PA.[1] James was the son of another James Wilson, born in VA in about 1765, and Elizabeth O’Blemis, born in 1766 in Cumberland, England.[2] Elizabeth Charles was born in Greenville Co., SC on January 11, 1794.[3] Her father was Joel Charles, an early settler in Orange Co., IN. He was said to have been born in Essex Co., VA in 1770.
At
some point in the late 1700s or early 1800s, the Wilson and Charles families moved
westward from their homes in PA and SC, respectively. The Charles family paused
its migration for a time in Tennessee, where their son, Azor Charles, was born in about
1797. They soon pushed on, arriving in Orange Co., IN by 1809 or 1810, becoming
the first white settlers in the area since the French.[4]
Not many people of European descent lived in the Indiana Territory prior to the
War of 1812. The population of what we now call IN was only 2,600 in 1800. By
1810, the population had risen to 24,500.
Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812
The British still occupied forts along the Great Lakes (on the American side), and they set native populations in opposition to the infant nation. With this encouragement, the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh worked to establish a large coalition of tribal peoples to resist further settlement by whites. His brother, Tenskwatawa, known as The Prophet, lived in western IN, near the confluence of the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers. His village, known simply as Prophetstown, served as the coalition’s base of operations against the settlers. The region was dangerous and subjected to constant raids, kidnappings, and murders.
In response, Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison mustered approximately 1,000 men to march on the village and destroy it, and the Indian forces amassed there. The subsequent fight would be known as the Battle of Tippecanoe.[5] James Wilson answered[1]
His date of birth was derived from his headstone, which gives the date of his
death and that he had lived 51 years, 3 months, and 10 days. Tracing James is
made difficult by his common name. In Orange Co, there was also a James A.
Wilson. His wife was named Eliza. Fortunately, most of his children, though not
all, had different names than those of the subject James and Elizabeth, and the
families may be partially sorted through court documents. Interestingly, James
A. died very soon after our James, on October 6, 1842, according to documents
from the DAR Library in Washington, DC. Those same records identify James A. as
having served as a Captain in the Blackhawk War. He is said to have been buried
in the Moore’s Ridge Cemetery in Orange Co., IN.
[2]
The parents of James Wilson (b. ~1792) are identified in the book Genealogy
of Valentine Shirley and Related Families, Henry Shirley Rothrock,
self-published 1983, pages 69-70. Only portions of the book are available for
viewing online at books.google.com
[3]
Elizabeth’s date of birth varies from 1791-1794 according to the source. The
identity of her mother is not yet clear (to me).
[4]
The Marion Leader, Marion, Indiana, Friday, July 11, 1902, page 9. This 2-3/4
column article by Major John R. Simpson, on the history of French Lick,
appeared in numerous papers across the state of IN. Other sources date the
arrival of Elizabeth’s family as late as November 1811.
[5]
Harrison’s leadership won him fame and helped him to further political success
when he for President with John Tyler as his running mate in 1840 and won.
Their campaign slogan was ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler Too’. Harrison died in office
not long after inauguration. His Presidency was the shortest in history. He was
also the last President to have been born under British rule.
Page -2-
the Governor’s call and enlisted as
a Private in the brief but significant assault.[6]
He served in Captain Spier Spencer’s Company of Mounted Riflemen of the Indiana
Militia. Captain Spencer was the Harrison Co. Sheriff, a tavern keeper, and a
veteran of many previous battles with hostile native forces.[7]
For his services, James was paid $6.66 per month. Being a Company of Mounted
Riflemen, James also supplied his own horse (for which he received $0.40 per
day, or about twice what the Army paid for James’ services). This small unit,
known as the Yellow Jackets, was something of an elite squad.[8]
The company gained its name from the uniforms provided by the county (Harrison)
for the men. The cuffs and fringes of their buckskins and wool coats were dyed
a bright yellow.
AI Rendered
Representation of a Yellow Jacket Private
[6]
Whig Rose Journal, Weblog of William Henry Harrison's GROUSELAND, The
Soldiers at the Battle of Tippecanoe (Nov. 7, 1811), https://grouseland.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/the-soldiers-at-the-battle-of-tippecanoe-nov-7-1811/
A total of five soldiers with the last name of Wilson appear in this list:
Captain Walter Wilson, Corporal Elliot, and Privates George, Robert, and James.
[7] Spier
Spencer first served as a Private in Whitaker’s Battalion of KY Mounted
Volunteers. Later, he served in Price’s Battalion of KY Mounted Volunteers as
part of “Captain Arnold’s Spies”. These units fought in the Battle of Fallen
Timbers in 1794.
[8] At
the time, Harrison County comprised land that would later become parts of Crawford,
Floyd, Washington, Jackson, Clark, Lawrence, Perry, Scott, and Orange Counties. Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Jackets_(Indiana)
See also https://www.madisoncourier.com/archives/yellow-jackets-part-of-tippecanoe-battle/article_28e87521-86ec-5212-97d3-b88785d14650.html#:~:text=Karen%20Schwartz%2C%20Special%20to%20The,as%20foragers%20and%20advance%20scouts.
Orange Co., the site of French Lick,
would not particularize until December of 1815 when formed by the Territorial
Legislature.
[9] In addition to Captain Spencer’s Yellow Jackets (43 fighting men plus a small staff of about 17), Harrison also attached a small force (18 men) of spies (scouts) directly under his command. The spies were led by Captain Toussaint Dubois. Spencer and Dubois Counties in southern IN were named for these two gentlemen.
[10] Because of its critical location, Vincennes was the site of multiple forts: French, British, and American. The British built Fort Sackville, then the Americans erected Fort Patrick Henry, Fort Knox I, Fort Knox II, and Fort Knox III. Fort Henry stood during the Revolutionary War days. Fort Knox I was built in 1787 and stood in what is now downtown Vincennes. The locals and the rowdy soldiers did not get along, so soldiers were banned from straying more than 100 yards from the fort. In 1803, to address this issue, Fort Knox II was built three miles north of town. This is the fort that stood during the Battle of Tippecanoe. By 1813, the War of 1812 had revealed how exposed Vincennes was with its fort so remote. So, Fort Knox II was disassembled, floated down the Wabash, and reassembled as Fort Knox III in Vincennes, almost exactly where Fort Knox I had been.
[11] Mrs. Lydia B. Bacon’s Journal, 1811-1812, edited by Mary M. Crawford, Indiana Magazine of History, Vol. 40, No. 4 (December 1944), pp. 367-386 (20 pages), https://www.jstor.org/stable/27787457?seq=2 notes that Harrison took every able-bodied man north with him. Fort Knox and Vincennes were left solely in the hands of women, children, and the infirm. The women, wishing to retain their hair, armed themselves with pistols and prayed.
Page -3-
Instead, they carried a hatchet. When the time came to sleep or simply shelter, the Militia could create a shelter from cut branches after just a few minutes of work.[12] The journal of one of James’ companions, John Tipton, recounted tales of hunting for bear, deer, turkey, and (especially) bee trees. Along the way, Harrison ordered occasional troop reviews and mock battles as ways to keep morale up and their skills honed. Camp life was tedious and uncomfortable with disagreeable food and too much whiskey. The men held wrestling matches for diversion. Repairing their guns and hunting for lost horses occupied much of their time. When they arrived in the vicinity of modern-day Terre Haute, they began construction of a garrison which they named Fort Harrison.[13] After six weeks on the trail, one of the Yellow Jackets reported that he decided to stay in camp and wash his clothes (for the first time). By mid-October, the temperatures dropped, and the rain turned to snow.[14]
The Battle of Tippecanoe was the first large-scale engagement in the Northwest Territory following American independence and served as a precursor to the War of 1812 in the region. Apart from minor skirmishes, combat was limited to November 7th. Harrison encountered the warriors on the 6th just outside of Prophetstown. Through interpreters, the Prophet, being the spiritual leader and not the military leader, had asked to be given the night to consider the militia’s demands and meet the next morning again. As a result, the armies disengaged. Breaking their promises, the Shawnees attacked the Americans at 4:45 am the next morning. Tipton reported that fighting was continuous for the next 2 hours and 20 minutes. It was hand-to-hand combat with heavy losses on both sides. Captain Spier Spencer of the Yellow Jackets was fatally wounded.[15] Aside from Spencer, the Yellow Jackets also lost 4 dead and 15 wounded, the highest casualty rate in Harrison’s command. They had been at the thick of the engagement and bolstered their reputation as fighters. Among the wounded Yellow Jackets was Private James Wilson.[16] In all, 179 Americans were dead or would be within a day or so. Indian losses were thought to have been higher, though there are no definitive records. James and other wounded were fortunate that Harrison had accepted the offer for his force to be augmented by the 4th US Infantry Regiment out of Pittsburgh, for in its ranks was a young, Harvard-trained surgeon, Josiah D. Foster.[17] When the 4th initially joined Harrison and his militia, Foster was named Chief Surgeon for the expedition.[18] On the day of the battle, his tent became an impromptu field surgical theater.
[12] As
told in Adam Walker’s A Journal of Two Campaigns of the Fourth Regiment of
the U. S. Infantry. The Militia men also carried very long knives. Men of the 4th
US Infantry Regiment marveled at the Militia’s knives and hatchets until after
the army began the long march north from Vincennes. Then, they understood.
[13]
Fort Harrison was 150’ square with two-story blockhouses at each corner.
[14] John
Tipton’s Tippecanoe Journal, available online at the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/jstor-27785459/page/n1/mode/2up.
Tipton would rise to Brigadier General by the end of the War of 1812. He would
go on to serve as a US Senator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tipton
[15] At
Tippecanoe, Spencer first received a head wound. He attempted to rise and
continue leading his men and was shot in both thighs. When he attempted to rise
again, he was fatally shot through the torso. His widow, Elizabeth, received a
pension for one-year of $25 per month (half of Spier’s pay) for a total of
$300.
[16] It
is noted that since the Battle of Tippecanoe occurred before the declared
outbreak of fighting (June 1812), his service records, posted on his
Ancestry.com page in my tree) were found in the post-Revolutionary War
Conflict Period (1784-1811) documents.
[17] Ironically,
Dr Foster’s Surgeon's Mate was Dr (Hosea) Blood. The journey of the 4th
Regiment from Pittsburgh to Vincennes and its time there during the expedition
was documented by the wife of one of its Lieutenants. Few educated women of the
day ventured to the edge of civilization, especially when the destination was a
war zone. It is a good read. See Mrs. Lydia B. Bacon’s Journal,
1811-1812, edited by Mary M. Crawford, Indiana Magazine of History, Vol. 40,
No. 4 (December 1944), pp. 367-386 (20 pages), https://www.jstor.org/stable/27787457?seq=2
[18]
Knowing that he was about to head to the West and likely into combat, in
February of 1810, while still in Boston with the 4th, Foster had
inquired of the Army’s Office of Inspector to obtain copies of any instructions
or directives for Surgeons. In a response dated February 27th, the
Office of the Inspector sent him a set of instructions to Surgeons and Mates
dated March 20, 1802, saying that these were the only directions relative to the
Medical Department on hand. The Instructions were part of the wide-ranging
Military Peace Establishment Act. The Instructions set the pay for Surgeons
($30 per month) and Surgeons' Mates ($24 per month), their Rank (Captain and
Lieutenant, respectively), and their rations, created a Hospital Fund, a tax by
another name, on each soldier of $0.10 per month to fund his care if needed.
There were no standard medical procedures. Foster, who had enlisted in 1808,
would have only his Harvard training and his wits as he went into battle.
Thanks to Richard Mason of the Knox Co., IN Public Library for assistance
locating some of the Foster correspondence.
Page -4-
That night, new officers were elected to replace those who had died or were incapacitated. John Tipton, who had only recently advanced to the rank of Ensign, was selected as the new Captain.
When
the Americans advanced on the 8th to take the village, they found
that the Indians had fled, leaving behind their dead and a large stockpile of
supplies, including an estimated 2,000 bushels of corn. From this, the
Americans replenished their own supply, filling six wagons. The rest was put to
the torch. Harrison believed that the loss of their ‘headquarters’ and
stockpiles of food would force the coalition to disperse. Retreating to their
own encampment, the Americans buried their dead and began the trek south. Soon,
they were met by resupply boats. Following Dr Foster’s orders, the worst of the
wounded were placed in the boats for transport back to Vincennes. This allowed
those on horseback and on foot to pick up their pace. At about midnight, as the
wounded men drifted down the Wabash, their boat became stuck on a sand bar.
With almost total darkness and no support, they were forced to wait out the
night in subfreezing temperatures. By morning, their wounds, which had not been
dressed in two days, had become stiff and quite painful. The wounded arrived at
Vincennes on the 19th and were immediately put into what one soldier
described as “excellent quarters”.[19]
The fledgling University of Vincennes had begun construction of its first major
structure in the spring of 1808, a three-story brick building in the Georgian
style. By August 1811, the first rooms were ready for use. It was this space that Foster
commandeered to serve as an improvised hospital.[20]
[19] By
the time the Army arrived back in Vincennes, twenty-five of the wounded had died. Three
more would die in the hospital in Vincennes by December 3rd. Per The
Army Medical Departments, 1775-1818, Mary C. Gillett, Center of
Military History, 1990, page 138. Some sources say they arrived on the 17th.
In either case, it had been at least 10 days since the men were wounded, with
that time spent in tents, wagons, and boats in the frigid air. A journal of
two campaigns of the Fourth Regiment of U. S. Infantry: in the Michigan and
Indiana territories, under the command of Col. John P. Boyd, and Lt. Col. James
Miller, during the years 1811 & 12, Adam Walker, 1816. https://archive.org/details/journaloftwocamp00walk/page/36/mode/2up?view=theater
[20] Early
History of Vincennes University, Howard R. Burnett, Indiana Magazine of
History, Vol. 29, No. 2 (June, 1933), pp. 114-121 (8 pages), https://www.jstor.org/stable/27786602.
The building was a 2-1/2 story brick structure trimmed with sandstone, the
second brick building in town. It would not be fully finished until 1819. The
University began as the Jefferson Academy in 1801. It was the first institution
of higher learning in Indiana. Further details are provided in History of
Vincennes University, by Curtis Grover Shake, 1928, pages 8-10. This source
confirms the use of the school as a hospital. A sketch of the completed structure
appears on page 11. https://www.google.com/books/edition/History_of_Vincennes_University/tlIyMksnIw4C?hl=en&gbpv=0
[21] The march and battle are covered in more detail in A Sketchbook of Indiana History, Arville L. Funk, Christian Book Press, Rochester, IN, 1969, pages 25-32. https://archive.org/details/sketchbookofindi0000arvi/mode/2up?q=wilson&view=theater
[22] The Army Medical Department, 1775-1818, Gillett, Mary C; Center of Military History, 1990. https://archive.org/details/TheArmyMedicalDepartment17751818 His report of December 11, 1811, lists each man still under care. Somehow, the report does not list James Wilson. As only six of the wounded were identified as Militia, it is likely the list was not exhaustive, Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison, 1806-1811, Vol. 1, pages 642-643. December 1811, is also when the first shocks of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 occurred. The quakes and associated major aftershocks ranged from 7.2-8.6 on the Richter scale. Most of the firsthand accounts of the Battle aftermath also describe the earthquakes.
[23] Military Surgery at the Battle of Tippecanoe, Leonard K. Eaton, Bulletin of the History of Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 5 (September-October 1951), pages 460-463. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/44443658.pdf The paper reveals that Foster was a disciple of Dr Benjamin Rush’s system of treatments. Rush. “Those with sanguine dispositions he bled copiously; individuals of phlegmatic temperament he puked…”
[24] Foster had requested a furlough in July 1811 following the death of his father. It was denied in a letter of July 30th, likely due to the 4th’s pending departure for the West. On October 10, 1811, writing from Vincennes, Foster requested leave to help settle the estate after the ‘present campaign’, which he called the ‘Battle des Illinois’. In February 1812, after Tippecanoe, he wrote providing an address where letters and orders might reach him while on furlough. A response came in late March, ordering him to proceed to Detroit. Perhaps resigned that his furlough was to again be deferred, in April 1812 he accepted a promotion to Hospital Surgeon. Foster was killed during the siege of Detroit on August 11, 1812. He was 28 at the time of his death.
Page -5-
At this time, it is not clear when he was released from the hospital in Vincennes and returned to the care of his family.
As James recovered, Tenskwatawa defied Harrison’s expectations. He returned to the ruins of Prophetstown and began the task of rebuilding. His warriors quickly located the American encampment where they desecrated the fresh graves and scalped the corpses.[25] Soon, coalition tribes increased raids against white settlements, waging a campaign of terror in retaliation for Harrison’s assault. In order to protect settlers, Harrison seems to have retained the Yellow Jackets and deployed them some 20 miles above Vincennes along Busseron Creek.[26]
America’s refusal to continue living in such circumstances in the west was a major factor in its decision to declare war on the British and their native allies in June of 1812. While most attention has been given in the history books to action on the eastern seaboard and in Canada, the Indiana Territory was not forgotten. A new force was mustered under General Samuel Hopkins and a company of Rangers under the command of Captain Zachery Taylor. They returned to the rebuilt Prophetstown, permanently destroyed its dwellings, burned the vital storehouses of corn, and scattered the coalition warriors. With the associated death of Tecumseh in Ontario, the coalition was broken.
It has been suggested that James recovered quickly enough to again serve his country during the War of 1812.[27] If so, it is unclear at this point where and when he served and just how high he rose in the Army, and if the later appellation of ‘Captain’ was related to that service or merely an honorific.[28]
According
to the article from the Marion Leader cited above, during the War the Charles
family (including James’ bride-to-be, Elizabeth) sought shelter in the Fort at
French Lick and lived there for a time.
[25] “When
General Samuel Hopkins came through the country after the beginning of the War
of 1812, he reburied the bodies, but the Indians tore them out again. The bones
bleached until they were buried by a party from Terre Haute in 1821. In 1830, the bones were collected and interred in one great coffin, which was
inscribed with brass nails, “Rest, Warriors, Rest”.” Tecumseh: Vision of Glory,
Glenn Tucker, Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, 1956, p. 228. Available at
archive.org
[26] Messages
and Letters of William Henry Harrison, 1806-1811, Vol. 1, Harrison to the
Secretary of War, November 26, 1811, p. 650.
[27]
James’ War of 1812 service has not been confirmed to my satisfaction. Given
that he was described as ‘badly wounded’, it is hard to understand how he could
have so quickly returned to the Army.
[28]
The other option is that the stories of Captain James Wilson simply refer to a
different person of the same name (such as the James A. Wilson mentioned above)
and that their histories have become merged. This seems to have been
definitively refuted by the obituary in the Paoli, Indiana newspaper, True
American (undated), at the time of James’ death that referred to him as
‘Captain’. The obituary was quoted in Orange County Cemeteries, Stalker
School Little Hoosiers, and Bedford North Lawrence History Hunters, Bedford, IN,
1981.
Page -6-
1815-1840
It is likely that after the War, with both families in lightly populated Orange Co., James and Elizabeth met and married.[29] The date and location of that ceremony are not yet known. They appear to have first settled in the Northwest Township. County records show James Wilson recording the fourth deed ever in 1814.[30]
The
Wilsons had at least seven children, three girls and four boys. The first known
child was a son, Azor. He was born on May 29, 1815.[31]
In November 1816, with IN just a month from statehood, James and 127 of his
Paoli neighbors appeared on a list of voters in the first election for
Representative from Orange Co.[32]
In about 1817, Simon Rubottom, James Wilson and Roger McKnight were appointed
surveyors of a road from Paoli to Section 12, Township 4 north,
Range 2 west, on the White River.[33] The Wilsons’ first daughter, Nancy, was born in March of 1818.[34] At a Northwest Township election in February of 1819, James was one of only 38 voters.[35] In the early part of the 1820s, James had a small mill on Sulphur Creek in Northwest Township, but it only ran part of the year when there was sufficient water to turn the undershot wheel.[36] Another son, Joseph C., was born in about 1823.[37]
Beginning in October 1825, James Wilson appeared in the Orange Co. Probate Court and was approved to be the Administrator of the Estate of Perminda Wilson (deceased). Two other men were sworn to perform an appraisal of her Estate. An Estate sale was then conducted to enable all debts to be paid, with Wilson picking up a number of the items (these included a crock, pail, tea kettle, saddle, bedstead, one bunch of flax, a red and white cow with its calf, and a wheat stack).[38] The following February, Wilson returned to Court, this time asking to be named Guardian of Betsy and Lavina Wilson, infant heirs of James’ younger brother, Samuel (deceased). Samuel died November 2, 1823, and was buried in the Moffet-Daily Cemetery in West Baden Springs, in Orange Co., IN.[39]
[29]
This is conjecture but not as doubtful as some of the claims made by others. On
the internet, you’ll find assertions that James and Elizabeth married in OH
and/or in TN in about 1816. Yet, we know James was already in IN in time to be
part of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe and that Joel Charles and his family
arrived in Orange Co, by 1809 or 1810. I judge that it is most likely that
James and Elizabeth married in IN.
[30] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 386.
[31]
Azor Wilson was born on May 29, 1815, in Orange Co., IN. He married a woman
named Emilie (Emily), born in about 1824 in IN. He died on December 20. 1876,
in Orange Co., IN, and is buried in the Wilson Cemetery in West Baden Springs in
Orange Co. Azor appears to have been named after his Mother’s brother, Azor
Charles, who was born in TN in about 1797 as the family moved westward.
[32] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 379.
[33] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 414.
[34]
Nancy Wilson was born in March 1818 in Orange Co., IN. She married John Jackson
Collins on October 21, 1837, in Orange Co. They moved to CA as part of the gold
rush, eventually settling in Grass Valley. She died July 16, 1903. After her
death, her family disintegrated into squabbles regarding inheritance.
[35] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 388.
[36] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 389.
[37]
Joseph C. Wilson was born in about 1823 in Orange Co., IN. He married Mary
Carter, born in about 1825. They had at least three or four children. He was a
member of the 17th IN Infantry Regiment, Co. A. He drowned in the Tennessee
River near Chattanooga while executing a Special Order on Scout duty on
September 8, 1863. They lived in Martin Co., IN.
[38]
Orange Co., IN, Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, pages 153-155.
[39] According to his headstone, Samuel was born in PA in 1796.
Page -7-
The two-year delay in choosing a Guardian seemed unusual until examination of Samuel’s headstone showed that his wife, the former Rachel Charles, had died in 1825. It seems that her death, rather than Samuel’s, triggered the need for Guardianship.[40] As was typical, Wilson had to post a bond to serve in that role.[41] James and Elizabeth took in the two girls and raised them as their own.[42]
The next child born in the Wilson home was John J. Wilson. He arrived in 1826.[43] That same year, James was elected as a Justice of the Peace.[44]
In February 1827, James Wilson was mentioned in the Probate Order Books, though he did not appear in this instance. The Administrator of Samuel Wilson’s Estate (the younger brother of James), Samuel Cobb, had updated the Court on his accounts and noted that he had two receipts in hand from James Wilson, totaling $48.83.[45] That same month, James appeared in the record of the Estate sale of Jasper Wilson (deceased) after he purchased quite a few items (iron wedge, pairing chisel, two augers, a drawing knife, hand saw for slate, and a wagon).[46] Then in July 1828, James returned to Probate Court as the Administrator of the estate of Perminda Wilson. He gave a report of having paid 10 outstanding accounts (including three years of overdue taxes). The last entry for this appearance authorized payment for his own services (a common practice), which worked out to about 15% of the above bills.[47]
During the July Term of 1828, James returned to Court with a list of vouchers for money that he had collected due to the Perminda Wilson Estate. The Court had these recorded, then awarded James $24 for his services.[48]
In the December Court Term of 1828, James failed to appear as expected as Guardian on behalf of his younger brother, Samuel Wilson’s children. A subpoena was issued to compel his presence at the next Term.[49] In response, in February 1829, James returned to Court where he provided an account of the money that he had on hand belonging to the Estate. During that same appearance, he gave a report of the final settlement of the Estate of Perminda Wilson. He reported being left with $140.93. From that, the Court awarded him administration fees of $10.34.[50] He also gave an account of his expenses on behalf of the heirs of Samuel Wilson.
[40]
Rachel’s father was Joel Charles. The brothers, James and Samuel, had married
sisters, Elizabeth and Rachel.
[41]
Orange Co., IN, Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, page 169.
[42]
According to surviving family records, the girls were not formally educated,
with Betsy (Elizabeth) not learning to read until after her marriage in 1838 to
George Shirley. Betsy died May 1, 1892, in Orange Co., IN, and was buried in
the Bethel Cemetery, Orangeville, IN. Levina (Lavina) was born in 1823, married
Samuel Hudleson, and is said to have died in 1847 (Unconfirmed).
[43] John
J. Wilson was born in about 1826 in Orange Co., IN. Some records show ‘John J.’;
others show ‘John T.’. Handwriting during the period used many flourishes that
make interpretation difficult. His movements after the 1850 census have not yet
been traced.
[44] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 436.
[45]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, page 210. This footnote
and the next seem to link to the same page. They do not. There are several repeated
page numbers (not pages), but it only seems to exist over a few pages. The page
numbers count up to 212, then the next page is 203, then 204, 205, etc. After a
brief review, I think there are duplicate page numbers 203-212 only. This drove
me crazy.
[46] Orange
Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, page 210. See the footnote above.
Here, I am referencing the second page 210.
[47]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, pages 301-302.
[48]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol 1, 1826-1838, page 16.
[49]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol 1, 1826-1838, page 22.
[50]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol 1, 1826-1838, page 25.
Page -8-
These included some repairs to the house. He paid $1.55 to have some logs ‘drawn’ for use on the house and another $2.80 for some planking. Additionally, he had paid $5.00 for schooling for the girls and paid their $1.00 tax bill for 1828.[51]
Elizabeth Wilson gave birth to another daughter, Cynthia Francis, sometime in 1832.[52] That same year, James returned to Court to give a financial account of his administration of the Estate of the heirs of Samuel Wilson (his younger brother). The Court accepted his report and awarded him the typical administration fees.[53]
As a result of his wounds at the Battle of Tippecanoe, James was awarded a pension on December 29, 1832.[54] He initially drew $4.00 per month.[55]
James and Elizabeth welcomed another daughter, Martha A., in 1834.[56] A fourth son, James, was born in 1838.[57]
In
1838, the Wilsons purchased 40 acres in Orange Co. from the General Land Office
in Vincennes. [58]
In October of 1840, James returned to Vincennes and made two other purchases,
40 acres each, of land in nearby Martin Co.[59]
[51]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol A, 1816-1829, page 343. In the days
before 2x4 framing, houses were made of stacked logs. The raw logs were
commonly shaved to remove bark and flattened on top and bottom using an adze or
a draw knife to make them easy to stack. The ‘planks’ (boards) were likely used
for interior floors, though they may have been used as siding for nicer homes or
important buildings, so they had the appearance of dwellings east of the
Appalachians.
[52] Cynthia Frances Wilson was born in about 1832 in IN. She
married William A. Lindley on November 25, 1852. He served in the 17th
IN Infantry, Co. A, and was wounded near Farmington, TN, and died from those
wounds on October 7, 1863, in nearby Shelbyville, TN. There were no
children from that marriage. She remarried in 1866 to Robert S. Harris.
Cynthia died in Martin Co., IN, on May 26, 1873. I have not yet tried to confirm
how, but it is almost certain that William A. was a descendant of Jonathan Lindley (1756-1828), perhaps a grandson, one of the original Quaker settlers in
Orange Co., IN, who came from Orange Co., NC.
[53]
Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book, Vol 1, 1826-1838, page 171. Up until this
point, James Wilson has always been identified just by his name. At this point,
a second man of the same name appears. The second man will become known (at
least in Probate Court) as James A. Wilson, while our James will either continue
as before or be identified as he is in this Court record as “James Wilson
(Sulphur)”. There is still a Sulphur Creek in Orange County and a Sulphur
Cemetery.
[54] "United
States, Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872",
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-KMYY : Fri Apr
25 15:29:35 UTC 2025), Entry for James Wilson, 28 Dec 1832. The meaning of the
high-level data on the ledgers is obvious: State, name, rank, rate of payment
(per month), start date, and end date. The column for each year is divided into
sub-columns for March and September. Entries for these columns can be 1, 2, 3, or 4. According to Understanding Revolutionary War and Invalid Pension
Ledgers, 1818-1872 and the Pension Payment Vouchers they Represent, Heritage
Books, Craig R. Scott, 2014, the numbers correlate to the quarter the payment
was picked up at a local pension office (where there were many soldiers) or at
a bank (in a small rural area).
[55]
Pension Roll of 1835, Volume 4, page 29. His record indicates that he was
eligible under an act of Congress dated April 24, 1816, which made pensions
available to State militia soldiers.
[56]
Martha A. Wilson was born in 1834 in IN. The long gaps between births may be
indicative of careful planning or may indicate that other children were born
but did not survive infancy. Motherhood and infancy were just as dangerous as
mining, logging, and warfare.
[57]
James Wilson was born in 1838 in IN. Like his brother, Joseph C., James served
in the 17th IN Infantry, Co. A. He died February 16, 1864. He had
been elevated to the rank of Corporal prior to his death.
[58]
General Land Office, Vincennes, IN, patent certificate 13,689 for 40 acres in
Orange Co., in section 24, September 1, 1838.
[59]
General Land Office, Vincennes, IN, patent certificates 25,082 and 25,083. Both
were for 40 acres and were issued on October 1, 1840.
Page -9-
James Wilson seems to have had a larger-than-life personality. His reputation as a bear hunter led to him being known as Jim ‘Big Bear’ Wilson or more simply, ‘Bear Jim’. The following biographical sketch appeared in an early history of Orange County.[60]
One of the historical characters of this part of the county, in its early settlement, was Captain James Wilson, familiarly known as "Bear Jim." He was one of the most famous hunters of the county, and to narrate half of the tales that are still told concerning his fearless and eccentric daring would fill a large volume in itself. He was especially fortunate in hunting the bear, and from this he derived his curious cognomen. One of the most thrilling episodes, in which he was the hero and one familiar to everybody yet living in the neighborhood, was this: His favorite mode of capturing the bear was by going into the small caves in which southern Indiana abounds and where he knew a bruin to have its den. In these subterranean exploits he always carried a torchlight and his rifle, besides his dirk that nearly always accompanied him. On this occasion he went into the cave, equipped as usual, and left a man who was with him at the entrance. When he had proceeded into the cave but a short distance, he saw the bear, which in its turn also saw him, and being no doubt partially blinded, and considerably scared by the light, it started for daylight in which to wage its conflict. But, in order to get that, it was necessary to pass the doughty hunter in the narrow passage dash way, and at once began that business. "Bear Jim" at once saw the danger of his position and commenced a retreat, but the bear advanced faster than he retired, and a fearful contest began for the right of way. He had no opportunity to use his almost unerring rifle, and in the struggle the light was put out. Instead of coming to his rescue, the man outside ran away through fear, and left Wilson to fight out his own battle. This proved to be a bloody one, and he finally managed to escape from both the cave and the brute. The renowned hunter was much the worse for wear, having several severe bites about the shoulders and being badly scratched on the head and face with clothes torn in shreds. He recovered from these, however, and lived to prowl in many a cave in search for other bears, having profited but little by his former perilous experience. Probably the last bear killed in the county was in this township (northwest) about the year 1825, and Alfred Bruner tells of the excitement it created in the neighborhood and that the meat was divided among the persons who helped kill it.
Another anecdote appearing in the same source was said to have been taken from family records collected by Helen Ricks Charles, wife of Thomas Oliver Charles.
Life for the pioneer women was often difficult. Mrs. Wilson may be excused for sometimes losing her temper with her husband's Rip Van Winkle-like ways. She was a daughter of Joel Charles and a sister of William Charles, who was killed by Indians on the side of French Lick. The newspaper writer called James Wilson the old captain, although at the time of the story he was only 39. He had fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe. He lies buried in a little family cemetery on top of a high hill in northwest township. There he was buried with military honors on 1 September 1843, 51 years old.
Bear Caves, west of French Lick, was the scene of one of Captain Wilson's roughest encounters with a bear. It was formerly a picturesque and beautiful place in a setting of
[60] History
of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed Brothers
and Co., 1884, p. 388-389.
Page -10-
five beech trees. The cave opening is in a
place of a bluff from which flows a stream of icy cold water tumbling over
mossy stones on its way to a clear brook with wildflowers and ferns along the
banks. This was one of the favorite trails for horseback riders some years ago
when riding was a popular diversion among hotel guests.
1840s
Elizabeth’s father, Joel, died on June 9, 1843, in Orange Co. He was about 73 years old. He was laid to rest in the Charles-Smith Family Cemetery in French Lick in Orange Co. Just shy of three months later, Elizabeth lost her husband when James died on September 1st. He was buried with military honors in the Wilson Cemetery in the West Baden community, French Lick Township, Orange Co., IN.[61] His pension payroll records show that he was still drawing $4.00 per month when he died. The last payment would be made in April 1844.[62] Widows' pensions were available under a variety of Congressional Acts (1836, 1838, 1848 and 1853) with continually evolving eligibility requirements. From a quick read, it appears that Elizabeth would not have been eligible until the Act of 1853, as she and James did not marry until after his service was completed. To date, no evidence has been found that Elizabeth was ever awarded such a pension. Given the financial woes that (described below) would plague Elizabeth, the failure to secure the pension cannot be explained.
Sadly, many Estate issues arose after James’ death. Like many pioneer settlers in the Northwest Territory and the States formed from them, James was land wealthy and cash poor. Debts were readily incurred to pay for land, manufactured goods, and services. The absence of cash typically meant the accumulation of large indebtedness. Probate Courts were frequently forced to order the sell-off of lands to settle those debts. Over and over, large estates were broken up to pay taxes and satisfy creditors. This had been particularly true of the first land patents that were typically issued for 160 acres and paid for in installments. Later patents were smaller (typically 40 acres or a ‘quarter-section’) and often required full payment up front. The above sad story was what appears to have happened to James and Elizabeth. The process of settling James’ Estate, with lands in both Orange and Martin Counties, would occupy a considerable amount of space in the Orange Co., IN Probate Court Order Books.
The first appearance in the record occurred in the November Term of 1843.[63] This thread continued for nine pages, with the last entry dated February 1846. John J. Collins (husband of Nancy Wilson Collins) was appointed Administrator of James’ Estate. He reported that the personal estate was worth less than $100 while the debts exceeded several hundred dollars. He saw no option but to appraise and sell such lands as were held by the Estate. He provided legal descriptions of the lands in Orange and Martin Counties and proposed the usual process for legal disposal. That would involve obtaining appraisals, posting notifications of a pending sale, and taking bids at public auction. Lands would be sold and deeded to those with cash, and notes would be exchanged with those needing credit. The first attempt at a public auction was only partially successful, with some lands going to family members (brother, Joseph C.
[61] Orange
County Cemeteries, Stalker School Little Hoosiers and Bedford North
Lawrence History Hunters, Bedford, IN, 1981. The booklet quotes the Paoli,
Indiana newspaper, True American (no date given) which stated that Wilson was ‘buried
at his residence’. It is assumed that this portion of his land became the
Wilson Cemetery.
[62] "United
States, Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872",
FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Q-KZ1M : Fri Apr
25 15:38:37 UTC 2025), Entry for James Wilson, 02 Sep 1843, also available on
Ancestry.com
[63]
Orange Co., IN, Probate Order Book, Vol 2, 1842-1848, May Term 1844, pages
157-165.
Page -11-
In the May Term for 1844, another lengthy report appeared.[64] This entry provided a synopsis of a series of actions extending back to November 1843, when the widow Wilson came as a Petitioner in an action against ‘John and Nancy Collins and the heirs of James Wilson’. In her petition, Elizabeth laid out the date of the death of James and listed his heirs.[65] She noted that James had bought land in the French Lick Reserve in Orange County and paid one-fourth down. She itemized his land purchases and concluded by saying that she was entitled to a one-fourth part based on the down payment. She then noted that when he died, he possessed certain lands in nearby Martin Co. She claimed that she was entitled to a full one-third ‘dower-part’ of this land. This land was registered at the Vincennes Land Office.[66] None of this was mentioned by Administrator Collins in his earlier petition. She claimed that the heirs had not set apart the dower-part and ‘had failed, neglected and refused to do so’. She therefore asked the Court to notify the heirs by publication of her petition in the True American, a weekly paper published in Paoli, IN, and for three freeholders to be appointed to review and set apart her dower in accordance with the ‘true intent and meaning of the statute’.
In keeping with normal practice, the Court ordered that the notification be published as requested for three successive weeks at least twenty days before the beginning of the next Court Term.
Elizabeth returned on February 28, 1844, with evidence of the publication of the notices in the True American, whereby three men were appointed as requested: John Pinnwick, Andrew Wilson, and Giles C. Smith. The men were ordered to bring their report at the next term. The men returned on May 28, 1844, with their report.[67] The men had done as ordered.
The
Court record does not interpret these ‘dueling petitioners’ for us. We are left
to speculate why the children would have petitioned the Court to sell their
mother’s land out from under her. There are many related appearances by Administrator
Collins.[68]
Nowhere does he admit to a gaffe, nor does he ask the Court to rescind any
motions. Perhaps something will be found in the record to explain this.
[64]
Orange Co., IN, Probate Order Book, Vol 2, 1842-1848, May Term 1844, pages
95-99.
[65] The
heirs were John J. and Nancy Collins (formerly Nancy Wilson), Azor Wilson,
Joseph C. Wilson, John J. Wilson, Frances C. Wilson, Martha Wilson and James A.
Wilson. Elizabeth lists her daughter, Cynthia, as ‘Frances C.’. Elsewhere in
public records, she appears as Cynthia F.
[66]
General Land Office, Vincennes Office, patent certificate 13,689 for 40 acres
to James Wilson of Orange Co., in section 24, September 1, 1838. A ‘James
Wilson’ was also issued patents for two pieces of land in Martin Co. This is
consistent with Elizabeth’s petition to the Court, and therefore, I believe that
this was our James Wilson. The patent certificate numbers are 25082 and 25083.
Both were issued October 1, 1840, for 40 acres each.
[67]
Elizabeth’s petition and the report of the 3-man Commission are both tough
reading for those not familiar with the surveying arts. Both are full of
sections, quarter-sections, townships, and ranges. Still, the descriptions
enable the modern reader to plot the lands on a modern map using a variety of
tools. The meridian is assumed rather than stated. It is stated in the online
record as 2nd PM (2nd principal meridian). A meridian is
a line of equal values of longitude. A set of principal meridians was established in the 1800s for the continental United States (and one in the
1900s for Alaska) to facilitate surveying and the identification of property
boundaries. The 2nd PM was fixed in 1805 at 86°27′21″ west longitude
(from Greenwich, England) for use in most of IN and far eastern IL.
[68]
Orange Co., IN, Probate Order Book, Vol 2, 1842-1848, pages 229-230, 262-263,
279-280, 294, 313-314, 528, 533, 550, and 611 and Orange Co., IN, Probate Order
Book, Vol 3, 1847-1850, pages 21, 96, 117, 225, 299, and 370
Page -12-
1850s
When
the 1850 census was taken, the widow Elizabeth ‘reported as being 51 years old’.
Four of her children still lived with her: John (22), Cynthia Francis (29),
Martha (16) and James (12). None of the residents were shown to have an
occupation, John specifically was said to have ‘none’. Realistically, John must
have been given to farming (perhaps with some assistance from James and nearby uncles,
brothers and cousins). The farm output described in the 1850 Federal
agricultural census seems to somewhat confirm this point.[69]
The farm consisted of 54 acres of improved land and 26 acres of unimproved
land. Its cash value was $425. They owned $10 worth of farm implements, 4
horses, 2 milk cows, 4 sheep, and 12 hogs. The total value of the livestock was
$150. In the prior year, they had produced 315 bushels of Indian corn and 50
bushels of oats and nothing else. There were certainly smaller farms, but none were
less diverse nor less productive.
1860s
By the time of the 1860 census, the 65-year-old Elizabeth was still living in the French Lick Township and trying to keep the farm going. Her daughter Martha (26) and son, James (22), lived with her. Martha worked as a teacher while James worked on the farm. They were joined by 12-year-old Laura Wilson. Laura was likely Elizabeth’s granddaughter, though it’s not clear who her parents were. Laura attended school. Despite of the difficulties imposed by the settlement of James’ estate, Elizabeth was able to retain title to her farm through the “set-asides” for widows provided by the State. She told the census taker that her real estate holdings were worth $600, and her personal estate was valued at $300. That year, the Federal government took the second nationwide national agricultural census. Unlike 1850, this time the farm belonged to Elizabeth and the assessment of productivity was taken in her name. As before, this facilitates comparison with the productivity of surrounding farms. There is no way of knowing how much help young James received from his family and extended family.[70] Elizabeth had 20 acres of improved land and another 40 acres of unimproved land. The cash value of the farm was set at $600. She had 2 horses, 3 milk cows and 3 other cattle. The total value of all livestock was $280. Over the last year, they had produced 300 bushels of Indian corn, 10 bushels of Irish potatoes, and 100 pounds of butter. They had also slaughtered $80 worth of livestock. Compared to surrounding farms, Elizabeth’s operation was small, not very diversified and not very productive.
About one year later, on July 20, 1861, Elizabeth died. She was buried in the Wilson Cemetery in the French Lick Township. There are no entries in the Probate Order Books or Will Books following her death.[71] She died just as the Civil War was in its infancy. The following few
[69] As
noted elsewhere, James’ Estate took years to settle which may explain why the
farm was still recorded in his name in 1850. It is also possible that the
described operation belonged to a separate James Wilson, but we would then be
left trying to explain the absence from the census of Elizabeth’s holdings in the
small French Lick Township community. While I am comfortable with such an
assumption, they can best be verified by a review of property records. These
records are not currently available online.
[70]
Azor Wilson’s farm appeared on the same page of the agricultural census as did
Azor Charles, 63, Elizabeth’s brother.
[71]
Orange Co., IN, Will Book 2, pages 325-326, does contain an entry for an
Elizabeth Wilson but it is dated six years after the passing of our Elizabeth.
In that will, the heirs and explicitly mentioned and they do not correspond to
the family of James and Elizabeth. That was a different person.
Page -13-
years would bring grief to the family with the sacrifice of at least two of her sons (Joseph C. and James A.) and a son-in-law (William A. Lindley).[72]
Her son-in-law, Private William A. Lindley, was the husband of Cynthia F. Wilson. The couple resided in Martin Co. He enlisted in the 17th IN Infantry, Co. A, on August 11th or 14th in 1862 at Shoals, IN. He was wounded near Farmington, TN. on October 6th and was transferred to Shelbyville, TN for treatment. He died there from those wounds on the very next day. Cynthia made application for a Widows' Pension in November 1863 and was granted $8 per month retroactive to William’s death. The couple had no children.
Elizabeth’s third child and second son, Private Joseph C. Wilson, was the husband of Mary Carter. They also resided in Martin Co. He enlisted in the 17th IN Infantry, Co. A, in Munfordville, KY on September 16, 1862. He drowned in the Tennessee River near Chattanooga while executing a Special Order issued by his Lt Colonel on September 8, 1863.[73] According to the Surgeon’s report, there was a mid-channel island in the Tennessee River that had been recently occupied by Confederate troops (infantry and artillery). Joseph was as to go to the island and scout it out (presumably to see if they had created any earthen works that might be useful to the Union or had left any equipment behind). Finding no boat of any kind, he attempted to swim across the river.[74] The 41-year-old drowned in the process. The Register of the Deaths of Volunteers listed Joseph as a Sergeant, though other records show him as a Private. Their two daughters were of age at the time of his death. The Widow received a pension of $8 per month retroactive to his death.
Private
James A. Wilson was the unmarried son of James and Elizabeth Wilson and their
last child. He resided in Orange Co. Like his brother, Joseph C., James served
in the 17th IN Infantry, Co. A. He died February 16, 1864, at a Regimental
Hospital. The cause of death was not stated nor was the location of the
hospital noted.[75] He
had been elevated to the rank of Corporal prior to his death. A pension
application file was initiated, naming his late-mother as the recipient, The
file number was number 50,535. That application appears to have been rejected. Further
research of the pension application file may clarify his death.
End Notes
1.
Need
to research land transactions.
2.
Research
other Court records.
3.
Research
tax records.
4.
Awaiting
James’ pension file
5.
Keep
looking for Dr Foster’s reports from the impromptu VU hospital
[72] Following
the death of James A. Wilson (1838-1864), an application for pension benefits
due to Elizabeth appears to have been filed but not approved (not surprising as
Elizabeth died in 1861). Further insight might be gained from review of the application
(50,535).
[73]
Joseph’s drowning is not mentioned, but the general outline of the day is
reported in the Official Records of the War of Rebellion, Volume 050,
chapter XLII, page 679 https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/050/0679
[74] The
Surgeon’s report identifies his intended destination as ‘Frys Island’. This is
a misspelling of Friars Island. It appears on some maps after the Civil War as
Chickamauga Island. The island no longer exists; it was inundated by TVA’s
construction of Chickamauga Dam (completed in January 1940). The island was immediately upstream of the dam and appears in some construction photos: https://chattanoogahistory.com/img/chickamaugadam_preview.jpg
I have been unable to find a source that
confirms its size. Several recent sources place the island (incorrectly)
downstream of the dam: For one example, see https://tennessee.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,3,fid,1312661,n,friars%20island.cfm
The island was located at one of just four places around town where the river
might be forded under the right conditions. The Army originally reported the
ford to be 3’ deep and quite rapid. Later, the estimate was revised to 4-1/2’
deep https://ehistory.osu.edu/books/official-records/052/0122
[75]
Another source, the Indiana, U.S., Civil War Soldier Database Index, 1861-1865,
states that he died at his home in ‘Morton’ (sic) Co., while on furlough on
March 5, 1864. If this is true, it might explain the above gaps in the
Regimental record.
