Revolutionary War Ancestors

Note: This is a re-post of my 2008 blog post about our Revolutionary War Ancestors.  This year it is important that we remember and be thankful for our Revolutionary War Ancestors on this the -- 

 250th Anniversary of our Independence  

Our family has many direct line ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War or helped the cause of freedom and are considered patriots.  In order to join the Daughters of the American Revolution, I have documented and proven lineage to one of our ancestors: Revolutionary War Patriot, Nathan Cole.

Direct Line Ancestors (many found in DAR or SAR):

Name of Patriot, Family line, DAR #, Colony served from
Nathan Cole (Wilson line) DAR#A024205; Served from RI 1775/1776 abt 6 months, re-enlisted in Hancock, MA.

Robert Carothers (Wilson line) DAR#A019364;  Served in Mecklenburg County, NC Militia.
David Wilson (Wilson line) DAR Roster of Soldiers of NC in the Revolutionary War, P. 401-2
Jonas Goble (Wilson line) DAR#A045835; Continental Army, Waggoner from Morristown, NJ
Ezekiel Goble (Wilson line) DAR#A045827; Sergeant in Eastern Battalion, Dunmore's War, NJ Militia
Andrew Cox (Cock) (Wilson line) DAR#A026969; Soldier, Patriotic Service, Montgomery County, VA Militia
William Jay (Wilson line) DAR#A061803; 96 District, SC, Patriotic Service - furnished supplies
William Whitley (Baldwin line) Scout and soldier in the Virginia Troops
Isaac West (Baldwin line) South Carolina, Patriotic Service, Attacked by British at Kings Mountain
John Belk (Baldwin line) North Carolina, Civil Service
George Brown (Baldwin line) Virginia (Died in TN - headstone states he served in Revolutionary War)
Robert Box (Leffel Line) DAR#A012968; 96 District South Carolina, Patriotic Service - Furnished Supplies
Balzar Leffel (Leffel line) DAR#A069001; Oath of Allegiance, 1778 Berks Co. PA
John Leffel (Leffel line) DAR#A132153;  Patriotic Service, 1783 Berks Co., PA


Other direct line ancestors who may have fought (some research needs to be done on these men):

James Thompson (Wilson line) ??some say he fought at CowPens, SC or Guilford Courthouse, NC??

Randolph Whitley (Baldwin line)
Thomas Lindley (Baldwin line) served from North Carolina -- must prove correct service
Phillip Peery (Leffel line)
Benjamin Johnson (Leffel line) -- He received a military land grant

Note: The above are direct line ancestors -- many of their family members (brothers, uncles & cousins) also served by fighting in Revolutionary War or serving the cause of freedom in some other capacity.  See below.

Other family members (not direct line) who served in the Revolutionary War:

William Cole (brother to Nathan Cole) Private, 4th Regiment, NY line, Continental Army
Royal Cole (brother of Nathan Cole) Allowed pension. Enlisted July, 1776.  SAR
Samuel Abenschon (brother to Margaret Abendschon Leffel) Private, Berks Co. Militia, Capt San's Co, 5th-6th Battalions
Zacchaeus Wilson (brother to David Wilson) Captain at Battle of King's Mountain, Signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence at Convention 20 May 1775.
Robert Wilson (brother to David Wilson) and seven sons (7 of 11 sons) are known to have participated in the Revolutionary War.  See blog post about Robert's wife, Eleanor Wilson.
John Box (Leffel line) South Carolina Revolutionary War Rolls
Edward Box (Leffel line) Served under Capt Robert Manfield, Col Worton
Samuel Box (Leffel line) Capt Sanders, Col Moultrie, 1776, Taken Prisoner at fall of Charleston 1780

If any of you know of any other Patriots in our family line, please let me know, and I will add them to the list.  

Click here to view my post about the Daughters of the American Revolution or you can visit the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) website to take advantage of their online research system or investigate how to submit forms for membership; 

go to: DAR Genealogical Research System or DAR Daughters of the American Revolution.

Martha Ann's Maiden Name is Found

 The maiden name for the wife of James Wilson is 
Martha Ann Little

For years Wilson family historians have searched for a maiden name for Martha Ann, the wife of James Wilson of Collin County, Texas.  About 13 years years ago, Randy Wilson left the following message on Ancestry.com:

Martha Ann Unknown's surname may have been Little??? One or more of our deceased relatives believed that Martha Ann's surname was Little; we don't have documentation for this but will do further research.  This information (may have been a recollected guess) would have came from Martha Ann Wilson's granddaughter, Martha Ann Roberts Tucker who died in 1959.

With no documentation to support this information, nothing more was done.  Since then there has been a lot of research on the James Wilson family in general, but no maiden name was ever found for Martha Ann.  And as of yet, no marriage record has ever been found.  So Martha Ann has been without a maiden name for years😢.

But recently while using the new "Full Text" search on FamilySearch.org, a civil court document from 1882 Collin County, Texas was found, and BINGO -- Martha was recorded by her maiden name in the court document.  The above information left on Ancestry.com from Randy Wilson in 2013 was correct. 

Martha Ann's maiden name is Little. 

The 1882 civil court document concerns the estate of Martha A. Little Wilson, who married James Wilson in Tennessee and moved with him to Collin County, Texas in 1845.  Martha died without a will in August 1873. The record, dated January 1882, involves family members—Mary C Helms, Elizabeth Roberts, and W. B. Wilson—who are heirs of James and Martha residing in Collin County. The dispute centers on property acquired by James and Martha Wilson during their marriage.

1882 Collin, Texas Civil Case Papers
FamilySearch.org, Image Group #008408172

A summary of the document will first be given, then there will be a transcription of the document shown above.  Make note that this is only one page of 150 pages involved in this civil court case spanning from November 1881 to June 1882.

Names and Relationships

• James Wilson and Martha A. Little Wilson (married; citizens of Tennessee; later residents of Collin County, Texas)
• Mary C. Helms and J.S. Helms  (married; residents of Collin County, Texas)
• Elizabeth Roberts and W.J. Roberts (married; residents of Collin County, Texas)
• W. B. Wilson (residing in the Chickasaw Nation division of Indian Territory)

Dates

• 1843: James Wilson and Martha A. Little - marriage in Tennessee (Note: This date is inaccurate)
• 1845: James and Martha Wilson - immigration to Texas, settled in Collin County
• 1873 August: Martha A. Wilson - death in Collin County, Texas
• 1881-1882: Civil court dispute in Collin County, Texas 

Summary of Document 

• This document from the District Court of Collin County, Texas, dated January 1882, concerns the estate of  Martha A. Little Wilson, deceased wife of James Wilson. James and Martha married in Tennessee, moved to Texas in 1845, and lived in Collin County until Martha’s death in 1873. The case involves their heirs  – daughter, Mary C Wilson Helms and her husband J.S. Helms; daughter, Elizabeth Wilson Roberts and her husband W.J. Roberts; and son, W. B. Wilson, regarding property identified as community property belonging to James and Martha Wilson. 

Transcription of above document:

The State Texas}   In the Hon District Court of
Collin County}       Collin County, Texas
Jany Term AD1882
In the Hon District Court aforesaid
Mary C Helms who is joined by her husband J S Helms & Elizabeth Roberts who is joined with W J Roberts all of whom reside in Collin County Texas and W B Wilson who resides in the Chickasaw division of the Indian Territory plaintiffs herein complaining of A. M. Wilson who resides in Collin County Texas would represent and show that heretofore towit on the day of 1843 James Wilson and Martha A Little being then citizens of the Tennessee intermarried and afterwards towit on the day of 1845 they emigrated the State of Texas and settled in Collin County in said State and lived together in said County & State as husband and wife until the death of the said Martha A Wilson who died in Collin County Texas intestate on towit the 16^th day of August 1873 . That during the time the said James Wilson and Martha A Wilson lived together as husband and wife they accumulated and acquired considerable property real and personal among which was the tract of land and premises herein described Plaintiffs over and charge that was the community property of the said James Wilson and his deceased wife Martha A Wilson 

Additional Wilson Family Posts:
James Wilson in Jail
Chambersville Cemetery                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Love Stories

 Our Family Love Stories
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When I think of family love stories, the first ancestral couple that comes to mind are my maternal grandparents, Jess and Mabel Baldwin.  But, as I have researched my family lines, I feel that most of my direct line grandparents, great-grandparents, etc. had marriages based on love and friendship.

Jess Baldwin and Mabel Leffel

Jesse Baldwin and Mabel Leffel were married on Christmas Day 1917 in Mountain Park, Oklahoma. They stayed married until Jess passed away in 1972 - almost 55 years.  Grandpa Jess said it was love at first sight on his part.  He first saw grandma standing next to a field with her cousin Della.  The sun was shining on her hair and he thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  

Jess and Mabel loved each other and loved their family.  They were the parents of fourteen (14) children and grandparents of 46 (50 including step-grandchildren) and great-grandparents of about 89. 

Jess, Mabel, and children 1967
50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Montrose, Colorado

Charles Wilson and Pearl Hatfield

Charles B. Wilson and Pearl Hatfield met at dance in Estell, Oklahoma in 1902.  Pearl was sixteen years old and Charles B. was twenty-six years old - ten years older.  On December 4, 1902, the local newspaper (Renfrew's Record of Alva, Oklahoma) reported that their marriage license had been issued.  They married on Dec 14th, 1902 at the home of Pearl's parents, Martin and Nancy Hatfield.

Marriage License Issued

Wedding Day 
B & Pearl sitting in buggy

Charles B. and Pearl Wilson were married for 49 years, until B's death on December 16, 1951.  They were the parents of eight children, six living to adulthood while the two youngest children died young.  During the first ten years of their married life, the Wilsons traveled in a covered wagon around Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico.  In 1915, they finally settled down near the Utah/Colorado border; first near Monticello, Utah, then near Dove Creek, Colorado.  Eventually they moved to Cortez, Colorado the last few years of Charles' life.

In 1936, Pearl traveled from Colorado to her sister's home in Wyoming to visit her mother who was gravely ill.  After Pearl had been gone from home for a several weeks, daughter Maymie who lived near her father Charles, wrote the following in a letter to her sister in Oklahoma.  

1936 Maymie's Letter Excerpt
 "Dad's Lonesome for Mother"

"Mother is still in Wyoming.  Guess she will stay another week.  Grandma is still awful bad.  Mother will come back on the train or bus. 

Dad sure gets lonesome for Mother.  We can't hardly keep him here.  Dad sold his old jersey cow and I & him made out an order for Mother a new dress, hose, slippers, purse, gloves, and hat - it is all Navy Blue but the shoes... 

My we sure miss mother.  But look for her next week."  

I was touched that Great-grandpa Charles loved and missed his wife so much that he sold his jersey cow in order to buy her a gift.  With the help of his daughter Maymie, Charles ordered a gift of new clothes so that Pearl's homecoming would be special.  Kind of reminds me of the story by O. Henry -- The Gift of the Magi.

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

More love stories from the family will be added in the future.

Baldwin Posts:

Mabel & Jess Baldwin Family

Baldwin Family Christmas

Married On Christmas Day 

Mable and Jesse Baldwin 

Wilson Posts:  

Cupid's Court 

Wilson Bible Record
Buggy Ride
Wilson's Grocery
Wilson Family Photos

Desert Rose

Maymie's Dishes

Desert Rose Brochure (front)

Recently while going through some of  Grandma Maymie's photos and letters, I found an old worn brochure for Franciscan Ware Desert Rose Dinnerware.  

Desert Rose brochure (front & back)

Looking at the brochure brought back many fond memories of walking with Maymie down Main Street (Cortez, CO) to the Slavens Hardware Store.  Prior to going, she would have carefully planned out which new piece of dinnerware she wanted purchase to add to her set of Deseret Rose dishes.  Maymie's whole set of Desert Rose was purchased one piece at a time.  Sometimes she would let me pick out the new piece of Desert Rose, and I remember being as excited as she was to bring home dish to add to her dinnerware set.  

The inside of the Desert Rose brochure showed individual pieces and has written notations made by Maymie as she was planning her purchases.

Inside of Desert Rose brochure

Before Maymie passed away, she gifted her set of Deseret Rose dinnerware to me.  She said she wanted to make sure I ended up with them.  The Desert Rose dishes are still being used (and loved) 40 years later.  Deseret Rose is much more than just a set of dishes, each piece is a ceramic connection of love from grandmother to granddaughter.

Note: Maymie walked everywhere she went because she never learned to drive a car.  There was a small market close by and her home was just a few blocks to the downtown Main Street of Cortez, Colorado.  Walking to her mother's home across town was a longer walk of about 7 or 8 blocks.  That was a walk I remember taking many times as Maymie and I would go to check up on her mother, Minnie Pearl Wilson.

Additional posts about Maymie:

Maymie and Elmer
July 14th - Maymie's Birthday
Maymie's Picture Show

Fixin' Supper - the "Minnie Pearl" Style
Wilson Family Pictures
Maymie Wilson Martin

Cupid's Court

Cupid's Court
💘💘💘💘

Renfrew's Record, Alva, OK

The above newspaper notice of marriage licenses was published on 4 Dec 1902 in the Renfrew's Record newspaper of Alva, Oklahoma Territory.   Minnie Pearl Hatfield was living in Bostick with her parents.  Charles B. Wilson's place of residence given was Driscoll.  Minnie Pearl and Charles B. were married on the 14th day of December.  According to the marriage record (below), Pearl and Charles were married at the "Home of Bride" in Woods County.

Marriage Record
Woods County, Oklahoma Territory

Next is a photo supposedly taken on the Wilson's wedding day.  Minnie Pearl and Charles are sitting in the buggy.  Not sure who the others are in the photo, but probably Minnie's family.  Both Minnie and the woman on the horse are wearing a lacey veil or head-covering of some sort.

Wedding Day - Charles & Minnie in Buggy

Close-up of Minnie Pearl and Charles

At the time of the wedding in 1902, the "Home of Bride" would have been the log home (shown below) on the Hatfield homestead in Woods County, Oklahoma.  

Hatfield Homestead

Other related posts about Charles B Wilson and Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson:

Family Bible -- Charles Wilson Family
Wilson Family Pictures

Wilson's Grocery

Buggy Ride 
Hatfield Homestead in Oklahoma

My Grandmother Maymie

 Happy Birthday Maymie
July 14th 

Maymie Pearl Wilson Martin
1905-1993

Today, July 14th, is Maymie's Birthday.  Maymie Pearl Wilson was born in 1905 in the log home of her maternal grandparents, Martin and Nancy Hatfield.  They lived near the little town of Estelle, Oklahoma.  To read about her birth, click here.  

Maymie 1925 Dove Creek, CO

To see more photos and read a short autobiography written by Maymie, click here.  Recently while going through some of Maymie's old letters and cards, I found a newspaper clipping of a poem I had given to Maymie many years ago.  Even though the poem seems somewhat dated and a little old fashioned, the sentiment still holds true today. 

Additional posts about Maymie:

Maymie and Elmer
July 14th - Maymie's Birthday
Maymie's Picture Show

Fixin' Supper - the "Minnie Pearl" Style
Wilson Family Pictures
Maymie Wilson Martin

4th of July 2023

Happy 4th of July!

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays - I love my country and I’m proud to be an American. Over the years, I have visited the National Archives in Washington DC many times. While my main purpose was to research historical documents in the Archives Library, I would always take a few minutes to go into the Archives Museum to view our country's  Founding Documents: the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and Bill of Rights.  They are truly inspired documents.

Our family has many ancestors who gave much so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today as Americans.  Too many of us probably can't conceive or appreciate the courage our ancestors had or sacrifices they made.  Click here to read about Eleanor Wilson.  Eleanor's husband, Robert Wilson, and seven (7) of her sons served in the Revolutionary War.  Robert Wilson was brother to our direct ancestor Major David Wilson, and Eleanor Wilson would be our generation's 5th great-grandaunt.

Years ago while taking an American history class in college, I did a term paper on Abigail Adams.  I love her quotes, especially this one:

"posterity who are to reap the blessings will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors"  Abigail Adams

This 4th of July remember our ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War.  To see a list, click here.  

Related Posts:

Daughters of the American Revolution

Nathan Cole’s Revolutionary War Button
True American Patriot - Eleanor Wilson

List of Revolutionary War Ancestors

James Wilson in Jail

James Wilson of Weston

James and Martha Ann Wilson are 3rd great-grandparents on the Wilson family line.  James and Martha Ann were originally from Sumner County, Tennessee.  They moved to Texas in about 1845 when James received a land patent for 640 acres through the Peters Colony land company.  In 1850, James, Martha Ann, and their three children (Sarah Elizabeth, William, and Mary) were enumerated in the Collin County, Texas Federal Census.  They lived in the Weston community of Collin County.

Martha Ann died in Aug 1873.  James died 28 Mar 1891 and was buried in the Chambersville Cemetery next to Martha Ann.  His obituary reads "J.C. Wilson, died at his home near Weston on Saturday, March 28 last.  The cause of his death was tumor of the stomach.  Mr. Wilson was 77 years old.  He was born in Sumner County, Tennessee.  He came to Collin County in 1845.  Thus the old pioneers are passing away." 

James Wilson's Statement

In 1884, James had been out drinking and ended up being put in jail on a Thursday night in the middle of January.   James told his story of what happened to him after being put in jail in a statement printed in the McKinney Democrat newspaper.  This statement ran for two consecutive issues.

The Democrat, McKinney, Texas
26 June 1884

Transcription of above news article:

The Democrat, McKinney, Texas, 26 June 1884

JAIL WHIPPING

MR. JAS WILSON'S STATEMENT

I was put in the county jail on Thursday evening, sometime in January.  On Friday morning I gave Dee Hoskins one dollar to get a quart of whisky, and he brought the whiskey in and put it in to me under the iron railing.  I took a small dram and passed it around.  They all took a dram and I wanted another drink as I had only tasted it, but Dee Hoskins objected to me having any more.

Then we were all called up in line.  I do not remember the name of the man who then brought out the papers and read it that I was to pay $2.00 or take two hundred lashes.  I refused to pay the $2.00, and they forced me down over a box some 10 or 18 inches square and threw my overcoat over my head, and struck me ten licks with a strap, and I did not feel disposed to take it, and I scrambled to get up and three or four of the men took hold of me and I called on Dee Hoskins to put a stop to it.  He failed, and refused to stop it, but gave me some little abuse, but I don’t remember what it was.  Then I took a hard dollar out and threw it down on the floor, and told them to take it.  Dee Hoskins took a hand in making the settlement and I was allowed 90 cents for the quart of whiskey and 10 cents for the ten licks. 

Tobe Giles will make the same statement of facts and I call upon all who wish to do so to call on him.  I was furnished no bedding but was compelled to depend upon an over coat I had and such bedding as was furnished me by other prisoners.  I was there four nights and this was about the middle of January.

 James Wilson

 

People of Collin County Demand Jailor be Removed

The Democrat newspaper printed several articles about the incident.  There was a public outcry that an injustice had been done to James Wilson.  One commentator suggested that the jailer be removed from office and that the Sheriff not be re-elected.

The Democrat, McKinney, Texas
24 April 1884

In the above article, James Wilson is referred to as "Dady".  His daughter's obituary states that her father was familiarly known as "Daddy" Wilson.

More pushback from the community over the ill treatment James Wilson received in jail.

The Democrat, Mckinney, TX
10 July 1884

These news articles were found on The Portal to Texas History website.  Under the Explore tab go to Counties.  Find Collin County on the map or county list.  From the Collin County page, go to Collections and choose McKinney Democrat-Gazette.

Related Posts:

Chambersville Cemetery 

Mystery Photo Identified 

Minnie Pearl Wilson

Minnie Pearl Wilson was my great-grandmother.  I have many fond memories of visiting with her during my youth.  

This is my favorite photo of Grandma Wilson (Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson).  It was taken about 1911 on the Rooker Ranch near Red Rock, New Mexico.  Grandpa Wilson (Charles B Wilson) worked on the ranch.  I really like the colorized version of this photo.

Grandma Wilson would take her 22 rifle out to hunt for a rabbit or squirrel so she would have meat to cook dinner for her family. 

 

Original Post:

clmroots: Fixin' Supper -- the "Minnie Pearl" Style

Charles and Pearl Wilson

 Charles and Pearl (Hatfield) Wilson

Charles B Wilson and Minnie Pearl Hatfield are my great-grandparents.  I have many memories of visiting Grandma Wilson (Minnie Pearl) at her little house in Cortez, Colorado.  As a young child, I would walk with Maymie from her house to Grandma Wilson's house.  Sometimes Grandma Wilson would send me out in her garden to pick peas, tomatoes, or green beans.  She also had a small flower garden with the sweetest smelling flowers.  

Pearl and Charles Wilson

Before and after Comparison

Wilson Family Photos

 Wilson Family in Color

Charles B Wilson and Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson are my great-grandparents on my paternal grandmother's line

Wilson Family Homestead 1918

Wilson family 1918
(Charles B. Wilson and Minnie Pearl Hatfield) 

in front of the Dry Valley home near Monticello. Picture taken about 1918.

Back row: Grandma Wilson, Vern, Maymie

Dad Wilson is holding Pat 
Front row: Alma, John, Buck 

Alfred Hatfield is on the horse and Susie is on the far right standing behind the post

Color comparison of the Wilson Homestead

Charles "B" Wilson and Minnie Pearl Hatfield Family 1926
Back row: Alma, Buck, John, Maymie
Front seated: Dad Wilson, Pat, Pearl
Picture taken at Bug Point, Utah about 1926

Original Posts:

clmroots: Wilson's Utah Homestead 

50th Wedding Anniversary

50^th Wedding Anniversary

Martin and Alma Barnes

1977 Wedding Anniversary article, unknown newspaper

Miss Lillie Alma Wilson married Martin V Barnes on June 10, 1927 at Cortez, Colorado.  The marriage was performed by Judge J. M. Brumley.  Their attendants were the bride's sister and brother-in-law, Maymie and Elmer Martin.  Below is the marriage record.

Colorado State Marriage Record

Next is an original photo taken the day of their marriage on June 10, 1927.

This next photo of Alma and Maymie may have been taken the day of the marriage.  Alma and Maymie are sitting on the front bumper of the same car that is in the wedding photo.  The landscape is the same.  And, Alma appears to be wearing the same dress as in the marriage photo.

Not sure when this next photo of Martin and Alma would have been taken.  It's a great picture of both Martin and Alma.  When I think of Alma, I always remember her hats, which it seemed she always loved to wear.   There is a darling hat sitting on the hood of the car just behind where Alma is sitting in the above photo.

Related Posts:

Maymie Pearl Wilson

Wilson Family Photos

Mary "Polly" Huff Wilson

Mary “Polly” Huff Wilson
1840-1899
(Mother of our great-grandpa, Charles B Wilson)

Mary Polly Huff Wilson was the daughter of Matthew Huff and Theodota "Dotie" Day.  She was born on June 15, 1840 in the hills of western Virginia in Grayson County.  By 1850, the Huff family was living in the neighboring county of Carroll, Virginia.  Mary was enumerated as “Polly Huff” in the 1850 Carroll County, Virginia census.  Polly was a common nickname for Mary.   The Matthew Huff family starts on the bottom of page 339 and continues on the next page.  Polly is listed on line 3 the next page.

1850 Federal Census

Carroll County, Virginia, District 11

The Matthew Huff family left Virginia in 1857 and joined a large wagon train going to Texas.  Mary Polly would have been around 17 years old when her family, extended family, and friends loaded up their wagons and left for Texas.

Wagon Train

The Huff Family settled in Collin County in a community called Farmersville.  Not long after arriving in Texas, Polly met William B Wilson.  They were married on 7 December 1858 by J.M Chipman, JP in Collin County, Texas.

Marriage Record

William B Wilson and Mary Huff

7 December 1858, Collin County, Texas

Mary Polly and William became the parents of seven children: William David, James Ervin, Laura May, Doris Belle, Charles B, Rosa Lee, and Mary Lillian.  Information on the children can be found here

Family tradition states that Polly became blind in middle age.  Supposedly, Polly was never able to "see" her son, Charles Bee Wilson.  Charles said that he would often lead his mother by the hand because she could not see good enough to walk by herself.  Pardon papers for her husband, W. B. Wilson, refer to Polly several times as being blind.  One pardon request, probably written in 1889, stated that Polly had been blind for seven (7) years.

Polly's husband, William, enlisted and served in theConfederate Army during the Civil War.  After the war was over, William could not settle down to farming.  William picked up some bad habits while in the army -- playing cards, gambling, drinking.  After he got home from the war, William would go off gambling and drinking for months at a time, leaving Polly to care for home and children by herself. 
Mary Polly supposedly had beautiful red hair.  Not sure which side of her family she got her red hair from – the Huff/Thompson side or the Day/Cock side.  But the gene for beautiful red hair has passed down to grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on to this day to my own grandchildren.

Family tradition states that Polly was a sweet, kind, and gentle woman.  She would often laugh, never got mad, and was very patient with her family.  She was also very faithful and had a strong belief in God.  Polly gave a copy of her hymn book to her son Charles just before he left to be a cowhand on cattle drives.  The book was covered with a red cloth and had some random embroidery stitches on it.  To view a blogpost about the hymn book, click here

Polly Huff Wilson's Hymn Book

In 1870, Mary Polly and her children were living in Weston, Collin County, Texas with her in-laws, James and Martha Wilson.  Mary was 30 years old.  Her children William,  James,  and Laura are also living in the home with their grandparents.   This census would fit with the scenario of William leaving his family.  It is not known where William living in 1870.

1870 Federal Census, Collin County, Texas

Mary Wilson (highlighted) living in the home of her in-laws,

James and Martha Wilson.

The family was still living in Collin County in 1888 when William was convicted of horse theft.  He was sentenced to 5 years in prison but was pardoned in 1890.   The pardon papers states a hardship case for William B. Wilson's family: His wife, Polly, was blind, and he had a large family to care for. William also had an aged father to help provide care for. William escaped in January 1890 before the pardon was granted in May of 1890.

The Wilson family was living in Woods County, Oklahoma in the 1890's.  Granddaughter Maymie said the family lived at Griever, Woods, Oklahoma.  Four of the Wilson children were married in Woods County during the late 1890’s and early 1900’s: Rosa married Daniel Baugh in 1897, Mary Lillian married John Marrs in 1898, James married Melissa King in 1900, and Charles married Pearl Hatfield in 1902.  

Road Sign at Griever, Woods, Oklahoma

When Polly was on her deathbed, a message was sent into town to notify William.  He was in the middle of a poker game at the saloon.  William stayed to finish his game before going home.  Polly had already passed away when he arrived home.  She was just 58 years old when she died.

The following news of Polly’s burial was found in the Alva Pioneer newspaper in a section called “Chester Pickings", published on 24 March 1899.

Alva Pioneer (Alva, Oklahoma)

24 March 1899

Mary Polly apparently died and was buried during the week of March 12^th -18^th, 1899.  She was buried in the Chester Cemetery.  No headstone exists today, but there are several unreadable and unmarked headstones. 

Polly's son Charles B passed down treasured stories 

of  his mother to his children, who then passed them to their descendants. 

To view family on Ancestry.com, go to the Wilson Hatfield Ancestors tree.  cmyroots