Jacob Wilson (1785 – 1865)

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   1. His childhood

Jacob Wilson was born in 1785 at Churchill,1 a small village in the Wyre Forest District of Worchestershire, England. The historical Churchill forge mill is found here.2,3 “The forge was used from 1700 onward to produce edged agricultural tools such as spades, shovels, forks, rakes, hoes, and cultivator blades; it also catered to local industries with special shovels (known as skippets) for the nearby salt workings at Droitwich, and pouring ladles for the Stourbridge glass industry and the Black Country metal refineries.” 3

At this point nothing is known about Jacob’s parents, and mere speculation on possible siblings have been drawn from limited available data. Jacob and his own family resided at Kinver, Staffordshire in the 1830s – some of his children were born there – but until when they had lived there, is uncertain. By 1851, the family was living at Stourbridge in Worchestershire (now in West Midlands).1,4-7

A possible brother/cousin of Jacob may have been Moses Wilson Esq. of Bengeworth near Evesham, Worchestershire, who married Maria Ann Smallpiece (ca 1788 – 30 May 1865, Kinver) on 12 November 1807 at St John the Baptist Church, Croydon, Surrey.5,8,9 Maria Ann’s tombstone is found in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church at Kinver.10 Her obituary appeared in the Birmingham Newspaper on 2 June 1865.11 At the same grave-site, with his details inscribed on the opposite end of Mary-Ann’s tombstone, is the resting place of their son Dr Henry Wilson (1817 – 13 November 1868, Kinver), who died at the age of 51 years. As a member of the Royal Council of Surgeons, Henry practiced at Stourbridge as a surgeon for most of his live.10 It seems that Moses was fairly well-off as he carried the gentleman’s title of Esquire, and must have been able to fund his son’s medical studies. Moses possibly also had another son called Moses jr. who was born in ca 1821 at Egton, Yorkshire (now North Yorkshire). Moses jr., a schoolmaster, married Mary Ann NN (*ca 1830, Egton). Their children were Margaret (≈18 August 1850), Elizabeth (≈15 May 1853, who died young), Hannah (≈18 July 1858), Elizabeth (≈1 July 1860), Mary Ann (≈14 September 1862) and Aaron (≈5 April 1866). They were all born at Egton.12-18

Jacob Wilson himself did not seem very well-off as he held jobs characteristic of the poorer labouring class.1,19 His son, George Edwin, on the other hand, became an ordained minister in the Anglican Church – the source of financial aid for his training is not known. Perhaps Rev. Alfred Wilson, a possible brother/cousin/uncle of Jacob, assisted in this regard as he took pity on the children and assisted with their education? Interestingly, George Edwin’s son, George Hough Wilson, who was born ten years after Jacob’s death, remembered his grandfather as Rev. Alfred Wilson and not Jacob Wilson!10 It creates the impression that the said Rev. Alfred Wilson must have been a significant figure in the lives of Jacob Wilson’s family. Conversely, no further information on Alfred Wilson could be found.

   2. His wife

On 24 May 1819, at the age of 34 years, Jacob married 24 year-old Sarah Green (1795, Clent – ?) in Clent, a small village in the County of Worchester.5,19,20

   3. His children

Jacob and Sarah had at least nine children. They were Eliza Ann (≈15 October 1820, Clent), Mary (≈27 January 1822, Clent), Ann (≈16 November 1823, Clent), Jacob (≈17 April 1824, Clent), Matthew William (≈10 April 1825, Clent), John (≈12 October 1826, Wolverey), Susannah (*1830, Wolverey), George Edwin (*6 February 1833, ≈30 June 1833, Kinver) and Harriet (≈19 February 1837, Kinver).1,4-6,20-28 

Their son, George Edwin, became my husband’s great-great-grandfather. READ MORE on George Edwin Wilson.

   4. His career

For many years, descendants believed that Jacob Wilson was a wealthy land-owner, however, this was not the case!29 At the time of his son, George Edwin’s christening in 1833 at Kinver, when Jacob was 48 years old, he listed his profession as jobber, a mere piece-work labourer.19 This was certainly not a very stable and profitable working environment, and may explain the regular movements of the family to various villages in search of job opportunities. All these villages were they lived at one point, were in close proximity of each other and all located in northern Worchestershire. In the early 1820s, the family resided at Clent, but by the late 1820s lived at Wolverey. A few years later in the 1830s, the family could be found at Kinver and in the early 1850s resided at Stourbridge, where Dr. Henry Wilson (possibly a relative) was the local doctor.5,21-26,28 It is possible that Jacob Wilson previously worked as a charcoal burner or coal miner (as one family researcher later claimed) but in 1851 while residing in Stourbridge, Jacob worked as a baker.1,10, 30

   5. His death

Jacob Wilson died in early February 1865 at the age of 80 years at Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire (now in West Midlands), a town approximately 10 km northeast of Birmingham. His obituary appeared in a Birmingham newspaper on 7 February 1865. His funeral was conducted on 10 February 1865.5,31-33

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  1. Jacob Wilson in England and Wales Census, 1851, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGB8-C2M : 10 November 2017), Jacob Willson, , Worcestershire, England; citing , Worcestershire, England, p. 24, from “1851 England, Scotland and Wales census,” database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
  2. Churchill, Worchester. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill,_Worcestershire
  3. Churchill forge mill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Forge_Mill
  4. Christening of George Erwin Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8RM-BSM : 10 February 2018, George Edwin Wilson, ); citing Kinfare, Stafford, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,764
  5. Map of Worchestershire (1787). http://www.oldstourbridgemaps.kjdocs.co.uk/images/maps/1787_Cary_Worcestershire.pdf
  6. Kinver. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinver
  7. Stourbridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stourbridge
  8. Marriage of Moses Wilson. England Marriages, 1538–1973, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2ZV-4NT : 10 February 2018), Moses Wilson and Maria Ann Smallpiece, 12 Nov 1807; citing Saint John The Baptist,Croydon,Surrey,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 994,332
  9. Bengeworth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengeworth
  10. Muir, M. 1994 The Wilson Family Album. Copy made available to me in March 2018 by Bob Hölstrom of Portland, Oregon, USA, with permission graciously granted by Margaret Muir, England, the great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Wilson
  11. Obituary of Maria Ann Wilson. British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSH-KBK2 : 18 March 2018), Moses Wilson in entry for Maria Ann, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, 02 Jun 1865, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm
  12. Moses Wilson in England and Wales Census, 1871, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZGC-WG6 : 11 December 2017), Moses Wilson, 1871
  13. Christening of Margaret Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMPR-JXS : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Margaret Wilson, 18 Aug 1850); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059
  14. Christening of Elizabeth Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBSZ-6P1 : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Elizabeth Wilson, 15 May 1853); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059
  15. Christening of Hannah Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5SG-Q4W : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Hannah Wilson, 18 Jul 1858); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059
  16. Christening of Elizabeth Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N5SG-4RQ : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Elizabeth Wilson, 01 Jul 1860); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059
  17. Christening of Mary Ann Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBSZ-XY1 : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Mary Ann Wilson, 14 Sep 1862); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059.
  18. Christening of Aaron Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J36C-596 : 11 February 2018, Moses Wilson in entry for Aaron Wilson, 05 Apr 1866); citing EGTON,YORK,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 919,059
  19. Marriage of Jacob Wilson. England Marriages, 1538–1973, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVVV-C32 : 10 February 2018), Jacob Wilson and Sarah Green, 24 May 1819; citing Clent, Worcester, England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  20. Clent. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clent
  21. Christening of Eliza Ann Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NRN8-YHZ : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Eliza Anne, ); citing CLENT, WORCESTER, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  22. Christening of Mary Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND7K-8QM : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Mary, ); citing CLENT, WORCESTER, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  23. Christening of Ann Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND7K-VL2 : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Ann Wilson, ); citing CLENT, WORCESTER, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  24. Christening of Jacob Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND7K-VGH : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Jacob Wilson, ); citing CLENT, WORCESTER, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  25. Christening of Matthew William Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ND7K-8QF : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Matthew William, ); citing CLENT, WORCESTER, ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,042,161
  26. Christening of John Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NGYQ-QHT : 11 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for John Wilson, 12 Oct 1826); citing WOLVERLEY,WORCESTER,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 527,945
  27. Wolvery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverley
  28. Christening of Harriet Wilson. England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N8RM-TNG : 10 February 2018, Jacob Wilson in entry for Harriet Wilson, ); citing Kinfare, Stafford, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,040,764
  29. Additional information received on 21 November 2020 from Margaret Muir, England, the great-great-granddaughter of Jacob Wilson
  30. Bakery. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-bakery-18th-century-granger.html
  31. Obituary of Jacob Wilson. British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLSC-KRYR : 18 March 2018), Jacob Wilson, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, 07 Feb 1865, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm
  32. Burial of Jacob Wilson. England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JZRZ-1X9 : 12 February 2018), Jacob Wilson, burial 10 Feb 1865; citing Sutton-Coldfield, Warwick, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 198,734
  33. Sutton-Coldfield. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_Coldfield

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