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Descendents of Robert Wilson (26 Mar 1799 - 25 Jan 1864)
and Mary Brown (8 Sep 1798 - 12 Dec 1864)

Table of Contents

 First immigranT Generation                 

01

 Second immigranT Generation            

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

 Third immigranT Generation               

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

34

35

36

Descendents of Robert Wilson (26 Mar 1799 - 25 Jan 1864)
and Mary Brown (8 Sep 1798 - 12 Dec 1864)

First Immigrant Generation

1. Robert Wilson

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Son of Alexander Wilson & Elizabeth Miller. Born 26 Mar 1799 in Greenlawdean, Scotland. Christen 14 Apr 1799. Died 25 Jan 1864 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer. Religion Presbyterian.

   

Robert served in the capacity of Farm Steward for four years in Lennilhill, Berwickshire, before leaving Scotland.

   

Robert Wilson and his wife, Mary Brown with seven children, the youngest just two weeks old, emigrated from Scotland to New Brunswick in 1837.   Among the original settlers of Harvey, they sailed from Berwick-upon-Tweed on 28 May 1837 on board the brig "Cornelius of Sunderland".

   

Robert received a Land Grant, Lot #10, 88 acres in Harvey Settlement.   He paid the sum of eleven pounds for the land rather than working out an agreement with the government.   As his sons grew older they received land on the second tier adjacent to Robert's.   Robert's land was passed down to his youngest son, James.

   

(Ref: Jocelean Swan Hall, "The Wilsons of Harvey", 1798 - 1983, Centennial Printing, Fredericton, NB, 1983)

 

Copied from original letter brought to Canada by Robert:

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    "This is to certify that the bearer Robert Wilson has served me in the capacity of Farm Steward for the term of 4 years.   I have always found him to be a man who perfectly understands his business and very honest and trustworthy.   (Signed) James Purves, Lennilhill, Berwickshire   May 26th, 1837"           

 

From New Brunswick Courier, Saint John, 6 Feb 1864:   "Died Harvey Settlement, York Co., Monday 26th ult., Robert Wilson, Esq., emigrated to this Province from Berwickshire, Scotland, early pioneer of this settlement."    (From the Globe:...left widow and family.)

   

He married Mary Brown, daughter of James Brown & Martha Reed, 27 May 1818 in Hutton, Scotland. Born 8 Sep 1798 in Morpeth, England. Died 12 Dec 1864 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. More information on the parents of Mary Brown is available at the following linked pages.

    

Mary Brown had seven siblings:  

A.     James Brown, married Frances, lived at Lane End, Morpeth and had two children:   Frances Jane and William.

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B.     Jonathan Brown, b. 1811 at Pottery Brook, England, d. 4 May 1891, age 80, was a farmer, married Mary (b. approx 1817, d. Jan 1884, age 66) and had four children: Thomas (b. 1854, d. 17 Nov 1906, age 57, Pottery Brook);   Sarah (d. 4. Sep 1915, age 64);   Mary Ann (d. 2 Apr 1929, age 72);   and Jane (d. 20 Apr 1924, age 66)--all at school in March 1865.   (Jonathan and Mary are buried at the cemetery of The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Morpeth.)

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C.     Ann Brown, "in a situation (or institution) in Morpeth."

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D.    Jane Brown, married Mr Charlton, "a gardener, very delicate", had two children: Jane, dressmaker, and George, at school in 1865.

 

E.     Frances Brown, married William Darling, a shoemaker and had a shoe shop, lived at Jarrow near Newcastle on Tyne in March 1865.   Two children:   Barkas (?) and Mary Darling, at school in 1865.

 

F.     Martha Brown, born 3 Mar 1805, married Forester Reed, lived about one mile from Blyth.   Two children:   Sarah Reed, b. approx 1840, and Thomas Reed, b. approx. 1843, a butcher.

 

G.     Thomas Brown, married Mary Keely (?), lived in Campobello, NB in 1874.

    (Much of the information taken from letter written to "Cousin" by Sarah Reed, 26 Mar 1865, and other correspondence with the Brown family between 1865 and 1874.)

letter1.envelope.front.lg.jpg

LINK TO SCANS AND TRANSCRIPTIONS OF FIVE LETTERS WRITTEN TO THE WILSON FAMILY

More information on these relatives who remained behind in the United Kingdom is available at these linked pages.

 

 

Robert and Mary had the following children:

  2   i.   Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilson

  3   ii.   Thomas Wilson

  4   iii.   (Infant) Wilson

  5   iv.   Jane Wilson

  6   v.   Mary Wilson

  7   vi.   Margaret Wilson

  8   vii.   Robert Wilson

  9   viii.   Alexander Wilson

  10   ix.   Jane Wilson

  11   x.   James Jonathan Wilson

Descendents of Robert Wilson (26 Mar 1799 - 25 Jan 1864)
and Mary Brown (8 Sep 1798 - 12 Dec 1864)

second Immigrant Generation

2. Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilson

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Daughter of Robert Wilson & Mary Brown. Born 18 Nov 1818 in Lennilhill, Berwickshire, Scotland. Died 28 Dec 1901 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.

   

Elizabeth "Betsy" Wilson came to NB with her parents and siblings in 1837 on the brig Cornelius of Sunderland, and were among the first settlers of Harvey Settlement.

   

Copied from Marriage Records of York County, New Brunswick (1837-1888), held on microfilm at the Provincial Archives of NB.

    

"Robert Embleton and Elizabeth Wilson, both of the Parish of Kingsclear were married by Banns, being of age, this seventh day of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-four by me -- D. McCurdy, Minister.

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This marriage was solemnized between us (signed - Robert Embleton and Elizabeth Wilson)   In the presence of (signed - Isabella Herbert and Robert Wilson)   Filed and registered 11th December 1844."

 

She married Robert Embleton, son of George Embleton & Margaret Davidson, 7 Aug 1844 in York Co., NB By Daniel McCurdy, Presbyterian . Born 12 May 1820 in England. Christen 12 May 1820 in Ilderton, England. Died 2 Nov 1885 in Harvey. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Occupation Farmer.

    

(Another birth date for Robert is 22 Dec 1821, not sure which would be correct.)

    

Robert came to NB in 1837 on the brig Cornelius of Sunderland, with his sister and brother-in-law Isabell and Thomas Herbert and their five young children.   Robert was 16 years old.   His sisters Elizabeth, age 18, and Eleanor, age 20, and brother William Embleton with his wife Jane and two small children came to NB at the same time.   They were among   the first settlers of Harvey Settlement.

   

Robert and Betsy lived on Lot #13, second tier, in Harvey Settlement. The 1861 Census indicated they owned or occupied 45 acres improved and 105 acres unimproved land.   Cash value of farm was 150 pounds, value of implements and machinery, 6 pounds.   They had one horse, 3 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 3 other neat cattle, 8 sheep, and 3 swine.   They slaughtered 400 lb. pork.   Produced 200 lb. butter; 46 lb. wool; 16 tons hay; 200 bu. oats; 80 bu. buckwheat; 5 bu. timothy; 20 lb. clover seed; 100 bu. turnips; and 100 bu. potatoes.  

   

Robert and Betsy had eight children.   See Chapter 2, page 7, of "The Wilsons of Harvey 1798-1983" by Jocelean Swan Hall for details on this family.

 

They had the following children:

  12   i.   George R. Embleton

  13   ii.   Robert Wilson Embleton

  14   iii.   William Robert Embleton

  15   iv.   Mary Jane Embleton

  16   v.   Margaret "Isabel" Embleton

  17   vi.   Elizabeth Nesbit "Lizzie" Embleton

  18   vii.   Mary Jane Embleton

  19   viii.   Eleanor Camilla "Ellen" Embleton

Descendents of Robert Wilson (26 Mar 1799 - 25 Jan 1864)
and Mary Brown (8 Sep 1798 - 12 Dec 1864)

second Immigrant Generation

3. Thomas Wilson 

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Son of Robert Wilson & Mary Brown. Born 13 Jan 1821 in Ayton Law, Scotland. Died 28 Dec 1892 in Harvey, York Co, NB. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery. Religion Presbyterian.

   

Ref: Jocelean Swan Hall, "The Wilsons of Harvey", 1798 - 1983, Centennial Printing, Fredericton, NB, 1983, p. 45.

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He married Janet Little, daughter of John Little & Janet Heughan, 12 May 1851 in St. Pauls Church, Fredericton By Rev. Dr. John M. Brooke . Born 1829 in Border Country, Scotland. Died 19 Oct 1888 in Harvey, NB. Buried in Harvey Settlement Cemetery.

 

From York Co NB Marriage Register C 1850-1866 (PANB):   Witnesses to marriage were   John Little and Isabel Haining.

   

Janet died at age 59 years of consumption.

Thomas Wilson (b. 13 Jan 1821, Ayton Law, Scotland; d. 28 Dec 1892, Harvey). Photograph of his wife Janet Little is below. Source: Jocelean Swan Hall, 25 Jul 2006.