S a m W i l s o n ' s
F a m i l y H i s t o r y
"Uncle Sam" Wilson's roots go back to 17th Century Scotland. His only descendents are from his son Benjamin Wilson, an attorney. Benjamin married Mary Wood - who had attended Emma Willard's Troy Female Seminary in the 1830's.
Brief highlights of Sam Wilson's family Genealogy
| 1600 | 3 Wilson brothers emigrate from Scotland. They settle in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Sam's family stems from the Massachusetts line. |
| 1665 | Robert Wilson buys land near Boston, MA. |
| 1758 | Edward Wilson - born 1734, in W. Cambridge, MA - married Lucy Francis - born 1739, Medford, MA |
| 1780 | The family moves to Mason, NH. Sam learns brick making. |
| 1781 | Sam enlists in the Revolutionary Army at age 15. He was a service boy tending livestock and repairing fences. |
| 1789 | Sam and brother Ebenezer travel on foot to Troy, NY to seek their fortunes. They establish a brick yard on Mt. Ida. |
| 1793 | Sam and Ebenezer begin a meat packing business. |
| 1797 | Sam goes back to NH to marry Betsey Mann - born 1773, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Mann who fought at Bunker Hill. They lived in Troy, and many of the Wilson and Mann relatives also came to Troy, including many nieces and nephews who called him "Uncle Sam". |
| 1812 | Sam wins contract to supply meat to the War Department for armies in NY and NJ. His meat is stamped U.S., and the workers joked that it meant "Uncle Sam". |
| 1816 | Sam's father, Edward dies in Troy, June 17. Buried at Mt. Ida. |
| 1835 | Sam's mother, Lucy dies in Mason, NH, December 8. |
| 1854 | Sam dies on July 31 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, NY. |
| 1961 | Congress salutes "Uncle Sam" Wilson of Troy, NY as the progenitor of America's national symbol "Uncle Sam". |
Family Tree
1st Generation
| Edward Wilson | 1734-1816 |
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Married: Lucy Francis 1739-1835 |
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Children: |
Joseph | 1759 |
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Lucy | 1761-1819 |
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Edward | 1762-1843 | Died: Milton, NY |
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Ebenezer | 1763-1825 |
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Rachel | 1765-1846 | Married: Jona Chandler |
| Sam Wilson | 1766-1854 |
Married: Betsey Mann Born 1773 |
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| Nathaniel | 1768-1854 |
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| William | 1769 |
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| Aaron | 1771 |
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| Infant Son | 1772 |
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| Francis | 1774 |
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| Andrew | 1777-1841 |
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| Thomas | 1778 |
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2nd Generation
| Sam Wilson | 1766-1854 |
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Married: Betsey Mann Born 1773 |
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Children: |
Polly | 1797-1805 | died young |
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Sam | 1800-1807 | died young |
| Benjamin | 1802-1859 | Married: Mary Wood | |
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Albert | 1805-1866 | no children |
3rd Generation
| Benjamin Wilson | 1802-1859 |
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Married: Mary Wood |
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Children: |
Sarah W. |
1841-1855 Born in Troy |
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Elizabeth |
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died young |
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Emma |
1844-1916 Born in NYC |
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Marion |
1849 Born in Troy |
Married: Frederick C. Sheldon Lived in MN then Kansas City. |
4th Generation
| Marion Wilson |
1849 Born in Troy |
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Married: Frederick C. Sheldon Lived in MN then Kansas City. |
| Children: | Carlton Wood | 1880 |
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Harry | 1882 |
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Sources:
Ketchum, Alton. "The Search for Uncle Sam". History Today, vol. 40, April 1990, pages 20-26
Ketchum, Alton. Uncle Sam: the Man and the Legend. NY: Hill & Wang, 1959
Mason, Julian R., (chairman, Vets for Uncle Sam, Troy, NY). Uncle Sam. July 11, 1961
Researcher:
Rebecca Rector, MLS, Troy, NY
Rebecca is an adjunct Librarian at Siena College, and is founder of RbInfo: Genealogy & History Research. For more information, visit http://www.capital.net/com/rbinfo
