The patriarch of the Wilson family has left behind very little information about his life.
James Wilson married Lizzie Wesley, daughter of John and Mary Wesley, but no marriage record has been found.
The couple became the parents of seven children: Roger (1896), Charles (1897), William P. (1899), Addie (1900), Nancy (c. 1904), unnamed female (1906) and Sarah (1907). Only the boys live to adulthood.
Addie's birth record (Mason County, MI) states James in born in Canada. The Riverton Indian Church Registry - Methodist Church - Riverton, Mason County, Michigan gives the baptisms of Addie (8-19-1900) and Sarah (6-29-1907) parents James & Lizzie, laborer.
In August 1907 James Wilson drowned in Hamlin Lake. The person giving the information for the death certificate did not know James' age, birth place and parents names. Whether the drowning is accidental or not is part of Wilson lore. A story told to his great-granddaughter goes: "James Wilson was a formidable fella and when he was drunk, would continue on to make everyone else miserable. Banging on doors and COMMANDING the inhabitants, family or non-family, to provide him with a drink or cook him a meal. He intimidated most men and they got tired of it." Story continues that James was ambushed and pieced up and that his family found a part of him washed up on the shore of the lake.
Death certificate only mentions the drowning, no mutilation took place.
From the records of Rye Funeral Home we learn that James is buried in the Potter's Field of the Ludington Cemetery on 8 Aug 1907.
Mt Pleasant Register 1915-1916
James Wilson married Lizzie Wesley, daughter of John and Mary Wesley, but no marriage record has been found.
The couple became the parents of seven children: Roger (1896), Charles (1897), William P. (1899), Addie (1900), Nancy (c. 1904), unnamed female (1906) and Sarah (1907). Only the boys live to adulthood.
Addie's birth record (Mason County, MI) states James in born in Canada. The Riverton Indian Church Registry - Methodist Church - Riverton, Mason County, Michigan gives the baptisms of Addie (8-19-1900) and Sarah (6-29-1907) parents James & Lizzie, laborer.
In August 1907 James Wilson drowned in Hamlin Lake. The person giving the information for the death certificate did not know James' age, birth place and parents names. Whether the drowning is accidental or not is part of Wilson lore. A story told to his great-granddaughter goes: "James Wilson was a formidable fella and when he was drunk, would continue on to make everyone else miserable. Banging on doors and COMMANDING the inhabitants, family or non-family, to provide him with a drink or cook him a meal. He intimidated most men and they got tired of it." Story continues that James was ambushed and pieced up and that his family found a part of him washed up on the shore of the lake.
Death certificate only mentions the drowning, no mutilation took place.
The Durant roll says James died in August 1907 and that he was 36 years old and a Canadian Indian. Listed are Lizzie and children Roger, Charles, William, Nancy and Sarah.
On 11 Jan 1908 sons Rodger, age 13 Charlie, age 11, and Willie/Billie, age 8 started school at the Mt. Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. They are listed as full Ottawa, mother Mrs. Lizzie Wilson from Freesoil.
The 1910 Mt. Pleasant Register has the boys ages 14, 12, and 9, but says they started school on 11 Jan 1909.
1911 Mt. Pleasant Register, ages, 15, 13, and 10.
1912 Mt Pleasant Register. The boys three year term had ended and they went home 31 Dec 1911.
The 1913-1914 Register for Mt Pleasant School has William, age 14, son of Mrs. Lizzie Wilson of Freesoil, admitted on 1 Sep 1913 for a term of 4 years.
Mt. Pleasant Register 1914-1915. Term has changed to 3 years.
The above story might explain the known as a "bad Injun" in reference to Jim Wilson in the article from the Ludington Daily News of 16 Aug 1934.
While Canada is a big country we believed that James most likely came from Ontario, but it wasn't until recently that a record was received that shows James as being Seneca tribe.
In 1939 a social worker, visiting the home of James' son William's in-laws in an effort to determine the blood quorum of the niece of William's wife Lucy, happened to record the blood quorum of others as well. William states he is full, being 1/2 Ottawa and 1/2 Seneca.
Most Senecas in Canada live on or near the Six Nation Reserve and Wilsons still live there today. Hopefully we can find a connection and learn more about James' family.
Copyright (c) 2016 Vicki Wilson
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