Research Notes

Compiled by Dan Wilson

From the book, THE SECEDERS IN IRELAND by Rev. David Stewart, published by the Presbyterian Historical Society, Belfast, 1950

Rev. Josias began his study at the University of Glasgow in 1786 in the Associate Divinity Hall (Burgher). On 11 Feb. 1789, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Down and in 1794 his ordination at the church at Donegore, Co. Antrim, was reported to the synod, and in 1804 he resigned. In 1807, he emigrated to America and was installed as the pastor of the Hopewell- Lower Chanceford Church in York, Co. PA on 1 January 1808. He remained there until his death on 14 September 1812 at the age of 48. Upon his emigration, he was listed as a member of the Associate Reformed Church. Josias Wilson also had a medical qualification from the University of Glasgow. [pp. 313]

[Note that this is the same church where Rev. John Farquhar was pastor from 1846-1866. Farquhar was the husband of Sarah Wilson, a daughter of Alexander Wilson and Margaret McElroy of Easton, PA.]

Josias Wilson authored at least two documents that are listed as res in Stewart’s book.

1. Wilson, Josias (1796) “The Guilt and Danger of the Nation,” a sermon from Jeremiah v.29, humbly incribed to the people of Ire4 pp., Belfast, 1796.

2, Wilson, Josias (1825) “to my Children.”

From the LDS Ancestral File #3X8M-OG

Josias Wilson was born somewhere in Ireland in 1772 and died 14 Sep 1812. He is buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Muddy Creek Forks, York Co., PA. Muddy Creek Forks is about 26 miles southeast of York, PA, and about 10 miles from the MD border. He married someone named Alexande and had children

Wilson, Samuel b. 23 Jul 1797 in Donegore, Co. Antrim
Wilson, John, b. 19 Mar 1799 in Donegore, Co. Antrim
Wilson, Elizabeth b. 2 Mar 1801 in Donegore, Co. Antrim
Wilson. William b. 13 May 1803 in Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Wilson, Mary Ann b. 19 Mar 1805 in Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Wilson, James b. 8 May 1809 in the USA.
Wilsont b. 1811, in the USA

Dan writes:

“Here’s some more info on Josias Wilson of Donegore that has been suggested as the possible father of our John Wilson of Pike Co., IL. I think I told you before that I had discovered that he was a Presbyterian minister. It now turns out that he was a Sesessionist (Burgher) minister at Donegore, Co. Antrim before emigrating to America in 1807. In the US he became pastor of the Hopewell-Lower Chanceford Presbyterian Ch. in York Co., PA where he remained until hi in 1812.

As an interesting fact, this is the same church where Rev. John Farquhar was pastor from 1846-1866. Farquhar married Sarah Wilson, daughter of Alexander Wilson and Margaret McElroy of Easton, PA. I wonder if there’s a connection between Josias and Alexander W of Easton?

The son John Wilson (b. 1799 in Donegore, Co. Antrim) listed for Josias in the ancestral file, is the one that Anna Mae has tentatively suggested as a possibility for John Wilson of Pike Co., IL. However, the 1880 census of Pike Co., IL lists John Wilson as 75 years old which would make him born in 1805 not 1799. Also, the 1870 census of Philadelphia shows him as 63 years old, making him born in 1807. If his birthday came after the census was taken in 1870, he would have turned 64 years old after the census, but still in 1860. In the 1880 census, it’s possible that he was 74 and whoever gave the info to the enumerator simply made a one year error. So, it sounds like he was born ca. 1805-1807. From the photo of John Wilson’s tombstone that Mel sent to me, it appears to say that he died in 1898, age 93. If so, that would make his year of1805 rather than 1799.

Note that Rev. Josias Wilson had at wo publications.”

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