James Leroy Wilson

James Leroy Wilson was born about 1794 in Fairfield Co., SC, son of William Wilson. In the early 1820's James Leroy Wilson married Rachel Ray Shannon, daughter of John Shannon of Fairfield Co. In 1823, he bought, from his brothers, part of the property accumulated by his father and farmed that property several miles west of Winnsboro, SC, until the mid 1840's. In 1846, James and Rachel Wilson sold their Fairfield Co., holdings and moved to Chicasaw Co., MS, where they resided for the rest of their lives. He passed away in 1860 and she in 1871. Both are buried in Friendship Presbyterian Cemetery near Van Vleet, MS.

The known children of James Leroy Wilson and Rachel Shannon are:


  1. Unknown Daughter Wilson, b. 1821.

  2. William H. Wilson, b. 1823 in SC. Died 1884. Married Elenor M. ? b. 1837, d. 1887. Both are buried in Friendship Presbyterian Cemetery, Van Vleet, MS.

  3. Margaret G. Wilson, b. 1826, in SC.

  4. Martha Wilson, b. 1828, in SC.

  5. John S. Wilson, b. about 1832, in SC. He may have been the J. S. Wilson who died 12 SEP 1864 in Georgia from a wound. Could he have been named for grandfather, John Shannon?

  6. Charles James Wilson, b. about 1833, in SC. Married Serena Jane Martin 1855. Died at the battle of Gaines Mill, Va. 27 JUN 1862.

  7. David W. Wilson, b. about 1835, in SC.

  8. Samuel Leroy Wilson, b. 22 OCT 1838, in SC, died 25 JUN 1910 in MS. Married 1867 to Elizabeth Penelope Peden (1845-1914). Both are buried in Friendship Presb. Cem., Van Vleet, MS.