In The Beginning…
The Wilson Family Reunion began in 1932 by William Wilson, the oldest son of Henry and Lucy Wilson. Through the years, family from across the country have come together in Oxford, North Carolina to fellowship with one another, strengthening family bonds.
Henry Wilson married Lucy Marrow July 8, 1870 in Oxford, North Carolina. Lucy had already given birth to a girl prior to their marriage, her name was Anna (also known as Annie). She later gave birth to a total of ten children, but to date, we only know of the following children: William, Mattie, Walter, Carrie, Freddie, Ernest, Henry, and Anna. After William was born, Lucy gave birth to two girls, Sarah and Nancy. Sarah was born around 1875 and Nancy was born around 1878. The 1880 census is the only record of these two girls. We have yet to find any documentation of them after that year, but hope to in the future.
Henry is believed to have died between the time the 1880 census and the 1900 census was taken. In 1900, Lucy is listed head of household with her four younger children: Carrie, Freddie, Ernest, and Henry. In fact, this is the last census record we find her. Death certificates weren’t officially kept as part of state records until after 1913. There hasn’t been anything found to date that shows when/where Henry or Lucy died.
Henry and joy Wilson
Henry was the youngest child born to Henry and Lucy on May 8, 1892. He married Miss Joy Paschall, daughter of George and Eliza Paschall and sister to Lucinda Paschall Wilson on April 22, 1914. Rev. T.B. Hicks (Baptist minister) officiated the wedding of Henry and Joy. One of the witnesses were J.H. Pettiford.
To this union eight children were born: Elizabeth, Louise, Henry, Robert, Olivia, James, Beulah, and Beatrice.
Henry’s death certificate had discrepancies as many of them do. There are sources that indicate 1891 and 1896, as well. He was buried in the Hardie Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Ernest and Lottie WIlson
Ernest was the seventh child born to Henry and Lucy Wilson on December 17, 1887. He married Miss Lottie Lee Young, the daughter of Lawrence Young and Annie Cooper. Their children were Lawrence, Leonard, Estelle, Chandler, and Thornton.
Just like his brothers, Ernest made his living farming the land.
Ernest passed away on February 20, 1957 and was buried in a cemetery on Mountain Creek Road. Ernest and Lottie are buried beside each other.
Walter and Mildred Wilson
Henry and Lucy’s son Walter was born January 15, 1885. He married Miss Mildred Braxton, the daughter of William and Emma Braxton, on January 1, 1916.
Walter farmed while he lived in North Carolina. Trying to seek better job opportunities, he later moved to Maryland and worked in a local paper mill.
Walter and Mildred had thirteen children: Adoline, Robert, Walter, Cornie, McKinley, Garland, Willie, Nelson, Bessie, Matthew, Thomas, Roger, and Caleb.
Fred and Lucinda Wilson
Fred Goodrich Wilson was the fifth child born to Henry and Lucy on June 2, 1884. Freddie married Miss Lucinda Paschall, the daughter of George and Eliza Paschall and sister to Joy Paschall Wilson, November 15, 1914 with Rev. Hicks officiating.
There were eight children born to this union: Samuel, Freddie, Lucinda, Martha, Carrie, Matthew, Luke, and Esther.
Freddie Wilson was known for being a prominent minister in the community. He even officiated the marriages of a few family members.
He passed away November 5, 1960 and was buried in the Greenwood Family Cemetery in Oxford on Cornwall Road.
Mattie Wilson and John Daniels
Mattie was Henry and Lucy’s oldest daughter born in the month of October around 1879. As she grew into a young lady, she met and fell in love with a man named John Daniels. the married and moved to the Sandy Creek/Louisburg area of Franklin County, North Carolina.
John and Mattie had ten children: Carrean, Henry, Ora, Mary, Lois, Swannie, John Jr., Amanda, Otis, and George.
She passed away November 13, 1941 and is buried at the Haywood Church cemetery in Sandy Creek, North Carolina.
Mattie’s family goes by Daniels. However, there is still confusion there because some of the headstones had Daniel and others had Daniels.
Carrie Wilson and Luscious pettiford
Carrie Wilson was the second daughter born to Henry and Lucy in December of the year 1882. She later married Luscious Pettiford, the son of William Pettiford and Mildred Fain, on February 11, 1901. The ceremony was officiated by William Gregory.
Eleven children were born to Luscious and Carrie. They were: William, Oscar, Luscious, Cordia, Carrie, Earl, Lucy, Annie, Bell, Mary Helen, and Rosa.
She was a midwife in the Granville County area and she helped her husband with farming.
Carrie passed away on October 25, 1938 and was buried in the Hardie Grove Baptist Church cemetery.
William and mary wilson
William is the oldest son of Henry and Lucy’s children born on March 6, 1873. He married Miss Mary Anderson, daughter of Ann Anderson and Herndon Hunt. To this union, twelve children were born, but only eleven survived. They were William (Willie), Anderson, Charlie, Otha, Lula, Elmo, Edward(Eddie), Lucy, Delia, Mary, Annie, and Rosa.
Just as many others did in Granville County, William made his living farming.
William passed away on February 15, 1937 and is buried in the Olive Grove Missionary Baptist Church cemetery on Old NC 75.
Annie (Anna) Marrow Allen
Anna Marrow was born around 1868 in northern Granville County (the area later became a part of Vance County, NC in 1881) to Lucy Marrow. Annie later married Amos Allen in Granville County. On census and death records, Annie was listed as a servant when she was a young girl and a housewife in her later years. At the present time, we do not know what other things she did nor how many children she had, if any.
Annie passed away on May 16, 1922 and was buried in the New Light Church cemetery.
We hope to find more documents on Annie that will give us more insight about her life and lead us to more family members.