Oliver Porter Wilson

My 3rd great grandfather, Oliver Porter Wilson, was born in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia in December 1821. Unfortunately, the identities of his parents and siblings remain unknown as I am unable to confirm their identity. My link to Oliver is Mary Ann Wilson, his daughter and my 2nd great grandmother. 

Oliver married Jane Elizabeth Johnson in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on December 29, 1844. Like Oliver, I have been unable to confirm Elizabeth’s family. 

Oliver and Jane were blessed with four children: Martha “Mattie” Jane Wilson (1845), William Oliver Wilson (1848), Mary Ann Wilson (1851), and Robert Harrison Wilson (1858).

On October 31, 1850, the Wilson family resided in District 161 of Greene County, Georgia. Oliver worked as a farmer, while his wife Jane was unable to read. Their daughter, Martha, was five years old, and their son Oliver, wrongfully enumerated as Oliver Jr., was three. The family lived next door to the William O. Cheney family.

On June 5, 1860, the Wilson family resided in Penfield. Oliver, aged 38, had transitioned from farming to working as a wagoner, with a personal estate valued at $300. Elizabeth, his wife, was enumerated as unable to read. Among their four children, Martha (aged 14), William (aged 11), and Mary (aged 10) were all enrolled in school. The youngest child, Robert, was just one year old. The Wilson’s neighbors included Nathan Hobbs, his wife Harriet, and Nathan’s nephew, John N. C. Jenkins (aged 13). John was the son of Marian Langford Hobbs (my 4th great-aunt) and her first husband, John Jenkins. Nathan worked as a carriage painter, suggesting a skilled trade. Perhaps he and Oliver collaborated on projects or shared expertise.

On October 24, 1862, Oliver appeared in the inventory and appraisement account statement for the estate of John W. Lankford. John, a confederate soldier and nephew of James Meriweather Lankford (my 3rd great-grandfather), had recently died of disease in Richmond, Virginia during the Civil War. The inventory and appraisement statement served as a crucial document for assessing and recording the assets and debts associated with an estate. It played a vital role in settling financial matters after an individual’s passing. Within this statement, a section highlighted individuals who owed money to John W. Lankford, many of which were noted as doubtful or insolvent:

• Doubtful: This designation indicated uncertainty regarding the value or collectability of an asset. The appraiser questioned its legitimacy and recovery prospects.
• Insolvent: An asset labeled as insolvent was essentially worthless for financial recovery, signifying the debtor’s inability to pay.

In Oliver’s case, he owed John $9.51, noted as doubtful. The same applied to John’s parents, Mrs. Nancy Lankford ($18.28) and Wm. A. Lankford ($29.72), as well as my 3rd great-grandfather, J. M. Lankford ($18.97).

 

On July 20, 1863, Oliver enlisted in Company C of the 9th Georgia Infantry, State Guards, under the command of Major General W. G. Johnson in Greensboro, Georgia. His service commitment was for a period of six months. The 9th Infantry from Greene County was part of the 16th Regiment Georgia Militia. Interestingly, Oliver shared this same company with another of my 3rd great grandfathers, James Meriweather Lankford. James’ son, James C. Lankford, would later marry one of Oliver’s daughters, Mary Ann Wilson. Unfortunately, I only have access to a limited set of Civil War records for Oliver, so I cannot determine whether he served beyond his initial six-month commitment or continued until the end of the war.

 

 

Extract of a muster roll for non-commissioned officers
and privates. Oliver is number 17.

When Oliver appeared on the U.S. Census for Re-organizing the Georgia Militia in 1864, he was recorded as living in Greene County, aged 42 years, born in Georgia, and working as a mechanic. On January 2, 1867, Oliver’s son William married Mary T. Lankford, daughter of James Meriweather Lankford and Caroline B. Hobbs. The marriage ceremony was officiated by Lucius C. Broome, J.P. in Greene County. Additionally, on July 6, 1867, Oliver’s name appeared on the Return of Qualified Voters for residents of Penfield, Georgia.

On the same day, he signed an amnesty oath to be re-admitted into the Union, renouncing secession, and expressing his support for the United States Constitution.

The year 1868 was a busy one with the Wilson family celebrating two joyous occasions: the marriages of their daughters, Mary and Martha. On January 5, Mary exchanged vows with James C. Lankford, while on November 1, Martha married Benjamin Fletcher Carter. Both weddings took place in Greene County. 

To protect his personal property from seizure and sale, Oliver filed an Exemption of Personalty petition in Greene County on March 1, 1870. He stated he was the head of the family, consisting of a wife and four children and claimed the following personal property: household and kitchen furniture valued at $75, farming utensils and tools valued at $10, three head of cattle valued at $50, and seven small pigs valued at $20. The total amount claimed was $155. A hearing was scheduled for March 12, 1870. 

Prior to the hearing, as required, a notice was published in The Greensboro Herald in Greensboro, Georgia on March 3, 1870.

Georgia, Greene County. All persons are hereby notified, that Olive [sic] Porter Wilson has applied for Exemption of Personalty, and that I will pass upon the same at my office on the 12th of March, 1870. 

Given under my hand and official signature this March 1st, 1870.

march 1, D. A. Newson, Ord’y. 

On July 24, 1870, Oliver, his wife Jane, and son Robert resided in Penfield. Oliver was employed as a carpenter, while Robert, aged 11, was a day laborer. It is possible Robert assisted his father in the carpentry business. Jane managed the home. On February 24, 1878, Oliver’s son Robert married Martha C. Backus in Greene County.

On June 23, 1880, Oliver and Jane resided in Skull Shoals in Greene County, Georgia. Despite being 56 years old, Oliver continued to work as a farmer. The census record reveals that Jane, who managed the household, was unable to read or write. Oliver’s son Robert, along with Robert’s wife Martha and their son Augustus (known as Gus), lived just two houses away. The agriculture schedule, also conducted in June 1880, tells us more about Oliver. As a tenant farmer, he worked 30 acres of tilled land and 40 acres of untilled land. His farm held a value of $200, with additional assets including farming equipment and machinery worth $4, and livestock valued at $80. He spent $10 for building and repairing fences on his land. The estimated total value of his farm productions in 1879 was $470. His farm relied on a single horse, two milch cows, and seven regular cows. The milch cows produced 300 pounds of butter. Additionally, Oliver tended to four pigs and five barnyard chickens, which produced 20 dozen eggs in 1879. His efforts extended to planting 10 acres of Indian corn, resulting in a harvest of 125 bushels, and 20 acres of beans, yielding 7 bushels of beans. And finally, his farm produced 25 pounds of tobacco in the same year. 

Regrettably, I have been unable to determine the date of Oliver’s passing or the location of his final resting place. Evidently, it occurred sometime after June 1880.

References

• John W. Lankford, Greene County, Georgia, Land Estate Records 1865–1890, Court Records 1852–1865.
• Mary A. Wilson, 1868; Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978,
• Notices, The Greensboro Herald, Greensboro, Georgia, March 3, 1870.
• O. P. Wilson and J. M. Lankford, Muster Rolls, Confederate, Company C, 9th Georgia Infantry, State Guards, 1863.
• O. P. Wilson, Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867–1869.
• O. P. Wilson, Georgia, U.S., Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860–1864.
• Oliver P. Wilson, Mary A. Wilson, Martha J. Wilson, and William O. Wilson; Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Oliver Wilson, 1880; Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850–1880.
• Oliver Wilson, Georgia, U.S., Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia, 1864.
• Oliver Wilson, Georgia, U.S., Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia, 1864.
• Oliver Wilson, U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850–1880.
• Robert H. Wilson, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Robert Harrison Wilson, Standard Certificate of Death no. 8177, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1919.
• U.S. Federal Census, District 161, Greene County, Georgia, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 160, Greene County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Skull Shoals, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• William O. Wilson and Mary T. Lankford, Marriage Certificate, State of Georgia, Greene County, 1867.
• William Oliver Wilson, Standard Certificate of Death no. 18403, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1924.