Wilson Family Genealogy
Conventions Used in this Genealogy
Generation Numbering of Wilson Descendants
Generation Numbering of Collateral Family Members
Generation Numbering of Ancestors Who Did Not Come to America
Information Provided in a Person's Main Entry
People For Whom we do not have a Date of Death
Generation Numbering of Wilson Descendants
The first Wilson generation in America - Alexander Wilson and Jane (Armour) Wilson - is numbered Generation 1.
Their descendants are assigned the following generation numbers:
- Generation 2 = Children
- Generation 3 = Grandchildren
- Generation 4 = Great-grandchildren
- Generation 5 = 2nd great-grandchildren
- Generation 6 = 3rd great-grandchildren
- Generation 7 = 4th great-grandchildren
- Generation 8 = 5th great-grandchildren
- Generation 9 = 6th great-grandchildren
- Generation 10 = 7th great-grandchildren
- Generation 11 = 8th great-grandchildren
- Generation 12 = 9th great-grandchildren
- Generation 13 = 10th great-grandchildren
After each Wilson descendant's name in his or her main entry, that person's direct Wilson ancestral line is given, including both male and female Wilson Ancestors, using the maiden name of female Wilson Ancestors. Generation numbers are included. In this way, the user immediately knows the "distance" of an individual from Alexander and Jane (Armour) Wilson, and the person's immediate ancestry. Links are provided to each of the Wilson Ancestors.
For example, Susan E Davis appears as: "Susan E Davis-5 (William James Davis-4, Susan Elisa Pawling-3, Jane Wilson-2, Alexander Wilson and Jane Armour-1)." This shows that Susan is a great-great-granddaughter (5th generation) of Alexander and Jane (Armour), through their daughter, Jane.
Back to Top
Generation Numbering of Collateral Family Members
The ancestral families of each spouse of a Wilson descendant, to the extent known, are, or will be, continued in the Collateral Families section. There is no need to go to a different part of the website to find this information. Links are, or will be, provided. If the pages have not yet been developed, the names will be given, but there will not be a link. Collateral Families pages will be posted and linked as quickly as possible; however, priority has been given to developing the Wilson Family pages.
For generation numbering purposes, each collateral family line is treated the same way as the Wilson line, with the first generation in America of that surname line numbered Generation 1.
When the information is known, each spouse of a Wilson family member will be given a generation number that corresponds to his or her generation from the first surname ancestor in America. That person's known ancestors will be shown after her or his name. The person's mother will be listed first, then the father with his surname generation number, followed by the known surname ancestors in America. If the person's mother's maiden name is known, that surname will also be followed; again, to the extent it has been researched. The mother's surname line will be picked up on the main entry for the spouse's parents.
For example, Levi Pawling, husband of Jane Wilson, appears as: "Levi Pawling-4 (Helena Magdalena Burhans and Levi Pawling-3, Henry Pawling-2, Henry (Hendrick Paeldin) Pawling-1)" This shows that Levi Pawling's first ancestor in America was Henry (Hendrick Paeldin) Pawling, and that Levi is Henry's great-grandson (4th generation). The Burhans surname, which was Levi's mother's maiden name, will be picked up on the main page for Levi Pawling and Helena Magdalena Burhans.
If we have not had time, or been able, to follow a collateral surname to the first ancestor in America, as much information as is known on the ancestors of a spouse of a Wilson family member will be shown in parentheses after the spouse's name, but no generation number will be given, as that information is not presently known.
For example, Clarence Marion Arrasmith, husband of Della Gertrude Morey, appears as: "Clarence Marion Arrasmith (Edith Blanche Worden and Francis "Marion" Arrasmith, William Henry Arrasmith, Massey Arrasmith)" This indicates that we do not presently know the first Arrasmith ancestor in America. Massey Arrasmith, the first Arrasmith ancestor that we have so far identified, was born in 1802 in Kentucky.
Back to Top
Generation Numbering of Ancestors Who Did Not Come to America
Ancestors who did not come to America are assigned letters rather than numbers. The last generation to be born and to die in a country other than America is Generation A. The next earlier generation is B, etc.
For example, Alexander Wilson's line is shown as: "Alexander Wilson-1 (Sara Ainsley and Robert Wilson-A)"
On the main page for Robert Wilson and Sara Ainsley, Sara's line is shown as: "Sara Ainsley-A (Elizabeth Mercer and Alexander Ainslay-B, Alexander Ainsly-C)"
Back to Top
Information Provided in a Person's Main Entry
To the extent known, birth, marriage, death, and burial information is provided in each individual's main entry. We have a number of photographs, and are working on preparing those photographs to be posted with the individual's main entry. Some short additional information may also be provided, such as occupation and military service.
More detailed information, if any has been prepared, may be found through the "Additional Information about" link under each person's main entry.
Each Wilson family member, and as many collateral family membes as possible, will eventually have a memorial on a website called www.findagrave.com. Even if we have no other additional information about a person, a link to her or his memorial on Find-a-Grave will be provided. The link to the memorial will take you to another website. You will need to use your browser's "back button" to return to this website, or, if you spend some time looking around the Find-a-Grave website, it may be easier simply to re-enter this website.
Other additional information that may be included about an individual includes more extended military service information, stories about the individual, historical accounts or records connected with the individual, additional photographs, things written by or about the individual, and Ancestral File Numbers.
Back to Top
People For Whom we do not have a Date of Death
There are many people for whom we do not have death information. In order to protect the privacy of living individuals, we will not include information on any person for whom we do not have death information who would be less than 110 years of age at the time her or his information is posted.