James Thomas Wilson, father-in-law of Pattie Swiney Berry#
JAMES THOMAS WILSON was born in January 1857 in North Carolina. He died in 1929 and is buried at Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Little River Township, Orange County, NC.
Note on birth year: The headstone and FindAGrave memorial (#25895150) record his birth year as 1859. However, the 1900 US Federal Census, enumerated while he was living, records his age as 43 with a birth date of January 1857. The census is considered the more authoritative source, as it was recorded during his lifetime. The headstone date of 1859 is believed to be in error.
James Thomas married Clara Parker around 1879. They were living in Little River Township, Orange County, NC at the time of the 1900 Census. Clara Parker Wilson was born in 1859 in North Carolina and died in 1906. Both James Thomas and Clara are buried at Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
James Thomas was the son of Felix G. Wilson (1831–1896) and Adline Woods Wilson (1832–1879). His father Felix G. Wilson was the son of Charles Wilson (1799–1866) and Elizabeth Rountree Wilson (1800–1872).
CONNECTION TO THE BERRY FAMILY: James Thomas Wilson’s son, Felix Curry “Bob” Wilson, married Pattie Swiney Berry on December 20, 1910. The Wilson and Berry families had deep roots in Orange County, NC. In 1833, William Clarence Berry and Thomas Person Berry sold 100 acres of land to Samuel and Felix Wilson, with Charles Wilson (Felix Wilson’s brother) as witness. The Wilson and Berry families were neighbors and conducted business together in Orange County going back to the 1830s.
SPOUSE:
Clara Parker Wilson b. 1859, NC, d. 1906. Buried at Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Little River Township, Orange County, NC.
FindAGrave Memorial — Clara Parker Wilson (#25895133)
PARENTS:
Felix G. Wilson b. April 26, 1831, d. January 17, 1896. Spouse: Adline Woods Wilson (1832–1879). Father: Charles Wilson (1799–1866). Mother: Elizabeth Rountree Wilson (1800–1872). Burial details unknown.
FindAGrave Memorial — Felix G. Wilson (#54107844)
CHILDREN (from 1900 Census):
- Ernest Wilson, b. ~1880, NC
- Otha Wilson, b. ~1882, NC
- Lanna Wilson, b. ~1884, NC
- Felix Curry “Bob” Wilson, b. February 21, 1886, NC, d. April 20, 1964. Married Pattie Swiney Berry.
- Thomas Wilson Jr., b. ~1887, NC
- Colen Wilson, b. ~1889, NC
- Jula Wilson, b. ~1892, NC
- Malcom Wilson, b. ~1896, NC
CENSUS INFORMATION
1900 US Federal Census — Little River Township, ED 71, Orange County, North Carolina. Sheet 12B, Line 100, Household 252. Thomas Wilson, Head, age 43, born January 1857, married 21 years. Wife: Clarie L Wilson, age 41. Eight children in household.
SOURCES:
“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSB8-SVG : Wed May 21 00:55:29 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas Wilson and Clarie L Wilson, 1900.
FindAGrave, memorial #25895150, James Thomas Wilson (1859–1929), Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Little River Township, Orange County, North Carolina.
FindAGrave, memorial #54107844, Felix G. Wilson (1831–1896).
FindAGrave, memorial #25895133, Clara Parker Wilson (1859–1906), Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery.