WILSON, JOHN (1828-1902)

WILSON, JOHN, sailmaker; b. Escuminac (bap. 30 Aug 1828), s/o James Wilson and Jane McLeod; m. 1st, 1852, Jane Henderson, d/o William Henderson, a native of Thurso, Scotland, and h/w Isabella, and 2nd, 1859, Jane (McLennan) Chisholm, d/o Alexander McLennan Sr and h/w Margaret, of Chatham, and wid/o William Chisholm; d. Chatham 20 May 1902.

John Wilson's father, a native of Scotland, was living in Glenelg parish at the time of his marriage, but he and his family later resided in Chatham, where he was a ship pilot.

In 1851, while still a young man living at home with his parents, John Wilson was already earning his living as a sailmaker. He did a large business in supplying Miramichi-built vessels with sails, and his reputation was such that after the era of the wooden ships had passed he continued to receive orders for sails from all parts of the country. His second wife was his assistant, and both he and she were enumerated as sailmakers in the census of 1901.

The Miramichi Advance stated that Wilson "possessed a cheerful disposition and was universally liked by his fellow citizens of all classes." He stayed youthful in appearance and physically active in his old age. He was making a social call at a neighbor's home in 1902 when he was fatally stricken. He was survived by his second wife, Jane (McLennan) Chisholm, and a daughter of his first marriage, Isabella Wilson, the wife of Robert J. Walls.