I apologize for the lack of flow this post has. I had it written out, then unexpectedly lost that version. I was trying to remember everything I had written before, but it seems choppy.
I found this in the April 13, 1866 issue of The Clarksville Weekly Chronicle.
Administrator’s Notice
All those having claims against the estate of James Wilson, dec’d, are hereby notified to file the same with the clerk of the county court of Stewart county, State of Tennessee, on or before the 19th day of August, 1866, legally authenticated, in order that the same may be liquidated and discharged, in accordance with the acts of the Legislature of the State of Tennessee in relation to insolvent estates. This 19th of March, 1866.
B.P. Summers, Adm’r.
March 30, 1866-4 w*
This same announcement is in three other issues (hence the “4w*” at the bottom).
If you read my post titled More on Delilah Paralee Duffel and Basil Pinkney Summers then you already know that I am unable to find anyone else in the area with those initials.
note: just as a refresher-Houston County, Tennessee wasn’t founded until 1871. Prior to that the Summers family lived in Stewart County. After the formation of Houston County I’m thinking that they did not physically relocate, but the line for Stewart County just moved north of where they lived.
So, James Wilson. I have not actually written about Basil Pinkney Summers, or his parents. And I am not going to do an entire post for him at the moment. But I will tell you my theory of James Wilson.
Basil Pinkney Summers was born on January 20, 1821, most likely in Stewart County, Tennessee, to parents Greenberry Summers (1797-1846) and Rebecca Francis Wilson (about 1793-1835). Rebecca is the daughter of James Wilson and Jean Caldwell. She was born in North Carolina. She married Greenberry Summers about 1817 in North Carolina (I have not seen the marriage record, so the year is assumed based on the birth date of their first child). Greenberry and Rebecca moved to Stewart County, Tennessee between 1818 and 1820 (as they are found on the 1820 census in Tennessee).
In 1820 there is a James Wilson over the age of 45 living in Stewart County who was not there in 1810, so I think it’s altogether possible that Greenberry and Rebecca's families traveled together. This is why I think that the James Wilson mentioned in the announcement is most likely Basil Pinkney Summers’ uncle. In 1860 there is a man named James Wilson living in Stewart County who was born approximately 1800 in North Carolina. He is not in Stewart County in 1870, but the other James Wilson found (who is much younger) is still there. So I think it can safely be assumed that the 1800 North Carolina James Wilson is the one who died. I looked on the Stewart County Archives page, but I didn’t find a will for him. There are some court cases that mention a James Wilson, but I’m not sure if any of them are him.
Anyway, we know from the 1800 census in Rowan County, North Carolina that James and Jean had more children other than Rebecca. It’s something to ponder.