William A. Wilson

Perquimans County

WILLIAM A. WILSON
(1830-1891) Confederate Veteran Perquimans County, NC William A. Wilson was born near Winfall in Perquimans County, NC about 1830. Family information lists his middle name as "Addison" but no verification of this has been found. He was the son of Thomas Wilson (1802-1874) and Elvy (WHITE) Wilson (1805-1832). It would appear that he lived with his father, Thomas, until such time that he married and began to raise his own family. He married Susan Ann Jordan (b.1830-d. ca.1875), daughter of Matthew and Eliza Jordan of Perquimans County sometime about 1851/52. No exact marriage date for William and Susan has been found. William continued to farm until May, 1865 when it was apparent that North Carolina would secede from the Union. On May 16, 1861, at Hertford, NC, four days before North Carolina actually seceded, he enlisted in the Perquimans Beaureguards, a company which became Co. F, 27th Regt. NC Troops(Infantry). He was mustered in as a Corporal and eventually was promoted on September 1, 1864 to the rank of 2d Lieutenant commanding the company. His first action was in North Carolina at the Battle of New Bern in March of 1862. On his September 29, 1887 application to the Pickett-Buchanan Confederate Veterans Camp in Norfolk, Virginia he listed his involvement in the following battles: Richmond July, 1862, the Seven Days fight; Sharpsburg, Maryland, September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; Bristow Station, October, 1863; 2d Battle of the Wilderness, 1864; Spotsylvania Courthouse, 1864; minor battles to Petersburg, 1864; Reaves Station, August 24, 1864; Hatcher's Run, February, 1865. On September 1, 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia, he was elected 2d Lt. and commanded Company F until the end of the war. In March and April, 1865 he and his company were detailed to western North Carolina to round up army deserters. Although most of the 27th NC Regiment surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia with General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, Lt. Wilson and his company was surrendered by General Joseph E. Johnston in North Carolina. on April 27, 1865. He was paroled at Greensboro, NC on May 1, 1865. After the war he returned to Perquimans County and farmed. He and Susan had seven children: Matthew Thomas, Joseph T., Jesse, Mary Elizabeth, William Augustus, Ellen, and Catherine Louisa(Kate). Susan died between 1870 and 1880. She is listed in the 1870 Perquimans County census but does not appear in the 1880 census. After 1880 records indicate William moved to Norfolk, Virginia where he worked as a stockyard superintendent for the S. Perry & Company. In 1887 on his application to the Pickett-Buchanan Camp of the United Confederate Veterans he listed as his residence 35 Nebraska Street in Norfolk. It is believed he died in 1891 but his burial site is unknown. ~~ Bob Stokley ~~ Elizabeth City, NC