Scotch-Irish-L Archives

From: Dan Wilson <>
Subject: Wilson-Chesney Papers
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 13:21:21 -0700

Linda,

It sounds as if the author of your book has been reading the
WILSON-CHESNEY papers, item T438 in PRONI - also available on SLAKE film
#258582. Item #4 on that roll is EXTRACTS FROM SKETCHES OF THE WILSON
FAMILY, lent to PRONI by Mr. S. Henry of Sandelford, Coleraine.

There's no author of the book listed, but he was the great grandson of
John Wilson of Birney Hill, which he says was in the townland of
Rasherry, Parish of Skerry (or Bray as it was also known), co. Antrim.
John Wilson was married "no less than 4 times," and the author descends
from the marriage of John Wilson and Janet Browne. Much of the info was
obtained from a family Bible, "which has been handed down from father to
son for at least 200 years," and from the family burying ground at
Broughshane. The author also had an "old written book in the handwriting
of William Wilson of Ballycloughan, who was the brother of John Wilson
of Birney Hill. The author says there are entries in this book to the
year 1730.

The author concludes that John Wilson of Birney Hill emigrated to
Ireland in 1684, and that he was a brother of William Wilson of
Westland, Nithsdale Cummock, Ayrshire, from which John Wilson also came.
He also says that these Wilsons were related to Margaret Wilson the
Martyr of Solway. I'm sure you know that story...

John Wilson was present in Carrickfergus when William III landed on 14
June 1690.

Anyway, it appears that your book is talking about the same Wilsons as
Sam Henry. I have a hard copy of the EXTRACTS and can do some lookups if
anyone is interested.
Have them check with me.

Dan Wilson

This thread:

• Wilson-Chesney Papers by Dan Wilson <>