Tuesday, January 14, 2014

The Luck ~ Wilson Connection

After my parents got married in 1986 we moved to the projects, Cardinal Village, on the southside of Danville.  Since birth I had always lived with my grandparents in the Camp Grove community so moving across town was new to me.  I still stayed in Camp Grove a lot but some weekends I had to stay home.  It was so boring being away from all of my friends then one day a moving truck pulled up.  This family of four moved in the apartment across from us.  I noticed the children of the couple were teenagers.  I was in awe of their style.  I thought they were so fly.

The following day the lady of the house came over to introduce herself.  Her name was Mattie Jackson.  Once my mom told her who her family was she said, girl don't you know you my cousin.  By this time I was staring the lady down because she looked like she could be my mother.  There I was no more than 8 years old and I was shocked at how much she looked like so many other family members I knew.  I was too young to understand the connection but all I knew was I had some kin people who favored me.  I used to watch her children Tasha and TJ everyday, watch them dance, and just play around and have fun.  They moved here from NY, Mattie was from here.  One day I even saw David Wilson come over to Mattie's house.  I knew he was kin because we attended the same church, Camp Grove Baptist Church.  My grandpa was 'everybody cousin' so I knew everyone I was related to in church. 

Once my interest in genealogy peeked, everyone that my grandfather told me was connected to me I just had to know.  I wanted to know exactly how I was kin to all of these people.  What I found was an amazing web of double kinship, endless connections, and a lot of intermarrying. 

I followed Mattie until I found a connection.  Mattie Louise Wilson was born to Woodrow Benjamin Wilson (abt 1916) and Louise Constance-Luella McDaniels.  Woodrow and Louise were married on September 21, 1935.  I followed Woodrow Wilson all the way back to his great grandfather Jack Wilson (abt 1794).  Jack Wilson married a Matilda (abt 1814).  They had four children, John, Minty, Logan, and Indiana.  Their son John Wilson (abt 1848) married Emeline Bailey on December 27, 1870.  To this union, eight children were born.  John & Emeline had a son named Ben Wilson ( April 22, 1879).

Once I got that far, I found the connection along with many others.  Ben Wilson married Caroline Turner.  Caroline Turner (December 3, 1883 - October 1963) was the daughter of Robert Turner (abt 1848) and Lucy Luck (abt 1854).  Lucy Luck was one of 6 children born to my 3rd great grandparents Gardner & Paulina Luck.  Once I found that connection I realized that the descendants of Gardner Luck is probably over half of the people in Danville.

Below is a picture of Ben Wilson & Caroline Turner~

24 comments:

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    1. thank you....I love old photos and go around collecting them:)

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  2. Great picture and it is awesome to have been raised near extended family!
    Stephani Juleeana Miller

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    1. that is so true, I meet people all the time who are descendants of my 3rd great grandfather

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  3. What an awesome photo. It looks like you are putting all the pieces together. It's also great that you are so rooted by kin ties to the community.

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  4. Its great that you were surrounded by family growing up! Do any of them share your interest in genealogy?

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    1. God has placed one in every family so I'm blessed......I have 3 older cousins who are my kindred spirits.

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  5. Great post on the importance of tracing those individuals whom family members called "cousin".

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  6. Ressie...your story brought back memories for me of my project days. You have been doing some serious research. Kudos to you!!!

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  7. Your post on your family is really good. It just flowed and I really enjoyed it. How wonderful was it for you have grow up so close to your cousins. The photo was absolutely stunning.

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  8. Ressie wonderful and the photo puts a face with the narrative. Thanks for sharing. Valerie Lewis-Mosley @SankofaGriot.

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  9. Very nice post and love the photo. I've always loved hearing stories and seeing other peoples photos..I don't seem to tire of looking or hear..now reading stores..great job on your research

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  10. Ressie you sound NOsey like Me. I love the picture. He looks like he is sitting in a Preacher's chair. I've never seen a photo like that with the colors. I have a Minty! last name unknown. She was born 1834 and is Granddaddy Ike Ivery's Mother. I enjoy your Granddaddy so much! Thanks for bringing their stories to life.

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  11. Wonderful wonderful!! I enjoyed my read.

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