Frances Wilson delivered a stillborn male child on August 29th in 1845. The child subsequently was buried at Bethel Burying Ground (BBG). Tragically, Ms. Wilson delivered a stillborn female child on July 14, 1843, who also was buried at BBG and, on New Year’s Eve in 1848, she lost a three-day-old son who was interred at BBG as well. All the babies would have been buried in the same grave.
In 1845, Frances was twenty years old and married to Albert Wilson, age unknown. They had three children, Iram (5), Albert (3), and George (1). In 1847, Frances would give birth to another son, Charles, according to the 1850 Federal Census.
Albert Wilson was employed as a coachman, according to a city directory. It is unknown if he was a public driver, similar to a taxi cab driver of today, or if he worked for a single family. Mr. Wilson disappears from public records in 1849. His spouse, Frances, is listed as the head of the family in the 1850 Federal Census. There is no death certificate for Mr. Wilson in the existing records. He may be buried with his children at Bethel Burying Ground. There is, however, an item in a local paper in 1847 that suggests that Mr. Wilson lost his coachman job and was looking for a career that offered more opportunities. The address and age in the advertisement match Mr. Wilson’s.
SITUATION WANTED
A SITUATION, by a young man of color, 25 years of age, in a Gentlemen’s office, as waiter, or tender, or about a store. He writes a fair hand, as is willing to make himself useful. The best city recommendation given for character and capacity. Apply No. 14 Buckley Street. (“Public Ledger,” 19 Oct 1847)
It appears that the Wilson’s owned their home at 14 Buckley Street. It was sold in 1855. I was unable to find any additional records on the family. The Wilsons buried their stillborn son on a clear day in August that only reached a high of 68 degrees.
Bethel Burying Ground Project 