Thursday, May 13, 2010

Treasure Chest Thursday- James Wilson, America’s first Globe Maker

A Wilson Terrestrial Globe

James Wilson was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire on March 15, 1765. His father was a farmer, and James was an apprentice to a blacksmith. He had little formal education. In 1796 he removed to Bradford, Vermont and taught himself cartography. To make up for a lack of education, he bought a copy of the Encyclopedia Britannica. At Dartmouth College he saw a pair of English globes, and became interested in producing his own. He began by turning solid blocks of wood, and covering them with maps. He was not satisfied with the results until he learned the art of fine copper engraving with Amos Doolittle.

Wilson’s first 13” globes were sold for $50 in 1813 in Boston, a luxury item for the time. His mass production began in 1815 in Albany, New York. His best globes were those created in 1826 from new engravings, and came in three sizes. His celestial globes showed the stars and planets, and his terrestrial globes showed the continents, cities and rivers.
A Wilson Celestial Globe



James Wilson died in 1835. His sons, John and Samuel Wilson, continued with the globe business in Albany. One of James Wilson’s original terrestrial globes is in the Harvard University Map collection.

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Family Tree Information:
Generation 1: Alexander Wilson, born in 1659 probably in Londonderry, Ireland. He fought in the siege of Londonderry in 1688/9 and came to America in 1719. He died on 4 March 1752 in what is now Windham, New Hampshire.

Generation 2: James Wilson, born about 1680 and emigrated from Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Londonderry, New Hampshire, died in Londonderry 12 June 1772 aged 70 years; married Janet Taggart, who died 12 January 1800, aged 97 years. Thirteen children (Agnes, George, Alexander, James, Mary, Jeanette, John, Samuel, Annis, Margaret, Eleanor, Samuel and George).

Generation 3: James Wilson, born 15 May 1733 in Londonderry, died 1843 in Bradford, Vermont; married 1 June 1758 in Londonderry to Eleanor Hopkins, born 1738, died 1822 in Bradford, Vermont, daughter of Robert Hopkins and Elenor Wilson. Nine children (Robert, Martha, James, Janet, David, Agnes, Elenor, Samuel and Betsey).

Generation 4: James Wilson, born 15 March 1763 in Londonderry, died on 26 March 1835 on the Upper Plain, Bradford, Vermont, aged 92 years; married first to Molly Highland of Londonderry, one son; married second to Sarah Donaldson, ten children; married third Agnes McDuffee of Bradford, Vermont, three daughters.

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For the truly curious:

The History of Londonderry, edited by Edward L. Parker, Boston, 1851, pages 251-254.

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To Cite/Link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Treasure Chest Thursday- James Wilson, America’s first Globe Maker", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 13, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/05/treasure-chest-thursday-james-wilson.html: accessed [access date]). 

9 comments:

  1. Wow interesting story, Heather. If I want to see one of these globes, is there a local place to do that? Does Londonderry own one?

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    1. No, there is not a Wilson globe in Londonderry. There are two (including a celestial globe) at the New Hampshire Historical Society, and one in the Harvard Map Collection (the first photo in the blog post)

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    2. There used to be one in Derry, as part of the historical collections owned by the Molly Reid Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I'm not sure if it ended up in Concord or Cambridge when the chapter closed its museum and sold its headquarters in 2002. Other significant local pieces were donated to the Derry Museum of History and to Pinkerton Academy.

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  2. I AM a descendant of James Wilson, but of Topsham Maine

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    1. If your James was son to Samuel then it's the same family. Are you going to the Brunswick 1718 Conference at Bowdoin University next week? If so, would like to say hello. Alexander's family will be part of my discussion on Wednesday morning. Colin CB1718Project@gmail.com

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    2. I'm only attending the Brunswick Conference on Wednesday, so I'll be able to see your discussion. I hope we have time to chat!

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  3. I am a direct descendant of Alexander Wilson. As per the terrestrial Wilson globe, the Molly Reid Chapter donated the globe to the Smithsonian .

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  4. I'm confused about the dates. I've found his birth year being 1763, not 1765? Also, death year being 1855 (you have it as both 1855 and 1835). Which dates are correct?

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    1. He lived 1763 - 1835. I fixed the typos. Thanks for pointing this out. After nine years you are the first to point out the typos!

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