William was born at Stenson, the second son of John Wilson 1720-1789)
He was a man of enormous ability and foresight in business, church and society.
E.F. Wilson's journal says "He was described in an old manuscript as a man remarkable for strength of mind, acuteness of judgement and caution of character; a simple, upright, Christian man; a just and liberal landlord; a prudent manager of his estates; a kind benefactor to the poor and a valuable Magistrate and Squire".
William was sheriff for Oxfordshire in 1813. He purchased the estates of Over and Nether Worton.
Certainly William and his family were regular and faithful churchgoers at St Mary Magdalene, Milk Street. By 1814 when he wrote his will, William had decided that the three church livings which he had bought: Islington, Walthamstow and Lower Tooting, were to be left to his son-in-law, Daniel ( 1778-1858); his son William (1791-1867 ) ;and another son-in-law , Richard Greaves (Husband of Sophia) respectively. These places all had rapidly growing populations and the new direction that the parish churches took under his successors has remained constant to this day. As another comment on William's spiritual life E.F. Wilson records, his last words spoken to his children before he died of a somewhat lingering illness at Worton in 1821,
"I hope I shall meet you all in Heaven before the throne of God, there to serve and glorify him for ever It is no accidental thing between God and me. It has been the engagement of a life. Lord take me and all I have into thy hands, encamp round about my dwelling. ...Whether I live, may I live unto the Lord or whether I die, may I die unto the Lord I trust in the same of the Lord and stay myself upon my God".
How or when William went to London and established his business is not known. Bateman comments, when Daniel (later Bishop of Calcutta) was apprenticed to him in 1792, that "he was an extensive silk manufacturer and merchant. A strict and just man who claimed unlimited obedience from all who served him and expected the same industry and perseverence which he manifested himself. In December 1793, he resided in his place of business No 31 Milk Street, ordering his household in the fear of God, keeping Holy the Lord's Day and conscientiously availing himself of the ordinances of the church. In the full tide of business flowing through the warehouse, 500 weavers in succession of all ages and both sexes were depositing their finished
work or seeking more. Customers were hurrying in and out, books were being posted, bills negotiated and a colossal fortune raised. The master's eye was everywhere and in his presence all was order and decorum.”
The colossal fortune was assessed as £250,000 when the will was proved. Apart from many generous legacies to members of the family and charities, notably "
£ 10,000 to my cousin Margaret Gould of Church Street, Ashbourne, Derby", the main beneficiaries were his two sons. The freehold warehouse on the west side of Bow Lane, Cheapside and the dwelling house, counting house rights, members and apartments at No 31,Milk Street were left to them in equal proportions, not as joint tenants. The estate at Nether Worton was left to his son Joseph who was living at Streatham Common in 1847 and who was the first secretary and active promoter of the Lord's Day Observance society. Over Worton was left to William, Vicar of Walthamstow.
Summary of family:
William married Elizabeth Brooke West
I. Ann Wilson, who married her cousin Daniel Wilson, Bishop of Calcutta.
2. Joseph Wilson, who married Emma Aplin. He was the founder of the Lord's Day
Observance Society. Their family were:
Edward, Louisa, Frederick, Cornelius, Joseph (who married Henrica Haigh and
had one daughter-Frances) and Nathaniel (who married his cousin Agnes Wilson,
daughter of the Rev William Wilson (1791-1867) and their family were: Ellen, Reginald, Charles, Caroline, Agnes, Arthur, Bernard, Aubrey, Mildred and Mabel).
3. William Wilson.
Who married Mary Garratt 1820
4. Selina Wilson who married John Davis, their family were:
A. Jane, who married John Kirk.
B. Charlotte.
C. Wilson.
D. Clementine, who married Dr Martin. Their daughter Charlotte married Arthur
Wilson, son of Daniel Wilson, the Vicar of Islington.
5. Charlotte Wilson who married Rev Charles Wetherell, their daughter Mary
married Mr Cooke.
6. Sophia Wilson who married Rev R. Greaves, their family were:
A. Sophia, who married Dr Cabb, their family were: Annette, Leathes, Augustus,
Georgina, Pierre, Adela and Cecil.
B. One son who married Mary Walker and Frances Dent. His family were: Emily,
Leighton, Cecil, Frances and Haldane.
C. Richard, who married Charlotte White and Sophia Corbett, their family were:
Elizabeth, Edith, Fanny, Herbert, Myra (who married Mr Harwood), Alice and
another son.
7. Eliza ,twin to Sophia ,unmarried ,died young.
And three others who died in infancy
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