Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Wilson, Samuel
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Buckingham Township


SAMUEL WILSON dealer in and grower of all kinds of seeds, 
P.O. Mechanicsville, was born in Buckingham township, in 
1824, and is a son of Samuel and Hannah (Longstreth) Wilson. 
 He is descended on the paternal side from ancestors who 
originally came from Yorkshire, England, and who for several 
generations have been members of the Society of Friends. The 
first emigrants of the name came to America about 1683, and 
settled in Bucks county, and in New Jersey, opposite Bristol 
and Morrisville.  The first of the family in Buckingham 
township was Samuel Wilson, the great-grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, who was born in Bucks county, 
January 6, 1706.  He moved to Buckingham and took up a large 
tract of land extending to the Delaware river, and in 1731 
built the older portion of the two-storied stone house, near 
the present village of Mechanicsville.  In 1729 he married 
Rebecca, the ninth child of Thomas Canby, whose ancestors 
also came from Yorkshire, England, and to this marriage were 
born thirteen children.  Of these, the tenth, Stephen, born 
in 1749, remained upon the original homestead and married 
Sarah Blackfan, to whom were born eight children.  Of these, 
the second, Samuel, born in 1785, married Hannah Longstreth, 
and was the father of the subject of this sketch.  The 
mother of the present Samuel Wilson was a granddaughter of 
Bartholomew Longstreth, who was born in Yorkshire, England, 
in 1679, and emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1698.  He belonged 
to the Society of Friends, and in 1727 married Ann Dawson, 
who was born in London and came to America in 1710.  By her 
he had eleven children.  The eleventh child, Benjamin, 
married Sarah Fussel, daughter of Solomon Fussel, and to 
this marriage were born twelve children, of whom the ninth 
child, Hannah, born in 1791, married Samuel Wilson, and had 
eight children, of whom but two are living:  Samuel, and 
Margaret O., wife of Elias Paxson, of Solebury.  Samuel 
Wilson was reared on the farm, and when 21 years of age 
engaged in the mercantile business at Newtown.  Five years 
later he returned and in 1852 built a house on the original 
tract of land.  The same year he was married to Maria 
Webster, nee Burger, by whom he had three children, all 
living:  Samuel Howard, William E., and Mary Elizabeth.  In 
the spring of 1876 he commenced the business of growing 
seeds, which he has carried on extensively.  In 1885 he 
built a larger seed-house, and erected a three-story stone 
building, 35 by 60 feet.  He employs a large number of 
hands, and has sale for seeds in all parts of the world.  
His establishment is one of the largest of its kind in this 
part of the country.  Mr. Wilson has served as school 
director nine years.  He is an intelligent and enterprising 
citizen.