A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Ann Robertson Pulliam
James Hotchkiss spelled her last name Pullian. The marriage record on Ancestry.com spells it Pulliam. Full name of Anne Robertson Pulliam is given in a record on Ancestry.com in the California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950. Some sources, like this one, spell her first name Anne, but more spell it Ann. And she herself, in John's War of 1812 pension file, spells it Ann.
She is included (spelled Ann Robertson Pulliam) in "Cockrill Genealogy" by Granville Goodloe, in Vol. 3 of the American Historical Magazine (1898), available from Google Books. Her parents were Drury Pulliam and Ann Cockrill. Ann Robertson was her maternal grandmother.
Newspaper clipping (a handwritten note says SF Post Oct. 2, 1886) from Katherine Cooper's scrapbook in the John Wilson Papers (BANC MSS C-B 420, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA):
...
A month ago San Francisco lost two of her mothers who were held in high regard, and whose lives read like a romance--Mrs. General John Wilson and her cousin, Mrs. Colonel Bryant. Mrs. Ann Robinson [sic] Wilson was a native of Tennessee, and in her eighty-fifth year. She had no illness, and her going was simply translation--laying aside the dear body that we loved and that had served her so long as needed. To the end none of her senses were impaired--no infirmities attended her and she had her second sight. She read the most important literature and kept pace with the times, taking especial interest in national affairs. She was dignified and graceful, and while cordially hospitable and genial, proudly held to all polite forms. She was like a grand old queen, enthroned in her rocking-chair, holding court--always to a very happy audience. She never lost her important individuality in the household, although the children of the first, second and third generation were of her home.
Even when she had ceased making conventional calls, separate invitations and calling cards were sent her--and, in fact, the cream of California people, old and young, made it their pleasure to visit her.
During the recent G. A. R. [Grand Army of the Republic] Encampment my first greeting from General Sherman was: "How is ma, and how is my good old neighbor, Mrs. Wilson? I must run up there and take her Mrs. Sherman's messages." Upon every return to California the latter lady always had a most enjoyable day with her. Mrs. Wilson was a cousin of Mrs. President Polk, whom she was said to resemble in dignity of manner and exalted character. General Jackson was an intimate friend of the family, and in girlhood at balls he had more than once selected her as partner in the Virginia reel. When a little child, her uncle gave a dinner to Aaron Burr, who had retired from the vice presidency when Jefferson was President, and who was then going through the Southwest. It was suspected that his journey was for the purpose of organizing an expedition to invade Mexico and establish an empire which would embrace a number of the Southwestern states of this Union. Her parents rode over on horseback, the father carrying her before him. She was perched upon a high seat at table, near the distinguished guest. She was afterward married to General Wilson, who had for years been with Thomas Jefferson and an inmate of his home. He was active in campaigns, and as lawyer and politician traveled much about the country. His wife often accompanied him down the Mississippi, sometimes in company with Henry Clay, Prentiss and Benton. This couple danced the minuet in New Orleans more than sixty years ago, and were prominent in the brilliant society of that day.
In 1849 President Taylor sent General Wilson to California on a government mission. A government train accompanied him over the plains, and beside his family, Mr. J. M. Hutchings, now of Yosemite valley, and Dr. Birdsall and daughters--one of whom married Governor Latham--were also included in the company. Mrs. Wilson was soon established in a house--new, large and convenient for the times--where she exercised an ennobling influence. It became the center for the gay and brilliant spirits of that magnificent pioneer band--the flower of the best families from every section of the union. This hospitable nature was hers to the end--happily entertaining Mrs. Thos. Brown and Mrs. Tingley at dinner but a couple of days before she died. When eighty, after the General's death, she revisited the East, where she was accorded ovations from the highest even to some of her aged slaves, who still continue about the old plantations, and one of whom came out to California to her. She made the trip home entirely unattended.
She was a favorite among the young ladies and gentlemen, and receiving them was a great pleasure. She was a benevolent Christian character, and her long life, with all its vicissitudes, as near perfection as is often attained.
...
POLLY IDLEWAY.
To follow up on the comments about General Sherman, according to Wikipedia he was a bank manager in San Francisco from 1853 to 1857 (before he was a general, of course). It must have been during that period that he got to know John and Ann Wilson. Their granddaughter, Katherine Wakeman Cooper, wrote an article for The Grizzly Bear magazine, November 1912 issue (available from Google Books), about the Rincon Hill neighborhood in San Francisco where the Wilsons lived. She mentions the Shermans and says that they were friends of the Wilsons.
An issue of the Jackson, MO, Independent Patriot newspaper dated 19 Feb 1825 contained the following notice (obtained from the State Historical Society of Missouri): "Passed at the present session of the Legislature of Missouri, in addition to the ones previously published in the Patriot ... 56. An act declaring the unlawful marriage of Ann R. Pulliam with W. M. Chick, null and void." Wonder what that was about??
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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