A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for John Trewolla
WFT 137 # 299:
John Trewolla was born September 17 or 18, 1769 in Truro, Cornwall County, England. He was christened on November 21, 1769 in Truro, Cornwall County, England. He was married on December 3, 1793 at St. Clement's Parish, Truro, Cornwall County, England to Margaret H. Pearce, who was christened on September 10, 1769 in Illogan Parish, Cornwall County, England. They had ten children. He was the only son of Henry to go to America. John and his brother, Samuel, were in the Army during the Napolenic War preceding 1808 and they were left two-thirds of thier father's estate, because they were not so well established as their brothers. John was a tailor and was the first of the Trewollas to follow this trade. John and Margaret came to America at the age of 70 on the barque Vittoria, 650 tons burden. The Commander was Moses Simpson. They sailed April 1, 1841 from Maplun on the Truro River for Quebec. John kept a diary of his journey. He died in Ballard County, Kentucky on September 17, 1841. Margaret died on January 20, 1861 in Ballard or McCracken County, Kentucky. A ten inch column in the Ballard County newspaper was devoted to recalling her early years in England, in praise of her character. In Cornwall, the Trewollas were members of the Church of England, but Margaret remembered the preaching of elder John Wesley and his visits to her home. She accepted Christianity under his teaching at the age of 14. She became an active member of the Methodist Society that then functioned within the membership fo St. Mary's Parish.
Excerpts from John Trewolla's diary beginning with the April 1, 1841 ocean crossing:
April 1st, went on board the barque Vittoria, Captain Moses Simpson at Malpas, bound to Quebec. Paid 13 pounds, 10 shillings for passage.
April 2nd, sailed from Malpas for Falmouth.
April 3rd, Saturday, quit Falmouth about 8 o'clock in the morning, with a fair wind all day. Lost sight of land in evening. Past Lilly Light about 12 o'clock at night.
April 4th, Sunday night, had a most tremendous storm that I shall not soon forget.
April 5th, Monday, heavy seas and high wind.
April 11th, Easter Sunday, beautiful weather, at night going 8 knots.
April 12th, Monday, threw a bottle overboard with this note "April 12, 1841 ship Vittoria, Captain Moses Simpson from Truro to Quebec, Latitude 43:48, Longitude 17:20 all well Jo. Trewolla, Truro, Cornwall, passenger."
April 20th, Tuesday, going 7 to 9 knots, past the Lyra Packet, homeward bound from Brazil. The men murmur about their meals.
April 21st, five vessels in sights. About 1300 miles from Falmouth. In the evening saw a shark alongside.
April 24th, 25th, 26th, a hurricane, the sea running mountains high, one of the boys fell on deck and taken below as dead.
May 7th, Friday, saw an iceberg.
May 8th, Saturday, got on banks of Newfoundland. More icebergs passing.
May 13th, Thursday, land in sight, 20 days and saw no land.
May 15th, plenty of snow on the land of Cape Breton.
May 26th, Wednesday, saw the most beautiful sight in the world so many hundreds of vessels in a line past Camel Island, Anticosti, Cape Torment and on the Canadian side from Camash to Quebec, some large and handsome house for more than 100 miles.
May 27th, Thursday, the vessel visited by the doctor and a clean bill of health, 40 in number.
May 31st, Monday, sailed from Quebec.
June 2nd, Wednesday, arrived Montreal. Lodged at William Laphand's until Thursday morning.
June 3rd, Thursday, quitted Montreal for Laprairie. Left about 11 by the railroad train. Got to St. John's and went on board a steamer for Whitehall.
June 4th, Friday, arrived at Whitehall by 6 o'clock in the morning. Went on board a canal towboat for Albany. Got to Troy by 6 o'clock, Albany by 8 o'clock.
June 6th, Sunday, got the luggage on thye quay by 4 o'clock for New York, sailed by 5 o'clock.
June 7th, Monday, got to New York by half past 4 in the morning. Found Mr. Holt and lodged that night at a house three doors from his.
June 8th, Tuesday, wrote to John and Uncle Teava.
June 14th, a letter from John Teava and a 20 dollar bill.
June 19th, quitted New York for Richmond, all sick at night.
July 6th, left Richmond for Oxford, North Carolina by wagons. Went to John Trewolla's house.
September 17, 1846 quitted Young's X-Roads after dinner. Stopped all night at Mr. Robert Downey's about three miles.
September 22nd, went past Caswell Court House (Leesburg, North Carolina)
September 24th, completed 100 miles.
September 26th, Friday, in sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains 45 miles away.
September 27th, Saturday, passed Pilot Mountains, 300 feet high.
September 28th, Sunday, go to Mount Airy, North Carolina.
September 29th, crossed the Blue Ridge before dinner at a place called Cold Spring (Lowgap, North Carolina at the North Carolina and Virginia state line)
September 30th, go to Graten Court House (Galax, Virginia) crossed a river 300 yards wide (Carroll River)
October 3rd, Saturday, to Seven Mile Ford (near Marion, Virginia)
October 4th, Sunday, camped at Saltville in a lane 14 miles from Abingdon. Bought two dozen bundles of fodder cost 33 cents. At Abingdon got one half bushel of meat 25 cents.
October 5th, near Abingdon bought one pair shoes $1.00, another pair 75 cents, bacon 84 cents, oats 33 cents. Camped at Beaver River at 2 o'clock. Then came on bought greens and camped one mile from Blountville, Tennessee (near Bristol, Virginia)
October 6th, Tuesday, in Blountville bought meal 25 cents, two dozen bundles of fodder 25 cents, greens 5 cents and corn 16 cents. By a very cold spring we fix our shafts.
October 7th, Wednesday, we came on to the board yard (Kingsport, Tennessee) crossed a bridge, toll $1.00 and bought beef 37 1/2 cents and coffee 25 cents.
October 8th, camped at Beach Springs, two mile from Rogersville, Tennessee
October 9th, Friday, saw a road to nowhere near Mooresburg, Tenneessee bought 14 pounds of bacon 75 cents. In afternoon came to Bean Station where Muster Day in progress, and watched a horse race.
October 10th, passed through Rutledge, Tennessee did some shopping at Blain's X-Roads (18 miles northeast of Knoxville). Built a fire of logs 16 feet long under a large white oak.
October 11th, on road before sunrise, went 10 miles before stopping for breakfast. Came upon a dwelling house, separate kitchen and smoke house that were burning. A totoal loss. Covered 17 1/2 miles.
October 12th, come to the Clinch River (Northwest of Knoxville) crossed river six times before coming to the westbound wagon road. Made camp four miles beyound the river.
October 13th, bought potatoes for 6 cents and more fodder. Camped where a bridge is about to be built, 6 miles from Montgomery, Tennessee.
October 14th, forded Poplar River (New River) paid $1.50 to go through gap in mountains (Cumberland Mountains). Evening camp in a cane break houses very scarce. The night was cold.
October 15th came to a cabin bought fodder, corn 25 cents, butter 10 cents, and potatoes 12 1/2 cents. Camped in a new ground by the cabin.
October 16th, arrived at Jamestown, Tennessee crossed another mountain range (Montgomery Mountains)
October 17th, came to Beaver River. Found an assortment of supplies for sale. Bought beef 6 cents, potatoes 6 cents and brandy $1.00.
October 18th, camped at Brundem's store at noon, camped for the night one mile beyond Albany, Kentucky.
October 19th, Monday, passed Mr. Brian's store. Camped on a hill approaching Burkesville, Kentucky.
October 20th, crossed the Cumberland River, came to Burkesville, hand a rung replaced on a barrel 5 cents, two pounds of coffee 25 cents. Camped by Church Creek.
October 21st, passed through Marrowbone. One wheel broke. Fixed it partly. Bought supplies soap and oats 12 1/2 cents.
October 22nd, same wheel broke. Located a blacksmith. Replaced the iron wheel tire and tightened it for 50 cents.
October 23rd, passed through Glasglow, Kentucky. Bought supplies, Six miles beyond Glasglow bought a possum and camped there.
October 24th, passed a race track. Bought more supplies and camped two miles from Barren River.
October 25th, Sunday, crossed Barren River. Passed through Bowling Green, Kentucky. Camped by a new well at the home of Mr. Vase.
October 26th, passed Shakertown and Russelville. Camped one mile beyond.
October 27th, came to the turnpike paid 25 cents toll crossed a bridge over Elk Fork of the Pond River at the town of Elkton and camped seven miles beyond.
October 28th, arrived after one mile travel to Fairview on the Todd-Christian County line. Another toll turnpike. Made noon camp nine miles from Hopkinsville. Passed through the town of Hopkinsville and camped six miles west of town by the side of an old plank fence.
October 29th, Thursday, we came to Mr. Hopkin's today and staid there all the time till the 31st.
Information received from Charles Williams of Knoxville, Tennessee
The Wilks & Related Families Pedigree Chart dated October 14, 1993 compiled by James D. Wilks Jr of Anaheim, California
Family Group Sheet of John Trewolla & Margaret H. Pearce sent to me by James D. Wilks Jr. of Anaheim, California, dated October 14, 1993
Family Group Sheet of Henry Trewolla & Thomasine Courtenay sent to me by James D. Wilks Jr. of Anaheim, California dated October 14, 1993
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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