hegnauer.family
H0201 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Martha

Born at Tennessee in 1836 and last recorded at Ball Township in 1880.

born about 1836 at Tennessee, United States died after 1 Jun 1880

Also written Martha Wilson

Martha was born in Tennessee about 1836, the daughter of parents born in South Carolina; her maiden name is not known.1–2 She married Richard Wilson, also of Tennessee, and by the late 1850s they were living in Arkansas, where their children were born.1

In 1870 Martha was keeping house for Richard and their four sons in Flint Township, Benton County: James, 12; William, 11; Elijah, 9; and Richard, 7.1 In 1880 the family was in Ball Township, where Martha, 43, kept house for her husband and their sons James, Elijah and Richard, all working on the farm. The census taker noted something against her name in the column for sickness or disability.2

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Tennessee, 1836
  • Marriage to Richard Wilson, 1858
  • Death, 1880
  • 2 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where she died is not yet known.
  • Maiden name. Unknown. 'Tide' Wilson", both 1836–1890.
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Sources 1–2

1 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Flint Township

1870 U.S. Federal Census, Flint Township, Benton County, Arkansas, post office Hico, p. 233B, dwelling 175, family 180 [reading]: "Eiga" [Eliga; indexed "Eiza"] Wilson (9, male, born Arkansas) in the household of Richard Wilson (36, farmer, real estate $400, personal estate $200, born Tennessee), with Martha (34, keeping house, born Tennessee), James (12), William (11) and Richard (7), all born Arkansas; NARA M593, roll 47; image 4259242_00461; database with images, Ancestry.com.

2 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Ball Township

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Ball Township, Benton County, Arkansas, E.D. 9, p. 336A, dwelling 150, family 160, enumerated [8?] June 1880: Elija D. [indexed "Elisa D."] Wilson (son, 19, farm labor, born Arkansas, father and mother born Tennessee; attended school during the year; cannot write) in the household of Richard S. Wilson (head, 48 [index], farming, born Tennessee, parents born Tennessee), with Martha (wife, 43 [index], keeping house, born Tennessee, parents born South Carolina), James A. (son, 23) and Richard A. (son, 15), both farm laborers born Arkansas; NARA T9, roll 38; image 4239799-00679; database with images, Ancestry.com.

Life in time

about 1836

Birth , Tennessee, United States

proven Sources 1, 2

How we know

Aged 34 in June 1870 (born about 1836) and 43 in the 1880 index (about 1837); born in Tennessee by both censuses, of parents born in South Carolina (1880). The FamilySearch tree gives 1836.

  1. 1836 Birth about 1836 · Tennessee, United States · proven

    Aged 34 in June 1870 (born about 1836) and 43 in the 1880 index (about 1837); born in Tennessee by both censuses, of parents born in South Carolina (1880). The FamilySearch tree gives 1836.

    Sources 1, 2

  2. 1858 Marriage, with Richard Wilson before 1858 · proven

    Place and date not found. Their eldest son James was born about 1857–58. The FamilySearch tree gives 1855 at "Benton, Saline, Arkansas" without a source seen.

    Richard and Martha are husband and wife in the 1880 census, and in both 1870 and 1880 they head a household of sons born in Arkansas, the eldest, James, about 1857–58. The marriage is placed before about 1858 on that basis only.

    Sources 1, 2

  3. 1861 Son born: Elijah Daniel Wilson family event

    Their page →

  4. 1870 Residence Flint Township, Benton · proven

    Post office Hico. Keeping house for her husband Richard, a farmer, and their sons James, William, Elijah and Richard.

    Her line of the 1870 census, in Richard Wilson's household (image read).

    Source 1

  5. 1880 Residence Ball Township, Benton · proven

    Wife, 43 [index], keeping house; with her husband Richard S. Wilson and their sons James A., Elija D. and Richard A. The census taker made an entry against her name in the column for sickness or disability, which has not been read.

    Her husband Richard and three sons of the 1870 household identify her. Image read.

    Source 2

  6. 1880 Death after 1 Jun 1880 · proven

    Living at the census of June 1880. Her death has not been found. The FamilySearch tree and a member tree give 1890 (the member tree says in Tennessee), without a source seen.

    Source 2

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

3 places, in order
1 2 3
  1. 1 Tennessee, United States Birth about 1836
  2. 2 Flint Township, Benton County Residence 1870
  3. 3 Ball Township, Benton County Residence 1880

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

This page Martha c. 1836–aft. 1880
Husband · m. before 1858 Richard Wilson c. 1834–aft. 1880
Son Elijah Daniel Wilson 1861–1912
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The evidence 5 facts with their grades, 2 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth about 1836 Tennessee, United States proven 1 , 2
Marriage with Richard Wilson before 1858 proven 1 , 2
Residence 1870 Flint Township, Benton, Arkansas, United States proven 1
Residence 1880 Ball Township, Benton, Arkansas, United States proven 2
Death after 1 Jun 1880 proven 2

Research notes

  • Sources: The two censuses were read on the images in the Ancestry survey of Elijah's family (26 September 2026), except for the note in the sickness column of 1880. Nothing else about Martha has been examined.
  • Mother of Elijah (probable): She is the wife in the households of 1870 and 1880, in which Elijah is Richard's son (1880). The census does not say that she was the mother of each son, but her age fits it.1, 2 See Elijah's profile.
  • Maiden name: Unknown. The FamilySearch tree calls her "Martha Elam Wilson" (LHJP-TC2), and a member tree "Martha E. 'Tide' Wilson", both 1836–1890. Neither cites a record. Elam may be her maiden name, but it is not taken as one until a marriage record or a child's death certificate gives it.
  • Death: 1890 by both trees; one says in Tennessee. Not verified.
  • Next steps: the 1860 census of the family (Ancestry suggests 7667/12858297 for Richard); a marriage record, possibly in Saline County, Arkansas (the FamilySearch tree's "Benton, Saline", 1855); the death certificate of her son Richard A. (died 1943 in the trees), which may name her.

Working notes

  • PROBABLE mother of H0046; wife of H0200 in 1870 (34) and 1880 (43 [index]), b. Tenn., parents b. S.C.; maiden name unknown ('Martha Elam Wilson' FS and 'Martha E. Tide' member tree, both unsourced, 1836-1890)

Sources

  1. 1

    1870 U.S. Federal Census, Flint Township, Benton County, Arkansas, post office Hico, p. 233B, dwelling 175, family 180 [reading]: "Eiga" [Eliga; indexed "Eiza"] Wilson (9, male, born Arkansas) in the household of Richard Wilson (36, farmer, real estate $400, personal estate $200, born Tennessee), with Martha (34, keeping house, born Tennessee), James (12), William (11) and Richard (7), all born Arkansas; NARA M593, roll 47; image 4259242_00461; database with images, Ancestry.com.

  2. 2

    1880 U.S. Federal Census, Ball Township, Benton County, Arkansas, E.D. 9, p. 336A, dwelling 150, family 160, enumerated [8?] June 1880: Elija D. [indexed "Elisa D."] Wilson (son, 19, farm labor, born Arkansas, father and mother born Tennessee; attended school during the year; cannot write) in the household of Richard S. Wilson (head, 48 [index], farming, born Tennessee, parents born Tennessee), with Martha (wife, 43 [index], keeping house, born Tennessee, parents born South Carolina), James A. (son, 23) and Richard A. (son, 15), both farm laborers born Arkansas; NARA T9, roll 38; image 4239799-00679; database with images, Ancestry.com.