Individual Details
Jane Gincy Hooker
(1785 - 10 Mar 1872)
Gincy Wilson is my great-great-great grandmother, I believe. I am descended from her eldest daughter, Jane Murray Wilson. Gincy's parents are unknown.
The information that I have on Gincy Wilson seems to come from only two types of sources: 1) census records, 2) her tombstone. Jane Wilson appears in the US census of 1850, 1860, and 1870 in Chambers County, Alabama, and each time her name is given as “Jane” and never as “Gincy.” Maybe "Gincy" was a nickname.
1850 Jane Wilson, age 65, is a mother-in-law living with her eldest daughter, Jane Murray Wilson & husband Joseph Greer and family. Joseph Greer owns 17 slaves.
1860 Jane Wilson, age 60, is the head of her household with her daughter, Ellendor Wilson, and grandson, David Herring (the youngest son of daughter Elizabeth). Her son, William L. Wilson, is living next door with his large family.
1870 Jane Wilson, age 77, is the head of her household with her daughter, Ellendor Wilson, grandchildren, David and Elizabeth Herring, and great granddaughter, Addie Caroline Woodard. Her son, William L. Wilson, is still living next door with his large family. Jane’s occupation is said to be “superannuated,” implying that she is too old and infirm to work.
The age given for Jane Wilson in each census makes no sense (she is older in 1850 than in 1860), so her date of birth is unknown, but the consistent family relationships indicate that she is likely the same person in all three census records. These relationships are the only reason for supposing that Jane and Gincy are the same person known by the two different names.
Gincy’s tombstone is at the Dorman Family Cemetery in Chambers County, Alabama, and has the following inscription: IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER GINCY WILSON, WHO DIED MAR 10th 1872. This inscription indicates that the memorial was placed by one of her children, perhaps William L. Wilson, who is buried in the same cemetery. The headstone has no date of birth, which may have been unknown.
FamilySearch Family Tree gives Gincy’s name as Jency Wilson and her son as William Leonard Wilson, while Find-a-Grave gives the son’s name as William Lewis “Billy” Wilson. William Lewis is wrong. He was William Leonard Wilson, according to Gincy's descendant, Teresa Howard.
FamilySearch Family Tree also shows Gincy's father as Edward Hooker, but with no sources, so it is uncertain. There is conflicting info. Some think her father was named Hooker; others list him as a Murray. Ancestry.com gives her name as Jane Murray but with her father and mother both unknown.
The information that I have on Gincy Wilson seems to come from only two types of sources: 1) census records, 2) her tombstone. Jane Wilson appears in the US census of 1850, 1860, and 1870 in Chambers County, Alabama, and each time her name is given as “Jane” and never as “Gincy.” Maybe "Gincy" was a nickname.
1850 Jane Wilson, age 65, is a mother-in-law living with her eldest daughter, Jane Murray Wilson & husband Joseph Greer and family. Joseph Greer owns 17 slaves.
1860 Jane Wilson, age 60, is the head of her household with her daughter, Ellendor Wilson, and grandson, David Herring (the youngest son of daughter Elizabeth). Her son, William L. Wilson, is living next door with his large family.
1870 Jane Wilson, age 77, is the head of her household with her daughter, Ellendor Wilson, grandchildren, David and Elizabeth Herring, and great granddaughter, Addie Caroline Woodard. Her son, William L. Wilson, is still living next door with his large family. Jane’s occupation is said to be “superannuated,” implying that she is too old and infirm to work.
The age given for Jane Wilson in each census makes no sense (she is older in 1850 than in 1860), so her date of birth is unknown, but the consistent family relationships indicate that she is likely the same person in all three census records. These relationships are the only reason for supposing that Jane and Gincy are the same person known by the two different names.
Gincy’s tombstone is at the Dorman Family Cemetery in Chambers County, Alabama, and has the following inscription: IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER GINCY WILSON, WHO DIED MAR 10th 1872. This inscription indicates that the memorial was placed by one of her children, perhaps William L. Wilson, who is buried in the same cemetery. The headstone has no date of birth, which may have been unknown.
FamilySearch Family Tree gives Gincy’s name as Jency Wilson and her son as William Leonard Wilson, while Find-a-Grave gives the son’s name as William Lewis “Billy” Wilson. William Lewis is wrong. He was William Leonard Wilson, according to Gincy's descendant, Teresa Howard.
FamilySearch Family Tree also shows Gincy's father as Edward Hooker, but with no sources, so it is uncertain. There is conflicting info. Some think her father was named Hooker; others list him as a Murray. Ancestry.com gives her name as Jane Murray but with her father and mother both unknown.
Events
| Birth | 1785 | South Carolina |  | ||
| Census (family)-shared | 28 Sep 1850 | (Joseph Greer Jr. and Jane Murray Wilson) Chambers County, Alabama | |  | |
| Census | 30 Jul 1860 | Fredonia, Chambers County, Alabama | | | |
| Census | 27 Jun 1870 | Chambers County, Alabama | | | |
| Death | 10 Mar 1872 | Chambers County, Alabama | |||
| Burial | Dorman Family Cemetery, Chambers County, Alabama | | |
Families
| Spouse | Thomas Wilson (1775 - 1840) |
| Child | Jane Murray Wilson (1808 - 1873) |
| Child | Sarah Wilson (1812 - ) |
| Child | Levina Ann "Vicy" Wilson (1816 - 1899) |
| Child | William Leonard Wilson Sr. (1822 - 1885) |
| Child | Elizabeth Wilson (1823 - 1869) |
| Child | Ellendor Wilson (1824 - 1876) |
| Child | Merida Wilson (1827 - ) |
| Father | Edward Hooker (1770 - 1842) |
| Mother | Amilla Allen ( - ) |
Notes
Birth
or 1793 according to the removed Find-a-Grave # 150804723Census (family)-shared
Joseph Greer M 43 South Carolina - Wagon makerJane M Greer F 42 South Carolina
Thomas W Greer M 16 Alabama - Student
James L Greer M 13 Alabama
Sarah J Greer F 11 Alabama
Columbus P Greer M 8 Alabama
Joseph A Greer M 6 Alabama
Knox L Greer M 4 Alabama
John F Greer M 3/12 Alabama
Jane Wilson F 65 South Carolina
Priscilla Greer F 75 South Carolina
Joseph Greer owns 17 slaves in 1850.
Census
Jane Wilson Female 60 S CarolinaEllen Ferguson Female 36 S Carolina
David Herring Male 12 Alabama
Jane is living next door to her son, William L. Wilson and family.
Census
Jane Wilson Female 77 South Carolina - SuperannuatedEllen Wilson Female 40 South Carolina - Keeping house
Eliza Harring Female 22 Alabama
David Harring Male 20 Alabama - Farmer
Addie Harring Female 1 Alabama
Burial
Inscription:IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER GINCY WILSON, WHO DIED MAR 10th 1872
Endnotes
1. "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHPT-ZKR : accessed 29 Jul 2013), Joseph Greer, 1850..
2. "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MV87-HGJ : accessed 29 Jul 2013), Joseph Greer, 1850..
3. United States Census, 1860 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHDZ-QMH.
4. United States Census, 1870 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVT-DFB.
5. Find A Grave Memorial 200334266.