WILSON- LAKE-HERBERT FAMILY CIRCLE
REUNION HISTORY
In October 1968, at the passing of Arthur (Red) Wilson, the oldest son of Ned and Lou Wilson, Mr. Demosthenes (Mac) McDow, the husband of Arthur’s baby sister, Sarah (Jannie) Wilson McDow, told the rest of the close family present at the time –James Wilson, Sr., Joe Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, Lillie Wilson, and Marcellus Brooks to name a few, that he wanted to meet at James Wilson, Sr.’s home to discuss some family matters.
At this gathering, which was held at 435 Park Road, N.W., Washington, D.C., McDow stated that he would like to see the family start a reunion because the family should not wait for someone to pass before the family got together, but meet on happy occasions as well. Mr. McDow suggested having the reunion at his and Sarah’s home – 2609 Evergreen Road, Odenton, M.D. Sarah immediately volunteered to prepare Christmas dinner at their home to further discuss the matter with other family members. At this dinner, Sarah told everyone how important it was to have a family reunion because many of the family cousins did not know their kindred. It was decided that the Labor Day Holiday would always be the date.
Mr. James Wilson, Sr. interceded in getting the Lake Family to come down to Mac’s and Sarah’s home to help clean up and clear off the land for the reunion. James Wilson, Sr. was elected President, James Wilson, Jr. was elected 1st Treasurer, Lossie Mae Lake was elected 2nd Treasurer, Sarah McDow was elected Financial Secretary, Raymond Wilson was elected Recording Secretary.
Our History Is Now An Open Book. Will You Read It?
Thus, the first reunion was held during the Labor Day Holiday, September 1969, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Demonsthenes McDow. The menu for this awe-inspiring occasion included roast pig, barbecue goat, turkey, ham, chicken and a variety of other tasteful dishes. At this reunion, all the meats were cooked by Mac and some of the Lakes – Horatio, George, Jr., Willie B, Willie James, Timothy and Andrew to name a few. The salads and vegetables were prepared by Sarah McDow, Gladys Lake, Dorothy (Dot) Lake, Laura Lake, Patricia Lake and Doris Wilson to name a few. There were a host of relatives and friends in attendance at this event – bus loads of family and friends came in from Newberry and Greenville, SC and Philadelphia, PA. In addition, family members came from Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Detroit and California as well. Ernestine Lake’s son, James Williams, had a band and they played music on the back porch. All the young people danced in the back yard. Family slept on the floor and camped-out in the yard. James (Brother) Wilson, Jr. was the supervisor at the Masonic Hall at 10th and U Streets, N.W. where the first dinner was held on Sunday.
At the first reunion, the family circle consisted of only Wilsons and Lakes. In 1971, at the third reunion, in Greenville, SC, the Herberts joined the circle. As a result, the Wilson-Lake-Herbert Family Reunion Circle was formed!
This Is Our Family Tree. Will You Be A Living Branch And Connect With It?
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OUR ROOTS
“THE FAMILY TREE”
To the union of George Wilson and Laura Spearman four children were born,
MARY WILSON, NED WILSON, DAVID WILSON AND THOMAS WILSON
*Mary Wilson married Burr Lake, to this union nine children were born, BESSIE, AUSBORNE, AFT, (Alfred), EARL, MARY LUVINIA, LAURA, MURT and GEORGE.
*Ned Wilson married Lou Tucker, to this union four children were born, ARTHUR, LAURA, BELLE and LUCILLE. After the death of Lou Tucker,
*Ned Wilson married Carrie Boozer, to this union seven children were born, JOHN, JAMES, JOSEPH, LILLIE, ETHEL, SARA and NATHANIEL.
*David Wilson married Sudy Pend, to this union seven children were born, TOMAN (David), ROBERT, LAURA, KATIE, WOODROW, WILLIE, and FRED.
*Thomas Wilson married and to this union three children were born.
*John Wilson married Lucille and to this union two children were born, CARRIE MAE and JOHN, JR.
*James Wilson, Sr. married Inez Floyd, to this union nine children were born, ISABELLE, DORIS, JAMES, JR., WILLIAM B., JOSEPH, BESSIE, THEODORE, RAYMOND AND JANNIE.
*Joseph E. Wilson married Mattie, to this union two children were born, WILLIAM and JUANITA.
*Lillie Mae Wilson (no children)
*Ethel Wilson (deceased at age 12)
*Sara (Jannie) Wilson married Demonsthenes McDow, to this union one son was born, WILLIE JAMES.
*Nathaniel Wilson married Margaret, to this union two daughters were born, GERALDINE and BARBARA.
Nathaniel Wilson then married Margaret, to this union one son was born, NATHANIEL WILSON, JR.
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Taken from the Newberry Roots Newsletter, September, 2005 by Gloria Leaks Gayman
WILSON, LAKE, HERBERT FAMILY CIRCLE
The Wilson, Lake Herbert Family Circle has its origins from George Wilson and his wife Laura of Newberry, SC. Jane Spearman, age 52, the parent resided in the home with them during the 1870 census. George was born in 1845, Laura was born in 1847, George is buried at Little River Baptist Church’s old cemetery down the road with the rest of the Spearman’s. His son David is also buried there. George’s tombstone inscription states: March 2, 1845 to November 27, 1912.
George and Laura had four children: Mary Jane Wilson, born in 1867; David Wilson, born in 1868, Ned Wilson, born in 1870 and Thomas Wilson who was born in 1873.
Mary Jane Wilson married Burr Lake, son of Henry and Elizabeth Lake. Burr Lake was one of about 15 children. According to the 1900 and 1910 census records, there were a total of approximately 15 children that Burr and Mary had. According to the 1900 census, Mary had birthed 10 children, but only 7 were still living. George Henry was born in 1885; Bessie was born in 1886; Laura was born in 1889; Ernst was born in 1893; Osbourne was born in 1896; Mordia was born in 1897; Myrtle was born in 1893; Washington was born in 1900; Calvin was born in 1900; Mary was born in 1902 and Louvenia was born in 1902.
David Wilson, son of George and Laura Wilson, was married several times. According to the 1900 census, he was married to Saluda. Burried beside him at Little River Baptist church is Susan Wilson, listed as his wife. According to family tradition, he married Sudy Pend. Children of David Wilson were: Willie Wilson, born in 1893, Katie Belle Wilson, born in 1894, Monroe Wilson, born in 1898; Laura Wilson, born in 1900; David Wilson, Wood Wilson, Fred Wilson and Robert Wilson.
Ned Wilson, born in 1870, was married several times. His children were: Arthur Wilson, James Wilson, Laura Wilson, Belle Wilson, John Wilson, Joseph Wilson, Lucille Wilson, Ethel Wilson, Lillie Mae Wilson, Sara Wilson and Nathaniel Wilson.
Thomas Wilson was born in 1873. By 1900, according to the census records, he was on his third marriage. He was married to Frances, his third wife in 1900. His children were Viola Wilson, Luther Wilson and Lauren Wilson. Lauren married a Wise. She is buried at Little River Baptist Church’s old cemetary.
George Wilson was one of 12 children. By 1910, three of the twelve were still living. They were George Wilson, Riley Wilson and Reubin Wilson. Reubin married Lucretia Mingo, mother of Lucretia “Baby” Wilson.
The Wilson, Lake Herbert Family Circle is unique in that it is composed of all family from Mary Wilson Lake and her husband Burr Lake; from Bessie Lake Herbert and her husband Fletcher Herbert and Mary’s brothers, David, Ned and Thomas Wilson and their children, grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, etc.
