Rachel Wilson

Biography
Rachel Wilson was the wife of Robert Glasgow of Kilwaughter Parish, County Antrim, Ireland.

Her birth date has not been established. Earlier estimates placing her birth about 1680 are unsupported by the presently identified records and appear too early for the documented chronology of her marriage and children.

Rachel's maiden surname and marriage are directly supported by an Irish Registry of Deeds memorial. Memorial 74015, dated 13 February 1738, identifies Rachel, formerly Wilson, as the wife of Robert Glasgow and names her as one of the lives associated with Robert's lease at Ballykeel in Kilwaughter Parish. Registry of Deeds, Ireland, memorial 74015, dated 13 February 1738, recorded in volume 105, page 301; transcription consulted. Original memorial not yet inspected. 

An independent South Carolina equity proceeding concerning the estate of Rachel's brother Archibald Wilson provides detailed evidence of her birth family and descendants. The complaint states that Archibald Wilson of Ireland died intestate about 1792 and that his heirs were the descendants of his six sisters: Jane, Margaret, Rachel, Anne, Elizabeth, and Susanna. Washington District, South Carolina, Court of Equity proceedings concerning the estate of Archibald Wilson, 1817–1819; transcription from the papers of Robert Glasgow, archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20101124220018id_/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Paper_Complaint.html. Original equity file not yet inspected. 

The complaint expressly states that Rachel Glasgow was one of Archibald Wilson's sisters and that she died intestate in 1742. It further states that Rachel left two children: 

* James Glasgow; and
* Ann Glasgow, who married Hugh Shannon of Ireland.

The same proceeding states that both James and Ann survived their mother but predeceased their uncle Archibald Wilson. 

James later went to America. The equity complaint identifies his widow as Mary and names his children as Robert, John, Margaret, Archibald, Wilson, and Rachel. Ann remained associated with Ireland and married Hugh Shannon. 

The relationship evidence is strengthened by the sworn answer of Rachel's grandson Robert Glasgow. In that answer, Robert independently identified Rachel as his paternal grandmother, James Glasgow as his father, and Ann Glasgow as his father's sister. He also confirmed Ann's marriage to Hugh Shannon. 

Rachel therefore died in 1742, leaving a documented line through her children James Glasgow and Ann Glasgow Shannon.
Research NotesBirth date
Rachel's date of birth is unknown.

A previously used estimate of about 1680 is not supported by the records presently identified. It is also difficult to reconcile with the known family chronology.

A compiled Kilwaughter family timeline reports that Robert Glasgow and Rachel Willson married in 1729 and records children beginning in 1731. If that chronology is correct, Rachel was probably born considerably later than 1680. No precise replacement birth year should be treated as proven without an original baptismal or other contemporary record.
Maiden name
Rachel's maiden surname is directly supported by Registry of Deeds memorial 74015, which identifies her as Rachel, formerly Wilson, wife of Robert Glasgow. 

The surname appears in secondary material in both the forms Wilson and Willson. The deed transcription supports Wilson as an appropriate standardised surname, while variant spellings should be retained in research notes where relevant.
Husband
Rachel's identification as the wife of Robert Glasgow is strongly supported rather than merely inferred.

Registry memorial 74015 directly names Rachel, formerly Wilson, as Robert Glasgow's wife in February 1738. 

This evidence substantially strengthens the earlier reconstruction based on Presbyterian and family timeline material.
Children
The 1817 equity complaint states directly that Rachel died in 1742 leaving two children, James and Ann. 

Robert Glasgow's sworn answer independently supports this structure by identifying:

* Rachel as his paternal grandmother;
* James Glasgow as his father; and
* Ann Glasgow as his father's sister. 

The evidence for Rachel as mother of James and Ann is therefore strong and based on direct statements made in an inheritance proceeding.

The evidence that Robert Glasgow was their father is slightly different in character. The deed proves that Rachel was Robert's wife in 1738, while the equity proceedings prove that Rachel was the mother of James and Ann. On the transcriptions presently inspected, neither source explicitly states in a single sentence that Robert was the father of James and Ann.

Their parentage by Robert is therefore strongly probable from combined evidence, but an original baptism, settlement, lease succession, testament, or explicit statement in the original equity file would provide the cleanest direct proof.
Possible daughter Rachel
A compiled Kilwaughter timeline records the baptism in 1738 of a Rachel Glasgow, daughter of Robert Glasgow and Rachel Wilson.

This creates an apparent conflict with the 1817 equity complaint, which states that Rachel died in 1742 leaving only James and Ann. If the 1738 baptism is correctly attributed to this couple, the younger Rachel may have died before her mother, or another explanation may exist.

The equity evidence should not be overridden by the later family compilation. The original baptismal and burial records should be checked before attaching the younger Rachel as a surviving child.
Death
Rachel's death in 1742 is directly stated in the equity complaint concerning Archibald Wilson's estate. 

The complaint further says she died intestate and before her brother Archibald.

No reliable cause of death has been established. Suggestions in later family research that Rachel may have died in childbirth or during the sickness following the Great Frost are speculation and should not be entered as fact.
Evidence assessment
The present documentary chain is:

# Registry of Deeds memorial 74015 directly identifies Rachel Wilson as the wife of Robert Glasgow in Kilwaughter in 1738.

# The 1817 equity complaint directly identifies Rachel Glasgow as a sister of Archibald Wilson, states that she died in 1742, and names James and Ann as her children.

# Robert Glasgow's sworn answer independently identifies Rachel as his paternal grandmother, James as his father, and Ann as his father's sister.

These records are independent and concordant and provide strong evidence for Rachel's identity and immediate family.

The available material consists of transcriptions. Images of Registry memorial 74015 and the original South Carolina equity file should still be obtained before treating the transcribed wording as proof-standard.
Sources
* Registry of Deeds, Ireland, memorial 74015, dated 13 February 1738, volume 105, page 301. Transcription identifies Rachel, formerly Wilson, as wife of Robert Glasgow and as a named life in his Ballykeel lease.

* Washington District, South Carolina, Court of Equity, proceedings concerning the estate of Archibald Wilson, 1817–1819. Complaint and sworn answer transcriptions. Archived complaint: https://web.archive.org/web/20101124220018id_/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Paper_Complaint.html

* Glasgow, Donna Jean. "Kilwaughter Timeline." GLASGOWS from Kilwaughter Parish and Larne. Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20101124184247/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Kilwaughter/Timeline.html

== Biography ==

'''Rachel Wilson''' was the wife of '''[[Glasgow-1143|Robert Glasgow]]''' of Kilwaughter Parish, County Antrim, Ireland.

Her birth date has not been established. Earlier estimates placing her birth about 1680 are unsupported by the presently identified records and appear too early for the documented chronology of her marriage and children.

Rachel's maiden surname and marriage are directly supported by an Irish Registry of Deeds memorial. Memorial '''74015''', dated '''13 February 1738''', identifies '''Rachel, formerly Wilson''', as the wife of Robert Glasgow and names her as one of the lives associated with Robert's lease at Ballykeel in Kilwaughter Parish.<ref name="Mem74015">Registry of Deeds, Ireland, memorial 74015, dated 13 February 1738, recorded in volume 105, page 301; transcription consulted. Original memorial not yet inspected.</ref>

An independent South Carolina equity proceeding concerning the estate of Rachel's brother '''Archibald Wilson''' provides detailed evidence of her birth family and descendants. The complaint states that Archibald Wilson of Ireland died intestate about 1792 and that his heirs were the descendants of his six sisters: '''Jane, Margaret, Rachel, Anne, Elizabeth, and Susanna'''.<ref name="Equity">Washington District, South Carolina, Court of Equity proceedings concerning the estate of Archibald Wilson, 1817–1819; transcription from the papers of Robert Glasgow, archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20101124220018id_/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Paper_Complaint.html. Original equity file not yet inspected.</ref>

The complaint expressly states that '''Rachel Glasgow was one of Archibald Wilson's sisters''' and that she died intestate in '''1742'''. It further states that Rachel left two children:<ref name="Equity"/>

* '''[[Glasgow-1144|James Glasgow]]'''; and
* '''[[Glasgow-1500|Ann Glasgow]]''', who married '''[[Shannon-4518|Hugh Shannon]]''' of Ireland.

The same proceeding states that both James and Ann survived their mother but predeceased their uncle Archibald Wilson.<ref name="Equity"/>

James later went to America. The equity complaint identifies his widow as Mary and names his children as Robert, John, Margaret, Archibald, Wilson, and Rachel. Ann remained associated with Ireland and married Hugh Shannon.<ref name="Equity"/>

The relationship evidence is strengthened by the sworn answer of Rachel's grandson '''Robert Glasgow'''. In that answer, Robert independently identified Rachel as his '''paternal grandmother''', James Glasgow as his father, and Ann Glasgow as his father's sister. He also confirmed Ann's marriage to Hugh Shannon.<ref name="Equity"/>

Rachel therefore died in '''1742''', leaving a documented line through her children James Glasgow and Ann Glasgow Shannon.

== Research Notes ==

=== Birth date ===

Rachel's date of birth is unknown.

A previously used estimate of '''about 1680''' is not supported by the records presently identified. It is also difficult to reconcile with the known family chronology.

A compiled Kilwaughter family timeline reports that Robert Glasgow and Rachel Willson married in 1729 and records children beginning in 1731. If that chronology is correct, Rachel was probably born considerably later than 1680. No precise replacement birth year should be treated as proven without an original baptismal or other contemporary record.

=== Maiden name ===

Rachel's maiden surname is directly supported by Registry of Deeds memorial 74015, which identifies her as '''Rachel, formerly Wilson''', wife of Robert Glasgow.<ref name="Mem74015"/>

The surname appears in secondary material in both the forms '''Wilson''' and '''Willson'''. The deed transcription supports Wilson as an appropriate standardised surname, while variant spellings should be retained in research notes where relevant.

=== Husband ===

Rachel's identification as the wife of '''Robert Glasgow''' is strongly supported rather than merely inferred.

Registry memorial 74015 directly names Rachel, formerly Wilson, as Robert Glasgow's wife in February 1738.<ref name="Mem74015"/>

This evidence substantially strengthens the earlier reconstruction based on Presbyterian and family timeline material.

=== Children ===

The 1817 equity complaint states directly that Rachel died in 1742 leaving '''two children, James and Ann'''.<ref name="Equity"/>

Robert Glasgow's sworn answer independently supports this structure by identifying:

* Rachel as his paternal grandmother;
* James Glasgow as his father; and
* Ann Glasgow as his father's sister.<ref name="Equity"/>

The evidence for Rachel as mother of James and Ann is therefore strong and based on direct statements made in an inheritance proceeding.

The evidence that Robert Glasgow was their father is slightly different in character. The deed proves that Rachel was Robert's wife in 1738, while the equity proceedings prove that Rachel was the mother of James and Ann. On the transcriptions presently inspected, neither source explicitly states in a single sentence that Robert was the father of James and Ann.

Their parentage by Robert is therefore '''strongly probable from combined evidence''', but an original baptism, settlement, lease succession, testament, or explicit statement in the original equity file would provide the cleanest direct proof.

=== Possible daughter Rachel ===

A compiled Kilwaughter timeline records the baptism in 1738 of a '''Rachel Glasgow''', daughter of Robert Glasgow and Rachel Wilson.

This creates an apparent conflict with the 1817 equity complaint, which states that Rachel died in 1742 leaving only '''James and Ann'''. If the 1738 baptism is correctly attributed to this couple, the younger Rachel may have died before her mother, or another explanation may exist.

The equity evidence should not be overridden by the later family compilation. The original baptismal and burial records should be checked before attaching the younger Rachel as a surviving child.

=== Death ===

Rachel's death in '''1742''' is directly stated in the equity complaint concerning Archibald Wilson's estate.<ref name="Equity"/>

The complaint further says she died '''intestate''' and before her brother Archibald.

No reliable cause of death has been established. Suggestions in later family research that Rachel may have died in childbirth or during the sickness following the Great Frost are speculation and should not be entered as fact.

=== Evidence assessment ===

The present documentary chain is:

# Registry of Deeds memorial 74015 directly identifies Rachel Wilson as the wife of Robert Glasgow in Kilwaughter in 1738.

# The 1817 equity complaint directly identifies Rachel Glasgow as a sister of Archibald Wilson, states that she died in 1742, and names James and Ann as her children.

# Robert Glasgow's sworn answer independently identifies Rachel as his paternal grandmother, James as his father, and Ann as his father's sister.

These records are independent and concordant and provide strong evidence for Rachel's identity and immediate family.

The available material consists of transcriptions. Images of Registry memorial 74015 and the original South Carolina equity file should still be obtained before treating the transcribed wording as proof-standard.

== Sources ==

<references />

* '''Registry of Deeds, Ireland''', memorial 74015, dated 13 February 1738, volume 105, page 301. Transcription identifies Rachel, formerly Wilson, as wife of Robert Glasgow and as a named life in his Ballykeel lease.

* '''Washington District, South Carolina, Court of Equity''', proceedings concerning the estate of Archibald Wilson, 1817–1819. Complaint and sworn answer transcriptions. Archived complaint: https://web.archive.org/web/20101124220018id_/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Paper_Complaint.html

* Glasgow, Donna Jean. "Kilwaughter Timeline." ''GLASGOWS from Kilwaughter Parish and Larne''. Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20101124184247/http://lifesweaving.com/Glasgow/Kilwaughter/Timeline.html