David Wilson (or Willson, 1753-1776) is somewhat mysterious. Nothing is known about his Revolutionary War service. He was the only child of David Wilson (1718-1765) and Elizabeth Bragg. He had two younger half siblings: Ammiel (1763-1767) and Mary (born 1764). He was a cordwainer by trade. David’s death record lists him as having been “killed at New York”. What unit he served with and the exact date of his death are unknown. In April of 1776, he recorded his will in Bristol, leaving his house and money to the then 11-year-old Mary and his clothing to the sons of John Howland Jr. Mary was then raised by her mother Bethiah in Swansea. She worked as a seamstress, and sold her inherited land in Bristol to Samuel Wardwell in 1798.
Bristol, Rhode Island in the Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Rev War Bristol 