Charles Wilderson

Our first 3g grandparent stories begins with Charles Wilderson who was born in Mannheim, Lancaster County (later York County), Pennsylvania on the 31st of May, 1773. The Wilderson family lived on a large farm close to the Maryland border among other German families. Charles and Christene Hoffman were married at the Emanuel Reformed Church in Hanover, York, PA when Charles was age 27, around 1800. Most of their children were born in York County and were baptized at the same church. Their names: Carl, George, Anna, Margaretha, Henry, Samuel, John, Martha, and Mary.

Charles and his family moved to and lived in Baltimore, MD for about three years before they made plans to journey to Ohio c. 1832 with Charles' brother, Martin, and other Wildersons. The arduous trek in a huge covered wagon drawn by oxen took about four weeks through forests and often along muddy Indian trails. But they were brave and determined to reach their destination of Beaver Twp., Mahoning County, Ohio. Martin and his family were pleased with this new situation. But Charles, his sons, George and Henry, and his sister, Margaretha thought they could find better land elsewhere and moved on to Newton Twp. in Trumbull County in 1835.

Newton Twp. remained Charles' home until his death on the 5th of February, 1863, where he became a well respected citizen of his community. He lived 89 years!

Charles Wilderson
Born: 31 Mar 1773 Mannhein, Lancaster, PA
Married: abt. 1800 Hanover, York, PA
Died: 5 Feb 1863 Newton, Trumbull, OH
Buried: Wilderson Cemetery, Newton, Trumbull, OH

Sources: Emanuel Reformed Church Records of marriage and baptisms, Hanover, York, PA; Beaver Twp., Mahoning, OH Tax Records of 1834; Census of 1850 and 1860 Newton, Trumbull, OH