| Notes |
- William was “man of more than ordinary intellect” with “an excellent English education.”
. By 1794 he had joined the Creek Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in the Nine Partners Grant, New York. By 1798 he had moved to New York City, perhaps with the rest of the Willson clan involved in the schooner The Farmer . He was in financial difficulties at the time, and the Flushing, NYC, Monthly Meeting investigated a complaint that husband Wm Reid “left the [Creek] meeting without satisfying his creditors.” A subsequent minute stated “he was in insolvent circumstances but appeared disposed to do all in his power towards satisfying his creditors.” During the period in New York, Mary became a Quaker. Their financial position improved enough in New York that they were able to settle their debts and save enough money to purchase land in Ontario.
. 1812, William Reid became involved in a dispute between David Willson, his cousin by marriage, and Isaac Wiggins, the Elder who would not allow Willson to minister in the Yonge Street Monthly Meeting. Reid sided with Willson, and was disowned for having “denied the Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by declaring his belief that he was no more than the apostle Paul or any other inspired man.” Reid was the only member of the Children of Peace who was disowned for doctrinal reasons (even David Willson was disowned for having established an unsanctioned meeting for worship, not for theological reasons).
The Children of Peace thus appealed only Reid’s disownment from the Quakers, using him as a test case of their position. The case was appealed first to the Canada Half Year’s Meeting, and failing there, in the NY Yearly Meeting in 1815. Reid, Willson and Rachel Lundy travelled to New York for the appeal, and then on to Philadelphia to drum up support. The Yearly Meeting refused to allow Willson to speak, however, and the appeal was lost.
On his return to Upper Canada, Reid became a teacher in the Children of Peace’s school on Yonge Street. His obituary notes that “for some years he seemed wholly abstracted from the world, his mind peaceful and quiet like one in daily communion with his God.” William then became a prominent figure in local Reform politics; there were few political meetings in the area where he was not the secretary.
His passion for justice led him to take part in the Rebellion of 1837; he is said to have been
the oldest participant at age 72. William was elected as Chairman of the Township Council
in 1842, and was elected again in 1845, and 1846. He is recorded as a Justice of the Peace for East Gwillimbury in 1846. At the time of the 1851 census, William was living with his son William Jr., and his occupation was listed as harness maker. He retained his faculties to the end, and served as a clerk in his son’s store until several weeks before his death at age 90. He died 25 May 1855.
Ref: The Willson Family. - - -
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1765 - 1855 (90 years)