| Notes |
- David Willson, b. 7 Jun 1788, s/o John & Catherine, Yonge Street Meeting House, Book # H15 -1, p.2.
Ref: Quaker Archives & Library of Canada.
. 1800 Census, Beekman Town, Dutchness Co., NY.
[Between Benjamin Titus & Israel Titus is:
David Wilson: Boys 2; Males 16-25: 1; Males over 25: 1;
Females 16-25: 1. (Total 4 Members).
. UCLPetition 12, W Bundle 5, C2951, p653.
To Lieut. Gov. Peter Hunter, In Council
Petition of David Willson, late of State of New York, but now of the Township of Gwillimbury. Your petition is come in to this Prince with a view of settling there in & had made the Affirmation of Allegiance*, your petition therefore humbly prays your Excellency in council, will be please to grant to your petitioner such a portion of the waste land of this Prince as your Excellency shall seem met.
Signed, York, April, David Willson
Envelope: 1801 Apr 28, Recommended for 200 Acres, Survey General.
. David Willson of the Twp. of East Gwillimbury, York Co. Home District, Province of Upper Canada being the second son of John Willson & first of Catherine his wife, Township of Clinton, Duchess County, New York State, born 7th of the month 1778,
& married to Phebe Titus, daughter of Israel Titus & Sarah his wife of Beckman Twp., Duchess Co., NY State, her birth being on the 18th day of 10th month 1777:
Sons & daughters born until the above names David Willson & Phebe his wife are as follows Births:
John Willson, 28th day 8th month, 1797
Israel Willson, 5th da, 12th month, 1799
Hugh Willson, 22 day 8th month, 1802
Sarah Willson, 5th day 4th month, 1804.
. Willson, David, Born 7 Jun 1778, Yonge Street Meeting House.
Son born of John & Catherine Willson.
. He married Pheobe Titus, married 1796, b. October 18, 1777 in Beekman Township, Dutchess County, New York, U.S., (daughter of Austin Titus & Waite unknown) d. June 11, 1866.
Ontario Land Registry Abstract East Gwillimbury, Book 6, p207
Lot 5, Con 2,
. 1834 Apr 10, B&S, Israel Lundy, to David Willson, £190, East Half 100 Acres.
Lot 8, Con 2, Book 6, p 231
. 1829 [Dec 29 blurry], B&S, Wm. Reid, to David Willson, £300. [15 Acres] -
LOT 10, CON 2, Bayview, E Gwillimbury, Book 7, p36
. 1805 May 20, Patent, Crown, to David Willson, 200 Acres.
. 1823 July 21, Bargain&Sale, David Willson, to Elias Doan, 25 Acres
. 1832 Jan 21, B&S, David Willson, to Sam. Hughes, 180 A,
. 1856 Jul 10, WILL, David Willson
. 1866 Dec 5, Quit Claim, Israel Willson et all, to John David Willson, S 3 Acres.
. 1867 Mar 20, xxfaded, Johanna Gleason, to James Praham et al, 1 Half acres for School Section No. 3.
Lot 30, Con 3, East Gwillimbury, Book 10, p23
. 1826 Mar 2, Bargain&Sale, Israel Lundy, to John L Willson, £500, 33A.
1838 JUN 8 - David 1815 Feb 15 York Page 9401-2 verify
. 1835 June 5, Hope Village. David Willson to Sir Geo. Arthur regarding his loyalty, Signatures of David Willson, John Doan, Wm. Reid Sr., Mahlon Doan, Samuel Hughes, Wm. Graham, Job Hughes, Geo. Hollinshead, Peter Lepard, Chas. Doan, Murdoch McLeon, Israel Lundy, Jacob Lundy:
. 1830 Mar 27 - (Abbreviated) Statements of David Wilson, John Doan, Hugh Willson, Jesse Doan;
. The Truth events compel me to believe in the impressions of my own soul, spring of actions of light. …general tribulations that Israel arise. Jacob’s sorrows are my sorrows & [Multiple religious quotes.] … the Queen would provide over all the Canadas… I will atone. Signed, David Willson.
. John Doan, (Mar 27 1838), The foregoing is a copy of a testimony written for the benefit of the congregation & not intended to go to public. But finding the the author has been accused (by individuals unknown to us) of being of a seductious character & of purchasing & writing doctrines of a rebellious nature & that he was a principal instigator of the revolt. He (David Willson) both in church & state discipleship a stone advocate for king & constitution, I have never known him to very from it at no time. … They say that many who were as deeply implicated in the rebellion as themselves, would make no confession & was set at liberty, while they had to endure a long confinement in prison & 2 of the members are yet confined & for what cause I now not, Hugh Willson & Jesse Doan perhaps were as small dealer in politics as any in the place. They were managing their own proper business, until they were taken in the troop with the rest. [Multiple religious quotes.] Signed, John Doan.
- There is no man between Toronto & Home that has done so much against rebellion as may say, before the fatal day …
Applications hand hath bore upon us
To teach us errors of our own
I pray Oh God & heaven save us
Our country & the British throne. Signed, David Willson.
The above testimony & many others were written by David Wilson to his children in prisons, which may not be unsatisfactory to some of ourselves informed rulers. The tree is known by its fruit, or a many is known by his work. I could produce many testimony from his works of the like of these, in various parts of his life & I know not that he has changed his sentiments at any time. Signed, John Doan.
. John Doan, encloses extract of testimonial written by David Willson to his sons in prisons.
Hope, 5 February, 1828, (Three page sermon) on Ecclesiasticus 1st Chap & 18th Verse. David Willson.
Ref:Upper Canada Sundries, Index C9824, Image 902; C6899, page 108575-92/ Image 1525. - . -
. David joined the Quakers at Sharon, & was a school master for several years.
One day David broke the silent contemplation with let every ear with joy abound like David's harp of solemn sound. At the next meeting he was expelled from the Quaker Society.
Five families left with David Willson to start The Hope Church of the Children of Peace. Later they changed the name to Sharon Temple, because in the Bible the plains of Sharon were known for their fertility. By 1840 there were 200 members.
The Sharon Temple was build in 1825 - 30 on Lot 2, Con 2, Bayview Avenue.
David Willson designed the Temple's square plan which symbolizes unity & justice to all people.
The Children of Peace would deal on the square with everyone Sharon Temple was not a church but a meeting place designed by Willson along traditional lines of three stories for the trinity; 12 lantern towers for the disciples; the ball for the ward & the Ark in the centre of the Temple. Sharon Temple was used one Saturday a month for services & regular Sunday services held in the meeting hall, now demolished.
Willson, David, Born 7 Jun 1778, Yonge Street Meeting House.
Son born of John & Catherine Willson.
Ref: Canadian Quaker Genealogical Index, File H-15-1 p.2.
. Biography of DAVID WILLSON (Wilson),
visionary, religious leader, author, & hymn writer; b. 7 June 1778 in Dutchess County, N.Y., son of poor but pious Presbyterian parents, John & Catherine Willson;
m. Phebe (Phoebe) Titus & they had three sons & 2 daughters; d. 16 Jan. 1866 in Sharon, East Gwillimbury Township, Canada West.
From Ireland John Willson came to America in 1770 & found that in the patroon country where he settled, near Poughkeepsie on the Hudson River, land could only be rented. His son’s earliest occupation was hard labor in cultivating the soil, till left an orphan at the age of 14, inclined to mechanical business in joining timber one part unto another. He also became a sailor on The Farmer, a ship owned by relatives; on its trading voyages between New York & the West Indies the crew had to defend themselves from pirate attacks.
When, not long before 1800, Willson married a Quaker girl from his home county she urged him to leave such unpeaceful expeditions & in 1801 they journeyed to Upper Canada where other Quakers were settling & land was easily attainable. Shipwrecked in Lake Ontario, Willson kicked the wheel of a spinning wheel overboard, lashed his 2 boys to it & the parents floated them to shore between them having lost all their possessions in the wreck, & in order to save what money they had, they walked from York to their location in Sharon [then called Hope] carrying the boys on their backs.
By 1805 Willson owned his land, but not contentment; I have been separated from all flesh, religious & profane by the moving of a Spirit often seeking lonely places wherein to retire & worship the Spirit that had received my soul in trust, to which I gave full credence & did obey. I gained admittance [6 Feb. 1805] ...into the society of the people called Quakers, after many years of tribulation & a rising & falling of the mind. At the end of seven years of prominent & respected, but silent, membership in the Yonge Street Meeting Willson’s Spirit required him publicly to testify of the being of a God. I had thought they were as I knew I was, - feeling the movings of a Spirit on the mind.” Not long before he was formally expelled from the Yonge Street Meeting on 15 Oct. 1812, Willson must have discovered that for the most part his contemporary Friends, pious, plain, reserved, austere, spiritually unadventurous, & distrustful of worship through music & art, were certainly not as he was. I appeared to the Elders & ministers of the church as a wild man from the desert ... I wept bitterly ... I was commanded ... to sit in silence. ... He then retired peaceably to his own house; some few followed him, who were anxious to obtain better information. These patiently heard, weighed the subjects & found full unity & friendship with him. Therefore we became a separate people ... as our discipline led to peace with all people more than any one in our knowledge, we called ourselves Children of Peace, because we were but young therein.
Now according to Willson’s thinking, as revealed in a long list of publications, manuscripts, hundreds of hymns, & even in the symbolism of the buildings he designed, God is peace & lies at the “centre” of the divine-human soul or mind; The mind hath as many parts in it as there are in the creation, & the centre of it we wish to find. The guide to this peaceful centre in which innocence & experience, joy & misery, heaven & hell are joined is light or wisdom. Willson’s passion for light, both inner & outer, can still be seen in the temple he designed as early as 1822, which the Children of Peace, led by master builder Ebenezer Doan, completed & opened 29 Oct. 1831; it “contains 2952 panes of glass & is lighted once a-year with 116 candles” on the eve of the September Harvest Feast, one of three instituted by Willson as festivals of neighbourhood unity.
Like his monthly sacrifices for charity, when the congregation came by itself to the temple with their alms offerings, these feasts were accompanied by processions of women in white singing beneath marching banners, by a band of well-trained musicians, by music from pipe organs built by Robert Coates, chanted poems, meditations spoken by Willson, & all proving his belief that, It is right to be delighted with the things of God. Led unofficially by Willson, the few hundreds that gathered about him in Sharon followed towards the “centre” so well that without detailed or rigid doctrinal frameworks they were able to worship God practically with the fullest development of such diverse talents as music & cooking, economic cooperation (a fund for the mutual benefit of each other), & supporting a domestic science school for girls. One of the loveliest examples of their architecture is a study they built for Willson composed entirely of glass where at his writing desk he kept proving his belief that Eden consists [not] of a certain tract of land; but ... is known by a certain condition of the mind; there were no poor in Sharon.”
Music had been one of the reasons Willson originally quarreled with the Quakers; the political implications of his communal experiment were, in 1837, very nearly the cause of the temple’s destruction. Sharon was well known to the authorities (the Family Compact) since Willson made publicly announced expeditions down to York (Toronto) with choir & band where he once preached that there ought neither to be masters nor servants; that all mankind are equal. Scorned, threatened with jail, or worse, in the early days of the Children, Willson later met such jibes as village of Priapus, Orgies, superstition & idolatry, & Children of Wrath.” But when in 1837 he would not approve William Lyon Mackenzie’s policy of violence, some of his own people called him Tory! And some of the Children, including two of his sons, joined Mackenzie’s rebels, were arrested & imprisoned for several months; “it was with difficulty that the militia could be restrained from destroying their temple. But by 1842 this difficult turn on the road to Peace had been smoothed out. Willson’s guidance was once more accepted & until his death Sharon flourished as never before.
There was one more turn through which one can sense Willson negotiating in his last writings: how, in such an informal organization, do you ensure that the listening to “His Spirit” continues to guide after the original listener has disappeared? His oldest son read his father’s sermons, but no new writer appeared; dark moments were the legal quarrels about the ownership of the buildings between Willson’s heirs & representatives of his followers. The last illumination in the 19th century took place in September 1888. On 2 Sept. 1890 a grandson sold the temple to a stranger. Reopened, however, in 1918 as a museum, the temple still stands, well cared for, much visited & loved, a symbol of the power Willson’s imagination is eventually seen as possessing, a power to bring people together towards Peace & to An altar to all nations/ With forty-eight bright windows on Ararat placed - as he once wrote in 1822.
Davidite record books, 1831–71; Misc. 1803, Families of Friends (Quakers) who settled on Yonge St., 1803. UWO, Archives of the Religious Soc. of Friends (Quakers) in Can., H-7-2 (Pelham Monthly Meeting of Friends, 1799–1806), f.135; 0-11-6 (Yonge Street Monthly Meeting, 1806-18), f.150. York Pioneer & Hist. Soc. Archives (Sharon, Ont.), L 24 (notebook containing miscellaneous prose & poetry by David Willson, 1815); L 1230 (38 copies of memorial & funeral verses by David Willson, printed as broadsides); Account book containing miscellaneous prose & poetry by David Willson, including a Memorial of David Willson - 27 Dec.1838; Collection of 42 loose sheets of handwritten sermons & poetry by David Willson. There is also a copy at the York Pioneer & Historical Society.
Ref: Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 2000 University of Toronto/Université Laval.
. He married Pheobe Titus, married 1796, b. October 18, 1777 in Beekman Township, Dutchess County, New York, U.S., (daughter of Austin Titus & Waite unknown) d. June 11, 1866.
. Children:
i. John David Willson, Esq. b. August 28, 1797.
ii. Israel Willson b. December 5, 1799.
iii. Hugh David Willson b. August 22, 1802.
iv. Sarah Willson b. April 5, 1804.
v. Mary Willson b. October 24, 1814.
. 1866 Jan 19 - Personal. We regret to learn that Mr. David Wilson Sharp, & founder of the denomination known as the Children of Peace, is now lying dangerously ill. No hopes are entrained of his recovery. During the week he has been called to suffer the loss of the partner of his life, which, together with his former extreme weakness & decrepitude, is fast sinking his once strong & vigorous frame. We cannot say positively, but if our memory serves us, Mr. Wilson is now above 90 years of age. For some years the partial loss of his sense of hearing has militated against free conversation; but his powers of mind & quickness of perception are quite as good as when we first became acquainted with him some 13 years ago.
Ref: Newmarket Era Newspaper.
DEATH OF DAVID WILLSON
Died, at Sharon, East Gwillimbury Twp., on the 19th inst. Mr. David Willson at the advanced age 87 years 7 months & 12 days. Thus has passed away a very remarkable man - distinguished for many peculiarities & the founder of the religious sect known as the Children of Peace.
Mr. Willson was born of Irish parentage, in duchess Co., NY, in the year1778; but his father died when the subject of this notice was quite young. Deceased married before he attained his majority & shortly after emigrating to Canada, tech Kingston in 1801. The same year he removed West & pitch his shanty in the Township of East Gwillimbury, Lot 10, in 2nd Concession, where he has since lived, up to the time of his death. Being almost the first settler in the Township, he had with them to suffer all the privation consequent upon their lot; but he lived to see the country developed to great fruitfulness & survived all his early companions.
Some few years after settling in East Gwillimbury he became a member of the Society of Friends & took quite an active part in their meetings. Entertaining, however, some peculiar views on religious points that the Friends hardly considered orthodox, he was dismissed meeting & on this withdrawal quite a number who entertained similar views, also left the Society & attached themselves to Mr. Willson, who became their leader. This was the nucleus of the church afterwards founded by him & early combination of the little band known as the Children of Peace.
They differed from Quakers in several peculiarities are found of music & musical instruments were made use of in their devotional exercise, were not obliged to conform to any particular from of dress & no religious test were required, as a standard of faith of godliness. I these peculiarities deceased differed with his Quaker friends - & there may be others, of which we do not know.
About the hear 1820 this little body commenced the erection of the magnificent & commodious buildings in which the Society has worshipped & held semiannual feasts her since our residence here. Traditions says the plan upon which these Buildings were constructed, was revealed to Mr. Willson in a dream or vision. How far this is true we are not in a position to affirm: but one thing is certain, he was the architect & master builder & their singular construction has become the wonder of strangers from all sections of the Province. Mr. Willson was a man of indomitable energy & perseverance & the manner in which he built up a sect of considerable local influence & power, sustained ministry for nearly half a century, overcoming obstacles of almost superhuman nature, proves him to have been a man of great tact & shrewdness, especially when his limited education be taken into account.
Deceased during he greater part of his life, was much given to religious exercised, rarely mixed with the multitude except at the house of worship & many years ago gave up all worldly pursuits that his mind might be the more free for spiritual devotions. For many years during each week he write original hymns & prayers for each successive Sabbath worship & his religious service were conducted with singing, prayer, reading of the Word, followed by expounding some texts, just the same as the Methodists or Presbyterians now do. During his official career with his little flock, deceased also wrote & published several volume, the larges & most important perhaps, was his Visions or Impression of the Mind - in which he claimed to have spiritual revelations, commanding him to establish the church he founded.
In politics Mr. Wilson was a Reformer & took an active part in the early struggles of the party & raised his warning voice against the political acts of the Family Compact. The fact that his friends generally followed his advice enabled him to exercise considerable local political influence. For the last 10 or 15 years he did not take so much interest in the politics of the county.
But the old patriarch has gone, a long life has been devoted zealously to the elevation and instructions of his adherents & everything used in worship where he has so long stated, bears the impress of mourning. He leaves behind him 3 sons & a large circle of friends to mourn his loss.
- Preparations for Death [Written by the late David Willson & read at his funeral ].
Farewell, ye hills & fields & plains, To fruitful vales & shading groves: Farewell to great & honored names - Death, on my troubling spirit moves.
Ye heavenly lights that on me shine, To whom the kindred nations tow [? know?] - No more your comforts can be mine; I bid farewell & leave you now.
Farewell to you my morning suns, It once was joy to see you rise; But as the shade of death now comes, I see your light with weeping eyes.
Farewell ye harvest of the field, And flowers that in the valley grow; Nor grazing flocks their pleasures yield -My thoughts are in the grave below.
Farewell, ye little winning streams, That through the growing meadows run; And flowery gardens cloth with green. No more to me your pleasures come.
My feathered friends of morning I lent, Whose homes? the green & spreading bough, I lent mine ear to hear you now.
Farewell to yon, my walks abroad. The limbs the bore my frame gave way; A withering plant before my God. I am to friends & foes this day.
Farewell ye alters & may pan, I'm drawing near the close of times; Farewell to you fault-finding men, I's weak to write the sacred line.
Farewell to you my dearest friends, That had with me my sorrows bore- On God alone my should depends, For you can strengthen me no more.Farewell to you my little bones, In who I have had great delight - Where I had joy now sorrow comes, My mornings are like shades of night.
Like plants that in the garden grow, Set by your heavenly Father's hand; No more hath your blessings know, I'll cease to at your altar stand.
My heart I leave in sacred praise, Twas heave above that moved your tongue; I bid farewell to pleasant days, To Sabbaths where your praise is sung.
Farewell to melody & strings That once did fill my listening ear - Ye joyful band that peace proclaims, Brave you with a glistening tear.
Farewell to my house [horse?] & hoe, But a few groans shall I repeat, My last companion in the tomb, And then my ancient friends I'll meet.
Farewell to age and sorrow worn, The staff & pillow of my head; Age & infirmity I've borne - A painful night & recess bed.
Farewell onto the House of God, Where long my trembling frame hat stood; Farewell to all that are abroad - To friends & foe I wish all good.
Ref: Newmarket Era Newspaper, published 1866 Jan 26.
. Children of Peace / Sharon Cemetery Monument:
Inscription:
In memory of David Willson, Founder of the society of the Children of Peace, who died January 19, 1866, aged 87y 7m 12d.
Through years of toil & sorrow deep,
My troubled days are passing on,
And now in lasting sleep,
My friends my voice will hear no more.
My friends that look upon my grave
For me may sigh
In grief I you
But now for you I'll toil no more.
My house upon a Rock did stand
Where storms did beat
There's One alone can
Who all must.
. Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you - - - [1, 2]
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1778 - 1866 (87 years)