Mary Wilson 

Died Oct 16th 1849 

According to her obituary in the Newcastle Courant Mary was an unmarried daughter of the late Doctor James Wilson. She died aged 39 and was from Market Place, according to Rawlinson’s report on the cholera outbreak.

Mary was born on the 26th May 1810 and baptised a month later in the non Conformist Chapel or Scotch Church in Pottergate. She was the daughter of James Wilson, who was a merchant at that time. James (1783-1835) was also born in Alnwick, the son of William Wilson, a surgeon.

James was baptised in the Sion Chapel, (in Bondgate at that time) on 22nd October 1783 when he was a month old. He married Christian France on 20/11/1804 in St Michael’s Church. In 1834 he was entered in the poll register having a freehold house in Market Ward. They had three children before James’ early death in 1835.

On the 1841 census for Market Place, Alnwick, we found widow Christian 55, living on independent means, son William 35, MD, Eleanor 30, and Mary also aged 30 both living on independent means.

Christian (1784-1867) was born in Tweedmouth and baptised in the non- Conformist Chapel. Her three children were all born in Alnwick, and, like Mary baptised in Pottergate, Eleanor on 12/4/1808, and William on 14/4/1806. Mary died from cholera on October 16th 1849, showing it was not just a disease of the poor.

By 1851, Christian Wilson was 66 and her son William (45) were still living in Market Place. He was recorded as a physician of Edinburgh University, now in General Practice. He died the following year, aged just 46 (see the cholera file under Edward Davis for more information).

On the 1861 census Christian was a 77 year old widow living alone in Bondgate Street near Mr Purvis, a wine and spirit dealer, so she could still be living in Market Place due to renumbering of the property. She died in 1867. We don’t know what happened to Eleanor.