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Place of Birth
Butler, Johnson County, Tennessee, USA
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Place of Death
Roan Mountain, Carter, Tennessee, USA
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Burial Place
McClain Cemetery, Carter County, Tennessee, United States of America
Father: George Washington Wilson
Mother: Eliza Ann Williams
Siblings: David Grant Wilson, Mary Catherine Wilson, Martha Ellen Wilson, Louisa Jane Wilson, Ida N Wilson, Una I Wilson
Half Siblings: Green Berry Wilson, Robert Andrew Wilson, George Washington Wilson Jr, Bessie Mae Wilson
Spouse: Allen Lawson Hamby
Children: Zilla Mae Hamby, Jade D Hamby, Annie Caroline Wilson, Zora Eleanor Hamby, Jackson Walter Wilson Sr
Relation to author: 2nd Great Grandmother
Nancy Caroline Wilson, Caroline as she was more commonly called, was born to Eliza and George on November 6, 1868. While her mother Eliza’s life is veiled in lore, Caroline is remembered by those who can still tell her story. That said, there are still missing pieces…
“The Wilson Twins, Caroline and Kate Wilson were born in November 1868 to George Washington Wilson and Eliza Emmit Wilson, a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Both Caroline and Kate were midwives and lived in the Shell Creek community of Carter County.” (Courtesy of Juanita Wilson) -Roan Mountain (Images of America) by Robert Sorrel
Carter County Tennessee and Its People 1796-1993
I purchased this massive wealth of local knowledge by the recommendation of a cousin. Authored by the local ‘Carter County History Book Committee” which includes another family member it was wonderful see see photos of Caroline and learn of what she meant to the Carter County people.
I’m told that Caroline spent years as a native herbal doctor of sorts, and midwife, traveling the Carter County and surrounding mountains by mule to deliver babies until she was forced to stop when doctors moved in and sued. Still, locals trusted Caroline for her herbal medicines, forsaking the modern medical practices even though census records would show Caroline had no formal schooling. This is supported by the local history documented in “Carter County Tennessee and Its People 1796-1993”
As records tend to from these times, census records, birth/death certificates, and the history books don’t line up, but this history book tells us that “Nancy Caroline Wilson married Allen Hamby 16 November 1888. Children of Nancy Caroline Wilson; 1 Zilla Hamby (b. 1890) married Charlie Waycaster 2. Zora Hamby (1891-1958) married Arthur Markland. 3. Jade Hamby (1894-1952). 4. Anne Wilson (b. 1898) married Jack McClain. 5. Jack W Wilson, Sr (1903-1972) married Joda L. Johnson (1907-1988).”
1870
The 1870 census shows she and her twin sister Mary Catherine with thier mother and father in Johnson County Tennessee on August 9th at the age of one, and their older brother David, five. As for the family story of native Cherokee roots, the census indicates they were ‘white’.
1880
The 1880 census again shows Caroline with her family, now at the age of 11 and with all of her siblings. The Tennessee, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900 records Caroline’s marriage to Allen Hamby on December 9, 1888.
1890?
The family can’t be found in the 1890 census records. By this time her daughter Zillia (1885) and son Jade (1891) would have been born.
1900
Again, not surfacing in the 1900 census, by now Jade, Annie, and Zora would have also been born. However the family story says that Annie’s father was not Allen Hamby… Annie and Jack did have the same father as demonstrated through modern DNA testing and family tree correlation.
The family story continues that Caroline worked at the lumber mill as a cook while living with her stepdaughters family. At some point Caroline got pregnant with Jack and coming home and being discovered the Hamby kids were taken from her. She, Annie, and Jack (depending on timing of these events) were forced to leave. There were even legal efforts within the family the prevent Caroline from inheriting land from the passing of her husband. The family story says that the legal effort did not follow through, though Caroline would sign over the land while ill, potential leading up to Jack’s birth.
This 1902 article indicates a possible connection. I’m unsure if this is in direct relation to these events, it may be separate, however the 1910 census continues to support the story of the broken family.
1910
In 1910 the census records Caroline, 39, with Jack and Annie in Carter County. Caroline is listed as a widow with 5 children, though only two are with her.
- Zillie married in 1905 to Chas (Charles) and were boarding with the Canan family
- Zora is recorded at age 16 living with John Harrison and family as their servant; likely nanny to Fred (4) and Grady (2).
- I haven’t found Jade D in the 1910 census yet
It’s interesting here that Jack is listed as a Hamby here, though this is the only place that can be found. Jack is seen as a Wilson in all other records and mentions.
1920
By 1920 Annie had left the home, having gotten married in 1917 to Jack McClain. Now living with Caroline and Jack we find ‘Jaly’ Hamby, 25, listed as Caroline’s son. This name is not far off from ‘Jade D’, but the age if off a bit. Looking up at the previous households we have the Marklands, Arther and Zora, Carolines daughter and husband, with their family.
1930
By 1930 Caroline was living with her son Jack, his wife Joda, and their kids, listed at age 57, widowed with no occupation.
1940
In the 1940 census Caroline is seen as head of home with her grandson, John Markland, but if you look at the home surveyed just before you’ll see she’s living next door to her daughter and son in-law Annie and Jack McClain, and their 9 kids. This would be the Roan Mountain homestead the McClain family all grew up at right near the McClain family cemetery.
1950
Caroline passed away September 21, 1951. No cause of death is recorded as there was no doctor in attendance. An interesting error on her death certificate, as reported by her daughter Zora, Caroline’s mother is recorded as “Cindy Kinnick”. I can’t find this name anywhere. And Caroline’s sister Mary’s COD records thier mother as “Sarah Williams”. While there is much we can know about the twins Caroline and Kate, thier mother Eliza remains a mystery.
Caroline rest in the McClain family cemetery as noted in the obituary, however her plot is unmarked according to family. Having visited, I can confirm no stone bares her name.
