He was born on June 30, 1747. His parents named him William. In an extensive history that his son, Michael, my 4th-great-grandfather, would later write, he said that his dad “was born on the banks of the Potomac River, near present-day Washington D.C. He described it that way because, when William was born, Washington, D.C., did not exist.

In 1756, the family moved south to the Richmond, Virginia, area, where they lived for eight years before moving to North Carolina. It was here that William met a young lady named Anne. They fell in love, married, and began a family that would produce eight children, five boys and three girls.

In 1776, William and his family moved to York County, South Carolina, near King’s Mountain. It was here that he and his brother became soldiers in our War of Independence. Michael describes some of the battles his dad fought in and the commanders he served under.

In 1798, William and his family moved to Georgia, settling in Jackson County. For his service as a Revolutionary soldier, he was granted bounty land near the present-day Hurricane Shoals. He died in 1842, a few days shy of his 95th birthday. He is buried in the William Wilson family cemetery about five miles from where I live today.

Like many of you, Marlene and I will spend time today with part of our family. But I can’t help but think of men like William Wilson, my 5th-great-grandfather, who fought to give us the freedom we enjoy. William lived a long life, but it is estimated that over 25,000 died fighting for independence. Freedom is never free.

Happy 250th birthday, America.