Ebenezer Willson was born on or about 3 May 1796 in New Jersey, USA to John and Rachel (Drake) Willson. They moved their family to Canada from the United States along with 17 other families. They settled in the Jersey Settlement (now Jerseyville) in Ancaster Township in 1804.

A number of John’s brothers, Levi, Samuel, and Obed along with their sister Esther also came to Canada and settled in the area.
John and Rachel later resettled their family just outside of Paris in the Kitchen School Road area in Brant County. John was raised a Quaker while Rachel was born a Baptist.

Ebenezer m Mary Magdelena Almas around 1830. Together Ebenezer and Mary had 14 children:

• Samuel b 1830
• Eli b 1831
• Eurias b 1832
• Margaret b 1834
• Phillip b 1836
• Peter b 1836
• Deborah b 1841
• John b 1843
• Rachel b 1844
• Jane b 1847
• Levi b 1850
• Martha b 1851
• Elizabeth b 1853
• Henry b 1856

Ebenezer and his wife Mary (Almas) Willson are both buried in the Clump Cemetery along with Ebenezer’s parents John and Rachel Willson.

Ebenezer’s father-in-law was Adam Bowman Almas who also served in the War of 1812. Adam was a private in the  Flank Company 2nd Regiment Lincoln Militia.

Information supplied by Keith Dodd who is Ebenezer Willson’s 3 x Great grandson. Mr. Dodd and his cousin Muriel Milmine sponsored the installation of Ebenezer Willson’s War of 1812 Veterans plaque.