Wilson

Captain John Wilson, a Scotchman, was, at one time the wealthiest man in San Luis Obispo. In 1850 a man's wealth, in his community, was gauged by the amount of taxes he paid and for two years, Captain Wilson paid the highest in the county, a total of $639.20.

Captain Wilson was made famous throughout the world by that classic, "Two years before the mast" by Richard Henry Dana. Captain Wilson was a most proficient captain and seaman and saved the small brig, "The Pilgrim" at San Diego around 1835, by his expert seamanship.

In 1836, he married the widow, Ramona Carrillo Pacheco. She was the mother of two sons by her former husband, Romualdo Pacheco. Her soceond son, Romuldo Pacheco Jr., was to become the second governor of California, the only San Luis Obispan to attain that honor so far, and the Captain and Mrs. Wilson had four land grants.

The SUEY - 48, 834 acres

Huerta de Romualdo - 117 acres

Canada de Los Ososy Pecho y Islay - 32,430 acres

El Chorro - 3,166 acres

Total - 84,549 acres

Captain and Mrs. Wilson had a wooden two story house in San Luis Obispo. It stood on the corner of what is now Monterey and Broad Streets. The is the site of the current Carnigie Library and home to the San Luis Obispo Historical Society. Unfortunately the house burned down 1898. The Wilson home was likely the first wood-framed residence in San Luis Obispo, built with lumber that Captain Wilson has ordered from the East Coast and shipped around Cape Horn. The house was so close to the mission that it was reported that Romona visited so frequently that she wore a path on the unpaved walkway.

Captain and Mrs. Wilson had four children, three daughters, Rommancita, Juanita and Marcia Ignacia, and one son, affectionately called "Wilsito", a dimiinuitive for Wilson.

The Wilson family later moved to their Los Osos land grant. Here is an image of that adobe.

John Wilson died on October 13, 1861 in that adobe and is buried in the Old Mission Cemetery in San Luis Obispo.