James Wilson was a Methodist circuit rider.
Wilson was born in Ireland, on 19th July, 1777, near Mullingar. He was raised as an Anglican. He was sent to Piercefield, a boarding school, as the age of 8, where he remained until he was 16.[1] Subsequent to his education, he worked variously as a schoolmaster and clerk. In the rebellion of 1798, he served as clerk to Captain Wheatley. Subsequent to the rebellion, his participation lead him into conflict with he neighbours, and he moved to Dublin. In 1800, he married. Around 1807, he converted to Methodism.[2]
He departed Ireland, on 9th May, 1817, arriving in Quebec on the 9th of July. Upon arriving there, he was supported by several preachers within the Methodist church.[2] The money allowed him to travel to Kingston, where he found employment as an assistant in a high school.[3]
In 1818, he was assigned to the Bay of Quinte circuit.[4] Membership in the Methodist church on Bay of Quinte increased from 28 to 80 persons.[5] He remained on the Bay of Quinte circuit in 1819, alongside Isaac Puffer. The pair oversaw a loss of 38 members of the Episcopal church, while the British Wesleyans had an increase of 50 in the same area.[6] In 1820, he was reassigned to the Hallowell circuit, where he rode alongside Franklin Metcalf. Membership on that circuit increased by 86.[7] He was again assigned to the Hallowell circuit in 1821, where he rode alongside Samuel Belton.[8]