[1] In 1842, Wilson helped to found the Oregon Lyceum in Oregon City, and in 1843 was involved with the petition by Robert Shortess sent to the United States Congress in an attempt to invalidate land claims held by the Hudson's Bay Company and Dr. John McLoughlin.
[2] George Abernethy helped to draft the petition, but Wilson was charged with copying the document so Abernathy's name would not be attached to it for political reasons.
[3] Though this petition was ineffective, later efforts by Samuel Thurston in 1850 did remove legal title of the disputed lands from McLoughlin.
[5] In 1846, Wilson opened a store near Astoria, Oregon, thus was one of the founders of that town,[1] and was the first American merchant at that settlement.
[7] The next year Wilson partnered with David McLoughlin and started stores in Portland, Oregon City, and Champoeg under the name of Pettygrove and Company.