A.A. Cofounder Bill W.: His Younger Years at a Glance

A.A. Cofounder Bill W.: His Younger Years at a Glance

Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

The A.A. Backdrop

Bill Wilson was born in East Dorset, Vermont, November 26, 1895, the only son of Emily and Gilman Barrows Wilson. His parents were married in the East Dorset Congregation Church. That church lay on the green between The Wilson House where Bill was born, his parents lived briefly, and his paternal grandparents had been among the founders and attenders at the church. On the other side of the green was the Griffith House where Bill was raised by his maternal grandparents who considered the church their family church. Bill got sober in Towns Hospital, New York in November, 1934 and never drank again. He died on January 24, 1971. A.A. Literature records: “All his life, Bill retained, as did Dr. Bob, a deep affection for and identification with the people of Vermont. . . he enjoyed sharing with friends many delightful anecdotes about his early years” [The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1972, 1975), pp. 25-27]

Bill W.’s Unusual Christian Experiences as a Youngster in Vermont

From Bill W. My First Forty Years: An Autobiography (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2000), and Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Role of the Creator in Alcoholics Anonymous (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc….)

Bill’s Grandpa Willie Wilson: Willie had been a founder, officer, and regular attender
at East Dorset Congregational Church. He owned Pew 15. He was also a chronic alcoholic. Before Bill Wilson was born, Grandpa Willie ascended nearby Mt. Aeolus, cried out to God for help, had a spiritual experience, rushed down to the little church, seized the pulpit, said he had been saved. Grandpa Willie never drank again for the remaining eight years of his life. Bill Wilson’s mother told Bill this story over and over again as he was growing up and through the years.

Bill’s Witnessing of Conversion, Revival, and Temperance Meetings. As a youngster, Bill mentioned his seeing conversion meetings, attending revivals, and attending Temperance Meetings.

Bill’s Maternal Grandparents Fayette and Ella Griffith. The Griffiths attended the East Dorset Congregational Church, and – with Emma Griffith, Bill W.’s mother—regarded the little church as the family church. Bill attended this church and its Sunday school during the period he was being raised by the Griffiths. His parents had separated. His mother had sent him to live with her parents. And Bill’s Grandpa Fayette enrolled Bill in the Sunday school next door where he attended church with the Griffiths.

The Confession, Creed, and Teachings of the East Dorset Congregational Church: Our personal visit to this church with its long-time Treasurer and our inspection of the records showed that the church taught about salvation and the importance of studying the Word of God.

Bill’s Bible Study with Grandpa Fayette and with his friend Mark Whalon. There is now documentation that Bill Wilson studied the Bible with his grandfather and also with his friend Mark Whalon.

Bill’s Four Years at the Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester, Vermont:
Bill attended this Congregational-influenced Academy for four-years, up to the time of his anticipated graduation. There he attended the required daily chapel, just as Dr. Bob had at his Academy. Also, as required, Bill attended the Manchester Congregational Church each week, just as Dr. Bob had done at his Academy. Bill took a four-year required Bibl study course at Burr and Burton. And Bill became president of the school YMCA; his girl friend Bertha Bamford became president of the school YWCA; and the two attended school YMCA activities, and daily chapel, together.

The Unexpected Death of Bill’s Girl Friend, Bertha Bamford, and Bill’s Turning His Back on God for many subsequent years. Shortly before Bill’s impending graduation, Bill’s lady love Bertha died unexpectedly. Bill was devastated. He went into one of his many deep depressions. He never graduated from Burr and Burton. And he blamed the events on God. For a number of years, he characterized himself thereafter as a “conservative atheist” or as an “agnostic.” This clearly ended at or before his spiritual experience during his fourth hospitalization at Towns where he had his “white light” experience and was cured of alcoholism.

dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com

Gloria Deo