Mary Elizabeth Sanders was the daughter of John Sanders II [1757-1834]. In 1863 she married Harold Wilson of Germantown, at Clermont, New York; they had two daughters, Anne [b. 1867] and Jane [b. 1870]. Mary had inherited some paintings from her father, originally owned by her grandfather, John Sanders [1714-1782]. The pictures (two are now in the NGA) passed by descent to the Wilsons' daughters, who kept them in their house at Clermont.