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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY Gift of
Dr. Edward A. Park

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THE

GEHEAIOGY AKD HISTOEY

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS
IN AMERICA, MORE PARTICULARLY OF THE

DESCENDANTS OF

3R-ol)ert affiflUsms of aRorbutj.

STEPHEN ¥. WILLIAMS, M. D., A. M.,
Corresponding Memb. of the New England Historic. Genealog. Society, of the
National Institute, Hon. Memb. of the N. Y. Hist. Soc, Memb.
elect of the Royal Society of Northern An
tiquaries, Copenhagen, Den
mark. &c. &c.

GREENFIELD:
PRINTED BY MERRIAM & MIRICK.
1847.

Coat of ^rm0.

Thi: coats of arms of the family of Williams have been almost
as numerous as the diiFerent branches of the family. Many of
them are noticed in the body of this work, and I need not here
refer to them. There seems to be some discrepancy of opinion in
relation to the crest on the Coat of Arms, of the Robert Williams'
branch of the family, some maintaining that it is a common cock,
and others, that it is a Moor cock. I quote from Samuel B. Wil
liams, Esq., formerly of Deerfield, but now residing in Ohio.
*' My authority fbr the Coat of Arms, is an ancient looking mem
orandum found among the papers of John Williams, Esq., a'de-
scendant from the Rev. John Williams, of Deeriieki. The in
closed paper is an exact copy.
" He beareth Sable — a lion rampant — Argent — armed — and
Tangu'd Gules. By the name of Williams, of Flint, in Wales,
and in Lincolnshire, and Matthew, of Yorkshire, which families
are indeed now one and the same. For John WiUiams, Esq. , in the
time of Edward IV", married the daughter and heir, of Jno. Mat
thew, Esq. His son assumed the sirname of Matthew, which he
retained ever since. Their crest is a moorcock. This Pedigree
is from Thoresby's Ducatus, &c.
" This coat belongeth to the family of Williams."
Mr. Williams continues, "I made considerable inquiry at the
time of drawing my chart, and satisfied myself that the true
crest is a moor cock. I saw others, it is true, one of which repre
sented a cock, and others in which the engraving was so poor that
it was hard to tell what bird was intended."
A letter which I received from the Rev. John Williams, of
A*

VI COAT OF ARMS.
Schenectady, who has paid much attention to the subject, induced
me to adopt the crest of a cock. He says : — " As to the coat of
arms : It is a white lion on a sable shield : the crest is a. moor
cock, and I incline to the opinion not a moor-cock proper, as they
say in heraldry. My reason is thia : In ' Thoresby's Ducatus,'
which I saw in the Bodleian Library at Oxford (Eng.) the arms
are given, and though the text reads a moor-cock, still the copy
gives_an ordinary cock. This settles the matter, for Thoresby is
sm all sufficient authority. If this work (Thoresby's Ducatus) is
in Harvard College Library, you should by all means consult it
under the name Matthew; for he gives there the entire genealogy
of the family back, if I mistake not, to 1100. Our having the
coat in possession, and having had it, for it has been traditionary
in the family, which to my mind is a settler of the question. Our
having this coat in traditionary possession, entitles us to that gen
ealogy. No herald's college under heaven could or would ask
more than such traditionary possession."
I therefore request the reader to strike out the word moor-cock
in the description of the coat of arms above, and substitute that
of cock.
Inquiring of T. W. Harris, Esq., Librarian of Harvard College
upon this subject, he answers, " Thoresby's Ducatus is not in our
library ; and I cannot find in any other work under Matthew, any
genealogy like that to which you refer. The figures of a cock
and a moor-cock (large black grouse of England) as given in
Berry's Encyclopedia Heraldica, are very different from each
other. Among a great number given in Burke's Armory (many
without coats indicated) there is only one which has a cock for a
crest, and not one with a moor-cock. Tlie one with a cock is
Williams, of Gevernevet Co. Brecon, and Rose Hall Co. Herts •
descended from Sir David Williams of Gevernevet, of the Judges
of court of King's Bench, Ar. a chev. between 3 cocks qu. or a
chief sa. 3 spear heads of the first, sanguinated, crest a cock as
in the arms. Motto, Deus hec otia fecit.
MoTTO ' ' Yfyno Dwy Yfydd. " " What God willeth will be. "
All translators agree in this version. Burke slates that this is
" the motto of the Matthew family, to which belonged the Earl of

COAT OF ARMS. vii
Landaff, who bore this motto on his arms." Harris. It must be
for Williams, also.
In confirmation of the fact that the cock is the real crest of the
coat of arms of the Robert Williams family, I subjoin the follow.
ing note from the Hon. Edward A. Newton, of Pittsfield, dated
April 9th, 1847. He says : — " Having understood that the
Williams family of this country originated in Wales, I took pains
last summer, while travelling there, to make some inquiry about
them. We found that they were, and had been very numerous
and respectable, in the neighborhood of ' Conway,' especially,
many of them, as were found by inscription on monuments erected
in the churches there and elsewhere in the Principality, had held
offices of honor and trust, under the crown. Every where we
found the lion rampant to be a part of their armorial bearings,
such as T find it here on those of my late father-in-law, (John
Chandler Williams, Esq,,) and now quartered with my own. In
the old churches, we saw in numerous cases engraved on brass
plates on the doors of pews, as well as on tablets, in special me
morial of the dead. I inclose an impression of the armorial bear
ings of my father-in-law, (the one which I haye used for this
work, S. W. W.) which he used for his books. The cock is un
doubtedly the common domestic-cock. I have in my possession a
fine stuffed specimen of the common moor-oocV, which is alto
gether unlike this — besides, the side motto settles the question,
so far as Mr. Williams' opinion goes, cognosce occasionem. It
refers to the bird in the attitude of fight, we all know now he then
' watches his opportunity."

PEOEM,

To the Members of the Family of Williams in America.
Friends and Kinsmen: —
I HAVE here attempted to introduce many members of
the family of WilHams in America and England to each
other, who, perhaps, otherwise, would most of them have
remained strangers.- It is pleasant, at least, for brethren
of one family " to dwell together in unity."
The task has been vastly more arduous than one at
first thought, would have supposed it would have been,
for, in order to obtain anything like correct data in rela
tion to the genealogy and history of a family so numer
ous as that of Williams, it has been necessary to insti
tute a most extensive correspondence with distinguished
individuals of the name, or with individuals connected
with the family, throughout the length and breadth of
the United States, and even in England. Most of those
with whom I have corresponded, have replied to my in
quiries with alacrity, and have entered into my project of
giving a history of the family, with enthusiasm, and have
encouraged my head and hand, in such a way that I

X PREFACE.
da.v no' withhold the information thus obtained, from
the family at large, and from such individuals as take an
interest in genealo^cal and historical inquiries. A few
have considered the subject beneath their notice, and
have not replied to my letters, while some have viewed
the subject like the elderly gentleman mentioned by
Haven in the genealogy of his family, who in reply to
one of his letters says ; — " a worse source of information
could not have been sought ; that he never knew before,
that he had any ancestors beyond his grand parents ; but
that he distinctly remembered his uncle John's girls, and,
to speak poetically, they were 011a and Anna, and Polly
and Fanny ; that he had asked his brother John about
the matter, who said he had a letter from one, some tw»
years before, asking tbe same information ; and that he
supposed John would answer, when he should have a
reagonable time to think of it," Still, from my investi
gations upon this subject, I am satisfied that a great and
growing interest is felt in the United States upon the
subject of genealogical inquiries.
When I commenced the undertaking, I was acquainted
with but very few of the family beyond my immediate
connections. A small pamphlet would then have con
tained all the information I had upon the subject. I of
ten regretted that I could not obtain even the genealogy
and history of the family of the Rev. John Williams,
first minister of Deerfield, the " Redeemed Captive"

PREFACE. xi
from Indian slavery. A friend of mine, Mr. Henry Ste
vens,, the distinguished antiquarian, now in London, in a
letter from that place, first directed me to Mrs. Sarah P.
Baldwin, wife of Col. Baldwin, of Boston, who, through
her mother, the late Mrs. Pitkin, a descendant from the
Rev. Eliphalet Williams, had a full and correct genealo
gy of the family of the reverend captive. She politely
loaned me her mother's manuscript, which I found to
contain so much valuable information that I thought it
would be doing great injustice to the family, not to lay it
before them in print. The idea then suggested itself
that a more full and minute account of the family of
Robert Williams, of Roxbury would still be more inter
esting to them. The plan was communicated to several
distinguished and influential members of the family, who
advised me, by all means, to persevere in the undertaking.
At this time, I had only a few desultory notes concerning
the direct descent of my own branch of the family, Mrs.
Pitkin's genealogy, and the notes upon the family in
Farmer's Genealogy. I soon learned that William Whit
ing, Esq., of Roxbury, and Isaac Parker, Esq., of
Boston, were in possession of extensive notes concerning
the genealogy of Samuel and Stephen Williams, sons of
Robert, of Roxbury. They politely oflfered me the use
of them, for which I beg leave to return to them my
grateful acknowledgments. From them I have obtained
a most valuable fund of information on the subject. I

Xll PREFACE.
then commenced a most extensive correspondence with
persons of the name, and with others, who were either
connected with the family or were deeply interested in
the history of it.
Nearly half a dozen of the first letters which I re
ceived, contained almost the exact transcript of Mrs.
Pitkin's manuscript, which shows the eagerness of the
family to become more intimately acquainted with the
history of it. Some of them generously offered me pe
cuniary aid in the prosecution of the undertaking, and
all of them urged me to persevere in the work.
Emboldened by such favorable auspices, late in the au
tumn of 1846, I visited Hartford and New London
counties, in Connecticut, for the purpose of procuring in
formation on the subject. In the former, I procured
some valuable facts from Chief Justice Thomas S. WU
liams, of Hartford, and in the latter from Gen. William
Williams, and Col. Joseph Williams, of Norwich, from
the Hon. Thomas W. Williams, late member of Congressj
and Ephraim Cheeseborough, of New London, from
Eleazer Williams, Calvin G. Williams, Ephraim WiUiams,
Esq., and others from Stonington. To these gentlemen
my thanks are also due for their urbanity, and kind as
sistance. I then visited the graves of my ancestors, who
were among the early settlers of New London county,'
and from whose monuments, I derived many genealogical
and historical facts — but more from the living than the

PREFACE. XIU
dead. From New London county, I traversed the State
¦of Rhode Island, and picked up considerable interesting
matter in Providence. From thence to Boston and Rox-
-bury, the former residence of our puritan father. At
Roxbury, I visited the old burying ground, where he and
many of his children and descendants are buried. No
traces of a monument are to be found to the memory of
the father, though the spot where he was buried was
pointed out to me. Many monuments erected to the
memory of his children are still to be seen, and the spot
to me is consecrated and hallowed ground. I also visited
the old grave-yard in Dorchester, where some of our
name he interred.
At Boston, I had the pleasure of making the acquaint
ance of John D. Williams, Esq., of that city, and subse
quently, by letter, of Aaron D. and Moses Williams, to
all of whom I am under deep obligations for their kind
and substantial assistance. I also visited the college li
brary, in Cambridge, which contains the largest and
choicest collection of books on the continent of America.
I here made the personal acquaintance of Thaddeus Wil
liam Harris, Esq., the learned and indefatigable librarian
of tljat institution. He politely offered me the use of
such books in the library, as pertained to my subject. I
have availed myself extensively of his liberal offer, and
many of the facts in this work are taken from books be
longing to that library, particularly, from Wood's Athense,

XIV PREFACE.
or history of the graduates of Oxford University, in Eng
land, and from the catalogues of the graduates of Cam»
bridge and Oxford in that country. I am, also, under
great obligations to Mr. Harris for the translation of the
Welsh motto for the coat of arms of our family, and for
his further assistance on the subject, of heraldry, and for
other matters in relation to the family. To his son, T,
W. Harris, Jr., I am under great obligations for his as
sistance, The Rev. John Williams, of Schenectady, is
entitled to my warmest thanks for his zeal in translating
the motto, for his remarks on the coat of arms, and for
other contributions. To my young friend, also, Mr. Au
gustus Williams, son of the Hon. Thomas W. Williams of
New London, I with pleasure render my obligations, for
forwarding to me, from the library of Congress, the trans
lation of the Welsh motto " What God willeth."
All the above writers agree in this translation. I must
not forget my indebtedness to Samuel B. Williams, Esq.)
of New Carlisle, Ohio, for his remarks upon our coat of
wws. Hoping not to be considered invidious in the omission
of the names of any of my contributors, for I am under
great obligations to all of them, in addition to those al
ready enumerated, I beg leave to return my thanks to
the following persons who have greatly assisted me in the
prosecution of the work, Chief Justice Charles K. Wil
liams, of Rutland, Vermont, and Hon. Norman Williams. ¦

PREFACE. XV
of Woodstock, Vermont, Hon. Hezekiah' Williams, Mem
ber of Congress, from Maine ; Rev. Eleazer Williams, of
Green Bay, Wisconsin ; Henry Williams, Esq. ; George
Foster Williams, Esq., and Jonathan T. Williams, of
Boston ; Rev. Luther Hamilton^ of Roxbury ; Rev.
Thomas Williams, of Pomfret, Conn ; Henry Williams,
Esq., of Lebanon ; Solomon Williams, Esq., of Manches
ter ; Dr. Archibald Welch, of Wethersfield ; and C. P.
Sedgwick, Esq., of Sharon, Conn. ; Gen. WiUiam Wil
liams ; and Dr. Oliver Partridge, of Stockbridge ; Elea/-
zer WiUiams, Esq., of Richmond ; Eliphalet WiUiams,
Esq., of Northampton ; and Edward A. Newton, Esq.,
of Pittsfield, Mass. ; Nathaniel F. WiUiams, late collector
of the Port of Baltimore ; Hon. WUUam WiUiams of An-
napoUs-; and Gen. Otho HoUand WiUiams, of Hagerstown,
Maryland ; John Redman Coxe, M. D., Philadelphia ;
Cadet Rufus Saxton, Jr., of West Point; Geft. C. J.
Swift, of the corps of engme^rs at West Point, Geneva ;
Seth Grosvenor, Esq., of New York ; Dr. B. F. Thomp^
son, of Hempstead, Long Island ; and the Rev. D. Wil-
liams,'of Feeding HiUs.
The work is far from being complete. I have taken un
bounded pains to give as accurate a genealogy as possible
of the older members of the family. In many instances
I have brought it down to the present time. In some
cases, t could not trace the descent beyond the second or
third generations. In aU caS'es, however, I have traced

PREFACE.
the descent so low that I am in hopes that some of the
branches wUl be able to trace their ancestors to the pe
riod where I left them. Much yet remains to be done;
There are ample materials for another work upon thia
subject to succeed this. Too much of my time would be
taken up, were I to attempt to trace them all out, and
years might elapse before this book would be published.-'
The consummation is left to other hands. The task is
now rendered vastly easier of accomplishment than when
I commenced it.
The work is very far from being confined to the gen
ealogy and history of the family of Robert Williams, of
Roxbury. Very many highly distinguished men of the
name of Williams are noticed. Wherever in the course
of my reading or observation, any distinguished person of
the name has been noticed, I have, with great pleasure
recorded his history in this pubUcation.
A short notice wiU be found towards the close of the vol
ume of the WUUams' of Great Britain, so far as I have been
able to obtain information concerning them. I have also
added catalogues of the name of WUUams who have
graduated at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
I thought this would be interesting to my friends in Eng
land and in the United States. I have pubUshed exten
sive catalogues of the name of WiUiams in America,
shewing that great numbers in the family have devoted
their attention to the learned professions, and the cultivap

PREFACE. xvii
tion of science and literature. Many of them too, have
amassed great wealth in the pursuit of honorable trade,
agriculture, and the professions.
It has been said by Farmer in his genealogy, " that Rob
ert Williams, of Roxbury, was the common ancestor of
the divines, civilians, and ancestors of the name, who
have honored the country of their birth." The pages of
this work wUl abundantly show that this observation is
correct. It has also been said that the history of the
WUliams family in America embraced a considerable por
tion of the history of New England, if not of the United
States. So far as it relates to their participation in the
battles and warfare of their country for the establishment
of their comfort and security in it, and to the privations
and sufferings in bringing about this state of security,
this observation is, also, undoubtedly true. There was
scarcely a battle of importance fought, particularly in
this section of the country, either with the aboriginal in
habitants, or with a foreign enemy, in which one or more
of the name, was not engaged. The following synopsis
will afford an iUustration of the truth of my position, and
will serve as an analysis to a part of the work, which
will answer as a kind of table of contents of it, inasmuch
as it is not divided into chapters.
Roger WiUiams probably rendered more efficient ser
vices to Capt. Mason, than any other man, by aiding the
Massachusetts troops with provisions, advice, and even

XVUl PREFACE.
attendance on a part of the route of those troops, in that
signal engagement near the Lead of the Mystic in New
London county, in Connecticut, in which nearly 700 Pe-
quod Indians were destroyed, and their power completely
broken up in America.' Except a Uttle border warfare
after this, there were no great disturbances from the In
dians, tiU the time of the power of Philip of Narragansettj
the most powerful chief who ever swayed the scept®B
over the Indian tribes of America, began to be felt.
The next most important battle fought with the In
dians, a battle almost unparalleled in the annals of his
tory, in which ninety-six out of one hundred of the Engr
lish were destroyed, was that of Bloody-Brook, in Deer
field, in September, 1675. A charter monument is now
erected to the memory of the fallen brave, on the spot
where they fell. A man of our family, by the name of
Zebediah WiUiams fell in, that memorable and fatal en
gagement. It is supposed that he left a son Zebediah,
who was taken captive at Deerfield, by the Indians, ia
Queen Anne's war, just before the destruction of the
town, and carried to Canada, where he died in captiviigr
in the year 1706.
But more heart-rending, perhaps was the scene, whea
in the year of 1704, the town of Deerfield was invested
by an army -of 300 French and Indians, and laid in
ashes with savage ferocity.
In the wars of 1744 and 1755, Col. Israel WilUaaUi

PREFACE. XlX
of Hatfield, rendered most essential services to his
country, in his offices of Colonel and Commissary. In
those wars, too, the distinguished Col. Ephraim WUUams,
the founder of Williams College, acted a most conspicu
ous part. An extended biography of him will be
found in this book. In the wars of 1744 and 1755,
Dr. Thomas Williams served as surgeon and Colonel,
and was at Fort WiUiam Henry, at Lake George,
on the day of the memorable battle there, and was with
in the distance of three miles from his brother. Col.
Ephraim, when he was slain. The Rev. Dr. Stephen
WiUiams, of Long Meadow, who was carried captive to
Canada with his father at the time of the destruction of
the town of Deerfield by the French and Indians, in
1794, was Chaplain in Col. Ephraim Williams' Regiment
at Lake George at the time the Colonel was HUed. The
Hon. William WiUiams, the Signer of the Declaration of
Independence, was an officer in the staff of Col.
Ephraim's regiment in the war of 1755'. Josiah Wil
liams, a brother of the Colonel, was also an officer in his
re^ment, and was present in the battle in which his
brother was killed, and was most severely wounded there
in the abd<)men. Dr. WiUiam WiUiams, afterwards
Colonel, was also an assistant surgeon in that regiment,
and rendered efficient service to the wounded on that
bloody day. In the war of 1755, Col. Joseph WUliams,
of Roxbury, had the command of a regiment, which was

XX PREFACE.
in service during a part of that war, on the banks of the
Mohawk. Lieut. John WiUiams, and Ensign Samuel
WiUiams, were officers at Fort WiUiam Henry, in the
year 1757, and were present in that disgraceful and san
guinary massacre on the 9th of August of that year.
They both escaped with their lives. This was one of the
most memorable and heart-rending transactions which
have occurred in the history of our country. A Capt.
Samuel WUliams feU at the battle of Lexington, where
the first blood was shed in the revolutionary war.
Whether this was the man who was present at the massa
cre at Fort WiUiam Henry, I can not ascertain. John
Chandler Williams, Esq., of Pittsfield, was in the battle,
A Lieut. John Williams, perhaps the same who was at
the massacre, was also an officer at the battle of
Bunker's HiU, on the 17th of June, 1775, a battle which
did more towards arousing the energies of our country
men in resisting the oppression of England than any
other which occurred during our revolutionary struggle.
Thomas WiUiams, father of Dr. Richard Williams^ of
Newark, New York, was also severely wounded in that
memorable battle.
Col. Elisha Williams, former Rector, or President of
Yale CoUege, had the command of a regiment of troops
which marched against Cape Breton, in 1748. Colonel
WiUiams, of Marlborough, Vermont, formerly of North-
borough, was Colonel of a regiment in the battle of Bei*

PREFACE. Xxi
nington, where he distinguished himself for his valor and
bravery. Col. Samuel WiUiams, of Warwick, also ihad
a command of infantry, and was either in that battle, or
his regiment was stationed near that glorious field at the
time of that engagement. Capt. WUliams, of Vermont,
was in the battle of Hubbardton, and was slain in that
engagement in the revolutionary war. Col. Thomas Wil
liams, of Deerfield, son of Dr. Thomas WUliams, accom
panied Arnold, in his painful march across the wUderness
from Maine to Dead River, high up the Kennebec, on
the route to Quebec in the year 1755. He died in the
army at Skenesborough, now WhitehaU, New York, in
the year 1776, in the discharge of his professional duties,
in the defense of his country.
Gen. Otho Holland WUliams was one of our most
distinguished officers, and a confidant of our belov
ed Washington, in the war of the revolution. This
officer also greatly distinguished himself on the bbody,
battle field of GuUford, of Hobbrick, and of Eutaw. A
brother of his. Col. Elie Williams was an officer in the
campaigns of Harmer, St. Clair, and Wayne, in the late
war with the Indians on our western borders. David
WiUiams, was one of the captors of the unfortunate An
dre, the spy, in correspondence with the traitor Arnold.
The offer of money, and the splendid gold watch of An
dre could not bribe the incorruptible soldier, and a county
in Ohio is named for him in commemoration of this event.

XXn PREFACE.
Benjamin and Isaac Williams, sons of Gen. Joseph Wil
liams, of Norwich, Conn, were both soldiers in the
American revolutionary war. The former died on board
the Jersey Prison ship, in the year 1781. The latter
had a leg shot off in the struggle for Independence, for
which he held a pension during the last years of his life.
The name of John WiUiams is found on the monument at
Groton, Conn., where he feU bravely defending the har
bor of New London in the year 177-, against the nefari
ous attack of the apostate Arnold. Col. John WilUams,
of North Carolina, was a distinguished officer in the rev
olutionary war.
In the suppression of the rebelUon of Shays in Massar
chusetts, Dr. WiUiam S. WiUiams, of Deerfield, acted
as Surgeon to the government forces, and was present
^t the battle of Springfield. The distinguished Gens
Jonathan Williams, the founder of the corps of engineers
at West Point, took a decided part in aid of the govern-
ment in suppression of the whiskey Insurrection in Penn
sylvania in the year 1794, and went with the forces whieh
quelled that rebellion. In the war vrith England, of
1812, his son Capt. Alexander WiUiams " bravely feU on
his country's ramparts in the midnight carnage at Fort
Erie," in August, 1804. In the Mexican war of 1846,
Lieut. WiUiams, of the topographical corps of engineei^
from West Point, feU in one of the early battles in that
struggle, and his remains were brought back to his native

PREFACE. xxiii
State of New York. Others of the name of WUUams,
were officers in that war.
In the civU history of our country the biographies of
most of the distinguished Governors of many of the
states, of the members of Congress, and of the state leg
islatures and councils, by the name of Williams, are writ
ten in the hearts of their constituents. They have un
doubtedly acted quite as conspicuous parts, in the es
tablishment of our wise and beneficent form of government
as the military characters of whom I have spoken. I
should have been glad, however, to have been able to pro
cure more information conceming those of our name in
the southern and western sections of our Union,
I am sensible that I have not adopted the best arrange
ment in my genealogy ; and here, perhaps I may have
rendered myself obnoxious to criticism. The arrange
ment adopted by my friend Samuel G. Drake, Esq., in
his genealogy of his family, is incomparably the best one I
have ever seen. I had, however, so far advanced in my
, work when I saw that arrangement, that I had not time
I to alter it without writing the work anew. As my work
.now stands however, there wiU be no difficulty in trac
ing out the descendants of the - three sons of Robert,
.viz. : Samuel, Isaac, and Stephen. It wiU only require a
, little more time in the investigation. I regret to be
IDS pbUged to leave out from the pages of this work the hsts
_j)f the ancient names of WUUams on the Roxbury and

XXIV PREFACE.
Boston town records, coUected with some labor by my
friends T. W. Harris, Jr., of Cambridge, and WUUam
Whiting, Esq., of Roxbury. I have,- also been obliged
to curtail many of the articles towards the close of the
work, which I also deeply regret. In the progress of
the printing of the work, I found that the volume would
be enlarged to an unwieldly size, unless I made this cur
tailment. I would suggest to the compUers of their cat
alogues and others that they would suffer me to publish
their lists in " the New England Historical and Gen
ealogical Register," if the plan should be approved by
the editor Of that Journal, after the publication of my
work. I would here recommend the purchase and peru
sal of that work to all the friends of genealogical and
historical research, in our country.
Imperfect as is this production, I submit it to the mem
bers and friends of the family of WiUiams, hoping- that
they wiU point out to me the errors of this work, which
may occur to them, and furnish me with such additional
facts as I have not been able to obtain.
Undo;:: the confident expectation that you wUl be will
ing to do this, I subscribe myself. Gentlemen and Ladies
of the family. Your Friend and Kinsman,
Deerfield, Mass., Sept. 1, 1847.

SKETCHES

OF THE

EAMILY OF WILLIAMS

The name of WiUiams is very ancient, and it probably
extends throughout the civUized world. Most of the
original members of the name were doubtless of Welsh
extraction. They form a large portion of the principality
of Wales, in England, somewhat like the O's of Ireland,
and the Mac's of Scotland. An intimate friend and cor
respondent; who is well quaUfied to judge, says that
" some of the name in Wales trace their lineage as far
back as Adam, and some of the Welsh carry their gene
alogical tree a little farther." — Burke's Book Peerage
and Baronetage, says of Sir Robert WiUiams, the ninth
Baronet of the house of WUliams of Penrhyn, that " his
family is lineally descended from Marchudel of Cyan,
Lord of Abergelen in Denbighshire, of one of the fifteen
tribes of North Wales, who lived in the times of Roderic
Maur (Roderic the Great) king of the Britons, about
the year 849. Of him was descended Ednyfid Fycham,
from whom was descended the royal house of Tudor. The
pedigree of Marchudel is- deduced from Brutus, the first
2

18 family of WILLIAMS.
King of the Britons." {See the pedigree of Williams fff
Penrhyn, page . . . .) And stiU farther in the same
work, " This most ancient family of the principality of
Wales, deduces its pedigree with singular perspicuity from
Brutus, son of Sylvius Posthumius, son of Ascaneus, son
of .iEneas, which Brutus was the first king of this Island,
and began to reign above 1100 years before the birth of
Christ." Other authorities trace them back to several
years before the Norman Conquest, from a Welsh chief.
The Norman Conquest was about the year 1060. In the
reign of Edward the Fourth, John WiUiams, Esq., mar
ried the eldest daughter of John Matthews, Esq. Their
son assumed the name of Matthews, and has retained it
ever since. WUlianjs was of Flint and Lincolnshii;e,
Matthews of Yorkshire. (From ihe Ser aid's Office,
England.) I cannot leam much about them previous to the Norr
man conquest, nor can I find much intermediate history
from that period to the year 1573, when one of them by
the name of Thomas Williams, graduated at Oxford, in
England ; nor am I able to obtain much information con
cerning them before the time of Oliver Cromwell, the
Protector, and Pretender, who, according to the Rev. M.
Russell, LL, D., Carlyle, and other writers, was a Wil
liams. In corroboration of this I quote from two of the
above highly respectable authors. Dr. Russell, in his
life of Cromwell, says, " it is proper to mention that Oliver
Cromwell, belonged to a family, which, several genei;a-
tions -before his time had attained to a considerable degree
of wealth, and reputation. The industry of Mr. Nobl^
has discovered that the ancestor of the Protector, in the

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 19
fourth remove was Morgan WiUiams, or rather Morgan
ap WiUiams, a Welsh gentleman of considerable property,
whose father, WiUiam apYevan, held an honorable
place in the house of Jasper, Duke of Bedford, and
even, it is said, in that of his nephew, King Henry the
Seventh. Mr. Morgan WUUams, married a sister of
Thomas Lord Cromwell, afterwards Earl of Essex,
through whose powerful interest at court, he was enabled
to lay the foundation of that opulence and rank, which
continued to throw lustre on his descendants during seve
ral subsequent reigns. An attempt on the part of the
Roman Catholics, in the year 1536, to check the progress
of the Reformation in some of the eastern counties,
afforded the king a pretext for demolishing to a stiU
greater extent than he had heretofore thought expedient,
the various monastic establishinents in that district of
England, and for disposing of their revenues to his favor
ites and dependents. Among other lands bestowed upon
Sir Richard, either as the reward of his mUitary services,
or for a small payment in money, was the estate of Hen-
chinbroke, in the county of Huntingdon, which thence
forth became the principal seat of the Cromwell family.
The distinguished person now mentioned assumed the
surname of CromweU, in compliance with a policy sug
gested by Henry the E'^hth, who, with the intention of
abolishing all distinction between the EngUsh and the
Welsh, as weU, perhaps, as for facilitating business in the
courts of law, did all in his power to induce the latter
people to adopt family names, and to relinquish entirely
that more primitive mode of denoting lineal descent,
which the different branches of the Celtic race appear to

20 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
have derived from their oriental progenitors. It would
seem that Morgan ap WiUiams himself had so far accommo
dated his nomenclature to the new style, that he changed
his address to Mr. Morgan WiUiams ; but as this surname
was StiU very recent, his Majesty recommended to Sir
Richard, to use that of CromweU, in honor of his relation,
the Eari of Sussex. Hence, as aU the other sons of the
Glamorganshire squire, followed at the same time the
example of their eldest brother, the family patronymic
feU gradually into disuse ; although we are informed that
in almost aU their deeds and wiUs, the progeny of Wil-
Uam apYevan, signed themselves CromweU, alias Wil
liams, down to the reign of James the First.
Sir Richard left his estates and honors, which appear
to have suffered no diminution from the downfall of his
powerful relative. Lord Essex, to his oldest son, whose
name was Henry. This gentleman was held in high es
teem by Queen Elizabeth, who knighted him in the year
1593, and did him the further honor of becoming his
guest, at his house of Henchinbroke, upon her return
from visiting the University of Cambridge. He had six
sons, named Oliver, Robert, Henry, Richard, PhUip and
Ralph ; the second of whom was the father of Oliver
CromweU, the Protector." (Russell.')
Oliver Cromwell, was born a^'Huntingdon, on the 25th
of April, 1599. Carlyle says Cromwell descended from
General WiUiams, of Berkshire, or from Morgan WiUiams,
of Glamorganshire. He says " CromweU, alias WiUiams."
The Encyclopedia Americana says the genealogy of
CromweU is traced to Richard WiUiams, who assumed
the name of Cromwell, from his maternal uncle, Thomas

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 21
CromweU, Secretary of State to Henry VIII, and through
WUUam ap Yevan, up to the barons of the eleventh cen
tury. A Williams has been, noticed by Shakspeare, in his
play of King Henry V., Act IV., Scene I.
Roger WiUiams, the founder of Providence, in Rhode
Island, was an intimate friend and contemporary of Crom
well, and some say a relative. They were both born in
the year 1599. {See a further notice of Roger Wil
liams at the latter part of this volume.)
The following genealogy of the family of Williams, in
America, from Farmer, will be interesting to most of my
readers, though I shall be much more minute in the sub
sequent pages. "WILLIAMS FAMILY."
" Robert, Roxbury, came from Norwich in England,
was admitted freeman in 1638, and is the common an
cestor of the divines, civilians, and warriors of this
name, who have honored the country of their birth.
His sons were Samuel, a deacon of Roxbury, free
man 1650, who died September 23d, 1698. Isaac, a
captain, who was born at Roxbury, Sept. 1, 1638, set
tled at Newton, which he represented in 1692, 1695,
1697, 1701, 1705. He had children, Isaac, Martha,
bom 1663, WiUiam, who was educated at Harvard Uni
versity, 1683, Eleazer, who settled in Stonington. The
founder of WiUiams CoUege descended from this family.
Stephen, bom Nov. 8, 1640, a captain, who died at
Roxbury, 15th Feb. 1720, and Thomas, who died with-
2* '

22 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
out issue. The family estate at Roxbury, remained in
possession of his descendants tiU 1826. The last posses
sor of it was Thomas WUUams, Esq., Counsellor at law^
son of Dr. Thomas WiUiams, H. College, 1757. Wil
liam, minister of Hatfield, was son of Capt. Isaac WU
liams, of Newton, and was born 1664, died August, 1741.
He married (1) Eliza, daughter of Rev. Seaborn Cotton,
and (2) a daughter of Rev. Solomon Stoddard. By his
first wife he had Rev. WiUiam WiUiams, Harvard CoUege,
1705, minister of Weston, and Rev. Elisha WiUiams^
Harvard CoUege, 1711, the third President of Yale Col
lege ; by the second. Rev. Solomon Williams, of Lebanon,
Conn., and Hon. Israel WiUiams, Harv. CoU. 1727 ; he
also had three daughters. The above were descendants
of Robert WiUiams, of Roxbury, 1638.
Abraham Williams was representative of Marlborough
in 1679. One hundred and forty seven of the name of
WiUiams had graduated in 1825, at the coUeges in New
England, New Jersey, and Union, N. Y. Belshazzer,
Salisbury, 1651. Daniel, one of the first settlers of Pro
vidence, Eleazer, Salem, was admitted to the church, Aug.
6, 1637, Francis, Portsmouth, came over in 1631, as
Govemor of tho settlement commenced by Mason and
Gorges, and was in New Hampshire, in 1631, but soon
after left and went to BarbadoOs. George, Salem, free
man 1634, died 1654, Henry, Casco, 1665, was wounded
in Saco, 10th October, 1676. (^See Rutchinson, Huhbard'i
Indian War.') Hugh, Boston, freeman, 1642, was mem
ber of the artiUery company. James, a preacher at Ply
mouth, is named by Savage and Winthrop. John, Scituate,
1639. John, Piscataqua, 1631. A John WUliams is

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 23
mentioned by Felt, Annals of Salem, 110. A John Wil
liams, of Newbury, 1641, who died 1674. Another
John WiUiams, died in Massachusetts, 1658. John,
minister of Deerfield, was son of Deac. Samuel WiUiams,
(and grandson of Robert of Roxbury, 1638) born at
¦Roxbury, 10th December, 1664, graduated at Harvard
CoUege, 1683, was ordained October, 1688, captivated by
the Indians 29th February, 1704, when Eunice, his wife,
a daughter of Rev. Eleazer Mather, of Northampton,
was kUled ; returned from captivity, and died June 12th,
1729, aged 65. His sons were Eleazer, H. CoU. 1708,
minister of Mansfield, Conn. EUakim, Stephen, H. Coll.
1713, minister of Long Meadow. Warham, H, CoU,
minister of Waltham. John,kiUed by the Indians. Eliar
kim 2d, John 2d, a major. Elijah, and several daughters.
Nathaniel, Boston, freeman, 1640, member of the church,
and of the artiUery company, 1664, had sons, Joseph,
born 1641, Nathaniel, 1642, member of the artillery
company — John, 1642 — Nicholas, brother of Robert WU
Uams, of Roxbury, freeman 1652, died Aug. 27th 1692.
Richard, Dorchester and Boston, had a son Benjamin,
bom 1645. Robert, Boston, freeman 1639 — was a brother
of Robert WiUiams, Of Providence. A Robert WiUiams
was one of the first settlers of Oyster Bay, L, I, 1650.
Roger was born in Wales, 1599, was educated at Ox
ford, came to New England, and arrived at Nantucket,
5th Feb, 1631, settled at Salem, as a teaching elder
with Rev, Samuel Skelton, 12th April, 1631, went the
same year to Plymouth, where he preached two years
and returned to Salem in 1633, and was the sole pastor,
after Mr. Skelton's death. He was banished the Massa-

24 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
chusetts colony in November, 1635, went to Rhode Is
land in 1636, and laid the foundation of that colony, for
which he went to England in 1643, for a charter whicli
he obtained, and landed with it at Boston, in Sept., 1644;
was in England again from 1651 to 1654, and on his re
turn was chosen President of the colony, and remained
in office untU 1657. The earUest and boldest champion
of the rights of aU men, " fully to have and enjoy their
own consciences and judgments in matters of religious
concernment;" died at Providence in AprU, 1643, aged
84. His wife was Mary, and his chUdren were Mary,
Freeborn, Providence, born Sept. 1638, the first of Eu
ropean parentage born in Rhode Island, Mercy, Daniel, and
Joseph, whose descendants amount to several thousancb
— Roger, Massachusetts, 1630, freeman 19th October,
163(). He may have been the early settler of Windsor,
or the member of the artillery company. Thomas, one
of the first settlers of Plymouth, 1620, died before March,
1621. Thomas, Boston, freeman 1631, died 1646.- He
set up the first ferry between Winnisimmet and Charles
town, 1631. William, Salem, 1637, perhaps a proprietor
of Watertown, 1641."

25

PIRST GENERATION.
I. Eobttt toilltam0, of Roxbury.
Although I do not confine myself to the genealogy of this
man, yet I shall first treat of his descendants, as I have
more ample materials in this line, than in any other. It
is generally beUeved and asserted that Robert came from
Norwich, in England, though we have no absolute or
demonstrative proof of this. I have written to Norwich,
for definite information on this point, but, at present can
obtain none. Some genealogists suppose that he came
from Yarmouth, in England. A letter from my worthy
friend, Thaddeus William Harris, Librarian of Harvard
College, of March 19th, 1847, says, "If the frequent re
currence of the Christian name, of Robert, in a family be
any guide, I should think that your progenitor Robert
may have descended from a Dorsetshire WUliams. A
John WUliams established himself at Herringston, in that
county, in the year 1513, and among his descendants are
Roberts enough, generation after generation."
A letter from Edward A. Newton, Esq. of Pittsfield, of
AprU 22d, 1847, says, " I am clearly certain that my
father-in-law, (John C. WUUams) considered his ancestors
to be of Welsh origin. He has stated this to me very
often. Where they embarked from to come over here,
w-Ul not decide the point against him, it being probable that

26 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
in those days, few vessels ever saUed from Wales, espe
ciaUy North Wales, for the American Provinces. Most
of the early settlers who came out to Massachusetts, were,
I beUeve, from Lincolnshire — if so Norwich would be a
Ukely place for them to embark from ; besides the pre
vailing traits of character in aU the family I have known
are Welsh." He probably arrived in this country
about the year 1638. He was admitted a freeman
that year in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and settled there
eighteen years from the time of the landing of the
PUgrims at Plymouth, and eight years from the time of
the settlement of Trimontain, Shawmut, or Boston. At
the time of the first settlement of Boston, there was but
one English inhabitant in Roxbury. We have no correct
account of the cause of his leaving his native land, though
I have repeatedly sent to England to procure this informal
tion : but it was, probably on account of the religious
persecutions of the Puritans, which at that time was car
ried on in England with fiery and unrelenting zeal, so
much so that our ancestors preferred risking their lives
and property in a savage wUderness, far distant from
their native homes, to the more savage persecutions of
fanatical bigots. The faithful page of history has inform
ed us of the' privations and sufferings of our fathers in
establishing themselves in this howling wUderness, and
how much they had to contend with from the warfare of
the savages, from famine, and from disease. Mr. WiUiams
must have participated largely in those privations and
sufferings. The imagination can scarcely conceive the
hardships which our fathers endured on their first peril
ous voyage, and on their arrival on the then inhospitable

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 27
coast of rocky New England, in the cold and dreary sea
son of winter. A considerable portion of the emigrants
perished on the voyage, and on their arrival upon the
coast they found that a pestUential disease had almost de
populated several Indian villages, and it was still raging
among them. Captain Dormer, an Englishman, arrived up
on our coast, in a fishing vessel in the winter of 1618 and
1619, and remained in Monhiggan, an Indian town, dur
ing the winter, and, on his way to Virginia, in May, 1619,
he found several Indian towns completely depopulated,
and some with but few of the Indians living. This com
plaint he called the plague, from the sores which some of
them who had escaped from death had upon their bodies.
" Some viUages which he had heretofore visited, and which
were now deserted, the Indians ' all dead.' " (^Purchas.)
This disease was very mortal in America in 1618, and so
fatal was the pestUence that the Narragansett and Pe
nobscot Indians, the Umits to which the disease was sup
posed to extend, were reduced in number from nine
thousand to a few hundred. Hutchinson remarks that
thirty thousand of the Massachusetts were supposed to
have been reduced to about three hundred. Mather, in
his Magnalia, observes that when our ancestors arrived in
1620, their bones were found unburied in many parts
of the country, and in some places their festering
bodies lay putrefying in the sun. They were deserted and
their bodies left to contaminate the atmosphere. Dormer
thinks it was the plague. Hutchinson caUs it the smaU
pox, but the Indians caUed it a pestUential putrid disease.
Probably it was the " yellow fever" as Gookin says,
" what the disease was, which so generally and mortally

28 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
swept them away, I cannot learn. I have discoursed
with some old Indians, that were then youths, who say
that the bodies all over were exceedingly yeUow."
Prince, in his Chronology, says that " this fever produced
hemorrhagy from the nose." Gookin wrote about fifty
years after the settlement of New England. At that
time " the infectious fevers of New England were caUed
pestUent, and they were very frequent in the country.
This fever has been common among the Indians ever
since the English settled the country, ( Webster.) Gorges
says that after the summer of the blazing star in 1618,
" there befel a great mortality among the Indians, the
greatest that had ever happened within the memory of
man, or been taken notice of by tradition, laying waste
the earth." This calamitous disease, prevaUed in Vir
ginia, and Dormer says three hundred of the settlers
died in 1619.
A pestUent fever attacked the inhabitants of Plymoufli
in 1633, and carried off twenty of the inhabitants — a large
number for so smaU a settlement. In 1638, there was a
great deal of sickness in America. It was so severe that
a fast was observed in December, on account of the prev
alence of small-pox and yellow fever. ( Webster) .
Such were some of the horrors with which our ancestors
had to contend in the early settlement of the country,
which they have transmitted to us in peace and in plenty.
All these hardships and sufferings were endured by our
ancestors in preference to their unrelenting persecutions
in their native land.
Mr. WiUiams's first wife was Elizabeth Stratton. He
probably married her in England, as his eldest son Samuel

FAMILY OF VniLLrAMS. 29
was born in 1632, six years before he arrived in America.
By his first wife he had four sons, viz. :
Samuel, born 1632.
Isaac, bom 1638.
Stephen, born 1640.
Thomas, died young.
His first wife died July 28th, 1674, at the age of 80.
He married again, it is supposed, to Miss Martha Strong,
who died in 1704, in the 92d year of her age. Mr. Robert
WiUiams died at" Roxbury, Sept. 1st, 1693. There is some
discrepancy of opinion in relation to his age. The notes
of Mrs. Pitkin, one of the descendants, which were furnish
ed me by Mrs. Sarah P. Baldwin, wife of Col. Baldwin,
of Boston, say that he was 86 years old when he died,
In a letter which I have recently received from Isaac
Parker, Esq. of Boston, also one of his descendants, he
says, " I have been particularly desirous to discover the
age of the first, Robert. I had no doubt but that he was
at least one hundred years of age when he died. His
wife Elizabeth, died ori the 28th of July, 1674, at the age
of 80. He survived her nearly twenty years, arid died
Sept. 1, 1693. His last wife died 22d December, 1704.
His first wife Elizabeth, supposing she had lived untU 1693,
when her husband died, would have been 99 years old.
Probably he was older than she was. But I have not been
successful." His grave stone cannot be found in the
Roxbury burying ground, though those of EUzabeth, his
wife, who died in 1674, and of his son Samuel, who died
in 1698, are stUl extant.
3

30 FAMhiY OF WILLIAMS,
The following is a copy of his Will.
The last WiU and Testament of me, Robert WUliams,
of Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk, in New England,
being at present in bodUy health, of perfect understanding,
and of sound mind (through the merciful providence of
God towards me) do ordain this my last wiU, hereby dis
annulling all foririer wUls whatever, and do constitute this
for the use and benefit of those that shall come after me.
In the first place and chiefly, I commit my soul into the
hands of my merciful Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath undertaken for the same in the covenant of his
grace, that where he is I might be also. And my body
I commit unto the dust to be decently buried by my Exe
cutors hereafter named, trusting that at the day of his
appearing I shall receive a glorious body.
And for my temporal estate I dispose of it in the man
ner following :
Imprimis. I wiU the true and faithful performance of
the covenant between myself and my well beloved wife,
in full and in specie according to the time mentioned in
-.said covenant, and that my three sons, Samuel, Isaac and
Stephen shaU pay the same by equal proportions.
Item. I give to my son Samuel, besides what I have
already given him, and is in his possession, my middle lot
between my swamp and my rocks lying before his door.
Item. AU my swamp except fourscore and ten rods
next my bam, which I reserve to the same.
Item. Ten acres of wood-land, more or less, at Walk-
hiU,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 31
Item. To my son Isaac, three acres of salt-marsh,
(purchased with my house) adjoining to Nathaniel Holmes,
his marsh.
Item. AU my ploughmg land at Dorchester, being five
acres, more or less.
Item. Six acres of wood-land behind the great lots.
Item. To my grandson, Isaac, I give my piece of
salt-marsh lying next to John Heminway's, formerly
bought of Goodman Riggs.
Item. I give to my son Stephen, my dweUing house,
orchards, bams, and other out houses and home lots there
to adjoining, with the fourscore and ten rods adjoining
to my barn reserved out of the swamp.
Item. My part of Mr. Hews' meadows.
Item. Six acres of pasture land called the Rocks,
adjoining, to my middle lot, (given my son Samuel),
Item. Thirty-two acres of wood-land lying together
near the fresh meadows.
Item. 'My horse distinct from the rest of my movables.
Item. I will that the causey be equally maintained
by my sons, Samuel and Stephen. Inasmuch as I have
in this my will given my son Stephen, somewhat more
than the rest of my sons, I would not have them or others
think hardly of me for so doing, for he lives under the
the same roof with me, and thereby hath been more help
ful and comfortable unto me than the other sons have.
Item. I give to my brother Nicholas Williams, thirty
shillings per annum, to be equally paid by my sons Sam
uel and Stephen.
Item. My wearing clothes woolen and linen.
Item. A pair of sheets and a blanket from off' my

32 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
maid's bed, and also a rug. Also four bushels of Indian
corn. Also my wUl is, that my brother Nicholas have
house room, washing and lodging, by my sons Samuel
and Stephen.
Item, I give my grandchUd, Deborah Totman (or
Tolman), forty shUlings.
Item, To my grandchild, Elizabeth Robinson, twenty
shiUings, both legacies to be paid out of my movables
within the space of twelve months after my decease.
And the residue of them to be equaUy divided between
my sons after my debts are discharged. And for the
full performance of this my last wUl, I do depute my
three sons Executors of the same, whom I intreat, and
of whom I expect that they will see the faithful perform
ance of the same. And in witness of these premises
I have hereunto subscribed my hand and affixed my seal
this twenty-sixth of November, in the year of our Lord,
1685. (Signed)
ROBERT WILLIAMS, and Seal.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
Giles Payson,
Benjamin Tucker,
John Smith.
Bate of Probate,
29th of September, 1693.

family of WILLIAMS, 33
I now propose to trace out the genealogy and history
of the sons of Robert, who arrived at maturity, accord
ing to the order of their birth, beginning with 1, Samuel,
2, Isaac, 3, Stephen, as far as I have been able to pro
cure them. I shall go through with one division of these
branches before commencing with another. I shaU sim
ply number the generation with a Roman figure.

II. 0amud tDtUiamSf, eldest son of Robert
above mentioned, was bom in 1632, probably in England,
as I cannot positively learn that his father came to
America before the year 1638. Samuel settled in Rox
bury, and became a freeman in March, 1658. He was
a man of considerable repute, and held the office of Dea
con in the church in that place for many years, which
was then considered a distinguished honor. He married
a lady by the name of Theoda Park, daughter of Deacon
WUUam Park, of Roxbury, who was a man of property
and note in that town, and represented the state legislar
ture for many years. Deacon Park died on the 11th of
May, 1685, aged 75. Deacon Samuel WiUiams died on
the 28th of September, 1698, aged 65. His widow
-married Stephen Peck, and died August 26th, 1718,
aged 81. The children of Samuel were
Elizabeth, born Feb. 1, 1654, died March 10, 1654.
Samuel, born AprU 15th, 1655, died August 8, 1735,
aged 80. Married Sarah May, Feb. 24th, 1679. She
died Dec. 29, 1712. He then married Dorothy Denison,
April 28, 1720, a widow, her maiden name was Weld.

34 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Martha, born 29th April, 1657, died Feb. 1660.
Elizabeth, bom Feb. 11, 1^59, married Stephen Paine*,
Theoda, born July 27, 1672, died in 1678.
John, bom Dec. 10, 1664, died 1729, first minister of
Deerfield, Harv. CoU. 1683. Married Eunice Mather,,
daughter of Rev. Eleazer Mather.
Ebenezer, bom Dec. 6, 1666, lived in Stonington,
Conn. His father in his wiU says that he settled upon a
farm in Stonington, and a tract of land in Preston, in
Connecticut, "purchased of Owaneco, Indian Sachem,
which the said Ebenezer hath accepted in fuU for his
portion." Deborah, bom Nov. 20, 1668, married Joseph War
ren. She was grandmother of Gen. Joseph Warren, who
feU at Bunker's HiU, June 17, 1775, nobly defending
the Uberties of his country.
Martha, born May 19, 1671, married to Jonathan Hunt,
AbigaU, born July 12, 1674, married to Experience
Porter. Park, born, January 11, 1676. Removed to Lebanonj
Conn., wife's name PrisciUa.
The children of Samuel above were
IV. Samuel Williams, bom April 6, 1681, died
Aug. 13, 1751, aged 70. Married Deborah Scarborough-
She survived him ten years, and was killed by the ove^
turning of her chaise.
Theoda, born Dec, 8, 1682, married Samuel Scar
borough, Feb, 5, 1706.
John, bora Dec. 1, 1684, married Sarah Weld, June,
1, 1709.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 85
Sarah, born May 19, 1688, married John Polly, Jan.
170|. Ebenezer, bom August 12, 1690, Harv. CoU. 1709.
Minister of Pomfret, Conn.
Elizabeth, bom Jan. 12, 1692, married Rev, Samuel
Ruggles, of BUlerica, April 18, 1727.
Eleazer, born Feb. 20, 1694, died Nov. 1768, His
wife's name Sarah.
WiUiam, born AprU 24, 1698, of Pomfret, Conn,,
married Sarah Stevens, Oct. 20, 1720.
Martha, bom Aug. 10, 1701, married Thomas Cotton
of Brooklyn, April 14, 1725.
V. Samuel Williams, son of Samuel WUliams, above,
bom AprU 8, 1711, married AbigaU May, Feb. 10, 174f.
He died Dec. 20, 1786. She died of small pox, Jan.
1, 1793, aged 70.
Sarah, bom Dec. 12, 1714, died Sept, 12, 1719,
Robert, born Oct. 15, 1716, died Sept, 13, 1778,
William, born July 29th, 1719, died March, 1791.
Wife's name Sarah.
VI. Sarah Williams, daughter of Samuel, above, bom
Jan. 17, 1747, married Giles Alexander, May, 4th, 1773.
AbigaU, born Aug. 1, 1751, married Jonathan Balch,
Dec. 1771.
Deborah, born June 6, 1753, married Isaac Parker,
June 27, 1776.
Katherine, bom Jan. 14, 1756, died April 5, 1776,
aged 21.
Lois, born Aug. 23, 175.6, married Thomas Clark, 1777.

86 family of WILLIAMS,
Samuel, bom Aug, 12, 1758, Drowned in Boston
harbor, June 1, 1779.
Elizabeth, married Samuel Weld, died June 20th,
1833, aged 72.
VI. Sarah Williams, daughter of William Wil
liams, of the 5th generation, born May 30th, 1753.
WiUiam, born July 26, 1756, died Feb. 1838. His
wife's name Sally. She died July 23, 1804.
VII. Sally Williams, daughter of WUUam Wil
liams, of the sixth generation, was born AprU 19, 1784.
Chariotte, born July 14, 1786.
Nancy, born July 14, 1789.
Robert, bom Sept. 16, 1791.
Lucy, born May 27, 1798.
WUUam, born Nov. 30, 1795.
Samuel, bora AprU 21, 1798.
IV. The chUdren of John Williams, the son of Sam
uel of the 3d generation, were
John, born June 16th, 1710, died Aug. 29, 1710.
Sarah, bom Sept. 28, 1711, married Edward Breck,
of Dorchester, May 22, 1735.
Jonathan, born Jan. 15, .1718.
Samuel, born October, 1719, died October, 1719.
Ebenezer, born AprU 21, 1721, died December, 1736.
Mary, born Jan. 3, 1722, married Jeremiah Parker,
June 6, 1743.
Joseph, bora May 21, 1724, married Mary Holmes,
May 10, 1753.
Caleb, born July 26, 1725, died March 21, 1726.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 37
Martha, born Dec, 31, 1728, married Thomas Dana,
Nov. 1, 1760.
John, bom June 25, 1730.
V. The chUdren of Joseph Williams above, were
Mary, bom June 21, 1767.
Joseph, bora Sept. 7, 1759.
V. The chUdren of Eleazer Williams, son of Samuel,
of the 4th generation, were
Samuel, born Aug 24, 1725, married Hannah Chan
dler, May 17, 1750. A Mrs. Hannah WUUams, widow,
died May 23d, 1804, aged 76, perhaps the above.
Sarah, bom Oct. 26, 1707, married Rev. Mr. Conant,
May 9, 1751, query whether the above.
Mary, born July 20, 1729.
Elizabeth, bom July 25, 1731, married Samuel Hol
brook, Latin schoolmaster in Boston, Sept. 1st, 1755.
AbigaU, born May 15, 1734.
Thomas, Doctor, bom Oct. 12, 1736, Roxbury, mar
ried AbigaU WUUams.
Anne, bom AprU 6, 1737, died unmarried March 26,
1827, aged 88.
Martha, born March 9, 1746, married Nathaniel Rug
gles, Dec. 1778, died 1829.
Joanna, born Jan. 15, 1748, married Joseph Ruggles,
Dec. 1778, died June 16, 1829,
VI. The chUdren of Samuel Williams above, were
Samuel, bom April 29, 1751.
Eleazer, bora Aug. 28, 1763.

38 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
John Chandler Williams, bora August 6, 1765,
Harv. CoU. 1777, died at Pittsfield, Jan. 31, 1881, aged
76. He was a distinguished lawyer, and a man of
wealth. One of his daughters married Mr. Edward
Newton, of Pittsfield, one of the most wealthy men
in western Massachusetts. Another, Elizabeth, married
Hon. Moses Hayden, Member of Congress, and another,
Lucretia, married Mr. Harris Seymour, of Canandaigua,
N. Y. The foUowing abridged notice of this distinguish
ed man is from a funeral sermon preached at Pittsfield,
Sunday, Feb. 6, 1831, on occasion of his death, by the
Rev. G. T. Chapman, D. D.
John Chandler WiUiams, the subject of this brief me
moir was bom in Roxbury in this Commonwealth. His
parents sustained a highly respectable character, and the
son tenderly cherishing the memory of their virtues,
often spoke of the assiduity with which they implanted in
his youthful mind the seeds of piety and religion, which
were at length destined to germinate and bring forth in
him the peaceful fruits of righteousness.
And this was the only legacy they left him. Becom
ing reduced in circumstances, they were unable to gratify
his early passion for intellectual attainments, and he
came to this very county (of Berkshire) as early as the
year 1769, with the view of engaging in some more
active and enterprizing occupation. But what can damp
en the ardor of aspiring minds ? What control the lau
dable ambition of gaining renown in a liberal profession ?
Most of the valuable men of every age have been the archi
tects of their own fame, and the deceased, impelled by the
same inward excitement, rose superior to his humble fo^

Q/tfi^ ¦i!^^^^/>i^yt^^0^^'f'i-t^

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 39
tunes ; the love of letters returning, he cultivated the
elementary pursuit of these with intense appUcation, and
in due time became one of the sons of Harvard.
In this celebrated institution, notwithstanding the diffi
culties by which he was surrounded, though in the true
spirit of a mind panting for distinction, he disdained not
to ring the college bell for the paltry sum which was to
assist in defraying his expenses ; in this celebrated insti
tution he passed through the usual academic course, and
at the time of his graduation in 1778, was rewarded for
his proficiency as a scholar with the Latin oration, one of
the finst honors in our seminaries of learning.
Soon after this he commenced the study of law in the
office of that distinguished jurist, the late Hon. John
Worthington, of Springfield. To the acquisition of its
elementary and practical principles, he now applied him
self with unwearied energy, and having completed the
term of his novitiate, he entered upon the practice of the
profession, in this ~ town (Pittsfield) in the year 1782.
As a lawyer his standing was more than respectable.
His mind was richly stored with legal knowledge, and of
that knowledge he avaUed himself with the noble deter;
mination to be useful rather than splendid in his day and
generation. How well he succeeded in the effort is not
passed from the memory of thousands. He was not the
man to stir up petty suits to fan the embers of a Utigious
spirit, and in this manner embroil the peace of society.
But fair minded, just and conscientious in the discharge
of his duties, he acquired the esteem of the court, the
bar, and jury ; he so ingratiated himself in the confi
dence of the community around him, by the integrity of

40 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
his conduct, as to be proverbially and emphatically eulo
gized as " the honest lawyer."
To his indefatigable attention to business the deceased
was indebted for the ample competency of this world's
goods, which enabled him to occupy a front rank in the
Ust of our pubUc spirited and patriotic citizens. Shun
ning the dangers attendant upon a too eager thirst for
riches, and recoiUng from the idea of involving the pro
perty of others in visionary projects of personal aggran
dizement ; he yet continued by industrious habits, by
fideUty to his employers, and a commendable system
of economy, not only to relieve himself from the pe
cuniary embarrassments of early life, not only to make
abundant provision for the wife of his bosom, and the
children of his love ; but at the same time gradually to
acquire that for which so many strive in vain — an inde
pendent fortune. To the praise of your late fellow towns
man, be it remembered, that he was always an active and
liberal contributor to every object, that promised to en
hance the general good. Your own town, in particular,
has often witnessed, has often applauded his generous ef
forts in its favor, and long as this vUlage, so beautifully
embosomed in the mountains, can bpast of a public
square, of unusually large dimensions, so long wiU the
name of WiUiams be borne in the memory of future gen
erations as one of its most liberal benefactors.
In a political attitude, before the period of high party
excitement, he enjoyed the general esteem, and was for
six years, five of which were consecutive, honored with
a seat in the legislature of the state ; and if afterwards
he had the misfortune to differ in opinion from the ma-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 41
jority of his immediate fellow citizens, so as no longer to
command their suffi-ages, yet could they give him ample
credit, for the sincerity of his views, for the zeal they
inspired, and the frankness with which they were main
tained. No one felt that he was a dark, designing in
triguer, a restless or ambitious demagogue. Every one,
not bereft of reason and candor, must readily perceive
that on all such subjects, there is room enough for an
honest diversity of sentiment among the true friends of
their country, without resorting to the wretched expedi
ent of impeaching secret motives, or blasting private
reputation. But politics are not to my taste. I turn
from them to state that he was a Christian. To enumer
ate a few of his graces. He was a man of prayer, of
secret, fervent, and continual prayer. Since his depart
ure, it has been my happiness to obtain unquestionable
evidence of this essential trait in the Christian profession.
I have seen the manual of his private devotions, and
soUed by frequent use, filled with marginal notes and
written collects expressive of the deep humUity, the child»
like simplicity, the confiding faith, and ardent piety of
his soul ; it affords brilliant testimony, that his conversa
tion was in heaven. In obedience to the positive injunc
tion of Christ, he also " loved his' neighbor as himself."
Never did he turn away his face from the poor man !
He was generous and humane, his heart was productive,
and his hands were replete with liberal alms. Without
absolutely confining himself to that specific amount, he
is yet known to have conscientiously devoted a tenth
part of his income to charitable purposes.
As a husband, he was kind, gentle and engaging ; as a
4

42 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
brother, amiable, confiding and generous ; as a father, ten
der, affectionate and benign ; ' he brought up his chUdren
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' He spared
no expense to make them accomplished women. And out
of three beloved daughters, were two by infinite wisdom
removed from his truly paternal bosom to sleep in Jesus.
A pang thrilled through his soul, from which he never
entirely recovered. It was even supposed to have been
the proximate cause, to which is to be attributed the
melancholy fact, that towards the close of an exemplary
life, reason reeled, a cloud passed over the faculties he
had borne so meekly, and his fair, open, and ingenuous
mind became the prey of darkness and oblivion. In ear
ly life he joined the CongregationaUst church in this
place, " but I am particularly instructed to say, that after
a serious examination of the ministry, worship, and doe-
trine of the Protestant Episcopal Church, he became a
sincere convert to her views of the institutions of the
gospel, her exemplifications of the faith and practice of
a Christian ; and he moreover repeatedly and solemnly
avowed his determination to declare himself of her com
munion, should the opportunity occur, by the introduction
of her services in the place of his residence."
After writing the above, I received the following addi
tional notice of him, from the pen of the Hon. Edward
A. Newton, of Pittsfield, who politely furnished me with
the portraits of Mr. and Mrs WiUiams, and was at the
expense of having them executed for this work. After
speaking of the birth place of John Chandler WiUiams,
Esq., he says. " His father becoming poor and incompe
tent through faUure of his mental faculties to afford him

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 48
the means of support, he was, with an only sister, de
pendent on the charity of others, and was educated and
maintained entirely by his mother's relations, the excel
lent Chandlers, of Worcester, by whom he was assisted
in part through his coUege course.
At the breaking out of the war of the revolution, he,
with several of his classmates, though yet but a boy,
joined the American forces, then assembled to defend
the country against the British, and was at the battle of
Lexington. It appears from the Journals of the Provincial Con
gress of Massachusetts, 1774-5, page 565, that he was
. employed by the committee of safety, " in some secret
service, for which he received £4 4s. 6d. for his reward.
(Page 578.) This service was the searching for, and
discovering the letter book of Governor Hutchinson,
and other of his public records, which he and another
had found secreted in his house on Wilton Hill."
He removed, at a very early age, into the county of
Berkshire, and was a deputy sheriff there, when at the
age of eighteen only. He afterwards studied law at
Springfield, under the distinguished Mr. Worthington, of
that place, and when he finally came to settle in Berk
shire, " a handkerchief (literaUy) held aU the treasure
he had." From this small beginning he rose to distinc
tion, respectabiUty and independence, and the fine estate
which more than sixty years since, he procured from his
hard and scanty earnings, is yet in the possession of his
descendants. He was distinguished alike for extreme
economy and bountiful liberality. It may be truly said
of him, " that he was fragal, that he mightbe charitable."

44 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
His memory is held in the highest veneration by all who
have any recollection of him.
He married
Miss Lucretia Williams, a distant relative, the
daughter of the Hon. Israel Williams, of Hatfield. Mrs.
WUliams was a very remarkable woman, he being a Tory,
and, in consequence, roughly treated by the other party,
was sustained chiefly in his spirits by her affectionate
and devoted attachment. WhUe confined in the jaU at
Northampton, for his political sentiments, his daughter,
though then a girl of seventeen, carried him his daUy
food from Hatfield, and ministered to his other wants,-
submitting to the greatest indignities from suspicious op-
posers. She considered herself a subject of the crown
of England, even unto her death, and always spoke of
the war as of the " RebeUion."
She was a woman of uncommon spirit, and most un
common brilUancy of wit and intellect ; always the centre
of a circle wherever she moved, and the point of attrac
tion in all companies. She had a most keen perception
of the ridiculous ; and the coxcomb, the frivolous, and
the vicious received their due reward at her hands ; but
she was most kind and tender towards the deserving,
ministering liberally to their wants, where it was truly
felt. She died Dec. 11, 1834, aged 81.
They had three chUdren, one of whom only survived
them, and she foUowed them very shortly to their graves.
The eldest, Elizabeth, married the Hon. Moses Hayden,
of Geneva, New York, and died Jan. 2, 1826. The
second, Lucretia, married Mr. Harris Seymour, of Canan-

>-">

BuffoTdS IWIl.

MKf mmETIA WILLIAMS

family of WILLIAMS.. 45
daigua, N, York, and died leaving three chUdren, two
sons and one daughter. The youngest, Sarah, married
the Hon. Edward A. Newton, of Boston, now of Pitts
field ; she died at Rouen, in France, October 24th, 1835.
Her remains were brought to this country, and she lies
buried by the side of her honored parents, in Pittsfield.
The following is an extract from a sermon preached at
Pittsfield, at the funeral of Mrs Lucretia WiUiams, by the
Rev. Mr. BaUard, Dec. 14th, 1834,— H Corinth, v : 17.
" An aged saint, after having dwelt upon the earth,
amid its revolutions, its perils, and its joys, to a period be
yond that described by the Psalmist as the general ex
tent of human life, has gone to the abode of departed
spirits, where the souls of those ' who sleep in Jesus'
are in joy and felicity. Naturally endued with an un
common firmness of mind and strength of moral purpose,
which was attended by an unwavering adherence to what
she deemed to be right, she was prepared to pass through
scenes of alarm and peril, which other minds less fitted
for a conflict with the troubles of life would have contend
ed with in vain, or shrunk from in despair.
" A frankness of disposition which encouraged no dis
guise, opened the feelings of her heart to all the compan
ions of her earthly walks, and thus evinced the honesty
of the design which prompted either her words or actions,
while sympathizing with those less favored in temporal
blessings allowed her benevolence to be manifested in re
lieving the necessitous subject of the bounty which
Providence had placed in her power. The more striking
features of her character, though not at aU times equaUy
developed, were, nevertheless, conspicuous in her adop-
4*

46 family of WILLIAMS.
tion of the distinctive principles of the Gospel, when she
had once promised devotion to the cause of Christ, and
pubUcly expressed her hopes of salvation only through
the merits of his atoning blood, she never released her
hold upon that sure foundation. Even in those seasons
when the remembrance of the past rushed back upon her
soul like a strong man armed, and doubts of her meet-
ness to gain the acceptance of the Judge of All, fiUed her
mind with anxious but profitable fears, she could never
resign her confidence in the goodness of her God in send-
ingjiis Son to die for sinners, such as she felt herself to
be. As she approached the close of her earthly pUgrim-
age her anxiety became more intense, her prayers were
more fervent, and her surrender of herself to her Lord
more complete, untU her petitions were answered and the
peace of God shed its hallowed influence upon her soul.
Then the clouds that hovered over her spiritual prospei'-
ity were dispersed by the bright beams of the Sun of
Righteousness. The Holy Spirit enlightened the eyes of
her understanding, her faith acted on the proper object
with a stronger grasp, and renewed hope glowed with a
brighter flame. There were no extatic joys nor high
wrought feeUngs, for they were not needed, but the
strong confidence, the well grounded trust in the power
of the Saviour, and her desire to be like her Lord increas
ed day by day. When she received the Lord's Supper,
in company with a few pious friends, her chief thought
appeared to be that her Saviour was now brought near to
her in the symbol of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ;
and when these words were pronounced, ' Take and eat
this in remembrance that Christ died for thee' — ' That

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 47
I will,' she replied with the same characteristic energy
(that alwayg' denoted the subject which had full possession
of her mind, and her countenance and language betoken
ing the humility and the joy of her heart, gave a gratify
ing evidence, that she had feasted upon the goodness and
mercy of the Lord. Her desires and her consolations
were upon spiritual objects, and when the very agony of
pain was piercing her with the acutest anguish, her pre-
vaUing wish that she might have grace to suffer content
edly the wiU of God. She had great delight in joining
in the prayers of the pious, and spoke of them as the
means of refreshing her with spiritual comfort. — Her
last words were expressions of her gratitude to God, for
having allowed her so many comforts during her life, but
she spoke with animated delight of the prospect of her
departure to be with that Saviour who had been aU her
hope and all her desire,"
Thomas, born AprU 26, 1757.
Hannah, bora March 3, 1761,
Gardiner, born March 2, 1769,
VI. Doctor Thomas Williams, of Roxbury, son of
Eleazer of the 5th generation, was born at Roxbury,
October 12th, 1736, on the family estate at Roxbury,
which remained in the possession of his descendants till
1826. The last possessor of it of the name of WiUiams,
was Thomas WUUams, Esq., counsellor at law, who died
in the year 18 . . . Doctor Thomas WiUiams, studied
the profession of medicine with Doctor Thomas WUliams,
of Deerfield, and then settled on the paternal estate at

48 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Roxbury, where he remained tiU his death, Sept. 10,
1815. He married AbigaU WiUiams, daughter of Major,
Elijah Williams, of Deerfield, and grand daughter of the
Rev. John WiUiams, first minister of Deerfield. She
was born Jan. 27th, 1788, and died at Roxbury, May
13th, 1818, aged 80 years and four months. The fol
lowing notice of the death of Doctor WiUiams, is from a
newspaper published at the time of his decease.
" Dr. Thomas WiUiams, died Sept. 10th, 1815, aged
79 years. He was at Quincy, attending a patient to
which he had been called. He appeared in his usual
health at 1 P. M. He spoke to those around him of
the good health he enjoyed, and while ¦ his horse was pre
paring, complained of indisposition and oppression. He
seated himself in the open air, asked for a glass of' warm
water, which he drank, and immediately fell from the
chair a corpse, without a struggle or a groan. Thus
closed the life of one remarkable for his industry, gen
erosity, temperance and activity, one whose last hours
were employed in a profession of which he had long been
an active and honorable member." His children were
Ebenezer Hinsdale, Deerfield, Harv. Coll. a man of
wealth. He married Miss Joanna Smith, in 1792. He
died in 1838, aged about 77.
Thomas, Roxbury, settled on the old estate, and prac
ticed law there tUl his death. His .first wife was Miss
Jones. Eleazer, Springfield, no issue, married first Miss Deane,,
of Newport, second, Miss Carew, of Springfield.
Elijah.
Dwight.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 49
Sally.
AbigaiLLydia, now livmg at East Bridgewater, (1847) .
VII. The chUdren of Ebenezer Hinsdale Wil
liams, above, were Anna M'Carthy, born Nov. 30,
1799, married Charles Howard in 1818, and died in
1822. Elijah, bom Aug. 13, 1802. He was a graduate of
Harvard University, studied law and practiced a short
time in his native town of Deerfield. He married Isa
bella, youngest daughter of Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, of
Deerfield. He removed to JacksonvUle, East Florida,
in the year 1884, and died there in 1835. The follow
ing notice of him appeared in the Greenfield Gazette,
and Franklin Herald of Nov. 24, 1845.
" Died at JacksonviUe, East Florida, Elijah WiUiams,
Esq., aged 33, only son of Ebenezer Hinsdale WUUams,
of Deerfield, in this county. Letters from JacksonvUle
announcing his death, attribute his illness to a severe
cold caught by an exposure to the gale of the eleventh
of September last. The result was a nervous fever,
accompanied by derangement, which terminated fatally
on the 3d of Nov., inst. Every thing that kindness
could do, was done by the inhabitants of Jacksonville, to
alleviate his sufferings ; and the consciousness of their
kind and devoted attentions to him, have been balm to
the wounds of his deeply afflicted parents. Mr. WU
Uams bad recently, and with success commenced the
publication of a newspaper called the Jacksonville Cou
rier, and his editorial talent had elicited very favorable

60 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
notices of his paper, from some of the ablest northern
editors. FuU of hope, his new bark launched upon the
sea of Ufe, and yet scarce had it begun to breast the
bUlows, when pierced by some hidden rock it sank, never
on earth to rise again."
VII. The chUdren of Thomas Williams, Esq., son of
Dr. Thomas above were
Thomas,John Adams, Rev., Harv. Coll.
Elizabeth, who married Dr. Orne, of East Bridge-
water. III. Rev. John Williams, first minister of Deerfield,
was born at Roxbury, Mass., Dec. 10, 1664. He early
directed his attention to study. Through the munifi
cence of his honored and pious grandfather, on the mar
ternal side. Deacon WUUam Park, he was educated at
Harvard College, and g-raduated there in the year 1683,
at the age of 19 years. He soon after commenced the
study of divinity. I do not know the period of clerical
pupilage in those days, but it appears that he became the
first minister of Deerfield, in the spring of 1686. The
peril of such an undertaking in those days, when the
country had been laid in ruins but a short time before by
the bold incursions of King PhiUp, of Mount Hope, one
of the most enterprizing chieftains, according to his
means, of ancient or modern times, can much more
readily be conceived than described. Our ancestors
waded through seas of blood, and marched over fields
of carnage and destruction, to transmit to us these

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 61
fertile fields, these beautiful domains, which we their
descendants now occupy in peace and security. The
country at the time of the settlement of Mr. WiUiams
was far from being in a state of lasting peace with the
Indians, and Deerfield was a frontier settlement, contin
ually exposed to the ferocious attacks of an infuriated
enemy. These dangers did not appal him, and he fear
lessly consented to guide the infant settlers in their spir
itual, and I may say, in their temporal concerns.
The first settlement of Deerfield, then called Pocomp-
tuck, was in the year 1671, though there was a grant of
two thousand acres to the first inhabitants, so long ago as
the year 1651, by the general court of Massachusetts.
Ten or eleven years from the time of the great battles of
Lathrop and Turner, Mr. WUUams was ordained as our
minister. The vote of the town upon his settlement was
" that they would give him sixteen cow commons of mead
ow land, with a home lot that lyeth on the meeting house
hill — that they wUl build him a house forty two feet long,
twenty feet wide, and a Unto on the back-side of the
house, to fence his home lot, and within two years after
this agreement, to build him a barn, and break up his.
ploughing land. For yearly salary, to give him sixty
pounds a year for the present, and four or five years
after this agreement to add to the salary, and make
it eighty pounds. The committee approved and ratified
the above propositions on the condition that Mr, WiUiams
settle among them."
There was a further agreement between Mr. WiUiams
and the town in relation to his salary in the year 1696-7.
" The town to pay their salary to me in wheat, pease.

52 FAMILY OF VTILLIAMS.
Indian com, and pork, at the prices stated, viz. : wheat at
8s. M, per bushel, Indian corn at 2s. per bushel, fatted
pork at 2ld, per pound. These being the terms of the
bargain made with me at the first."
(Signed) '

^thtn

Soon after Mr. WiUiams' settlement at Deerfield, he
married Miss Eunice Mather, daughter of the Rev. Elea
zer Mather, of Northampton, Her mother was born
May 13th, 1637, and died July 24th, 1669, aged 32
years. Mr. Eleazer Mather was son to Mr. Richard
Mather, of Dorchester, who was born in the county of
Lancaster, in the year 1596. His parents were honorar
ble and respected. He was for fifty years never detained
from the house of God, not even for a day, by sickness-
Mr. Mather was father of Eleazer Mather, of Nordiamp-
ton, who departed this life at Dorchester, April 22d,
1669. He had a presage of his dissolution, and his last
text was taken from 2d of Timothy, iv : 6, 7, 8, and the
one preceding from Job, xiv : 14. Mrs. Eunice Mather, on
her mother's side, was grand daughter of the Rev. Mr.
John Warham, who was minister of Windham, Connecti
cut, formerly a minister of Exeter, in England. He
came to New England, and settled at Dorchester, but af
terwards removed from thence, with the greater part of
his church to Windsor. The chUdren of the Rev. John
WUliams and his wife Eunice, were
Eliakim, who died young.
Eleazer, bora July 1, 1688, died September 21, 1742.

FAMILY OF Williams. 58
Samuel, born Jan. 4, 1689, died June 19th, 1718.
Esther, born April 10th, 1691, died March 12, 1751.
Stephen, bom May 14, 1698, died June 10, 1782.
Eunice, born Sept. 16, 1696, died a very aged woman,
in captivity, aged about 90.
Warham, born Sept. 7, 1699, died June 22d, 1751.
John, born Jan. 16, 1703-4, killed by the Indians at
the taking of Deerfield, 1704.
Eliakim 2d, died young.
The whole of this family, except Eleazer, were capti
vated at Deerfield, by the French and Indians, Feb. 29,
1703-4. His two youngest sons were murdered by them
at the same time. I have given the foUowing account of
this' transaction, and of the taking of the town, in my
Memoir of the Rev, John Williams, published in 1887,
It may be interesting to my younger readers, and be
worth remembering by my elder ones, and the thriUing
event may as well be recorded in this sUght memoir of
the Rev. Mr, WiUiams,
Just before break of day on the morning of the
29th of February, 1704, the town of Deerfield was at
tacked by surprize, by two hundred French, and one hun
dred and forty two Indians from Canada, under the com
mand of Major Hertel De Rouville, aided by two brotheiS.
At the time of the attack there was four feet of snow
upon the ground. The crust was sufficiently hard to
bear the weight of men. At this time there was not a
single settlement on the west side of the river between
Deerfield and St, Johns in Canada. The attack was en
tirely unlooked for, and not guarded against. The sen-
tmel was unfaithful and had retired to rest. But few
5

54 FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS.
troops were stationed here at the time. Some parts of
the town were defended by high pickets, which extended
round several acres, including many parts of the street.
These were called the forts, but some of the dwelling
houses were calculated for defence, and were buUt in the
form of block-houses, with the walls filled with bricks,
and considered proof against musket balls. The snow
was drifted against the pickets, and the enemy entered
in a body without difficulty. In detached parties they
broke open houses and murdered the unsuspecting inhab
itants in their sleep. Fortunate indeed were those who
escaped. The tomahawk and war-whoop were the pre
cursors of death. A large party of Indians, as described
by Mr. Williams, broke open his house, which stood with
in the walls of the fort. He was in a profound sleep.
The yells of the savages awakened him. He sprang
from his bed, and running towards the door he perceived
the enemy entering into his house. He caUed to waken
two soldiers who slept in the chamber above. Returning,
he snatched a pistol from his bed tester, presented it to
the foremost Indian, and snapped it. It fortunately mis
sed fire, or he probably would have been murdered. He
now expected to be immediately butchered, but his forti
tude did not forsake him. The words of Isaiah,
xxxvUi : 10, 11, immediately occurred to him. "I
said in the cutting off" of my days, I shaU go the gates of
the grave ; I am deprived of the residue of my years, I
said I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the land
of the living ; I shaU behold man no more, with the in
habitants of the world."
The leader of the Indians who took him, was a Cap-

FAMILY OP WILLIAMS. 65
tain who was kUled shortly after by a shot from a neigh
boring house. His house was now rifled of every valuar
ble article, and two infant chUdren and a black domestic
were inhumanly murdered. His wife, who was just re
covering from the bed of confinement, and five chUdren,
were taken prisoners. They then gave him liberty to put
on his clothes, keeping one hand bound tiU he put them
on the other, and then changed the cord, tiU he had
dressed himself, and then pinioned him again. They also
gave the same liberty to his wife and children. At this
time a Captain Stoddard, who slept in the house that
night, jumped from the chamber window, whUe the In
dians were rifling the house and securing the prisoners,
and escaped across Deerfield river, where tearing his
cloak which he had taken with him in pieces, he bound
the shreds round his feet and reached Hatfield greatly
exhausted, and alarmed the troops, who immediately ran
for the rescue of the suffering brethren at Deerfield.
Upon Mr. WUUams' leaving the town they burnt his
house and barn. The old house, which is stUl standing
(1847) was attacked with fury. This was the largest,
strongest, and best in the viUage. The door was fiUed
with naUs, and firmly bolted, and it resisted their efforts.
They cut the hole in it which is still to be seen, with
their tomahawks. Through this hole they pointed their
guns, and killed the wife of Captain John Sheldon, the
owner of the house, who was dressing herself in her bed
in the corner of an adjoining room. This house is the
pride of our viUage, as it recaUs recollections pleasing
though moumful to the soul. Many bullet holes have
been found in various parts of it, and in many of these

56 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
holes the baUs stiU remain, and are to be seen. The In
dians finally gained possession of the house, and kept it,
together with the old meeting-house, as a depot for the
prisoners, tUl they left the town.
This attack was sudden and furious, and much bravery
was displayed ; but the means were inadequate. Seven
men and a few women defended a house a few rods from
the old one, against the combined force, during the whole
time of the engagement, and killed several of the enemy.
Great efforts were made by them to carry the house, but
they were all resolutely defeated. The house unfortu-
uately took fire after the Indians left the town with the pri
soners, and was consumed. All resistance now ceased ;
aU human efforts were unavailing.
Major De Rouville coUected the prisoners, and plun
dered and burnt the principal part of the houses, and
commenced his march with them to Canada, about an
hour after sunrise. I shall not attempt to portray the
horrors of that dreadful scene. Language is inadequate
to convey the realities of that heart-rending transaction,
although they have been described in letters of blood.,
On their retreat with the prisoners, the enemy were
attacked in the meadows by a party of men from Hat
field, and some others who had received information from
some of our men who had escaped from the massacre at
the onset, and a sharp conflict ensued, which compelled
them to retire with the loss of nine of their party. This
engagement was near causing the death of aU the cap
tives. The bloody word was given by RouviUe to tomar
ha.wk all the prisoners, but the messenger was kUled he-
fore he conveyed the orders, and the French commander

FAMILY OF WILLI-AMS. 67
soon countermanded them. The number taken in this
memorable and bloody action, was one hundred and twelve,
including three Frenchmen who resided here. The num
ber kUled was forty-seven, whose bodies were deposited
atthe south side of our old burying ground, according to
tradition, in one grave. The enemy lost about the same
number. In A^ril, 1703-4, after this action, the town
of Deerfield contained about two hundred and eighty in
habitants. It is said if the Indians had faUed in their first attempt
to carry the fort, they would have been compelled to have
surrendered their whole army at discretion, for their stock
of provisions was entirely exhausted, and to return would
have been certain destruction, as there was no settlement
till they reached Canada.
The prisoners with Mr. WUUams, were taken over the
river to the west mountain, when they were all assembled
to the number of one hundred, nineteen of whom were
afterwards murdered on the journey, and two starved to
death in a time of scarcity of provisions among the sav-
agest at a place called Coos, near Newbury, in Vermont.
Their own shoes were now taken away, and Indian ones
given them instead, they being considered easier to travel
in. After this they went up the mountain west of the
river, where they could behold the smouldering ruins of
Deerfield. This is a very interesting spot, which is not
often enough visited, even by the inhabitants of this town.
I have recently visited it with my venerable friend and
relative, Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, the antiquarian, who, pro
poses naming the spot " WiUiams' FareweU View," and also
sketching it with the surrounding scenery, with the pen-

68 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
cU. Before they .proceeded any farther, they kiUed an
infant of one of the captives.
The first day's travel was tedious and slow. The sav
ages had so much compassion upon the chUdren of the
prisoners, as well as upon their own wounded, as to carry
them upon their shoulders, thirty mUes to Connecticut
river, probably above Brattleborough, in Vermont. They
also carried the chUdren that were incapable of travelling,
in their arms, and upon their shoulders. On the first
night they dug away the snow, and made wigwams, and
formed their beds of the smaU branches of the spruce
tree. They here fed the prisoners, who had but little
appetite after the appalling scenes through which they
had just passed. Mr. WUUams was pinioned and bound'
down that night, and every succeeding one that he re
mained in the army. Some of the Indians who brought
ardent spirits with them from the town, became intoxi
cated, and in their fury they killed his negro man, which
was the only dead person he saw in Deerfield, or on the
journey. On this night one of the prisoners escaped,
Mr. '^ilUams was sent for in the moming, and ordiered
by the commanding officer to tell the prisoners, that if
toy more of them escaped, they would bum the rest of
them to death. His first master was unwilUng to have
him speak to any of the prisoners on their march. On
the second day, however, he was put into the hands of
another master, who allowed him to speak to his wife
when he overtook her, and to walk with her and assist
her in the journey. He comforted her with the assu^
ance that they had a right to " an house not made 'with
hands, eternal in the heavens, and God for their fathei

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 59
and friend," and also told her that it was their duty
to submit to the wiU of God with resignation. His wife
now told him that her strength began to faU, and that he
must soon expect to part with her, but she hoped that
God would preserve his life and the life of their chUdren,
whom, under God, she commended to his care. In
suitable language she justified God in what had hap
pened, and spoke not a murmuring word as to what had
befaUen them. The enemy soon made a halt and his
principal surviving master placed him in the foremost
ranks of the captives, and re-commenced their march.
Here he bade adieu forever to the dear wife of his bosom,
the " desire of his eyes," and the companion of his
many joys and sorrows.. Upon their separation they
commended themselves to their Maker, and besought
that grace of Him which would be sufficient to sustain
them under the allotments of his Providence. After
their separation,. she spent the few remaining moments of
her pilgrimage, as she had been always wont to do daily,
in reading the holy Scriptures, which it seems the sav
ages had aUowed her to take with her. She had always
been in the habit of reading her Bible, of prayer and
meditation in her closet every day, in addition to the ser
vices of family worship.
Mr. WiUiams, and the rest of the prisoners were made=
to wade over a small river, in which the water was above
knee deep, and very swift. _ This was Green river, about
five mUes northwest of the present vUlage of Greenfield,
at a place caUed Country Farms, near the dividing line
between Greenfield and Leyden. After that he had to
travel up a small mountain, and his strength was nearly

60 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
exhausted before he came to the top of it. He was now
permitted to sit down, and to have his pack taken from
his back. WhUe he set here pitying those who were be
hind, he entreated his master to let him go and help his
wife. He inhumanly refused him, and would not let him
move a foot from him. He enquired of the prisoners,
as they passed, concerning her, and they informed him
that in passing the river she was overpowered by the
stream, and plunged headlong into the water. She was
not able to. travel far after this. She had just arisen
from a bed of sickness, from confinement with her last
chUd. At the foot of the mountain which Mr. WiUiama
had just ascended, the inhuman and blood-thirsty Indian,
who had the care of her, slew her with his tomahawk at
a blow. This was truly heart-rending to him, and yet
the savages reproached him for a want of manhood in
shedding tears on account of her cruel murder. Noth
ing but the belief that she was taken away in mercy
from the evil to come, and "joined to the assembly of
just men made perfect, to rest in peace and joy unspeak
able and full of glory," would have kept him and his
chUdren from sinking in despair at that time. That pas
sage of Scripture, and some others, came forcibly to his
mind at that time, and afforded him much consolation.
" Naked came I from my mother's womb, and naked
shaU I return thither. The Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord."
Shortly after this her body was found by a party of
men from Deerfield, brought back, and buried in the
town burying ground, and the grave-stone containing the
foUowing inscription is stiU to be seen there. " Here

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 61
lyeth the body of Mrs. Eunice WiUiams, the virtuous and
desirable consort of the Rev. John WUliams, and daugh
ter of Rev. Eleazer and Mrs. Esther Mather, of North
ampton. She was born Aug. 2, 1664, and feU by the
rage of the barbarous enemy, March 1, 1703-4. Her
children rise up and caU her blessed."
When they were called upon to resume their march,
it may well be supposed that a heavier load pressed upon
Mr. WiUiams' spirits than upon his back. He prayed
that the dear wife of his bosom might be found by his
friends, and receive Christian burial, which prayer it
seems was granted. On this day's march, the Indians
killed a sucking chUd, and a girl of about eleven years
of age. It was a night of deep affliction to him, that so
many of his flock should be inhumanly murdered, even
in this short period since the destruction of the town, and
at the prospect of many more becoming the victims of
unrelenting savage barbarity.
When they came to their place of rest for the night,
one Indian sachem or captain from the eastward consulted
with his master about kUling and scalping him. He raised
his prayer to God and supplicated his protection in this time
of tribulation, arid afterwards told his master that if he
intended to kill him, he requested that he would inform
him of it, assuring him at the same time, after he had
solemnly promised to protect him, that his death would
bring upon him the guilt of innocent blood. This ad
dress had the desired effect, and he promised not to kill
him. They then lay down and slept quietly under the
protecting hand of God.
On the morning of the 2d of March, they were all

62 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
caUed before the sachems or leaders of the Macquas and
Indians, and more equally distributed among them for
the greater convenience of travelling. His best clothing
was here taken from him. Here some of the prisoners
informed him that they thought their enemies were going
to burn them at the stake, as they had been observed to
pull off the bark from several trees, and to cbnduct them
selves in a very singular manner. He repUed to them
that they could do nothing without the permission of the
Almighty, and that it was his opinion that he would pre
vent the enaction of such enormities. Several of the
captives were here taken from their former masters, and
exchanged into the hands of others. He was returned
to the master who captivated him at his house.
On the 3d of March, being the fourth day of their
journey, they had proceeded no farther than Brattlebo
rough, about thirty mUes from Deerfield. Here the
enemy killed another of his neighbors, a woman who was
near the period of travail, much fatigued with her jour
ney. Here they constructed hand-sleighs for the accom
modation of the wounded, the chUdren and baggage, and
they were thus enabled to travel at a greater rate than
they had heretofore done. There must have been some
thing of a thaw at that time, for he travelled several hours
in water up to his ankles, and towards night he became
as lame as if his ankles had been sprained, and he did
not expect that he and several others would be able to
hold out much longer. He, however, commended him
self to God, beseeching him to remove his lameness, and
assist him with his chUdren and neighbors in bearing the
fatigue of his journey, if he thought it best ; if not he

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 63
desired him to be with him in the hour of death, and
that he would provide for and sustain his children and
friends and bless them. In a short time he was re
lieved of his lameness to his great joy, and that of his
friends. On the 4th of March, Saturday, the journey
was severe and tedious, and four women became so tired
that they were murdered by the savage Indians.
My limits will not allow me to trace his wanderings
and sufferings through the wUderness of Vermont, where
scarce a civUized footstep had ever trod before, at this
inclement season of the year, to his arrival at Shamblee,
twenty-five days after the capture of the town ; of his
residence as a prisoner in Canada, for a year and nine
months ; of his anxiety for his dear famUy, whom he
greatly feared would fall under the thraldom of popery,
as every wUe was made use of to induce them to become
converts to that system of religion, and of his redemp^
tion from Indian slavery. All these may be found in his
excellent " Redeemed Captive," and in my Memoir of
him, published in 1887, He was redeemed from captivi
ty, and left Quebec on the 25th of October, 1706, and
arrived safely in Boston, on the 21st of November. The
number who left Canada at that time, and arrived at
Boston, was fifty-seven, among whom were two of Mr.
WiUiams' children. He had yet a daughter, Eunice,
of whom I shall soon speak, ten years of age, and many
friends and neighbors, among the French and Indians,
in the cold and inhospitable regions of Canada, and he
solicited the compassionate prayers of the benevolent and
good that they would intercede with God for their deliv-
ance.

64 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams did not immediately return to Deerfield,
after his emancipation from the French and Indians.
He probably had some doubts whether he should again
settie in the ministry in Deerfield. On the 80th of No
vember, 1706, nine or ten days after his arrival at Bos
ton, the town of Deerfield chose commissioners to go
down to the Bay for them, and in their behalf to act and
treat with him in order to his re-settlement with them
again in the work of the ministry. Mr. Williams, after
serious consideration, accepted the call, although the war
continued with unabated fury, and the inhabitants were
kept in a constant state of alarm.
Mr. WUUams married again soon after his second set
tlement at Deerfield, to Miss Abigail Allen, of Windsor,
Connecticut, a cousin of his former wife. By her he had
the foUowing children.
John, bom Nov. 23, 1709, died June 11, 1714.
EUakim, born Feb. 6, 1711.
Elijah, bom Nov. 18, 1712, died July 10, 1771.
AbigaU, born Sept. 1708, died Dec. 3, 1781, buried
in Hinsdale.
Sarah, born Sept. 1716, died Jan. 25th, 1784, and is
interred in the burying ground in Waltham. The town
book there says that she died Feb. 19, 1736.
About the year 1709, Mr. WUUams was earnesiiy
solicited to accept the office of Chaplain in the army, in
the expedition agamst Canada under Gen. HiU and Ad
miral Walker. He had been previously requested to
accept the same office in the expedition against Port

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 65
Royal, under the command of Col. March, with seven hun
dred men in the year 1707. Soon after he was appoint
ed chaplain in the winter expedition to Canada, under
the command of Col. Stoddard, for the purpose of re
deeming prisoners, but soon returned. Col. Stoddard,
was successful in redeeming many of his fellow citizens,
but he could not obtain Eunice, the daughter of Mr.
Williams. Mr. WUliams' salary was for some time probably too
small to support him, and the General Court allowed him
two islands in Connecticut river, opposite the north part
of the town of Deerfield, now called Corse's and Smead's
Islands, containing between thirty and forty acres, in
consequence of his petitioning in behalf of the town for
an extension of its territories. To show the continued
attachment of the people of Deerfield to him, the town
voted to provide him his wood at its own expense, in ad
dition to his salary, and to procure him the value of sixty
ordinary loads in the year 1724-6.
Mr. WiUiams for many years devoted much of his
attention to the pursuits of science and literature, and to
the cares and obligations attendant upon his professional
duties as a faithful minister of the gospel. For the
times in which he Uved he was a writer of no mean abili
ties. He has not- left behind him many of his published
productions. The only ones which I recoUect to have
seen are his " Redeemed Captive returning to Zion," in
which he gives an account of his captivity and sufferings,
and a sermon preached at Boston, Dec. 6, 1706, soon
after his return from' Canada. These works evince
talents and great piety. The age in which he lived was
6

66 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
not one of publications Uke the present, or doubtless
more of his works would have been pubUshed. He was
a very constant attendant upon the annual convention of
ministers in the province of Boston, where he was always
treated with respect and attention. In 1728, he preached
an interesting discourse at that convention, which, I
believe, was published.
I have seen some of his manuscript productions which
are interesting. In some of his writings, under the head
of Philosophy, he treats of Mists and Fogs, of Wind, of
Water, or the doctrine of Hydrostatics, of Matter^, of the
Earth, of Fire, of Beasts, Birds, and Fishes, of Insects,
of the Julian period, of the Method of drawing a Merid
ian Line upon an horizontal plane, of Mercury, of Vul
can, of Mars, of an Echo, &c., &c. These topics show
that he had a phUosophical turn of mind, and a greater
talent for the abtruse sciences than is usual to be found
at that period.
Mr. WiUiams died at Deerfield on the 12th of June,
1729, in the 65th year of his age, and the 44th of his
ministry. He was attacked with a fit of apoplexy on the
morning of the 9th. It was perceived on speaking to him
that he had the exercise of reason, but he was never able to
articulate distinctly more than two or three words after
he was taken iU. The writer of his obituary notice, which
was published in the Boston News Letter, the first newspa
per ever pubUshed in New England, thus speaks of him:
" God who first sent him- to us, and inclined his heart to
'settie with us in our smaU beginning, hath made him a,
great blessing unto us. His heart was engaged in his
work, and was abundant in his labors, both in season and

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 67
out of season, plainly, faithfully and frequently warning,
urging, and instructing both elder and younger unto pi
ety and perseverance in it. He was much in prayer, and
singularly gifted in it. We hope through grace he has
left many seals of his ministry among us.
" The Divine Providence which fixed his post in one of
the frontier towns of the province, fitted him for it by
giving him patience and cheerfulness of spirit ; so that he
was wonderfully carried through all the difficulties, dis
tractions, and dangers that he encountered. And his
prayers, counsel, and example, did not a little contribute
to the support and encouragement of his people from
time to time."
And another writer, the Rev. Rodolphus Dickinson, of
this town, in his View of Deerfield, thus beautifully eulo
gizes him :
" The character of Mr. WiUiams was extensively known
and held in high estimation, as may be learned, aside from
other respectful attentions, by his appointment to preach to
a general convention of the clergyman of Massachusetts,
at Boston. He is represented by his contemporaries, who
have witnessed his efforts before the most enUghtened
and powerful auditories in the province, as a powerful and
affecting preacher. He is also commended for his domes
tic virtues, his eminent piety, humiUty, sincerity, and
goodness of heart. His voluntary abandonment of the
scenes of his beloved nativity, secure from the incursions
of the savages, to settle in a frontier place, perpetually
exposed to their depredations, when personal safety, so
indispensable to other enjoyments, was for many years a
stranger to their habitations ; and his return to the work

68 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
of the ministry, subject to the same dangers, after the
complicated afflictions of his captivity, evince his ardent
love for the people of his care, and testify that he was
animated with the spirit of a martyr in the advancement
of the Gospel. It is impossible to peruse his interesting
narrative of the destraction of Deerfield, and the slaugh
ter and captivity of its inhabitants, in the sufferings in
which he so largely participated, without being inspired
with a respect for his talents and piety, and an admiration
of that unexampled fortitude, which could sustain him
under private calamities, such as rarely happened to man,
and a view of public desolations, similar, though less
extended to those apostrophized by the moumful son of
Hilkiah. But a holy resignation to the Supreme Disposer
of events, was the bahn of every sorrow. His path was
Ughted by a hope that looks beyond this transient scene.
He was redeemed from the flames, passed through the
wUderness and sea of dangers, and, as we trust, reached
a temple eternal in the heavens."
AbigaU, the second wife of the Rev, John Williams,
died June 21st, 1764, and is buried by the side of her
husband in the old burying yard at Deerfield, She
was born October 17th, 1672, Funeral sermon by the
Rev, Mr, Chauncey of Hadley, from Ezekiel, in : 26.
IV. Rev. Eleazer Williams, son of the Rev. John
WiUiams above, was born July 1st, 1688. He grad
uated at Harvard College, in 1708. He was absent from
Deerfield when the town was destroyed, and his father
and family were captivated in 1704, consequently, he

.B'AMILY OF WILLIAMS. 69
escaped captivity, if not death. He settled in the min
istry at Mansfield, Conn., and was ordained Oct. 10, 1710.
He married Miss Mary Hobart. Their children were
Eunice, married Col. Shubal Conant, and their daugh
ter Eunice was married to Dr. Howe, and afterwards to
Rev. John Storrs.
Sarah, married Rev. Hobart Estabrook.
Hannah, born 1713, died 1760, aged 47.
Mary, married Rev. Richard Salter, D. D.
The Rev. Eleazer WiUiams, father of the above family,
died Sept. 21, 1742, aged 64. His wife died in 1766,
aged 77. The following inscription is on his monument
in Mansfield.
" Here lies the body of y^ Rev. Mr. Eleazer WUliams,
pastor of y" chh. in Mansfield, descended from venera
ble ancestors, but more nobly born from above ; and with
faithfulness, prudence, zeal, and courage, improved the
gifts and graces his Divine Lord had entrusted him with :
m y° work of the ministry here, being found with his
loynes girt, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus
to eternal life, at his master's call he quietly fell asleep in
Jesus, Sept. 21, 1742, in the 55th year of his age and
y» 32d year of his pastoral work. Them that sleep in
Jesus wiU God bring with him."
IV. Samuel Williams, second son of the Rev. John
Williams, of Deerfield, was born Jan. 4th, 1689.. He
was taken captive with his father at the time of the destruc
tion of the town by the French and Indians in 1704, when
he was fifteen years of age. In common with his father,
6*

70 family of WILLIAMS.
he -suffered aU the horrors and privations of that dreadful
captivity for nearly two years, in the cold and dreary cli
mate of Canada, when he was redeemed, and returned to
Deerfield with his father, where he died in the year 1713,
at the age of 24 years. I cannot leam that he was ever
married. He was a subject of great solicitude to his far
ther during his captivity, on account of the arts which the
Jesuits made use of to induce him to become a Roman
Catholic. An interesting correspondence between him
and his father on this subject, may be found in my Memoir
of the Rev. John WUUams, page 70, and foUowing. Also
in the Redeemed Captive. He was successful in releas
ing him from their snares, and he returned to the fuU faith
and communion of his father, to the great joy of his fam
ily and friends. I regret to say that his grave-stone by
the side of his father and mother, in our old, almost con
secrated burying ground, has recently been broken and
destroyed, those of his parents remaining in a perfect
state of preservation.
rV. Miss Esther Willi.ams, daughter of the Rev.
John WUUams of Deerfield, was bom AprU 10th, 1691,
and died March 12th, 1761. She was taken captive by
the Indians, with her father in 1704, carried to Quebec,
and educated there. She returned and married the Eev.
Joseph Meacham, of Coventry, Conn. Their three sons,
each named Joseph, aU died in infancy. Their daughters
were Eunice, married Dr. Josiah Rose, of Coventry,
Jerusha, married the Rev. Samuel Buel of East Hamp
ton, Long Island.

I '/:.,)'¦ /.I /„,••/«/,/ //,// ¦„

S TEFMIB:^ WniLD^DA-MS,!]!]!]),

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 71
Catherine, married Captain Grant, of ToUand, Conn.
Esther, married the Rev. Dr. Strong, of Coventry,
Conn, who married for his first wife. Miss Smith, daugh
ter of Dr. Smith, of Hartford, Conn. Mr. Strong died
Dec. 1816.
SybU, married Dr. Jonathan FuUer, of Mansfield.
Rev. Mr. Meacham, father of the above family, died
Dec. 16, 1752.
IV. The Rev. Stephen Williams, D. Df, son of
the Rev. John WiUiams, of Deerfield, was born May 14,
1693, He was taken captive, Feb, 29, 1704, with his
father, and carried to Canada, He was redeemed and
returned to Boston, November 21st, 1705, He wrote
the following narrative of his captivity and sufferings soon
after his retura, which I copied from his own hand-wri
ting, and published in the appendix to my Memoir of his
father. It is certainly very curious, as being written by
^bOT, and well worthy of a place in this notice of him.

ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTIVITY OF THE ReV. Dr, StEPHEN
Williams, (written by himself.)
"What befel Stephen Willia/ns in his Captivity.
" On the last of February, 1703-4 the French and In
dians came and surprized our fort and took it, and after
they had broken into our house and took us prisoners,
they barbarously murdered a brother and sister of mine,
as they did several of our neighbors. They rifled our
house and then marched away with us that were captives.

72 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
and set our house and barn on fire, as they did the greatest
part of the town. When the greatest part of the enemy
were gone out of the town, there came some English from
the next town that drove those Indians that remained in
the town away, but they were quickly driven back again
by the rest of the army. Nine of them were slain as
they retreated. They then marched a little farther and
stopped, for they had several wounded men that hindered
them. There they told us that if the English pursued
they woifld kill us, otherwise they would not, but they
quickly proved themselves liars, for before they departed
from the place, they barbarously murdered a child of
about two years old. Then my master took away my
English shoes, and gave me Indian ones in the room of
them, which I think were better to travel in. Then we
marched five or six miles further, when we took up our
lodgings. Then one Englishman ran back to Deerfield,
which provoked them much. They told us that if any
more ran away they would burn the rest. Then the^
slew our negro man. The next morning we traveUed
about two or three miles, when they murdered my ever
honored mother, who having gone over a small river, which
water ranning very swift flung her down, she being wet,
was not able to travel any farther. We travelled eight or
nine mUes further and lodged that night. Then some
were disturbed, for some had five or six captives, and
others none. They then caUed the captives together to
make a more equal distribution, but I remained with n^
former master. Here they searched me, and took away
my silver buttons and buckles which I had on my shirt,
before we came to a smaU river, named West River,

FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS. 73
about thirty mUes above Deerfield. They murdered three
persons when they came to the West River, where they had
slays and dogs, with which they drew their wounded men.
They traveUed, (we thought) as if they designed to kUl
us aU, for they travelled thirty-five or forty mUes a day.
" Here they kUled near a dozen women and chUdren,
for their manner was, if any loitered, to kill them. My
feet were very sore, so that I was afraid they would kiU
me also. We rested on the Sabbath day ; they gave my
father liberty to preach. Here we sang a psalm, for
they requested of us a song. The next day we traveUed
a great way farther than we had at any time before.
About the middle of the day, some that were in the rear
fired at some geese that flew over, which put them into
considerable fright, for they thought that the EngUsh were
come up with them. Then they began to bind the pris
oners, and to prepare themselves for battle, but when they
understood what was the matter, they shot a volley, for
<j«y, boasting that the English could not overtake them.
" I, coming to my honored father, he told me he was
taken lame in his ankle, which he sprained in the fall of
the year. He said, likewise, he thought he should be
kUled, and if I should Uve to get to Canada, to teU them-
who I was, &c. which then did terrify me much, but it
pleased the [Lord] to strengthen him to perform his
journey. " The next day was a tempestuous day, and I froze my
great toe of my left foot; the day after which was
Wednesday, my master bid me go down to the river with
him very early in the morning, which startled me, for he
did not use to be so early. There that river parted, and

74 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
I went up one branch, and my father with my brother
and sisters another. I never saw my father for fourteen
months. I did not eat anything in the morning, yet
must travel aU day, yea, I travelled tiU about nine o'clock
at night without one morsel of victuals. I travelled about
fifty mUes that day and night. For my supper I had
one spoonful of Indian com, in the morning five or six
kernels, but must travel. Then we left the river and
travelled about noon on the west side of that river. We
came to two wigwams, where we found the signs of
Indians, but no Indians, (in those wigwams they left their
sacks and went a hunting, if perhaps they might find
some moose buried in the snow by the hunting Indians,
but could not find any.)
" I wandered about and lost myself, and hallooed. My
master came to me, and was very angry with me. He
lifted up the breech of his gun in order to kUl me, but
God kept back his hand, for which I desire his name
might be praised. The Indians will never aUow anj»
body to haUoo in the woods. Their manner is to make a
noise like wolves, or other wUd creatures, when they
would call to one another. My master sent the Indian
lad and I to those wigwams, but he himself took his gun
and went a hunting (now there were only we three in
company, we had left aU that army.) We made a fire,
but had no victuals to dress, only a moose's paunch and
bones, which the Indians had left. We took the paunch
and boUed it without cleaning it, for what was on it serv
ed for thickening the broth. There we tarried that night,
and the next day till about noon. Then there came an In
dian girl about ten mUes, where was two wigwams. My

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 75
master that left us the day before was got there. WhUe
we tarried hete the French that were in the army passed
by. Within a day or two we travelled seven or eight
miles northward to a place where they had kiUed some
moose, where they made wigwams (for their manner was
when they killed any moose to move to them and Ue by
them tiU they had eaten them up.) Now there was two
Englishmen of our town in company with me, who came
froni the army, to wit. Deacon Hoit, and one Jacob Hix,
a soldier, (now my master was not yet come to his own
family.) From hence he went to look for his family,
and within a day or two sent for me. I thought this was
hard to go away alone (that is, to any EngUsh person.)
Here I left Deac. Hoit and Jacob Hix. Deac. Hoit I
never saw more, for he was dead before I came from
hunting. I went with the messenger, and after a tedious
days travelling came to my master's family. He gave me
to his brother, with whom I continued two or three
months thereabouts, hunting moose, bears, and beavers.
But when I first arrived there, they were extraordinary
kind, took care of my toe which was frozen, would not
suffer me to do any work, gave me deerskin to lie on, and
a bear skin to cover me withal, but this' did not last long,
for I was forced to carry such a pack when I traveUed
that I could not rise up without some help, was forced to
cut wood, and carry it sometimes a considerable way on
my back. After that manner I lived tiU their hunting
time was over, without any society but the inhuman

' We travelled with the design to go to Cowass, where
was their rendezvous; but before we got quite there we

76 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
met some Indians that stopped us. They told us that aU
the Indians were a coming away from Cowass, which
within a day or two came to be true. Now the reason of
their deserting that place was this; there came an
EngUshman with six of our Indians, and destroyed a
family of Indians about twenty miles from Cowass.
Here we staid when these Indians met us, a month or
six weeks, suffered much for want of provisions, for there
was not much to be got a hunting there, and if that
was any thing, it was nothing among so many. The
chief of our provision was roots of several sorts, and
bark of trees. Here I met the above said Jacob HLx.
Deacon Hoit was already dead for want of provision.
This Hix looked like a ghost, was nothing but skin and
bones, could scarce go, had no victuals but what he got
himself (for he had been at Cowass with the Indians a
planting corn, when he suffered much for want of provi
sion.) I was better off" than they, whUe I was hunting,
we had meat enough, but neither bread nor salt to eat
with it.
" There was in company now, one Mr. Bradley, of
Haverhill, and one Hannah Eastman, one Daniel Avery,
of HaverhiU, and one Mrs. Jones, and Margaret Hugins,
her maid, &c. who were taken at Northampton farms;
" Now from hence we set away for Canada ; my master
had so much lumber to carry, that we were forced to car
ry a pack a mUe or two, and go back and fetch another,
which was very tedious. Jacob Hix died at the first carry
ing place of the French river, (now Onion river.) This
was an exceedingly tedious march to me, we being so
loaded. The other Indians left us. I suffered much in

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 77
the joumey, for when we came to the French river, it
was as much as our canoe would carry our lumber, the
water was so shaUow, so that I was forced to travel a foot,
on that bank, which cut out my shoes, my feet were
much gaUed, and one or two of my toes almost cut off'
with the stones. I had little or nothing to eat. My
master killed a duck one day in the river, and for my
part I had the guts, which I laid on the coals without
cleansing them, which seemed a sweet morsel to me.
They did eat skins, &c. but when we arrived at the lake,
we were supplied with fish and fowl. The Indian boys
do kiU the geese with their bows and arrows, they are so
bold. Fish are easily taken with hooks. One day as we
sailed on the lake, two young Indians shot a fish with a
bullet and took it into the canoe. It was as large as I
am. I arrived to Shamblee in August, which was about
half a year from the time I was taken. The French
were kind to me, gave me bread, which I had not eaten
in a great while. They told me my father and brothers and
sisters were got to Canada, which I was glad to hear of,
for I was afraid my youngest brother was killed.
" While I tarried here, a Frenchman came and desired
the Indians to let me go with him, which they did. I
went with the Frenchman, who gave me some victuals,
and made me lie down in his couch, which my master's
son perceiving, told his father, who thought he did it to
hide me, and did design to steal me ; upon which he
came up and fetched me away, and would not let me go
to the fort any more, for which I suffered, (While I
was here the French dressed my feet that were wounded,
at which the Indians seemed to be vexed,)
7

78 FAMILY OF WILLIilMS,
" From hence we went towards Sorel, but tarried a day
or two near a Frenchman's house, about three miles
from Shamblee, who was kind to me, and would hav^
lodged me in his house, but the Indians would not allow;
of it, mistrusting he would convey me away in the, night
privately. From hence we went to Sorel, and as soon as
we had landed, there came a woman across the river on
purpose to bring me some victuals, and seemed to pity me.
" Here we tarried a day or two, my master bid me
go to the fort a visiting, which was about fourscore rods
off". I went, and at a Frenchman's persuasion tarried all
night, and till next day about noon, when my master
came for me ; he was very angry with me, and after that
would never suffer me to go to a French house alone.
From this place we went to St, Francis, the Indian fort.
My master could not comply with their rites and customs,
whereupon he went to Albany, and gave me to his kins
man Sagamore George. (Now this George when I was
at Cowass, told the French Governor that I was his pris
oner, whereas then he had nothing to do with me, where*
upon the Governor empowered one Mr, Shamblee, a cap.
tain, to buy me, who made a bargain witii George, give
him earnest money.) Now being put into his hands, he
was not willing that the French should know it, but hav
ing a desire to go to Shamblee, the place where Monsieur
Shamblee Uved, took me with him, but within ten miles
0.f Shamblee, left me alone in the woods, whUe he, wit]}
those that were with him went to Shamblee.
" After he came to Shamblee, we went a hunting, caught
about eighty beaver in the brook which run into the river
between Shamblee and Sorel, After we bad done hunt

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 79
ing we went again to St, Francis fort, where I continued
till towards spring, and then removed because the small
pox was among the Indians, and my master's children
had not had it, so he removed. But whUe I remained
there Monsieur Shamblee heard that I was with Sagamore
George, and came to buy me, I seemed to be willing to
go with him, at which the Indians were much disturbed,
and would not let me go, because I shewed a forward
ness to go, and did likewise threaten to kill me, did com
plain to the Jesuit who came and said to me, " what no
love Indian, they have saved your life, &c.
" It is no wonder that the children that are small wUl
not speak to their friends when they come to see them,
but they will scoff at and deride them, because the In
dians have so taught them, and will be angry if they do
otherwise. " While I lived here, I observed that some English chil
dren would scoff" at me (when befor^ the Indians, worse
than the Indian children) but when alone they would
talk famUiarly with me in EngUsh, about their own coun
try, &c. whereas when before the Indians they would
pretend that they could not speak EngUsh. Here the
Indians did say something to me about religion, but not
much, being eastern Indians were not zealous as the
Macquas are.
" The French governor after he heard I was in the
Country, because of my father's entreaties, was often
Sending to the Indians to buy me, who were quite wearied
out, my master went to the Jesuit, and got pen, ink, and
paper, would have me write to my father (for we had
heard he was learned, and had two hundred pounds a

80 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
year allowed him, which I believe some of them beUeved,)
After he had got paper he takes another Indian with him
that could speak good English^ who was to indite for me.
The substance of the letter was this, that if they did not
buy me before spring, they would not seU me afterwards,
and that he must give forty crowns for me. They car
ried it to the Jesuit, who could speak English, to read,
to see whether I had written as they ordered me, and
when they found I had they were weU pleased.
" My master had a mind to go hunting and would have
taken me with him, but because he sent such word, that
they must buy me by such a time, he left me at home
that I might be ready if they should send to buy me,
and when Capt. Livingston and Mr, Sheldon were come
to Canada, my mistress thought there would be an ex
change of prisoners, and lest the French should then
take me away for nothing, she removed up in the woods,
about a mile from the river, that if they came they might
not find me ; whUe on a certain day my mistress went
to a French house to get victuals, and ordered me to
spend my day in getting wood, but it proved a tempestu
ous day, and we had half a cart load at the door, which
is a great deal for Indians to have, so that I did not get
any. When she came home, being disturbed by the
French, asked what I had been doing, they replied noth
ing, at which she was very angry. I will not beat you
myself, says she, for my husband ordered me to the con
trary, but wiU teU the Jesuit the next time he comes.
Within a day or two the Jesuit comes. She was as good
as her word. He takes me out and whipt me with a
whip with six cords, several knots in each cord.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 81
" After a few days he comes again, and brings me a
letter from my father, by which I understood he was a
prisoner as weU as I, which I told the Indians, who said
they beUeved it. He likewise said in his letter that the
Governor of New England would take care we should be
redeemed. " WhUst I lived here, I raade about fourscore weight of
sugar, with the sap of maple trees, for the Indians, My
mistress had a mind to go to Sorel, and because there
was a barrel of sap to boil, she sent me to the sugar
place over night to boil it, that so we might go in the
morning. I went and kept a good fire under the kettle,
little thinking of its coming to sugar, tiU it was spoUed
for want of stirring, for the manner is to stir it when it
comes almost to sugar, for which they were very angry,
and would not give me any victuals.
" It being now spring we went in canoes to Sorel, and
so soon as we got there, the woman who brought me vict
uals across the river when I was there before, came and
desired of the Indians to let me go to the fort, which
they consented to do. I went, but remembering the. bad
eff"ect of tarrying all night before, durst not do so again
without the Indians' leave. I went to the Indians and
carried them some victuals, and asked them to let me lie
at the fort, which they granted. I kept here about a
fortnight, and lay at the fort every night.
" The French were very kind, provided victuals for me,
and would give me some to carry to the Indians which
pleased them well.
" As we went back to St. Francis fort, we met a French
canoe, who told us that the French Governor would come

8.2 FAMIL-Y OF WILLIAMS,
to St. Francis fort quickly, upon which my mistress said
to me, your time is short you have to Uve with me, (truly
I hoped it was.)
" When we came to St. Francis, we went to master's
land, where I began to make preparation to plant corn,
but before we began to plant, the Governor came and
bought me, after a long parley, for forty crowns. With
him I went to Sorel, where I met with Capt, Livingston,
and several captives, Capt. Livingston told me I should
go home to ,New England with him, which revived me
much to think of going home, but the Governor quickly
altered his mind, said I must not go from hence.
" I went down to Quebec, with the Lord Intendant.
When I came to Quebec, I found several EngUsh people
that were prisoners. Here one Mr, Hill took care of
me, cut my hair for me, (now my hair was like an In
dian's, one side long, and the other short,) He got me a
shirt, and a pair of breeches, and a jacket and stockings.
" From hence on the 11th of May, I was sent to Uve
with my father at Chateauviche. While I lived here, the
Frenoh were very courteous and kind to me, as they
were to my father. This seemed almost home to me
luecause I was got to my fether, who I had not seen for
fourteen months. When Mr. Dudley came to Canada,
my father and I was sent for up to Quebec. When we
were at Quebec, Capt. Courtamouch took us to his house
and entertained >us very nobly. He said he received
kiridness at New England. While we were at Quebe«.»
the Seminary, a famous buUding, was burnt. And upon
C3,pt. Vetch and Mr. Dudley petitioning, tiie Governor
gave me Uberty tp come home, and accordi;i.q;Jv T oo,*^*

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 83
away on the 12th of October, 1705, but I left my hon
ored father and brothers and sisters behind, and after a
tedious voyage, I arrived at Boston, m New England, on
the 21st of November, 1705. And I desire that the
name of God may be praised and adored for his wonder
ful goodness to me in sparing my life, when I was as it
were, on the brink of etemity, and that he stayed the
hands of those that took up their weapons to slay me
with them.
" N. B. That while with the Indians I was in great dan
ger of being drowned several times."
On his return from captivity, he was educated at Har
vard College, and graduated there in the year 1718.
He kept a school at Hadley one year afterwards, and
went to Long Meadow, Massachusetts, Nov. 4th, to
preach. He was ordained over the church and society
in that place, July 3d, 1718. He served his country as
chaplain for the armies in three campaigns ; at Cape
Breton, in the year 1745, from which he retumed sick to
Boston, in the beginning of December, and recovered so
as to come to his house on the first of Febuary, 1746.
He was at Lake George, in the year 1755 and '56, and
was Chaplain in the regiment commanded by Col. Ephraim
Williams, on the day on which he was killed in the
bloody morning scout, Sept. 8, 1755. On the Sabbath,
which was the day before the battle, he preached before
the troops a sermon from the following text, Isaiah, Ixv :
verse 4, " Which remain among the graves, and lodge in
the mountains." In 1766, he was chaplain in the regi-
uaent commanded by my grandfiither, Dr. Thomas WU^-

84 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Uams, of Deerfield. He came home sick before the
army broke up. He was much honored by the officers
and soldiers. Probably he was the principal means of
sending a missionary to the Housatonnuc tribe of Indians
at Stockbridge, for on the 9th of September, 1734, he
went to New Haven, and engaged the Rev. John Ser
geant for that purpose. The right hand of feUowship
and the charge were given to Mr. Sergeant, by Mr. WU
liams, at his ordination at Deerfield, in 1736. He re
ceived the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from
Yale CoUege in 1741, and from Dartmouth CoUege in
1778. He published a sermon at the ordination of John
Keep, Sheffield, 1772. He has left interesting manu
scripts. He was married soon after his ordination to
Miss AbigaU Davenport, of Stamford, Connecticut,

.^/O^i^^^i^i^ ¦

^cM.

a^Mj

Their children were
John, born March 8, 1720, died April, 1791.
Stephen, bom Jan. 26, 1722, died AprU, 1791.
Eunice, born Sept. 1, 1723, died Oct. 31, 1805.
Warham, born Jan. 7, 1726, died AprU, 1786.
Samuel, bom May 31, 1729, died July 29, 1807.
Davenport, bom May 11, 1731, died Oct. 18, 1758.
Martha, bora May, 1738.
Nathan, born Oct. 28, 1735.
Stephen, Warham, and Nathan, were educated at
Yale College, and settled in the ministry — Stephen at
Woodstock, Warham at Northford, and Nathan at Tol
land. AbigaU, first wife of Rev. Dr. Stephen WUliams,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 85
of Long Meadow, died August 26, 1766. He married
the second time Sept. 6, 1767, to Mrs. Sarah Burt, wid
ow of Deac. Nathaniel Burt, and daughter of David
Chapin, of Chicopee. The Rev. Dr. WiUiams, died
June 10th, 1782, in the 90tji year of his age, and 66Qi
of his ministry. Mrs. Sarah WUUams, his widow, died
Nov. 10, 1790, aged 84 years. The Rev. Dr, WiUiams
had seven sons who were all present at his funeral.
V. John Williams, son of the Rev. Dr. Stephen
WUliams, of Long Meadow, was married Jan. 22, 1747,
to Ann Colton, daughter of WUUam and Mary Colton.
Their children were
Stephen, born Nov. 8, 1747.
Ann, born Sept. 8, 1749, died August 6, 1760.
AbigaU, born May 18, 1762.
Mary, bom March 28, 1768.
Stephen, born July 28, 1765.
Sarah, born Oct. 19, 1757, died Dec. 6, 1768.
John, born AprU 22, 1761.
Eleazer, bom April 16, 1764.
Ann, born Nov. 25, 1771.
John WiUiams, the father of the above famUy, died
March, 1772.
V. Rev, Stephen Williams, of Woodstock, son of
the Rev. Dr. Stephen, WiUiams, of LongMeadow, was
graduated at Yale CoUege in 1742f" was" ordained at
Woodstock second society, Nov. 1747, and was mar
ried Oct. 18th, 1748, to Miss Martha Hunt, sister of the
Rev. John WiUiams, of Deerfield. Their chUdren were

86 family of -WILLIAMS.
Martha, born Nov. 6, 1749, died May 28, 1761.
Eunice, bom Feb. 1751, died Aug. 8, 1776,
Andrew, bom June 21, 1761.
^Stephen, bom Aug. 8, 1762.
''Timothy, bom AprU 16, 1764.
Patty, born Aug. 18, 1766, died October, 1766.
The Rev. Stephen WiUiams, the father, died April,
1795. V. Eunice Williams, daughter of Dr. Stephen Wil
liams, of Long Meadow, married May 1st, 1753, to Mr.
WiUiam Stebbins, son of Lt. WiUiam Stebbins and Mary
Stebbins. She died in Middleborough, October 21, 1805,
Their child
Stephen Williams Stebbins, was born June 6, 1758.
He was graduated at Yale College, and settled at Strat
ford, as a minister for 29 years. He married Miss
Eunice Street, daughter of the Rev. Nicholas Street, of
East Haven. Their children were, WUUam, born July
16, 1786, Eunice Sophia, died May, 1806, aged 19.
Anna married the Rev. Mr. Storrs. Rev. Mr. Stebbins
settled at West Haven, and was ordained in the year
1815. Mrs. Stebbins, mother of the above famUy, died
Aug. 17, 1817. His second marriage was with widow
Sarah Beers of New Haven. WiUiam Stebbins, son of
the Rev'. Stephen Williams Stebbins, settled at West
Haven, and married Miss Lucretia P. Reynolds, April,
1817, daughter of Deac. Samuel Reynolds of SomerS.
His chUdren were, Samuel WiUiams, born July 13, 1818.
Eunice Sophia, born Aug. 10, 1821, Edward Reynolds,
born Aug. 19, 1824, Stephen Alfred, bora Dec. 1828,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 87
Mrs, Stebbins, second wife of the Rev. Mr. Stebbins,
died very suddenly whUe sitting in hei; chair, Dec. 16,
1837.

V. The Rev. Warham Williams, son of the Rev.
Dr. Stephen WUUams, of Long Meadow, graduated at
Yale Collegefwas ordained at Northford, a parish
in Branford, Conn., June 30, 1750, and was married
Nov. 13th, 1752, to Ann HaU, daughter of the Rev.
Samuel Hall, of Cheshire. Their chUdren were
Warham, married Ann Wilford.
Samuel Hall.
Jonathan Law.
Davenport, married Mary Atwater.
Ann, married the Rev. Jason Atwater, after his death
the Rev. Lynde Huntington, and after his death the Rev.
Mr. Barker.
WiUiam Augustus, married Betsey Chapin, of Hatfield.
Lucy, married EUhu Foote, of Northford.
AbigaU, died.
AbigaU, married Stephen Maltby.
Eunice KUbourne Cooke.
Samuel. Sarah, bora March, 1776, married Dr. Pynchon.
,. Ann, the mother, died March, 1776. The Rev. Dr.
Williams, father of the above, married again to Mrs.
Whiting, widow of Col. William Whiting, of New Haven.
Dr. WiUiams died ^pril, 1788. He was for many years
a member of the corporation of Yale CoUege.
¦ V. Ensign Samuel Williams, of Long Meadow,

88 FAMILY OP WILLIAMS.
son of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams, of that place,
was married Feb. 14, 1760, to Miss Lucy Burt, daughter
of Deacon Nathaniel Burt. Their chUdren were
Lucy, bora May '9, 1761, died in 1815.
AbigaU, born in 1763.
Sarah, born May, 1765, married 1798, to Rev. Rich
ard S. Storrs.
Eunice, bom Feb. 6, 1767, married in 1786, to
Doctor Sheldon.
Martha, bora December 30, 1769.
Ann, born March 22, 1772.
Samuel, bora Sept. 23d, 1774, a bachelor, lives now
(1847) on the old place formerly occupied by his grand
father. Rev. Dr. Stephen WiUiams.
Jerusha Mather, born June 6, 1783, married Mr. Col
ton, of Long Meadow, and died in 1843. She was a
very accomplished lady, for many years Preceptress in
Deerfield Academy.
Mr. Williams, father of the above famUy, died at Long
Meadow m 1807,
VI, Abigail Williams, was married June 24th,
1793, to Mr. Levi Hackley ; he was kiUed by the fall
ing of a tree. They lived at, ElUsbury, in the State of
New York, After his death they returned to Long
Meadow. Their children were Levi, Stephen WUliams.
Samuel, born Dec. 1798. AbigaU, born AprU 26, 1800,
AbigaU, mother of the above, married the second time to
Deacon Amasa Loomis, of East Windsor, died July 3d,
1886, aged 73. — Levi, son of Levi above, and Abigail
Hackley, married Mary Vincent. Their children were

family of WILLIAMS. 89
Samuel, born Sept. 1820, Nathan Williams, born 1824.
WiUiam Sheldon, bom Dec. 1826, died 1827. Stephen
WiUiams, son of Levi Hackley, married Marian Phil-
more. Their children are, Abigail Loomis, Malvina
Woodward, Amasa Loomis. Samuel, son of Le-vi Hack-
ley, married Amanda Averill, born March 28, 1824.
VI. Martha Williams, daughter of Ensign Samuel
WiUiams, of Long Meadow, was married to Mr. Peabody
Fitch, and went to the state of New York, where he died
in 1806. She returned again to Long Meadow with
their children. They married Jan. 17, 1798. Their
children were, Patty, bom May 17, 1799. George, bom
May 17, 1800. Mrs. Fitch died November, 1819.
V. Davenport, son of Rev. Dr. Stephen Williams, of
Long Meadow, died at Sheffield, Oct. 8, 1768, as he was
returning from the army in which he held a Lieutenant's
commission. V. Martha Williams, daughter of Rev. Dr. Ste
phen WiUiams, of Long Meadow, married to Mr. Rey
nolds, Jan. 4, 1759. He died Feb. 15, 1792. She was
again married, to Deacon Ely, of Long Meadow, Her
descendants were, Martha, Mary, Samuel, Freegrace.
Mrs. Ely's chUdren were aU by her first husband Rey
nolds, who was son of the Rev. Peter Reynolds, minister
of Enfield, Conn. EUzabeth married Deac. Nathaniel
Ely, of Long Meadow. Their chUdren were Mary,
EUzabeth, Beulah ; they lost one in infancy. Mrs. Eliza
beth Ely, mother to the above, died March 22, 1841,
8

90 FABOLY OF WILLIAMS.
aged 56 years. Married Gen. Mack, of Middlefield,
Massachusetts. She died in 1842, aged 66 years. Beu
lah married Timothy Goodwin, Esq. of Wintonbury,
Conn. She left three children. One married Mr. Kel
logg. Elizabeth married Mr. Taylor. Martha, married
Jan. 6, 1880, to Rev. Daniel Temple, Missionary, and
left Hartford for Malta. Samuel Reynolds, son of Mar
tha Ely, married Miss Pitkin, daughter of Thomas Pit
kin. Their children were, Lucy, married a Mr, Root,
Lucretia, married Mr, WiUiams Stebbins, son of Rev, Ste
phen Williams Stebbins, Martha Emily, died young.
George married Miss Patton. Martha, died April 26,
1882. David, died young. Mary accompanied Rev. Jo
seph Brewer, missionary to the Grecian Islands. Amelia
Thomas, died Aug. 20. Elizabeth. William Gatiicb
Schaffer married Miss Mary Reynolds, at Constantinople,
Feb. 24, 1884.

"=j

V. The Rev. Nathan Williams, D. D., of Tolland,
Conn., son of the Rev. Dr. Stephen WUliams, of Long
Meadow, was graduated at New Haven CoUege in 1756,j
was ordained at Tolland, AprU 80, 1760, and was mar
ried October 20, 1760, to Miss Mary HaU, daughter of
Captain EUakim HaU, of WalUngford", Conn. Their chil
dren were
Nathan, born Nov. 1761, died December, 1784.
EUakim Hall, born Jan. 16, 1764.
WiUiam, born AprU 23, 1766.
Ruth, born Nov. 11, 1770, died October 2, 1788.
AbigaU, bom Aug. 14, 1773, died Feb. 2, 1774.
Isaac, bora Sept. 24, 1776, died April 18, 1781.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 91
Rev. Dr. WiUiams, father of the above, died AprU 15,
1829, in the the 94th year of his age, and 66th of his
ministry, and a member of the church more than sev
enty years. Mrs. Mary WiUiams, mother of the above
family, died March 9, 1833, aged ninety-five years and
four months.
VI, Eliakim Hall Williams, of ToUand, son of
the Rev, Dr, Nathan WUliams of that place, was married
Jan. 3d, 1792, to Miss Mary Burt, daughter of Captain
David Burt, of Long Meadow. She died in child-birth
with her chUd, Jan. 25, 1793. He was married again,
Jan. 1794, to Damaris Carey. By her he had a chUd
stiU bom Feb. 1796. Damaris, his -wife, died Sept. 20,
1801, aged 32 years. He was married again in 1803 to
Dealia Howard. Thheir children were
Emeline, bora Oct. 10, 1803.
EUakim, bom Aug. 1805.
Isaac, born Feb. 20, 1808.
VT. William Williams, son of the Rev. Dr. Nathan
WiUiams, of Tolland, was married Sept. 4, 1798, to Miss
Sarah Burt, daughter of Capt. David Burt, of Long
Meadow. His children were
Nathan, born AprU 6, 1796.
Polly, born Nov. 18, 1797.
WiUiam, born Nov. 18, 1799.
Sophia, born Aug. 16, 1801.
David, born Sept. 29, 1803.
Augustus Davenport, bom Dec. 24.
Theodocius Dickinson, born March 3, 1808.

92 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
' V, Mary Williams, daughter of the Rev, Dr, Na
than Williams, of Tolland, married Dr. William Gros
venor, of ToUand, October 14, 1787. Their chUdren
were Mary WUUams, born Sept. 14, 1788. Nathan,
bom May 10, and died in 1790. Ruth, bom AprU, 1791,
died 1791. Nathan, bom and died in 1792. Jacob, born
Nov. 28, 1793. Ruth, bom March, 1796. Isaac and
Nathan, bom and died in 1797. Dr. Grosvenor died in
1798, aged 34 years.
IV. Eunice Williams, who was carried captive to
Canada in the year 1704, when she was eight years of
age, was daughter of the Rev. John WiUiams, first minis
ter of Deerfield, was bora Sept. 17, 1696, and died in
captivity at the age of 90 years. At the time Mr. WU
liams was redeemed, she was left among the Indians, and
no money could procure her redemption. She soon for
got the EngUsh language, became an Indian in her hab
its, married an Indian, who, it is said, assumed the name
of WiUiams, though the Rev. Eleazer WiUiams, of Green
Bay, states that his great grandmother married an In
dian by the name of De Rogers, and had three chUdren,
one son, John, and two daughters. He says it is not
true, as has been heretofore stated, that the Indian who
married Eunice, assumed the name of WUUams, but that
he (Eleazer) received the name of Williams legitimately,
or in course, as I shall mention subsequently. John the
only son of Eunice, was kiUed in the French and Indian
wars under the celebrated partizan Rogers, at Rogers'
rock at Lake George, in 1768. Some years after this,
she visited Deerfield in her Indian dress. She attended

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 93
meeting in her father's church whUe here, and her friends
dressed her in the EngUsh fashion. She indignantly
threw off her clothes in the afternoon, and resumed the
Indian blanket. Every eff"ort was used to persuade her
to leave the Indians and remain among her relations, but
in vain. She preferred the Indian mode of life, and the
haunts of the Indians, to the unutterable grief of her
father and friends. Her descendants have frequently
visited Deerfield since, and claimed a relationship with
the family and descendants of the Rev. Mr. WiUiams,
and been treated kindly by them. (See my Memoir of
the Rev. John WUliams page 52, and the following.)
Mrs. Jerusha M. Colton, late of Long Meadow, thus
speaks of her in a letter of May 26, 1836 : " My aunt
Eunice was indeed the object of great soUcitude. I have
heard my dear mother say of my grandfather, as it is
here said of my father, that she never heard him pray
without remembering her. She made her first visit here
in 1740. My uncle Eleazer, of Mansfield, Mr. Meacham,
Esther's husband, and my grandfather, met their dear
and long lost sister in Albany. The affair was negotiated
entirely by their friends, the Schuylers. It was with
difficulty she was prevailed upon to come to Albany, and
she resolutely determined to come no further lest she
should be detained ; but they finally persuaded her and her
husband to come to Long Meadow, and there visit their
other friends ; finding, although they were urged to stay,
that they could not be compelled to do any thing contra
ry to their wishes, they came the next year with two chil
dren and staid several months, visiting their friends in
Boston, and elsewhere. The Legislature of the State
8*

94 FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS.
granted them a tract of land if they would plant them
selves in New England, but she positively refused, on the
ground that it would endanger her soul. She visited here
twice afterwards, and lived to a great age." (See an
extract of a sermon preached at Mansfield, and published
on the occasion of one of her visits here, by the Rev. Dr.
Solomon WiUiams, of Lebanon, published in the appen
dix to my Memoir of the Rev, John Williams,) I un
derstand that Charles B, SallerviUe, a relative, has written
her biography in a large manuscript volume. We look
for its appearance with much anxiety. Her chUdren by
John De Rogers were
John, who died' in infancy,
Sarah, who married a Williams.
Catharine, who married Francis Here Rice.
Their children were Thomas, an only son and only descend
ant from her. He married Marian De Rice, a daugh
ter of one of the captives from Marlborough, Massachu
setts. Their children were Catharine, died 1802, aged
24. Thomas, supposed to be dead. WiUiam, died 1831.
Eleazer, Louis, John. Peter, died 1802. Mary Ann,
Charles Pitkin. Both these last died young. Jarvis.
V. SAR.4H, daughter of Eunice above, who was cap
tured at Deerfield, married an English physician by the
name of Williams, in the year 1768. The story told me
by Eleazer WiUiams, of Green Bay, her grandson, in re
lation to this man, is substantially as follows : — " In the
French war of 1756-60, an English fleet was sent out
against the French, which was separated in a tremen
dous storm near the coast of Nova Scotia. Dr. Wil-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 95
liams was on board one of the vessels, which was after
wards taken by a French man of war. As Dr. Wil
liams was a man of science, and a distinguished physi
cian, he was treated with a great deal of attention by the
I'rench physicians in Canada. He was a botanist, and
was suffered to ramble in various parts of Canada, and
was carried by the Indians in their canoes, to several of
their towns. At Caghnawga, he became acquainted
with Sarah, the daughter of Eunice, and married her on
condition that he would not move from Canada. This
physician proved to be the son of the Bishop of Chester
in England. They had one son.
VI. Thomas Williams, the father of the Rev. Elea
zer WiUiams, whom I hale seen at Deerfleld when I was
a boy. He was a captain in the British service during
the American revolutionary war. Thomas married a
French woman, so that Eleazer has part English, part
Indian, and part French blood in his veins. He had
several sons, among the rest
VII. Rev. Eleazer Williams, of Green Bay, who was
born not far from 1790. He was educated in the United
States, and studied his profession, if I recollect right, with
the celebrated Dr. Moses Welch, of Mansfield,^ Conn.,
who married a daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Ashley,
of Deerfield. He is now (1847) preaching to the rem
nant of the Stockbridge tribe of Indians at Green Bay,
in Wisconsin Territory. He is an Episcopalian, in Dea
con's orders, though educated a CongregationaUst. He
has received marked attention throughout the country,

96 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
and is a highly distinguished man. He married Miss-
Mary Hobart Jourdan, a distant relative of the King of
France, from whom he has been honored with several
splendid gifts and honors, among the rest a golden cross
.and star. He has a son John, born .... now (1846)
on a visit to the king of France by his request.
IV. Rev, Warham Williams, of Waltham, Mass.,
was a son of the Rev. John Williams, of Deerfield, and
was taken captive with his father at the time of the taking
of that town, and carried into Canada, being then but four
years of age. After he graduated at Harvard CoUege he
studied divinity with the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of North
ampton, who married his maternal grandmother, (Mrs,
Esther Mather) relict of the Rev, Eleazer Mather, and
daughter of the Rev, John Warham, He appears to
have had a mind of a superior order, was weU skiUed in
the learning of the day, and was highly useful and respect
ed. He was born Sept, 16, 1699, graduated at Harvard
College 1719, ordained minister of Watertown west pre.
cinct, now Waltham, June 11th, 1723, Sermon preach
ed by the Rev. WiUiam WiUiams, of Hatfield ; married
Miss AbigaU Leonard, of Newton, May 23d, 1728. In
a manuscript Journal kept by the Rev. .Israel Loring,
minister of Sudbury, Massachusetts, he speaks of Mr.
WUliams as follows : — " He was a good minister of Jesus
Christ ; one well qualified for the work of the ministry,
and faithful in the discharge of it." In common with
the rest of the family, he felt a deep soUcitude for his sis
ter Eunice, who remained in Canada, and in his diary for
the year 1740, and 1743, mentions her visi,ts to her

FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS, 97
friends. His diary for 1741 is not found, in which year
she also came to New England, The last sermon he
preached was Feb. 10, 1761, from II Thessalonians, i : 7.
As he was pronouncing the benediction, he was struck
with palsy, and carried home. From this he never
recovered, but died on the 22d of June foUowing. He
preached a sermon at Deerfield the Sabbath following the
death of his father, 18th June, 1729, from Heb. xiU : 7,
which I have in manuscript. His wife Mrs. Abigail Wil
liams survived him, and died Sept. 18, 1789, aged 86.
I am indebted for the above, to the Hon. Charles K.
WUliams, Chief Justice of Vermont, his grandson. He
also forwarded me the following notice taken from the
Boston Gazette of Aug. 6, 1761.
" Waltham, June 22d, 1751. — This evening died here
the Rev. Mr. Warham Williams, the faithful and beloved
Pastor of the church in this town. He was son of the
venerable Mr. John WUUams. When between four and
five years of age, he was taken with the rest of the fam
ily by the Indian enemy, Feb. 29, 1708-4, and carried
to Canada. Great kindness was shown him by the In
dians, who sometimes carried him in their arms, and some
times drew him on sleds over the snow and ice. Provi
dence designed his preservation that he might in time
to come be an active and useful instrument in advancing
the kingdom and interest of Christ among us. He was in
captivity near upon three years, and then returned to his
native country, having entirely lost the English language,
and could speak nothing but French. However he soon
recovered his mother tongue, was put to school, and made
great proficiency in the Lartin. At the age of sixteen

98 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
was admitted into Harvard College, where he was very
studious, and improved much in aU kinds of useful lea-rn-
ing, took his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1719, and
Master of Arts in 1722. June 11, 1728, he was or
dained to the pastoral care of his fiock, and has ever since,
except a few of the last months, carried on the whole work
of the ministry ; discharging his office with much success.
The advantages of a pious education made an early,
deep, and lasting impression upon him. He was eminent
ly endowed with ministerial gifts and graces, copious and
fluent in prayer, with expressions well adapted to aU oc
casions and circumstances; methodical, solid, and judi
cious. In his preaching, his subject was always to the state
of his own people, or the conduct of Divine Providence
towards our nation and land. His voice was indeed small,
yet there was always an agreeable warmth and fervency
discovered in the delivery ; a spirit of piety towards God,
and compassion to the souls of men, breathed in aU his
public performances. He was zealous in promoting the
most substantial things of religion, and in bearing testi
mony against everything -vicious and immoral, and espe
cially among his own charge, very prudent in managing
religious aff"airs, whereby peace and good wiU were re
markably preserved in the town, and what crowns aU, he
adorned his profession as a christian and his character as
a minister, by an exemplary, holy conversation. Those
who knew him best valued him most. He bore his last
Ungering sickness with great patience, and fuU resigna?
tion, having a comfortable hope of his interest in the spe'
cial love and favor of God through Jesus Christ. When
a friend said to him, " I hope God wiU yet spare you for

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 99
a blessing to your famUy and to your fiock," he replied :
" Were it put to me to choose whether to live or die, I
worild cheerfully refer it back again to God, arid say,
' Lord not as I wiU, but as thou wUt.' " He has left a
sorrowful widow and five children.
On his gravestone is the following inscription :
" Here lie the remains of the excellent, pious, and
learned Divine, the late Rev. Warham WUUams, the first
and beloved Pastor in the church at Waltham. He was
indeed a burning and shining light of superior natural
powers and acquired abiUties, diUgent in study, apt to
teach, fervent in prayer, accurate and instructive in
preaching, prudent and faithful in discipline, tender and
skillful in comforting, grave in his deportment, agreeable
and edifying in conversation, meek towards all men, con
stant and candid in friendship, endearing in every rela
tion, resigned in adversity, a bright example in behavior
and doctrine, universally esteemed, and died greatly la
mented. In the pulpit, 18th of February, he was struck
with palsy, which put an end to his valuable life, June
22d, 1751, in the 29th year of his ministry, and 62d
year of his age. His flesh also resteth in hope." He

l'^^fLxv^kriHAiXin.fjy2{i^

married in 1724 to Miss AbigaU Leonard, of Norton.
She died of cancer at Ihe age of 86. Their chUdren
were <
John, bom March 21st, and died March 24th, 1728,
AbigaU, born March 21st, 1730, died June 4, 1805,
Ann, bora May 24th,. 1732, She married Rev. Job

100 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
. Gushing, D. D., of Waltham, and but two or three of the
children, it is believed, are now alive.
Eunice, born in 1738, died in 1843, aged 90. Sam
uel died Feb. 27, 1742, aged 8 years. Sarah, born
Sept. 20, 1737, died in 1800, aged 63. Leonard, bom
July 30, 1739, died in 1799, aged 60. Eleazer, died in
infancy. Samuel, bom AprU, 1743, died Jan. 1817.
V. Abigail Williams, daughter of the Rev. War
ham Williams, above, married to the Rev. Samuel Wood
ward, of Weston, Mass., who was ordained Sept. 25,
1761. He graduated at Harvard College in 1748 ; was
married Jan. 11, 1768. Their children were, j^Hgail,
born 1753, died 1756. Sa^gl, born 1756, died 1780,
graduated at Harvard College. Miranda, bom 1760,
died 1832. Sylvester, born 1761. died 1761. Cyrus,
born 1762, died 1782, member of Harv. CoU. Wafflam,
born 1765, died 1804. Sarah, bom 1767. Martha, born
1772, died 1789. Eleanpr, born 1769, died 1787.^jEu-
nice, born 1771, diedl774. John, bom 1776, died VtW
Mr. Woodward, father of thelibOve family, died Oct. 5,
1782, aged 56, 31st of his ministry. His widow married
Col. Thomas MarshaU, Dec. 6th, 1795. After his death
she remained a widow, and died June 4th, 1806, aged
75. Samuel Woodward, son of the Rev. Samuel and
Abigail Woodward, who graduated at Harvard College,
was a physician, and married Miss Martha Horton, Feb.
2, 1782. He died Feb. 29, 1785.
Abigail Woodward, daughter of the Rev. Samuel and
AbigaU Woodward, married Rev. Samuel Kendall,
D. D., of Weston, Oct. 12, 1786. Their children were

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 101
Sophia, born July 16, 1788. Samuel Woodward, born
May, 1790. AbigaU Woodward, born Aug. 1793. Mrs.
KendaU, mother of the above family, died Aug. 31, 1793.
Miranda Woodward, daughter of the Rev. Samuel
Woodward, married Rev, Samuel Kendall, D, D., March
16, 1794. Their children were, Frances, bom Feb. 26,
1798. Payson, bora Jan. 31, 1801, died Feb. 1882, edu-
cateid at Harvard College, preceptor for a short time,
in Deerfield Academy. Sophia Kendall, daughter of the
Rev. Samuel KendaU, was married to Mr. Thomas Mar
shaU, of Boston, Sept. 4, 1813. Their chUdren were,
Sophia Kendall, born 1814. Thomas Harris, bora 1816.
Elizabeth Baker, born 1817. James Fowler, born 1818.
Sarah Woodward, born 1819, died 1823. AbigaU Mary ,
born 1821, Martha Prince, born 1822, died 1831.
Charles Francis, born 1827, died 1882, Sarah Frances,
bom 1829, Jane Maria, born 1880, Samuel W, Ken
dall, son of Dr. KendaU, married October 13, to Char.
lotte Richards. Their chUdren were, Samuel Woodward,
born 1815, married to Miss Jane Brigham, 1838. Char
lotte Richards, bom 1816. Mrs. KendaU, mother of
the above family, died August 22, 1816, aged 23.
V. Anna Williams, daughter of Rev. Warham
Williams, married Rev. Jacob Cushing, who was ordained
at Waltham, Nov. 22, 1752. They were married Nov.
8, 1768. Mr. Cushing was bora in July, 1730. Their
chUdren were, Warham, born 1754. WiUiam, bom 1766.
Prentice, bom 1758, died 1786. Anne, born Feb. 21,
1761, died in 1806. AbigaU, born 17B'8, Leonard, bora
1765, died in 1795- Bridget, bora 1770. None of the
9 "^

102 family of WILLIAMS.
above chUdren are now alive, (1847). The Rev. Jacob
Cushing, father of the above family, died Jan. 18, 1809,
in the 79th year of his age and the 67th of his ministry.
He preached at Weston the Sabbath preceding his death,
and, as many observed, with the animation of a young
man. Mr. Woodward, minister of Weston, aud class
mate with Dr. Cushing, and brother by marriage, preach
ed his last sermon at Waltham. Mrs. Cushing, mother
to the above family, died October, 1815, in her 84th
year. Warham Cushing, eldest son to the Rev. Jacob and
Ann Cushing, was married to Lucy Harrington, Jan. 1,
1782. Their children were, Lucy, bom Oct. 25, 1782.
Polly, bom July 28, 1784. Ann, bom May 3, 1787.
Charles, bom July, 1790. Martha, born June, 1793,
died 1810. Leonard, born June 30, 1796. Mary Ann,
bom August 16, 1799. Augusta, born Dec. 9th, 1802.
Warham Cushing, father of the above famUy, died Jan.
11, 1804, aged 50. His wife died in 1829.
WiUiam Cushing, son of Rev. Jacob and Ann Cush
ing, was married to Susan Bigelow, April 28, 1781.
Their children were
Leonard, born 1782.
Sally, born 1784.
Prentice, born 1788.
Susannah Bigelow, bom Dec. 1790, died 1808.
Jacob, bom 1797. '
AbigaU Cushing, daughter of Rev. Jacob and Ann
Cushing, was married to Ephraim RusseU, Esq. of Stow,
AprU, 1802. Their only chUd, Eunice Merrick, was
born in 1803. Esq. RusseU died in 1814, aged 64.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 103
V. Sarah Williams, youngest daughter of Rev.
Warham Williams, and AbigaU his wife, married the
Rev. Joseph Parsons, of Brookfield, Nov. 23, 1763.
Their only chUd Sarah, was bom Sept. 4, 1764. The
Rev. Joseph died June 17th, 1771. Mrs. Parsons was
married June 12th, to the Rev. Eliphalet WUUams of
East Hartford, in 1777. Their children were, Fanny
Leonard WiUiams, died in 1792, aged 11 years. Abi
gaU, bora 1783. Mrs. WiUiams, mother of the above,
died in June, 1800, in the 63d year of her age. Ser
mon preached by the Rev. Dr. Strong, of Hartford, at
her funeral.
V. Dr. Leonard Willi-AMS, of Waltham, was son of
the Rev. Warham Williams, and Abigail, his wife. Set
tled in Waltham, as a physician. He was one of the
Justices of the Quorum. He was representative from the
town, town clerk, and treasurer. He never was married.
He died Nov. 1799, aged 60.
V. Rev. Samuel Williams, LL. D., was son of the
Rev. Warham WiUiams, of Waltham. He was bom at
Waltham, Mass., AprU 23, 1748, married Miss Jane KU
bourne, May 6th, 1768, died June 2d, 1817, aged 74.
He graduated at Harvard CoUege in 1761. WhUe there
he was selected by Professor Winthrop to go with him to
Newfoundland to observe the transit of Venus, in conse
quence of which he was not present at the commence
ment. He was licensed to preach by the Association of
Ministers at Cambridge, Oct, 11, 1763, having spent the
intermediate time between his graduation and being licen-

104 family of -WILLIAMS.
sed, in teaching school at Waltham. He preached some
time in Concord, Mass., as a candidate, and afterwards at
Bradford, where he was ordained, Nov. 20, 1766. In
the year 1780, he was appointed HoUis Professor of Math
ematics and Natural Philosophy at Cambridge. During
his residence at Bradford, Benjamm Thomson, afterwards
Count Rumford, studied philosophy, &c. under him, and
was a member of his family for some time, and with whom
he corresponded untU the year 1791. The Rev. Dr.
Pierce, and the Rev. Dr. Bamard, of Salem, also studied
with him, and he preached their ordination sermons. Du
ring his continuance at the University, by the request of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and at the
request of the Corporation of Harvard CoUege, he went
to Penobscot Bay to observe a total eclipse of the sun.
By order of the General Court of Massachusetts, the Lin
coln galley was fitted out for his accommodation. He went
on board October 9, 1786, accompanied by Stephen Sew-
aU, Professor of the Oriental Languages, James Winthrop,
Librarian, Fatisque Vernon, A. B., and Messrs, Dudley
Atkins, John Davis, (afterwards Judge of the District
of Massachusetts) George HaU, John Dawson, (after
wards member of Congress from Virginia,) and Jeremiah
Van Rensellaer, student of the University. The ecUpse
was observed October 20th, 1780, During his stay at
Penobscot, he received every attention and poUteness
from Capt, Henry Mowart, commander of Her Britannic
Majesty's naval force at Penobscot, In the journey,
he was accompanied by Mr.  King, a Sophomore,
and also by his son Samuel. He kept a regular journal
of his proceedings and observations.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 105
He received while at Cambridge as Professor, the hon
orary degree of Doctor of Laws from Yale College at
New Haven, Conn,, and also from the University of Edin
burgh, and was an active member of the American Acad
emy of Arts and Sciences, and furnished several papers
which are printed in the first volume of their memoirs.
He was elected a member of the Meteorological Society of
Manheim, Germany, and of the PhUosophical Society in
PhUadelphia. In the year 1786, he was appointed one of the agents
on the part of Massachusetts, to assist in running and as
certaining the line of jurisdiction between the Common
wealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York.
He afterwards removed to Rutland, Vermont, and
preached there for about six years. Afterward he preach
ed at Burlington for about two years. He gave a course
of lectures at the University, was appointed by his Excel
lency, Governor Tichenor, under the act of the Legisla
ture in 1806, to ascertain the boundary of the State of
Vermont, which service he also performed. His pubUsh
ed works are :
Two Sermons on Regeneration, published in 1766.
Sermon on the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Barnard,
1778. Sermon on the Love of our Country, 1775.
Sermon on the ordination of Mr. Pierce, 1780.
Sermon on the Evidence of Personal Christianity,
1799. Sermon on the Love of our Country, 1799.
Sermon at General Election in Vermont, 1794.
Sermon delivered before the Centre Lodge.

106 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Natural and CivU History of Vermont, pubUshed in one
volume, at Walpole, 1794.
Revised Second edition of do, in two vols., 1809.
He left a work, which is yet unpublished, entitled
" Philosophical Lecture on the constitution, duty, and re
ligion of man." He also left sermons, manuscripts on
Astronomical, Philosophical, and Mathematical subjects,
and on the variation of the magnetic needle. For the
above facts, I am indebted to his son. Gen. Charles Kil-
bourne WUUams, Chief Justice of Vermont.
The following obituary notice of him was published in
the Rutiand Herald, Jan. 8, 1817 :
" Died in this vUlage, after a short iUness, Rev. Samuel
Williams, LL. D., Edinburgh and New Haven, formerly
HoUis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso
phy, Harvard, Member of the Meteorological Society in
Germany, and of the PhUosophical Society, PhUadelphia,
and of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Massachu
setts. " In the death of the Reverend and leamed gentieman,
his family have sustained an irreparable loss, and his nu
merous friends and acquaintances will long and deeply
lament a dispensation, which has thus deprived them of
the virtuous, elegant, high and dignified mental entertain
ments always enjoyed under the beams of this great, phil-
losophic, scientific, and Christian luminary. Nor is it
with an ordinary sensibiUty that every class of society
wUl regard so great a deprivation — for notwithstanding
the respectful attention of the good and the great, he
would often descend from that eminence to which he was
scarcely less entitled by his uncommon literary attain-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 107
ments, than by his profession as a Christian minister, to
the humble walks of life, when by his frankness, sincerity,
and the suavity of his manners, he captivated the affec
tions, and dispensed deUght and instruction to aU around
him." The funeral service was preached by the Rev. Heman
Ball, D. D., from a text which he selected in his life time ;
part of the 43d Psalm, ^ : " Unto God my exceeding
joy." His reUct, Mrs. Jane WiUiams, died March 24th,
1829. Both -were buried in the old burying ground,
Rutland East Parish. Their chUdren were
Jane, bora Jan. 22, 1769.
Samuel, born Oct. 8, 1771.
Leonard, born Nov. 6, 1776, died March, 1812.
Charles KUbourne, born 1780, died 1780.
Charles KUbourne, bom Jan. 24, 1782.
Judge Charles K. WiUiams, and Jane, (Mrs. Osgood)
are now (1847) the only surviving children in the family.
VI. Gen. Charles Kilbourne Willliams, LL. D.,
youngest son of Doctor Samuel WiUiams, of Rutland,
graduated at Williams College in 1800, and received
the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Middle
bury College, Vermont. He has had many other highly
distinguished civU and military honors conferred upon
him, and is now (1846) Chief Justice of the State of
Vermont. He married Miss Langdon. Their chUdren
are Lucy Jane, bom Jul^ 2, 1818.
Charles Langdon, bom March 14, 1820.
Caroline Maria, bom AprU 5, 1824.

108 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Chariotte Eloisa, born May 8, 1825.
John Warham, born Sept. 21, 1827.
Susan Lathrop Langdon, born Oct. 7, 1828.
Mary Augusta, bom June 15, 1831.
Samuel Chauncey, bom Oct. 20, 1832.
VI. Miss Jane Williams, daughter of Samuel Wil
liams, LL. D., married Nathan Osgood, Esq., June,
1790. Their children were
Nathan WUUams, bora 1791, died 1812.
Caroline Maria, bora 1792, died 1812.
Clementine, born 1794, died 1832.
Jane Augusta, born Sept. 14, 1799.
VI. Sarah Parsons, daughter to the Rev. Joseph
Parsons, and grand-daughter to the Rev. Warham WU
liams, of Waltham, was married July 25th, 1792, to Mr.
Samuel Pitkin, who graduated at Yale CoUege in 1779,
and settled at East Hartford. I am greatly indebted to
her, through her daughter, Mrs. Col. Baldwin, of Boston,
for many of the notes in relation to the genealogy of the
Williams family, published in this volume. The follow
ing memoir of this distinguished lady is from an obituary
notice of her from the New England Puritan. It affords
me much pleasure, through the politeness and generosity
of Col. J. P. Baldwin, and Mrs. Sarah P. Baldwin, of
Boston, to present the portrait of this eminent woman to
my readers.
" Died at East Hartford, Conn., on the 1st of Decem
ber, 1843, in the eightieth year of her age, Mrs. Sarah
Pitkin, widow ofthe late Samuel Pitkin, Esq. ' She was

H' 4

MJRg. 3AB.AK .TPITXIF.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 109
bom Sept. 4, 1764, and was the only chUd of the Rev.
Joseph Parsons of Brookfield, Mass., and Sarah, his wife,
who was the daughter of the Rev. Warham WiUiams,
first minister of Waltham, Mass., and through him she
was a lineal descendant of the Rev. Richard Mather of
Dorchester ; the great family ancestor of the Mathers ;
and of the Rev. John Warham, of Windsor, Conn., who
both came from England. On the paternal side, she de
scended from Hezekiah Usher, Esq., one of the original
founders of the Old South Church, Boston. She was be
reft at the early age of seven years, of her affectionate
father, who assiduously endeavored to educate her in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord, and who succeeded
in implanting in her young mind, strong reUgious impres
sions, and a love for intellectual acquirements ; which
proved a great source of pleasure to her in after life.
" After the decease of her father, her excellent mother
bestowed upon her the best means of education which the
metropolis of Massachusetts afforded at that period. The
tenderest sympathies of our nature had been early incul
cated by her parents, and in mature Ufe they were fully
developed in all her social duties. As a wife, she was an
example of faithful and devoted aff"ection. As a mother,
she was unceasing in her endeavors to prepare her chU
dren for usefulness on earth ; but her most earnest and
constant prayer and purpose was to train their immortal
spirits for the blessedness of heaven.
" Her kindness to those whom Providence placed un
der her roof as domestics, was proverbial ; she shrunk
from no exertion, however hopeless the case might ap
pear to others, to instruct the ignorant that they might be

110 FAMILY OF WILLI-AMS.
enabled to peruse for themselves God's Holy Word.
Many a domestic who has gone from her mansion, to re
side in different sections of our country, will bless her
memory for the religious instruction which has fallen from
her lips, and persuaded them to seek acceptance with
God through the merits of their Savior,
" Her attachment to ministers of the Gospel commenc
ed in her chUdhood, as her ancestors both paternal and
maternal were almost exclusively from that portion of the
community who were chosen to minister at the Altar,
When she became the wife of one who participated in aU
that interested her, their hospitable dwelling was open for
the reception of many devoted and pious clergymen. And
the early missionaries who were sent by the Connecticut
Missionary Society at its first organization, to carry the
gospel to the newly settled portions of our country, found
in their happy home, a cordial welcome. She was bless
ed for more than forty years of her pUgrimage with the
unceasing and unwearied kindness and affection of a com
panion whose memory is cherished by many in the com
munity with deep reverence and love. The works of
Erskine, Newton, Henry and Scott, with kindred writers,
were her chosen companions, and she drank copious sup
plies daily, of spiritual nourishment, from her Bible and
these precious authors. For many years she was an in-
vaUd, but God's holy word and promises, during her
hours of pain and debility, were her refuge and her
strong tower. When the summons arrived for her de
parture from earth, it found her with her lamp trimmed
and burning brightly. Her last hours were soothed by a
devoted daughter, who caught from her lips, her last

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. Ill
words of affection, and these words were addressed to her
Savior."

ON THE DEATH OF MRS. SARAH PITKIN, RELICT OF THE
LATE SAMUEL PITKIN, ESQ., OF EAST HARTFORD.
How beautiful the pure in heart go up
To see their God. The spoiler hath his will,
Or seems to have, upon the moveless pulse
And marble eyelid ; — yet the victor palm
Is in His hand, the ever strong to save,
-Whom they have trusted ; and his bidding done,
Meek and unswerving. Thus it was with her,
-Who at the birth of this first wintry morn,
Laid down the burdens of mortality,
The placid beauty of an earlier date
Still linger'd round her features, and her eye
-With its deep, loving lustre spoke of peace
That the world could not give. Even iti her hours
Of dark bereavement, not a shadow stole
Between her hope and Him who chastened it ;
But making still His holy wUl her own
She gathered joy for sorrow. Many a heart
Oft 'neath the shelter of her mansion cheer' d
Will miss her warmth of hospitality,
And the free bounty by her hand dispens'd
To ignorance and want. For she had been
A succor of many — and her name
Is unto them, as a remember'd breath
Born of sweet summer flowers.
And thus she stood
Clad in that panoply of faith and prayer

112 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Serenely on the verge of four score years —
Prompt at her Master's call, and ripe for heaven :
Then leaning one the "breast of filial love,
Took her last, peaceful sleep. So beautiful,
The pure in heart go forth to meet their God.
L. H. S.
Hartford, Friday, Dec. 1, 1843.

Their children were
Sarah Parsons, bora Feb. 21, 1799.
Samuel Leonard, born AprU 1, 1808.
Samuel Pitkin, father of the above famUy, died Dec.
24, 1889, in a very happy frame of mind. His God and
Savior was with him. Sarah Parsons Pitkin, daughter
of the above, married July 80, 1818, to Col. James
Fowler Baldwin ; settled in Boston. Their chUdren were
James Parsons, bora Augftst 2, 1819, died Dec. 11,
1830. Samuel Pitkin, born Dec. 31, 1822, died 1830.
Cyras Pitkin, born Aug. 11, 1829, died in 1882. AU
the above children were interred at Woburn, Dec. 11,
1832. One coffin contains their precious remains.
Col. Leonard Pitkin, son of Samuel Pitkin, Esq., and
Mrs. Sarah Pitkin, was married at New Haven, Dec. 21,
1881, to Mary Ann Lewis, daughter of the late Dr._Nar
thaniel Lewis, of New Haven. Their children were,
Sarah Augustus, bora Feb. 22, 1888, died Sept. 8,1836.
Mary Lewis, bora AprU 5, 1836. WUUam, born March
28,1838. Charles Lewis, bom March, 1840.

EAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 113
rV. Major Elijah Williams, of Deerfield, son of
Rev. John WUUams, by his second wife, was bom Nov.
13, 1712. He inherited his father's mansion, and home
lot while he lived. He was educated iat Harvard Uni
versity, and graduated there in the year 1732. He was
distinguished for his activity and zeal in aU the interest
ing concerns of the town, and was an efficient officer in
the Militia, holding the office of Major. He was, also,
an able magistrate, and held the office of town clerk for
many years. If I am not mistaken, he has been a repre
sentative in the General Court in the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts. In the Indian wars he removed to Enfield,
Conn., where his first wife died. Returning again to
Deerfield, he was appointed one of the Judges of the
county court. His first wife was Miss Lydia Dwight, of
Hatfield. Their children were
SybU, bom 1736, died Oct. 15, 1760.
Sarah, bom 1738,
Abigail, born Jan, 17, 1739.
Lydia, born March 28, 1740..
Sarah, bom June 11, 1743.
Eunice, born Dec, 17, 1740,
Lydia, the mother, died at Enfield, Jan, 26, 1749.
Major Elijah WUliams was married again, Jan. 1750,
to Miss Margaret Pyncheon, daughter of Col. William
Pyncheon. Their children were
John, bom Jan, 6, 1761, died August, 1816.
Elijah, born 1745, died 1793.
Major Elijah WiUiams, father of the above family, died
July 10, 1771, Margaret, his -widow, died April 16,.
1772, 10

114 FAMILY OF WILLI-AMS.
V. John Williams, Esq., of Deerfield, son of Major
Elijah WUUams, above, by his second wife, and grandson
of the Rev. John WUliams, of Deerfield, was born Jan.
6, 1751, and died in 1816, aged 66 years. He gradua
ted at Harvard University in 1769. He was a man ex
tensively known and appreciated in the commonwealth,
as well as in his native town. Few men have conferred
greater obligations upon their feUow townsmen than Mr.
Williams ; and few, during the course of their Uves have
been so basely requited for their services. It is often
the case that the public do not know how to appreciate
the services of a distinguished individual until after his de
cease, and then that public which had been foremost in
depreciating and vUifying the conduct of an eminent
man, have often been the first to acknowledge his virtues
and worth. It was so in relation to Mr. WiUiams. Al
ways foremost in projecting plans of roads, bridges, ca
nals, &c. he has, by many been considered visionary in his
projects, and they have been resisted and opposed by the
interested and the selfish. It was so in relation to the
bridge between Deerfield and Greenfield, the canal at
Montague, and several roads in the county of Franklin.
Time has proved all these, and many other works and
plans which he proposed, and aided in carrying into ope
ration, to be of incalculable benefit to the pubUc.
He was a most able magistrate, sustaining the offices
of Justice of the Peace, and of the Quorum. He received
a beautiful set of plate from the bank of Philadelphia,
for his active exertions in detecting the counterfeiters
upon that bank, in the county of Franklin, Massachu
setts.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 115
He has been a member of the Senate, of the House of
Representatives, and I believe of the CouncU of Massa
chusetts. He was one of the Trustees of WiUiams Col
lege. He was also one of the founders of Deerfield Acad
emy, and for many years one of the most efficient of its
Board of Trustees. At his decease, he bequeathed his
property, to the amount of several thousand doUars, to
that flourishing institution, and by his Uberality, he has
placed it on a footing with many of our respectable col
leges. He was for many years a Fellow of the Massachu
setts Historical Society.
In private life, he was pleasant and facetious in conver
sation — those who knew him best could best appreciate his
worth. At the festive board, he was full of wit and anec
dote, as could be attested by the men of his age, and
others who have often participated with him at the walnut
crackings, turkey suppers, and convivial entertainments
which were so common in that age of festivity and mirth,
and which we have often heard described with interest by
his contemporaries.
He was always afflicted with feeble health. Forty
years before he died, he burst a blood-vessel in his lungs,
at Boston, which at- that time bled most profusely, threat
ening to put an immediate period to his life. He was
ever afterwards afflicted with a cough, and consumptive
complaints, which he warded off" by the most rigid atten
tion to diet, dress, and the avoidance of cold. He mar
ried .Miss Pyncheon, of Springfield in the year 1770.
By her he had two sons. His second wife was Miss Eu
nice Woodbridge. His sons were
Richard, bora at Nantucket, in 1775, studied law with

116 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Judge Sedgwick of Stockbridge, and died at Deerfield in
-1796, aged 21 years.
John, bora in 1778, graduated at Harvard Umversity
about the year 1792. In the latter part of his life he
¦followed the sea, and went two voyages to the East In
dies, once as a mate, and once as a Captain of a vessel.
He made one voyage to Mocha on the Red Sea. On his
return from this voyage, he died of consumption, at the
Isle of Bourbon, in the year 1806.
V. Elijah Williams, Esqr., son of Major Elijah
WiUiams, of Deerfield, was born in the year 1746, and
died in .1793. He graduated at Cambridge in 1764,
and studied and practised law at Keene. He was a loy
alist in the Revolutionary war, and went to Nova Scotia
during that period. He died at Deerfield.
IV. Abigail Williams, daughter of the Rev. John
WUliams, of Deerfield, by his second wife, was bom Sept.
7th, 1708. Her first husband was Col. Hinsdale, I be
lieve the founder of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. He
died in 1768. After his decease, she married Col. Ben
jamin Hall, of Cheshire, who died Jan. 1773. After
his death, she married Col. Benjamin Silliman, of Fair
field, Conn., grandfather, I believe, of Professor Eenjar
min SUUman of Yale CoUege. Soon after Col. Silliman's
decease, she returned to Deerfield, and died in the man
sion of her father, Dec. 3d, 1781, and was carried to
Hinsdale and buried there, by the side of her first hus
band. She left no chUdren.
IV. Sarah Williams, daughter of the Rev, John

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 117
Williams, of Deerfield, was born Sept. 1716. She lies
interred in Waltham burying ground. The notes of Mrs.
Pitkin say, that she died Jan. 25, 1734, but the records of
the town of Deerfield say that she died Feb. 19, 1786-7.
HI. Ebenezer Williams, son of Samuel WiUiams,
of the 2d generation, early moved to Stonington, in Con
necticut, and lived upon the farm purchased of Owaneco,
Indian Sachem. He was born Dec. 6, 1666, married
Mary Wheeler, daughter of Isaac Wheeler, of Stonington,
Jan, 24th, 1687, the very day, I understand, which John
WiUiams, of Stonington, son of Isaac WiUiams, of Roxbu
ry, married another daughter of Isaac Wheeler, Ebene
zer died Feb, 18, 1746-7, aged 80, The following is
his autograph :

£&a^txgY 'h'^^ams^

His chUdren were
Theody, born Oct, 29, 1687.
 bora Sept. 17, 1691, died Sept. 20, 1691,
Mary, born Jan. 7, 1694.
Samuel, born Feb. 8, 1696,
Theody, born Jan. 8, 1701.
Selina, born Dec. 18, 1708.
EUzabeth, ) twins, bom Oct. 21, 1706.
Ebenezer, )
Martha, borri April 8, 1708.
Mrs. Mary WiUiams, wife of Ebenezer, died Jan. 3,
10*

118 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
1708. He married his second wife, Miss Sarah Ham
mond, July 12, 1711. Their chUdren were
Two, died in infancy.
Nathan, bora July 24, 1716.
Elisha, bom Jan. 12, 1718-19.
Mrs. Sarah WiUiams, second wife of Ebenezer above,
died Sept. 6, 1761.
V. Samuel Williams, son of Ebenezer Williaios
above, married Jemima Sheldon, Nov. 3, 1720, and had
no chUdren by her. His second wife was Mary WUUams,
whom he married April 26, 1725. Their children were
Mary, bom Jan. 22, 1727-8. Jemima, bom Nov. 25,
1780. Samuel, bora Nov. 2, 1734-5. CaroHne, bom
July 8, 1735, died Oct. 26, 1738. Jesse, bom Jan. 13,
1741-2. — (^Town Records of Stonington, by J. K, Trvm-
hull, Fsq.)
IV. William Williams, son of Samuel Williams of
the third generation, married Sarah Stevens, of Roxbury,
and moved to Pomfret in 1720. He died the 21st of
June, 1766, in the 70th year of his age. She died June
6th, 1786, in the 80th year of her age. Mr, WUliams
was a deacon of the first church in Roxbury, Their chil
dren were
Samuel.
WUUam, married Martha WUliams. , , j j*-
Thomas, Yale CoUege. *u jHO^xi l* »¦*» 9/Jr^^
Nathan, died June 17, 1763, in his 29th year.
Timothy and EUakim, drowned in a mUl pond, 1796,
aged 16 and 16. Joseph.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 119
Dorothy, married Samuel Sumner, of Pomfret.
Samuel. Sarah married Rev. Joseph Sumner, of
Pomfret, Conn.
Lucy, married Col. Danielson, of Killingly.
V. Samuel Williams, son of WUUam WiUiams above,
had three wives ; by his first he had four children, by his
second three, who arrived to manhood. He died on the
4th of Feb. 1805, aged 89 years.
V. William Williams, son of WiUiam above, married
Martha WiUiams, of Roxbury. Their children were
Martha, married a Goodale, born AprU 29, 1756, died
May 3, 1796.
Eliakim, bom Nov. 6, 1756, died Sept. 6, 1768.
AbigaU, born Sept. 2, 1758, died June 19, 1805, mar
ried Joseph Downing, nine children.
WiUiam, born March 28, 1761, died June 6, 1783.
Lucy, born Jan. 14, 1764, married Ammi R, Tufts,
six children.
Joseph, bora Dec. 30, 1766, married EUza Yeisor.
HoweU, born June, 1769, died July 18, 1819, married
Dorotha Wheat.
Mary, bora June 30, 1771, died 1838, married Rufus
Brown. John, born May 9, 1774, died 1838,married Mary Gady.
Nathaniel Felton, bom Dec. 80, 1779.
V. Thomas Williams, son of WiUiam WiUiams, of
the 4th generation, was educated at Yale CoUege, was a
preacher of the gospel, but never ordained. He maaned

120 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
a daughter of Gov. Wolcott. He had three chUdren,
one son, and two daughters. He died on the 3d of
AprU, 1778, in the 58d year of his age.
V. Joseph Williams, youngest chUd of Deac. WU
Uam WUUams, of the 4th generation, was born Sept. 18,
1742, and died June 17th, 1813, aged 71. He married
Lucy, a daughter of Deac. Nathan Witter, of Brooklyn,
Conn., Jan. 11, 1775. She died June 10, 1831. Their
children were
Lucy, married William Goodell, who had by her
Mary Ann Carter.
Lucy.
Deborah Williams.
Eunice.
'^ ' VI. Ebenezer, who married Betsey Scarborough, and
had the following chUdren :
Ebenezer. Hannah.EUzabeth.
Maria.Harriet. Joseph.
/ VI. Rev. Thomas Williams, minister of Providence,
son of Joseph Williams, of the 6th generation, married
Ruth Hale. Their children were
Thomas Hale.
Nathan Witter.
Mary.

¦FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 121
Joseph Stephens.
Sarah.
Ann. Stephen.
Branch.VI. Nathan Williams, son of Joseph WiUiams, of
the 5th generation, married Phimela Day. Their chU
dren were
Warham.
Nathan.
John.Albert. Waty.
Deborah. Julia.VI. Warham Williams, son of Joseph WiUiams of
the 5th generation, married Mary Day. Their chUdren
were Calvin.
Mary.Sarah.Harriet.
EmUy. Edwin.
VI. Deborah Williams, daughter of Joseph, of the
5th generation, married John Litchfield. Their chUdren
were Lr^cy.

122 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Joseph.Joseph WiUiams.
Joseph WiUiams above, and his six brothers, sons of
Deac, WUUam Williams, lived and died near the place of
their birth. They are buried in the grave-yard in Brook
lyn, which was formerly part of Pomfret. (Letter from
Rev, Thomas Williams,)
VI, Howell Williams, son of WiUiam WiUiams, of
the fifth generation, married Dorothy Wheat. He was
born June 24, 1769, died July 18, 1819. His wife was
born Feb. 4th, 1768, died July 14, 1823. Their chil
dren were
Samuel May, born Oct. 4, 1796, married Sarah Scott.
Henry HoweU, bom Dec. 24, 1796, married Rebecca
WUliams. Sophia Jenkins, bora Aug. 9, 1798, married Samuel
P. St. John, Jr.
Nathaniel Felton, bora Aug. 6, 1800, married EUza
beth Dobson.
Eliza Yeisor, bora March 10, 1802, married Otis
Sweet. John B. Toalman, no issue.
WiUiam Joseph, born Oct. 10, 1803, died Aug, 6,
1822, at St, Jago de Cuba,
Mary Ann, born March 28, 1805. ) ^^j^^g
Mather Reed, born March 28, 1805. i
VII. Samuel May Williams, son of HoweU Wil
liams above, married Sarah Scott. He is one of the
most distinguished citizens. He has resided at Galves
ton for many years, and is one of the most prominent and

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 123
influential citizens of the State of Texas. Their chUdren
were Jesop Vittoria.
Sophia Caroline,
WiUiam HoweU,
Mary Dorotha,
Austin May.
Eliza Ann,
Sarah McKinney.
Caroline Hall.
Vn. Henry Howell Williams, son of HoweU WU
Uams, of the 6th generation, married Rebecca WiUiams.
Their children were
John Wilkins.
Samuel St. John.
James Wright.
VII. Sophia Jenkins Williams, daughter of How
eU of the 6th generation, married Samuel P. St. John.
Their chUdren were
Russell Baldwin.
Caroline Grosvenor.
Henrietta Sophia.
WiUiam Henry.
Howell WUUams.
VII. Nathaniel Felton Williams,-, bom Aug. 6,
1800, son of Howell Williams, of the 6th generation, mar
ried EUzabeth Dobson, for his first wife, and for his sec
ond wife Martha E. Williams, daughter of Nathaniel Fel-

124 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ton WiUiams, Esq. He is a very distinguished and noted-
man in Texas. By his last wife he has no issue.
By his first wife he had
Sarah Elizabeth, bora May 16, 1828.
Frances Ellen, born Feb. 10, 1833.
Samuel Otis, born Dec, 17, 1837.
George HoweU, bom Nov, 28, 1830,
John Dobson, born Aug. 31, 1835.
VII. Mary Ann Williams, daughter of HoweU
WUliams of the 6th generation, married David Reed,
Their chUdren were WUUam HoweU, Eliza WUUams,
Sophia St, John,
VII. Mather Reed Williams, son of HoweU Wil
liams, of the 6th, married Mary Ann Dealany. Their
children were
EUza Ann.
Mary Jane.
Nathaniel Felton.
William Howell,
VI, Nathaniel Felton Williams, Esq., late col
lector of the Port of Baltimore, a most distinguished
merchant in Baltimore, was born December 30th, 1779.
He was the last and is the only surviving son of WiUiam
and Martha Williams, of the fifth generation. He was
married to Elizabeth Redman Beck, Nov. 17, 1808, who
was born Nov. 28d, 1789, and died Dec. 17tii, 1826.
Their chUdren were
WUUam Paul, bom Aug. 26, 1809, died Sept. 1, 1809.

family of WILLIAMS. 125
Emily Louise, bom Aug. 27, 1811.
Henry Paul, bom July 29, 1818, died Sept. 10, 1844.
Martha Elizabeth, born July 18, 1815, married Na
thaniel F. WiUiams.
Charles Thompson, born Nov. 30, 1816, married Ann
Porter. VII. Emily Louisa Williams, daughter of Nathaniel
Felton WiUiams above, married Bethuel W. Hewson.
Their children were, John WiUiams, Emily Alice, Clara
Margaretta, Pauline Beck, Anna Virginia, Mary Eliza
beth, Helen Louisa, Martha Williams.
IV. Rev. Ebenezer Williams, of Pomfret, Conn.,
was son of Samuel Williams, of the third generation, and
was born Aug. 12, 1690. Graduated at Cambridge,
1709, and was ordained at Pomfret, Oct. 26, 1716, died
March '28, 1758. He was a very distinguished divine,
and so early as the year 1718, he was in-vited by the in
habitants of Pomfret to become their minister, but, for
some reason not understood, he was not installed there till
the 26th of October, 1716, though he had preached there
a long while before. The following notice of him is
given by the Rev. D. Hunt, Pastor of the church in
Pomfret, in his history of that place, in a sermon deliver
ed by him on the day of annual thanksgiving, Nov. 19th,
1840. " Of the personal history and ministry of Mr. WU
Uams, we have but little knowledge ; as he left almost no
records concemmg himself or his people. We know,
however, that he was the grandson of Deacon Samuel
WUliams, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and nephew of Rev.
11

126 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
John WiUiams of Deerfield, who was carried into captivity
by the Indians. Tn a sermon preached on occasion of his
death, by Solomon Williams, D. D., of Lebanon, he is
represented as a fine scholar ; a sound and discriminating
divine ; and as possessing great weight Of character
among the ministers and churches in this part of the
state. He was FeUow of Yale College, and his connec.
tion with that institution was regarded as of great im-
•portance. In the latter part of his life he is represented
by tradition, to have become exceedingly corpulent, so
much so that he could not reach his feet ; and when he
was absent from home on councUs, or for ecclesiastical
purposes, as he often was, his delegate had to perform
the office of foot -dresser.
" His ministry was highly valued by the people of the
town, and the attendance upon it was large, so that be
fore the societies of Brooklyn and Abington separated,
the house could not well contain those who came to hear
him ; and frequent discussions and meetings were held,
respecting a new house.
" The state of the church during his ministry was evi
dently prosperous and .happy ; though there is not evi
dence of so great a number of conversions, as sometimes
takes place in such a congregation. Of the number who
united to form the church at first, we have no knowledge.
During the first eighteen years of Mr. WUUams' ministry,
one hundred and ten persons were admitted to its com
munion, of the remaining twenty years there is no record.
No reason is known why an equal number should not
have been added during this period.
" Mr. WUUams died much lamented by his people,

FAMILY OF WILLI-AMS.- 12T
March 28th, 1753, in the 68d year of his age, and thirty-
eighth year of his ministry in this society. His funeral
charges were defrayed by the society. The officers of
the church during Mr. Williams' ministry, were his
brother WiUiam WiUiams, afterwards of Brooklyn, Ben
jamin Sabin, and PhUemon Chandler.
" The chUdren of Mr. WiUiams were Samuel, Chester,
for many years a distinguished minister of the gospel in
Hadley, Mass., and father of the late Rev. Mr. WiUiams,
of Brimfield, and of Mrs. Emmons, wife of the late Dr.
Emmons, of Franklin, Mass. Ebenezer, an influential
citizen of this town and a Colonel of the militia in the
revolutionary war. Nehemiah, and Hannah, who mar
ried Gen, Huntington, and was the mother of Generals
Ebenezer and Zachariah Huntington, and grandmother of
Hon. Jabez W. Huntington, our present Senator in
Congress." v.. Rev. Chester Williams, son of the Rev. Ebene
zer WiUiams above, was graduated at Yale College, or
dained at Hadley, married Miss S. Porter, Sept. 3d,
1744. Their chUdren were
John Chester.
Nehemiah, settled at Brimfield, married Miss Piercy
Keyes. Penolopy, married Samuel Gaylord, 1770.
Martha, married Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, of Franklin,
1779. Rev. Chester WiUiams, father. of the above, died Oc
tober 13th, 1755, in the 36th year of his age. The fol
lowing inscriptiop is on his grave stone at Hadley.

128 FAMILY OP WILLIAMS.
" Here rests the body of the Rev. Mr. Chester WiUiams,
in whom bright parts, soUd leaming, unfeigned piety,
happy elocution, universal benevolence, hospitality and
Christian love, combined to form the exemplary pastor, the
kind husband, the tender parent, the delightful compan
ion, and the faithful friend, who departed this life, 13th
October, 1766, aged 36.
His widow married Samuel Hopkins of Hadley.
VI. Nehemiah Williams, was son of Rev. Chester
WUliams, above, minister of Brimfield, Massachusetts.
He was graduated at Harvard College in 1769. He was
ordained at Brimfield in 1775. His death took place in
1800. As a preacher, he was distinguished for the en
ergy and pathos with which his discourses were delivered,
and he was an able advocate of the doctrines embraced by
strict Calvinists. He was one of the first members of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His life
was most holy and benevolent, but on his dying bed he
declared that his hope of salvation rested wholly upon the
free and sovereign mercy of God through Jesus Christ.
At the moment of his departure, he cried: — "I have
finished my course with joy," and clasping his hands as
devotion, expired without a groan or a struggle. A post
humous volume of twenty-four of his sermons was pubUsh
ed.— (.AHen's Biog, Diet, JSr, Y, Theol, Mag,) " He
continued in the ministry twenty-one years and nine
months, when he was removed in the midst of his days,
leaving a numerous famUy. He possessed to a great ex
tent the .confidence of his people, and a good degree of
harmony prevailed during his ministry. As a public

family of WILLIAMS. 129
speaker he was universally acceptable. His preaching
was evangelical and plain. — {Amer. Qiiart, Reg,)
His chUdren were,
Peggy, born 1776. Ebenezer, born 1777. Stephen
Keyes, born 1779. Nehemiah, born 1780. A daugh
ter, died in infancy. Lewis, born 1784. Lucy, born
1786. WUUam, born 1790. Sarah Porter, bom 1792.
VI. Major John Chester Williams, was son of the
Rev. Chester Williams, of Hadley. He married Miss
Lucy Dickinson in 1770. Their children were
Henry Dickinson, bom Oct. 6, 1771.
Emily Brown, bora 1773.
Mary, born 1775.
Sarah, bom 1782, died 1812.
Chester, bom 1784.
A daughter died in infancy.
Horace, born 1785.
V. Col. Ebenezer Williams, son of the Rev. Ebe
nezer WUliams of Pomfret, was bom Nov. 22, 1723. He
was a very distinguished man, and often represented the
town of Pomfret in the legislature of the State. He died
in the year 1783. He lived and died in the town of
Pomfret. Whether it was his military turn or the spirii
of the times that called him frequently into the ser-vice of
his country, is not known. He had a command at Fort'
11*

130 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Edward in 1757, and was an officer in the revolutionary
war, continuing in the service till compelled to return on
account of declining health, and bore tbe title of Colonel
at the time of his death, but whether it was in the State
service, or an office in the regular army, I am not able to
say. (Letter of Eleazer Williams, Esq, of Richmond, Dec,
29, 1846.) He married Jerasha Porter, who was born in
1730, She died about the year 1806. By her he had
the following chUdren. .j
Sarah, born May 8, 1750, died Dec, 15, 1764.
Penelope, bom Feb. 25, 1762, married Ames Keyes,
1772. Large fa,mily.
Jerusha, bora Dec. 21, 1758, died Jan. 25, 1764.
Jerusha 2d, born March 10, 1757, died March 3d,
179-, noted for piety.
Eleazer, born Oct. 18, 1768, died April 6, 1769.
Mabel, bom Sept, 14, 1760, died Dec. 6, 1764.
Hannah, bora Sept. 12, 1762.
Eleazer, born July 10, 1764, died Dec. 27, 1764.
Nehemiah, born Jan. 16, 1766, died July 27, 1802,
Elizabeth, born April 2, 1768, died Jan, 16, 1796, mar
ried Elijah Holt,
Charles, born Nov. 7, 1770, died July 9, 1777.
Ebenezer, born 1766, a preacher, but never settled, ^ed
young, in 1777.
EUsha, Hon, (Hudson, N. Y.) born Aug. 29, 1773.
VI. Nehemiah Williams, son of Col. Ebenezer Wil-
Uams above, was born Jan. 15, 1766, moved to Richmond,
Massachusetts, and died there in 1802. His chUdren
were

Buffoid's Ittk

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 131
Eleazer WUUams, born  merchant in Richmond.
Ebenezer K. WUliams, Richmond.
VI. Hon. Elisha Williams, of Hudson, N. Y., son
of Col. Ebenezer WUUams, of Pomfret, was bom Aug. 29,
1773. After the death of his father. Captain Seth Gros
venor, of Pomfret, was appointed his guardian, who at
tended to the education of the young man, who finished
his law studies with the late Judge Reeves, of Litchfield,
Conn., and was admitted when twenty years of age^ after
which with his horse, portmanteau, and less than twenty
dollars in money, he started to seek his fortune in the law.
He first brought up at Spencertown, N. Y., and after a
short time married the second daughter of his guardian.
Miss Lucia Grosvenor, in 1795, and in 1799, he removed
to Hudson. He had five children by his wife. The first^
A daughter, who died in infancy.
Jerusha Paten, who married James H. Teackle, from
the eastern shore of Virginia. They are both dead, hav
ing two chUdren, a boy and girl. The first is now married
and settled in Utica, N. Y., and bears the name of his
grandfather, Elisha WiUiams Teackle ; the girl is also
married, and resides in the city of New York.
Abby Grosvenor, who resides in the city of New York,
is unmarried. Grosvenor Elisha, who graduated at HamUton College,
with credit, but who died in 1819, at the age of 19.
An unfortunate weakly boy, who died in 1836.
Mr. WUUams died at New York, June 29, 1888. His
wife died in 1838. (Letter from Seth Grosvenor, Esq.,
Dec, 24, 1846.)

132 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
The following notice of the Hon. EUsha WUUams is
from the pen of Chancellor Kent, the most distinguished
jurist in New York, now living at a very advanced age.
No. 7, Union Place, Dec. 12,, 1846.
Dear Sir, — I have no particular anecdotes worth re
lating, relative to my friend, the late EUsha Williams, Esq.
of Hudson. He came to the bar about the time I first
took a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court, April,
1798, and he became, a few years after, a very succcess-r
ful and eminent advocate at the bar, and rose rapidly and
brilliantly in business and reputation. While I was' Judge
untU 1814, he frequently tried cases before me at the cir
cuit, and he was eloquent, ingenious and impressive,, and
showed especiaUy his sagacity and judgment in the exam-^
ination of witnesses at the trial, and his addresses to the:
juries were always forcible, witty, argumentative, and sin
gularly attractive, and heightened by a volubility of his
language, and melody of his voice, and his commanding
eye, and dignified and attractive person. He very soon
excited my esteem and aifection, admiration and friend,-
ship, and they continued to grow with his growth, and his
success during the whole course of his distinguished and
very celebrated career. I left the Supreme Court Bench,
and became Chancellor in 1814, and there he a^ pearedi
as a CounseUor. But causes in Chancery gave no scope
for his eloquence, but left free to operate his skill;, judg^
ment showed at times his briUiant display of his imaginar
tive powers. Mr WUUams was deficient in law learning
amd Uterary acquirements, but he supplied the want of
them by his unrivaUed quickness of parts and comprehen-

.FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 133
sive observation, and I always listened to him with great
attention and pleasure.
His goodness of heart, his benevolent feeUngs, his
tenderness, his generosity and liberality, were displayed
in all his intercourse with me, and I believe with the
world. It was impossible to be much in company with
him, and not to love and admire him. That was my
case eminently, and there was no person at the bar that
had more devoted and aff'ectionate friends. While at
Hudson, I went up to see him in his last sickness. I was
awfully struck with his death-like appearance, and the
lost lustfe of his countenance. He received me with
exceeding respect and tenderness, and my presence drew
tears from his eyes.
I would advise you to recur to the testimonies of the
bar when it met to commemorate his death, and to pour
forth their feelings of respect, on the 29th of June, 1833.
The New York bar met in the City HaU, and the speeches
and resolutions on the occasion were published, and were
a glowing tribute to his memory and character. So also
the bar assembled at the term of the Supreme Court at
Utica, July, 1833, and his character was eminently and
justly portrayed. They spoke of the wonderful eff'orts of
his inteUect, and of the power of his surpassing eloquence,
the fearlessness and generosity of his noble nature.
These resolves were published in the Utica Observer at
the time. I have no leisure at present to enlarge on the
interesting theme, and I hope the few hasty reminiscences
I have recaUed, may answer- in some imperfect degree
your wishes. I am. Dear Sir, yours truly,
(Signed) Jambs Kent.

184 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
The following' are the resolutions - and notices of him
by the New York bar, soon after his decease.
" At a meeting of the gentlemen of the bar, held in
the City Hall this morning, July 2d, 1888, on account of
the recent death of Elisha Williams, Esq., Mr. Chief
Justice Jones was appointed Chairman, and WUUam John
son, Esq.,. Secretary.
" JunGE Oakley, after some feeling remarks on the
character of Mr. WUUams, ofi"ered the following. resolu
tions, which on being seconded by Mr. Griffin, who
added a warm and merited eulogium on the talents and
virtues of the deceased, were passed unanimously.
" Resolved, That in the death ofthe late Elisha Wil
liams, we deeply feel the loss of a respected and be
loved brother, who was alike an honor to the profession,
and an ornament to society, for the kindness and urbanity
of his manners, and the sincerity, generosity, and benev
olence of his heart ; for the undeviating honor of his pro
fessional and private life, and the rich intellectual treas
ures which distinguished him, as weU by their profession,
as by the prudence with which they poured forth at the
call of professional duty and private friendship.
^^ Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize -with his
afflicted family in the bereavement which they have suf
fered ; and as a mark thereof, as weU as respect for the
deceased, we wiU attend his funeral, and wear the usual
badge of mourning for thirty days.
" Resolved, That these resolutions, signed by the

JfAMlLr OF WILLIAMS. 185
Chairman and Secretary be published, and a copy there
of be presented to the family of the deceased.
(Signed)
SAMUEL JONES, Chairman,
William Johnson, Secretary,
July 2d, 1833.
" In submitting the above resolutions which we have
given in this authenticated form. Judge Oakley rose, and
addressed the meeting as follows :
" We are assembled as members of a profession, of
which Elisha Williams was a distinguished ornament.
Our purpose is to pay respect to his memory. It is due
to his character as a lawyer and a man. His high pro
fessional reputation is knoAvn to us all ; his kind and gen
erous heart, to those who knew him intimately. We can
all unite in admiring his powerful intellect — his brilliant
wit — and matchless eloquence — but in those of us who
enjoyed his friendship, his death has awakened deeper
feelings than those of admiration. I speak of him as I
knew him, in few and simple words, — as a lawyer whom
few excelled, — and as a true hearted and liberal minded
man, to whom there was no superior. He has died too
soon for those who knew and loved him, a well eamed
fame, which his friends will delight to cherish. I submit
to you these resolutions, as expressive of the sentiments
and feelings, in which I trust, we can all unite."
Mr. George Griffin seconded the resolutions, and added
the following remarks.

186 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
" Mr. Chairman — In seconding these resolutions, it is
not my design to enter upon a detaUed panegyric of the
deceased, that wUl form a noble subject for the biogra
pher. It is my purpose simply to allude to a few of the
most prominent features that distinguished him. A
stranger would scarcely have been in company with EU
sha WiUiams, without being aware that he stood in the
presence of an extraordinary man. To be con-rinced of
this, he need not have witnessed the flashes of his wit,
sparkling from its own intrinsic brilliancy, nor his souk
subduing pathos — nor the displays of his deep knowledge
of human nature. There belonged to the deceased an
eye, a voice, a majesty of person and of mien, that
marked him for superiority. With these advantages, it is
not surprising that his eloquence should have commanded
the universal admiration of his contemporaries. It was
peculiar, it was spontaneous — it was variegated — it was
overwhelming — now triumphing over the convinced and
subdued understanding — now bearing away in willing
captivity the rapt imagination — and now knocking with
resistless energy at the doors of the heart.
" I have alluded to his knowledge of human nature.
It was indeed more varied and profound than I have ever
witnessed in any other advocate. It seemed to have
been his by intuition. ' He needed not,' as Dryden
said of Shakspeare, ' the spectacle of books to read
nature : he looked inward, and found her there.' By a
kind of untaught anatomy, he was capable of dissecting
Dur intellectual and moral frame. It was this quaUty
which ga;ve him his transcendent power in the examina
tion and cross-examination of witnesses ; enabling him to

FAMILY' OE WILLIAMS. 137
drag forth the truth in triumph from the inmost recesses'
of its hiding place. He owed Uttie to early education.
Like Shakspeare, whom he resembled in wit, in imagina
tion, in brUliancy, in knowledge of the human heart, in
creative powers, he was the architect of himself. Nor
was he, even in after Ufe, distinguished for laborious
study. His communion was with his own mighty mind.
Like Prometheus he borrowed his fire from heaven alone,
and without under-rating professional attainments, or the
profound and patient research necessary for their acqui
sition, perhaps it may be said, that in the peculiar case
of Mr. Williams, it was well for him, and for the public,
that ho poised himself so exclusively on his own re
sources. If by this means he imparted less of the
thoughts of others, he imparted more of his own ; if he
displayed less of the love of other times, he displayed
more of the treasures of his o-wn rich inteUect.
" At the outset of his career, he attained distinction,
and he remained in the first rank of his profession, untU
near the age of sixty, when ill health induced him to re
tire with undiminished powers. I was associated with
him in his last professional effort in this Hall ; when, like
the clear setting sun, he shed upon the horizon that he
was about to leave forever, the fuU and gladdening radi
ance of his matchless eloquence.
" Nor was his heart inferior to his head. He was the
most dutiful of sons, the kindest of husbands, the most af
fectionate of fathers, the best of neighbors, and the most
faithful of friends. He had ever ' an eye for pity, and a
hand open to melting charity.' He was the poor man's
gratuitous adviser, and liberal benefactor. His charities'
12

138 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
were more munificent than his means ; and the blessing of
many a one who was ready to perish, have ascended^ be
fore him to the throne of God. I close this brief sketch
by a cheering allusion to a subject with which earthly
honors, and even eloquence itself, captivating as it is,
dwindle into comparative unimportance. For many years
past, and indeed from early youth, the deceased had been
in theory an unwavering believer in the truths of our holy
religion, and when the time of retirement gave him better
means for refiection, there are grounds for concluding that,
these truths made a deep lodgment in his heart. His
religious communications with the pastor of the -vUlage to
which he had retired, were of a very satisfactory nature.
In his last joumey to this city, he was often employed in
secret devotions ; during the night preceding his death,
he was overheard pouring out his ardent prayers to the
Father of Mercies, and there are, we may trust, good rea
sons for believing that brUliant spirit of his, is now a min
istering angel in a better world."
The foUowing resolutions of the gentiemen of the Bar,
at Utica, at the sitting of the Supreme Court there on the
2d of July, 1833, which were sent me by John F. Ket
tle, Editor of the Utica Observer, wUl also show the esti
mation in which he was held by his professional brethren.
Daniel Cady, Esqr. was chosen Moderator, and
Greene C. Brown, Secretary. A Committee of seven
were appointed to draft resolutions, of which John C.
Spencer, Esqr. was Chairman, who reported the foUowing,
which were unanimously adopted.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 139
" The committee of the Bar attending the July term of
the Supreme Court, have received with most profound
grief, the intelUgence of the death of their honored and
beloved associate, Elisha Williams, Esqr. Of the
splendid talents, which placed Mr. Williams among the
very first of their profession, their testimony can add no
new evidence. During a professional career of near forty
years, every part of our State has had an opportunity of
witnessing the wonderful efforts of his inteUect, and of
feeling the power of his surpassing eloquence. Although
distinguished amongst the ablest debaters in our public
councUs, yet we feel it to be our right and our duty to
claim him as one of the most Ulustrious ornaments of that
profession to which his life was devoted, and in which his
greatest triumphs were achieved. To us, and to our suc
cessors, his example has furnished us a lesson of incalcu
lable value. Literally the maker of his own fortune and
fame, his path to greatness is every where strewed with
reUcs of difficulties overcome and obstacles subdued.
" But great as were his inteUectual efforts, and splen
did as was his professional course, he is more strongly en
deared to his associates and brethren by ties of a different
kind, and which even death cannot sever. The frankness
and generosity of his noble nature, which so irresistibly
won the confidence and esteem of those who knew him,
furnished unerring indications of that excellent and full
heart which was constantly overflowing in acts of the
purest benevolence, and which made him love his friend
more than himself.
" We deeply feel the loss of a brother thus endeared to
us by all the virtue that can adorn a man — -we sympa-

3.40 FAMILY QF WIL-JiIAMS,.
thize more than we can express in the afflictions of "his 'be
reaved famUy,— -we mourn for our profession thus depriv
ed of one of the brightest piUars of its honor, and .of its
glory ; we grieve for the community that has lost an in
trepid advocate, as able as he was ready to -vindicate the
oppressed, and to spurn the proud man's contumely ; and
as a fuU expression of these sentiments
" Resolved, That we will wear the usual emblems of
mourning for thirty days, and that we respectfully recom
mend to the members of the profession throughout the
State, to adopt .the same mode of, evincing their regard
for the memory of our deceased brothep.
" Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by
the Chairman to consider and report to a meeting of .the
Bar, to be held at tiie next Octobe.r term of the Supreme
Court, of the expediency of some permanent memorial of
our regard for the pubUc and private character of our de
ceased brother.
" Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be trans-
tiitted to the family of Mr. WUUams, with the assurance
of our sincere condolence with them in the afflicting dis
pensation which has deprived them of such a father and
benefactor. *' Resolved, That the officers of this meetmg cause
tjiese proceedings to be pubUshed. The following . gea-
tlemen were appointed a committee, pursuant to the third
resolution : Messrs. Benjamin F. Butier, Marcus T. Rey
nolds, Ambrose L. Jordan, Aaron Vanderpool, and Joho

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 141
C. Spencer. In the course of the proceedings, Messrs.
Alvan Stewart, Benjamin F. Butier, and John C. Spen
cer, severally addressed the meeting, on the distinguish
ed talents and high professional character of Mr. Wil
liams." (Signed) DANIEL CADY, Chairman.
Greene C. Brown, Secretary.
The following extract from a letter from Mrs. Col.
William L. Stone, through J. McKinstry, Esq., of Hud
son, gives some additional particulars in relation to Mr.
WiUiams, which are extremely interesting. I am much
obliged to her for the notice, and to Mr. McKinstry for
forwarding it to me. Col. Stone, whUe living, was very
intimate with Mr. WiUiams, and he intended to have pub
lished many facts in relation to him, in his " Life and
Times of Sir WiUiam Johnson," but the hand of death
arrested him in the midst of his labors, just as he had
completed about one half of his work, much to the regret
of the friends of science and humanity throughout the
country. It is much to be hoped that some distinguished
historian wiU take up the subject where Col. Stone left it,
and cotoplete it.
Mrs. Stone thinks that her late husband published an
obituary notice of Mr. WUliams, in his Commercial Ad
vertiser, but she cannot immediately refer to it. He
pubUshed many of his speeches and addresses before po
Utical conventions, and other assemblages. They met
on his way to New York, two days before his decease,
12*

142 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS*
E^nd felt that they had seen him for the last time. Mr.
¦V^ilUams greeted them with all the warmth and cordiality
of a parent.
Mrs. Stone in her letter observes : — " You are aware,
probably that Mr. Williams did not appear to advantage
on paper. He often has written to Mr. Stone to write,
or requesting him to write an article on a specified sub
ject, but never containing anything to interest a third
party. They always contained some friendly greeting,
and he always avowed he could not write, but that Mr.
Stone did it just as he wished it done. And I have
heard my husband say, that when in Hudson, and Mr.
Williams has wished some article written, he would say, I
cannot write an article, but I can tell it off fast enough.
I have often heard Mr. Stone lament most feelingly that
so much genius should pass away, and so Uttle tangible
traces be left of its gifted possessor. How many eloquent
appeals for the unfortunate have passed away -with the
breath that uttered them, and cannot be gathered up
again. Oh, if my husband only had embodied his reaoh
lections, what a treasure such a document would be.
Mr. Stone used often to report his speeches before the
Legislature, which I think would be found in the Hudson
paper, as he pubUshed this paper before our marriage,
and he made arrangements for remaining. I am not ac«
qnainted with the paper, but, of course there mustbe files
of it in Hudson. However, Mr. Stone always said it was
impossible for any reporter to do him justice, for unless
one could have before him his imposing figure, his beau
tiful countenance, beaming -with high inteUectual effort,
and resplendent often with flashes of wit, which seemedt

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 143
to light up all the faces around him ; unless the inimita
ble grace of his manners, as unconstrained as those of beau
tiful infancy, together with all the simpUcity and earnest-
tiess of a true heart, it would be impossible to convey one
half of the charm by which he seemed to hold aU his au
dience, and sway all the minds before him, as by one
Ihighty impulse, tiU they saw with his eyes, heard with
his ears, and laid their hearts as offerings at his feet.
• ******#«
" It is -with great satisfaction. Sir, that I hear that you
have undertaken the work before you. If it is published,
I hope I shall have the pleasure of perusing it, and most
heartUy do I wish it were in my power to furnish you
with the slightest item that would be avaUable in such an
undertaking. He certainly was the most perfect speci
men of inteUectual and manly beauty I ever beheld."
Very RespectfuUy,
S. P. Stone,
Saratoga Springs, Feb, 10, 1847.
Mr. McKinstry in remarking irpon this subject says : —
" He could write well, powerfully and ablj. He disliked
to spare time to do it, but his power of condensatioii was
prodigious, I knew him once to write a political article
for the Northern Whig, when F, Stebbins was the Editor,
one column only in reply to an attack of the " Albeiny
Dynasty," as it was called, upon the " Columbia Junta."
It was in Coleman's day, and he had followed it up in the
" Evening Post,"^ the Rufus King, or Royal' party being
leagued and affiliated with the Albany dique. Coleman
in rejoinder, in noticing the Whig article, said the gist of

144 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
the whole matter was comprised in that article, and he
had not leisure to discover any tangible point in it, and
desired on his part not to answer it, and hoped his friend
Stebbins would not unprofitably pursue to the injury of
the honors of the Federal party."
Ill, Park Williams, son of Deacon Samuel WU
Uams, of Roxbury, settled in Lebanon, Conn. He' was
born Jan. 11, 1676. The christian name of his wife was
PrisciUa. He died in 1757, aged 81. His wife in
1742, aged 71. They had the foUowing children, viz. :
Samuel, married Deborah Throop.
John, moved to Sharon, Conn.
Ebenezer.
Eleazer. WUUam. Theoda. Sarah.
Elizabeth. Martha.
IV. Samuel Williams, son of Park WUUams above,
married to Deborah Throop, Dec. 3, 1724, and had the
following children :
Deborah, born Sept. 26, 1726.
PrisciUa, bom Sept. 5, 1727, died April 9, 1790.
Joanna, bom AprU 26, 1729.
Submit, born Oct. 2, 1731.
Rebecca, born Feb. 21, 1732, died May 4, 1809.
George, bom Nov. 19, 1734, died Aug. 6, 1814.
Bathsheba, bom May 22, 1737.

family of 'WILLIAMS. 145
Mary, bom Sept. 27, 1739.
Nathaniel, bom AprU 20, 1742, died Feb. ,15, 1814.
Theoda, born Dec. 11, 1744.
.eam,uel,bora Dec. 11, 1746, died Aug. 21, 1768.
V. Nathaniel Williams, son of Samuel WiUiams
above, married Louis Sackett, June 25th, 1770. Their
children were
Samuel, born Oct, 29, 1771.
Jolm, bom Nov. 1, 1772.
Nathaniel, bom Aug. 3, 1778.
WiUiam, born Dec. 20, 1774, died 1775.
WiUiam, born March 18, 1776, lives in the State of
New York.
^George, born March 18, 1778, died at the age of 48.
Richard, born AprU 27, 1780.
Henry, bom 1782.
Erastus, bora 1784.
Lois, born June 22, 1790, lives in Lebanon, Conn.
Some of these brothers settied in Ohio ; some in New
York, and lave large femUies, The children of Nathan
iel WUliams are aU dead, but tiiree ; two sons, and one
daughter. VI. Henry Williams, son of Nathaniel WiUiams
above, is a respectable farmer residing in Lebanon, Conn.
He had three chUdren, viz :
CoraeUa, born 1818, died 1824.
Nathaniel B., bom May, 1821, has one daughter, EUa
CorneUa, born 1846.
Angeline, bom Oct; 27, 1826.

146 FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS.
IV. Col. John Williams, was son, I am quite sure,
of Park WiUiams, of Lebanon. Barber, in his Historical
CoUections of the State of Connecticut, which is copied
from Mr. Sedgwick's history of Sharon, says : " Among
the early settiers of Sharon, was John WiUiams, Esq.,
who spent his life here, and was a man of much re
spectability and influence in this town and county. He
was from Lebanon, and came into this town in 1744.
He studied medicine, but it is not known that he was en-,
gaged in professional business. He was soon appointed
town clerk, which office he held for more than thirty
years. He was the first Judge of Probate for the dis
trict of Sharon, and one of the Judges of the first county
court for Litchfield county, of which court he was for a
number of years the Chief Judge. So great was the es
timation in which he was held by his fellow citizens that
he was elected a representative from the town of Sharon
twenty-seven times. He also commanded a regiment of
colonial mUitia. There are now those Uving who have a
distinct recollection of his personal appearance, and of
the very influential character which he sustained in the
aff'airs of the town. He is represented as a man of taU
and slender frame, but of great activity, and of very dig
nified deportment. His word was law, and it was in his
presence that evU doers felt terror. He died March 14,
1774, in the 60th year of his age." At his death, which
occurred just before the revolutionary war, during a very
exciting period, as he had been a mUitary officer, he was
buried with mUitary honors. His sword was borne upon
his coffin and voUies of musketry were fired over his
grave. His chUdren were

family of WILLIAMS. 147
Eunice, married a LoveU, father of Captain Lovell,
Alice, married a Hutchinson, moved to the west and
had six children, viz, Alice, Solomon, David, Chauncy,
Eunice and Peggy.
WUUam, married Jerusha GiUett.
Margaret, married Samuel Smithson ElUot of Killing-
worth. Their chUdren were Samuel WiUiams, William
Worthington, Hannah Margaret, John, Aaron, Polly Ely,
Joseph, Benjamin, and Betsey.
Asahel, lived to a good old age, in the single state.
He. was remarkable for piety, though his intellect was in
jured by rickets in childhood. He was a scholar, and
had a remarkable memory.
Hannah married Esq. Belknap, of Newburgh, N. Y.
V. William Williams, son of Col. WUUams, above,
who married Jerusha GiUett, had the following chUdren.
John, married Fanny Wright.
WiUiam.- Eunice, married Mr. Wildman of Danbury, and had
seven chUdren.
Wealthy, married Burnham Douglass, and had eight
chUdren. Victoria, married Mr. KendaU, and had six chUdren.
VI, The children of John Williams, son of WiUiam
above were
Sally Maria, married Abner Burnham, and had five
chUdren, Jerusha, married Walter Hyde, and had three children.
Chester Wright.

148 FAMILY. OF WILLIAMS.
Seth Clark. Lucinda.
WiUiam GUlett.
Victoria.Melvina. MeUssa.JuUet.Frederick. Camillus.Ramanza. VI. William Williams, son of William Williams, of
the 5th generation above, had the foUowing children.
MeUssa.Harriet. Sarah Rosamond.
Frederic GUlett.
Henry Chapman.
V. Margaret Williams, daughter of Col. John
WiUiama of the fourth generation, married Samuel
Smithson Elliot, and had the following chUdren. Samuel
WiUiams Elliot, married Sarah Bierse, and had ten chU
dren. WUUam W. EUiot, married Eunice Thomas; o£
BaUston, and had three children. Hannah EUiot,- mar
ried Daniel B. Storrs, of Claverick, N. Y. and had one
chUd. Margaret ElUot married Salmon" Hunt, of Sharon,
and, had six children. John A. ElUot, married Joanna
Bailey, and had ten chUdren. Mary or PoUy Elliot,
married Festus Dunning of New York, and had six chU
dren. Joseph B. EUiot, ' married Hannah Waldo, of
Chatham, N. Y., and had two children..

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 149
V. Hannah Williams, daughter of Col. John WU
Uams, of the fourth generation, married Esq. Belknap,
and had the folio-wing chUdren. Abel Belknap, married
twice, but left no children. Margaret, .married Stephen
Conkliu, a merchant in New York, afterwards moved to
nUnois, and had a large family. Moses had three chil
dren. Aaron, had two children. Edwin, had four chil
dren. Julia Ann, married WUUam B, Johnson, grocer,
N, Y, She died young and left no children.
IV. Ebenezer Williams, son of Park WiUiams, of
the third generation, probably, was born at Lebanon,
Conn. From a letter recently received from the Rev.
D. WiUiams, of Feeding HiUs, Mass. it appears that his
great grandfather Ebenezer WUliams, settled at Lebanon,
Conn,, and an account which he received from an aged
uncle states, that Ebenezer, with three brothers, WiUiam,
David, and OUver, settled in Connecticut, Park WU
Uams had two sons, by the names of Ebenezer, and Wil
liam, and they, probably, were the persons alluded to by
the Rev. Mr. WUliams, of Feeding HUls. I find no
such names, however, as David and OUver among his
chUdren, WiUiam .settled at Mansfield, Conn. He may
have been the ancestor of the Hon. Llezekiah WUUams,
of Maine, The letter of the Rev, D, WUUams says,
" David settled in .Pomfret, and OUver in Killingly,
Ebenezer, my grandfather, married Mary Veach, daughter
of Andrew Veach, who emigrated (it is said) from
Scotland, and settled in Lebanon, Conn. (Goshen society).
Of_dates I have none. Their chUdren were Jonathan,
Isaac, and Veach, and a daughter, EUzabeth. Jonathan
13

150 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
married Mary Whitney, Sept, 26th, 1744, and their chil
dren were Ebenezer, bom July 2d, 1746, died Aug. 20,
1748. Andrew, bom Jan, 15, 1748, died at Clinton,
N. Y., Feb. 19, 1816. Ebenezer, born Oct. 14, 1749.
He was living five or six years since, somewhere in Jeffer
son or Lewis county. New York. Veach, born Jan. 12,
1763, died Dec. 27, 1837, aged 84. Arunah, born Jan.
6, 1766, died March 19, 1814, aged 58. Adasha,born
Jan. 4, 1758, died April, 1838, aged 80. Frederick
WUliams, my father, born Oct. 28, 1760, died MayTiftT"
1829, aged 69. Enos, bom May 1st, 1764, was Uving
in 1842, in Erie Co., N. Y. Cynthia, bora May 16th,
1767, married Dan Wattles, and removed to Pennsylva
nia. Veach, never married. Adasha, married Nathan
Bingham, of Bozrah, Conn., but left no issue. AU the
rest had families.
The children of Isaac, son of Ebenezer of Lebanon,
were John, Ezra, Hannah, and Olive. The members of
this famUy died long since. John married Mary Lee,
daughter of Stephen Lee. He left four sons and two
daughters, whose names I do not recollect. Hannah,
married Joshua West, son of Joshua and EUzabeth West,
She left two chUdren. Olive, married Charles Wattles,
and left one son and four daughters. The chUdren of
Veach Williams, son of Ebenezer, were AbigaU, Mary,
Elizabeth, WUUam, Ezra, Andrew, Lucy, Eunice, Nathan,
and Susan. The following is all the memoranda I have
of this family. Nathan removed to Norwich, afterwards
to Oxford, N. Y., where he died about the year 1833.
Eunice, married Azariah Metcalf, and lived in Otsego,
N, Y, Mary Uved in Burlington, New Jersey, Ezra,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 151
died young. Andrew settled in (Goshen) Lebanon.
He married a Tracey. Elizabeth married Osias McCall,
and settied in Lebanon (Goshen.) AbigaU married
Isaiah Loomis, and settled in the same place. Mary mar
ried Thomas Loomis. Susan married Eliphalet Dewey, and
settled in Cooperstown, N. Y. WiUiam Uved in Lebanon,
(North Street,) died in the year 1818 or '20. Elizabeth,
daughter of Ebenezer, married Joshua West, of Lebanon,
(Goshen.) Andrew, the son of Jonathan, married SaUy
Giddins, of Preston, and had eight chUdren. Ebenezer
had two sons, and one daughter. Veach was never mar
ried. Arunah was dumb, caused by the rashness of his
nurse, when an infant, who gave him a teaspoonful of
sugar and rum, which caused a violent fit of Convulsion,
in which he sprung from her lap to the floor. He left
one son who Uves in Lebanon, or Bozrah, Conn. Adasha
was married to Nathan Bingham, of Bozrah, May 4th,
1800, and was his fourth wife. Frederic W. Williams
married Mary Bailey, of Lebanon, and their children
were Erastus, bora Nov. 5th, 1787, died Feb. 25th, 1788,
age 3| months. Mary, bom Dec. 28th, 1788, who was
married to EU H. GiUett, of Colchester, Conn., Sept. 11,
1821, and had seven chUdren. WUUam, bora AprU 17,
1790. He married Amelia Townsend, of Westmoreland,
N. York, Sept. 1819, had three sons. John, born Sept.
2d, 1820. Charies Whitney, born Jan. 1828, and
David Elf. These were all living in the to-wn of Seneca,
N. Y., a few years since, say 1848. William died in
Westmoreland, Aug. 11, 1829, aged 89 years, Erastus,
bom Oct. 29, 1791, He married AmeUa BmeUne Halsey,
of Setauket, Long Island, June, 1838, Their children

152 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
were CaroUne Halsey, bom April 21st, 1839. WiUiam
Henry, bora Dec, 1840, died June, 1841, Edwin Whit
ney, bom Dec, 1841, died Dec, 80, 1846, Emeline, his
wife, died in New York, Aug, 27, 1844. Erastus is stUl
living in New York city.
Datus, M. D., born Feb. 25, 1793. He was married
to Clarissa Maria Peck, of Millington, East Haddam,
Conn., Aug. 24, 1824. They^have two sons, Henry
Egbert, M. D., born June 5th, 1825, is not settled,
George Gilbert, bom Oct. 9, 1826, is Teller in the Chem
ical Bank, New York city. Datus now lives in East
Haddam, Conn. Emma, bom June 21st, 1796, is livmg
in New York city, with her brother Merrill, was never
married. Merrill Whitney WiUiams, M. D., bora July
14, 1801, Uves in New York city. He was married to
Eliza B. Durgee, of MiUsto-wn, New Jersey, June, 1826.
They have had seven children, viz. :
Mary Jane, born July 6, 1827, died Feb. 4, 1829.
Frederic Whitney, born July 20, 1829, and is now in
College (the University of New York.) John Durgee,
bom July 22, 1832, died Dec. 21, 1848. Elizabeth
..Inn, bora March 6, 1884. Edward Augustus, born
Sept. 14, 1837, died Aug. 31, 1838. Harriet Emma,
bora Aug. 1, 1889, died Jan. 19, 1844. WUUam Gus
tavus, born Aug. 1843, died June 23, 1844. The wife
of Merrill Whitney WUUams died Jan. 22, 1844. This
is a famUy that has seen affliction. The wife and five
children have been removed by death. Four within the
space of six months, and three within one month. Two
of these lay corpses in the house at the same tune. Har
riet died Jan. 19, in the room where the mother wassfck,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.. 16B
without her knowledge, and was removed to the chamber
above. The mother died the 22d, and both were depos
ited at the same time in the same grave. Rev. Dillon
WUliams, now (1847) settied at Feeding Hills, Massa
chusetts, was born Feb. 6, 1806. Graduated at Yale
CoUege in 1886, Theol. Seminary, New Haven, 1839.
Settled at Feeding HiUs, Jan. 30, 1841. Married Mary
E. Truman, of New Haven, July 14, 1841. Their chU
dren are Henry Truman, born AprU 11, 1843. Ella
Jane, born Dec. 15, 1844, and Frederic Augustus, born
Nov. 17, 1840.
Enos WUliams, son of Jonathan WUliams, married Ru
by Loomis, of Lebanon, Dec. 8, 1785. Their chUdren
were Josiah, bom May 8, 1787. Lydia, born Dec. 7,
1788. Griswold, bora Feb. 4, 1791, died March 21,
1821, at New York, aged 30. Justin, born Oct. 28,
1792. Hezekiah, bom Oct. 19, 1798. Mary, born
June 7, 1801. Laura, born Feb. 16, 1803, died at
Hamburgh, Erie county, N. Y., April 17, 1842, aged 39.
Josiah married Mary Raymond. Their children were
Mary. Griswold, who married Catherine Olendorf. EUz
abeth and Cornelia. Griswold, son of Enos, was never
married. Justin married Sarah Newton, of Colchester,
had five children, Edwin, Mary, and others. Hezekiah
married Mary Francher, of Richfield, N. Y., lives in Erie,
N. Y. ChUdren, Ezra and Jqseph. Mary married Jus
tin TUden, and has ten chUdren.
in. Deborah Williams, second daughter of Deacon
Samuel Williams, of Roxbury, and grand daughter of
Robert, of Roxbury, married a man whose name was War-
13*

154 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ren, and had three sons : Joseph, Ebenezer, John, and
two daughters, Deborah and Hannah. From Deborah
WiUiams, it is said. General Warren, who feU at Bun
ker HiU, descended.
III. Martha Williams, third daughter of Deacon
Samuel Williams, of Roxbury, married Mr. Hunt, of
Northampton, and had four sons, viz., Jonathan, Samuel,
Joseph and John, and four daughters, Theoda, Martha,
Elizabeth and Mary.

155

SECOND GENERATION.
II. %BaaC toilliam©, second son of Robert
Williams, was born at Roxbury, Sept. 1st, 1638. He
settled at Newton, Massachusetts, which then compre
hended Cambridge, Newton was settled in 1631, I
knew but Uttle of his history. He must have been in con
siderable repute in those days, as he represented the town
of Newton in the General Court of Massachusetts, five or
six years, and it is said that he commanded a troop of
horse. He died in the 70th year of his age, and his will
was proved July 27th, 1708, He married twice. First,
to Miss Martha Park, and second, to Miss Judith Cooper.
By his first wife he had
Isaac, born Dec. 11, 1661, removed to Roxbury, died
1739, his wife died in 1699.
Martha, bom Dec, 27, 1663,
WiUiam, born Feb. 2, 1665, Harv, CoU, 1683, minis
ter of Hatfield.
John, bom Aug. 81, 1667, settled at Stonington,
Conn. Eleazer, bom Oct. 22, 1669, settied at Stonington,
Conn. Thomas, bora Oct. 23, 1673.
By his second wife he had
Peter, born Aug. 31, 1680.
Sarah, bora Oct. 2, 1688..
Ephraim, born Oct. 21, 1691, moved to Stockbridge.

166 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Among the papers accompanying the probate of his
wUl, remaining in the Probate Office at Cambridge, was
found the original protest against it, of which the foUow
ing is a copy. It was kindly forwarded to me by Isaac
Parker, Esq. of Boston.
'^ For that therein is contained a devise and gift of cer
tain lands in Newton aforesaid, to Ephraim and others,
the chUdren of our said father, by another marriage with
Judith Cooper, since the decease of our mother, the afore
said Martha, daughter of Mr. WiUiam Park, aforesaid,
our grandfather, and were never so alienated from him as
to cut off their descent, or to vest any estate in our said
father, assignable in law, which therefore we judge to be
our right, and pray that the whole of these lands of our
grandfather Park may be divided unto the chUdren of that
marriage, as our right, and as the law directs. This we
humbly offer, and hope our just demands will obtain with
your honor. If not, we shall further proceed in our suit,
and further save our challenge and exceptions to the wiU
aforesaid, before his Excellency the Governor and Coun
cU, and pray that nothing may be done by your honor in
our prejudice." (Signed) Isaac Williams,
Eleazer Williams.
III. Isaac Williams, son of Isaac, of the second gen
eration, was,Jom Dec. 11, 1661. His wife was named
Elizabethi^^'^he died at Newton, June 26, 1699. He
had ten chUdren bora in Newton. He removed to Ro.x-
bury, where he died in 1739, in his 78th year. On his

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 157
gravestone he is called " Captain Isaac WUUams." His
chUdren were
Isaac, bom Nov. 1, 1686. Wife, Martha. By his
will he made devises to his wife Martha, his sons, Jona
than and Isaac, his daughter, EUzabeth Reed, Abigail
FuUer, Mary Miller, and Hannah Rogers, and his grand
children, Ephraim, Nathaniel, and Martha Spring.
Jonathan, born Nov. 5, 1687.
Mary, born Feb. 27, 1680.
John, born AprU 30, 1689. Married Mary Goad, Jan.
18, 1712.
WiUiam, born Sept. 19, 1690. Wife's name supposed
if) be Experience.
Ebenezer, born June 18, 1691.
Samuel, born Feb. 11, 1692.
Martha, bora Sept. 12, 1694.
Daniel, born Oct. 22, 1695, Married Hannah Hol
brook, of Roxbury, 1724.
Elizabeth, born Sept. 23, 1697.
IV. Isaac Williams, son of Isaac, of the third gene
ration, had the following chUdren by his wife Martha.
AbigaU, born Oct. 4, 1710.
Jonathan, born Dec. 16, 1711. Wife's name supposed
to be Deborah.
Martha, born March 18, 1714.
Mary, born June 14, 1717.
Phebe and Hannah, (twins) born Oct. 9, 1778.
Isaac, born July 16, 1726.
V. Isaac Williams, above, had two wives. 1st, Sa-

158 family of WILLIAMS.
rah Stratton, of Cambridge, June, 1748. 2d, EUzabeth
Cheney, of Newton, Jan. 3, 1765. By his first wife he
had the foUowing chUdren.
Sarah, born Aug. 27, 175iD.
AbigaU, bora July 10, 1752.
Ephraim, born Feb. 25, 1760.
Pattee, born Nov. 2, 1763.
By his second wife he had
Amariah, born Aug. 1766, died Nov. 22, 1766.
Elizabeth, born Aug. 25, 1766.
Asa, born June 7, 1773.
V. Jonathan WilliaijES, son of Isaac WiUiams, of
the fourth generation, was born Dec. 16th, 1711. His
children by his wife Deborah, were
Jonathan, born July 1st, 1737, died July 18, 1887.
Deborah, bora July 20, 1738.
Phebe, born  .
Joanna, bom Oct, 20, 1741, married John Cheney,
Oct,, 14, 1765.
Martha, born Aug. 27, 1748.
IV. John Williams, the son of Isaac, of the thkd
generation, who married Mary Goad, were
Isaac, born Oct. 25, 1713.
Joseph, born June 11, 1716.
David, bom Oct. 15, 1719.
IV. William Williams, the son of Isaac, of the third
generation, was born Sept. 19, 1690. It is supposed that
his wife's name was Experience.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 159
Their chUdren were
AbigaU, bom July 8, 1722, died  .
William, born Aug. 3, 1723.
AbigaU, bom July 19, 1726.
Elisha, bom Oct, 12, 1727.
IV. Daniel Williams, son of Isaac, of the third
generation, was born Oct. 22d, 1696, married Hannah
Holbrook, of Roxbury, 1724. Their chUdren were
Daniel, born Aug. 15, 1725.
Isaac, born Aug. 5, 1728.
Benjamin, bom Jan. 9, 1730, married Elizabeth Boyls-
ton, March, 1766.
Phebe, married a Deane,
Mary, married a Hodges.
V, Benjamin Williams, son of Daniel WUUams,
above, had the following chUdren.
Hannah, born Jan. 9, 1767, married Thomas Dana, Jr.,
Nov. 20, 1777.
Daniel, bom Feb. 1759.
Elizabeth, born Nov. 9, 1760.
Mary, born April 1, 1763.
III. Rev. William Williams, of Hatfield, second son
of Isaac WiUiams, of the second generation, was born Feb.
2, 1665, was graduated at Harvard College in 1688, and
settled at Hatfield, Mass., as a minister of the gospel, in
the year 1685. He married for his first wife, soon after
his settlement, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Cotton, by
whom he had the following children.

160 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Rev. Solomon WUUams, D. D., of Lebanon, Conn,,
born June 4, 1700.
Rev. WiUiam WUUams, of Weston, born May 11, 1688.
Martha, bora Oct. 10, 1690, married Edward Partridge.
Rector Elisha WiUiams, bora Aug. 26, 1694.
His first wife died about the year  , and in the
year  , he married for his second wife, a daughter of
the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, who, says
ElUot, " has always been considered one of the greatest
divines of New England." (See his Biography in Elliot's
Biog, Diet, p, 440.)
By her he had
Dorothy, born June 20, 1718, married the Rev. Jonar
than Ashley, of Deerfield.
Mrs. Barnard, of Salem, born Jan. 1, 1707.
Elizabeth. Col. Israel WUliams, of Hartford, born Nov. 30, 1709.
Rev, WUUam Williams, was a man of- distinguished tal
ents. Dr. Chauncey, in his sketch of eminent men in New
England, in a letter to the Rev. Dr. StUes, of New Haven,
May 6, 1768, says of him, " I have read aU Mr. Stod
dard's writings, but have never been able to see in them
that strength of genius some have attributed to him. Mr.
WUUams, of Hatfield, his son-in-law, I believe to have
been the greater man, and I am ready to think greater
than any of his o-wn sons, though they were all men of
more than common understanding. Rector WiUiams, and
Solomon, I give the preference to the other sons," After
a ministry of considerable length, he died at an advanced
age, very suddenly, about the year 1746,
He published a sermon on the ordination of Stephen

FAMILY OF VniLLIAMS. 161
Williams, 1716: "The Great Salvation Explained in
several sermons," 1717 : " Election sermon," 1719 ; " a
sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Warham WUliams,"
1788 ; at the ordination of Nehemiah Bull, of Westfield,
" Convention sermon," 1726 ; " a sermon on the death of
Solomon Stoddard," 1729 ; " the Duty and Interest of a
Christian People to be Steadfast ;" " Directions to obtain
a True Conversion," 1736 ; " a sermon on the death of
his wife," 1746, (Allen's Biog. Diet.)
Mr, Williams' character is thus described in a sermon
at his funeral, by President Edwards :
" He was a person of unnatural common abUities, and
distinguished learning, a great divine, of very compre
hensive knowledge, and of a solid, accurate judgment ;
judiciousness and -wisdom, were eminently his character.
He was one of eminent gifts, qualifying himself for aU
parts of the work of the ministry ; and there followed a
savor of holiness in the exercise of those gifts in public
and private. In his public ministry, he mainly insisted
on the most weighty and important things in religion.
Christ was the great subject of his preaching ; and he
much insisted on those things, that nearly concern the
essence and power of religion. His subject was always
weighty, and his manner of teaching them peculiarly
happy, showing the strength and accuracy of his judgment,
and ever breathing forth the spirit of piety, and a deep
sense on his heart of the things he delivered. His ser
mons were some of them vain, but were all weighty. His
presence and conversation, did peculiarly command awe,
and respect, yet it was at the same time humble and con
descending." (Am, Quart, Reg, 1888.)
14

162 FAMILY . OF , -WILLIAMS..
The foUowing inscription is on the tablet erected to his
n^emory, in Hatfield burying groun^v
" The tomb of the Rev. WilUam WilUams, the evatiget.
icg,l Pastor of Hatfield, who died 29th August, 1741, ui
the 76th year of his age, and 56th of his ministry. ' My
flesh shall rest in hope, for Jesus &ai^,I am the resurrec
tion and the life.' "
The following is Ms autograph :

IV, Rev. Solomon Williams, D.D., minister of Leb
anon, Gt., was son of Rev. WUUam Williams, of Hatfield,
and was bora in the year 1700, graduated at Harvard ^
College in 1719. He was ordained December 5th, 1722,
and died in 1769, according to AUen, but according to .
others, in the year 1776. He was one of the distinguish-,
ed men of his day. He published a sermon at the ordir
nation of Jacob Elliot, at Goshen, in Lebanon, 1730,; a ,
sermon on a day of Prayer, on occasion of the visit of Eu
nice Williams, a daughter ofthe Rev. John WilUams, who
w^ carried captive to Canada, preached at Mansfield,
Aug. 4, 1741, The following is an extract from that,
sermon :
"You may weU think I have aU along had sou^^,
speoial eye to the uncommon occasion of prayer at this
time ; that Person here present with us, who has been,.,
for, a long time in a miserable captivity, with a barbarpus
and he.athen people, now for more than thirty-eight years j
yet among that people bred up in Popish superstition,,.

FAMILY OF -WltLIAMS. 163
blindness, and bigotry, who, by the Providence of God,
came last year, and now again, -with her husband, and two
of her chUdren, on a visit in New England. Some of you
know weU, I am sure I do, how long she has been the
subject of prayer; what numberless prayers have been' put
up to God for her by many holy souls now in Heaven ? as
well as many who yet remain on earth ? How many
groans and fervent prayers can these ears witness to have
uttered and breathed forth with a sort of burning aild
unquenchable ardor from the pious and holy soul of her
dear father, now with God. ^ I know not that I ever
heard him pray after his own return from captivity, with
out a remembrance of her ; that God would retura her to
his sanctuary, and the enjoyment of the Gospel light and
grace, in that purity and simplicity in which it shines in
our land. But in this it seemed as if he never could be
denied ; that God would not let her perish in Popish
superstition and ignorance ; but let her place be where it
would, that he would, as he easily could, find some -way
for deliverance from those snares, and thick laid strata-
gends of the de^vU, to beguUe and ruin poor soiils, and
tnake a monument of his glorious aiid Almighty grace.
And this he was wont to do with such expressions of faith
in God, and holy fervor of his soul, as seemed to breathe
himself and her into the arms of the covenant of grace.
God did not give him leave to see the performance of his
•wishes and desires for hel-, but took theba to Satisfy him in
God himself, and make him perfectiy know that not a tittle
of the covenant should ever faU ; and left her in the same
to try the faith, and caU forth the prayers of his people
etiU. We see now some dawnings towards her deliver-

164 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ance, and Uving hopes of it ; though aU endeavors of men
to persuade her here, have been heretofore tried in vain ;
it has pleased God to incline her the last summer, and
now again, of her own accord, to make a visit to her
friends ; and seems to encourage us to hope that He
designs to answer the many prayers which have been put
up for her, and by the mighty power of his Pro-ridence
and grace, to give us one extraordinary conviction, that
he is a God-hearing prayer."
He also preached an election sermon which was pub
lished, one on the death of Eleazer Williams, 1743 : Christ
the Living Witness of the Truth, 1744 ; a vindication of
the Scripture doctrine of justifying faith, in answer to
Andrew CrosweU, 1746 ; the True State of the Question
conceming the Qualifications for Communion, in answer to
Jonathan Edwards. — (Allen,)
The foUowing is his autograph :
He married Miss Mary Porter. His children were
Two by the name of Solomon, who died in infancy.
Rev. Eliphalet Williams, of East Hartford, born Feb.
24, 1727, died 1803.
Ezekiel, Sheriff of Wethersfield, born May 4, 1729,
died Feb. 12, 1818.
Mary, born Feb. 11, 1783.
Samuel, born Dec. 5, 1741, died Jan. 1742.
Thomas, Doctor, Lebanon, bora Nov. 12, 1735, died
Feb. 10, 1819.
Moses, born May 8, 1740, died in the 10th year of his

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 165
Eunice, born May 22, 1745, died June 14, 1836, aged
91 years. ,
WilUam (Govmor) Signer of the Declaration of In
dependency, bom March 18, 1781, died Aug. 1811.
V. Rev. Eliphalet Williams, of East Hartford, son
of the Rev. Solomon WiUiams, D. D., of Lebanon, married
a daughter of Rector Elisha WiUiams, President of Yale
College. Their children were
Rev. Solomon WUUams, of Northampton, bom 1762.
Rev. EUsha WiUiams, of New Hampshire, born Oct. 7,
1757. Edward, bora Nov. 14, 1762, died in 1807.
Anna, bom Sept. 16, 1769, died Sept. 5. ///i?
Mary, bom Sept. 15, 1765.
Mrs. Mary Williams, mother of the above family, died
June 28, 1776. The Rev. Dr. Williams' second mar
riage to Miss Sarah Parsons, was on the 12th of June,
1777. Their chUdren were
Fanny Leonard, bora May 6, 1781, died June 30,
1792. AbigaU, bom July 30, 1783.
Rev. Dr. EUphalet Williams, father of the above fami
ly, died June 29, 1803.
VI. Rev. Solomon Williams, of Northampton, son
of Eliphalet above, and Mary, his wife, graduated at Yale
CoUege in 177^ was ordained at Northampton, Jan.
1779, married to Mrs. Mary Hooker, 1779. Their chU
dren were
EUphalet, bora March, 1780.
14*

166 FAMILY. OF WILLIAMS.
Solomon, bora March, 1782.
Julia, bora March, 1784.
Mary, bora Dec. 1785.
James,born March, 1788.
John Hooker, bora Jan. .25, 1790.
Miranda, bora 1792, died 1815.
Samuel, born April 11, 1794.
Frances, bom Oct. 8, 1796.
Sarah, bora 1798.
Mr. WUUams was an estimable preacher and valua
ble man. He continued in the ministry at Northampton
66 years, and at the time of his decease, he had one of
the largest congregations in Massachusetts. He died,
Nov. 9, 1834, in the 88d year of his age, in a very hap
py frame of mind. " Blessed are the dead which die m
the Lord." Mrs. WilUams, mother of the above famUy,
died Feb. 1842, in the 86th year of her age.
VII. Eliphalet Williams, son of the Rev. Solomon
WilUams above, was born March, 1780. He resides, I
believe, on the paternal estate at Northampton, and is
President ofthe Hampshire Bank, and has been a Sena
tor in the State Legislature. He married Rebecca,
daughter of Daniel Phoenix, Esq., of New York, Janl
19, 1809. Their children were
Sidney Phoenix, born May 9, 1810, died March 5,
1845, a physician in PhUadelphia.
Mary Hooker, bora Jan. 12, 1812. She married Rev.
John Tyler, of Windham, Conn., Oct. 1837, Their chil
dren were Catharine E., born Aug, 3, 1838. Sydney
WUliams, bora Dec. 2, 1841. John Bennet, bora Nov.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 167
4, 1844. Henry Martin, born Dec. 25, 1846. Mrs.
Rebecca WiUiams, wife of Hon. Eliphalet WilUams, died
Feb. 3, 1818, aged 36.
VII. Solomon Williams, son of Rev, Solomon Williams
of Northampton, married Miss Cynthia, daughter of Ste
phen House, Esq,, of Middlebury, Vermont, Their chU
dren were
Stephen House, born March 4, 1807,
Mary Hooker, born Sept, 28, 1808,
John Hooker, born Oct. 19, 1810.
JuUa Rebecca, bora May 6, 1812.
Sarah, Frances Miranda, (twins) bora Feb. 5, 1816.
Eliphalet Phoenix, born Dec. 22, 1817,
Charies Edward, born  , died March 10, 1829.
VII. James Williams, son of the Rev. Solomon. Wil
liams, of Northampton, married Miss Nancy Wright, of
Northampton, Jan, 7, 1810. Their chUd was
Eliphalet Phoenix WilUams, bora Nov. 1812.
VII. John Williams, son of the Rev. Solomon Wil
liams, married Miss EUen Worth, of New York, Dec. 19,
1848. Their children were
Julia, born Feb. .7, 1845, died Aug. 1847.
Sydney, born July 31, 1847..
vn. Samuel Williams, son of the Rev. Solomon
Williams, married Mary H. Kirkland, of Norwich, Mass.,
Nov, 13, 1832, Their .chUdren were
Rebecca Phoenix, bom Sept. 28, 1833.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Elizabeth, bom Nov, 3, 1884.
John Hooker, bora Aug, 6, 1836.
Mary Hooker, bora  .
VII, Sarah Williams, daughter of Rev, Solomon
Williams, married Rev. John -WiUiams, of Stratford,
Conn., Nov. 1, 1820. Their chUdren were
WilUam Sofomon, born Jan. 26, 1822. John Hooker,
bom Sept. 26, 1824. Thomas Roger, bom July 9,
1828. James Taylor, bom July 30, 1833. Samuel
Cox, bora Sept. 26, 1886. Joshua, bora 1839.
VI. Elisha Williams, a Baptist minister, second
son of EUphalet and Mary WiUiams, of East Hartford,
graduated at Yale CoUege in 1775, married Miss AbigaU
Livermore, Aug. 30, 1780. Died in 1845.
Their children were
Sally Potter, born 1782, married Mr. Appleton, 1804,
died 1809.
Nancy, born 1783, married to B. GUes, 1804.
Sophia, bora 1786, married John Appleton, of Bever
ly, 1810.
A son died in infancy.
Hannah, born 1788, married Samuel Ober, Nov. 1812.
Samuel, bom July, 1790, died in 1818.
Charles, born in 1794.
Edward, born in 1792, married M. Snow, 1816.
Fanny, born 1797, married Ebenezer B. Jones, of
Boston. AbigaU, married Mr. Rust, of Richmond, Va., born
1799, died 1837.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 169
Mary, bora 1801, married Rev. James R. Taylor,
Richmond, Va.
EUzabeth Scott, bom 1806, died 1806.
VII. Nancy Williams, daughter of Rev. EUsha
WilUams above, married Benjamin GUes, and had the fol
lowing children. Sarah, married a Minot. Ann W.,
married a Leland. Abby S. GUes. «
VII. Hannah Williams, daughter of Rev. EUsha
WiUiams above, married Samuel Ober, and had the fol
lowing children :
Elvira Ann, died 1835.
Marian, died 1885.
Hannah. Emeline.
VII. Sophia Williams, daughter of the Rev. Elisha
Williams, married John Appleton, and had the followmg
chUdren :
John. Sarah.
Francis. Elvira.
Virginia. Charles.
Obadiah.
VII. Abigail Williams, daughter of the Rev, EUsha
WiUiams, married Mr, Rust, and had
Thomas, dead.
Cornelia.

170 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
vn. Mary Williams, daughter of Rev, Elisha WU
liams, married James R. Taylor.
Their children were
James. CorneUa. George Boardman.
Francis Ellis, who married Mary Jones, and had
Ebenezer.
Boylston. Caroline.VI. Edward Williams, son of the Rev. Eliphalet
WiUiams, of East Hartford, married in 1785, to Miss
Rachel Bamard.
Their chUdren were
Samuel Chester, born 1786, died 1786.
Nancy Baraard, bom 1784.
EUzabeth, bom 1789.
Mr. WUliams, the father, died in 1807, m the 45th
year of his age. Mr. WiUiams died in 1800.
VII. Nancy B. Williams, oldest daughter to Mr.
Edward and Miss Rachel WiUiams, was married in 1819,
to Mr. Chester Clark, of Northampton.
Their children were
Francis Parsons.
Sydney Lyman.
Edward. Susan Wright.
Albert.James,

E.B.J^£.O.KM(,jp SaHAri, Cc„

(-y/Cf' Ci.'Ut^ ,

^ FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 171
VII., Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Edward WU
Uams, and Rachel his wife, married David Parsons, of
Amherst,. Jan. 21, 1816.
Their chUdren were
CaroUne Miranda, born Feb. 6, 1819.
Edward Williams, born Dec, 28, 1817.
Charles Henry, born Dec. 1, 1821,
Ezekiel WilUams, born May 28, 1825,
Elizabeth Barnard, born Dec, 14, 1827,
Harrietta Sophia, bom Oct. 31, 1830.
V Nancy Porter, born March 9, 1833.
Mrs. E. Parsons died Oct. 5, 1844, aged 65.
D. Parsons married Mrs. Lucy Howell, of Hartford,
Dec. 16, 1845.
V. Ezekiel Williams,, of Wethersfield, son to the
Rev. Dr. Solomon Williams, of Lebanon, was a highly
distinguished,.man,,and held many distinguished civil and
mihtary offices, during the exciting period of the Ameri
can revolution. He was, for many years, high Sheriff of
the county of Hartford. The citizens of that State are
under lasting obligations to him for his services.
The following notice of him, is from the pen of the Hon.
Thomas S.. WilUams, Chief Justice of Connecticut.
" During the time ' that tried men's souls,' he was warm
and active in the cause of his country. Silas Deane,
sneeringly calls his ardor ' boiling zeal,.' During most of -
the time of the revolutionary war, he was Commissary of
Prisoners, for the State of Connecticut,. and his volumin
ous correspondence with the venerable,Boudinet, Commis
sary General, shows that the duties were arduous. In

172 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
addition to this, he held the office of Sheriff of the county
of Hartford, which he resigned in the year 1789, after
twenty-two years of service. He was many years Deacon
of the Church of Christ in Wethersfield. His official
duties were discharged with great promptitude and fideUty.
He was uncompromising in his principles, active in the
cause of Christ, and devoted to the welfare of his fellow
men. His hand was ever open to the calls of the poor and
destitute, and his heart devised liberal things for the be
nevolent operations of the day."
For a further account of him, see Hinman's History of
the Actors of the American Revolution, belonging to the
State of Connecticut.
He was married in 1760, to Miss Prudence Stoddard,
of Northampton. The following is his autograph.

c^^^^t^

Their chUdren were
Emily, bora June 9, 1761.
John, bora Sept. 11, 1762, died in 1840, aged 78.
Harriet, bora June 26, 1764.
Ezekiel, born Dec. 29, 1765.
Prudence, bora Oct. 2, 1767.
Mary, born Aug. 14, 1769.
Esther, born AprU 14, 1771.
Solomon Stoddard, born Oct. 10, 1773, died in 1840.
Christina, bom Sept. 22, 1775, died in 1803.

JE.B.Sil: C Kenrig.jrmtftTi^ Ctrn-n/.

^^ //-f/^T'

C'-'f^^.,-t -

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 173
Thomas Scott, Chief Justice of Connecticut, born June
26, 1777.
Samuel Porter, born Feb. 2, 1779, died June 28, 1826.
Ezekiel WiUiams, Esqr., father of the above, died hi
1818, age 86. The mother died in 1882, aged 88.
VI, John Williams, Esqr,, oldest son of Ezekiel Wil
liams, above, was born at Wethersfield, Conn., Sept. 11,
1762. I am indebted to my friend, Archibald Welch, M.
D., of Wethersfield, for the following account of him.
" His family was highly respectable ; distinguished as a
long Une of ancestors had been for their devotedness to
the great interests of religion. His mother was a daugh
ter of the Rev. Mr. Stoddard, of Northampton, a lady of
great strength of character, with uncommon dignity of
deportment. He graduated at Yale College, in 1781.
Choosing the legal profession, he prepared himself for the
practice of law, in the office of Judge Chauncey, New Ha
ven, and settled in his native town. Having an easy for
tune, he early relinquished the law, and devoted himself
to the leading interests of society, and to general Utera
ture. In 1802, he made a public profession of Christianity,
and in after life, the study of Theology became his favor
ite pursuit — in its doctrines as received by the Puritans —
ever claiming the right of private judgment in its tenets.
He was esteemed as a gentleman of literary taste, liberal
attainments, and philanthropic views of the claims of soci
ety, and an ardent patriot in the honor of the country, was
a patron of religious institutions, and a friend and up
holder of the gospel ministry. In the great benevolent
15

174 FAMILY OGP WILLIAMS.
objects of the day, he was munificent— in private chari
ties unceasing, providing, for the destitute, after his
decease. To hie uncommon personal beauty, were added
the courtliness of dress and manners of the revolution
ary age.
He married Miss Sophia Worthington, daughter ofthe
Hon. Joseph Worthington, of Springfield, in 1799. Their
chUdren were
John Worthington, born 1808, died in 1807, at Phila
delphia. Hannah Hopkins, bom 1805.
Ezekiel Salter, born 1806, died in 1816.
John, who died in infancy.^
Mrs. WUliams died in the year  . Mr. WiUiams
married again in 1817, to Mrs. Mary SiUiman, reUct of
the Rev. Ebenezer SUUman, of Amsterdam, N. Y., daugh
ter of Col. Thomas Dyer, of Windham, Connecticut.
Their children were
Ebenezer, bom in 1817.
Thomas Scott, drowned in 1844.
Esther Sophia, born in 1820.
Mary Dyer, born in 1822.
Henry SiUiman, bom in 1824.
Elizabeth Byrne, bora in 1823.
Mr. John WUliams, father of the above, died in 1840,
•aged 78.
VI. Thomas Scott Williams, LL. D., Chief Jus
tice of Connecticut, son of Ezekiel WUUams, Esq., was
bom at Wethersfield, Conn., June 26,1777 ; educated at
Yale CoUege, graduated in 1794, attended Judge Reeves'

family of WILLIAMS. 175
Lectures at Litchfield, from March 4, 1797, until some
time in the summer of 1798 ; then read law with Zephaniah
Swift, Esq., of Windham county, afterwards Chief Justice
from August, 1798, to Feb, 1799, when he was admitted
to the Bar in Windham county ; removed to Hartford, ia
Dec. 1808. In 1809, he was appointed Attorney of the
Board of Managers of the School Fund, and held the situ
ation about a year, when the Board itself was susperseded
by the appointment of a commissioner. He represented
the town of Hartford, in the General Assembly, Oct, 1813,
Oct, 1815, (when he was appointed Clerk in the House
of Representatives,) October, 1816, and again Clerk in
1819, 1825, 1827, and 1829. He represented the State
in the 15th Congress of the United States, -viz. from
March 4th, 1817, to March 4th, 1819. In May, 1829,
he was appointed Associate Judge of the Supreme Court
of Errors, from and after the 80th of December, 1834,
which office he now holds. He was Mayor of the city of
Hartford from March, 1881, untU April, 1835. In Au
gust, 1884, he received from the corporation of Yale Col
lege, the honorary degree of LL. D. (Am. QaarL Reg.)
He married, first. Miss Delia EUsworth, daughter of
OUver Ellsworth, of Windsor, Conn., late Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of the United States, July 7, 1812.
She died June 26th, 1840, in the 62d year of her age.
He married again to Miss Martha M. CoLt, of Boston,
November 1st, 1842. He has no children.
VI. Rev. Samuel P. Williams, of Newburyport,
Massachusetts, was son of Ezekiel WUliams, Esq., and
was bom about, the year 1779. He graduated at Yale

176 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
CoUege in 1796, and studied Divinity. He was caUed to
settle in the ministry at Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1807,
but did not see fit to accept the invitation. He afterwards
settled at Mansfield, Conn., and then at Newburyport.
He married Miss Mary Hanford WeUs, in 1801.
The following is his autograph.
Their chUdren were
John Howard, born 1808.
Richard Salter, bora 1805.
Elmira Esther, born 1809.
Worthington Stoddard, born 1812.
Walter, bora 1814, deceased.
Frank, born 1816.
Mrs. WilUams, mother of the above, died in 1815. Mr.
WUliams' second marriage was -with Miss Sarah Pierpont
Tyler, in 1817.
Their chUdren were
Septimius Tyler, bora 1818.
Edward, bora 1820.
Josiah Dwight, born 1821, deceased.
William, born 1822.
Sarah, bora 1824.
Mary Elizabeth, born 1826.
The Rev. Samuel Porter WiUiams, died Dec. 23, 1826.
VI. Harriet Williams, daughter of Ezekiel Wil
liams, Esqr., of Wethersfield, married the Rev. David
Parsons, D. D., of Amherst, Massachusetts, Nov. 5, 1785.

FAMILY of WILLIAMS^ 17f
Their children were
Dr. Ezekiel, bom 1787, who settled at Colchester,
Conn. David, bom 1788.
Prudence, bom 1789, married the Rev. Mr. Smith, of
Rensellaerville. Thomas, born in 1791, died in 1832.
Harriet, born 1793, married Rev. Mr. Washbum^, of
Amherst. Mr. Washbum died of consumption in 1883,
aged 35.
Fr-ancis, bom 1795.
Mary, bora 1795. She married Rev. WiUiam Wil
liams, of Salem, Massa«husetts.
Caroline, born 1799, died 1821.
Sophia, born 1801, married Mr. AiMn, Pastor' of the
Park street Church, in Boston;
WiUiam, bora 1802.
James, born 1804.
Rev. Dr. Parsons, father of the above family, died
while on a visit to his friends at Wethersfield, in 1823.
He was a distinguished clergyman.
V. Thomas Williams, Doctor, son of Rev. Dr. Solo-
mon WUUams, of Lebanon, graduated at Yale College in
1748. He was a physician, and settied in Lebanon^
Conn. He married Miss Rebecca WeUs.
Their chUdren were
Solomon.

, Twins, bom in 1788. Mary died in 1831.
Mary. )
VI. Solomon Williams, son of Dr. Thomas WUliams,
15*

178 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
above, of Lebanon, married Miss Martha Baker, daughter
of Dr. Joseph Baker, of Brooklyn, Conn.
Their children were
Rebecca Wells, bom AprU 22, 1807. She married
Rev. Mr. Hebard, of the Syrian Mission, and died in
Syria in 1840.
Lucy Devotion, bora Dec. 1809, died Sept. 1811.
Thomas Scott, born Jan. 20, 1814.
Sarah Trumbull, bom Jan. 18, 1816, married Eben
Goodwin, 1846.
James Baker, born Feb. 2, 1818, married M. Hub
bard. One child.
George Wells, bora Oct. 18, 1819, married Martha
Woodbridge. One child.
WiUiam Stuart, born Dec. 20, 1821.
John Albert, bora Oct. 24, 1828.
Solomon Stoddard, born Dec. 21, 1826.
Martha Huntington, born March 12, 1828.
Mr. Hebard, who married Rebecca WeUs WUliams,
died at Malta, on his way to America, Sept. 1841. He
was one of the Tutors in the Amherst CoUege, a native of
Lebanon, H- H.
VII. Samuel P. Williams, above, married Lydia A.
Hume, of Indiana, March 12, 1839.
Their child was
Rebecca Hume, bora 1841.
Mrs. WilUams died Jan. 1842. Mr. WiUiams then
married in 1843, IsabeUa Jane Hume, sister of his first
-wife. Their chUd,

family of WILLIAMS. 179
Emily Tyler, born October 6, 1844, died December,
1846. V, Mary Williams, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Solo
mon WiUiams, of Lebanon, married Rev. Richard Salter,
of Mansfield, Conn,, who was graduated at Harvard Col
lege, ordained at Mansfield, 1744, They had three sons,
aU died in infancy. The Rev. Dr. Salter died in 1787.
She died in 1794.
V. Christina, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Solomon Wil
liams, of Lebanon, married John Salter, Esq, Their only
son was John, who married Miss Mary Williams, daughter
of Ezekiel WiUiams, Esq., of Wethersfield. John died
in 1831, aged 62. John Salter, Esq. above, died in 1796.
V. Eunice Williams, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Solo
mon Williams, of Lebanon, married Rev. Timothy Stone,
in 1769.
Their children were
Timothy, bora 1774.
Solomon, bora 1778, died 1778.
Mary, born 1780, died in 1816.
Christina, bora 1786, died 1786.
Rev. Mr. Stone, the father, died in 1797. Mrs. Eu
nice Stone, the mother, died in 1806, aged 91 years.
Rev. Timothy Stone, son of the above, married Miss Mary
Merwin, 1804.
Their chUdren were
John Pierce, born 1805.
Mary Merwin, bora 1807.

150' SaMIlY op WILLIAMS'.
Timothy Dwight, bom 1811.
Eunice Lucy Irene, bora 1814.
V. Hon. William Williams, Esq., Signer ofthe Dec
laration of Independence, son of the Rev. Dr. Solomon
WiUiams, of Lebanon, and Mary, his -wife, was born at'
Lebanon, on the 8th of April, 1781. He married Miss'
Mary TrambuU, daughter of Govemor TrumbuU, of Con
necticut, and had the following children.
Solomon, born Jan. 5, 1772, married Harriet Burr, of
Hartford, in 1806, and had two chUdren by her. Solo
mon, born May 3d, 1806. Robert P., born Feb. 7,.
1809. Faith, second chUd of Hon. WilUam WUUams, born
Sept. 16, 1774, married to John McCleUan, E^., of
Woodstock. William TrumbuU, third son of WUUam, above, born
March 2, 1777.
The foUowing beautiful notice of the Hon. William Wil
liams, the Signer of the Declaration of Independ'euBe*, is
from Goodrich's Lives of the Signers.
" WUUam WilUams, the subject of this memoir, entered
Harvard CoUege at the age of sixteen years. During his
collegiate course, he was distinguished for a dUigent at
tention, and atthe proper period, was honorably gradu
ated. From the University he returned home-, and for a/
considerable time devoted himself to theological subjects,
under the direction of his father.
" In September, 1766, was fought, at tiie head of Lake
George, a celebrated battle between the provincial troops,
under the command of Major General, afterwards. Sir

SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

family of WILLIAMS. 181
WiUiam Johnson, aided by a body of Indians, led by the
celebrated Hendrick, and a body of French Canadians and
Indians, commanded by Monsieur le Baron de Dieskau.
At this time. Col. Ephraim Williams commanded a re^-
ment of provincial troops, raised by Massachusetts, with
which he was engaged in the above battle. William WU
liams, the subject of our memoir, belonged to his staff.
" Col. Williams was an officer of great merit. He was
much beloved by his troops, and highly respected by the
people of Massachusetts, in the place where he resided.
WUliams CoUege owes its existence to him. As he was
proceeding through Albany, he made his WiU in that city."
(Col. Ephraim WUliams, as I state, under my notice of
him, was kiUed on the 8th Sept., at Lake George. — S. W.
W.) " Soon after the death of Col. WiUiams, the subject
of this memoir retumed to Lebanon, where he resolved to
fix his permanent residence. In 1766, at the age of
twenty-five years, he was chosen Clerk of the town of
Lebanon, an office which he continued to hold for the
space of forty-five years. About the same time he was
appointed to represent the town in the general assembly,
in Connecticut. In this latter capacity, he served a long
succession of years, during which he was often chosen
Clerk of the House, and not unfrequently filled, and
always with dignity and reputation, the Speaker's chair.
In 1780, he was transferred to the upper House, being
elected an assistant ; an office to which he was annually
re-elected for twenty-four years. It was recorded of him,
what can probably be recorded of few, and perhaps of no
other man, that for more than ninety sessions, he was
scarcely absent from his seat in the legislature, excepting

182 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
when he was a member of the Continental Congress,, in
1776 and 1777.
" During the years last mentioned, he was a member of
the national council ; and in the deUberations of that body
took a part, during the memorable period when the char
ter of our independence received the final approbation of
Congress. " At an early period of the revolution, he embarked
with great zeal in the cause, of his country. During
the campaign of 1755, while at the north, he had learned
a lesson which he did not forget. He was at that tune
disgusted with the British commanders, on account of the
haughtiness of their conduct, and the little attachment
which they manifested for his native country. The im.-
pression was powerful and lasting. At that time he
adopted the opinion, that America would see no days of
prosperity and peace, so long as British officers should
manage her affairs. On the arrival of the day, there:
fore, when the revolutionary struggle commenced, and a
chance was presented of release from the British yoke^
Mr. WiUiams was ready to engage with ardor in bringing
about this happy state of things. He had for several
years been interested in mercantile pursuits. These he
now relinquished that he might devote himself to tiie
cause of his country. He powerfully . contributed to
awaken public feeling, by several essays on political sub
jects, and when an occasion called him to speak in pubUc,
his patriotic zeal and independent spirit were manifested
in a powerful and impressive eloquence.
" Nor was Mr. WiUiams one of those patriots with whom
words were all. He was ready to make sacrifices, whea-

FAMILY O-F WILLIAMS. 183
ever occasion required. An instance of his public spirit
is recorded in the early part of the revolution. At this
time the paper money of the country was of so little
Tfalue, that mUitary services could not be procured for it.
Mr. WilUams with great liberality, exchanged more than
two thousand dollars in specie for this paper, for the ben
efit of his country. In the issue, he lost the whole sum.
" A similar spirit of liberality marked his dealings, in
the settlement of his affairs, on the eve and during the
course of the revolution. He was peciUiarly kind to
debtors impoverished during the war ; and from the
widow and the fatherless made so by the struggle for
freedom, he seldom made any exactions, even though he
•himself suffered by his kindness.
" At the commencement of the war, it is well known
there was little pro-vision made for the support of our
army. There were no public stores, no arsenals filled
¦with warlike instruments, and no clothing prepared for
the Soldiers. For many articles of the first necessity,
resort was had to private contributions. The selectmen,
in many of the towns of Connecticut, volunteered their
services, to obtain articles for the necessary outfit of new
recruits, for the maintenance of the famiUes of indigent
soldiers, and to furnish supplies even for the army itself.
" Mr. WUUams was, at this time, one of the selectmen
of the town of Lebanon, an office which he continued
to hold during the whole revolutionary war. No man
-was better fitted for such a station, and none cotild have
manifested more unwearied zeal than he did, in soliciting
the benefactions of private famiUes for the above objects.
Such was his success, that he forwarded to the army

184 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
more than one thousand blankets. In many instances,
famiUes parted with their last blanket for the use of the
soldiers in the camp ; and bullets were made from the
lead taken from the weights of clocks. Such was the
patriotism of the fathers and mothers of the land, in
those days of trial. There were no comforts which they
could not cheerfully forego, and no sacrifices which they
did not joyfully make, that the blessings of freedom might
be theirs, and might descend to their posterity.
" In confirmation of the above evidence of the firmness
and patriotism of Mr. Williams, the following anecdote may
be added. Towards the close of the year 1776, the
military affairs of the colonies wore a gloomy aspect, and
strong fears began to prevail that the contest would go
against them. In this dubious state of things, the Coun
cil of Safety for Connecticut was called to sit at Lebanon.
Two of the members of the council, WiUiam HiUhouse
and Benjamin Huntington, quartered with Mr. WilUams.
" One evening the conversation turned upon the gloomy
state of the country, and the probabUity that, after aU,
success would crown the British arms. " WeU," said
Mr. WUliams -with great calmness, " if they succeed, it is
pretty evident what wUl be my fate. I have done much
to prosecute the contest, and one thing I have done,
which the British will never pardon — I have signed the
Declaration of Independence. I shall be hvmg, Mr.
HUlhouse expressed his hope that America would yet be
successful, and his confidence that this would be her hap
py fortune. Mr. Huntington observed, that in case of
ill success, he should be exempt from the gallows, as his
signature was not attached to the Declaration of Inde-

FAMILY OP WILLIAMS. 185
pendence, nor had he written any thing against the Brit
ish government. To this Mr. WilUams replied, his eyes
kindling as he spoke, ' Then, sir, you deserve to be
hanged, for not having done your duty.'
" At the age of 41, he became settled in domestic life,
having connected himself with the daughter of Jonathan
Trumbull, at that time Governor of the state. His lady,
it is believed, is stUl Uving. Three chUdren were the off
spring of this marriage. Of these Solomon, the eldest
died in New York, in 1810, a man greatly beloved by aU
who had the pleasure to know him. The only daughter
is respectably connected in Woodstock, and the remain
ing son resides in Lebanon.
" The demise of his eldest son was a great affliction to
the aged and infirm father. The intelligence produced a
shock from which he never recovered. From this time
he graduaUy decUned. Four days before his death, he
lost the power of utterance, nor was it expected that he
would again speak on this side the grave. A short time,
however, previously to his death, he called aloud for his
deceased son, and requested him to attend his dying
parent. In a few moments he closed his life. This
event occurred on the 2d day of August, 1811, in the
81st year of his age.
" To this biographical sketch of Mr. WUUams, we have
only to add a word respecting his character as a Christian.
He made a profession of reU^on at an early age, and
through the long course of his life, he was distinguished
for a humble and consistent conduct and conversation.
While yet almost a youth, he was elected to the office of
deacon, in the Congregational church to which he belong-
16

186 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ed, an office which he retained during the remainder of
his life. His latter days were chiefiy devoted to reading,
meditation, and prayer. At length the hour arrived
when God would take him to himself He gave up the
spirit in a good old age, and was gathered to his fathers,"
The foUowing inscription, corroborative of the above,
is on his tombstone in Lebanon, Conn,
" The remains of Hon. WilUam WUliams, are depoated
in this Tomb, born AprU 8, 1781, died the 2d of
August, 1811, in the 81st year of his age ; a man em
inent for his virtues and piety — for more than fifty years
he was constantly employed in public life, and served in
many of the most important offices in the gift of his fel
low citizens. During the whole period of the revolu
tionary war, he was a firm, steady and ardent friend of
his country, and in the darkest times risked his Ufe and
wealth in her defense. In 1776 and 1777, he was a
member of the American Congress, and as such signed
tiie Declaration of Independence. His public and pri
vate virtues, his piety and benevolence, will long endear
his memory to his surviving friends — above all, he was a
sincere Christian, and in his last moments placed his
hopes with humble confidence in his Redeemer. He had
the inexpressible satisfaction to look back upon a long,
honorable, and well spent life."
IV. Rev. William Williams, of Weston, Mass., was
son of Rev. WUUam WUliams, of Hatfield, and was bom
in 1688. He graduated at Harvard in 1705, and was
ordained as a minister at Weston in 1709. He married
Miss Stoddard, his father's second wife's oldest sister,

family of WILLIAMS. 187
and he married before his father. The foUowing is his
autograph :

eufJHf*

They had the following chUdren :
Col. WiUiam Williams, born 1713.
EUzabeth, bora  , married Mr. Crocker, of Ipswich.
Lucy, bora  , married Mr. Buckminster, of Rut
land. •'•**'*
Mary,  born  , married Mr. Secomb, of Har
vard and Halifax.
Anna, bom  , married Col. Oliver Partridge, of
Hatfield. Nathaniel, bom  , of Lanesborough.
Esther, born 1726, married Dr. Thomas WUliams, of
Deerfield. Solomon, Doctor, bom  , died at Salisbury, Conn.
The Rev. WiUiam WUUams above, died March 6,
1760, aged 72.
Mr. WiUiams was esteemed a scholar, and a good
J)reacher. After his dismission, contrary to the too fre
quent practice of clergymen that are removed from office,
he was a peaceable parishioner, and treated his successor
'with kindness and respect. He preached the Artillery
election sermon in 1737, and the General election sermon
in 1741, both of which were published. His other pub
lications were, a sermon at the ordination of D. Hall,
Sutton ; — on the execution of P. Kennison for burglary,
1738 : on saving faith, 1741 ; on the death of Caleb
Lyman, 1742 ; on the death of his wife, 1745.

188 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
V. Col, William Williams, of Pittsfield, was the son
of the Rev, WUUam, above. He was one of the first
settlers of Pittsfield, Mass., and it was owing to him that
the venerable elm which has so long adorned the center of
the Common, in Pittsfield, was preserved. He o-wned the
land on which it stands. His workmen were clearing that
land, and one of the laborers was just raising his axe to
cut it do-wn, when it was a staddle, as Col. WilUams rode
up and ordered him to desist. It is now the pride and
ornament of that beautiful village. Its circumference, a
few feet above the ground, is said to be about twenty-three
feet, and the body, which is perfectly straight, rises
seventy-three feet, before it reaches a Umb. He was a
jovial mUitary man, and was very much distinguished in
the French and Indian wars. He held the office of Colo
nel in 1768, and was in the memorable attack on Ticon
deroga, on the 6th of July, 1768. His most intere&ting
letter to Dr. Thomas Williams, of Deerfield, on the occa
sion, dated July 11, 1758, gives a thriUing account of that
engagement. He was a very eminent man, and was very
much beloved. He was a Judge of the Court in Berk
shire County. He is the person, probably, referred to by
Hutchinson, (Hist. Mass. Vol. 3, p. 387,) as among the
members of the Assembly, friendly to the Royal prerogar
tive, awhile a captain in his Britannic Majesty's service.
He died in June, 1788, aged 75. (Q. Reg.) He mar
ried, as Major Stoddard said, 1st, to Miss Miriam Tyler,
for good sense, and got it, 2d, to Miss WeUs, for love and
beauty, and had it, and 8d, to aunt Hannah Dickinson,
and got horribly cheated.
He had by his first wife

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 189
William, Doctor, bom  , studied medicine with
Dr. Thomas WiUiams, of Deerfield, and was his mate, or
assistant, at the bloody morning scout at Lake George,
Sept. 8, 1756, when Col. Ephraim WiUiams was kiUed.
He was, also, surgeon in the campaign of 1760. He was
highly esteemed. He died of SmaU Pox, unmarried.
He wrote interesting letters from the army.
By Col. Williams second wife, there were
Miriam, born at Deerfield, Feb. 1756, married Capt;
Colt, of Pittsfield..
Sarah, born at Deerfield, Oct. 31, 1758, married Mr.
Chester. Sylvia, born  , married Mr. Fasten.
WiUiam Pepperell, born  , married Miss Kata
Blanchard, and had children. They were turned adrift
by Col. WUliams' third wife, Hannah, and joined the
Shakers at, or near New Lebanon. They have a son and
daughter, who are very respectable there.
V. Nathaniel Williams, son of the Rev. WUUam
WUUams, of Weston, married Dolly Stratton, daughter of
the Old Indian hunter. He was father of the wife of Col.
Hubbell, of Lanesboro', where he resided the last years of
his life. He had the following sons.
Stoddard, who had one son Uving in Lanesboro', 1847.
Solomon, who has three sons Uving in Ohio.
WilUam, who has one son Uving in Vermont.
V. Solomon Williams, Doctor, son of the Rev. Wil
liams, of Weston, studied the profession of mediein^, and
died at Salisbury, Conn.
16*

190 FAMILY OF -WILMAMS-.
IV. Martha Williams, daughter of the Rey. WilUam,
of Hartford, married Edward Partridge, whose son was
the Hon. OUver Partridge, of Hatfield, one of the most
distinguished men of the age, in Western Massachusetts,
He was a Colonel, High Sheriff, and Judge of the Court.
He was looked up to in the transaction of very much of
the most important business of the Stat*. Oliver Par
tridge married Anna, daughter of the Rev. William Wil
Uams, of Weston. They had thirteen chUdren, ten of
whom arrived to the age of maturity. One of them, Dr.
Oliver Partridge, of Stockbridge, is now living, (1846,)
in the 96th year of his age, a bachelor. One of the chil
dren of the late WiUiam Partridge, a.descendant of Anna,
as Dr. Partridge in a letter to me says, " had four sons
and four daughters, so dispersed in the earth, that the
sun might be shining on some one of said ten of Oliver's
chUdren, during five years, the whole twenty-four hours
daily, i. e. from 1835, to 1840, never all at once together."
IV. Rev. Elisha Williams, Rector of Yale CoUege,
&c. &c., son of the Rev. WiUiam WilUams, of Hatfield,
was bora Aug. 24, 1694, graduated at Harvard College,
1711. After studying Divinity, with his father, he went
to Newington, in Wethersfield, Conn., where he was or
dained as a minister, Oct. 22, 1722. He married Eunice
Chester, by whom he had the following chUdren.
Elisha, born Jan. 81, 1718, died May 30, 1784.
Samuel, born Aug. 16, 1720, graduated in 1735, died
in 1740.
William, born Nov. 28, 1722, died soon after his gradi
nation, in 1739.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 191
Eunice, bom February 8, 1716, died in 1741, aged 26
years. Anna, born AprU 30, 1732, died in 1760, aged 19.
Mary, bora Aug. 6, 1735.
One child, name unknown.
Only two of his children survived him. After his mar
riage, he studied law, and was several years a member of
the Legislature from Wethersfield. In 1726, he was
chosen Rector of Yale CoUege, the duties of which office
he discharged with great acceptance, until the year 1789,
when he was obliged to resign, on account of Ul health,
and returned to Wethersfield. He was again returned to
the Legislature, and was appointed Judge of the Superior
Court. Afterwards, he was appointed Chaplain of the
Regiment sent by the State of Connecticut, to Cape Brit
on, and so conducted that he was soon after appointed to
the command of a regiment of one thousand men, raised
for the reduction of Canada. On account of non-payment
of the troops, he was soUcited to go to England, and saUed
Dec. 1749. WhUe there, his wife died, and before his
return, he married Miss Elizabeth Scott, daughter of the
Rev. Thomas Scott, of Norwich, England, a lady of dis
tinguished piety, and accompUshments. He left England
in 1761, narrowly escaped shipwreck, and after spending
some months in Antigua, arrived home in AprU, 1752.
He died July 24, 1766, in the 61st year of his age-, of
cancer. His second wife died June, 1776. /
The following Inscriptions of the tablets to the memory
of Rector Elisha Williams, in the burial ground at Weth
ersfield, were sent me by my friend. Dr. Archibald- Welch,
March 20tb, 1847. The copies are exact, retaining the

192 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
orthography, capital letters, &c., as engraved on the
s'ones. " The Honb'le. Col'l. Elisha Williams, shin'd in
excelling Gifts of Nature, Learning, and Grace, in Benev
olence universal. Firm in Friendship in Conversation
pleasant and Instructive. In Religion Sincere, unaffected,
cheerful ; Truly Humble., of Conjugal & Parental Affec
tion, and Humanity, A Wise, Great & Good-,Man. 5
Years he was an Hon'r to the Sacred Ministry, in New
ington. 18 years Yale College flourished under his Pious,
Leamed, & Faithful Instruction and happy Govern't ; the
Glory of ye coUege & Ornament of his Country. He
often filled k adorned several Civil & MUitary Charac
ters. Heaven claimed what was Immortal that Glad
obeyed, & dross'd here the Dust to Rest tiU Jesus comes.
ObUt 25th July 1755, States 61 mo."
" Here lies the Body of Mrs. Eunice, Wife of the
Hon'ble Col. EUsha WUliams. A Sincere Christian of
exemplary Meekness, & Patience, full of Good Works,
and of Faith. She was greatly esteemed in Life " &
lamented at Death, which fell out May 31st, 1760.
" They that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
" Interred the Precious Dust of the amiable and
accomplished Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Daughter of Rev'd
Thos. Scott, of Norwich, in England, 2d Wife to Hon'ble
Col. WiUiams, whom she accompanied in his return from
Britain, 1762, and after his decease again married
Hon'ble Wm. Smith, of New York, upon whose demise
she returned to Wethersfield, where she died June 13,
1776, Mt. 68.
" A lady of great reading and knowledge, extensive

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 193
acquaintance, a penetrating mind, and good judgment, of
abounding Charity, and unaffected Piety, and devotion,
adorned with every recommending ExceUency, few liv'd
more Esteem'd, and Lov'd, or died more Lamented.
" Blessed are the Dead, who die in the Lord."
" He presided at Commencement with great dignity.
He published a sermon on Divine Grace, 1827 ; a sermon
on the death of Thomas Ruggles, 1728 ; and a pamphlet
of 66 pages, entitled ' The essential Rights and Liberties
of Protestants.' Rector Williams, after having presided
over Yale College thirteen years, finding the sea air, and
southerly winds unfavorable to his constitution, and some
times incapacitating him for business, was necessitated to
resign his office in October, 1789. He presided with
wisdom, gravity and authority ; applied himself with care
and assiduity to guard and secure the students, both from
whatever might blemish and wound their moral characters,
and from errors and mistakes in matters of religion ; and
to form their minds, not only to useful knowledge and
leaming, but to virtue and real piety." (Rev. Br. Lock-
wood's sermon on the death of Col. Williams.) The Col
lege flourished under his administration. He introduced
and settled a number of good customs — a taste for many
parts of useful and polite literature increased ; and
the state of this seminary became from this period, gradu
ally improved. The Trustees, at his resignation, returned
him their hearty thanks for his good services to the
CoUege." " He was," says President StUes, who heard him pro
nounce his Valedictory Oration at the Commencement,
when he resigned his chair, " a goo4 classical scholar.

194 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
well versed in logic, metaphysics, and ethics, and in rhet
oric and oratory. He presided at Commencement with
great honor. He spoke Latin freely, and delivered ora
tions gracefully, and with animated dignity."
Dr. Doddridge, whose excellent name is stUl highly
respected in America, was intimately acquainted with him
in England, gave him this comprehensive character. " I
look upon Col. WUUams to be one of the most valuable
men upOn earth. He has joined to an ardent sense of
religion, solid learaing, consummate prudence, great can
dor, and sweetness of temper, and a certain nobleness of
soul, capable of containing and acting the greatest things,
without seeming to be conscious of having done them."
On the day of Rector WUUams' resignation, the Rev.
Thomas Clap^, minister of Windham, was chosen Presi
dent of Yale CoUege. He was inaugurated April 2d,
1740. (Ufe of Pres. Stiles, Olapp's Hist. Yale Coll.,
Miller, Lockwood, ^a.) Yale CoUege possesses a good
portrait of Rector Williams, copied by Mouthrop, from an
original painting by Smybert, from which the portrait in
this volume is copied.
VI. Elisha Williams, Esq., son of Rector Elisha
WiUiams, above, settled at Wethersfield, and married
Aug. 24, 1749, to Miss Mehitable Burnham. Their
children were
Samuel, born Jan. 29, 1760, died 1762.
Samuel William, bom 1762, died 1812.
Eunice, born  , married Rev. John Lewis.
Elizabeth, born 1754, married Col. Beldin.
EUsha, born May 6, 1769.

family of -WILLIAMS. 196
Mehitable, born Aug. 1761, married Esq. Moore.
Martha, born July 7, 1766.
EUsha Williams, Esq., father of the above family, died
May 30, 1784, of cancer.
VII. Samuel William Williams, son of Elisha and
Mehitable Williams above, was graduated at Yale CoUege
1772. He settied at Wethersfield, and married Miss
Emily WiUiams, Nov. 23, 1786. Their chUdren were
Harriet, born 1786.
Emily, born 1788.
Elizabeth, bom 1790.
Mary, born 1792, died 1798.
Mary, born 1798.
Francis, bom 1795, died 1815.
William, bom Oct. 2, 1797.
Ezekiel, born 1799.
AbigaU, bora 1801, died 1882.
Samuel, born 1803.
John Stoddard, bom 1806.
Samuel WilUams, Esq., father of the above family, died
of a cancer of the most distressing kind, Sept. 1812,
aged 60, as did his father and grandfather before him.
IV. Dorothy Williams, daughter of the Rev. Wil
liam WiUiams of Hatfield, by his second wife, was bom
at Hatfield in the year 1718. She married the Rev.
Jonathan Ashley, second minister of Deerfield, who
graduated at Yale College in 1730, and was ordained at
Deerfield in 1732. He died in 1780, in the 68th year
of his age. " He possessed a strong and discriminating

196 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
mind, and lively imagination, and was a pungent and en
ergetic preacher. He preached the doctrines of grace
With a pathos which was the effect, not merely of his as
sent to the divine authority, but of a deep sense and
lively view of their importance and exceUency. He
published a sermon on Visible Saints, vindicating Mr.
Stoddard's sentiments respecting Church Membership ;
a sermon on the ordination of the Rev. John Norton,
Deerfield, 1741. (The Rev, Mr. Norton, spoken of
above, was minister of Bemardston, Mass., though or
dained at Deerfield. Mr. Norton was chaplain in the
army in 1746, and was taken captive, and carried to
Canada, at Fort Massachusetts, near WUUamstown, Aug.
1746, with Sergt. John Hawks. See Hawks' Journal,
S, W, W,) He also preached a sermon entitled, ' The
Great Duty of Charity,' Boston, 1744 : a letter to Wit
liam Cooper, 1745," (Allen's Biog. Diet,, Redeemed
Captive,) Mrs, Dorothy Ashley, wife of the Rev, Jonathan Ash
ley, above, died at Deerfield, Sept. 1808, at the age of
96 years.
Their chUdren were
WilUam, born July, 1787, died in 1837.
Jonathan, bom Jan, 6, 1738.
William, bora 1740, died 1740.
Dorothy, bom April 8, 1748, married Deac. WiUiam
WUliams, of Dalton, Mass.
Elizabeth, born June 9, 1746, married Major. David
Dickinson of Deerfield, Jan. 29, 1783.
-Solomon, bora May 25, 1754, drowned in Connecticut
River, Jan. 14, 1823.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 197
EUhu, (Doctor) bom Oct. 12, 1750.
Clarissa, born Dec. 1, 1757.
Jonathan Ashley, Esq, above, son of Rev. Jonathan
Ashley, graduated- at Yale College, studied law, and
practised at Deerfield, He married Miss Tirzah Field,
daughter of Col, Field, of Deerfield, and had three
daughters, viz. Tirzah, who married Rufus Saxton, Esq.
of Deerfield, Harriet, who married Col, Eliel GUbert,
of Greenfield, and Dorothy, who married Dr. Roswell
Leavitt, of Cornish, N. LL, who all had large families of
chUdren. Clarissa, daughter of the Rev, Jonathan
Ashley above, married the Rev, Dr. Moses Cooke Welch,
of Mansfield, Conn., about the year 1790. Dr. Welch
was one of the most distinguished divines in Connecticut.
He died in the year  . She died in  . Their
children were, Jonathan Ashley, an eminent lawyer now
practising in Brooklyn, Conn. He married Mary Devo
tion Baker, in 1819. Their children were Ebenezer Ba
ker. Mary Clarissa. Louis Dwight. Charles Augus
tus. Joseph Ashley. James Edward. Elizabeth Jane.
Archibald Welch, M. D.,son of the Rev. Dr. Moses
Welch, was born in 1794. He is one of the most em
inent physicians in the state of Connecticut. He is
President of the Connecticut Medical Society. He mar
ried Miss Cynthia Hyde of Lebanon, in 1819. His
children are Mary Throop. Henry Kirk White. Cla
rissa Ashley. Moses Cooke. Archibald Hyde.
V. Col, Israel Williams, Judge, &c,, son of the Rev,
17

198 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
WiUiam, of Hatfield, one of the most distinguished men
in this section of the country, in the age in which he Uved-,
was born at Hatfield, in the year 1709, He graduated
at Harvard CoUege in 1729, and died in 1789, aged 80,
He married Miss Sarah Chester, sister of Col, Chester, of
Wethersfield, and of Col. John Stoddard, of Northampton.
The following is his autograph.

Jj/Wli^^..^ --

Their children were
John, bom 1732, died Nov. 7, 1751, much lamented.
Graduate of Harvard.
Sarah, married Dr. Marsh, of Dalton.
William, Clerk, Deacon, &c., born  .
Eunice, married Major Stoddard.
Israel, lived on the paternal estate, and died a bachelor.
Jerusha, married WUUam BiUings, Esq., of Conway.
Betsey, married Elisha BiUings, Esq., of Conway.
Lucretia, married John Chandler WiUiams, Esq., of
Pittsfield. Col. Williams lived in most eventful times, and was an
active officer in the French and Indian wars of 1744, and
1755. He was much consulted by the distressed inhabit
ants of the colonies in those wars, whioh were little infe
rior, as relates ta the destiny of our country, to the war
of Independence. The inhabitants in the frontier towns,
were kept in a continual state of alarm by the constant
predatory excursions of the French and Indians. His
active mind and -vigorous exertions, did much towards
aUaying their fears, and providing for their -protection.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 199
He was intrusted with the command of the forces employ
ed on the western frontiers of Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire, and as Gen. Hoyt observes in his Antiquarian
Researches, " to whom the early settlers in that section of
the country, were much indebted for long and able ser
vices." In 1748, Col. John Stoddard, of Northampton,
died, whUe attending the General Court at Boston, which
was a most severe loss to the frontier towns in western
Massachusetts. "He had been intrusted with the de
fense of that quarter of the country, and in this, as well
as in many civU offices, had discharged his duty with skill
and judgment, and he stood high in the confidence of the
government, as well as of the people of the province.
Col. Israel Williams, of Hatfield, who had acted as com
missary, under Col. Stoddard, was appointed to succeed
him, and immediately entered upon his arduous duty ; and*
Major Elijah WiUiams, of Deerfield, was appointed to the
commissary's department on the western frontiers, under
John Wheelwright, Commissary General. In the various
attacks upon small parties, by surprise, the enemy had
generally been successful ; but scouting parties, under
brave and cautious officers, sometimes turned the scale
against them. A gaUant case of this kind occurred about
the time Col. Williams took the command." (Hoyt.)
See an account of Hobbs' fight, near Marlborough, in
Vermont, in Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches, page 249.
In the war of 1766, Col. WiUiams again took an active
part. Gen. Hoyt observes : — " Finding the enemy deter
mined on blood and devastation, Massachusetts adopted
more extensive measures of defense on the western fron
tiers. Col. Israel WilUams, of Hat^ld, commanding the

200 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
northern regiment of miUtia, in the County of Hampshire,
was again intrasted with the defense of that quarter of
the province. This officer, during the former war, had
acquired extensive knowledge of the geography of the
country, bordering the frontiers of Massachusetts and
New Hampshire, which enabled him to produce a sketch
of the country, which he communicated to Gov. Shirley,
with a plan of defense to be adopted ; and though in some
particulars, similar to that of the last war, it contained
many improvements. Forts Shirley and Pelham, having
offered little protection in the preceding war, he proposed
should be abandoned, and a line of smaller works erected
on the north side of Deerfield river, through the vaUey of
Charlemont ; the old works at Bemardston, Northfield,
Coleraine, Greenfield, and Deerfield, to be repaired, and
others to be erected ; Forts Dummer and Massacbnsetts
strengthened, and furnished -mth light artillery, and
respectable garrisons. Small works to be erected at
Stockbridge, Pontoosuck, and Blandford, and two others
to the westward of Fort Massachusetts, to form a cordon
with the line of works in New York. The Fort at Charles
town, being out of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, and
difficult to supply, he proposed should be abandoned ; and,
as in the former war, ranging parties to be constantly em.
ployed on the line of forts, and in the wUderness, now the
State of Vermont, and a vigUant eye to be kept on the
routes and debouches from Crown Point.
" Col. WiUiams' system of defence was communicated
by the Govemor to the General Court, and adopted,
excepting the abandonment of Charlestown ; and a body
of troops was ordered to be raised for the western fron-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 201
tiers, and stationed at the discretion of Col. WiUiams.
Forts Dummer and Massachusetts already contained
small garrisons, and were works of considerable strength,
though untenable against artUlery ; and both were fur
nished with a few pieces of ordnance. The other works
were either mounts, a diminutive kind of block house, or
stockaded dwelling houses, bearing the names of the res
ident families, defensible only against musketry. At Ber-
nardston, on Connecticut river, were Sheldon's and
Burke's garrisons ; at Coleraine, Morrison's and Lucas' ;
at Charlemont, Taylor's, Rice's and Hawks' ; at Pontoo
suck, Goodrich's and WUliams', and small ones were also
buUt at Williamstown, at Sheffield, and Blandford ; some
of which were furnished with swivels and smaU garrisons,
under subaltern officers." Probably no man in the coun
try rendered more efficient aid by his advice and instruc
tions; than Col. WUliams rendered during the war of 1766.
" During the summer of 1756, a plan was projected for
buUding a strong Fort on the Highlands, between the
sources of Black river and Otter creek, in the present
State of Vermont. A part of that place was supposed to
be important, not only to cut off the principal debouches
of the enemy's parties from Lake Champlain, but to facil
itate operations on the left of the enemy, at Ticonderoga,
and Crown Point, and also to afford a convenient station
'for scouting parties from Connecticut river. The route
had not escaped the notice of Lord Loudon, the com
mander-in-chief, and he proposed to the provincial officers
that it might be critically examined, and the practicability
of a road from the Connecticut reported to him. Col.
Israel WiUiams was appUed to for information on the sub-
17*

202 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ject, and he communicated to his lordship a topographicail
sketch and description of the country, compUed from ample
materials he had obtained from various reports of officers
who had traversed the country, at the head of scouting
parties. '^ The govemment of Massachusetts had previously
taken measures, for examining the same route, with a
view of constructing a road for facilitating miUtary opera
tions in that quarter. In the House of Representatives,
the foUowing vote was passed, March 10th, 1766, and ap
proved by the Governor and Council. ' Whereas it is of
great importance that a thorough knowledge be had d
the distance and practicability of a communication be
tween Number four on Connecticut River and Crown
Point ; and that the course down Otter Creek to Lake
Champlain should be known. Therefore voted, that his
Excellency the Govemor be, and he is hereby desired,
as soon as may be, to appoint fourteen men upon this ser-
-vice. Seven of them to go from said Number four to
Otter Creek aforesaid, and do-wn said Creek to Lake
Champlain ; observing the true course of said Creek,— ^
its depth of water — what falls there are in it ; and also
the nature of the soil on each side thereof, and what
growth of woods are near it. Each party of said men to
.eep a joumal of their proceedings and observations, and
lay the same on their return before this Court. They to
observe all such directions as they may receive from his
Excellency. One man in each party to be a skillful sur
veyor ; and the persons employed shall have a reasonable
allowance made them by the court for their services.'
Col. Israel WiUiams was directed by the Governor to

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 203
carry the order into effect, and to give such further in
structions as might be necessary for accomplishing the
business, but as the co.untry was then infested by the
Indians, the attempt was deemed hazardous, and was but
partially executed. The surveys were made only to the
heighth of land, and the project of buUding a fort at so
advanced a station, was finally abandoned." (Hoyt.)
VL Deacon William Williams, of Dalton, son of
Col. Israel WiUiams above, was bom in 1736. He died
in 1808. He married Miss Dolly Ashley, daughter of the
Rev. Jonathan Ashley, of Deerfield, in the year 1763.
She died, in January, 1833, in her 90th year. Their
chUdren were
Dorothy, born May 26, 1765, now Uving (1847) in
Hadley. Stalham, born Oct. 5, 1773.
Sarah, born AprU 7, 1778, died March 28, 1846.
Ashley, bom Aug. 27, 1775.
Charlotte, bom Oct. 26, 1768, married Dr. Porter, -of
Hadley, died Nov. 1842.
WiUiam, born July 31, 1772, died September 26,
1839. Israel, bora May 23, 1785, died April 27, 1840.
Jeremiah, bom June 27, 1770, died Sept. 4, 1842.
VII. John, Captain, bora Feb. 22, 1767, died in
1845, at Conway. He was an industrious merchant, an
upright magistrate, and a valuable citizen. He married
Miss Ann Stoddard, of Northampton, Mass. They had
the following children.

204 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.

Francis, born ¦
Martha, born ¦

VII. Ashley Williams, son of Deac. WUUams, of
Dalton, had three chUdren viz. :
Percy Smith.
Sarah Chester.
Eliza Ann.
VII. William Williams, son of Deac. WiUiam Wil
liams, of Dalton, married Miss Lucy Fitch, of WiUiams-
town, and had seven sons and two daughters.
William Henry.
John Chandler.
Charles Fitch.
George Ashley.
Erastus Smith.
James Fitch.
Charles Ashley.
Emily Huntington.
Lucy Maria.
VII. Israel Williams, Esq. son of Deacon WiUiam
WiUiams, of Dalton, married Miss Rachel Eights, of Al
bany, and had one son
Abraham Eights.
VII. Jeremiah Williams, son of Deacon WiUiams
of Dalton, married Miss WiUiams of Georgia, and had
seven sons and five daughters, -viz. :
Two, names unknown.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 205
George Washington.
Henry Lummux.
WUUam Porter.
Francis Marion.
John Sheridan.
Caroline Whitehead.
Emily Norris.
Sarah Chester.
Lucina Walker.
Georgia Ann.
VII. Charlotte Williams, daughter of Deac. Wil
Uams, of Dalton, married Dr. WUUam Porter, of Had
ley, and had three sons, viz. : Eleazer, who died young.
Bayard, and Jeremiah and three daughters. Lois Bast-
man, and one, name unknown. Caroline.
VIL Sarah Williams, daughter of Deacon Williams,
of Dalton, married Erastus Smith, of Hadley, and had
six daughters. Joanna Howe. Sarah Chester. Ra
chel BardweU. Julia Ann. Clark. Dorothy WilUams.
Catherine Amelia.
vn. Stalham Williams, of Utica, son of Deac.
WUliams of Dalton, married Miss Mary A. Barron, and
had one son and four daughters viz. :
WilUam Barron.
Sarah TUeston Newton.
Lucy Jane.
Caroline Sophia, married Francis WiUett, of Sherman,
N. Y.

206 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Frances Lucretia, married Richard Winslow, of Sher
man. VIII William Barron Williams, son of Stalham
WiUiams above, married Elizabeth RadcUffe Brown, of
Rochester, N. Y., and had the following chUdren.
Stalham. Leon.
Henry. Lucy.Mary. VI. Lucretia Williams, daughter of Col. Israel
Williams of Hatfield, married John Chandler WilUams,
Esq., of Pittsfield, and had the foUowing chUdren.
EUzabeth, married Hon. Moses Hayden, of Western,
New York, deceased, a very distinguished man, and for
mer member of Congress.
Lucretia, married Harris Seymour, of Canandaigua.
Sarah, married Edward A. Newton, Esq., of Pitts
field, a wealthy banker and merchant.
See Mrs, I/VLcretia Williams' portrait and Memoir, with
John C, Williams,
VI. Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Col. Israel
WUUams, of Hatfield, married Elisha Billings, Esq., of
Conway, father of Capt. Henry BiUings, of that town,
who married Miss Emily Hitchcock, of Deerfield, sister of
President Edward Hitchcock, of Amherst CoUege. Capt-
BiUings has two sons. EUsha BiUings, a bachelor, was
son of Elizabeth, above. They also had a daughter, Lois,
who died young.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 207
VL Eunice Williams, daughter of Col. Israel Wil
Uams, of Hatfield, married Israel Stoddard, of Pittsfield,
and had two sons and one daughter, viz. :
John.
WilUam. Mary.
VI. Sarah Williams, daughter of ' Col, Israel Wil
liams, of Hatfield, married Dr, Marsh, of Dalton, and had
three sons, and five daughters, viz, :
Ch ester, married Abagail Burnham, pf Wethersfield.
Henry. Christopher, Sarah, married Israel Peck, of Dalton, Mass.
Martha, married Thomas Gold, of Pittsfield, Mass.
Eunice, married Darius Leonard, of Pittsfield.
Lucretia, married WilUam MiUer, of Pittsfield.
EUzabeth, married John AUen, of Pittsfield.
VI. Jerusha Williams, daughter of Col. Israel Wil
Uams, of Hatfield, married WilUam BUlings, Esq., of Con
way, and had three sons, and two daughters,
WiUiam, Esq,, who married Miss Smith, of Hadley,
Israel, Esq,, who is married, and resides in Hatfield,
Col, Charles E,, who married Miss Storrs, of Long
Meadow, Mary, married John Stoddard, of Northampton,
Jerusha, died unmarried,
III, John Williams, son of Capt, Isaac WilUams, of
Roxbury, of the second generation, moved to Stonington,

208 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Conn. The following inscription is on his gravestone in
Stonington, near the head of Mystic river, erected by
General WilUams, of Norwich, Connecticut.
'5 To the memory of John Williams, who came from
Roxbury, Massachusetts, settled at Stonington, and mar
ried Martha, daughter of Isaac Wheeler, one of the
ancient proprietors of this town, died Nov, 15th, 1702,
aged 33 years. His father, Capt. Isaac WUUams, died
in Massachusetts, Feb. 11, 1707, aged 69. His grand
father, Robert Williams, came from Norwich, England,
and died in Roxbury, in 1698, aged 86."
Thomas Wheeler, mentioned above, ancestor of the wife
of John Williams, of Stonington, '""came to Stonington in
the early settlement of the country, soon after the Pequdd
War, in which Mason conquered the Indians, in 1634. He
is buried at the Mystic burial ground ; his death is recorded
March 4th, 1686, aged 84 years, which carries hisbirth
to about nineteen years before the landing of our forefath
ers, at Plymouth. He took up about 4000 acres of land,
the best in the town. While property in this country rarely
descends beyond the third generation, it is a subject of
some satisfaction to know that some of the land of Mr.
Wheeler has regularly descended to, and is now owned by
Gen. WUUam WUliams, of Norwich, and the Hon. Thomas
Williams, of New London, of the seventh generation, on
the maternal side. (Letter from Gen, WUUams.) I
have great .satisfaction in belie-ving that it will remain in
the hands of that famUy for a long time to come.
The chUdren of John and Martha WilUams, were
Isaac, born April 10th, 1689.

FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS. 209
John, Col., bom Oct. 31, 1692, married Desire Den
ison. Martha, bom Aug. 3, 1698.
Deborah, born AprU 2, 1696.
WiUiam, bora March 29, 1697.
Nathan, bora Dec. 11, 1698.
Benaiah, born Aug. 28, 1703.
After John's death, his widow married Thomas Atwood,
June 1, 1714.
IV. Isaac Williams, son of John Williams, of the
third generation, married Desire Denison, daughter of
John Denison, Nov. 7, 1711.
Their chUdren were
Sarah, born March 12, 1712.
Isaac, born March 11, 1717-18.
Nathan, born July 22, 1720.
Atwood, born AprU 16, 1728.
Phebe, born March, 1781.
Eunice, bora Dec. 25, 1732.
rV. William Williams, son of John WilUams, of the
third generation, was a highly respectable citizen of Ston
ington. He was a Justice of the Peace for a long term
of years, a Selectman, and occasionally, the Representar
tive of the town in the Le^slature. He was a member of
the Congregational church, a supporter of the mmistry,
and of the society, kind and generous to his children.
He married Martha Wheeler, daughter of WiUiam
Wheeler, of Stonington.
Their children were
18

210 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
WUUam, born July, 1740, married Miss Prentiss, of
Stonington, died and buried at sea, 1770.
Benadam, bora March 21, 1747, married Hannah Lo-
throp, of Norwich.
Martha, married Charles Wheeler, of Stonington, fa
ther of Robert Wheeler, of Greenfield. He is a very
respectable farmer. His wife was daughter of the Hon.
Solomon Smead, of Greenfield. One of his daughters
was lost on board the Lexington, in the year 1841. An
other one named Mr. Morton, of Whately, and another,
Mr. Miner, formerly of Stonington, now of Greenfield.
John, bom 1744, married Keturah Randall,- of Stoning
ton, 1765.
Esther, born Jan. 8, 1748, married WiUiam Cheese-
borough, of Stonington, Feb. 8, 1774.
Ephraim, married first, Sarah Potter, of South Kings
ton, R. I., second, Keturah Phelps, of Stonington.
Hannah, bom May 3, 1749, died Nov. 17th, 1752.
Desire, born Jan. 24, 1751, married Latham Hull,
Feb. 1782.
Hannah, born June 17th, 1758, married Amos Deni
son, July 3, 1777.
Isaac, bom March 28, 17^8, married Phebe Williams,
Dec. 13, 1782.
IV. William Williams, oldest son of WiUiam Wil
Uams, of the fifth generation, died at sea, on his homeward
voyage from the West Indies, Oct. 1770, aged 31 years.
He married Eunice Prentice, daughter of Thomas Pren
tice. She died Oct. 28, 1770, aged 24 years. The fol
lowing acrostic upon the death of Mr. WiUiams, was found

/ '' I A'/*,rr//,-,-A? ' ..r/rifi' i'rtlH

^O

I C C^^^t--^ f-^

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 211
among the papers of Mrs, Eunice W. BUlings, daughter
of the deceased.
" 'What! in the morn of life, and beauty's bloom,
111 boding death ! has fated to the tomb !
Lovely youth ! thy body now breathless clay.
Life the inanimate and cold ! who once so gay
In unblemished scenes of life appeared,
And with supernal grace, thy God revered,
'Midst unregenerate ones confess'd the God you feared.
'Why the fate of youth? in vernal bloom.
In midst of vigor, so sudden meet his doom.
Life's calmly sweets, just rising in the light,
Lo ! blasted in a moment ! and doomed to night
In the Father of light ! Exhaustless source of good,
All wise. Eternal, self existing God,
May every youth in future age depend,
So shall they find a bliss that ne'er will end."
The children of WUUam Williams, above, and Eunice,
his wife, were
WilUam, Major General, bom June 30, 1766, died
May 16, 1888.
Eunice, born Jan. 3, 1767, married Mr. Billings, of
New London, father of the Hon. Noyes BiUings, Lieut.
Governor of Connecticut, and WiUiam W. BiUings, Esq.
They are both highly honorable and extensive merchants
in New London.
VII. Major General William Williams, of Stoning
ton, son of William of the sixth generation above, was
born June 30th, 1766. The foUowing notice of this most
enterprizing, valuable, and industrious man, is from the
New London Gazette, and will do more ample justice to

212 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
his character than any encomiums I can bestow upon it.
The obituary notice was considered by aU at the time,
to be just, the spontaneous offering of the editor, whose
famUy had been politically opposed in severe contested
elections, "Died at Stonington, on the 15th May, 1838, Gen,,
William Williams, aged 73, General WUUams was a man
of uncommon character. Starting in life with no other
reliance than his own resources, he was the architect of
his own fortune. .He was a man of great and enterpriz
ing sagacity, and indefatigable perseverance, which quali
ties commended him to the esteem of a numerous circle of
friends. He was, during his life, more extensively and
variously concerned in business, than any man in New
London county. In commerce, agriculture, and manufac
tures, he gave employ to many to their satisfaction, and
his own success. He had frequently received high offices
from his fellow citizens, and died generally lamented, with
the cheering assurance of a well grounded hope to himself
and his family, of receiving that inheritance which is
beyond value or vicissitude."
The following was written at the time of his death, but
not published. " Died at Stonington on the 15th instant.
General WiUiam Williams, aged about 78. Few men
among us have been more active, enterprizing, or useful.
For more than thirty years he was extensively engaged
as a shipping merchant. As a landholder he was always
a promoter of the interests of agriculture, as well as of
manufactures. He has been honored -in his native town
with various offices of trust, and at different periods rep
resented it in the State Legislature. Its interests he was

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 213
always zealous to advance. He rose from the command
of a troop of cavalry, through the various grades of office,
to the rank of Major General of the third division of
Connecticut militia. He held that office in war and in
peace, and at all times had the confidence and support of
those under his command."
About seven years since he professed his faith in
Christ ; his reUgious exercises were then deeply affecting ;
the same order that had distinguished him in business
life was afterwards seen in his zeal for the cause of
Christ. During his last sickness, he experienced the con
solations of religion. As his strength failed, and the
world receded, his thoughts and expectations were turned
to the future, and he closed his life in the hope of a
blessed and glorious immortality.
He married for his first wife, Miss Mercy Wheeler,
who died in 1797, aged 30 years : for his second wife.
Miss Rhoda Babcock, whom he married in 1799. She
died Aug. 29, 1801, in the 32d year of her age. His
third wife was Miss Ann Babcock. By his first wife, he
had Major General WiUiam WUliams, born March 12, 1788.
Hon. Thomas Wheeler WiUiams, Member of Congress,
born Sept. 28, 1789.
Three others died in infancy.
By his second -wife he had two children, who died in
infancy. By his third wife he had
Franklin, born June 19th, 1806, married Mary Stan
ton, 1836, two sons living, one daughter dead.
Ann EUzabeth, born Oct. 1-0, 1814.
Ellen, bom. Feb. 11,1820.
18*

214 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
VII. Calvin Goddaud, bora June 2d, 1818. He is
an industrious and wealthy farmer who resides in the fine
mansion of his father at Stonington. He married Amy
Billings, Oct. 26, 1841, and he has two children living.
He has lost one.
VII. Maj. Gen. William Williams, of Norwich, Ct.,
son of Major General WilUam WiUiams, of Stonington,
was born Nov. 12th, 1788. Gladly would the pen of
friendship record the excellencies and virtues of this es
timable man, but it knows the delicacy of the attempt,
justly to portray the character of living individuals, how
ever distinguished. I therefore give the following sketch
from the pen of a friend, who intimately knows him, but
who feels the same delicacy upon the subject that I do.
" WiUiam, at the age of fourteen, had chosen to be a
merchant, the occupation of his father, rather than go to col
lege. Accordingly, he went into a commission house in
New York, where he remained about three years. He
then went to Bordeaux, in France, supercargo of one of
his father's vessels. He remained in France, where he
learned very perfectly the French language, about two
years. He then returned home, and shortly after com
menced business in New London, on his own account.
After a while, he and his father went into the manufaC
ture of flour, on a handsOme scale, in a new flour miU
they had erected at Norwich. Then into the manufac
ture of cotton, in a factory adjoining the flour mill. He
continued to go more deeply into mantifecturing of vari
ous kinds, till the break down of that kind of enterprize,
about the year 1818 or '19. He closed up with a con-

•FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 215
siderable loss. Returaing again to mercantile life he be
came successful. In the mean time he had married, and
having only one surviving chUd, he took his wife out in a
ship and re-visited France. They were gone about two
years. He continued a while longer in mercantUe busi
ness, but finaUy relinquished it. He has been President
of the Merchant's Bank, Norwich, for many years, and
has also been through the various military grades up to
Major General of the Connecticut Militia. He has now
pretty much given up business, except so far as to manage
his private affairs at home. In all his intercourse with
his feUow men, he has, as far as has come to my knowl
edge, maintained an unsullied reputation for honesty, fair
dealing, candor and integrity. He is kind, liberal and
charitable ; and the benevolent institutions of the day
find in him a constant friend. He has for many years
been a consistent professor of religion, and is now a mem
ber of Rev. Mr. Bond's Church. He married Miss Har
riet Peck, daughter of  Peck Esq., of Norwich,
now (1847) in the 90th year of his age. Their chUdren
were, a daughter died young."
VIII. Thomas Wheeler Williams, bora July 14,
1815. He is a wealthy and most enterprizing merchant
in New London. He'married Miss Amanda Gibson of
Canandaigua, New York.
VHI. Bela Peck Williams, born in 1817, died
July €,1831. The foUowing notices Were published of
this most interesting young man.
" It is with peculiar grief, that the sad record of hu-

216 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
man fraUty and mortality is in this instance presented to
the public. If the sympathies of strangers can ever ad
minister consolation to mourners, assuredly they are
alive and tender on the present occasion. The sweetness
of temper, modesty of manners, and vivacity of mind al
ways so manifestly displayed in the character of this be
loved youth, won to him the hearts of all to whom he was
known. Our prayers, our tears are the sacrifice we
would offer upon the altar of friendship." — -Youth,
" In the character of Bela Peck WUliams there were
many peculiarly interesting traits — the most prominent
was modesty. Possessed of considerable originality of
mind, united with accuracy, he always expressed with
much correctness the ideas which he acquired, but never
going beyond the rule of native modesty, which governed
all his conduct. Another happy trait or characteristic of
his. mind was manifest in the equal distribution of his
mental faculties — that is to say, he would as readily apply
the power of his mind to one subject as to another, a fac
ulty which is rare in youth. Although at an age in
¦which little cultivation of taste could be expected, there
was very apparent in him a fondness for those works in
which taste is displayed. Such, it is believed, were the
leading propensities of mind, belonging to this beloved
young man, but we will not forget'what rendered him so
interesting in all the the social relations, a kind and gen
erous, heart.
" To his superiors ever respectful, to his equals frank
and sincere, and to his inferiors never insolent or authori
tative, but ever friendly and affectionate. In conclusion,
we say with confidence, that it has faUen to the lot of few,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS* 217
at So early an age, to have secured so many friends, to
have left so durable a monument erected to his memory
in the heart of a mourning people." (Supposed to have
been written by his teacher, Mr. Comstock.)
VII. Hon. Thomas Wheeler Williams, of New
London, son of Major General Williams, of the sixth
generation, was born Sept. 28th, 1789. With the same
feeling of friendship and esteem which I have expressed
for his brother. Gen. WUUam WUliams, of Norwich,
and with the same delicacy of portraying the character
of a living individual, I give into the same hands the
sketch of his character and life, which noticed that Of
his brother. " Thomas Wheeler WiUiams also chose the
Ufe of a merchant, after he was fitted for college. He
first went into a wholesale hardware store. In three or
four years he quit it, and went into a commission house
in New York. In 1811, he went in one of his father's
ships, supercargo to Archangel, in Russia. After load
ing the ship for home he sent her to sea, and traveled in
the winter season across the Gulf of Bothnia on the ice,
to Upsal in Sweden, thence to St. Petersburg, Stockholm,
&c. making the tour of Northern Europe, till he reached
London : thence traveling through various towns in Eng
land, and Scotland, he arrived in New York a few days
after the declaration of war against England, in 1812.
When, in 1813, New London was threatened by the Brit
ish fleet with invasion, he served as Major in the Militia
during part of that year. At the close of the war he
went into mercantUe business in New York, but marrying
a New London young lady in 1817, he removed again to

218 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
New London, where in 1820, he commenced the whaling
business, with a single brig of about 180 tons. The bu
siness proving successful and lucrative, he enlarged and
went extensively into it, and induced and advised others
to foUow his example, till now there are more than sev
enty-five ships and barges engaged in it. He is emphat
ically the father of the whaling business, not only in
New London, but in Stonington, and Mystic also. He
yet holds large shares in the whaUng ships, but since he
was chosen Representative to Congress has not attended
himself to the labor of fitting them out. He is in com
pany in the business -with a young man brought up in his
counting room. In 1841, he was elected Representative
in Congress, where he served two years. In 1846, he was
chosen one of the Representatives of New London in the
State Legislature.
" No man stands higher than he does in the estimation
of his friends. His liberality, and public spiritedness
are surpassed by few in our country. A friend of the
virtuous and of good order, sound in judgment, and
quick to discern,"
He married for his first wife. Miss Perkins, of New
London, who died of consumption. By her he had eight
children, viz. : four, of whom died young.
WiUiam P. WUliams, Yale CoUege, born in 1809, died
March 9, 1831. ^5^*1
Mary, born 1826.
Ellen, born 1826.
Charles Augustus, born 1828.
Major WUUams' second wife was Miss Alien, of New
London. He has no chUdren by her.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 219
The following notice of WiUiam P. WilUams, his son,
above, is from a London paper ^ ^ i> i
" Died at Vetuor, Is^g.-of'Wlght, on the evening of the
9th of March, l^^Mr. WiUiams, aged 22 years, son of
the Hon. Thomas W. Williams, of New London, Connec
ticut, U. S. About eighteen months ago, this young gen-,
tleman, having completed his studies at Yale CoUegefem-
barked for Europe, with a view of enriching his mind with
that knowledge to be derived only from travel and per
sonal obversation, and increasing his acquaintance with
the literature of Germany. Four months since, he was
smitten by disease of the lungs, at Dresden, and after a
very trying journey in the depth of winter, reached Lon
don near two months ago, in a state which permitted little,
if any hopes of his recovery. Two months ago he went to
Vetuor, in the hope of deriving some relief from the mUd-
ness of the atmosphere. From the day of his arrival, the
diminution of his strength became rapid, and he saw that
he must now leave the world. His religious sentiments,
his firm faith in the Divine Savior, elevated his mind
above the fear of death, and enabled him to look upon the
boundless and dimly discovered future with composure,
with resignation, with cheerfulness. He spoke of the
goodness of God to himself, and to aU of us, in his suffer
ings on the cross for our sins, -with indescribable emotions
of thanksgiving. Without the least apparent pain, he fell
asleep, as the infant sinks to repose on the mother's
bosom. He has gone, we feel assured, from the shadows
of this uncertain and transitory state, to the true, un
changeable, ever serene and bUssful Heavens, beneath the
everlasting light of which ' this corruptible must put on

220 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
incorraption, and this mortal, immortality.' To his rela
tions and friends we'«ay, ' comfort one another with these
words.' " ••• •
V. Col. Isaac Williams, of Stonington, son of WiUiam
Williams, of the fourth generation, was bora March. 28d,
1768. He married Phebe Williams, daughter of Isaac
WilUams, of the fourth generation.
Their children were
Isaac, bom Aug. 23, 1781, married Nancy Avery, Feb.
1804. Cyras, bom Nov. 28, 1788, married Martha Wheeler,
1806. Lucy, bom Sept. 29, 1786, married GUes R. HaUem,
1806. Sarah Potter, bom Aug. 18, 1787, married Henry
Cheeseborough, 1818.
Rebecca, born Sept. 10, 1789, married Charles Whee
ler, 1812.
Martha, bom July 27, 1791, married Henry Cheese
borough, January 27th, 1812. She died March 19th,
1812. John Pitts, bora Aug. 12, 1793, married Cynthia York,
1816. Jerusha, born Aug. 10, 1795, married Benjamin Pome
roy, 1818.
Eunice, born July 26, 1797, married Jabez Gallup,
1829. Phebe Esther, bom Nov. 16, 1799, married SUas
Cheeseborough, 1819.
Fanny Rogers, horn Oct. 30, 1801, unmarried.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 221
Emily Watson, born- Oct. 26, 1806, married Wm. S.
Williams, 1826. He died at Detroit, Oct. 8, 1834.
Col. Isaac WUliams, father of the above family, died
Oct. 10, 1844, aged 88, an industrious farmer, and a
worthy, respectable man. His wife, Phebe WiUiams, died
Aug. 12, 1822.
VI. Cyrus Williams, Esq., of New Haven, son of
Col. Isaac WiUiams, above, had a daughter^
Martha E. WiUiams, who married the Rev. Charles S.
Sherman, and died at New Britain, Conn., July 9, 1846,
aged 30 years. The foUowing notice of her, is from the
New York Observer.
" Mrs. Sherman had the advantages of an early reli
gious education, and hence was eariy the subject of reli
gious impressions. She did not, however, indulge the
Christian's hope untU 1834, and professed religion in
1837, in New Haven, whither her parents had removed
the previous year. In July, 1889, she saUed from Bos
ton, in connection with her husband, as a missionary to
Jerusalem, in which place they we're soon stationed, and
there they resided and labored about three years, when
his loss of health rendered their retura necessary. In
1845, he was settled in New Britain, where he now re
sides. Mrs. Sherman possessed some peculiarly interest
ing traits of character. Her mind was active, and well
balanced, her disposition affectionate, patience and perse
verance indomitable, her industry and powers of exertion
unsurpassed, and her love for other's happiness, at any
cost to herself, was most remarkable. As a Christian, she
was much inclined to self-distrust, and yet, in all trying
19

222 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
emergencies, of which she passed through many, there
have been in her case some of the brightest exhibitions of
heroism, of which the world has seen. As a missionary,
she loved the work with an undying love, and she labored
and prayed for Jerusalem, so long as an opportunity was
afforded her, and to leave that city was one of the severest
trials of her life. She remembered its inhabitants whilst
she lived, and on her dying bed they were stiU in her
heart. Her last sickness was sudden and short. She
received the announcement of the probable fatal termina
tion of her disease without the slightest emotion. Her
hope was literally as ' an anchor to the soul, both sure and
steadfast.' Her faith penetrated the world of heavenly
glory, before she entered upon its joys. The Savior, she
pronouned infinitely and unspeakably precious. She took>
her two oldest chUdren, one by one, and gave them a
dying mother's Christian charge, with the utmost compo
sure. She continued in a rapture of joy, till reason tot
tered upon its throne, a few hours before she expired.
Thus has ended the useful life of one, who was known only
to be loved, and was loved most by those who knew her
best." V. Ephraim Williams, of Stonington, son of WiUiam,
of the fourth generation, married for his first wife, Sarah
Potter, of East Kingston, and for his second wife, Hebzi-
bah Phelps, of Stonington. He had no children by his
first wife. By his second wife, he had
Ephraim, Capt., Esq., Stonington, born July, 1791.
Sarah Potter, born July, 1802, died in 1824.
Charles Phelps, born  , resides in Stonington.

family of WILLIAMS. 223
Ephraim WilUams, father of the above family, died July
6, 1804, aged 48.
VI. Hon. Ephraim Williams, Esq., of Stonington,
son of Ephraim Williams, above, is a wealthy and distin
guished citizen of Stonington. He holds the office of Judge
of Probate, Captain, &c. He married Miss Eliza Denison,
daughter of Amos Denison, and Hannah WiUiams, who
was born in 1799.
Their children were
Hebzibah, born 1816, died in 1841.
Elizabeth, bora in 1817.
Sarah, born 1826.
Ephraim, born 1826.
Emeline, born 1882.
Amos Denison, born 1884.
Joseph Phelps, born 1886.
Charies Phelps, born 1840.
Five died in infancy.
IV. Col. John Williams, second son of John Wil
liams, of the third generation, was born October 31, 1692.
His life was identified with the growth and prosperity of
the town of Stonington. His early education was neg
lected, having had the misfortune to lose his father at
about 13 years of age, but nature endowed him with a
great mind, and a strong body, and his life displayed the
power of both. He married Desire, a grand-daughter of
Mrs. Anne BoradU Denison, wife of Colonel George Den
ison. So intimately connected with the WiUiams family,
and with the early and thr'ilUng history of the country,

224 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
which I am endeavoring to sketch in this genealogy and
history, that I presume I shall be pardoned, for giving
some account of Col. George Denison and Lady Ann, from
the papers of the family, sent me by Gen. WiUiams.
" A military force was sent from England to Ireland,
to quell the insurrection in that unhappy country. To
this detachment belonged Colonel Denison, the younger
son of a powerful family in England. In an engagement,
Col. Denison was severely wounded, and borne senseless
from the field by his soldiers, who resolved to throw them
selves upon the generosity of the first person they met,
and implore an asylum for their wounded officer. The
first mansion which promised a comfortable refuge, was
the castle of Lord BoradU. They gained admittance, and
left their commander with Lord BoradU, who readily
promised every assistance. Medical aid was immediately
obtained, the wounds were dressed, the insensible stranger
committed to the care of Lady Ann, the only daughter of
Lord BoradU. This young lady was a native of the Island
of Corsica, was sent to France in her chUdhood, to receive
her education, where she remained nine years.
" With a fine constitution, youth, and the assiduous
care of Lady Ann, Col. Denison at length recovered, to
thank Lord BoradU and his daughter for their united
kindness, to one hitherto unknown to them, and who from
his severe injuries, was wholly unconscious of their atten
tion. As soon as his health was restored, he took leave
of his friends, and retumed to England — but not untU he
had engaged himself to Lady Ann, and set a time to
retura, and take her to his own country. At this period,
a spirit of emigration had seized aU classes, and Col. Den-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 225
ison resolved to cast in his lot with the PUgrims, and spend
his days in America. In pursuance of this plan, he went
to Ireland to acquaint Lady Ann with his intention, and
prepare her for her new home. She listened to his plan
with astonishment and disapprobation. She argued and
entreated, yet faUing to induce him to relinquish his pur
poses, she told him he must go to America alone, that she
could not accompany him to the wilderness world. Both
were firm, and they parted. He sailed for America, and
arrived in Boston. It appears by a letter from Col. Den
ison, to Miss Bridget Thompson, whom he afterwards
married, that his father came over with him, or before
him, for the letter was dated from his father's house, in
Roxbury ; probably more of his father's family came over
with him, or -with his father.
*********
" Col. Denison came from Boston soon after his arrival
there, to Stonington, where he purchased a large tract of
land, and commenced clearing it, and erecting a house.
When this was completed, he went to Boston and married
Miss Bridget Thompson, of Rhode Island. This lady sur
vived her marriage but a few years. She left two infant
daughters. Col. Denison left these infant children with
their grand parents,' at Boston, and sailed for England,
where he arrived at the Commencement of CromweU's
war. He had been trained to arms, and could not remain
inactive in such a scene, but immediately flew to the sta
tion that he had formerly held, which was Colonel of cav-
,alry. After remainining in England seven years, he again
visited Ireland, found Lady Ann with her father, and pre
vaUed on her to accompany him to America. She was a
19*

226 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
lady with an excellent education, posses^ng a large for
tune, and owned a street of houses in DubUn. (Some of
her curious needle-work may be seen to this day, 1832, in
the possession of her descendants.) When they arrived at
his house, in Stonington, (about a mUe east from Mystic
river,) where Oliver Deiuson now (1833) resides, the
Pequods were in arms. Col. Denison collected his vol
unteers, and attacked them several times, and at last
succeeded in taking their Sachem prisoner. Col. Denison
was a very useful and active man, endowed with excellent
talents. He was the first man who represented Stoning
ton in the General Assembly, convened at Hartford. He
died whUe at the Assembly, aged 56 years, and was buried
at Hartford. His widow died Sept, 26th, 1712, aged 97
years, and is buried at the Denison burial ground, in Ston
ington, half a mile east of the bridge at Lower Mystic,
They left three sons, -riz. John, George, and WiUiam,
Col. Denison was the first of the name that settled Con
necticut. From him sprang all the Denisons who reside
in the regit)n about here. The Denrson coat of arms, are
a sword and gun. The folio-wing notice of George Den
ison, is from the Genological Register bf the first settlers
of New England,
" George Denison, Roxbury, was bora in 1621, ad
mitted freeman 1648, is mentioned by Winthrop -as ' a
young man lately come out of the wars in England, &c,,
and as being chosen Captain by the young men in Rox
bury, in 1647.' He'probably removed to Stonington,
Conn., and much distinguished himself in PhiUp's War,
in 1675." Col, Williams' first wife. Desire Denison, died in 1737,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 227
aged 44. His second wife was Mary, who died in 1740,
aged 44. His third wife was Prudence, who died Sept,
17, 1762, aged 62,
His children by his first wife were
John, born, lived and died on the old farm. One son
in New York,
Thomas,
WiUiam, Robert, George,
Edward,Thankful, Mercy.
Deborah. Col. John WUUams, died Dec. 1771, aged 71. The
following is his autograph.

J^^JhU^^^^

V. Thomas Williams, of Groton, Conn, whose name
is on the monument at Groton, was among those who
were slain in the defense of the liberties of their country
in the brutal attack on that fort, by the infamous traitor,
Amold, in Sept, 1781. He was son of Col. John Wil
Uams, of Stonington, of the fourth generation, and grand-
Son of John the settler.
V. George Williams, Esq., son of Col. John WU-
liaihs, of the fourth generation. He married Miss Flu-
nice Avery, of Groton. Their children were
George.

228 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
Solomon.
Amos.Dudley. Robert.Ebenezer. Jesse. Prudence. Eunice.Bridget.Desire. VI. George Williams, son of George WiUiams
above, had the following chUdren.
Nancy, married Mr. Hewitt, of Stonington.
Eunice, married Palmer Hewitt, of Stonington.
Linthia, married Joseph S. Allen, of Groton.
Thankful, married Moses Benjamin, of Norwich.
Frances, married Robert Bowen.
Charlotte, married Edward R. Warner, Esq., of Lyme.
Diadamia, married Jeremiah Comstock,, and Charles
Worthington. Clarissa, married Benjamin E. ChampUn, of Lyme.
Elizabeth, died in 1819, aged 21 years.
George, died in infancy.
V. Deborah Williams, daughter of John of the 4th
generation, married Nehemiah WUliams, chUdren
Nehemiah, married Miss Allen.
Eleazer, married Abby Prentice.
Martha, married Mr. Jonathan Denison.
Lucretia, married Mr. Titus Smith.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 229
III. Eleazer Williams, son of Capt. Isaac WiUiams,
of Roxbury, moved to Stonington, in Connecticut, and
died there March 19th, 1725, aged 56. The foUowing
account of him, and some of his descendants, is from one
of his descendants, Mr. Eleazer WiUiams, now (1847)
living on the spot where his ancestor first lived in Ston
ington. It is on a hiU, called Williams' hUI, command-'
ing a most beautiful view of Long Island Sound, and the
surrounding country, at the head of Mystic river, and
near ,the Mystic burying-ground, where so many of the
family of WUliams are buried. This burying-ground is
near the fort which was taken by Capt. Mason, from the
Pequods in the year 1637. This battle destroyed the
Pequod power in America. (See an account of the bat
tle in Barber.) Back of Mr, WilUams' house is an old
Indian burying ground, where he frequently digs up
spears, arrows, &c. This residence overlooks the situa
tion, on which John WUUams, his brother, resided. It
does not appear to be much more than a mile off, and
perhaps their farms were contiguous, as they moved to
Stonington about the same time. His wife Mary, died
July 30, 1762, aged 80 years. They had one son.
IV. Nehemiah Williams, who died Aug. 25, 1778,
aged 83. Deborah, his first wife, died Jan. 81, 1766.
Hannah, his second wife, died Aug. 7, 1778, in the 77th
year of her age.
By his first wife he had
Eleazer, died Sept. 24, 1778, aged 48.
Nehemiah, died within ten days of his father, in the
house now occupied by Eleazer WilUams.

230 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
V, Eleazer Williams above, left six sons by his
wife AbigaU, who died Aug. 18, 1786. His second wife
Mary, died Jan. 16, 1839, aged 76.
Their children were
Eleazer, Deacon, born 1758, died March 20, 1814.
GUbert, died AprU 16th, 1799, in the S8th year of
his age.
Prentice, now lives (1847) in the to-wn of Berne, New
York, Elam, born (now living, 1847) in the city of New
York, aged 76,
Amos, Daniel, deceased,
V. Nehemiah Williams, son of Nehemiah, of the
fourth generation, died August 19th, 1797, in the 74th
' year of his age. By his wife Abigail, who died June 23,
1767, in her 43d year, he had
Park, who died Dec, 9, 1883, in the 88th year of his
age, Christopher, who died in the West Indies,
VI, Park Williams above, left five sons, viz,
Amos,
Park, who Uves in the state of New York.
Sanford.
Russell.Prentice.
All but Prentice, live in Stonington.
V. Eleazer Williams, of the fifth generation, son of

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. -231
Nehemiah, left eight sons, and four daughters, who all
arrived to the age of maturity, since which one has died
in the state of New York. Of the rest, two live in Ston
ington, one in Norwich, one in Michigan, one in Ledyard,
and six in the state of New York. The chUdren are
V. Eleazer Williams, now lives on the paternal es
tate at Stonington.
Denison.
Benjamin F., dead.
Giles.
Austin. Noyes. Ira.Alfred. Mr. WUliams in his letter to me informs me that he
has been to see an old aunt of his, his father's sister Fan
ny, who married Daniel Cheeseborough. He was injured
by a fall in 1808, which laid him up from active business.
He was bed-rid for more than thirty years. During that
time more than five hundred and thirty-six persons had
visited him, who are now dead. For thirty-one years of
the time, his wife shaved and dressed him. She had a
son at the same time, that was not dressed for thirteen
years. His mother shaved him also. She fed him with
a spoon the whole time. She had a daughter in another
part of the house, which she fed for years. They all
died within five months of each other. While his uncle
Cheeseborough lay sick, he wrote two books mostly over,
giving the histories and records of different famUies. He
has gone back to the first white man that ever was in

232 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
Stonington, and the first man who represented the town
of Stonington, He has her consent for the book to go
to Deerfield, for he thinks it contains just the information
which I want.
III. Ephraim Williams, son of Isaac WilUams, of
the second generation, by his second wife, was born Aug.
21, 1691, at Newton, where he resided until several
years after his marriage, when he removed to Hatfield,
and resided there a short time -with his brother, the Rev.
WiUiam WiUiams, of that place.
He married Miss Elizabeth Jackson, of Newton, and
by her he had the foUowing children.
Ephraim, Col., bora Feb. 23, 1715. Killed in the
French war, Sept. 8, 1765.
Thomas, Doctor, born Feb. 24, 1718, died Sept. 28,
1775. AbigaU, born AprU 20th, 1721, married the Rev. Mr.
Sergeant, and afterwards Brigadier General Joseph
Dwight. Josiah. EUzabeth, bora Nov. 28, 1730, married the Rev. Dr.
West, and died in 1804.
Elijah, born Nov. 16, 1732, died June 9th, 1816.
Col. WiUiams, father of the above famUy, died in
1764, aged 63.
Lie was a man of considerable repute, as he held the
offices of Esq. and Captain at Newton. About the year
1788, the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massar
chusetts made grant to the Housatonnuc Indians of that
tract of land which now comprehends the town of Stock-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 233
bridge, in the county of Berkshire, with the reservation
of certain portions of the land in that township for the
Rev. Mr. Sergeant, who was missionary to those Indians,
to Mr. Woodbridge, who was his assistant, as schoolmas
ter to those Indians, and to four other gentlemen whom
they might appoint as companions to assist Mr. Sergeant
in his labors in civilimg and*fehristianizing those Indians.
The first part of June, 1789, Ephraim WiUiams, Esq.
and Mr. Josiah Jones, brought their famUies to Stock-
bridge, and settled there, being two of the four EngUsh
families, who, by order of the General Court, were to
settle there, for Mr. Sergeant's comfort and benefit of the
Indians. Lieut. Brown, and Mr. Joseph Woodbridge,
were the others who came some time after.
Except Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Woodbridge, these were
the first Englishmen who settled in the present town of
Stockbridge. There were a few in the south part of
Housatonnuc, now Sheffield, about twelve mUes from
Stockbridge. His two oldest chUdren, Col. Ephraim,
and Dr^ Thomas, did not go to Stockbridge with him,
though Col. Ephraim Williams, his son, Uved there some
time afterwards. I have been informed that he carried
the rest of his chUdren in panniers, on a horse. It is
certain the country between Connecticut river and Stock-
bridge, was at that time a wUderness, and no roads, ex
cept horse paths, had been made. Stockbridge is about
forty-five mUes west of Connecticut river. They must
have suffered many privations and hardships, in the set
tiement of that part of the country ; but the settlers
always lived on friendly terms with the Indians. Mr.
WUUams was a man of learning, and was much esteemed.
20

234 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
He is spoken of by the Rev. Dr. Colman, as a worthy
man. He was appointed by government to apportion
and survey the plots of land to the Indians. He was ap
pointed a Colonel, probably of the miUtia, before his
death, which happened at Deerfield, while on a visit to
his Son, Doctor Thomas Williams, in Aug. 1754.
The epitaph on his monufiient is :
" Blest be that hand divine which gently laid
My heart at rest beneath this humble shade."
The following is his autograph.

IV. Col. Ephraim Williams, founder of WUUams'
College, eldest son of the above, was born Fob. 24th;
1715. It is much to be regretted, that a more minute
account of the eariy life of this distinguished man can
not be obtained. After receiving the rudiments of a
good education, when quite a youth, he went to sea, but
whether before the mast, or as an officer, I cannot learn.
He made several voyages to Europe, and in some of
them he visited England, Spain and Holland. In these
voyages, and in his intercourse with genteel society, he
acquired graceful and polished manners, and accumulated
a great amount of useful information, which laid the
foundation of his future fame. By the persuasion of his
father, he abandoned his sea-faring life, and sometime
after his father's settlement in Stockbridge, he removed
to that town and purchased several large tracts of land

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 235
there. He must have resided there some time, as he
was elected a representative of the General Court of
Massachusetts, by the inhabitants of that town, the ex
act year I cannot tell.
He removed to Hatfield, in the year 1748, where he
purchased several tracts of land. He resided there, and
with his brother. Dr. Thomas WUliams, of Deerfield,
much ofthe time. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff un
der Ool. OUver Partridge, of Hatfield. WhUe here he was
on terms of the greatest intimacy and friendship -R'ith
such men as Col. Worthington, Col. Stoddard, Col. Israel
WiUiams, Major Elijah Williams, the Rev. Jonathan Ash
ley, and several others, the very elite of the country.
fie was considered to possess uncommon miUtary tal
ents, and in the then existing war between England and
France, he had a good opportunity to display them.
The war continued from 1744 to 1748. During the
early part of this period, he was appointed Captain of a
company in the army, raised in New England, in what
was then termed the Canada service, or expedition.
This, at that time. Was considered to be an important of
fice in a most interesting period of our colonial history.
Ever since the war of Queen Anne, about the commence
ment of the 18th century, the country had been in a
continual state of alarm, and jeopardy from the incursions
of the Indians in Canada, stimulated to revenge by the
French, the inveterate enemies of the English colonists.
During the interval of peace, these Indians often visited
the frontier settlements for the purpose of traffic, and
they frequently caUed upon the families whom they had
wantonly abused in former wars, refeounting their murders

236 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
and their tortures, and whenever incensed or intoxicated,
they threatened a repetition of their former cruelties, so
that the settlers were kept in a continual state of agita
tion. When the war again commenced a re-enaction of
these scenes was inevitable, unless checked by a superior
military force on the part of the colonists. In such an
army Captain WUliams was appointed to the command of
a company, and if ever there was a state of honorable
warfare, this was that state. If the French and Indian
power was not put down, they must ever afterwards be
exposed to these depredations and cruelties, and confla
grations and barbarities, like those enacted at Deerfield
and at Lancaster, would again be repeated in rapid suc
cession. Little does the present generation think of the
bloodshed and carnage which has been prevented in
what are now called the United States, by the conquest
and reduction of Canada by the English power in
America, which was ultimately brought about by the pro
vincial power of Great Britain in America, in the wars
of 1744 and 1765. In point of perfect peace and abso
lute security which they brought about, these wars were
Uttle inferior to the war of the American Revolution.
Soon after his appointment as an officer in the Canada
service, he commanded the line of Massachusetts forts west
of Connecticut river. These forts commenced at Fort
Dummer, in Vernon, Vermont, and extended west to Fort
Massachusetts. He had, also, the command of a small
fort at Williamstown, which was on an eminence a little
west of the meeting-house. His place of residence during
this time, was principally at Fort Massachusetts, at Hoo-
sick, on the banks of Hoosick river, three or four imles

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 237
east of WiUiamstown. Protected by these forts, the first
settlers of this region of country began to make agricul
tural improvements in some sort of security.
At the time of the surrender of Fort Massachusetts to
the French and Indians, on the 20th of August, 1746,
Captain WUUams had joined the forces then raised for an
expedition against Canada. This fort was defended by
Sergeant John Hawks, of Deerfield, afterwards Lieuten
ant Colonel, with a force of only twenty-two effective men,
against the army of De Vaudreiuil, consisting of about
eight hundred French and Indians.
Fort Massachusetts, was rebuilt and garrisoned by one
hundred men, under Captain Ephraim WUliams, in 1748,
and was not much molested by the enemy untU the latter
part of that summer. General Hoyt, in his Antiquarian
Researches, or Indian Wars, a new edition of which is
very much wanted, says : " On the second of August,
four men who were out some distance from the fort, were
fired upon ; Captain WiUiams saUied out with thirty men,
and drove the enemy about forty rods, when fifty Indians
in ambuscade on his right, rose and gave him a general
discharge, and attempted to cut off his communication
with the fort ; but by a quick motion he frustrated their
plan, and regained tbe place, with the loss of two men
kiUed, and one wounded. A large body of the enemy
then advanced, and opened their fire on the fort, which
they continued about two hours, under a spirited fire from
the garrison. Unable to make any impression, they drew
off, carrying their kiUed and wounded. The enemy were
estimated at about three hundred, including thirty French
men, The attack on the sallying party, gave the first
20*

238 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
notice that the enemy were in force in the vicinity. Wil
liams put much at hazard, in sallying before he ascertained
the strength of the enemy ; and had he fallen, his party
might have been cut off, and the loss of the fort in conse
quence. An excess of bravery is the common fault of a
hero ; and he is ever ready to mix in the melee, without
intrasting the command to a subordinate ; or reflecting
that circumspection is one of the first virtues of a com
mander." Soon after this, however, he was elevated to
the rank of Major.
While he had the command of Fort Massachusetts, he
would frequently engage in the sports and amusements of
the sojdiers, and unite with them on a footing of equality
in their innocent gayeties, and would allow them every
decent warranted freedom, and so great was his urbanity,
that on his return to his military duties, with all proper
dignity he resumed his rank and station, and he always
commanded the respect and love of his soldiers.
At the peace of Aix la Chapelle, he returned to Hat
field, in 1748, where he remained till he was summoned
again to the tented field, in the year 1766. When that
war broke out, he was appointed by Governor Shirley, to
the command of one of the regiments, which was promptly
raised, principally in the county of Hampshire. The
command of the expedition against Crown Point, devolved
upon Sir WilUam Johnson, whose place of rendezvous was
to be at the head of Lake George, in the State of New
York. Col. WiUiams was ordered to repair to him at
Albany. Gen. Hoyt observes : — " The army under Gen. John
son, assembled at Albany about the last of June,, but

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 239
much retarded by a want of a supply of provisions, and in
the month of July part of his force moved up the Hudson,
and commenced buUding Fort Edward, at the great car
rying place, and in August, was joined by the remainder
of the army. A road was now cut to Lake George, and
so far completed, as to admit the carriage of baggage, and
in the latter part of the month, the army advanced and
took a position at the southern extremity of the Lake,
where it lay some time waiting for batteaux, to enable it
to proceed to Crown Point, the whole number less than
five thousand. In the mean time, a French force, con
sisting of regulars, Canadians, and Indians, under Baron
Dieskau, advanced up Lake Champlain, and took posses
sion of Ticonderoga, where Johnson was to have built a
fort, and on the sixth and seventh of September, the Ba
ron with one thousand eight hundred men, two-thirds reg
ular troops, recently from France, proceeded up South
Bay to its southern extremity, where he landed and com
menced his march for Fort Edward, then but partially
finished, and garrisoned by Col. Blanchard's regiment of
New Hampshire troops. The Baron's plan was to carry
that post, then to descend the Hudson, threaten Albany,
and cut off Johnson's line of operation with that place ;
but halting about four mUes north of the fort, and commu
nicating to the troops his plan of operation i, he found the
Canadians and Indians alarmed at Blanchard's artUlery ;
but ready for an attack on Johnson's camp at Lake George,
which they had been informed by a prisoner, was desti
tute of that terrible arm. On discovering this irresolu
tion, the Baron changed his route, and proceeded towards
Lake George, encamped near a pond, a smaU distance

240 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
not far from the north point of a hiU, now called French
mountain. The debarkation of the enemy at South Bay, was the
first intelUgence received by Johnson of the approach and
design of the Baron, and he immediately communicated
it to Col. Blanchard, at Fort Edward, by express, with
orders to call in his working parties, and be prepared for
a vigorous defense. One of the expresses was intercepted
and killed ; another returned at midnight, and reported
that he had discovered the enemy to the northward of Fort
Edward, probably only some advanced* parties of the In
dians. Johnson immediately assembled a council of officers,
who advised that one thousand men, and two hundred
Mohawks, should advance from the camp, " to catch the
enemy on their retreat, either as victors, or as detected
in the design." The next morning, Sept. 8th, the pro
posed detachment left camp under the command of Col.
Ephraim "Williams, with two hundred Mohawks, under
King Hendrick, their old chief, and proceeded towards
Fort Edward, where it was supposed the enemy would be
found. In the meantime, Johnson's troops hove up a
slight breastwork of logs, cut in front of the camp, and
two pieces of cannon, which had arrived a short time be
fore, were hailed up from the lake shore, and mounted
on the rude breastwork.
The road from Johnson's camp, led up a hollow way or
ravine, formed by French mountain, a high rocky ridge
on the left, and a more gradual rise on the right, the road
skirted by woods, and presenting considerable inequali
ties. At the distance of about three and a half mUes, the

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 241
ravine was narrowed by an abrupt hill on the right, clos
ing down to the road, forming a defile of no great width,
and opening into more level ground.
Having discovered the advance of WilUam's detach
ment by his Indian runners, and deposited his packs under
a small guard, Dieskau advanced to the debouche of the
defile, and formed his regulars across the road, where they
were covered by the woods ; the Canadians and Indians
were posted on the right, in a double potence, his left ex
tending along the west of the eminence, which has been
mentioned, and the right in the ravine, through which ran
a small brook ; the whole covered with woods.
Having advanced about two mUes, WiUiams made a short
halt, for the arrival of Hendrick's Indians, who were some
distance in the rear. A soldier who was on the detach
ment, stated that during this halt, flankers were thrown
out on the right and left, in the thick woods, and whUe in
this position, a drove of deer ran down the valley, and
passed between the men, indicating great fright. No
suspicions, however, were entertained that they were
frightened by the enemy, occupying the ground in front.
On coming up, they took the front of the column, the
chief mounted on a small horse, and the march was
resumed, without apprehension that the enemy were near,
or the precaution of throwing out flankers, or even a van
guard, in Hendrick's front. Probably WiUiams intrusted
this service to the Mohawks. It was now about ten
o'clock in the forenoon.
Continuing the march about a inUe, Hendrick approxi
mating the enemy's ambuscade, told WiUiams he scented
Indians, and pressing on a small distance, a shot from a

242 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS*
hasty Indian, announced the proximity of the enemy.
After a momentary pause', the teriffic Indian yell pierced
the wood in various directions, and a heavy, fire poured
upon the left of Williams' column, and Hendrick's Indi
ans in front, which cut down great numbers. Observing
the elevated ground on his right, Williams ordered his
men, then in an extended column of files in the road, to
mount and gain a more defensible position. This was im
mediately attempted, but they had proceeded but a short
advance, when a deadly fire showered upon them from the
hill, which kiUed the commander, threw the whole into
confusion, and strewed the ground with killed and wound
ed. A confused retreat of English and Mohawks, inter
mixed, commenced along the yoad, and in the woods upon
the flanks, closely pressed by the enemy, the flying'troops
falling every moment. Some degree of order being re
stored, at a small pond near the road, since called
Bloody Pond, part of the troops formed, took possession
behind it, and maintained their ground a short time with
resolution ; but overpowered by numbers, they were com
pelled to retire, and the retreat was continued under a
heavy fire from behind trees, logs, and other covers,
which checked the pursuing enemy, and cut down consid
erable numbers.
The firing was heard in Johnson's camp at the lake,
and three hundred men under Lieut. Col. Cole, attached
to sustain Williams, or cover his retreat, if defeated. A
short distance north of Bloody Pond, Cole met the re
treating troops, and by his fire checked the pursuit of the
enemy, and covered the broken detachment into camp,
where they arrived in great confusion, with exaggerated

JfAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 243
representations of the number and ferocity of the en
emy. The loss of the detachment was severe. Col. WU
liams fell by a shot through the head, as he was leading
his men towards the eminence, as has been mentioned,
and the command devolved upon Lieut. Col. Whiting, a
Connecticut officer; who is said to have conducted bravely
on the retreat. The Mohawks lost about forty of their
warriors, and their chief, Hendrick, who was much es
teemed by them, as well as by the English.
Dieskau evinced much skUl and judgment in the choice
of his position. One part of his plan, however, failed ;
he intended that WUliams should have advanced as far
within the flanks of his ambuscade', that the fire should
have commenced from his regulars in the center, and he
had ordered his flanks to reserve theirs till this should
take place, but the impatience of the Indians brought on
the flre too soon. Had this order been obeyed, Williams'
detachment might have been surrounded and annihUated.
Having thus repulsed Williams, Dieskau passed on to
wards Johnson's camp, with his Canadians and Indians up
on his flanks, and arriving at a crest of an eminence, since
called Gage's hUl. Johnson's army was discovered in
order of battle behind the breastwork of logs, the flanks
resting upon morasses which spread on the right and left ;
in the center was an eminence, the ground in front for
some distance partially open, and nearly level, and the
lake in the rear."
The following is a more minute account of the battle,
after the retreat of Col. WilUams' men into the fort or
breastwork after this engagement, in which Col. Williams

244 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
was kiUed. It was written by my grandfather. Doc
tor Thomas WilUams, of Deerfield, brother of Col.
Ephraim WilUams, the surgeon of his regiment at that
time. It is a letter to his wife, dated
Lake George, Sept. 11, 175.5.
My Dear Spouse:
Last Monday, the 8th instant, was the most a-wful day
that my eyes ever beheld, and may I not say that ever was
seen in New England, considering the transactions of it.
Having inteUigence of an army of French and Indians
that were discovered by our Indian scouts, part of our
army were sent to intercept their retreat, as it was sup
posed they were designed for Fort Lyman (now Fort Ed
ward,) at the south end of the carrying-place ; about one
thousand whites under the command of my dear brother
Ephraim, who led the van, and Lieut. Col. Whiting, who
brought up the rear, and about one hundred and fifty
Mohawks, under the command of King Hendrick, their
principal speaker, were attacked by the French army,
consisting of twelve hundred regulars, and about nine
hundred Canadians and savages, about three miles from
our encampment, and the main of our detachment it is
said, put to a precipitate flight, but the certainty is not
yet known ; besure those brave men who stood fighting for
our dear country perished in the field of battle. The
attack began about half an hour after ten in the moming,
and continued till about four in the afternoon before the
enemy began to retreat. The enemy was about an hour
and a half driving our people before them, before they
reached the camp, when to give them due credit, they

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 245
fought like brave feUows on both sides for near four' hours,
disputing every inch of ground, in the whole of which
time there seemed to be nothing but thunder and light-
tiing, and perpetual piUars of smoke. Our cannow
(which, under God, it appears to me) saved us, wero
heard down as low as Saratoga, notwithstanding the
wind was in the north, and something considerable, and
which, by the way, was a great disadvantage to our
troops, as the smoke was drove in our faces. The
wounded were brought in very fast, and it was with the
utmost difficulty that their wounds could be dressed fast
enough, even in the most superficial manner, having in
about three hours forty men brought to be dressed. Dr.
Pynchon, his mate, and WiUiam, (son of Col. WiUiama,
of Pittsfield,) with myself, were aU to do it; my mate
being at Fort Lyman, attending to divers sick men there.
The bullets flew like haU stones about our ears all the
¦time of dressing, as we had not a place of safety prepared
to dress the wounded in, but through God's goodness we
.'received no hurt, any more than the bark of the trees
and chips flying in our faces by accidental shots, which
were something frequent.
Our tent was shot through in divers places, which we
thought best to leave and retire a few rods behind a shel
ter of a log house, which was so loose laid as to let the
baUs through very often. I have not time to give the list
of the dead, which are many, by reason I have not time
to attend the wounded as they ought to be. My neces
sary food and sleep are almost strangers to me since the
; fetal day ; fatal indeed to my dear brother Ephraim,
yrho was kUled in the beginning of the action, by a baU
21

246 FAMILY OP WILLIAMS.
through his head. Great numbers of brave men, and
some the flower of our army died with him on the spot ;
for a list of which I refer you to Capt. Burke's letter to
Lieut. Hoit, not having time to get a copy of one my
self. Twenty odd wounded in our regiment, and poor
brother Josiah makes one of the number, having a ball
lodged in the intestines, which entered towards the upper
part of his thigh and passed through his groin. Poor
Captain Hawley is yet alive, who I did not think would
live two hours after bringing him in, being shot in at the
left pap (and the ball cut out near the shoulder blade)
cutting his pleura, and piercing through the left lobe of
his lungs. As the violence of his symptoms are this day
something abated, I have some small hopes he may re
cover. Our Mohawks suffered considerable in the action,
having thirty-three killed with the brave King Hendrick,
which has exasperated them much, so that it is with
great difficulty that we can keep them from sacrificing
the French General, and aid-de-camp, and the rest of
the French prisoners, about twenty-one in number, which
have been taken. The French General is much wounded,
whose name and- titles are as follows, as appears by his
papers : " M, lb Baron de Dieskau, Marechal-de-Camp
et Armies, Envoye dans Canada, pour Commandre tout
les Troupes," It seems he was Lieut. Col. under Count
Saxe in the last war in Flanders, and was sent over with
the same power and command from that country that the
late Gen. Braddock was from England. But I must
conclude, being interrupted every moment by my pa
tients, wanting something or other. (Gen. Hoyt, in
his Antiquarian Researches, gives this account of the cap-

family of WILLIAMS. 247
ture of Dieskau. " The brave Baron, who had received
a wound in his leg, and unable to walk, was left alone
resting upon the stump of a tree. A soldier approaching,
he presented his sword as a token of submission; but
this, as well as his demandier quartier, being misunder
stood, he attempted to draw his watch, intending to de
liver it to the soldier ; stiU misconceiving the Baron's in
tention, and supposing him in search of a pistol, he
poured a charge through the Baron's hips, and advancing
took his gold watch. At this moment, Lieut. Col. Pome
roy came up, and receiving his sword, ordered him to
Johnson's marquee, under the protection of a few sol
diers. A party of Mohawks had now reached the spot,
and seeing the captive general, they determined to re
venge the death of their chief by sacrificing him ; and it
was with much difficulty that the guard conducted him
to quarters. The Baron's wound was incurable, but it
did not prove mortal untU October, 1767, several years
after his arrival in Europe.") Dr. WUUams, continues
his letter. Our recruits begin to come up, which if the
commander soon join, hope we shaU yet see Crown Point
in a few weeks, and by God's assistance, make it our own.
The remainder of the French army were attacked by
two hundred and fifty of the New Hampshire troops, af
ter they left us, and put to a precipitate flight ; as they
were not apprized of these troops, they left their baggage
and most of their provisions, and some guns, and many
dead bodies on the spot where the attack began in the
morning, and when our troops came upon them, and they
were sitting down to rest after their fatigue with us.
The French General says he lost six hundred of his men,

248 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
and the Aid de camp says' more, and that they have lostJ
One thousand. It is certain they were smartly paid, fot
they left their garmeMs and weapons of wal- for mUes to^
gether, like the Assyrians in their flight. If we had!
had five or six hundred fresh troops to have pursued, it
is thought very few would have gone back to Crowii
Point to tell what had become of their brethren.
Itds now eleven of the clock, and I have had scarcely
any sleep since the action, must therefore wish you goodl
night.' I subsoribe myself, your affectionate Husband,

This was said to be the first battle fought -with regulal?
frOOps in America, and the first time that bayonets were
ftsed in our country, which were employed by the French
Soldiers. According to a return made by Dr. Perez Marsh, suf-
geon's mate, in Col. Williams' regiment, the loss on the
{latt of the English and Americans, in both the engage'
ments, was two hundred and sixteen kiUed, and ninety
6ix wounded, making a total of three hundred and twelve,
and a few were missing.
Col. WiUiams' regiment suffered the most. FOrty-SiX
were killed, twenty wounded, and several missing. He
lost, also, several officers of distinction. His brother, Jo-
feiah, who was an ensign, in his company, was severely
Wounded in the ambuscade, of which wound he ultimately
died. In Col. WUliams* regiment, there were Sevefal distin-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 249
guished men bearing the name of WUUams. The Rev.
Stephen WUliams, of Long Meadow, was his Chaplain.
Doctor Thomas, of Deerfield, was his Surgeon, and Wil
Uam WiUiams, was his Assistant mate. Hon. WiUiam
WUliams, the Signer of the Declaration of Independence,
was his Adjutant, or Quarter Master, and his brother Jo
siah, was an Ensign, in one of his companies.
Gen. Hoyt observes :— " The faU of Col. WilUams was
uuiversally regretted by his country. By his long and
faithful services in the defense of the Western frontiers of
Massachusetts, he had endeared himself to the people of
that exposed part of the province ; and by them particu
larly, his loss wiU be considered a great calamity. One
of his intimate acquaintances, bears testimony to his worth
in the following language. ' Humanity made a striking
trait in his character, and universal benevolence was his
ruling passion ; his memory wiU always be dear.' By his
wiU, which he wrote in Al{)any, a short time before his
death, he made a liberal donation for a free school at WU
Uamstown, called after his name, which was the founda
tion of the College at that place. Col. WiUiams' regi
ment, consisting of ten companies, was raised principally
iri the county of Hampshire, then including Berkshire, in
Massachusetts, and was composed of many of the most
respectable people in that part of the country. The fatal
attack on the detachment, was often mentioned by our
elderly people, by the name of the bloody morning scout,
in which they lost'several of their dearest friends."
Col. Williams' remains rest in obscurity where he feU,
near the present road from Glen's Falls to CaldweU, at
the head of Lake George; A large rock, stiU bearing his
21*

250 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
name, is pointed out by the inhabitants, as marking the
spot. The Trustees of WiUiams CoUege, it is said, have
more than once proposed the erection of a monument to
his memory, but the laudable measure has not been car
ried into effect. It is hoped they wiU no longer neglect
their generous donor.
" "When on Europe's red plains, heroes valiantly perished ;
Fame spreads her broad pinions thejr exploits to tell,
"While the smooth chisel'd bust their rememberances cherish,
And well sculptured urns mark the place where they fell."
The Trustees of that CoUege have recently erected a
slab to his memory, in the wall of the new chapel, with the
following inscription.
" To the memoiy of the gallant and generous Colonel
Ephraim WilUams, who was bora at Newton, Middlesex
county, Feb. 24, 1714, 0. S., Uved at Deerfield, and feU
in an ambuscade of French and Indians, near the south
ern extremity of Lake George, Sept. 8, 1766, in the 42d
year of his age ; having been stationed at Fort Massachu
setts, in what is now the township of Adams. He left in
his WiU a liberal provision for a free school in WiUiams
town, which was incorporated in 1786. t)n this founda
tion, in 1793, arose the College, which was called after
his name. ' In pace quiescat.' "
The writer of a notice of him in the Massachusetts His
torical collections, says, " in his person he was large and
fleshy. He had a taste for books, and often lamented his
want of a Uberal education. His address was easy, a;id

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 251
his manners pleasing and concUiating. Affable and face.
tious, he could make himself agreeable in all company,
and was very generally esteemed, respected and beloved.
His kind and and obliging deportment, his generosity and
condescension, greatly endeared him to the soldiers. By
them he was uncommonly beloved, while he lived, and
lamented when dead."
The following notice of him is from an oration delivered
before the Union Society of WilUams CoUege, at the Com
mencement, in 1837, by the Hon. Edward Everett, late
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, now
President of Harvard College. What he supposes Col.
WiUiams to say when addressing his fellow citizens, may
be considered almost sober reality, and it is strictly appli
cable to the then existing state of things.
" Col. WiUiams' character was of no ordinary mould.
At a distance from the seat of his benefaction, full justice
has not been done to his memory. A man of the happi
est natural temperame nt, a gentleman of the true natural
stamp, unassuming and simple, supplying the deficiency
of a learned education by large experience of men and
things acquired in foreign travel, in the legislature, and
in the army, yet modestly lamenting what others did not
trace,— his want of early advantages ; without a family,
but the patriarch of the frontier settlements where he was
stationed, he feU in the prime of early manhood, a victim
to his patriotic zeal. A brief sketch of his biography, in
one of the early volumes of the Massachusetts Historical
Society, informs us that he witnessed with humane and
painful sensations, the dangers, difficulties, and hardships
which the settlers of those valUes were obliged to encoun-

252 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
ter ; and that to encourage them, he was accustomed to
intimate the purpose which was carried into effect in his
wiU. ¦' I regret not to have found Col. Williams' view on
this subject preserved somewhat in detail. It would have
been exceedingly interesting to see the topic of education
in reference to the wants of a newly settled country, as it
presented itself to the practical -view of a man of his char
acter on the eve of a war. As no such record, as far as
I know, has been preserved, you wiU pardon me for at
tempting to present the subject to you under the same
light in which they may have contemplated it.
" My friends," we might conceive he would say to a
group of settlers collected about old Fort Massachusetts,
on some fit occasion, not long before his marching to his
place of rendezvous : " Your hardships, I am aware, are
great. I have -witnessed, — I have shared them. The
hardships incident to opening a new country, are always
severe. They are heightened in our case by the constant
danger in which we- live, from the savage enemy. At
present, we are rather encamped than settled. We live
in block-houses — we lie upon our arms by night, and Uke
the Jews who returned to build Jerusalem, we go to work
by day with the implements of husbandry in one hand,
and the weapons of war in the other. We have been
bred up in the populous settlements on the coast, where
the school-house and the church are found in the center
of every viUage. Here, as yet, we can have neither. I
know that these things weigh upon you. You look upon
the dark and impenetrable forests, in which you have
made an opening, and contrast them with the pleasant
vUlages where you were born and passed your early

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 253
years, where your parents are yet living, or where they
have gone to their rest ; and you cannot suppress a pain
ful emotion. You are more especially, as I perceive, dis
heartened at the present moment of impending war. But,
my friends, let not your spirits sink. The prospect is
overcast, but bright days will come. In vision, I can
plainly foresee them. The forest disappears— the corn
field, the pasture, takes its place ; — the hill-sides are spot
ted with flocks — the music of the water-wheel sounds in
accordance with the dashing stream. Yon little group of
log cabins swell into prosperous viUages- Schools and
churches spring up in the waste ; institutions for learning
arise, and, in what is now a wUd solitude, libraries and
Cabinets unfold their treasures, and observatories point
their tubes to the heavens. I tell you, that not aU the
united powers of the French and Indians on the St. Law
rence — no, not if 'backed by all the powers of darkness
which seem at times in league with them to infest this
howling wilderness, will long prevent the vaUies of the
Hoosic and Hoosatonic from becoming the abode of in
dustry, abundance and refinement. A century will not
pass, before the voice of domestic wisdom and fireside
inspiration from the vales of Berkshire, wiU be heard
throughout America and Europe. As for the contest
impending, I am sure we shall conquer ; if I mistake not
it is the first of a series of unutterable moment to all
America, and even to mankind. Before it closes, the
banner of St. George wiU float, I am sure, over Diamond
rock ; and the extension of the British power over the
whole continent will be but the first act of a .grand drama,
whose catastrophe I but dimly foresee.

264 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
" I speak what concerns the whole country ; the for
tune of individuals is wrapped in the uncertain future.
For myself, I must own that I feel a foreboding at my
heart which I cannot throw off. I can only say, if my
hour is come, (and I think it not distant,) I am pre
pared — I have been able to do but little, but if Provi
dence has no other work for me to perform, I am ready
to be discharged from the warfare. It is my purpose
before I am taken from you, to make a disposition of my
property for the benefit of this infant community. My
heart's desire is, that in the picture of its future prosper
ity, which I behold in mental view, the last and best of
earthly blessings shall not be wanting. I shaU deem my
life not spent in vain, though it be cut off to-morrow, if at
its close I shaU be accepted as the humble instrument of
promoting the great cause of education.
" My friends, as I am now soon to join the army, we
meet, many of us, perhaps, for the last time. I am a
solitary branch, — I have no wife to feel my loss : no
children to follow me to the grave. Should I faU by the
tomahawk, or in the front of honorable battle — on the
shore of the stormy lake, or in the infested wood — this
poor body may want a friendly hand to protect it from
insult. But I must take the chance of a soldier's life.
When I am gone, you wiU find some proof that my last
thoughts were with the settlers of Fort Massachusetts —
and perhaps, at some future day, should my desire to
serve you and your children be not disappointed, my
humble name will not be forgotten in the public assembly,
and posterity wUl bestow a tear upon the memory of
Ephraim WiUiams !"

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 265
The foUowing is an extract from his wiU in relation to
WiUiams' coUege.
"Jfem. It is my wiU and pleasure that all of the
residue of my real estate not otherwise disposed of (in
what he has bequeathed in other parts of his wiU, which
see. — S. W. W.) be sold by my Executors, or the survi
vor of them -within five years after an established peace,
(which a good God soon grant) according to their discre
tion, and that the same be put out at interest, on good se
curity and that the interest money yearly arising there
from, and the interest arising from my just debts due to me,
and not otherwise disposed of, be improved by said Execu
tors, and such as they shall appoint Trustees for the charity
aforesaid after them, for the support and maintenance of
a free school in the township west of Fort Massachusetts
(commonly called the west township) forever, provided
said township fall within the jurisdiction of the Province
of the Massachusetts bay, and continue under that juris
diction — and provided also the Govemor of said Province,
with the Assembly of said Province, shall, (when a suit
able number of inhabitants are settled there) incorporate
the same into a town by the name of Williamstown, and
if the interest of such monies be more than sufficient for
such a purpose, that which remains be improved as afore
said for the support of a like school in the East township
therein, in which said fort now stands ; but in case the
aforesaid Provisos are not complied -with, viz?: if said
west township fall not within said Massachusetts Pro-rince,
or do not continue under that jurisdiction, or it shall be
incorporated by any other name than that above men
tioned, then my wiU is that such interest of said monies

256 FAMILY OE WILUAMS.
be appUed to some other public beneficial and charitable
purpose, by my Executors as above directed, respecting
other parts of my estate, according to theiir discretion and
good judgment."
The wiU of which the above is an extract, was made
at Albany, July 22, 1755, less than two months before he
was kUled. The Executors were Israel WiUiams, of
Hatfield, and John Worthington, of Springfield. Wit
nesses, WiUiam WUliams, Noah Belding, and Richard
Cartwright. The will was accepted and laid the foundation of WU
liams College, one of the most flourishing seminaries of
learning in the country. In 1786, Trustees of the Col
lege were appointed ; in 1791, the school was opened ;
and in 1793 it was incorporated as a College, under the
Presidency of the Rev. Dr. Fitch. It now does great
honor to the munificence of its founder, and to 'the liber
ality of the General Court which has superintended it.
It is now under the Presidency of Mark Hopkins, M. D.,
D. D., one of our ripest scholars, and most religious men.
Dr. Hopkins is a connection of Col, WUliams, on the
maternal side,
IV, Doctor Thomas Williams, brother of Col.
JEphraim WiUiams above, was bora at Newton, April
10th, 1718, I regret that I have not been able to ob
tain more facts in relation to his history. The principal

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 267
part of the mformation which I have collected has been
published in my American Medical Biography, a work of
666 octavo pages, with portraits, pubUshed in the year
1845. He received the honorary degree of Master of
Arts, from Yale CoUege, about the year 1737, and stu
died the profession of Medicine with Dr. Wheat, of Boston.
He settled at Deerfield as a physician and surgeon about the
year 1739. Soon after this he married Miss Ann ChUds,
of Deerfield, sister of the late Dr. Timothy Childs, of
Pittsfield, who was the father of Professor Henry LL
ChUds, of the Berkshire Medical Institution, and late
Lieut. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By her he had
EUzabeth, born Aug. 28, 1741, married Dr. Lemuel
Bamard, of Sheffield.
Anna, born Sept. 16, 1743, married Elijah Dwight,
Esq., of Great Barrington.
Thomas, Lieut. Col., born May 6th, 1746, died at
Skenesboro', N. Y.
Anne, wife of Dr. WUliams, died in May, 1746. He
then married Miss Esther Williams, daughter of the Rev.
WiUiam Williams, of Weston, about the year 1749.
By her he had the foUowing children :
Cynthia, born Oct. 1, 1760, married Hezekiah Leffing-
well. Mary Cooke, born Nov. 28, 1752, married Dr. Elihu
Ashley. Martha, born Jan. 29, 1756, married Dr. Jeremiah
West. Ephraim, born July 25, 1757, died in infancy,
Esther, born Jan. 18, 1769, died in infancy.
22

268 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Ephraim 2d, Esq., born Nov. 19th, 1760.
WilUam Stoddard, (Doctor,) hern October 11th,
1762. Solomon, bom Dec. 9, 1764.
Elijah, born Jan. 30, 1767. .
Stephen West, bom June 30, 1769.
Horace, born Sept. 2, 1771, died in infancy.
Dr. Thomas Williams, died Sept. 28, 1776. His last
wife died Sept. 24, 1800, aged 74.
Dr. WiUiams was held in high repute, not only as a
man of science but as a physician and surgeon, by the gov
ernment of his country. In the French war, which com-
meneed in 1744; he was appointed surgeon in the army
in the projected expedition against Canada, which failed.
He was afterwards surgeon of the chain of forts, which
extended from Fort Dummer, at Vernon, in Vermont, to
Fort Massachusetts, at Hoosick, or Adams. These forts
were situated one at Vernon, one at Bemardston, one at
Coleraine, one at Heath, one at Rowe, one at Adams, and
one at WUUamstown. Perilous, indeed, must it have
been, to have visited these forts, in an uncultivated, and
almost an uninhabited country, exposed to all the ravages
and horrors of savage warfare. The present generation
knows but little of the hardships and dangers which our
fathers suffered in planting and defending the pleasant
country we now occupy. Now that roads are established
in the best possible manner in which they are capable of
being made across the back bone of New England, or
Hoosick mountain, we think it a hardship to pass them.
Think then of the dangers which our fathers had to en
counter in passing this mountain in a time of savage war.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 259
when there was no road but a horse path, when the country
was a forest, and when they were continually exposed to
the attacks of the Indians. Dr. WiUiams, must often
have been imminently exposed, for he was frequently
obUged to visit these forts. It is related of him that a
day or two before the capitulation of Fort Massachusetts,
at Adams, at the west side, and at the foot of Hoosick
mountain, which happened on the 20th of August, 1746,
for some reason he obtained permission of the commander
of the fort to return to Deerfield. At a little distance
from the fort, he, with thirteen attendants passed through
a company of hostUe Indians, who lay so near the road,
on each side of it, that they could almost reach them
with their guns ; yet he never discovered them, and they
let them pass them unmolested. This fact was mentioned
to him soon after the surrender of the fort, by an Indian.
The fort capitulated soon after this, and had it not been
for his absence, he probably would have been taken and
carried to Canada, as were all the inmates of the gar
rison, who had not been murdered by the perfidy of the
French and Indians. The reason they did not fire upon
him, probably, was on account of their fear of alarming
the garrison. He was at Deerfield, at the Barrs fight, so
caUed, which happened a few days afterwards, and
dressed the wounded. (For an account of this action
see my history of the Indians of this place. General
Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches, and Williams' Re
deemed Captive.)
In the war of 1765, he was Surgeon in the army under
Sir WiUiam Johnson, at Lake George, and was present on
the day of the bloody morning scout, on the 8th of Sep-

260 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
tember, 1766. Heart-rending must have been the news
of the fall of his dearly beloved brother. Col. Ephraim Wil
Uams. (See Doctor Williams' Letter, under the head of
Col, Ephraim Williams.) Doctor Williams was in the
encampment at the head of Lake George, four miles from
the scene of action. On the attack of Dieskau's troops
upon the encampment, on the same day, he was inces
santly engaged in dressing the wounded, and in adminis
tering medicines for their relief, and he was constantly
exposed to the fire of the enemy, and the balls continually
whistled about his ears. Dieskau was wounded in the
bladder, at this time, and taken prisoner. Of this wound
he ultimately died, in France. Doctor WUliams dressed
this wound, and attended upon him while he remained in
camp. He afterwards fell under the care of a French
Surgeon. The Baron, while at Albany, expressed his
regret that he could not have the attendance of Dr. WU
Uams, as he believed he could have cured him.
Doctor WUUams' letters, while at Lake George, give a
very interesting history of the campaign of 1765. In
1766, he held the office of Lieutenant Colonel," in one of
the regiments at Lake George. His correspondence that
year, also furnishes many interesting medical and military
facts. (See my Medical Biography.)
IV. Abigail Williams, daughter of Col. Ephraim
Williams, of the third generation, was born at Newton,
April 20, 1721, and removed with her father to Stock-
bridge, when she was seventeen years old. The next
year, she married the Rev. Mr. John Sergeant, who was
then a missionary to the Indians of that place, and a most

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 261
laborious servant in the cause, and an eminent and good
man. (See an account of his life in Mr. Hopkins' Me
moir of the Hoosatonic Indians.)
The foUowing notice of AbigaU is in that work : — " Au
gust 16th, 1739, Mr. John Sergeant married to Miss Abi
gaU WiUiams, eldest daughter of Ephraim WilUams, Esq.,
lately settied at Stocjcbridge, a gentlewoman whom he
tenderly loved, and justly esteemed as one of Heaven's
choicest blessings, of which in a letter to Rev. Dr. Col
man, of Boston, he speaks as follows : ' You will forgive
me, sir, if I think that most ingenious woman is not the
smallest gift of the Divine bounty that I have received
since I undertook a Ufe thought to be so self-denying.
The more tenderly I love her, the more thankful I am to
Heaven who has formed her, as if on purpose for me, and
given her to me, as if (like the father of mankind) he
thought it not good for me to be alone, and in her he took
the greatest satisfaction the remainder of his days.' "
Mr. Sergeant died in 1762, and left by her three chil
dren, viz. Erastus, a very celebrated physician, of Stock-
bridge, and classmate of the renowned Dr. Rush. Electa,
and John, who was afterwards a missionary to the Stock-
bridge tribe of Indians, who removed to the western part
of the State of New York, and still later, to Wisconsin
Territory. After the death of the Rev. Mr. Sergeant,
his widow married Gen. Joseph Dwight, of Great Bar
rington, by whom- she had the following children, -viz-.
Mary, who married Judge Sedgwick, who wiU long be re
membered as the most able, patriotic, and upright Judge,
by the citizens of Massachusetts. Judge Sedgwick was
father "of Theodore, Henry, and Charles, aU distuiguished
. 22*

262 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
counsellors at law, and of several daughters, among the
rest, Catherine M. Sedgwick, more extensively known,
and appreciated, perhaps, as a fine writer, than any other
lady in the United States. Henry, father of Henry
Williams Dwight, late of Stockbridge, for many years a
highly distinguished man, and member of Congress. Miss
AbigaU Dwight, died Feb. 15, 1791, aged 70.
IV. Josiah Williams. I cannot find the time of the
birth or death of this son of Ephraim WiUiams, of the
third generation. It seems by the letter of my grandr
father, giving an account of the battle of Lake George, in
1756, that he was an Ensign in Col. Ephraim WUUams'
regiment, and that he was severely wounded in the abdo
men in that engagement. He ultimately so far recovered
from that wound, as to be comfortable. He married a
woman by the name of Sergeant, of New Jersey, but
whether he had any chUdren by her I do not know.
IV. Judith Williams, daughter of Col. Ephraim, of
the third generation, married the Rev. Mr. Thayer, of
Ware, and had one daughter, whose name was WiUard.
IV. Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Ephraim above,
married the Rev. Stephen West, D. D., a distinguished
minister of Stockbridge. She died Sept. 5th, 1804. She
never had any children. VviI'L-^^^
IV, Elijah Williams, Colonel, son of Ephraim, above,
settied at Stockbridge. He was a man of considerable
property, held the office of Colonel in the militia, and sev-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 268
eral important civU offices. He married Miss Sophia
Partridge, and had one son,
V. William Henry Williams, Doctor, who settied
in North Carolina, and died there. Col, WilUams, died
June 9th, 1815, aged 88,
V, Elizabeth Williams, oldest daughter of Dr.
Thomas WUUams, of the fourth generation, was born Aug.
28, 1741. She married Dr, Lemuel Barnard, of Shef
field. Lie studied the profession of medicine, with his
father-in-law, Dr, Thomas WiUiams, had a good run of
business in Sheffield, Berkshire county, and was consid
ered an eminent magistrate. Towards the close of his
Ufe, he moved to Sunderland, and died there, and was
buried at Deerfield. She had two chUdren. Henry, an
attorney, who is still living at Warwick, and Nancy, who
is unmarried. Mrs. EUzabeth Barnard, above, died at
Sunderland, Nov. 25, 1804, and was buried at Deerfield.
Her character was unblemished.
V. Anne Williams, second daughter of Dr. Thomas
Williams, above, married Col. Elijah Dwight, of Great
Barrington. He was a worthy man, and most able mag
istrate. By him she had two children. 1st, Elijah, who
died young, and 2d, Joseph Hawley, a most worthy man,
who has held several military and civil honors. He was
thrown from a wagon, in Binghampton, N. Y., in the year
1846, and survived the accident but a day or two. He
was not far from 60 years old when it occurred. He
married Miss Clarke, of Brookfield, N. Y,, and left no

264 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
chUdren. I cannot ascertain^ when Col. Dwight, the
father, died. Mrs. Dwight 'sustained through life the
character of a reUgious, and highly sensible woman. Uni
versal benevolence, and good will towards her fellow be
ings, were the predominant features of her character. She
died at Deerfield, universally lamented, Feb. 21, 1810.
V. Col. Thomas Williams, first son of Doct. Thomas
WiUiams, of Deerfield, was born May 6th, 1746. He
studied law with Col. Hopkins, and commenced practice
in Stockbridge, in 1770, or '71, with the prospect of
being eminent in his profession. In 1776, he went to
Cambridge, at the head of a party of minute men, where
he volunteered to follow Col. Arnold up Kennebec
river to Quebec. His station was in the division com
manded by Col. Enos, which returned after proceeding
up the Kennebec, as far as Dead river, in consequence of
the absolute impossibiUty of procuring provisions for the
troops. The next year being made Lieut. Colonel, he
was ordered to Canada, by a different route. On his way,
he fell sick and died at Skenesboro', now WhitehaU, July
10, 1776, aged 30. (Hist, of Berkshire.) He married
Miss Thankful Ashley, of Stockbridge, in 1771, and had
three chUdren.
Ephraim WiUiams, of Lee, born April 1, 1772.
Thomas, who died in the West Indies.
William Gordon, of New Hartford, Conn., born Oct.,
1776. The widow of Col. Thomas WiUiams, married a man
by the name of Ashley, who resided in Stockbridge,
where he died and left her a widow.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 265
VI. Ephraim Williams, of Lee, son of Col. Thomas
WUUams above, had the foUowing children :
CordeUa.
Thomas.
Lucretia. Nancy.VI. William Gordon Williams, Esq., son of Col.
Thomas above, had the following chUdren :
Betsey Ann.
Robert Gordon, educated at Amherst College.
Margaret. Aurelia.Harriet King.
V. Cynthia Williams, eldest daughter of Dr.
Thomas WiUiams, of the fourth generation, by his sec
ond wife, was bom at Deerfield, Oct. 1, 1750. She
married Mr. Hezekiah Leffingwell, of Norwich, Conn.
Mr. Leffingwell was a descendant of the celebrated
Thomas Leffingwell, who distinguished himself in the
Pequod war, in the early settlement of Connecticut.
Mr. Leffingwell, the husband of Cynthia, was a very
respectable farmer. He had been previously married,
and had several chUdren. She moved from Deerfield to
Norwich, where she resided several years. They after
wards moved to Arlington, in the State of Vermont,
where she resided tUl the death of her husband, which
occurred in 1811. She then removed to Deerfield,
where she resided till her death in 1828. She had no
chUdren. She was a woman of strong powers of mind.

' 266 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
and of extensive reading. Social and affable, she always
made her friends happy.
V. Mary Cook Williams, second daughter of
Dr. Thomas Williams by his second wife, was born at
Deerfield, Nov. 28, 1662. She married Dr. Elihu
Ashley, son of the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Ashley, second
minister in this town, in 1776. Dr. Ashley was a res
pectable physician, and practised many years in this town.
He studied his profession with his father in law, Dr.
WiUiams. He died in 1817. Their children were,
Thomas WiUiams, Robert WUliams and Mary. Thomas
resides on the old Parson Ashley estate, and has a
family of chUdren. Robert W. is a very respectable
physician, and resides at Lyons,, in the State of New
York, and has a famUy. Mary married Mr. Tippets,
of Geneva, N. Y., where she died, leaving a family.
Mrs. Ashley died in 1831.
V. Martha Williams, daughter of Dr. Thomas
WUliams, of Deerfield, married Dr. Jeremiah West, of
Tolland, Conn., brother of the Rev. Dr. Stephen West,
of Stockbridge, in 1787. Dr. West was a very respectar
ble physician. He had been previously married, and had
several children. The chUdren by Martha, were Fran
cis, who resided in Ohio. Cynthia, who married Mr.
John Sergeant, of Stockbridge, deceased. Julia, who
died young. Edmond, who died in Ohio, in 1825. Ls.uisa,
who married first Mr. Post, of Andover, Conn., and second
the Rev. Mr. Nichols, of Hebron, I believe. Mrs. West,
the wife of Dr. West, died Dec. 22, 1804. She was

FAMILY OP WILLIAMS. 267
truly a virtuous woman, and " looked well to the ways of
her household."
V. Ephraim Williams, Esq., eldest son of Dr.
Thomas Williams by his second wife, was bora at Deer
field, Nov. 19th, 1760. After receiving a most excellent
preUminary education, he studied the profession of law
with his uncle, the late eminent and highly distinguished
Judge Sedgwick, of Stockbridge, and afterwards went
into partnership with him, and practised with him eighteen
or twenty years. The honorary degree of Master of
Arts was conferred upon him by the Trustees of Wil
Uams College, soon after the estabUshment of that insti
tute. He was very eminent in his profession, and his
advice was always much esteemed and sought for.
Indeed, he was considered one of the first and best
counsellors in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. He
made himself independent as to property, by the prac
tice of his profession, and left the practice of law, and
returned to Deerfield, about the year 1803, where he
remained till his death. His opinion was often solicited
by the Judges of our courts, and it was always respected.
He was frequently elected a member of the general court
of this State, while he resided in Stockbridge. He has
frequently been elected a member of the Senate, and
has been a counseUor to the Governor. His learamg
was profound. Metaphysics appeared to be his favorite
studies. He died at Deerfield, on the 27th of December,
1836. The following extract from a notice of him, by
the Rev. Henry Colman, a man who was in no wise
connected with him, is considered to be just and appro-

268 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
priate. It was pubUshed in the Franklin Mercury, Jan.
5th, 1836.
" The character of Mr. WiUiams, and the relations
which he held in society entitled him to much more than
an ordinary obituary notice, and should prevent his pass
ing from society without some memorial of the respect
and consideration to which his talents, virtues and useful
ness, give him a just claim.
"Mr. WUUams was a native of Deerfield, and connected
with one of the oldest families in the place, and here the
great part of his life was spent. He addicted himself to
the study and practice of law, and whUe he continued in
it was greatly respected for his leaming and talents. He
pursued the practice of law, until 1803, principally in
the county of Berkshire, and in connection with the late
Judge Sedgwick, -with whom he pursued his professional
studies. The occasion of his leaving the bar was said to
have been some offense received through the petulance of
one of the Judges, at a time when the habits of the
bench were more arbitrary and less conciliating than in
modern times. The presiding Judge charged him -with
stating what was incorrect, and ordered him to sit down.
This impeachment of his veracity was the last indignity
which his high sense of honor would permit him to en
dure ; and he repUed, that he would not sit dovm., but
that he would leave the bar, and never enter it again ; a
resolution which he promptly executed. After Chief
Justice Parsons came upon the Bench, he made several
earnest attempts to induce him to return, thinking the in
fluence of such a man of great importance, and his char
acter an honor to the profession, but he was inflexible.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 269
" He was the first Reporter of the Decisions of the Su
preme Court, under the law providing for that office, and
published one volume of Reports. He repeatedly repre
sented the town of Stockbridge in the Legislature of the
Commonwealth ; was honored by a seat at the Senate
Board, for the county of Franklin. But he had strong
attachments to home, and was averse to public life, the
latter part of his life therefore, after his retirement from
professional practice, were passed in his native town in
phUosophical retirement, a calm, but not an uninterested
spectator of men and things, and of the vicissitudes and
agitations of the world. Though retired from practice in
his profession, his opinions were often sought for by the
judges of the courts ; and his townsmen frequentiy
availed themselves with great advantage of his legal opin
ions, which he cheerfully and gratuitously rendered.
By them, in this respect, his loss wiU be deeply felt. His
opinions, from the universal confidence had in his judg
ment, were always held in great respect ; and it was said
of him at the Senate and Council Board, that he listened
patiently to the opinions of others, and then in few words,
gave his own, which -were always decisive.
" Mr. Williams was gifted with intellectual powers of a
high order. His perceptions.were clear and remarkably
discriminating, and his judgment the direct result of
argument, which from habit, assumed a logical order in
his mind. To such a habit, both of nice discrimination,
and sound judgment, there can be no doubt that habits of
forensic practice are peculiarly favorable. He was pas
sionately fond of books, and was distinguished for his re
tentive memory. In conversation, he was inquisitive and
23

270 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
communicative, giving and receiving with equal readiness.
His manners were urbane and affable, and with a good
deal of genuine humor, and a physical vein of satire con
stantly pouring itself out ; his conversation, while his
health was good, was agreeable and often delightful. >
" The moral features of his character entitle him to the
highest respect. No man could discharge with a stricter
fidelity, all the domestic obUgations ; no man ever pro
posed to himself a high standard of truth, honor and jus
tice, or raaintained it with more inflexible exactness. In
pecuniary transactions, he was scrupulously just. In his
intercourse with his neighbors, always peaceful and
friendly ; and as a citizen of the town deeply solicitous
for its interest ; a lover of order, and a punctual and lib
eral supporter of the institutions of religion.
" Mr. WUliams was permitted to live beyond the ordinary
term of human life ; and he was not permitted to outlive,
but for a very short time, his usefulness or enjoyment.
In the humble sphere and limited circle to which his dis
ciplined and wise ambition restrained him, few men have
been more useful, or more happy. Much of this, indeed,
is due to the exemplary kindness and devoted fideUty
which he experienced in his domestic relations ; a kind
ness and fidelity which his good sense and good principles
taught him justly to appreciate.
" In the last evening of the year, he has been laid to rest
with the great congregation, whose years on earth are
closed. By his friends and fellow townsmen, his mem
ory wUl long be cherished with grateful and affection
ate respect ; and the salutary influence of his wise
and virtuous example, wiU continue to spread itself long

FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS. 271
after those who knew him here, have faUen asleep with
him." He married Miss Emily Trowbridge, about the year
1815, and had one son by her, viz. :
VI. John Williams, Rev., D. D., born at Deerfield,
Aug. 30, 1817. He graduated at Washington CoUege,
Hartford. He is an Episcopal Priest. He was ordained
Deacon, in 1838, and Priest in 1841, by the Rt. Rev.
Bishop BrowneU, of Connecticut, and became Rector of
St. George's Church, Schenectady, June 1st, 1842. He
is a man of a superior education, who has endeared him
self to his parishioners and friends, and who has vastly
enriched his mind by foreign travel Truly has his father's
mantle faUen upon him.
V. Doctor William Stoddard Williams, son of Doc
tor Thomas WiUiams, of Deerfield, was born Oct. 11,
1762. I published a notice of him in my American Med
ical Biography, and something like it in the Transactions
of the Massachusetts Medical Society, from which the fol
lowing is an extract.
When men of eminence and worth, are called to pay
the universal debt, it is the duty of surviving friends to
endeavor to portray their characters for the benefit of
posterity. I therefore presume that the propriety of fiUal
affection will .not be questioned, which attempts to deline
ate the character of a beloved parent, a faithful counsellor,
and a skillful physician.
The character of Dr. WilUams is extensively known,
and his loss severely felt by a large cu-cle of friends and

272 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
acquaintances, who have known his worth, and expen-
enced the benefit of his skiUful practice as a physician*
To them his loss is a calamity which will not soon be re
paired. To his famUy it is irreparable.
The subject of this memoir had the misfortune to lose
his father in early life ; but, notwithstanding, his youth
was devoted to study, and about the year 1780, he en
tered Yale College, and continued there a year or two,
but never graduated. In the year 1782, or '3, he com
menced the study of physic with Dr, Sergeant, of Stock-
bridge, one of our most eminent physicians, and for many
years a worthy Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical So
ciety. He continued his pupilage with Dr. Sergeant two
years, the customary period at that time of professional
study. He then commenced practice at Richmond, Berk-
shirp county, where he remained nine months. Soon af
ter, he removed to Deei-field, where, after contending with
many embarrassments, and discouragements, he . estab
lished himself in extensive business, and in honorable prac
tice, which he held to the day of his death. He was
elected a Fellow of the Massachusetts Medical Society, in
1800, and he always endeavored to be governed by its
rules and regulations as long as he Uved. He resigned
his FeUowship in 1819, on account of the difficulty of at-
tendmg the meetings. He received the honorary degree of
Doctor of Medicine from WiUiams CoUege, in 1823. He
was commissioned Justice of the Peace in 1800, and to
show in what estimation he was held as a jurist, he ever
afterwards held that office. He was one of the Trustees
of Deerfield Academy, from its incorporation in 1797;
and from the year 1803, he was Secretary and Treasurer

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS, 273
in that Institution, His to-wnsmen elected him their Clerk
for nineteen years, and Overseer of the Poor, aud to sev
eral other town offices for many years. At the time of
his decease, and for several years previous, he sustained
the office of Clerk of the First Congregational Society in
his native to-wn. (See my Medical Biography,)
He educated a great number of students in the profes
sion of medicine, all of whom proved to be good physi
cians, and many of them are now highly eminent in the
profession. As an evidence of the estimation in which he
was held by his professional brethren, it may not be unin
teresting to state, that in cases of dangerous sickness, he
has been employed in the famiUes of almost every physi
cian in this section of the country. His whole life was
devoted to his profession, with unwearied assiduity, and
to the melioration of the condition of his fellow beings.
As a man, he was upright and honorable in all his deal
ings,' He despised unmanly concealment, and underhand
ed meanness in his transactions -with his fellow men. As
a husband and a parent, he was most affectionate to his
famUy, and endeared to them by every tender tie. His
home was his paradise and his altar, and he never ap
peared to be happier than in the bosom of his family.
He was kind and affectionate to the poor. Probably
few men have done more to meliorate their condition.
As an evidence that he never distressed them, the fact
maybe mentioned, that, during more than forty-two years
he never sued more than two or three persons, although
many of his accounts were open for the greater part of
that time. I mention this not as a pattern to imitate,
but to show his benevolence. Physicians in the cor-atry
23*

274 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
are too apt to let their accounts remain unsettled. More
than one third of his accounts never were, nor never
can be collected, and many of them he never expected
to collect at any time. So punctilious was he in keeping
credit for his employers, that many of them never pre
tended to keep any account against him, even in exten
sive transactions. In his living, he was remarkably tem
perate. Although exposed to all the vicissitudes of the
weather in aU seasons, yet for nearly forty years he
never drank a glass of spiritous liquor, and he rarely
drank a glass of wine. As a reUgious and a moral man,
as a tender husband, and affectionate parent, as an hon
orable man, and an eminent physician, his family, his
to-wnsmen, and the community, bewail his loss as one of
no ordinary magnitude.
His last sickness, though short, was severe. About
the middle of December, 1827, he was caUed to Taunton,
in the county of Bristol, to an only and beloved daugh
ter, who was dangerously sick. Before her recovery,
other members of the family became seriously un-weU,
and his attention was required continually, day and
night, for more than a month. He had been subject to
severe attacks of the sick headache, his stomach became
deranged, and the pain in his head was almost incessant.
He retura to Deerfield about the first of February, and
soon after complained of dimness of vision. His sight
before had been remarkably good, and although he was
nearly 66 years of age, he never wore glasses, A slight
amaurotic affection attacked his eyes, which increased as
long as he lived, and the latter part of his life he was
entirely deprived of the pleasure of reading, whieh to

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 275
him was a great deprivation. The affection of his stom
ach and head increased, he became emaciated, and his
spirits decluied. His case is pretty accurately described
by Good, under the article Climacteric disease. He
however, continued to practice till the 20th of December,
when a violent cold seized upon his lungs, and pneumonia
supervened, which was relieved by bleeding, and other
remedies. Incessant vomiting attended upon the com
plaint, which was not reUeved till the system was so far
shattered as to be beyond the reach of remedies. His
nervous system became affected, attended by slight mental
aUenation, which continued till January 8th, when he ex
pired. Notwithstanding the weather was extremely cold
and unpleasant, his remains were foUowed to the grave
on the 11th by a vast concourse of friends and citizens,
and eighteen physicians from this and the neighboring
towns. Such is a brief and very imperfect account of
the life and character of Dr. WUliams.
He married Mary Hoyt, daughter of one of the
descendants of one of the first settlers of Deerfield, and
sister of Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, in the year 1786. By
her he had the following chUdren.
Thomas, born May 24, 1787,
Stephen West, Dr,, bora March 27th, 1790,
William H,, Dr,, bom June 28th, 1792,
Delia, bom Dec, 8th, 1794.
Ephraim, born Oct, 1, 1797.
Marian, born June 16, 1801, died Dec. 9, 1806,
Mary, first wife of Dr, WiUiam S, WUUams above,
died in Norember, 1821, aged 61 years. On the subject
of her decease

276 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
" 'Tis meet that I should mourn,
Flow forth afresh my tears."
He married his second wife, widow Eliza Lucas, of
Taunton, in November, 1822. She died Feb. 17, 1844,
aged 71 years.

VI. Thomas Williams, eldest son of Dr. William S.
WiUiams above, was born at Deerfield, brought up a
farmer, and resided there till the year 1889, when he re
moved to Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, where he now re
sides, in industrious habits, and in a comfortable state of
independence. He married Nancy Hawks, a descendant
of one of the first settlers of Deerfield, in 1811.
By her he had the following children :
Marian, bora May 30, 1812, married Luther Gale, of
Cleveland, Ohio.
Alexander, bora March 11, 1814.
Charlotte, born June 28th, 1818, resides at Kirtland,
Ohio. VII. Alexander Williams, son of Thomas WiUiams
above, married Miss Cummings, of Kirtiand, Ohio, about
the year 1841. He had two sons ; one died in infancy.
VI. Dr. Stephen West Williams, second son of
Dr. WUUam S. WiUiams above, was born at Deerfield,
March 27th, 1790. He received his medical education
at Deerfield, and in the city of New York, and settled
at Deerfield, where he now resides. He received the
honorary degree of Master of Arts from Williams' Col
lege. He has held the offices of Professor and Lecturer

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 277
upon Medical Jurisprudence, Materia Medica, Phar
macy, and Medical Botany, in the Berkshire Medical
Institution, the College of Physicians and Surgeons in
the State of New York, in Dartmouth College, in New
Hampshire, and in the Willoughby University in Ohio.
He is an honorary member of the Connecticut Medical
Society, of the Historical Society of the State of New
York, "'Corresponding member of the National Institute
at Washington, &c. &c. He has been requested by the
councU of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries, at
Copenhagen, Denmark, to become a member of that So
ciety. He is the author of a " Catechism of Medical
Jurisprudence," published in 1834, in one volume ; of
the biography of the Rev. John Williams, first minister
of Deerfield, 1887, of American Medical Biography, one
large volume, with portraits, 1846 ; of an Address and
Notes delivered before the Massachusetts Medical So
ciety in 1842, 74 pages, of Traditionary and Historical
Sketches of the Indians, and of numerous Essays and
papers in various Medical and Scientific Journals. He
married Miss Harriet T. Goodhue, daughter of Dr. Jo
seph Goodhue, then surgeon in the army, at Fort Consti
tution in New Hampshire, Oct. 20, 1818.
By her he had the following children :
Helen Maria, born Oct. 4, 1819, married Mr. Edward
P. Huntington, of CabotvUle, son of the Rev. Dan Hun
tington, of Hadley, who descended from one of the first
settiers of New London county. Edward P. Huntington
died at Deerfield, October 26, 1843*.
Albert, born June 11, 1821, died June 10, 1822,
Edward Jenner, Dr., horn Nov. 11, 1828, studied tiie

278 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
profession of Medicine with his father, and received the
degree of M. D, from the Berkshire Medical Institution,
in Nov, 1846,
Caroline Willard, bom Sept, 9, 1826.
VI, Dr, William Henry Williams, of Athol, third
son of Dr, WiUiam S, WilUams, was born at Deerfield,
June 28th, 1792. Studied the profession of Medicine
-with his father, practised a whUe at Deerfield, then
moved to lUinois and Kentucky ; retumed to Athol,
where he is now engaged in honorable practice. Lie has
held the office of surgeon in the militia, of Justice of the
Peace, and for many years that of Post Master, at Athol,
His first wife was Marietta Stebbins, daughter of Col.
Asa Stebbins, of Deerfield, a descendant from one of the
first settlers in this town.
By her he had the following children :
Edward Jenner, born July 5, 1814, died at Deerfield,
aged 9 years.
Charles Stebbins, born Feb, 28, 1816.
An infant, who died with its mother, in 1820.
His second wife was Frances Humphreys, whom he
married in 1822, By her he had
John Humphreys,
Mary Hoyt, born  , married Rev. Mr. Nightingale,
of CabotviUe, in 1846,
VII. Charles Stebbins Williams, son of Dr. WU
Uam H. Williams, above, is a respectable engineer on
some of our principal rail-roads. He married Miss Mary
Sheldon, of Deerfield, and by her he has one son, WilUam,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 279
VI. Delia Williams, daughter of Dr. WiUiam S.
Williams, married the Rev. Luther HamUton, a graduate
of WilUams College, was afterwards settled at Taunton,
then at Gloucester, Mass. Their chUdren were
Edward Williams, bom  , a druggist in Boston.
Delia WiUiams, bom  . Elizabeth, bom  .

VL. Ephraim Williams, fourth son of Dr. Wm. S.
Williams, was born Oct. 1st, 1797. He has been hon
ored with several respectable offices in his native town of
Deerfield.- He is a farmer, and resides on the place oc
cupied by his late father. He married Miss Rebecca
Jackson, daughter of Ephraim Jackson, Esq., of Newton,
in 1822. Their chUdren are
William Penn, born July 19, 1824, died in 1831, from
the kick of a horse.
Eliza Dawes, born Aug. 1, 1827.
Mary, bora Sept. 19, 1829.
Rebecca, born Oct. 21, 1832.
WiUiam Stoddard, born June 25, 1884.
Ephraim, born 1837.
V. Solomon Williams, third son of Dr. Thomas Wil
Uams, of Deerfield, by his second wife, was born Dec. 9th,
1764. He was brought up a farmer, although he fitted
for college. He was a man of good literary acquirements,
and devoted much of his time to books. Lie was much
esteemed by his townsmen, and he was a man of incor
ruptible integrity ; for many years he held several of the
most important offices in town. He lived and died at the
place of his birth, in the house of his-father. He was 72

280 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
years of age when he died, and was the last of his father's
chUdren, a numerous progeny of thirteen, most of whom
arrived to a good old age. Seven of them lived in Deer
field street, within almost a stone's throw of each other,
during almost the whole period of their lives, the young
est of whom, at his death, was sixty-four years of age, and
they all died within the space of eight years.
A most beautiful and correct obituary notice of him,
was published in the Franklin Mercury, of Aug. 2, 1836,
the week after his burial. It was written by Luther B.
Lincoln, Esq., who has no connection with the family.
The following is an extract from that notice.
" It does not belong to me, whose acquaintance with
Mr. Williams has been of so short standing, as that of
tiie writer, to attempt to delineate even the prominent
features of a long and valuable life. We must, however,
be permitted to tender our warmest sympathy to the
afflicted family, from whom has been removed an intellect
so full of strength and energy — a mind so fraught with
useful and entertaiiUng knowledge, and a heart so warm
with conjugal and parental affection. With the large cir
cle of relations also, we would condole in the loss of their
able and wiUmg adviser, comforter and friend. The
social circle, too, may well claim our sympathy, since one
of its brightest lights has been extinguished ; while the
reUgious society will lament the absence of that form,
which for more than half a century has done so much to
maintain its union and peace. Neither is our village a
heartless mourner ; for it has lost the living chronicler
of its past experience, an individual whose youthful
spirit began to burn with the ardor of patriotism, when

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 281
the dark and trying scenes of the revolution overtook us,
and who has ever since watched over the town with the
interest of a parent over his offspring, identifying its
prosperity with his own happiness. For nearly thirty years
we beUeve, he held the responsible office of its treasurer,
with great fidelity and judgment ; and possessed that
thorough knowledge of its civU and geographical concerns,
which was rendered almost daily available to his fellow
citizens. He seemed to be empowered to unravel the
genealogical labyrinth, which to other minds was more or
less involved in doubt and perplexity, and to cast a light
on local scenes and incidental transactions, which would
otherwise have been too dark to be much illumined. In a
word, he had so nicely traced the stronger and fainter
shades of the earlier and the later existence of his native
town — so minutely studied its various interests, social
and political, and so incorporated them with his inmost
soul, that it may, in all human probabUity, with justice
be observed, that with Mr. Williams, Deerfield has lost
a fund of practical historical knowledge, which no man
Uving can supply."
He married Miss Miranda, daughter of Deac. Jonar
than Arms, of this town. She died Dec. 27th, 1846.
By her he had the following chUdren.
Horace, born July 25, 1784.
Henry, born May 24, 1787.
Ralph, born July 4, 1788.
Robert, born April 18, 1792.
Charles, born June 11, 1796.
John, who died young, born Jan. 8, 1802.
John G., born Aug. 1,1805.
24

282 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
VI. Horace Williams, son of Solomon above, is a
respectable farmer, and resides in South Deerfield. He
married Mary, daughter of Capt. Seth Nims, and had
the following chUdren :
Minerva, born 1812.
Mary, born 1818.
Horace, born 1816.
Lucinda, bom 1818.
Charies Edwin, born Feb. 29, 1824.
Mary, married Franklin Arms, of Conway, and has
several children.
Horace, married Miss Wells, and has one son.
VI. Henry Williams, second son of Solomon above,
was brought up a farmer. He afterwards went into
trade, at Newton, and removed to Boston, and was for
many years an extensive merchant there. He is a man
of strong powers of mind, and is well known and appre
ciated by the citizens of Boston, and by his friends gen
erally. He married Miss Harriet, daughter of Obadiah
Dickinson, Esq., of Northfield.
By her he had the following chUdren :
Miranda, born Aug. 19, 1814.
Henry, born April 24, 1816, graduated at Harvard
College, and is now a public teacher in Boston. He
married Julia W., daughter of Ralph WilUams, Esq., of
Deerfield, and has one daughter.
Francis Stanton, bom Nov. 4, 1817, graduated at
Harvard CoUege. Now a teacher in a pubUc school, in
Boston. Robert, born Nov. 9, 1819, died June 5th, 1821.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 283
Harriet Dickinson, born Nov. 27, 1821.
Frederic Dickinson, bora Aug. 27, 1828. Now,
(1847,) in Harvard College.
VI. Ralph Williams, third son of Solomon WilUams
above, is an industrious and highly respectable farmer,
who resides on the paternal estate of his father, and
grandfather. He has been much honored by his feUow
townsmen, in their election of him to various important
offices. He married Pamelia, daughter of Mr. John
Ware, of Newton. By her he had the following children.
Solomon, born Aug. 19, 1815, a merchant in Cabot
viUe, who has been twice married, and has a son by his
first wife, and a child by his second wife.
Catherine, born March, 1817, married Mr. WUUam
Sheldon, and has three daughters.
Julia West, born Sept. 18, 1818, married Henry WU
Uams, Jr., of Boston, and has one child.
Ralph, who died young, in 1823.
Ralph, bora Aug. 1826.
Thomas, born July 28, 1832, died in 1841.
VI. Robert "V^illiams, son of Solomon, of the fifth
generation, was also brought up a farmer, but afterwards
turned his attention to mercantile business, in which he is
most industrious and persevering. He now (1846) re
sides in Boston. In October, 1823, he married Adeline,
daughter of Gen. Epaphras Hoyt, of Deerfield. Their
children were
Jane IsabeUa, born Sept. 6, 1824, died of consump
tion, Aug. 24, 1842.

284 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Robert Burns, bom July 16, 1826.
Arthur, born July 19, 1828.
Charles, bom Aug. 16, 1830.
George, born Nov. 18, 1832, died Feb. 6, 1834.
John, bom July 26, 1836.
Edward LoweU, bom May 31, 1838.
Mrs. WUliams died of consumption, in the year  .
Mr. Williams married again. Miss Deliver, in the year

VI. Charles WilxiamS, son of Solomon, above,
worked upon a farm in his younger days. He went into
a store at Boston when quite young. He afterwards
opened an Apothecary store at Greenfield. He now
(1847) resides in Deerfield. He is a most industrious,
busy man, and has received the highest honors in the gift
of the town for many years. He married Tirzah, daugh
ter of Rufus Saxton, Esq., of Deerfield. They have no
chUdren. VI. John George WiLLfAMS, son of Solomon WU
Uams, above, was also brought up a farmer, but like aUthe
rest of his brothers, he received an excellent education.
He afterwards went into trade, and is now (1846) en
gaged in Deerfield, in successful enterprise in a store.
He married Maria Burbank, daughter of Dr. Asa Bur-
bank, of Lanesboro'. Their children were
Maria B., born May 24, 1836.
George, born May 24, 1840, died Aug. 1842.
Samuel B., born Nov. 17, 1843.
James Blodgett, born 1846.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 285
V. Elijah Williams, fourth son of Dr. Thomas Wil
liams, of Deerfield, by his second wife, was born at Deer
field. He was so unfortunate when young, as to take a
severe cold, which produced deafness, which continued
through life, and increased upon him so much, that he
could not hear the loudest thunder, in the latter years of
his life. He learned to read, previous to his becoming
deaf, which was ever afterwards the source of the greatest
pleasure to him, for he thus continually amused himself,
and stored his mind with the treasures of knowledge, from
judiciously selected books. He learnt the saddler's trade,
and followed that occupation in Deerfield, as long as he
lived. He was a most industrious, active, and ingenious
man. He held the office of Register of Deeds for the
county, and was Post Master for many years. He mar
ried Miss Hannah Barnard, of Northfield. He died in
the year 1834, in the 64th year of his age. His chUdreh
were Samuel Barnard, bom Nov. 1803.
Richard, born Feb. 6, 1806, died Oct. 7, 1810.
Elizabeth, born Oct. 22, 1808.
Caroline, born July 80, 1812.
Elijah Dwight, bora 1817, graduate in Harvard Col
lege, studied law, and practised in Boston  , where he
died. Richard 2d, born Feb. 18, 1815, died at BUnois in the
year 1836.
VI. Samuel Barnard Williams, son of Elijah Wil
liams, above, married Miss Bennett, of Ashfield. She
died and left one son. Orson Bennett, born  . He
24*

286 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
married again, and had one daughter by his second wife^.
He resides in New Carlisle, Ohio, is a Justice of the Peace
there, a merchant, and a member of the State Legislature
of Ohio.
V. Stephen West Williams, fifth son of Dr. Thomas
WUliams, of Deerfield, by his second wife, was born at
Deerfield, June 30th, 1769. Having lost his father when
young, at the age of six, he went to reside with his uncle,
the Rev. Dr. Stephen West, of Stockbridge. He was
educated at Yale CoUege. He was designed for the min
istry, but for some reason unknown to me, he changed his
object, and studied the profession of medicine, with his
uncle. Dr. Sergeant, of Stockbridge. Just as he had
completed his studies, he died of consumption, in the year
1790, at the age of 21, the year that I was born, and
from whom I received my name. He was a man of a su
perior mind, of lofty conceptions, and he was very much
beloved.

287

SECOND GENERATION.
II. 0tepl)en totlitam0, third son of Robert
WUliams, of Roxbury, of the first generation, was bora
November 8th, 1640. He Uved at the paternal mansion
at Roxbury, and took care of his father and uncle Nich
olas, whUe they lived, agreeable to the provisions of the
wUl of his father. He married Miss Sarah Wise, and
died February 15, 1719-20, in his 89th year. I learn
this fact from the monument erected to his memory, in
the old burying-ground in Roxbury, which I visited in
November, 1846. His children were
Sarah, born Aug. 13, 1667, married Mr. Hastings.
Mary, born Dec. 20, 1669, married Mr. Choate.
Elizabeth, bora Oct. 1, 1672, married Mr. Tucker.
Bethiah, bora AprU 26, 1676, married Mr. Rice.
Stephen, born Aug. 27, 1678.
Robert, born and died in 1680.
Joseph, born Feb. 24, 1681.
John, born Jan. 16,'rt6-3"-4. 1 (-- ^ ..
Henry, bora AprU 9, 1686, died Aug. 1686.
Grace, born AprU 2, 1688, married Mr. John Metcalf,
of Dedham, Oct. 1718.
Catherine, born Nov. 9, 1690, died June, 1707.
Thomas, born July 27, 1694, died Sept. 1694.
III. Stephen Williams, son of Stephen WiUiams

288 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
above, was born Aug. 27, 1678. He was a man of note,
and held the office of Captain. He married Mary
Capen, of Dorchester, June 18, 1700. His second wife
was Elizabeth  . He died May 13, 1678, aged 90
years. I copied the following inscription from his grave
stone, in the old Roxbury burying ground.
" His works of piety and love,
Remain before the Lord ;
Honor on earth, and joys above,
Shall be his sure reward."
He had the foUowing chUdren — probably by his first
wife. Stephen, born March, 1701-2, maried Miss Sarah Pay-
sOn, April 8, 1724.
Samuel, born 1703. He lived in Pomfret, Conn.
Susannah, bora 1706, married John Robbins, of Dor
chester, May 11, 1727.
Henry, born Jan. 24, 1707, married Mary Payson,
May 18, 1736, died 22d May, 1781. She died 1794,
aged 77.
Edward, born March 26, 1709.
Catherme, bom April 12, 1714, married John Rug
gles, Jan. 20, 1741.
Mary, bom AprU 14, 1719, married Benjamin May,
4th May, 1737.
III. Stephen Williams, son of Stephen WiUiams,
of the second generation, who married Sarah Payson,
had the following chUdren :
Stephen; born June 8th, 1726.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 289
Caleb, and Joshua, twins, born Oct. 1729, died in
1729-30. Caleb, born Dec. 14, 1730.
Mary, bora Aug. 24, 1734, married Timothy Parker.
IV. Henry Williams, son of Henry WUUams, of
the third generation, had the following chUdren:
Henry, born Aug. 15, 1737, died Feb. 13, 1749,
Solomon, born July 29, 1739.
Benjamin, born Aug. 24, 1740, married Ann  .
Isaac, born June 10, 1744, married Elizabeth Davis,
Nov. 12, 1767. Lie died Dec. 5, 1816, aged 71.
Stephen, born Dec. 16, 1746, married Mary Langdon,
Dec. 12, 1771. He died March 12, 1807. She died
January 30, 1799, aged 60. His second wife, was Lois
Cumming, who died Nov. 28, 1766.
Payson, bora 1760, married Rachel Childs, 1776.
V. Benjamin Williams, son of Henry WilUams
above, had the following children :
Smith, born Nov. 17, 1766.
Abiel, bora Oct. 26, 1768.
Ephraim, born Oct. 1770.
Isaac, born 1772.
OUver, born 1774.
IV. Isaac Williams, son of Henry of the third gen
eration, who married Elizabeth Davis, had the following
children :
Mary, born Dec. 7, 1768, married Ebenezer Vose,
Nov. 9, 1788, died July, 1844.

290 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
EUzabeth, born May 20, 1772.
AbigaU, born Aug. 28, 1774.
Hannah, born July 26, 1777.
Betsey, born May 4, 1779.
Charlotte, born May 23, 1781, married WilUam Aus
tin, 1806, died 1820.
Isaac, born Nov. 20, 1783.
Benjamin Payson, born Oct. 17, 1787, married Mar
garet ChUds, Feb. 3, 1814, had seven children, died
Sept. 16th, 1844.
Lucretia, bora Jan. 4, 1791.
V. Benjamin Payson Williams, son of Isaac Wil
liams, of the fourth generation, was born October 17th,
1787, and died Sept. 16th, 1844.
The foU<^wing notice of him is from the Christian
Register, of Oct. 5th, 1844.
Major Benjamin P. WiUiams, of Roxbury, Mass. The
decease of the Hon. B. P. WiUiams, son of the late Ste
phen WilUams, of Roxbury (there seems to be some mis
take either in the genealogy of Moses Williams, Esq., of
Roxbury, and of WiUiam Whiting, Esq., of Roxbury,
who both say that Benjamin P. above, was son of Isaac,
and not of Stephen, and in the account given in the
Register, S. W. W.) is an occasion of universal sorrow,
not only to the family where his loss is irreparable, but to
the religious society of Jamaica Plains, of which he was a
most efficient and valuable member, to his native town,
and to the community in general, where he was known,
and his character and the pecuUar circumstances con
nected with his death, seem to require some special notice.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 291
Major WiUiams had attended meeting as his custom
was, morning and aftemoon, on Sunday, the 15th of
Sept. 1844, in his usual health : he had been to a social
singing meeting in the evening, practising a dirge which
it proposed to sing with singular propriety and effect, his
decease, having thus most unexpectedly given the more
fit occasion for it. He had walked home, two mUes or
more, and, as usual before retiring for the night, went
out to see that the doors, gateways, &c. about his prem
ises, were safe. Not returning in due time, search was
made, and he was found lifeless on the ground, a few
rods from the house. His death is presumed to have
been instantaneous, from Angina Pectoris.
A most intimate acquaintance with him from early
chUdhood, warrants this testimonial to the uniform excel
lence of his character.
His conduct in youth was marked with great faimess
and integrity ; and though he was, on all occasions reso
lute, firm, and independent among his fellows, he was
never overbearing, and therefore, secured their confi
dence and esteem. He entered on the business of life,
with manly purposes matured, and the habits of unyield
ing integrity established. Major WiUiams was a very
inteUigent practical farmer, and in his life and manners,
exhibited a finished specimen of the independent yeo
manry of New England. He possessed a mind by na
ture strong, discriminating, and well balanced, which he
had well informed by reading and reflection ; and his^-wn
judgment, practical wisdom and scrupulous fidelity, pecu-
Uarly fitted him for public ser-vice. Up to the day of his
death, he has been contmuaUy employed in some pubUc

292

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.

office, civU or miUtary, and always -with unabated credit
to himself, and usefulness to the community. In the va
rious municipal trusts of his native town, he possessed
the entire confidence of his feUow citizens, of aU par
ties. As one of the representatives to the General Court, as a
Senator and Special Commissioner of the county of Nor
folk, he served the public with signal faithftilness, and
abiUty, for he had no selfish aims to follow, and no selfish
ends to accomplish in serving the public, and he was too
scrupulously honest to seek or accept an office for which
he did not know himself to be fully competent ; so that
his fellow citizens were sure of being well served in any
office he was wiUing to accept. Unassuming, and unpre
tending in his manners. Major Williams, was a man of
quiet, yet persevering, determined, and efficient energy,
doing much, and in the best manner, without show and
parade. He was emphatically a good, a religious man,
who " feared God, and worked righteousness." He was
a high minded, public spirited man, of unyielding firm
ness and stabiUty. He was a man of comprehensive and
liberal views, on all subjects, singularly free from wrong
biasses of habit or prejudice. He adopted no new opin
ions and measures because they were new ; nor held on
upon the old, because they were old. In the intercourse
of social and domestic life, he was pecuUarly amiable, in
dulgent, and obliging, though very direct, plain and la*-
contc in the expression of his wishes, feeUngs and opin
ions. He had the courage and independence to rebuke
injustice and wrong doing, whenever he had occasion, but
always with so much sincerity, and manifest good inten-

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 293
tion, that it excited not resentment and Ul will, and made
no one his enemy.
Through life it has always been his leading purpose
and aim, to do all the good in his power, in all the rela
tions he sustained, and all who knew him can amply tes
tify that he has been true to his high aim. A light, a
guide, a counsellor, a benefactor has been most suddenly
stricken from the midst of them. And he has left few
behind in the sphere where he moved, whose loss would be
more deeply felt and lamented, or whose name and
worth will be longer held in grateful remembrance.
He left the following chUdren : — Sarah. Elizabeth.
Isaac. Alfred. Charlotte. Lucretia. Benjamin P.,
who all reside with their mother in Roxbury.
V. Stephen Williams, son of Henry Williams, of
the fourth generation ; married Nabby Langdon, for his
first wife, and Lois Cumming, for his second. By his
first wife, he had the following chUdren :
Polly, born Oct. 4, 1772, married Dudley WiUiams,
and had six chUdren.
Nabby Langdon, born Dec. 8, 1773.
Stephen, bom June 26, 1776, died 1776.
Nabby Langdon, born Feb. 26, 1779, married Charles
Durant, AprU, 1806.
Stephen, born June 26, 1781, died May, 1844, mar
ried Lois Palmer, 1807.
Patty, bora 1783, died 1783.
Nathaniel Langdon, born May 20, 1784, married
Ellen Devereux.
Payson, born Dec. 1786, married Maria Durant.
26

294 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
PrisciUa, bora March 12, 1787, died May 18, 1788.
Ephraim Langdon, bora AprU 12, 1789, died at
Cincinnati, Nov. 26, 1818.
Joseph Langdon, bora Nov. 10, 1791, died AprU 10,
1791. III. Joseph Williams, son of Stephen WUliams,
of the second generation, had the following children :
Joseph, bora AprU 10, 1708.
Mary, born Sept. 14, 1710.
John, born Sept. 17, 1712.
Sarah, bora Sept. 17, 1714.
Stephen, born Oct. 27, 1716, died Aug. 21, 1720.
Jeremiah, bora Oct. 5, 1718, married Catherine
Payson, 1743, died 1762.
Abiel, born Oct. 17, 1720, married Timothy Foster,
of Dorchester, 1773.

')

IV. Col. Joseph Williams, son of Joseph Wil
Uams above, married for his first wife, Martha HoweU,
an English lady, and for his second wife, Hannah Dudley,
April 6th, 1770. He died May 26, 1798, aged 90.
His children by his first wife were
AbigaU, bom Aug. 22, 1733, married Samuel May,
Oct. 4, 1763, died Dec. 29, 1811. Had eleven chUdren.
Martha, born Dec. 26, 1734, married WUUam WU
liams, March 28, 1754, died March 11, 1815, Had
seven chUdren. Lived and died in Pomfret.
Henry HoweU, born Oct. 23, 1786, married Elizabeth
BeU, Jan. 28, 1762, died Dec. 27, 1802. Had three
sons and six daughters.

LeufU

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 295
Joseph, born June 28d, 1788, married Susannah
May, Dec. 15, 1768. By her he had eleven chUdren.
Stephen, born May 81, 1740, married Theoda Perrin.
Samuel, born July 23, 1742.
John, born May 27, 1744.
Mary, born April 14, 1747, died Oct. 12, 1835, aged
88, married Nathaniel Felton, Dec. 21, 1769, had one
chUd. Second husband, Nathaniel Wait. One daughter.
Sarah, born Oct. 19, 1748, married WiUiam Dudley,
Feb. 2, 1774, died Sept. 1, 1813.
The above children, were by Col. Joseph Williams'
first wife, Martha.
His chUdren by his second wife were
Hannah, born March 5th, 1771, married Ebenezer
Heath, of Brooklyn, Jan. 1791, had ten chUdren, died
March 20, 1882.
Jeremiah, bom July 31, 1772, died Oct. 30, 1776.
Nathaniel Whiting, born  , married first, Mary
Pratt, second, Hannah Weld, had five children.
Dudley, bora Sept. 6, 1776, married Polly WiUiams,
Jan. 18, 1798, had six chUdren, of whom survives, Henry
HoweU, and Dudley (1847).
Betsey, born July 8, 1777, married Stedman Williams,
Jan. 5th, 1838, had four sons, and four daughters.
Jeremiah, bom June 27, 1779, died in 1821. He re
moved to the State of New York, in early Ufe. He was
married and had children, and died in New Orleans, Sept.
26, 1820.
The memory of Col. Joseph WiUiams, father of the
above famUy, is hallowed by his descendants. He was
Colonel of the miUtia, and in the old French war, and he

296 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
was actively engaged in that war. He was out in the
service with his regiment, on the Mohawk, in the war of
1755. He was also much noted and esteemed by his fel
low citizens. It will be seen above, that by his two wives
he had fifteen children,; nine by his first wife, and six by
his second. His first chUdren were remarkable for their
great size, and physical power, the sons averaging nearly
three hundred pounds each. His daughter Martha, who
married WiUiam WilUams, of Pomfret, was, also, a wo
man of prodigious strength, and great powers of mind.
Col. WilUams was sixty-eight years old when he married
his second wife. His six chUdren, by this marriage, were
all large and athletic, and all lived to grow up. (Letter
from Moses Williams, Esq., Dee, 1846.)
V. Henry Howell. Williams, son of Col. Joseph
WUUams, above, married Elizabeth Bell, Jan. 28, 1762.
His children were
Elizabeth, bom Aug. 6, 1765, married Andrew Sig-
ouraey, 1797, died in 1843.
Henry Howell, bora March 9, 1767, married Sally
Williams, 1800, died 1832.
Martha, born Aug. 26, 1768, married Daniel Sigour-
ney, 1798, died 1828.
Thomas, born Sept. 2, 1770, married Eliza Avery,
1803, died 1838.
John Shirley, born May 3, 1772, married Nancy Hunt,
May 6, 1807.
Harriet, bora December 1st, 1773, married John
Avery, Jr., AprU 9th, 1799, both lost at sea October
27th, 1800.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 297
Ardelia, born July 6, 1776, died unmarried, AprU 9,
1838. Nancy, born March 19, 1777, married Amos A. Wil
Uams, Oct. 1832, died at Baltimore, Sept. 7, 1804.
Catherine, born Jan. 16, 1780.
V. Joseph Williams, son of Col. Joseph WUUams,
above, married Miss May, and Miss Davis. Their chil
dren were
Joseph, born Sept. 18, 1764, died Aug. 30, 1798.
Susannah, born Nov. 1767, died June 20, 1812.
Samuel, born July 19, 1769, died Oct. 18, 1818.
Mary, born Nov. 1771, died April 25, 1793.
Lemuel, born March 19, 1774, died Oct. 2, 1797.
Amos Adams, bom May 4, 1776, of Baltimore.
George, born April 24, 1778, of Baltimore.
Martha, bora Jan. 2, 1780, married A. D. Weld.
Cumherland Dugan, born Feb. 14, 1781, died 1840,
Baltimore. Nathaniel F., bom March 14, 1782, of Baltimore.
Nehemiah Davis, bom July 26, 1786, married Sarah
Heath, of Roxbury.
VI. Nathaniel F. Williams, son of Joseph WUUams,
above, had the foUowin^hildren, by his first wife.
Joseph, Ann B., Victoria B., Samuel, Joshua B., Car-
dine B., Sarah B.,
By his second wife, his children were
Rebecca D., Maria D., Dalrymple.
VI. Nehemiah Davis Williams, son of Joseph WU-
26*

298 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
liams, of the fifth generation, had the following Chil
dren: Benjamin, Sarah, WUUam Heath, Sarah, Mary, Joseph.
V. Stephen Williams, son of Col. Joseph Williams,
married Theoda Perrin, and had the following children.
Theoda, born Jan. 7, 1764, married Mr. Hunnewell,
previously Mr. Aaron Davis.
Stephen, born AprU 6, 1767, died Sept. 9, 1797.
AbigaU, born Dec. 6, 1769, married Dr. John Bartlett,
1789, died 1889.
Edward, bora March 14, 1778, died Dec. 6, 1812.
Noah Perrin, born July 29, 1790, married Sarah Nich
ols. Mary, born July 29, 1780, married James Adams, had
four sons and three daughters.
V. Samuel Williams, Colonel, son of Col. Joseph
WUUams, of Roxbury, moved to Warwick, Mass., and
married Miss Triphena Lyman, of Northampton, and had
the foUowing chUdren.
Jerusha, married Mr. Goldsbury, and is stiU Uving
(1847). Triphena, died in Boston.
Mary, married a Dutton, of JJorthfield, deceased.
AbigaU, married a Chamberlain, stiU living in Warwick
(1847). ? Samuel, married a Stevens, stiU Uving in Warwick
(1847). Col. Samuel WiUiams, father of the above famUy, died
in Warwick, May 9th, 1786, aged 44. His -widow died

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 299
in Warwick, Jan. 6, 1830, aged 80. Col. WiUiams was
an officer in the revolutionary war.
A letter from Mr. John Goldsbury, Esq., of Boston, a
descendant from Samuel WilUams, above, says, in a letter
to me, that there was another family of WiUiams that
subsequently went to Warwick, the chUdren of another
Joseph WUliams, of Roxbury. Their names were
Mary, Ebenezer, Zebiah, Joseph, John, Charles.
He says, " Of the relation of the two famiUes to each
other, there can be littie doubt."
V. John Williams, son of Col. Joseph Williams, of
Roxbury, married Sarah Sumner, and had the foUowing
chUdren. Samuel, bora and died in 1770.
AbigaU , Sumner, bora AprU 9, 1772, married Joel
Whiting, 1797, had one son, and one daughter.
Polly, born AprU 10, 1773, married R. Hope, 1810.
Second husband. Dr. P. G. Robbins.
Amos, born June 16, 1776, died Oct. 10, 1777.
Sally, born May 7, 1777, married WUl,iam Patten.
Amy, born June 23, 1778, married Daniel Baker,
1809, had four children.
John, born April 10, 1780, married Nancy Dowse,
1805, had seven chUdren. Second wife, Mary Ann Da
vis, 1823. By her he had six chUdren.
Samuel Sumner, bora Nov. 2, 1784, died 1816.
IV. John Williams, son of Joseph WiUiams, of tiie
third generation, married Elizabeth Stedman, for his first
wife.

800 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Their children were
Ebenezer, born June 18, 1738, graduated at Harvard
College, 1760, a minister.
John Davis, bom Dec. 26, 1739, married Hannah Da
vis, Dec. 15, 1768.
Sarah, born Dec. 8, 1741, married Cornelius Fellows,
Dec. 20, 1763.
Joshua, born Feb. 7, 1744, died Dec. 30, 1801.
Jonathan, bom Nov. 18, 1745.
The above, were by his first wife. The following were
by his second wife, Bethiel Stedman.
Hannah.
Elizabeth.
Lucretia, married William CampbeU.
V. John Da-vt:s Williams, Esq., son of John Wil
Uams above, was a very successful farmer in Roxbury.
He commenced business with little or no property, but
by perseverance and industry, he accumulated a property
of from eighty-five to one hundred thousand doUars. He
was a man of method, and was said to have been one of
the best farmers in the State, if not the very best. His
great success, considering that he raised a large famUy,
in the times in which he lived, are corroborative of the
position. (Letter from Henry Williams, Esq., Boston.)
He married Hannah Davis, Dec. 16, 1768. He died
May 25, 1807. She died March, 1844, aged 96.
Their children were
John Davis, bom Jan. 28, 1770, married Miss Han
nah Weld.
IStedman, bom March 16, 1778.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 801
Aaron Davis, born 1778, died 1779.
Hannah, bom 1781, married Daniel Weld, of Boston,
1807, died Oct. 1841.
Betsey, bom June 6th, 1784, married Aaron D. Weld,
of Boston, died 1807. One son.
Aaron Davis, born July 8, 1787, married Miss Nancy
Bugbee. Moses, born Dec. 1790, married Miss Mary Blake.
VI. John Davis Williams, Esq., of Boston, son of
John Davis WiUiams above, lived with his father, and
worked upon his farm, and foUowed marketing untU he
was 21 or 22 years of age. He then left this employ
ment, and engaged in trade in a small way, at Water-
town, Mass. He remained there about a year, and then
removed to Boston, which has ever since been the theater
of his action. He has ever maintained the character of
an upright, intelligent, and public spirited man. He has
always contributed largely to public objects and charities.
He is a plain, unassuming, modest man, and although
making no pretensions to high scholastic attainments, he
has been highly conspicuous, for his sterling wisdom,
sound discretion, strict integrity, and his great elevation
of character. He has held several important trusts.
Such are the means by which he has raised himself to
the rank of one of the most wealthy citizens of Boston.
He married Miss Hannah Weld, who died Feb. 11, 1804,
aged twenty-nine years and twenty days.
Their chUdren were
John D. W.Williams.
George Foster.

802 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS-
David Weld.
Harriet Weld, married Mr. Jonathan French,
Sarah Ann, deceased, married R. D. C. Merry.
VI. Stedman Williams, son of John Davis WiUiams,
Esq., of the fifth generation, married Miss Betsey Wil
liams, daughter of Col. Joseph Williams, daughter of
Col. Joseph Williams, and had the following children :
John D. Joseph S. Francis. Jeremiah. Eliza
beth. Ellen. Hannah.
VI. Aaron D. Williams, Esq., of Roxbury, son of
J. D. WiUiams, of the fifth generation, is a highly intel
ligent, respectable and wealthy farmer. He married
Miss Nancy Bugbee, and had the following chUdren :
Hannah D. Mary W. Aaron D. George H.
VI. Moses Williams, Esq., son of J. D. WilUams
of the fifth generation, resides at Jamaica Plains, Rox
bury, and trades in Boston. He is one of the most en"
terprising and wealthy merchants in Boston.^ He mar
ried Miss Mary Blake, and has the following chUdren :
Moses Blake. Mary Louisa. Sarah Elizabeth
Thomas Blake. WUUam Blackstone. Laura Lucretia.
V. Lieut. Jonathan Williams, son of Jonat^&a.
WUliams, of the fourth generation, had the following
children :
Lydia, born Aug. 21, 1773, died March 3, 1774.
Jonathan, born Sept. 3, 1776, died Feb. 11, 1825.
John, bora Feb. 28, 1778, dead.

J'AMILY of WILLIAMS, 303
Lydia, born May 14, 1780, dead,
Samuel, bom Aug. 12, 1782, died Sept. 9, 1785.
Lois, born- Feb. 9, 1786, died  .
Samuel Sprague, born Oct. 23 j 1787, died in 1839.
Sarah, bom Oct. 9, 1791.
Lieut, Jonathan WUliams, married Miss Lydia Sprague,
Sept, 12, 1771. He died Feb. 18, 1794.
The foUowing is the autograph of Jonathan WiUiams.

'a^ n/^^^^^^^z^id

VI. Jonathan Williams, son of Jonathan WiUiams,
above, had the following chUdren.
Jonathan Tileston, born Feb. 29, 1806, married Oct.
2,1744. Ann Sprague, bora Oct. 11, 1806, single.
George, born Dec. 19, 1807, single.
Lydia Elizabeth, born Dec. 20, 1809, married-
Estey, born AprU 26, 1814, single.
Samuel Sprague, Lieut., born May 81, 1817, single,
VI. Samuel Sprague Williams, son of Jonathan
WUliams, of the fifth generation, had the following chil
dren. Caroline, born March 13, 1819.
Maria, born Oct. 21, 1821.
Charies, bom AprU 16, 1826.
Mary, born Dec. 26, 1829,

304 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Sprague, born July 31, 1886.
Alfred and Franklin, twins, born Feb. 1848, three
others dead.
IV. John Williams, of the third generation, married
Dorothy Brewer, and had the following children.
Nathaniel, born 1717.
John, born Dec. 25, 1719, married Ann  .
Dorothy, born January, 1721, married Ralph Hol
brook. Margaret, born Feb. 19, 1728, married Thomas Greggs,
Sept. 1,1748.
V. John Williams, son of John, above, had the fol
lowing children.
John, born Aug. 2, 1760, married Rebecca Winslow,
June 3, 1771.
Ann, bom 1762, married Joseph Houghton, Dec. 17,
1772. Thomas, bom Jan. 14, 1764, married Susanna Dana,
Nov. 20, 1777.
Ezekiel, born Oct. 2, 1755, married Sarah Dana, Nov.
20, 1777.
Stephen, bora June, 1757, married Abigail Smith.
Mary, born Aug. 6, 1759.
VI. .John Williams, son of John, above, married Re
becca Winslow, and had the following chUdren.
Lucy, born Feb. 17, 1772.
Sally, bom May 10, 1775.
Rebecca, bom March 29, 1781.

-^ ^^'iVt^

HB Itoi-d L

OcfWv

'^UAiyv/.i V^jn!^

tWW-'i

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 305
"VI, Thomas Williams, son of John, of the fifth gen-
•eration, married Susannah Dana, and had the following
chUdren. Susan, bora Sept. 25th, 1778. Patty, born
June 23, 1780. •j-
VI. Ezekiel Williams, son of John, of the fifth gen
eration, married Sarah Dana. Their children were John.
Sally. VI. Stephen Williams, son of John, of the fifth gen
eration, married Abigail Smith, and had the following
chUdren. Stephen, born 1779, died  .
Stephen, bom May 4, 1780, died Sept. 16, 1782.
Nancy, born Jan. 10, 1782.
Stephen, born May 4, 1784, died Jan 9, 1815, aged
31. John, bora July 18, 178,7.
Nabby, born April 28, 1789.
Ralph, bom AprU 27, 1792.
William, born Jan. 15, 1795.
Mary Winslow, bom AprU 18, 1797.
SaUy, bom AprU 7, 1799.
IV. Jeremiah Williams, son of Joseph WilUams, of
the third generation, married Catherine Payson. Their
chUdren were
Catherine, born Sept. 3, 1744, married Thomas Mayo,
1773, died 1819.
Edward Payson, bom Feb. 26, 1745-6, married Sarah
Craft, 1772, died 1777.
26

306 FAMILY OF 'WILLIAMS.
Jeremiah, bom Oct. 8, 1749, died 1760.
Henry, bom 1751, died 1752.
Joseph, born March 24, 1763, died AprU 21, 1819.
AbigaU, born 1755, married Ebeneser Smith, 1776,
died 1881.
Lucy, bom in 1756, died in 1758, married Jacob Es-
tey. Jeremiah, born Nov. 10, 1793, married MatUda Davis.
Two chUdren, Matilda and Elizabeth.
V. Edward Payson Williams, son of Jeremiah WU
Uams, above, married Sarah Craft. Their children were
Sally, born Oct. 9, married Henry H. Williams, 1800,
died March 21, 1814.
PrisciUa, born Sept. 27, 1776.
V. Stephen Williams, of West Deerfield, (Wisdom.)
It is believed he was the son of Daniel Williams, who was
born in 1719, and Hannah, his wife. He came to Deer
field about the year 1796, and died here in 1823, at the
age of 75. He married Mary Blanchard, who is now
living, (1847) at the age of 86. Their children were
Stephen, died  .
David, died young.
Daniel, born May 8, 1791, has a family of chUdren.
Mary, married Ephraim Lanfair, of this town, and had
four chUdren. Elmer, Edwin, Da-rid, and Baxter.
Stephen WiUiams, father of the above family, had five
sisters, -viz. Mehitable, Ruth, Jane, Rhoda, Bethiah.
AU married, but I do not know the n^mes of their hus
bands.

family of WILLIAMS. 807

Other members of the family- of Williams, who are mt
all of them, and perhaps any of them descendants of
Robert of Roxbury.
I regret that I cannot enter more fuUy into the detaU
of many other distinguished men, of the name of WU
liams in America, who are not the descendants of Robert,
of Roxbury. Were I to attempt to look up the geneal
ogy and history of all of the name of WiUiams in this
country, it would occupy a life time, and it might require
volumes to record them. I have only taken note of
such as have presented themselves to me in the course of
my reading and inquiries. I hope no one wiU be offended
with me for the omission of any one of the name, whether
descended from Robert, or not, or however distinguished,
for I have taken unbounded pains to obtain information
concerning them in various parts of the United States,
and to trace their ancestry even in England. Perhaps
further research wUl show that some of them who are
mentioned, are descendants of Robert.
In this department, I shall be more miscellaneous and
less methodical than in the former part of the work. I
shaU take facts as they present themselves, without much
regard to order.
RoflER Williams, The genealogy and history of
this distinguished man, the founder of Providence, in
Rhode Island, might fill a volume like the one I here
present to the pubUc. In this work, I shall only give
the notice of him, published by Farmer, which may be

808 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
found at the commencement of this work, as his history
is to be found in aU the early standard works relating to
our country.
Richard Williams came to this country from Gla
morganshire, England, in 1632, and settled soon after at
Taunton, Bristol county, Massachusetts. It is believed
that the first EngUshmen who traversed the soil of the
ancient town of Taunton, (called by the Indians Cohan-
net,) were Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins, in
their visit to Massasoit, in July, 1621. They found it
depopulated and desolate ; the ravages of the great
plague was every where discernable. At Fetiquet and
Namasket there were Indian vUlages. The territory of
Taunton proper (which formerly included within its Um
its the towns of Berkley and Raynham) were claimed by
the sachem of Fetiquet. In this territory there were no
Indian settlements except in a small part of Raynham.
It appears, however, that the country bordering on the
river had been thickly populated on the land on both sides
for considerable distance. AVhen first visited many
of the remains of the natives were discovered un
buried. At the head of the list of the purchasers of
Taunton, stands the name of Henry Uxley ; who he was,
does not appear. His house and lot was sold to Richard
WUUams, who may in some measure be considered the
father of Taunton, as he was in the place before the pur
chase of Miss Pool, Mr, WiUiams was a Welshman,
and it is not improbable that he was a relation of Roger
Williams, A tradition has always existed among his
descendants, that he was related by blood to Oliver

family of WILLIAMS, 309
Cromwell, (which name was changed from an estate,)
and one of Cromwell's ancestors bore the name of Wil
liams. (Rural Repository, 1846.)
Hon. John Mason Williams, Judge of the courts of
Massachusetts, is a distinguished descendant of Richard
Williams. His great grandfather, and his grandfather
were respectively Chief Justices of the court of Common
Pleas in the county of Bristol, and highly respectable.
The father of the present Judge was for a long period
Register of Deeds, or of Probate for the county. Judge
WiUiams is now (1847) 66 years old.
Hon. Lemuel Williams, late member of Congress,
is of the same family. Quere. Is he not son of the
late Lemuel WiUiams, of Dartmouth, (mentioned in the
American Archives, folio) who wrote to Benjamin Aiken,
Esq., May 1st, 1785, by the desire of the principal
inhabitants of Dartmouth, to inquire of the Provincial
Congress, whether it is best to send vessels to sea with
provisions or not ?
Daniel Williams, son of Daniel WiUiams. It is
beliTed, though it is not absolutely certain, that this
family sprung from the family of Richard WUliams, of
Taunton. Ephraim WUUams, Esq., of Ashfield, wrote
me in the year 1835, that his ancestor's name was Rich
ard WiUiams, of Taunton, as he had been informed,
and that the first WUUams that settled in Robxury was
Richard; but in this he was unquestionably mistaken,
as my records show, that Robert was the first WUUams
26*

310 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
that settied in Roxbury, and that he had no sons by the
name of Richard, I cannot trace Daniel to Richard,
except by tradition, or to Robert, at all, perhaps future in
vestigations will show that he was a descendant of Robert,
Daniel above, married Miss Rebeccah Hunt, who was
born AprU 23, 1718, at Dartmouth, Mass. They were
married Oct. 8, 1740, and moved to Easton, Mass.
Their children were
Daniel, bora Nov. 1, 1741, died Jan. 18, 1742.
Daniel, born Jan. 30, 1742, died May 28, 1782.
Joanna, born May 19, 1745, died March 1st, 1772.
Ephraim, born Dec. 27, 1747, old style, died  .
Mercy, born AprU 16, 1750, died June 22d, 1737.
Rebeccah, born July 24, 1752, died Aug. 31, 1776.
Apollos, born Feb. 17, 1755, died Dec. 13, 1756.
Sarah, bora May 16, 1757, died at Mendon.
WiUiam^ born AprU 12, 1760, died 1780.
Ezra, born Aug. 3, 1765.
Daniel Williams, father of the above, died Oct. 9,
1782. Rebeccah, his wife, died June 2d, 1776, both
at Easton.
Ephraim Williams, Esq., of Ashfield, son of Daniel
WiUiams above, bora Dec. 27, 1747, 0. S., at EdISton,
Married Mercy Daniels, who was born Aug. 7, 1757, at
Mendon, Sept. 14, 1775, and moved to Ashfield. • Their
children were
David, born Dec. 6, 1776.
Daniel, born March 2, 1778.
Rebeccah, born Nov. 28, 1779, died at Hawley in
1807.

family of WILLIAMS. 311
AbigaU, bom May 7, 1781.
Ephraim, bom June 22, 1783, died 1805.
Apollos, born May 24, 1785.
Ezra, born May 21, 1787.
Israel, born Sept. 24, 1789, died at Wisconsin, Oct.
14, 1846.
Moses, born April 6, 1798, died 1807.
Mrs. Mercy WUliams, wife of the above, died April
18th, 1793. Ephraim Williams, Esq., married his sec
ond wife, Miss Esther Packard, who was bom at Bridge-
water, June 21, 1756. They were married at Cumming-
ton, Mass., Nov. 21, 1793.
Their only chUd
Abel, was born Sept. 26, 1794.
Mrs. Esther WUUams, died May 31, 1826.
Ephraim Williams, Esq., father of the above famUy,
died at Ashfield, in the year 1889, in the 92d year of
his age. He was a man of strong constitution, and of
vigorous power of mind. He was almost the father of
the town of Ashfield. His father married a Hunt, a de
scendant of Mr. Hunt, who was one of the grantees of
the town of Ashfield, and for a long time the town went
by his name, Huntstown. In a letter to me, written in
1825, he says, " In the year 1771, 1 came to Ashfield,
one hundred and twenty miles, and began to build a
saw mill, and now I have six sons living in this town,
which have families."
Mr. WiUiams was an able magistrate. He received his
last commission of Justice of the Peace, after he was 88
years old. He was a very early riser. I have known him
ride on horseback, from his house in Ashfield, to mine.

312

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.

fifteen mUes, before breakfast in the morning, after he
was 80 years old.
Da-vtd Williams, son of Ephraim WUUams, Esq., of
Ashfield, had the following children :
David, Dr., deceased, had two daughters, Frances, and
Lucian. Seth, three chUdren, 1846.
Mercy, three chUdren, 1846.
Ephraim, three children, 1846.
WiUiam. Sarah.Samuel.
Luther. Charles.
Atherton.Deac. Daniel Williams, son of Ephraim WilUams,
Esq., of Ashfield, had the foUowing children:
Almon, one son Ralph. Esther. Sally. Levi. So
phia Maria. Darius. Rebecca.
Apollos Williams, son of Ephraim Williams, Esq.,
of Ashfield, had ten children, viz. :
Edwin, who has two daughters, Betsey. Mary E.
Mehitable Jenkins. Annis. Betsey. Apollos. WU
Uam. Lewis. Mercy. Clark. Nathan.
Ezra Williams, son of Ephraim WUUams, Esq., of
Ashfield, had the following children :
Rebecca. Martha. Freeman. Maria, Thomas.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 313
Clarissa, Mary Ann. Ezra, dead. Joshua, Ezra,
.Samuel, Augusta,
Israel Williams, son of Ephraim WiUiams, Esq,, of
Ashfield, had the following chUdren :
Moses, WilUam, Israel. Francis. Lavina. Fowle.
Royal. Austin. Fordyce. Festus.
Francis Williams, son of Israel WUUams above, had
the following children :
Martha, Moses, Alfred, FideUa,
Col, Abel Williams, son of Ephraim WilUams, Esq.,
of Ashfield, by his second wife, had the foUowing chil
dren: Ephraim, born Dec, 21, 1820. He had a pair of
twins who died in 1846.
Esther Packard, born May 8, 1816, died November,
1843.

Abigail Williams, daughter of Ephraim WilUams,
Esq., of Ashfield, married Mr. Warren, and had the fol
lowing children :
Rebecca. WilUam. Ephraim. Mary. Lydia. Ab
igaU. Samuel. Martha Ann. Moses. Lucretia.
Rebecca Williams, daughter of Ephraim WUUams,
Esq., of Ashfield, married Mr. Manter, and had the fol
lowing chUdren:
Nabby Graves. Frances. Nabby Graves, had WU-
liam, Harriet, Ebenezer, David, James,

314 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
Apollos Williams, brother of Ephraim WUliams,
Esq., of Ashfield, had the following children:
Rhoda Phillips. Hannah. Daniel. Apollos. John.
Alpheus. Edward.
Ezra Williams, brother of Ephraim WUliams, Esq.,
of Ashfield, had the following chUdren :
George. Daniel. Sally. Nancy.
Laura. Mercy. Keziah. Susanna.
LovUla. Anna.
Artemas Williams, of Deerfield, married a daughter
of Capt. Elijah Arms, of this town, and has several
daughters and one son. From the information I have
been able to procure, I am inclined to think that he de
scended from Richard Williams, of Taunton, If so,
then John Williams, Esq. of Ashfield, and the WU
Uams', of Goshen, in Massachusetts, descended from the
same head.
Col. Jonathan Williams, of West Point, and PhUa
delphia. After a great deal of research, I have at length
come to the conclusion, that this distinguished man de
scended from Robert WiUiams, of Boston, who was a co-
temporary of Robert, of Roxbury. My reasons are given
below, under the head of Dea. Jonathan WUliams. Col.
Williams was one of the most distinguished and leamed
men of the name of Williams. His biography is published
in Lanacre and Hering's National Portrait Gallery, with
a beautiful portrait. Vol. I, 1834. I regret that my limits
wiU not allow me to publish that article entire, as was my

family of WILLIAMS. 316
original intention. I must, therefore, refer my readers to
it, and they will be weU repaid in the perusal of it.
In early life, he devoted his attention to mercantUe
pursuits, and made several voyages to Europe. He was
related to Dr. Franklin, and in consequence of this con
nection, as he was in England and France about the com
mencement of the American revolution, with that most
distinguished statesman, he was treated with great cour.
tesy and respect by the inhabitants of those countries.
His correspondence with his father, who was chairman of
the meeting which voted to throw the' tea into Boston
harbor, in the year 1774, is very interesting, and shows
the independence of his mind, in his replies to the ques
tions of the British ministry, on that occasion. Both he
and his father, were substantial whigs during the revolu
tionary war.
Just before the close of that war, he was appointed
commercial agent of the United States, and resided prin
cipally at Nantes. " In 1779, he was married to Mari-
amne, the daughter of WilUam Alexander, formerly of
Edinburgh, at the Hotel of the Dutch Ambassador, at
Paris. Dr. Franklin, then minister from the United
States, was present at the ceremony. On his return to
America, about the year 1790, he purchased a house on
the banks of the Schuylkill, near PhUadelphia, where he
lived in the enjoyment of every social and domestic tie ;
diversifying his employments in the duties of a useful cit
izen, and in the pursuit of those studies congenial to his
mind. Mathematical investigations, botany, medicine,
the law itself, were all included in his quiet, but vigorous
habits of research, and he acquired enough of the last

316 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
mentioned science, to be, for several years, an intelligent
and valuable Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in
PhUadelphia. In 1794, he accompanied the forces sent
to quell the Western Insurrection, in Pennsylvania."
" He was the discoverer of the marine thermometer, by
means of which, by showing the difference of temperature
of the water in the Gulf Stream, and the surrounding
ocean, it could readily be perceived whenever a vessel was
within that stream. ' The importance of that discovery,
is at present beyond controversy ; and every navigator is
now furnished with marine thermometers, as an indispen
sable part of his equipment.' This discovery he commu
nicated to the American Philosophical Society, of which
he was a member, and it is published in its Transactions?
together with several other valuable papers from him.
" In the year 1800, Mr. Williams was appointed a Ma
jor in the United States ArtiUery, and soon after a Colo
nel in the corps of Engineers in the MiUtary Academy, at
West Point, of which corps he was almost the father.
He resigned this office in the year 1812. ' Immediately
after his resignation, he received an appointment from the
Governor of New York, of Brigadier General, in her
forces,' which was a high honor to be conferred upon the
citizen of another State. In the autumn of 1814, he
was elected a member of Congress from the city of PhUa-
delpkia. He lived not to requite by his experience and
ability, the confidence of his feUow citizens. On the 20th
of May, 1815, his diUgent and honorable life was calmly
terminated. He had yet only attained his 65th year.
His mind had lost none of its peculiar endowments ; nor
had his body yielded to the decrepitude of age. In the

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 317
highest council of our country, he might have added to
his honors, and won a statesman's fame. But the hand
of the Unseen, which disposes aU things, now closed his
career, and by his touch consecrated the memory of the
useful citizen, the firm patriot, and the accomplished sol
dier." General Swift, of the corps of Engineers, of West Point,
now residing in Geneva, New York, has given me the fol
lowing additional particulars in relation to the life of Col.
WilUams. " There are some facts in relation to Col. Williams, not
mentioned in the Gallery, and which may also, be appro
priate to suit your genealogical purposes. The family of
Col. WUliams, are from the same stock from which sprung
Col. Gideon WiUiams, of Taunton, about which Samuel E.
WiUiams, Esq., of Boston, may advise you. Col. Wil
liams had one sister, who married the worthy Samuel
Bedford, of Boston, Marshall of Massachusetts, who left
one son and two daughters. Col. WiUiams married a
daughter of the House of Alexander, -Earl of Sterling, by
whom he had a daughter, Christina, married with the
Hon. Thomas Biddle, of PhUadelphia, and had two sons,
one of them, Alexander, a Captain in the United States
army, who gloriously fell at the assault on Fort Erie, in
1814 ; the other, Henry, married a daughter of the cele
brated Dr. Benjamin Rush. This son Henry, is now a
much respected Counsellor of the Philadelphia Bar.
" Of the boyhood of the Colonel, he related to me an in
cident. While playing on the ' MiU Pond,' in Boston,
he was drowned. He described his sensations, as being
free from pain or anxiety, and remembers looking without
27

318 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
dread from the bottom where he lay, at the Ught of day
above water, and that the first sensation thereafter, was
that of waking from sleep in bed at his father's house.
" Col. WiUiams was an intimate acquaintance of Thomas
Jefferson. The latter often remarked, that Mr. Williams
greatly resembled Dr. Franklin, in cast of mind and man
ners, and in habits of inquiry. It was at the instance of
Mr. Jefferson, that Mr. WUliams accepted a majority of
artillery, and translated and compUed the first elementary
works on Fortification and Artillery, that were placed in
the bands of the Cadets at the Military Academy at its
organization in 1801. These were parole books, but they
were the precursors of more elaborate teachings. I
learned from Col. WiUiams, that he was a relation of Dr.
Franklin. That great man in his -will, bequeathed to his
cousin, (Col. WUliams,) some books, &c. I have seen in
the family of Col. W., the best portrait of Dr. Franklin
that was ever painted."
" As the mUitary chief of a corps of young men then,
1801 to 1812, in the course of being educated by the
United States, for Engineers, Col. Williams was distin
guished for devotion to their success, in comparison with
which I have known no parallel — this observation is not
invidious to the distinguished Col. Thayer. The assiduity
of Col. Williams to promote the usefulness and respecta
bility of his subalterns was unremitted. His house and
library, and the intercourse -with his accomplished family,
were ever open to the young men, who spontaneously
caUed him ' their father.' The Colonel had traveled
much, and had been a good observer of men. Llis con
versation was a source of instruction, his polished deport-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 319
ment gave these youths advantages that are, in the esti
mation of all who justly appreciate the courtesies of life,
of much importance in their influence upon public, as well
as upon domestic intercourse.
" Those men who have best contributed to improve social
usefulness, may with justice be ranked with those who
have achieved mural crowns. Col. WUUams was not in
the worldly sense of the term a ' great man,' though
he was good and well informed. His distinction and his
merits as a patriot, lay mainly in his powers to unfold the
capacities of young men. WhUe inculcating science, he
made it subservient to the formation of that generous
and useful character, which is evinced in the career of
accomphshed soldiers and gentlemen. Col. Williams
organized and gave tone to the MUitary Academy at
West Point. That self dependence and that mutual
reliance which were lately distinguishing qualities on the
fields of Pal(>Alto, the Palm Ravine, and Monterey, do
honor to the principal founders of the miUtary Academy,
of whom the name of Col. Williams stands among the
foremost." Deacon Jonathan Williams, of Boston. I am inclined
to think that this man was father of Col. Jonathan
WiUiams, above. By a letter from Thaddeus WiUiam
Harris, Esq., Libarian of Harvard College, dated Cam
bridge, Feb. 19th, 1847, it appears that this Deacon
Jonathan WUliams, was son of Dea. Jonathan Williams,
a -wine merchant of Boston, who was born about the
^year 1666. This Jonathan was son of Mary (SendaU)
WUUams, wife of Deacon Jonathan above, who was born

320 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Jan. 8, 1699-1700, Old Style, and was baptized at the
First Church Jan. 14, same year. He was probably the
tea meeting moderator, and was a deacon after his fatheri,
and a wine merchant in Boston.
Deacon Jonathan Williams, of Boston, father of
the above, was bom in the year 1673, and 'died in
Boston, March 27, 1737, aged 63. Of his descent, as
I have stated under the head of General Jonathaja
WilUams, I am somewhat at a loss to determine. (Since
writing the above, I have received another letter from
Dr. Harris, which renders it almost certain that this
Deacon Jonathan WUliams, of Boston, was the son of
Robert and Margerey WilUams, of Boston, both of
whom were members of the same First Church, of
which he, and his son, after him, were deacons. Who
the father of this Robert was, I am unable to ascertain,
S. W. W.) He was a Deacon of the First Church,
and a benefactor of the same. He began life as a
" wine cooper," and carried on the trade in Bostoni
His first wife was Mary Hunlock, a grand daughter of
Samuel SendaU, by whom he had two sons, Jonathan and
SendaU, and a daughter Mary, who married a Shed,
and died before her father. Mrs. Mary WUUams died
about September, 1707, and her husband was married
June 24, 1708, by the Rev. Thomas Bridge, of the
First Church, Boston, to Mrs. Rebeckah Townsend. She
was the widow of James Townsend, Boston, wine mer
chant, by whom she had chUdren, and from whom she
received a handsome estate. Her second husband,
Jonathan WUUams, succeeded to the business, of Mr.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 821
Townsend, and sold wines, &c., at the famous wine store,
under the sign of the " Blackboy and Butt," in CornhiU,
Boston. By his wife Rebeckah, Deacon WilUams had
seven children, all of whom, except a daughter, Rebeckah
(who married Thaddeus Mason, Esq., at the age of 28,)
died young. Mrs. Rebeckah WilUams, died June 13th,
1736, aged 63 years. Rebeckah, her daughter, who
married Thaddeus Mason, Esq., was grandmother of the
Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, a most distinguished
man, late minister of Dorchester, and father of Thaddeus
William Harris, Esq., Librarian of Harvard College,
from whom I have the above particulars, who is, of course,
a descendant on the maternal side, of Dea. Jonathan
Williams. Rebeckah was a most excellent woman. Her
name is kept up in the Harris family to this day, from
respect to the three good women above named.
Jonathan Williams, of Boston, bora July 15th,
1753, entered Harvard CoUege at the age of fifteen, in
1768, and graduated in 1772, and also received the
degree of A. B. at Brown University. I have in vain
endeavored to trace out his genealogy.. He died, it is
believed at sea, soon after his graduation. A beautiful
poem was written upon his death, by his intimate friend,
the late Dr. Joshua Barker, of Hingham, which I regret
that I have not room to publish.
John Williams, of Norwich, now Preston, Conn.
To Edwin WilUams, Esq., of New York, the distinguished
author of several most valuable statistical works, and ed
itor of the speeches and messages of the Presidents, from
27*

322 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS..
Washington to Polk, in two large volumes, with portraits,
I am indebted for a notice of his family, and also to Jo
seph WiUiams, Esq., of Norwich, his brother, for which
I am greatly obliged to them. Mr. Edwin WiUiams says,
that his great grandfather, John WiUiams, was born in
1680, and died in 1741, at his residence, where his
grandfather and father were born, in the present town
of Preston, but formerly a part of Norwich, Conn. The
location is Poquatomoc, a village on a cove of that name,
an eastern branch of the river Thames. On the au
thority of an aged bachelor uncle, he learned that he emi
grated from Wales to Massachusetts, and he presumes
was one of the John Williams', mentioned by Farmer, in
his Register. From Joseph Williams, Esq., I learn that
his wife's name was Hannah Knowlton, from Massachu
setts. They had five chUdren, three sons and two
daughters, who all died single, except one son, Joseph
WilUams, born AprU 23, 1728, who married Eunice
Wheeler, of Stonington, daughter of WUUam Wheeler,
and settled where his father lived and died. He had by
her fifteen children. His sons were
John WilUams, who was born in 1747, settied at
Wethersfield, Vermont, and died there in 1818, leaving
a large family.
WiUiam Wheeler, died at the age of two years.
Frederic, born 1749, an officer in the continental army,
died in the year 1776, was buried in St. Paul's church
yard. Joseph WiUiams, caUed since Gen. Joseph WilUams, of
Norwich, Conn, bora March 14, 1763, died October 3d,
1800, aged 47. He was settied in that part of Norwich,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 323
then called the " Landing," now the city of Norwich.
¦He was a merchant, who was many years in large com
mercial business, and much interested in the West India
trade. He was much esteemed as a merchant and pub
Uc spirited man. He represented the town of Norwich,
in the legislature of the state of Connecticut, for many
sessions, was very distinguished as a mUitary man, when
it was some honor to bear the office of Colonel and Gen
eral. He was Brigadier General of the third Brigade of
Connecticut militia, when he died. He was a friend and
correspondent of Gen. Washington, Gov. TrambuU, Gen.
Putnam, and other prominent men of his times. He
was one of the Umited number of gentlemen, who formed
the company to purchase, as they did purchase, of the
State of Connecticut, the Western Reserve, now in
Ohio, for twelve hundred thousand dollars, which now
constitutes, with its increase, two miUions of dollars.
WiUiamsfield, in the Western Reserve, Parkman and
Shaw, with many other portions of different towns, were
drawn in the division- of the lands by himself, Samuel
Parkman, and WilUam Shaw, both of Boston.
Benjamin WUliams, brother of the above, died in the
revolutionary army on board the Jersey Prison ship, in
1781. Isaac, brother of the above, bora in 1766, -was in the
Revolutionary army, and had one leg shot off, for which
he held a pension in his last days. He was many years
a shipmaster, and died single in 1842, aged 87 years.
His life was exceedingly interesting, as he was in the
United States and French naval service.
WUliam Wheeler WUUams, brother of the above, set-

324 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
tlsd and married in Suffield, Conn., removed to the
Y'estern Reserve, Ohio, early. He -n'as born in 1760,
aiid died within a few years at Newburgh, near Cleve
land, at an advanced age, leaving a large family. Two
sons in Ohio.
Alexander, brother of the above, died young.
Jerahmael, born 1767, died about 1842.
Joseph Williams, Esq., son of Gen. Joseph WU
liams above, settled at Norwich, where he now resides,
and practised law for about twenty five years, till 1833 ;
was appointed Cashier of a Bank in Norwich, and con
tinued in that business several years : has since been
Secretary of the Norwich Insurance company, and con
tinues in that, and other office business at Norwich.
Has been a Justice of the Peace thirty-seven years, one
of the Aldermen of the city, twenty-two years, and rep
resentative to the Legislature during the war of 1812 to
1816 — ^four sessions. He graduated at Yale College.
WiUiam Cost Williams, his brother, was born in 1781.
He was educated for commercial business — ^became a
ship-master, and so continued till he died at sea, leaving
one son, Simeon B. WUliams, now of Pittsburgh, a
merchant. Timothy Dwight WiUiams, educated at New Haven as
a merchant, brother of Joseph Williams, Esq. above,
died at New Haven, at the age of 36.
Edwui Williams, Esq., brother of the above, married
and settied in New York, as a merchant, and has been
since, an author and editor of several most valuable sta
tistical works, among the rest, the Uves and speeches of

FAMILY OP WILLIAMS. 325
the Presidents, mentioned above. He still lives in the
city of New York.
Nathaniel Williams, Rev., Doctor, was the son of
very respectable parents, who gave him a coUege educar
tion, with a view of his becoming a minister of the gospel ;
and to this he was early inclined. In 1698, he was or
dained an evangelist for one of the West India Islands*
The climate was unfriendly to his constitution, and he
soon returned to his native town. Being an excellent
classical scholar, he was chosen successor to the cele
brated Master Cheever, in the public and free grammar
school, " the principal school," says Dr. Prince, " of the
British colonies, if not of all America." He continued
from the year 1703 to 1734, a very useful instructor,
when his age and infirmities obliged him to resign his
office. His assistant, Mr. Lovell, was then placed in the
chair. When he was in the West Indies, he applied his
mind to the study of physic, and entered into the- profes
sion when he came to Boston. Those who employed him,
persuaded him not to leave his line of business, when he
took the grammar school. He visited many famUies, and
when he gave up the school, passed the latter years of his
life in the duties of his profession. He was called " the
beloved physician," and was so agreeable in his manners,
that when he entered into the chambers of the sick, " his
voice and countenance did good like a medicine." It re
vived the spirits, and lightened the maladies. Amidst the
multipUcity of business, as a pubUc instructor and a phy
sician in extensive practice, he never left the ministerial
work. He preached occasionally, and his prayers and

326 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
sermons were highly acceptable to the pious and judicious.
He was much attached to the religious principles and
manners of New England. " The graces of the gospel
seemed to shine in his countenance and conversation, and
he was one of the most useful men in the town and land."
He died Jan, 10th, 1787, aged 68. There is no publi
cation with his name, except a pamphlet upon " Inocula
tion for the Small pox," This was printed when the pub
lic mind was so much agitated about introducing the prac
tice. One of the satirical pamphlets of the times, intro
duced him, with Boylston and Douglass, in a conversation
which brought forward aU the arguments for or against it.
The book is entitled " Mundungus Sawney Academicus,
a debate, 1721," (Prince's Sermon; Elliott's Biogra
phical Dictionary,) The foUowing is his autograph :
I apprehend this man must have been the son of Na
thaniel Williams, who was admitted a Freeman in Boston
in 1640,
In a letter which I have recently received, from Job
Williams, Esq,, of Pomfret, Conn., he states that he thinks
that his grandfather's name was Nathaniel Williams, and
that he had a brother whose name was Edward, who both
lived and died in the "town of Raynham, Mass., and he
thinks they were born there, but of this he is not sure.
His grandfather might have descended from Nathaniel,
above. His grandfather had four sons. Seth, his father,
Nathaniel, John, and Joshua. His father removed from
Raynham to Pomfret, in 1791. Joshua removed to the

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 327
same place previous to that time. John settled in Taun
ton, Mass., and Nathaniel settied in Spencer, Mass. He
died, leaving no sons. John left some sons. Joshua had
four sons, Eliel, Daniel, Byram, Daniel 2d. His father,
Seth, had six sons, two of whom are stiU living, himself
and a brother, in the State of New York. Job WUliams,
Esq., has four sons, George, HamUton W., now a mer
chant in the city of New York, of the firm of Murphey,
Williams & Benedict. Lewis, who is a physician in Pom
fret. Edwin, clerk in the store of Bulkely & Claflin,
N. Y., and Elisha, who leads a seafaring life. One of his
brothers, the late Col. Zephaniah WiUiams, settled in
Pomfret. He left two sons, Samuel How, who resides
in Pomfret, and GUes, in Worcester, Mass.
Timothy Williams, of Boston, the Boston Merchant.
His parents came from Portsmouth, England, and settled
in Salem, Mass. The following notice of him after his
decease, is from a communication in the Boston Atlas, un
der the signature of a Boston Merchant, and is copied
from the Christian Register.
" Timothy WiUiams, whose death has been recently an
nounced, was one of those specimens of the past genera
tion of Boston Merchants which are now becoming rare,
but should never be forgotten by those who follow them
on the busy, scene, where so lately they were prominent
actors. As a class of men, they have seldom, if ever,
been equalled. FUled with the spirit of enterprise, finely
tempered by prudence and sagacity, they sent the stars
and stripes of our country into all parts of the globe.
Men of sound principles, and high sense of honor, their

$28 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
business was conducted on the golden rule ; and they
made the name of a Boston Merchant respected at home
and abroad. They laid the foundation of our prosperity ;
and they have set us an example of mercantUe enterprise
and integrity, which it should be our pride to follow.
" Of this class, Mr. Williams was no mean member.
Naturally diffident and retiring — unambitious of any thing
but a good name — out of the small circle of his familiar
friends, and every day acquaintances, his worth was but
littie known. But it was not the less sterling for that.
In all affairs of business, his word was a bond which
needed neither signature nor seal. To the unfortunate
and the poor, he was always considerate and kind. To
worthy young men, who needed aid in their first struggles to
gain a place and a name, he was a sound adviser and a
generous friend ; and if he never gave large sums in his
days of prosperity for public purposes, thereby gaining
popular applause, and a name for good works, there are
many now living, who hold in grateful remembrance some
of his kind, but quiet and unmolesting deeds of kindness
and charity ; and many more who wiU hold in reverence
the memory of his simple, straight forward, high minded,
manly character. In his last days of suffering, he was
patient and uncomplaining — only wondering that death
should delay his coming so long, and looking to the last
sad change as a release from a life which for him had no
longer any charms. To live as he Uved, honored and re
spected by aU who knew him — to die as he died — without
one regret to sadden his flight from earth to Heaven, was
a lot, of which none are more worthy, and which faUs to
very few."

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 829
If- this imperfect notice calls to mind the memory of the
good old man, as many of us have seen him in his daily
business, and his daily walks, may it also call up a firm
resolve to imitate his noble virtues, and to do our part to
sustain the high name which he helped to bring into re
pute, of a Boston merchant.
Samuel Williams, Esq., the rich London banker,
was brother of the above. The name of the father was
George. Samuel first commenced business in Boston,
as a flour merchant — then went to Europe, and trans
acted business at Hamburgh. He afterwards established
himself as a merchant and banker in London, in No. 4,
Finsbury Square. In pecuniary circumstances, he was
considered secure and safe as the bank of England. For
thirty years he was on the Exchange, the faithful and
honorable- representative of the commercial interests of
the United States, and our older merchants look back to
him with great respect and pride. He finally became
embarrassed in his pecuniary concern^, by becoming
surety for his friends, and returned to the United States,
where he died. The foUowing is his autograph.

^^^i^:^^^^^

Rev. Gilbert Tennent Williams, second minister of
Rowley, Mass. He was son of the Rev. Simon Williams,
of Windham, N. H.,. and was bora at Fogg's manor
New Jersey, October 8th, 1761, graduated at Dart-
28

330 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
mouth in 1784, and ordained in 1789. He was dismissed
in 1813, after a ministry of twenty-five years. In 1814,
he was installed over the church in Newbury, which hie
left in 1821. He studied divinity under the Rev. Mr.
Murray, of Newburyport, commenced preaching at
Linebrook, Dec. 1788, was ordained there August 6th,
1789. He nmrried Martha Morrison, of Windham, N.
H. Their children were four sons and one daughter,
viz. : Simeon Tennent, baptized 1790, Martha, baptized
Sept. 1790, Samuel Morrison, baptized Dec. 28, 1794,
John Adams, baptized Nov. 28, 1799, Constant Floyd,
baptized Dec. 12, 1802. Mr. Williams was settled on a
salary of one hundred pounds, lawful money, April 19th,
1813. The church voted to dismiss him from his
pastoral and brotherly relation, and to recommend him, &c.
His people being few, and considering themselves unable
to support him, was the occasion of his asking a dismis
sion. He preached May 6, 1813, a farewell sermon,
which he pubUshed. He was installed at Newbury,
(now West Newbury,) June 1, 1814, where he continued
to labor, till having a shock of palsy, which caused him
to leave that people in September, 1821. He died at
Framingham, Sept. 24, 1824, aged 63 years. The
church at Linebrook, the time of Mr. WUUams' ordination,
consisted of twenty-four members, nine males, and fifteen
females. The church now (1840) consists of twenty-
eight males, and thirty-two females. (Gage's History
of' Rowley.)
Rev. Henry Williams, afterwards minister of Lev-
erett, Mass., settied first in Guilford, Vermont, in 1779

EAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 331
Rev. Bunker Gay, of Hinsdale, preached his ordination
sermon. His text was " Death in the pot." Mr. Wil
liams was a -violent Yorker, and when the town of Guilford
submitted to the State authority, he left it, with his
poUtical brethren, (Thomson's Vermont.) He was
father of
, Rev. Avery Williams, who was born at GuUford,
in 1782. He was a graduate of Dartmouth College,
1804. Dismissed from Lexington, Mass., where he was
settled as a minister. He went to the south, and died
Feb. 4th, 1816, in Spartansburgh county, when, accord
ing to the year of his birth above given, he must have
been thirty-four years of age. But according to another
statement from a highly respectable clergyman, who
deceased at Lexington, he died at FayetteviUe, N. C,
aged 40. His only known publication is the excellent
century discourse preached at Lexington, March 31st,
1813, and often referred to in the above account of the
church and ministers of that town. ( Col, Cent, 1816,
and Am. Quart, Reg, 1888.)
He married a sister of the Hon. George Grennell, of
Greenfield, and left one son. Dr. Avery WiUiams, a very
respectable physician, now settled at Lanesborough, Mass.
Zebediah Williams, came to Deerfield, Massachu
setts, in the year 1674, from Natick, or Dedham. He
was in Lathrop's battle on the 18th of September, 1676,
at Bloody Brook, and was slain there. See an account of
that battle in my Memoir of Rev. John WiUiams, 1837.
Zebediah Williams left one son by the name of Zebe-

332 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
diah. He married a daughter of William Arms, one of
the first-settiers of Deerfield. He was taken captive by
the Indians at Deerfield, in 1703, before the destruction
of the town, and died there in the month of April, 1706.
He was a very reUgious young man, who did much
during his captivity, to animate and console the prisoners.
The children of Zebediah above, bora at Deerfield, be
fore his captivity, were
Mary, bora Feb. 13, 1700.
Ebenezer, bora Dec. 10, 1702.
The children of Ebenezer above, were
Zebediah, bora at Deerfield, Sept. 18, 1729.
Sarah, born Aug. 1, 1730.
PrisciUa, born Oct. 11, 1781, died in 1732.
Ebenezer, bora March 16, 1732-3. No later accounts
can be found of tbe family at Deerfield.
In looking over the Dorchester burying-ground in Nov.
1846, 1 saw the grave-stone of Zebediah WilUams, who
died in February, 1772, in his 66th year.
I find in examining my history of the town of Deer
field, that a man by the name of WUliam Williams set
tled here in the year 1684. I do not know to what fam
Uy he belonged.
Doctor Richard P. Williams, of Newark, Wayne
County, New York, was a descendant of revolutionary
patriots. His grandfather kept a public house in Mono
tony, or Notony, now Cambridge, which was destroyed
by the British during the revolutionary war. His grand
father, whose name was Thomas Williams, was in the
battie of Bunker HiU, where he was wounded by a shot

family of -WILLIAMS. 333
passing in at the mouth without touching the Ups, cutting
the tongue, and passing out through the opposite jaw.
He married Hannah Parks, of Lincoln, and Richard P.
above, was born at Weston, in 1788. He had two other
sons, who died young, and two daughters, one of whom
married, and lives in Dedham. The other one, also, is
married, and lives at Newton. Thomas, the father of Dr.
Richard, died poor, at about the age of forty. Richard
was left, principaUy to shift for himself. At the age of
ten, he became acquainted with a Mr. Jackson, a mer
chant in Vermont, who was at Newton where he resided,
who took him home with him, and kept him in his store
until his decease, when he was about 16 or 17 years old,
and gave him the rudiments of a good education. He
afterwards taught school, and studied medicine, and re
moved into the state of New York, where uninterrupted
prosperity attended him, and he has become a wealthy
and most respected citizen of central New York. He
has a family of children. I think that he descended
from Robert of Roxbury.
Lieut. John Williams. I find by looking into Col.
Frye's Narrative of the Massacre at Fort WUUam
Henry, in 1757, that a Lieut. John Williams, and an
Mndgn Sa^nuel Williams, were in the horrid massacre,
but escaped the sanguinary butchery. They may have
descended from Robert, though I have not been able ex
actly to trace out the genealogy.
See a thrilling account of the massacre in Williams'
History of Vermont, Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches, &c.
Lieut. John Williams was also a Lieut, in the battle
28*

334 family of -WILLIAMS.
of Bunker HiU, See a very interesting and accurate ac
count of that battle, by Capt. Swett, in which he unan
swered and unanswerably defends the brave and gaUant
General Putnam from the unhallowed charge of coward
ice which had been wantonly preferred against him.
Capt. Williams, a volunteer from Guilford, Vermont,
yas killed at Hubbardton, near Castleton, Vermont, on
the 6th of July, 1776, in the American revolutionary
war. (See an account of that battle in Williams' history
of Vermont, and in Thomson's history of do.) He
was, probably, a son of Elijah WUliams, one of the first
settlers of Guilford.
Col. William Williams, of Northborough, Mass.,
was one of the first settlers of Marlborough, Vermont.
Col. WUliams afterwards distinguished himself in the Ben
nington battle in the war of the revolution. (See an ac
count of that battle in Thomson's history of Vermont, and
in all the histories of the war of the revolution.) He mov
ed to Marlborough in 1769 or '70, and the same year built
the first saw-mUl which was ever erected in that to-wn.
The township of Barre, Vermont, was granted to William
Williams, and his associates, and chartered by the name
of Wildersburgh, Nov. 6, 1780. Whether this WUliam
Williams is the same with the above, I do not know. The
township of Canaan, in Vermont, was also granted to Wil
Uam WiUiams, Arad Hunt, Jonathan Hunt, and others,
Feb. 26, 1782. (Thomson.)
Doctor John Williams, of Albany, writes to the
Congress, A,ug. 28th, 1775, in relation to his being dis-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 835
missed from the office of Surgeon in the Continental
army. He was educated in London, and received his
diploma there. (American Archives, folio.) Quere of
what family ?
David Williams, was one of the capturors of Andre
on the 23d of September, 1780. Resolute and deter
mined in his duty to his country, the gold watch and
large sum of money which was offered him by the un-
fijrtunate General, could not bribe him to liberate his
prisoner. His name, for this achievement, will long Uve
in the annals of his country's history. A county in
Ohio, was named for him in consequence of this transac
tion. John S. Williams, Esq., of Ohio, was the editor of
the Pioneer, a periodical Journal to commemorate the
early settlement of the Western States, under the sanc
tion of the Logan Historical Society of Ohio. His fa
ther emigrated from Wales.
A Mr. Williams, from Wales, who afterwards settled
in Hadley, Massachusetts, is thus spoken of by the Rev.
Samuel Peters, LL. D., in his history of the Rev. Hugh
Peters, published in 1807, in connection with Lord Mon
tague. " Montague of the family of the Earl of Sandwich,
came to Boston, and settled at Hadley, near Northamp
ton, on. Connecticut river. He lived near the Rev. Mr.
Williams, a Welchman, and cousin of Oliver CromweU,
#as Oliver WiUiams, whose name was changed ta Crom-

336 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
well by James I, to gain an estate of his aunt's hus
band, and was a firm friend of Goffe and Whalley, two
of the judges of Charles I, who fled from the cave in
New Haven to Hadley, to avoid the advertisement of
Charles II, and were by Mr. WUliams concealed many
years. Montague was one of the few in the confidence
of Mr. WUliams and the Judges. His integrity and vir-_
tues were equal to those of Rahab of Jericho, who enter
tained the spies which Joshua sent to search out the land
of Canaan ; and merits equal praise and enjoys it. His
posterity are not many, but what remain of them there
are valuable characters, &c."
Mrs. Williams, author of the Biography of Gen.
William Barton, and Capt. Stephen Olney : Providence,
1839. Author of " Religion at Home," " Aristocracy,"
" Tales National, Revolutionary, &c." was a Providence
woman. Of what famUy?

WILLIAMS' OF MAEYLAND.
I have already spoken of some of the name in this
state, among the descendants of Robert of Roxbury, and
particularly of the family of N. F. WilUams, Esq., late
coUector of the Port of Baltimore. I now proceed to
speak of the family of the
Hon. William Williams, Dr., of Somerset County,
Md. I am principally indebted foifcthe facts concerning
this branch of the family, to my friend Nathaniel F. Wil-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 337
liams, who received his dates from Hon. WiUiam Wil
liams. The ancestor of the Hon. WUUam WiUiams
above, was Thomas WiUiams, who with a brother of his,
named Michael Williams, came from the north of Eng
land ; the particular shire, or county is not known, and
settled on the Annemessex river, in what is now Somerset
county, iu the year 1663. The county was not consti
tuted until 1666. The family of Michael Williams has
long been extinct. The descendants of Thomas have al
ways resided in the same neighborhood. A part of the~
land on which the Hon. WUUam, now resides, was grant
ed to his ancestor, Thomas, by patent, in February, 1663,
and has descended from father to son until this time.
His father WilUam had a brother, Thomas WUliams, who
formerly served in both branches of the state legislature,
and died unmarried. Except his own chUdren, William
above, knows does not know that he has a relation in the
world by the name of WUUams. He is the only surviv
ing son of his father. He had a brother Isaac Williams,
who died before his father, leaving no children. William
was born Nov. 10th, 1795. Practised as a physician
many years, but long since gave it up on account of ill
health. He is now engaged in agriculture. He never
intended to enter public life, nor did he do so till the
year 1836, when there was a warm contest for electors of
the Senate, and the whig party of Somerset was torn into
fragments. He was induced to become a candidate, and
was one of the twenty-one whigs elected in the State in
that year. ' Since that time, he ^las occasionally served in
the house of Delegates, till he was elected to the Senate.
He married in 1817, and had ten chUdren, four sons and

338 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
six daughters. Llis eldest son was a member of the
house of Delegates two years ago, but has given up pub
lic life, because he found it interfered with his business
as a iphysician. The Hon. Dr. WiUiam WilUams, is now
(March 1847,) a candidate for the office of Governor
for the State of Maryland, with a fair prospect of suc
ceeding. The Baltimore Patriot of March 8th, thus
speaks of him : " Among the candidates for this office, ia
Dr. WiUiam WUliams, of Somerset County, now and for
several years past, the able, dignified, and impartial
President of the Senate of Maryland. It is the object
of this communication to call the attention of the people
to the claims of this distinguished gentleman. In speak
ing of him it is not intended either to eulogize him or
to disparage others. It is, however doing injustice to
none, and no more than justice to him to say that he
possesses abilities and accomplishments which qualify him
in an eminent degree for the chief magistracy of the
Commonwealth. Dr. WUliams is a man of strong, dis
criminating and well cultivated mind, characterized by a
large share of practical common sense, and improved by
long experience in the public service. He has unsur
passed urbanity of manners, which of themselves, secure
him universal esteem. He has always maintained an un
suUied reputation — a moral character pure and spotless
—above reproach, and irreproachable. The elevation of
such a man to the Gubernatorial chair could not do other
wise than adorn the councils, as it would, undoubtedly
promote the interests of the State. In politics, it is
scarcely necessary to say that Dr. WiUiams is a sterling
Whig, of the purest stamp. His past services — the man-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 839
ner in which he has discharged the duties of his present
office — ^furnish the best guarantee, that the dignity, cred
it, and whole interest of Maryland, would be amply main
tained and vindicated under his administration. So far
as our information goes, and we have heard the opinions
of many in different parts of the state. Dr. WiUiams is
the most prominent candidate, and commands a much
larger share of the public confidence, than any gentle
man spoken of for the next Governor.
Doctor John F. Williams, of Worcester county, Ma
ryland, was a most distinguished physician. His father
was Mr. John WiUiams. He was for some time a most
distinguished member of the House of Delegates, in Ma
ryland. While there, he gave some of the most scorch
ing speeches upon the subject of the Thomsonian delusion,
sometimes called system of medicine, ever deUvered in a
legislative, or any other haU. It is published in the 12th
vol. of the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, and will
weU repay the reader by the perusal of it. He moved to
Louisiana, in 1835, and Uved there tiU the last two
years, Mr. James Williams, formerly a merchant of Balti
more, was a brother of the fiEither of Dr. John F. Wil-
liatas. Hon. Jambs W. Williams, of Harford, Maryland, who
was formerly Speaker of the House of Delegates, and a
member of Congress, at the time of his death, was a half
brother of Dr. John F, WUliams,

340 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
Joseph Williams, and Prudence Williams, were
born and married in South Wales, and emigrated to Amer
ica between the years 1740 and 1746, and took up their
residence in the eastern section of Prince George's county,
Maryland, and afterwards moved to what is now Wash
ington county, in the same State, and settled at the mOuth
of the Conococheaque, which empties into the Potomac
river, at the place where the town of Williamsport now
stands, and which was then a frontier, where the pioneers
erected a Fort to protect them from the Indians, who, at
that time, were numerous in that section of the country,
and committed many acts of cruelty and outrage. They
resided there but a short time, when they died, leaving
two sons and five daughters. Their oldest son.
General Otho Holland Williams, was born in Prince
George's county, in the year 1748. He was an accom
phshed gentleman, and distinguished soldier in the Amer
ican revolutionary army. He was twelve years old when
his father died,
A Scotch gentleman by the name of Ross, having mar
ried his sister, Otho was taken under his protection, and
was bred up in the clerk's office of the county, a profes
sion which presented better prospects to a young man,
than any other office then procurable under the colonial
government of Maryland, Ross dying. Col, Steel, of Ha
gerstown, married his widow, and continued to patronize
his wife's brothers. In this situation WUliams continued,
until he was removed just before the war broke out to the
clerk's office in the county of Baltimore, of which he had
the principal direction, and the business of which he con-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 341
ducted with exemplary propriety. Anxious to draw his
sword in defense of his oppressed country, as soon as the
last resort became inevUable, WilUams was appointed
Lieutenant in the company of riflemen raised in the county
of Frederic, commanded by Capt. Price, and marched in
1775 to the American camp before Boston. In 1776, a
rifle regiment was formed, of which Stephenson was ap
pointed Colonel, Bawling, Lieutenant Colonel, and Wil
Uams, Major,
Stephenson, soon dying, the command of the regiment
devolved upon RawUng, who, with his regiment, formed
part of the garrison of Fort Washington, in the State of
New York, when assailed by Sir William Howe, pushing
Washington over the North river. In this attack, the
rifle regiment opposed the Hessian column, and behaved
to admiration, holding, for a long time, victory in suspense,
and severely crippling its adversary. The Fort was nev
ertheless, carried by capitulation, and its garrison became
prisoners of war. After the surrender of Burgoyne's
army. Col. WUkinson, Adjutant General to General Gates,
who was personally attached to Major WiUiams, procured
his exchange for Major Ackland, wounded in the first- ac
tion between the northern armies, and left on the ground
with many others, to the mercy of the American General.
WhUe in captivity, Williams became entitled to the com
mand of a regiment, and as soon as he was exchanged, he
was placed at the head of the 6th Maryland. The Mary
land and Delaware lines having been detached to South
Carolina, soon after the reduction of Charleston, Colonel
WUUams accompanied the Baron de Kalb, and after Gen
eral Gates took command of the army, he was called to
29

342 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
the important station of Adjutant General to the same.
He bore a distinguished part in the battle of the 16th of
August, and shared with the General in the bitter adver
sity of that disastrous period.
When Greene took command of the southern army.
Col. Williams was retained in the station he then occu
pied, which he held to the end of the war, enjoying the
uninterrupted confidence of his commander, and the es
teem of his fellow soldiers.
Throughout the important campaign which followed, he
acted a conspicuous part, and greatly contributed to the
honorable and intelUgent discharge of the duties of the
station which he held, to the successful issue of Greene's
operations. At the head of the light troops, during our
difficult retreat, he was signally efficient in holding the
army safe until it effected its passage across the river Dan ;
and after Greene's retura into North Carolina, when, to
save that State, the American General was constrained to
put to hazard his inferior force, he was not less useful in
thwarting the various attempts of Lord ComwalUs to
strike his antagonist. We have seen with what vigor and
effect he seconded his General m the fields of Guilford, of
Hobbrick, of Eutaw, invariably exciting by his impressive
example, officer and soldier to the animated display of
skill and courage.
Returning, upon peace, to his native State, the govern
ment (at that time, common through America,) to reward,
whenever it had the power, those officers and soldiers who
continued te the last, bestowed upon this distinguished pa
triot, the coUectorship of the port of Baltimore, the most
lucrative offer within its gift.

EAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 343
On the adoption of the present govemment of the Un
ion, Washingtoil was called to the Presidency, and, of
course, continued Williams, with whose merit he was par
ticularly acquainted, in his office.
Previous to this epoch, he intermarried with Miss Mary
Smith, daughter of WiUiam Smith, Esq., one of the an
cient and most respectable inhabitants of the town, by
whom he had four sons, all of whom survived their parents,
but are since dead. The names of the sons were WilUam.
Elie, named after his uncle. Edward Greene, after Gen.
Nathaniel Greene, Henry Lee, after Gen. Henry Lee,
and Otho Holland,
Gen. WiUiams' health had, for many years before his
death, been delicate, arising from the hardships result
ing from military life, increased in his case by the severe
treatment experienced while a prisoner in New York,
which was peculiarly oppressive at that period, when Sir
WilUam Howe commanded the British forces in America.
Vainly attempting by change of cUmate, and every other
advisable measure, to stop the menacing disease, he un
happily for his country, his family and friends, fell a vic
tim to the pulmonary complaint in 1794, on his way to
the Sweet Springs.
He was buried at WiUiamsport, of which he was the
founder, and where a monument is erected to his memory.
His amiable and disconsolate wife soon fell the victim of
grief, exhibiting a rare display of the tenderness and ar
dor of conjugal love.
Brigadier General WiUiams was about five feet ten inch
es high, erect, and elegant in form, made for activity rath
er than strength. His countenance was expressive, and

344 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
the faithful index of his warm and honest heart. Pleas
ing in his address, he never faUed to render himself ac
ceptable in whatever circle he moved, notwithstanding a
sternness of character, which was sometimes manifested
with too much asperity. He was beneficial to his friends,
but very cold to all whose correctness in moral principles
became questionable in his mind. As a soldier, he may
be called a rigid, not cruel disciplinarian ; obeying with ex
actness his superiors, he exacted the like obedience from
his inferiors. He possessed that range of mind, although
self educated, which entitled him to the highest military
station, and was actuated by true courage, which can re
fuse, as well as give battle. Soaring far above the reach
of vulgar praises, he singly aimed at promoting the com
mon weal, satisfied with the consciousness of doing right,
and deserving only that share of applause which was just
ly his own.
There was a loftiness and UberaUty in his character,
which forbade resort to intrigue and hypocrisy, in the ac
complishment of his views, and rejected the contemptible
practice of disparaging others to exalt himself.
In the field of battle, he was self-possessed, intelligent,
and ardent ; in camp, circumspect, attentive, and system
atic ; in council, sincere, deep, and perspicacious. Du
ring the campaigns of Gen. Greene, he was uniformly one
of his few advisers, and held his unchanged confidence.
Pre-vious to the disbandonment of the army. Congress
manifested their sense of Williams' merit and services, by
promoting him to the rank of a Brigadier General.
Col. Elie Williams, brother of Gen. OthoH. Williams,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 345
above, second son of Joseph Williams, was born in Prince
George's county, Maryland, and raised in Frederick coun
ty, and was commissioned in the staff with the rank of
Colonel, and was afterwards appointed Clerk of Washing
ton county Court, which office he held untU the year 1800.
He was also a Contractor with Robert Elliot, under the
firm of Elliot & WiUiams, during the campaign of Har
mer, St. Clair, and Wayne, against the Indians, and died
in Georgetown, D. C, in the year 1823, in the 73d year
of his age, leaving two sons and three daughters, who are
now Uving, -viz. :
Otho Holland Williams, of Hagerstown, Maryland,
late Clerk of Washington County Court, and now holding
the office of Brigadier General, in the 2d Brigade and 4th
Dirision Maryland MiUtia.
John S. Williams, formerly of Howard district, Ann
Arundel county, Maryland, but now a resident of Quin.
cey, Hlinois. Maria Sophia, the eldest daughter, mai^
ried to the Hon. John Buchanan, late Chief Justice ofthe
Maryland Court of Appeals, which office he held until his
death. Prudence Holland married to Col. John I. Steel,
Cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, of George
town, D. C, and Catherine, Kimball married Henry H.
Garther, Attorney at Law.
The coat of arms of the Otho HoUand WUliams famUy,
is a WUd Boar, with a spear through the neck. (Letter
from Gen. 0. H. Williams, March, 1847.)

29*

346 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.

WILLIAMS' OF LONG ISLAND.
The following notices of the WUUams' of Long Island,
were kindly given me by Dr. B. F. Thompson, author
of the History of Long Island, in a letter of Jan. 8th,
1847. Robert Williams, the first of the name, here, came
to Oyster Bay, Queen's County, Long Island, in 1663—4,
as is believed, from Rhode Island. He has always been
reputed here to have been a brother, or nephew of
Roger, the founder of Providence. Several families came
here from Rhode Island, at the same time. Carpenter,
Weekes, Coles, and others. This Robert is a witness
to the first Indian grant for lands in Oyster Bay, in
1653, with William Washborne, and Anthony Wright.
Williams became in a few years an extensive land owner
in that town and in Hempstead. There is a large tract
in the division line of the two towns, still known as
Williams' patent. I have heard that they claim to be the
same famUy as Oliver Cromwell, the original name of
which was WiUiams.
One of his daughters, Phebe, married John Townsend,
Jr., son of John, who had some years before, been driven
from Long Island to Rhode Island, by the persecution
of Stuyvesant, but returned and died at Oyster Bay.
All those people became Quakers after the promulgation
of their pruiciples by Fox, who himself visited the Island
in 1672, and preached from a rock now caUed Fox's
pulpit, in the viUage of Oyster bay. WUliams had sons,

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 347
Hope and John, also a daughter Mary, married to a
Willets, and received for her portion the land on which
the Quaker settlements at Jericho was founded, the
residence of the celebrated Elias Hicks, whom the
Hicksite Quakers, (as they are called,) revere as an
apostle. Robert WUliams purchased from the neighbor
ing Sachems in 1668, a tract of one thousand acres
adjoining the Sound, comprising two beautiful islands now
known as Desoris, for which he obtained a patent of
confirmation from Governor Richard NicoU, the same
year. This property, or the most of it, he sold Sept. 24,
1670, to Lewis Morris, of Barbadoes, first proprietor of
Morrisiana, and which was possessed by the late
Govemor Morris at his death. It would appear from the
records, that Robert WUUams was, at an early period, a
land holder also in the town, and the name of WUliam
Williams also occurs, but whether a brother, son, or no
relation of Robert, cannot now be told. In a list of
taxable inhabitants of this town in 1685, the names of
John WiUiams, and Joseph WUUams occur, probably
grandsons of Robert. The late Col. Samuel, and the
present John WilUams, of this vicinity, were descendants
of John.
I find a Robert and Richard WUliams, free holders in
Huntmgton, L. I., 1667, or thereabouts. This Robert is
the same as the above mentioned, and Richard was proba
bly another of his sons, whose posterity are stiU found in
that town. One of them was Nathaniel Williams, whose
daughter Elizabeth, married Dr. Gilbert Potter. He
studied medicine with Dr. Jared Elliot, of GuUford, Conn.,
(grandson of the apostle EUiot,) engaged as Surgeon in

348 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
1746, on board a Privateer in the French war. On his
return, he married Miss Williams. He was at Ticonde
roga, in 1756. In 1776, he was Colonel of MiUtia, asso
ciated with the late Gen. Woodhull, for the defense of
Long Island. In 1783, he returned and pursued his pro
fession with high success till his decease, Feb. 14, 1786.
A nephew of his, Dr. Nathaniel Potter, who became an
eminent Physician and Surgeon, and Professor of the
Theory and Practice of Medicine, in the University of
Maryland, died January 2d, 1843.
The Brooklyn city directory, contains forty-four of the
name of WUUams, and the New York directory, stiU
more. Phineas Williams, of Woodstock, Vermont. From
a letter recently received from the Hon. Hezekiah Wil
liams, member of Congress, from Maine, it appears that
his grandfather, Phineas Williams, was a near relative of
the Deerfield WUUams, captured by the Indians. He was
one of the first settlers of Woodstock, Vermont, and moved
to that place- with a large family, some time prior to the
revolutionary war, from Mansfield, Connecticut, leaving
there a brother, who, he thinks, was a physician. His
father. Judge Jesse Williams, late of Woodstock, Ver
mont, remamed some time in Mansfield, after his father
went to Woodstock, From a letter received from Nor
man Williams, Esq., of Woodstock, brother of Hezekiah
WUliams, above, it seems that Judge Jesse Williams, his
father, was born in Mansfield, June 14, 1761. He thinks
his grandfather, Phineas WilUams, was bom in Mansfield,
also. He says he has seen a memorandum of his father,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 349
stating that his grandfather, or great grandfather, was
bom in Watertown, (he thinks,) in Massachusetts, and
that the next immediate ancestor was from England.

WILLIAMS' OF NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, &C.
From a letter jUst received from my distinguished
friend, Hon. Thomas W. WUliams, of New London, I am
enabled to give some account of some of the eminent men
of the name of Williams in those States, which is pecu
liarly gratifying. From a letter of May 11th, 1847, which
he has just received from the Hon. Christopher H. Wil
Uams, of Lexington, Tennessee, member of Congress, it
appears that his grandfather, who was " Col. John Wil
liams, of North Carolina, who commanded the 9th Conti
nental North Carolina Regiment, in the war of the revo
lution. He had three brothers, viz. Nathaniel WUliams,
of RockiRgham county. North Carolina, who was a law
yer in his day, of some distinction. His sons that were
most distinguished, were Robert and Marmaduke. Rob
ert WiUiams represented his district in Congress, four
years, during Mr. Jefferson's administration, and was ap
pointed Govemor, in 1804, 1 beUeve, by Mr. Jefferson,
of the then territory of Mississippi. He died some years
ago in that State. Marmaduke WiUiams, succeeded him
in his Congressional district, and served four years. He
then moved to the State of Alabama, and now resides

360 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
at Tuscaloosa. Joseph WiUiams, another brother of Col.
John WiUiams, resided in  County, N. C. His most
distinguished sons were Col. John, Lewis, and Thomas L,
Col, John Williams, served with great distinction in the
war of 1812, and was a Senator in Congress from the
State of Tennessee, for a number of years.
Lewis Williams, member of Congress, from North
Carolina, for many years father of the House of Repre
sentatives, was elected from his native county in early
Ufe, and served without any intermission for 27 years, and
untU his death,
Thomas L. Williams, who removed with his brother.
Col. John, to KnoxvUle, has been distinguished as a law
yer. He has served on the Supreme Bench of Tennessee,
and is now the acting ChanceUor for the eastern district
of the State,
Robert Williams, the other brother of my grandfa
ther, resided in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, He was
a lawyer of high standing. His only son, Jud^ Nathan
WUUams, in early Ufe, moved to Tennessee, in Smith
county, and was shortly after elected Circuit Judge, which
place he fiUed until his death.
My father. Decker, (probably Marmaduke Williams,
S, W. W.) had four sons. John, Robert, Augustus,
and Christopher H., member of Congress. They 'were
all farmers, with the exception of Christopher H., (who
is a most distinguished lawyer, S, W, W.) in Tennessee,

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. S61
I am unable to inform you who the most of them married.
Joseph WilUams, of Surry, married a Lancer. John and
Nathaniel, both married WUliams'. Col. John, of Knox
vUle, married a sister of Hugh L. Wheeler. His sons,
Joseph and John, are both men of high order of talents.
Joseph is since in Congress. Col. John, Jr., served in
the last Legislature of our State.
David Williams, of Groton, Conn. A letter from
Gen. William Williams, of Stockbridge, Mass., received
Jan. 28, 1847, informs me that his great-grandfather
was David Williams, of Groton, but when or where he
was born, he is not able to say. He had three sons,
Daniel, his grandfather, David, and Richard. Daniel
was born at Groton, July, 1728. He married Esther
Avery, of Groton, March 17th, 1756. He died in Stock-
bridge, Sept. 26, 1818, in the 91st year of his age. His
wife died Aug. 18, 1814, in the 79th year of her age.
They had seven chUdren, viz. : Asa, the oldest, his father,
was born at Groton, March 12th, 1757, and died in
Stockbridge, March 20th, 1846, in the 69th year of his
age. Lucretia was born at Groton, Oct. 80, 1759 ; was
married to WUUam Whelply, of Lenox, and died Dec.
13th, 1796, in the 37th year of her age. Daniel, born
at Groton, AprU 6, 1762. He is is now living in Lenox.
Esther was bora at Groton, Oct. 3, 1764, married Rice
Beach, of Goshen, Conn., and is now living at Schodack,
N. Y. Cyrus, late President of the Housatonic Bank,
was bom at Groton, March 22, 1767, and died in Stock-
bridge, Oct. 20, 1841, in the 76th year of his age. Pren
tice was bora at Groton, June 7th,. 1773, and is Uving in

362 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Stockbridge. Sarah was born in Stockbridge, June 3,
1777, and married Simon Walkley, of West Springfield.
She is still living.
His father, Asa Williams, married Sylvia Peck, of
Preston, Conn., Dec. 80, 1776. In 1776, his parents
and grand-parents moved to Stockbridge. His father
had five children, viz. : Avery, the oldest, was born May
29, 1777, and is stUl living in Stockbridge. Erastus,
born AprU 11, 1781, and now living in Pittsford, N. Y.
Sybil was born May 16, 1788. She married William
Brewster, of Rochester, N. Y., and died in Stockbridge,
March 14, 1824, in the 87th year of her age. WUUam
was born Aug. 26. 1790. Lucretia was born Dec. 6th,
1798, died Sept. 14, 1886, in the 38th year of her age.
Daniel Williams, Esq., of Lenox, is now in the 86th
year of his age, and enjoys an unusual degree of bodily
and mental vigor. He has been twice married. His
first wife was Martha Coles, of Farnungton, Conn. His
last, Merriam Hickok. He has three children : one son,
Edward, is a merchant, and resides in the city of New
York, unmarried. Susan and Elizabeth, unmarried.
Cyrus Williams, Esq., was twice married. His first
wife was Fanny West, of ToUand, Conn., daughter of the
late Dr. West, of that town, and niece of Rev. Stephen
West, D. D., late of Stockbridge. She died AprU 29th,
1812, in the 29th year of her age. By her he had a
daughter, Fanny West. She was born March th27, 1812,
and died Aug. 24th, 1839, in the 28th year of her age.
His second wife was Sarah Huntington, of Norwich,

familt of -WILLIAMS. 363
Conn. She died Aug. 24, 1889, aged 60 years. This
branch of the family has, therefore, become extinct.
Col. Prentice Williams has been twice married. His
first wife was Clarissa I. Rogers, of Cornwall, Conn.
By her he had six children, viz. Clarissa L. Daniel.
Hannah, dead. Sarah A., dead. Harriet B., dead.
Jane. Daniel R. WilUams lives in Stockbridge, and is
a merchant, successor of Cyrus Williams, Esq. He
married Fanny, daughter of Hon. P. Walker, of Lenox.
Clarissa L., married Thomas H. Selby, merchant of New
York city. The second wife of Col. Prentice Williams,
was Amelia West, formerly of Tolland, Conn., and sister
of the first -vdfe of Cyrus WilUams. Avery Williams,
his oldest brother, has had four chUdren, two sons, and
two daughters. EmUy married Seth Seymour, of Stock-
bridge. Albert B., a merchant, is unmarried, lives in
MobUe, Alabama. MarshaU, died at Baltimore, Mary
land, Oct. 1838, aged 21 years. Julia, is unmarried.
Erastus WilUams, who lives at Pittsford, New York, has
four sons. Edwin. Asa. WilUam, and Cyrus.
Gen. WUliams had four children, three sons, and one
daughter. Theodore, was bora Dec. 6, 1816, is unmar
ried, and Uves at Stockbridge, with his father. Edwin
B., was born Jan. 14, 1821. He is a merchant, and re
sides in the city of New York, unmarried. Frances,
was born Sept., 1827, married to George Coffing, of Sal
isbury, Conn. George, was bom Aug. 29, 1832, and
died March 26th, 1835.
Gen. WiUiams thinks that Ebenezer WiUiams was in
no way connected with his family. Dr. Partridge informs
him that he was of the Wethersfield branch of the Wil-
30

354 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
liams famUy. He says there is yet another branch of
WUliams in the tewn of Stockbridge, who Dr. Partridge
says, sprung from the Wethersfield stock. The father of
WUliam WilUams 2d, of Stockbridge, was Abraham, and
his father was Azariah. He was among the early set
tlers of Stockbridge. (Letter from Gen. Williams.)

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 355

Graduates by the names of WilUams, in the various
Colleges in the United States, as far as ascer
tained,
I have taken a great deal of pains to have this Ust
correct. I have examined the Triennial Catalogues of
almost all the CoUeges in the Union, but after all, there
may be some omissions.
Note. — The asterisk * designates Clergymen ; a. e. ad eundem ;
Hon. Honorary.
Earrarir (HolUge.
1683. John WUliams, Deerfield.*
1683. WUliam WUUams, Hatfield.*
1693. Nathaniel Williams, * M. D.
1705. WilUam WilUams, Weston.*
1708. Eleazar WiUiams.
1709. Ebenezer WilUams, Pomfret.*
1711. EUsha WiUiams, Rector, Wethersfield.*
1713. Stephen WilUams, Long Meadow, D. D. Dart,*
1719. Warham WUliams, Waltham.*
1719. Solomon WilUams, Lebanon, D. D. Yale.*
1725. John WUliams.
1729. WilUam WUliams.
1727. Israel WiUiams, Hatfield.
1729. WUliam WUliams.
1732. Elijah WiUiams, Deerfield.
1744. Abraham WUliams, A. A. S.*

356 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
1747. Solomon WiUiams.
1761. WilUam WiUiams, Yale, M. C, Signer of Declara
tion of Independence.
1761. John WUUams.
1767. Thomas WiUiams, Roxbury, M. M. S., M. D.
1758. Leonard Williams.
1760. Ebenezer WUUams.
1761. Samuel Williams, Bradford, Vt., LL. D., Prof
at Yale and Edinburgh, A. A. S., A. P. S.*
1764. Elijah WiUiams, Deerfield, Dart.
1765. Lemuel Williams, M. C.
1765. Seth Williams, Yale.
1769. John Chester Williams, Yale, a. e.
1769. Simon Williams, a. e. New Jersey.
1769. John Williams, Deerfield, S. H. S., Trustee in
Williams College.
1769. Nehemiah Williams, Brimfield, Yale, A. A. S.*
1771. Eliphalet WiUiams, East Hartford.
1772. Jonathan Williams, Brown.
1773. Robert WUliams.
1776. John Chandler WUliams, Pittsfield.
1776. John WiUiams.
1780. Samuel Williams, A. A. S.
1783. Ebenezer Hinsdale WilUams, Deerfield.
1784. Thomas WiUiams, Roxbury.
1784. Timothy WiUiams, Boston.
1785. John Williams, a. e.
1787. John WilUams.
1787. Samuel WilUams.
1792. John WUliams, Deei-field.
1796. Francis WiUiams.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 357
1797. John Shiriey WUUams.
1798. WUUam WiUiams.
1801. Nathaniel WiUiams.
1811. David Pearce WUliams.
1815. Ruel WilUams, a. e. Bowdoin, M. C.
1818. R. Breck Garven WiUiams.
1820. Francis Henry WUliams.
1820. John Adams WUliams.
1822. EUas William WUUams.
1822. EUsha WUUams, a. e.*
1822. Elijah WiUiams, Deerfield.
1824. Samuel WUUams,*
1828. Jacob B. Williams, M. D.
1830. Joseph Barney WUUams.
1831. Joseph Ricketson Williams.
1834. Joseph HartweU WUliams.
1835. EUjah Dwight WilUams, Deerfield.
1836. Lemuel Smith WiUiams, LL. D.
1837. Henry WiUiams, Boston.
1837. Francis Stanton WiUiams, Boston.
1837. William Pinkney WUUams.
1837. Edward Pinkney WiUiams.
1839. George WUliams.
1839. Joshua Baraey Williams.
1842. Moses B. WilUams, M. D., Boston.
1842. Francis Charles WUliams, M. D., Brighton.
1842. Lewis WiUiams, M. D., Pomfret, Conn.
1828. James B. WiUiams, M. D.
1840. Joseph 0. WilUams.
1842. Lewis WUUams.
1843. Charles Francis WiUiams.
30*

358 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
For the foUowing additional notice of the graduates of
Harvard College of the name of WiUiams, I am indebted
to " Extracts from the Records of the Faculty of the
University at Cambridge," by Thaddeus WUliam Harris,
M. D., Librarian in the University. "The entries of
ages and births begin only with those students who enter
ed in the year 1728, and graduated in 1798. The year
at the beginning of each line is that of graduation in the
Triennial." 1782. Elijah Williams, Deerfield, aged 16, admitted 1728.
1744. Abraham Williams, Marlboro', aged 13 years and
6 months, admitted Feb. 25, 1726-7.
1747. Solomon WiUiams, Weston, aged 14 years and 9
months, admitted Oct. 15, 1728.
1751. WUliam Williams, Lebanon, aged 16 years and 3
months, admitted March 18, 1747.
1751. John Williams, Hatfield, aged 15, admitted May
26, 1747.
1767. Thomas WilUams, Roxbury, aged 16 years and 9
months, admitted Oct. 24, 1737.
1768. Leonard WiUiams, Waltham, aged 15, admitted
July 15, 1754.
1760. Ebenezer WUliams, Roxbury, aged 18, admitted
June 24, 1756.
1761. Samuel WiUiams, Waltham, aged 14 years and 6
months, admitted May 4, 1767.
1764. Elijah Williams, Deerfield, aged 16 years and 6
months, admitted Jan. 27, 1760.
1765. Lemuel WiUiams, Taunton, aged — , admitted
June 18, 1761.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 369
1766. Seth Williams, Taunton, aged — , admitted Feb.
1, 1761.
1769. John Williams, Deerfield, aged 14 years and 6
months, admitted Jan. 14, 1767.
1769. Nehemiah WUliams, Hadley, aged 16 years and 6
months, admitted Feb. 1767.
1772. Jonathan WUliams, Boston, aged 16, admitted
July 15, 1760.
1778. Robert WUliams, Boston, aged — , admitted July
24, 1769.
1776. John WUliams, Mansfield, aged 15, admitted July
1772.
1777. John Chandler WiUiams, Roxbury, aged 17, ad
mitted in 1773.
1780. Samuel Williams, Salem, aged 16, admitted in
1776.
1783. Ebenezer Hinsdale WilUams, Roxbury, aged 18,
admitted June 6, 1779.
1784. Thomas Williams, Roxbury, aged 16, admitted
May 28, 1780.
1784. Timothy WiUiams, Salem, aged 14, admitted July
16, 1779.
1787. Samuel WiUiams, Cambridge, bora Oct. 6, 1770.
1792. John Williams, Boston, bom April 29, 1778.
1796. Francis WiUiams, Salem, born June 17, 1776.
1797. John Shirley WUliams, Charlestown, bom Sept. 7,
1779.
1798. William Williams, Warrington, N. C, born April
16, 1776.
1801. Nathaniel WUliams, Roxbury, bora March 14,
1782.

360 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
1811. David Pearce WiUiams, ^Roston, born Feb. 22,
1792.
David WUliams of Natchez, Miss., admitted in 1807,
born Nov. 29, 1789. He did not graduate with
his class.
1818. Robert Breck Garven Williams, Boston, admitted
July 14, aged 16.
1820. John Adams, and Francis H. WUUams. [No re
cord of their births, of admittance as students in
this year is preserved.]
1822. Elijah Williams. Do,
1824, Samuel WiUiams, Boston, aged' 17, July 2d,
(1820) ?
1830, Joseph Barney Williams, Baltimore, (parent or
guardian, Nathaniel Williams.)
1881, Joseph Ricketson WilUams, If ew Bedford, (parent
or guardian, Richard WUUams.)
1834. Joseph Hartwell WiUiams, Augusta, Maine, son or
ward of Ruel WUliams, aged 16, Feb. 15, 1830.
1835. Elijah Dwight WilUams, Deerfield, son or ward of
Elijah WiUiams, Esq. aged 14, August 11, 1841.
1886. John Williams, Deerfield, son or ward of Ephraim
WiUiams, Esq., aged 14, August 80, 1881.
1887. Henry WiUiams, Boston, son or ward of Henry
WUliams, Senior, aged 17, April 24,1833.
1887. WilUam Pinkney WUliams, Baltimore,- Md., son or
ward of Cumberland D. WUliams, Esq., aged 17,
February 21, 1834. He was first admitted Aug.
1882, aged 16, and again Aug. 1834, aged 17.
1887. Francis Stanton WUliams, Boston, son or ward of
Henry WUliams, aged 15, November 4, .1832.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 361
1837. Edward Pinkney WUliams, Baltimore, son of C.
D. WUUams, aged 15, June 9, 1838.
1839. George Williams, Baltimore, son or ward of
George Williams, born October 6, 1818, aged 17
on admission as Sophomore, September 10, 1836.
1839. Joshua Barney Williams, Baltimore, son or ward
of Nathaniel WiUiams, born August 23, 1819,
aged 17 on admission to Sophomore class, Sept.
10, 1836.
1840. Joseph Otis Williams, Taunton, son or ward of
John Mason Williams, born Jan. 19, 1819, aged
17 on admission as Freshman, September 1, 1836,
re-admitted to Junior Class, August 30, 1838,
aged 19.
1843. Francis Charles Williams, Brighton, ward of
Charles W. Holbrook of Boston, aged 14 on ad
mission, bora Nov. 2, 1826.
George Henry WiUiams, Roxbury, son or ward of
Aaron D. Williams, aged 17 on admission as
Freshman, August 27, 1842, born November 20,
1824.
George Gorham WilUams, Boston, son or ward of
Samuel K. Williams, aged 15 on admission as
Freshman, August 30,1844, born May 16, 1827.
James Otis WiUiams, Cambridge, son of Lemuel
WilUams, Esq., aged 18 on admission as Fresh
man, August 27, 1845, bora May 15, 1827.
Frederic 'Dickinson WilUams, of Boston, son or
ward of Henry WiUiams, aged 18 on admission,
August 29, 1846. Born August 27th.
Nathaniel Langdon WUliams, of Boston, son or

362 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS,
ward of N. L. WiUiams, aged 17 on admission,
August 29, 1846. Born June 24, 1829.
Benjamin Payson WiUiams, of Jamaica Plains,
Roxbury, ward of Joel Seaverney, aged 19 on ad
mission, August 29, 1846, born Feb. 6, 1827.

" Memoranda collected from various interleaved Tri
ennial Catalogues deposited in the Library of the Uni
versity at Cambridge ; referred to by the following let
ters. (G.) Rev. Nicholas Oilman's Catalogue. He
was pastor in Durham, N. H. (F.) Catalogue of an un
known person, perhaps the Rev. Dr. Freeman, of Boston.
(B.) Catalogue of the Rev. Dr. Belknap, of Dover and
Boston. (W.) Catalogue of WUliam Winthrop, Esq.,
of Cambridge. By T. W. Harris, M. D."
1683. WiUiam WiUiams, Rev., Hatfield. (G.) (F.)
_(B.) (W.) Father of Col. Elisha. (W.)
1683. John W., Rev., Deerfield, (G. F. B. W.) son of
Samuel, of Roxbury, ordained May 17th, 1686,
(W.) died June 12, 1729, aged 66. (W.)
1698. Nathaniel W., Rev., (G. F.) (Triennial Cata
logue,) Boston, physician. (G.) Barbadoes. (F.)
Preceptor in Boston, chosen Rector of Yale Col
lege, after Cutler's dismission in 1723, but de
cUned. (B.) Barbadoes, after schoolmaster in Bos
ton, ordained by Dr. Mather, President, and others
in Harv. CoU. Chapel, August 16, 1698, also
a physician. Ob. Jan. 10, 1737-8. (W.)
1705. WUUam W., Rev., Weston. (G. F. B. W.) Oi>

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 363
darned Nov. 2, 1709, (B. & W.) dismissed,
October 24, 1750, of his ministry 41 (W.)
Obiit 1760, aet. 72. (B. & W.)
1708. Eleazer W., Rev., Mansfield, (G. F. B. & W.)
ordained October 14, 1710, (W.) obiit Sept. 21,
1742, (G. B. & W.) aged 54, (B. & W.) son
of Rev. John, of Deerfield, (W.)
1709. Ebenezer W., Rev., Pomfret, Conn. (G. F. B. &
W.) ordained Oct, 26, 1715, first minister there.
Obiit, aged 63, (W.)
1711. Elisha W, Wethersfield, Conn., (F. W.) ordained
at Newington, Conn. 1721 (W.) Rector of Yale
CoUege, (G. & B,) afterwards Rep, Speaker
and agent, for Conn, in Great Britain. (See
Clapp's History Yale College, 36, 38. (B.) ob.
July 24, 1766, aged 61. (W.)
1713. Stephen W., Rev., Long Meadow, Springfield, (G.
F. B. W.) son of Rev. John of Deerfield, or
dained, Oct. 16, 1716. ObUt June 10, 1782,
aet. 90, (W.)
1719. Warham W., Rev., Watertown, (G.) Waltham, (F.
B. W.) ordained June 11, 1728, (B. and W.)
Obit. June 22, 1761, aet. 62, min. '29, (W.) son
of Rev. John, of Deerfield, Q3. and W.)
1719. Solomon W., Rev., Lebanon, Conn., (G. F. B. W.)
ordained 1722, (B.) son of Rev. William, of Hat
field, (B. and W.)
1726. John W., nothing recorded of him.
1727. Israel W., Hatfield, (B. and W.) persecuted for a
Tory, Obit. 1788, aet. 78, (B.)
1729. William W., Boston Merchant, (G.) Judge inf

364 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS,
Berks. (B.) Just. Com. PI. Berks, son of Rev.
W. of Weston, (W,)
1732. Elijah W., Col. Deerfield.
1744. Abraham W., Rev., Sandwich, (F. B. W.) or
dained June 14, 1749, (W.) Obit, aet, 58, 1784,
(B. and W.) August, (W.)
1747. Solomon W., nothing recorded of him.
1751. WiUiam W., Justice Peace, Windham County,
Conn., and Register of Deeds, Member Congress,
(W.) Signer of Declaration of Independence, (S.
W. W.)
1761. John W., nothing recorded of him.
1757. Thomas W., Roxbury, physician, (B. and W.) son
of Eleazer, of Roxbury, Obit. September 10, 1816,
aged 79, (W.)
1768. Leonard W., physician, (B. and W.) Waltham,
and Justice Peace. Obit. November 24, 1799,
aet. 60, (W.)
1760. Ebenezer W., Rev., Falmouth, Casco Bay, (F. B.
W.) son of Capt. John, of Roxbury, Obit. Febra-
ary 25, 1796, aet. 60, min. 34, (W.)
1 r61. Samuel W., Rev., Bradford, (F. and W.) ordained
Nov. 20, 1765, (W.) Prof Math, in Harv. CoU.
1780-88, (Harv. CoU. Trien. Cat.) Obit. Janu
ary, 1817, afl. 74, son of Rev. Warham, (W.)
ir64. Elijah W., Lawyer, (B. and W.) at Keene, N.
H., Obit. 1793, aet. 47, (W.)
1 r66. Lemuel W., nothing is recorded of him.
1765. Seth W., Obit, in London, (W.)
1769. Johannes W., Reg. Deeds, Hamp. (B.) Rep.
Deerfield, Obit. 1816, aet. 66, (W.)

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 365
1769. Nehemiah W. Rev., Brimfield, (B. and W.) Rev.
Biddeford, (F.) Obit. November 16, 1796, aet.
48, ordained Brimfield, Febmary 9, 1776, (W.)
1769. John Chester, Lawyer at Lladley, (W.)
1769. Simeon W., Rev., Weymouth, (F. and W.) 2d
church. Obit. May 31, 1819, aet. 75, (W.)
1771. Eliphalet W., East Hartford, Conn., (F. and W.)
ordained May 30, 1778. Buried July 1, 1803,
aet. 76, son of Rev. Solomon, D. D., at Lebanon,
Conn., (W.)
1772. Jonathan W., merchant Boston, (W.)
1773. Robert W., Arabia (!) (B.)
1776. John W,, Physician, Norton, (W.)
1777, John Chandler, Lawyer and Rep. Hadley, (Wj)
Pittsfield Counsellor, (Dr. Homer ?)
1780, Samuel W,, nothing recorded of him,
1783, Ebenezer Hinsdale W-- Farmer, Deerfield, (S,
W. W,)
1784, Thomas W., Lawyer, Roxbury, (W.)
1784. Timothy ,W., merchant, Boston, (W.)
1785, John W., nothing of him.
1787. Jonathan W., merchant Nantes, France, then
physician in Philadelphia; then' Brig. Gen. in
continental army, obit. Philadelphia, May 16,
1815. (W.)
1787. Samuel W,, son of Prof Samuel, Captain of a
merchantman, obit in New York. (W.)
1792. John W., Lawyer, Boston. (W.)
1796. Francis W., notlung of him.
1797. John Shirley W., nothing of him,
1798, William W., Louisburg, N. C. (W-)
31

366 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
1722. Jonathan WiUiams.
1730. Edward WilUams.
1786. EUsha Williams, Rector, President, Tutor.
1736. Samuel WiUiains.
1735. Chester WilUams, Hadley, Tutor.*
1789. WilUam WUliams, Wethersfield.
1789. Thomas WiUiams, Deerfield, Hon. A. M.
1741. Stephen WiUiams, Long Meadow, Harv. and
Dart. D. D.
1748. Solomon WiUiams.
1743. Eliphalet WUliams, Harv. LL. D. East Hartford.*
1743. Warham WilUams, Harv. Waltham.* '
1748. Thomas Williams.
1762. Israel WiUiams.
1765. John Chester WUUams, Harv. Hadley.*
1767. EUsha WUliams.
1770. Solomon WUUams, Tutor, Northampton.*
1772. Samuel WUUam WilUams, Wethersfield.
1773. Ebenezer WiUiams, Pomfret.*
1776. Elisha WilUams, Brown, Harv. Beverly *
1777. Jonathan Law Williams, Northford.
1780. WilUam Augustus WiUiams, Northford.
1780. Joshua WiUiams, Harrington.*
1781. John WiUiams, Harv. Deerfield.
1781. John WUliams, Llarv. Wethersfield.
1782. Nathan WUliams, ToUand.
1783. Stephen WiUiams, Woodstock.*
1785. Ezekiel WUUams, Wethersfield.
1792. Solomon WiUiams.*

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 367
1794. Thomas Scott WUUams, LL. D. Chief Justice,
Conn.
1795. William TrumbuU WUliams, C. A. S. Lebanon.
1796. Samuel Porter WiUiams, Newburyport.*
1798. Joseph WiUiams, Norwich.
1800. Thomas WilUams, R. I. and Brown.*
1802. Richard WiUiams.*
1805. Joshua Lewis WUUams.*
1808. Comfort WUUams.*
1810. Othniei WiUiams.
1816. WUUam WUUams.*
1816. OUver EUsworth WiUiams.
1819. Elias WilUam WUUams, Harv.
1822. John Worthington WiUiams.
1825. Stephen Clay Williams.
1827. John Stoddard WilUams.
1829. Sydney Phoenix WiUiams.
1831. Alpheus Starkey WUliams.
1837. Henry WUUams.
1838. Thomas S. WiUiams.
1838. Thomas W. WUUams, New London.
1839. William P. WilUams.
1840. EUas H. WUliams.
1836. DiUon WiUiams.f
1842. George Clinton WilUams, M. D. West Woodstock.
1842. WiUiam M. Williams, Georgia.
Honorary Graduates in Yale hy the name of Williams.
1839. Dr. Thomas Williams, A. M. Deerfield.
1753. WiUiams, Lebanon, M. C, &c. Lebanon.

368 FAMILY OF WILLIAMSw
1769. Nehemiah WUliams,, A. A. S. Harv.
1773. Solomon WilUams, S. T. D. Harv.
1786. Samuel Williams, LL. D., Prof, &c.
1826. Jehiel WiUiams, M. D.

JBartmonxtl) (loUege.
1773. Elijah WilUams, Deerfield, a. e. Harv. -
1778. Stephen WiUiams, Long Meadow, a. e. Harv. Yale.*
1782. Henry WiUiams, a. e.*
1784. Gilbert Tennent WUUams.*
1798. John WiUiams.
1804. Avery WiUiams, Leverett.*
1812. Henry J. WUUams.
1815. Thomas Williams, M. D.
1884. Jared W. WilUams, a. e. Brown;
1818. Thomas WiUiams, M. D.
1838. Ariel WilUams, M. D.
1884. Joseph WUUams, M. D.
iDUltams (llotUgc.
1795. Ephraim WilUams, Hon. A. M., Deerfield.
1798. WiUiam Henry WUUams, Dr., West Stockbridge.
1800. Charies KUboume WUliams, LL. D., Middlebury,
Chief Justice Vermont.
1804. Piatt WUliams.
1805. Israel WiUiams, Dalton.
1828. WiUiam Stoddard WUliams, Hon., M. D.
1824. Sfephen W. WiUiams, Hon. M. D., and Hon. A.
M., Prof Med. Jur«? &c.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 369
1825. David WUliams, Ashfield, M. D.
1829. George Ashley WilUams.
1838. Francis WiUiams,
1839. Charles Langdon Williams.
1837. William Browning WilUams, M. D.
1830. George Williams, Pittsfield, M. D.
1835. Charies A. WilUams.
1839. Charies L. WilUams.
1846. Edward Jenner WUliams, M. D., Deerfield.
Drottin Unbcroitg.
1769. WiUiam WiUiams.
1770. David WUliams.
1795. Abiel WiUiams,
1796. David R. WiUiams, Governor, S. C, M. C.
1798. Rodolphus WiUiams.
1798. William H. Williams.
1801. John M. Williams, Judge Mass. Courts.
1801. Alfred WiUiams.
1804. Lemuel WUUams.
1804. Samuel K. WiUiams.
1809. Thomas WilUams.
1814. John F. WilUams.
1818. Jared W. WilUams, M. C, Gov. N. Hampshire.
1821. EUab WilUams.
1821. Jeremiah WiUiams, M. D.
1823. WilUam H. WilUams.
1824. Nathaniel W. WiUiams.
1825. Sydney Williams.
1826. Sydney Williams. 31*

370 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
1831. Robert Gordon WUUams, New Hartford, Conn.
1829. W. S. WUUams, Hartford.
1829. Albert WUUams, M. D. at Bowdoin.
1885. Worthington S. WiUiams.
1837. Henry W. WUliams.
1840. George M. WUliams.
U)asl)ington doUege, ^axtiovi. Conn.
1835. John WUliams, Deerfield.*
JUibiikbttrs College.
1807. John WUliams, Hon., at Columb.
1819. P. T. WUliams.
1881. J. B. WUUams, LL. D., Hon.
1888. Edgar WUliams. «^
iDateroille College, illaine.
1836. N. Manham WiUiams, Newburyport.
1836. Edward WiUiams, Augusta.
1835. Daniel Williams.
1839. Edward WiUiams. Inion College, JiJ". 13.
1818. EUianan WUUams.

FAMILT OF WILLIAMS. 371

1819. Andrew WiUiams.
1821. Jacob WUUams,
1819, Grosvenor C. WUUams.
1830. Asahel WiUiams.
1837. Stephen K. Williams,
1837, George K. WiUiams,
1837, WiUiam WUUams,
1840, J, Franklin WilUams.
1841, Abraham C, WUUams,
1837, B, WiUiams. ftfmilton CoUege, 23". U.
1815. Nathan WUliams.
1819. Thomas S. WUliams.
1827. Ferdinand WUliams.
1834. Andrew WiUiams.
1837. Henry C. WUUams.
1838. Edwin E. WUliams.
1839. Henry A. Williams.
(lolnmbttt CoUege, N. %
1822. WUUam WUliams.
1823. John A. WUUams.*
1835. WUliam R. WiUiams.*

Jfett) Jfer0eg CoUeges.

1753. Elias Williams.
1758. Jesse WiUiams.
1763. Simon WiUiams.
1765. Simon WilUams, Harv.

372 Family of williams.
1766. Samuel Williams.
1770. Redford WiUiams.
1789. Gershom Williams, Rutgers.
1794. Stephen WiUiams, Rutgers.*
1794. Nathan WilUams, Yale, 1755.*
1800. Edward T. Williams.
1806. Edward J. Williams.
1806. William E. WiUiams.
1814. Melancthon.B. WiUiams.*
1816. John Williams.
1826. WiUiam S. WiUiams.
1829. Albert Williams.
1837. Benjamin H. WUUams.
1888. Lewis J. WiUiams.
1886. Lewis WUliams.
1888. Samuel G. WUliams.
1796. Josiah WilUams (Dick.)
1796. Joshua WUliams (Dick.) Jeff. D. D.*
1823. WUliam H. Williams, (Dick.)*
1826. Aaron WUUams, Jeff.*
1882. Henry WiUiams, Jeff.*
1833. John U. WUUams, Jeff.
1886. Samuel R. WiUiams, Jeff.
1836. John H. Williams, Jeff.
1837. HiUary WilUams, Jeff
1837. Joshua WilUams, D. D.- Jeff.*
1838. M. A. WiUiams, Jeff
1840. Fenwick WilUams. ®tl)er Colleges.
1803. Lewis WUUams, Tutor, U. N. C.

family of Williams. 873
1808. Thomas L. WUliams, U. N. C.
1809. John C, WiUiams, U. N. C.
1832, Samuel A, Williams, U, N. C.
1834. Samuel Williams, U. N. C.
1834, Thomas J. Williams, U. N. C.
1841. John C. WilUams, U. N- C.
1841. James H. Williams, U. N. C.
1836. Joseph R, WiUiams, NashvUle,
1889. WUUam WiUiams, NashvUle,
1837. A. WilUams, Franklin,
1840, W. WiUiams, Fi-ankUn.
1838. John S. Williams, Miami.
1889. John M. WiUiams, Oberlin.
1840. W. WilUams, Franklin.
1840. J. Williams, Franklin.
1840. J. W. WilUams, C. D. C.
1840. James Watson WUUams, Trustee Genu. College,
Fred, D, WiUiams, West, Res, CoU; 0,
George Conant WUUams, W, R. 0.
George WUUams, Pottsdam, W. R. C-

Medical (jraduates by the name qf Williams, not enu
merated above, m various Colleges.
3Snii)frsits of pennsfilbani^.
1793. WUliam Matthias WiUiams, M, D.
1817. Solomon B. WUliams, M, D., Georgia.
1819. Mortimer Williams, M. D., Virginia.
1815. Edward P. WilUams, M, D,, Penn,
1820, Isaac WUUams, M, D,, Virginia,

374 family of williams.
1832. Thomas M. Williams, M. D., Maryland.
1836. James M. Williams, M. D., Mississippi.
1882. WUUam P. WiUiams, M. D., Maryland.
1846. James C. WiUiams, M. D., Virginia.

1835. WUliam G. Williams, M. D., Kent.
1831. John P. WiUiams, M. D., Tenn.
1881. Charles WiUiams, M. D., S. Carolina.
1829. Franklin WiUiams, M. D., Do.
1888. Theodore M. WUUams, M. D., Do.
1882. Thomas WUliams, M. D., South CaroUna.
1826. Daniel 0. WilUams, M. D., Alabama.
1823. James P. W. WUUams, M. D., Virginia.
©olltfle of JltJSBicians antr Surseons, W. ¥.
1821. Abraham V. WUliams, M. D., Yonkers, N. Y.
1819. G. G. WiUiams, M. D., Alabama.
1824. Abraham V. W. WiUiams, M. D., N. Y.
1826. Alexander WiUiams, M. D., South CaroUna.
1826. James M. WiUiams, M. D., Georgia.
1826. Jeptha B. WUliams, M. D., Orange, N. Y.
1845. Frank WUUams, M. D., Hartford, Conn.
(Koneflf of i^ffsnitlann anU Surfleons,
jFatrftrRr, "N. w,
1826. Thomas J. WUliams, M. D,, Cooperstown, N, Y,
1828, Dutee J, WiUiams, M, D., Greenfield, N, Y.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS, 375
1833, Patrick WUliams, York, U, C.
1835, EUjah D, WilUams, M, D,, Madison, N, Y,
1835, Nathan WUUams, M, D,, Monro, N. Y,
1835, Charies D, WUliams, M, D., Newark VaUey, N, Y.
1835, Henry WiUiams, M, D,, Central Square, N, Y,
1837, Nathan WiUiams, M, D., Central Square, N, Y.
1838. Nathan WUUams, M. D., Greenfield, N. Y.
sritians JWrtttal ©oUcse, "N, Y,
1840. Piatt WilUams, M. D.
1840. Erastus M. WUUams, M. D., Duanesburgh, N. Y.
1842. C. M. Williams, M. D., Albany.
sanCiJtrsitg of N» ¥. cCtfi.
1842. A WUliams, M. D., S. Carolina.
1842. S. H. Williams, M. D., Virginia.
1843. J. H. WilUams, M. D., S. Carolina.
©eneija J^eTJital CtoUtfle.
1841. Nathaniel WiUiams, M. D., Little FaUs, N. Y.
1842. Warham Bentiey Williams, M. D., Middleton,
N. Y.
1845. John ElUs WiUiams, Oneida Co., N. Y.
TJecnront iWftfical ©ollefle.
1846. Edward Hig^son WiUiams, M. D.
1842. Henry Williams, M. D.
1838. Waldo C. Williams, M. D.

376 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Castleton Plelitcal atoll^oe.
1842. Henry Williams, M. D., Royalton, Vt.
1836. Mather WilUams, M. D.
1880, Edward H. WUliams, M. D,, Woodstock, Vt,
1888, EUsha WUUams, M, D.
1833. Norman WUliams, M.D., Dart.
1838. Waldo C. Williams, M. D., and Un. Vermont,
1826, George P, WUUams, M, D,, Un. Vermont,
ffl®niougi)62 l^eUtcal sanibwsttg, ®j)io.
1843. P. 0. WUUams, M. D., Watertown, N. Y.
Jefferaon Ittetrical ffiollege.
1839, Edward C, Williams, M. D., Virginia.
1835. Gustavus C, WUliams, M. D., Va.
1887. James Q. WUliams, M. D. Maryland.
1845. John C. WUUams, M. D;, N. C,
1846, Charies WUUams, M, D., Penn.
aoutsbnie Jttrtfcal Knstitute.
1889. Jeptha L. WiUiams, M. D.
fflfncfnnatt Jtteifcal ffioUeBe.
1837, George A, WUUams, Logan Co,, Ohio.
SHIaeiuliere.
Parvin WiUiams, M. D., Minden, N. Y.
Erastiis WilUams, M. D., Knox, N. Y.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 377
Richard S. WiUiams, M. D., Newark, Acadia, N. Y.
William H. WUliams, M. D., Athol, Mass.
Abiel WilUams, M. D., Bowdoin, Hon.
Dr. Leonard WiUiams, Chester, M. M. S.
Dr. John WiUiams, Cambridge, M. M. S. Died at Wal
pole, 1846, aged 99.
Dr. Albert WiUiams, Boston, M. M. S.
Dr. Jacob WiUiams, Groton, M. M. S.
Dr. George A. Williams, Maryland, Mass.
1845. Alfred G. WiUiams, Halifax, Vt. , Berkshire Med
ical Institution.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BY THE NAME OF WILLIAMS.
Hon. WUliam WiUiams, Signer of the Declaration of In
dependence, 1776, Conn.
Hon, John Williams, (H, R,) 1778-9, N, C.
Hon. Benjamin WiUiams, (H. R.) 1793-1796, N, C,
Hon. John Williams, (H. R.) 1796-1799, N. Y.
Hon. Robert Williams, (H. R.) 1797-1808, N. Y.
Hon. David R. WUUams, (H. R.) Gov, S. CaroUna,
1799-1805.
Hon. Lemuel WiUiams, (H. R.) 1799-1805, Mass.
Hon. Marmaduke Williams, (H. R.) 1808-1809, N. C.
Hon. Nathaniel Williams, (H. R.) 1805-1807.
Hon. Christopher WiUiams, (H. R.) 1809, Tenn.
Hon. Lewis WilUams, (H, R.) 1815-1883, N. C.
Hon. Isaac Williams, (H. R.) 1814-1825, N. Y.
Hon. Thomas S. WiUiams, (Senator) 1817-1819, Conn,
32

878 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Hon. James W. WUliams, (H. R.) 1817, Maryland. .
Hon. Christopher H. WiUiams, (H. R.) 1817, 1839,
Tennessee.
Hon. Joseph L. Williams, (H. R.) 1817-1839, Tenn.
Hon. Thomas H. Williams, (Senator) 1817-1831, Tenn.
Hon. John WiUUams, (Senator) 1817-1828, Tenn.
Hon. Gen. Jonathan Williams, (Senator) Tenn.
Hon. Jared W. WilUams, (H. R.) 1819, 1825, N. H.,
Gov. N. H.
Hon. Ruel WiUiams, (Senator) Maine.
Hon. Sherrod Williams, (H. R.) Kentucky.
Hon. Thomas Wheeler WUUams, (H. R.) 1841-1844.
Hon. Hezekiah WiUiams, (H. R.) 1846, Maine.

379

WILLIAMS' IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Were I to attempt to enter into an investigation of the
family of WiUiams in Great Britain, it would fiU a series
of volumes, and occupy a life-time. The principality of
Wales is fiUed with families of the name, and other parts
ofthe kingdom of England abound with them. I merely
give the names, and some account of a few whom I have
noticed in the course of my investigation, and I trust, as
connected with this genealogy, they wUl not be altogether
uninteresting. " Thomas Williams, a Welchman, did spend several
years among the Oxonians, but whether in Brazen-nose
coUege, where one of both of his names took the degree
of Master of Arts in 1678, 1 cannot teU. Afterwards
he entered the physic line, but took no degree in that
faculty; retired in his country and pj:actised there.
This person, who was also a curious critic in his mother
tongue Wrote '¦ Dictionarium Latino Brittannicum,' a work
of many years labor ; which being left imperfect in some
places, was reviewed and corrected by Dr. Jo. Davis,
and by him published in 1632, who tells us ' that the
said WilUams was much encouraged in his studies by the
father of Sir Richard Wynne, Knight and Baronet, to
whom he did intend to dedicate, had he lived to have
finished it.' He teUs us, also, ' that the said Thomas
WiUiams was Uving, and in great renown in his own

380 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
country in 1600,' but when he died, he adds not. I find
another Thomas WilUams who was elected probate fellow
of Menton College in 1662, studied physic several years,
took the degree of Bachelor of that faculty in 1576, and
died in his coll. 1679, being then accounted a learned
physician. But this person was no author, and whether a
Welchman I cannot yet find. A third Thomas WiUiams
was of Broadgates HaU, and as the eldest son of an
Esquire, took the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in the be
ginning of July, 1692, besides several other of a later
date ; and another before, who wrote ' Rules of the
Malian Grammar,' Lend., 1757, &c.
" Thomas WUliams, commonly known in this country by
the name of Sir Thomas ap William, was the son of Wil
liam ap Thomas ap Grownroy, (paternally descended
from Edward Bendew,) and of Catherine, the natural
daughter of Merdyth Wyn ap Evan ap Robert of Guid-
sor, his wife. He was born, as he himself sayth, in the
beginning of his book of pedigree, in a place called Ard-
heu'r, Munich, (or Monk's Ardley,) under the fort of
Snowden, in the Commot of LUchwidd Ua, in the county
of Carnavon.
" He styles himself ' Thomas Williams, physitian,' and
styles his book of pedigree (which is a good collection in
deed,) ^ Prif Aehon Holl Gymry Ben Beladr,' &c.,
i. e. ' Primitive Pedigrees of all Wales,' &c. He sayth,
he began his collection in 1578, increased it in 1595, and
added very much to it in 1609. He writ a book of
physicall directions and receipts, and severall other things
which have run up and down in the MS. tiU they are,
I think, lost. He was reputed a Papist, and I find him

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 381
proceeded against in the correction at Bangor, May 23,
1606, by the name of ' Thomas WiUiams, alias D'ns
Thomas WiUiams de Trefryw, eo quod recusat venire
ad ecclesiam.' And Nov. 12, 1607, at a metro-poUticall
correction, ' Dr. Thomas WUliams recusans, ex-communi-
catur.' " Conceming him, my father tells me that the Lady
BodweU (grandmother to the Countess of Radnor) told
him that when his father. Sir John Wyn, of Gwydr, was
just ready to sett out for the parliament at the opening of
which the powder treason was to have executed, this
Thomas WUliams came to him and earnestly disswaded
him from going to that session, by which it was afterwards
collected he had some hints of that design, and yet he
was not wUUng his patron. Sir John, should suffer by it.
" There is also extant «in manuscript, a pretty large
Herbal in Latin, French, and English, writ by Thomas
WiUiams, giving an account of herbs and their physicall
virtues. I am promised a sight of it. He lived at a
place caUed Trefryw, and the tradition there is, that he
was a curate of that place, and I do find one of that
name, (which is likely him) appear a curate of Trefryw,
in the bishop's visitation, 1573." (Humphreys, in
Wood's Athence, vol. I, page 703.)
Anthony Wood, author of the " Athense Oxoniensis,"
in three large quarto volumes, says of himself, that in
July, 1652, " riding in company with a mimic and buf
foon, called Thomas WiUiams, and the horse of A. W.
being bad, or else he was no good rider, he had a fall
and put out his  arm. When he came to Shabbing-
ton, he. put off his doublet and found his arm swel'd,
32*

§83 I^AMILY OF WILLIAMS.
and exceeding tender. Thomas WiUiams, who had beea
bred an apothecary, would needs persuade him that his
arm was not Out of joynt, but only braised, and so applied
a cloth and oUe to it ; yet notwithstanding this he could
not use it, which caused aU his mirth to be tumed into
melanchoUy." He continued in this situation some time,
when he applied to another person, who reduced the dis
located arm and restored him.
" Thomas WUUams, before mentioned, had an estate
in land, houses and money, left to him by his father, but
never would follow his trade, onlie live a loos life, and
took all the advantage to do it gratis. Afterwards when
A. W. come to understand the world better, he found
him a debaucher of youth, and scarce fit to live in any
university among gentlemen. His usual way was, that
after he had let out money to any man, he would hang
upon him, eat and drink in his house, and if he could
meet with any of his acquaintance, whose nature was
easie, he would take him with him to eat and lodge on
the debtor. And to this farmer of Shabbington did he
go to hang upon him, and take A. W. -with him, as he
afterwards understood."
" Roger Williams, son of Thomas WUUams, of Pen
rose, Monmouthshire, by Eleanor, his wife, daughter of
Sir WUliam Vaughn, Knight, was born in that county of
a family rather ancient than wealthy, and being from his
childhood more given to military, than scholastical mat
ters, yet for form's sake he was sent to the University.
(One Roger Williams, of Gloucestershire, became feUow
of Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1572,) but to what

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. S8S
house therein, unless to Brazen-nose, whereof one of both
his names, and a Welshman was a student, 1504 (2 of
Queen Mary) I know not. Soon after he left Oxon. be
came a soldier of fortune, under the Duke of Alva, ran
through all the degrees of military offices, was a Colonel
ifl the French and Belgic wars, and might have been
sided with the best of those times, if his discretion would
have but well tempered his hot, furious valor, which was
the reason that Queen Elizabeth would not commit any
place or employment of great trust to his care. In 1586,
he had the honor of knighthood conferred upon him, was
then beloved of all soldiers, and so much noted for his
martial prowess, that he went beyond the commendation
of the panegyric that was specified in the said year, when
at midnight he assaulted the camp of the Prince of Par
ma, near Venlow, slew some of the enemies, and pierced
(he tent of the general, as a noted author teUs us. ( Cam-
kn in Annal. Reg. Eliz. 1586.) He has written
1. " The Actions of the Low Countries," printed at
London, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, as it seems.
This book was printed first, in 1618, as appears from the
reason given in the dedication to Lord Chancellor Bacon,
for pubhshing it, viz., lest it should either perish, or be
hereafter set forth by others as their own. The work has
a preface to Sir John Hayward. The author being un
learned, and only tutored by experience, hath penned the
said history with very exquisite judgment, he being an ac
tor in said actions or wars.
2. " A brief Discourse of War, with his opinion con
cerning some part of Martial Discipline." Lend. 1590.
In this exceUent book, the author defends the military art

384

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS..

of his, against former days, and to the great envy then,
and discontent of some old beaten soldiers, and the lovers
of archery. He paid his last debt to nature in his house
in the parish of St. Benedict, near to Paul's wharf, in
London, in the month of -September, in 1594, and was
buried on the 23d of the same mouth, by the care of
Thomas Powell, of Usk, in Monmouthshire, and Gillie
Merick, of the parish of St. Clement, without Temple Bar,
Gent, (his kinsman) within the Cathedral Church of St.
Paul ; at whose funeral Robert, Earl of Essex, and all the
warlike men of the city of London mourned. Whether
any epitaph was ever set over his grave, I know not ; sure
it is, that one who knew him, hath commended to posterity
a learned epigram on him, the beginning of which is
" Quid tumulum lachrymis violas, et murmure vexas,
Fortissimi manes Duces," etc.
"You may be pleased to satisfy yourself concerning this
valiant Colonel, in a book entitled ' a True Discourse His
torical of the succeeding Governors of the Netherlands,
and of the Civil Wars then began in the year 1695, &c.'
translated and collected by Thomas Churchyard, Esq.,
and Rich. Ro. out of the Rev. E. M., of Antwerp, his fif
teen books of his Historia Belgica.
" I find another Roger WUUams, later in time than the
former, an inhabitant of Providence in New England, and
author of (1) 'A Key to the Language of New England.'
Lend. 1643, oct. (2.) ' The Hireling Ministry none of
Christ's, or a Discourse of the Propagation of the Gospel
of Christ Jesus.' Lend. 1652, &c., but of what Univer
sity he was of, if any, I know not, or whether a real fa-
naticator Jesuite." ( Wood.)

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 885
" In 1691, WilUams (not Roger of Providence,) was
sent to assist in the defense of Dieppe, and remained
there beyond Aug. 24, 1598 : — We may add to
Wood's list — 1. ' Discourse of the Discipline of the
Spaniard.' This he mentions in the ' Actions of the Low
Countries,' p. 126.
2. " Adrice from France," Nov. 20, 1590. Rymer's
Foedera. (Bliss.)
3. " Historical Notes, Bello Belgico, about Flushing,
Requiseus," &c.
4. " Letters from him." ( Wood.)
John Williams, a Caemathushire man born, became a
student in the University of Oxford, 1569, was elected a
fellow of AU Souls CoUege, in 1579, being then Master of
Arts. Afterwards he was made parson of Llanderico,
Margaret Professor, Dean of Bangor (in the place of
Richard Parry) promoted to the see of St. Asaph, Doc
tor of Divimty, and at length principal of Jesus CoUege.
He hath written " De Christi Justitia et in regno spiritu-
ali Eoolesia Pastor um Officio, Conoio ad clerum," Oxon.
1597. He also published Boger Bacon's book, " De re-
tandandis Senectutus Aocidentibus, et sensibus, confirman-
dis," Oxon. 1590, in octavo. He died on the fourth of
September, in 1617, and was buried, as I suppose, in the
church of St. Michael, in Oxon. In his Margaret Pro
fessorship, succeeded Dr, Seb. Bemfield, in his deanery.
Edm. Griffith, &c. ( Wood.) He, John WiUiams, was
Vice Chancellor of Oxon. 1604, and installed Dean of
Bangor, May the 8th, 1606. The parsonage which you
call Llanderico, in Llanderino, in com Salop, and di-

386 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
bcese of St. Asaph, to which he was instituted Jan. 30,
1692y being then B. D. (BlisS.)
John Williams, a Northamptonshire man born, became
a commoner in Magdalen Hall in Lent term, an. 1651,
aged 17 years, or thereabouts, took the degree of Bach
elor of Arts, that of Master being completed in 1658,
and about that time he took holy orders. After the re
storation of King Charles II, he became, if I mistake not,
a chaplain at sea ; and after he had quitted that service,
was made minister, I think of St. Peter's Church, near
Paul's wharf, in London, of Rotham, in Kent, afterwards
rector of St. Mildred's, in the Poultry, and Canon of St.
Paul's Cathedral in London ; and in 1739, he was ac
tually created Doctor of Divinity, of Cambridge, after
King WilUam III had been entertained there in the
month of October. He was one of the Chaplains in or
dinary to that Prince, and by him made Prebendary of
Canterbury. He hath published
1. Several Sermons, as, 1. Sermon preached before
the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London,
1680, 4to. 2. Sermon preached at the Northamptonshire
Feast, 8th November, 1688, being the first general meet
ing of such citizens, and inhabitants of London, as were
born in that precinct, on Psalms, xxxvU : 6. Lend. 1684,
4to. 8. The characters of Divine Revelation, in several
sermons preached at St. Martin's Church in the Fields,
being the Lectures for that year, founded by Robert
Boyle, Esq., on Heb. 1 : v. 12. Lend. 1696, 4to.
2. " The Hist. oftheChinpowder Treason, collected from
approved authors, as well Pope as Protestant ;" Lend.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 387
1679, in 4 sheets, in 4to. To which was added, in the
second edition, a " Vindication of the Proceedings and
Matters relating thereunto from the Exceptions made
against it, and more particularly of late years, by the Au
thor ofthe Cath. Apology, and others," Lend. 1681, 4to.
3. ^^ A Parallel betwixt thePowder Treason, andthepre^
rnit Popish plot." The said History of the Gun Powder
Treason, kc. was coUected out of the Annals or His
tories written by Theranus ; from Conspiratio Anglic, by
John Barclay ; from the " Proceeding of the late Tray-
tprs, printed at London, 1606, from " Historia Missionia
Anglic," &c., written by Henry More ; from " Apologia
pro Gametto," by Andr. Endsemon Johannis ; from the
'•' AntUogia" of Rob. Abbot; from the "Bibliotheca
§criptorum Societ. Jesu. ;" and from the " Cath- Apolo
gy" before mentioned, written by Roger Palmer, Earl of
Oastlemain ; and also from the " Reply in vindication of
it;" against which reply, this History of our Author
(WUUams,) makes exceptions to the powder treason.
4. " Christianity abused by the Church of Rome, a.nd
Popery showed to be a corruption of it ; being an answer
te a late printed paper given about by Papists in a Letter
to a Gent." Lend. 1679, in three sheets, in quarto. It
was reprinted, I think, in the reign of King James II.
5. " An Impartial Consideration of those Speeches
which pass upon the name of the Five Jesuits, lately exe
cuted, viz. Whitebread, Harcourt, Gawen, Turner, and
Fenwick, in which it is proved, that according to their prin
ciples, they not only might, but ought, also, to die after
that manner, with solemn Protestations of their Inno^
cency." London, 1679, in 4 sheets in folio. We may

388 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
here take notice that the Speeches above named, were
published under this title : " The last speech of the five
notorious Traitors and Jesuits," &c., published in 2 sheets
in foUo. And again thus : " The true Speeches of Thos.
Whitebread, WiU. Harcourt," &c., executed 20th of
June, 1679, with Animadversions therefrom, plainly dis
covering the Fallacy of all the Asseverations of their In-
nocency." London, 1679, all in nine sheets in folio.
6. " The case of Indifferent things used in the Worship
of God proposed and stated, &c." London, 1688, in six
sheets and an half, 4to. This was afterw-ards printed
in a book, entitled " A coUection of Cases and other Dis
courses, lately written to discover dissenters to the com
munion to the Church of England." London, 1685, 4to
in two vols. This is the sixth in the first volume of the
said book.
7. " The case of Lay Communion with the Church of
England considered, and the Lawfulness of it shewed from
the Testimony of above one hundred eminent non con
formists of several persuasions." London, 1688, in ten
sheets and a half in quarto.
8. " Vindication of the state of Indifferent things used
in the Worship of God, in answer to a book, entitled ' The
case of indifferent things used in the Worship of God,' ex
amined and stated on the Behalf of the Dissenters, and
calmly argued." London, 1684, in seven sheets and an
half in quarto.
9. " The Whole Duty of Man, Part II ; Teaching a
Christian (1) how to grow in grace, (2) how to demean
himself in his sickness, (3) how to prepare himself for an
happy death, &c." London, 1688, octavo.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 389
10. The Difference between the Church of England
and the Church of Rome, in opposition to a late book en
titled, An Argument between the Church of England, and
the Church-of Rome. Lend. 1687, eleven sheets quarto.
11. Discourse conceming Prayer, in an unknown
Tongue. 12. Catechism truly representing the Doctrines and
Practices of the Church of Rome, with an answer to them.
13. The Papist represented, and not misrepresented ;
being an Answer to the first sheet of the second part of
the Papist misrepresented and represented, and for a far
ther Vindication of the Catechism truly representing the
Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome.
14. The Papist represented, and not misrepresented ;
being an answer to the fifth and sixth chapters of the sec
ond part of the Papist, &c.
15. Historical Discourse Concerning Tradition.
16. Examination of Bellarmenis' Third Note concerning
Duration. 17. The Protestant's Answer to the Catholic Letter to
the Seeker ; or a Vindication of the Protestant's Answer
to the Seeker's Request.
18. Answer to the Address presented to the Ministers
of the Church of England.
19. Vindication of the Answer of the Papist Address
presented to the Ministers of the Church of England ; in
reply to a Pamphlet abusively entitled " A clear proof of
the certainty and usefulness of the Protestant Rule of
Faith." 20. An Apology for the Pulpits ; in answer to good
advice to the Pulpits. 33

390 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
21. Pulpit Popery, true Popery ; in defense of the
Apology, and in answer to a Book entitied " Pulpit Say
ings ; or the character of a Pulpit Papist examined."
22. Texts recommended which Papists cite out of the
Bible to prove the Supremacy of St. Peter, and of' the
Pope, over the whole Church. Quarto. Imprim- 14 Feb..
16,87. 28. The Texts exammed which Papists cite out of the
Bible for the proof of the doctrine conceming the Insuffi
ciency of Scripture and Necessity of Tradition.
24. The Texts examined, &c., concerning Transub-
stantiation, &c, These fourteen last books, or pamphlets,,
were from the Differences of the Church of England, &c.,.
and were written, if not published, in the reign of King
Jg,mes II, when the Papists were aspiring, and the Pro
testants declining, occasioned by the said king.
25. Brief Exposition of the Church Catechism, with
Proofs from Scripture. London, 1690-91. 8vo. .2d edit.
26. A trae representation of the abused and mischiev
ous principles of the sect called Muggletonians. London,
1694, in five sheets in quarto.
27. Brief Discourse concerning the Lawfulness of Wor
shiping God by the Common Prayer, in answer to a Book
entitled, "A brief Discourse concerning the unlawfulness of
thg Common Prayer Worship," lately printed in New Eng-
Imi, and re-printed in London, &c. London, &c. 1694,
in five sheets, in quarto, 2d edit. ( Wood's Athence.)
John Williams, a divine and statesman, was bom in
1682, at Aberoonway, and was educated at St. John's
CoUege, Cambridge. After having held several mmor but

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 391
valuable preferments, he was made bishop of Lincoln and
keeper of the great seal in 1621 ; of the office of Lord-
keeper he was deprived by Charles I, on his accession.
He was subsequently prosecuted in the Star Chamber,
tod sentenced to a fine of ten thousand pounds, and
imprisoned in the Tower. The proceedings were, how
ever, rescinded in 1640, and in the foUowing year he
was translated to the see of York. During the civil war
he made an ineffectual attempt to hold out Conway Carth
against the parliament. He died in 1660. WiUiams
¦was a strenuous opponent to Laud. (Davenport, Encyo.
<yf Religious Knowledge.)
John Williams, Rev., a distinguished and devoted
missionary to the Polynesian Islands, was descended
from religious ancestors, and was born at Tottenham
High Cross, near London, on the 20th of June, 1796.
His parents were poor but respectable. Of course they
could do but little towards giving him an education. He,
however, received the rudiments of a common school
education, and early gave evidence of an active and dis^
criminating mind. Mrs. WUUams, his mother, took un
common pains to instil into him the principles of a re
ligious education, and these principles found a recipient
in his bosom. He had somewhat of a mechanical genius,
and he was early placed as an apprentice for seven years
in an ironmonger's estabUshment, in London, under the
superintendence of a reUgious man. WhUe here, how
ever, he fell in company with some profligate and irre
ligious young men, who led him astray from his religious
course of life^ He was, however, reclaimed in a manner

392 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
which he little expected. He had made an appointment
with his giddy companions to spend a Sabbath evening
with them at a house of sensual indulgence, and in dese
cration of the Sabbath. His companions were not punc
tual in arriving in time to accompany him. While wait
ing for them, Mrs. Tonkin, the mistress of the house
where he resided, passed him, and by the light of the
lamp noticing who he was, inquired the reason of his
being there. He frankly avowed his disappointment at
not meeting his companions, and expressed much chagrin
and disappointment at it. She earnestly requested him
to accompany her to the Tabernacle, a place of reUgious
worship, to which he very reluctantly consented. His
state of mind, however, for the moment, was unfitted for
religious impressions. He, however, listened to a dis
course from the minister upon the value of the soul,
which finally made so deep and lasting an impression
upon him, that it was never effaced. He immediately
abandoned his former course of life, and set about pre
paring for the ministry, with deep and solemn interest.
The limits of my work wiU not allow me to follow him
through his various preparatory steps, by which he attain
ed to the office of a missionary to the Polynesian Islands,
where for many years he remained one of the most suc
cessful instruments for converting the natives of those
heathen lands to Christianity, who ever visited them.
The reader is referred for more^ particular information
conceming him, to a Memoir of his life, written by Ebene
zer Prout, and re-pubUshed an New York, in 1843.
Much interesting matter in relation to him wUl also be
found in the Narrative of the Exploring Expedition, by

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 393
Wilkes. He was killed by the natives of the Samoian
group of Islands on the 20th of Nov. 1841, in the 44th
year of his age.
Griffith Williams, was bom in the parish of Llan-
rue, near to Caenarvon, applied his muse to academical
learning in Christ Church, in the latter end of 1603, aged
16 years, but before he was honored with a degree he
left that house, and by the persuasions of John WUUams
(afterwards bishop of Lincoln) he removed to Cambridge,
where he preferred him to a tutor, patronized him, fur
thered his entrance into the ministry, and after he had
attained to the degree of Master of Arts, got him to be
Chaplain to PhUip, Earl of Montgomery, being about that
tame, also (1614) parson of S. Bennet Sherogg, in Lon
don. About the same time that he was admitted to the
reading of the sentences (1616) he was made parson of
Llanlichid m Wales, where he received good encourage
ment in the ministry, from Sir John Wynne, bart., and
Sir Richard Wynne, his son, and was infinitely admired
for his excellent way in preaching, and for his religious
life and conversation. He was then- accounted a person
very well read in scholastical and historical divinity, and
also in the fathers, schoolmen, and councils, and therefore
it was that he was made one of the chaplains to King
Charles I, he being then D. D. In 1628, he became
prebendary of the eighth stall in the collegiate church of
Westminster, in the room of Dr. Laud, who till then had
kept it in commundam with his bishopricks (installed
there 28th of March, 1684) and arch-deacon of Angle-
sea ; which deanery had been enjoyed before by Edm.
33*

394 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Griffith. Afterwards he was designed to be tutor to
Prince Charles ; but Archbishop Laud commending to
his majesty Dr. Duppe for that employment, our author,
WUliams,. (who had been tutor to the Lord Charles Her
bert, son to PhUip, earl of Pembroke and Montgomery,
(I mean that Charles, who died at or near Florence, in
1684,) was then put aside, to his great discontent. In
1641, he was, at the motion of his ever honored lord
(the said Earl) made to the king, constituted bishop of
Ossory, in Ireland, to which see being consecrated on the
20th of September, the same year, had then leave given
to him to keep his deanery and arch-deanery in commen-
dium. " In the beginning of the rebellion,^ he adhered to the
cause of his majesty, and the first book that he wrote in
his behalf against the rebels, was his Vindicice regum, ^c.
for which he was fetch'd away from his house at Aple-
throp, Northamptonshire, when the committee that were
appointed by the Parliament to meet and sit there, had
the said book in their hands. Afterwards he retired to
Oxon. and printed his Discovery of Mysteries; and on
that very day that he was preaching at St. Mary's, before
tiie house of Commons, the soldiers from Northampton
went and plundered his house, and all of his household
stuff at Aplethrop, where his wife and children resided,
and sequestered his lands for the use of the parliament.
The next winter following, he wrote his Jura Majistratis,
and, according to his power and abUities, out of the means
he had in Wales, he gave into his majesty's own hands
every winter, for three years together,' the testimony of
his loyalty and affection to the utmost of his power. Up-

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 395
OB the decUning of the King's cause, this author being
brought very low, the said Earl of Pembroke and Mont
gomery, offered to procure him a benefice in Lancashire
with 400Z., per annum, conditionally, that he would sub
mit himself to the parliament, but he refused it, as he did
also the important invitation of his singular good friend,
Dr. Williams, archbishop of York, for the same purpose.
Soon after he retired into Wales, where, for twelve years
together, as he saith, (having i^ot one penny of ecclesiasti
cal means, nor 20^. per annu^Jrinaa;!! the world to main-
tm. himself and servants, of any^temporal estate, he was
forced to Uve upon a Uttle tennement, for which he paid
il. 10s. per annum, to Sir Gr. WUliams, 41. land of his
own per annum, so that he lived worse than a poor
curate, with oaten bread, barley bread, buttermilk, with
sometimes water, being not able to keep any drop of ale
or beer, for two lusters of years. He went attired in
very mean clothes, (as he farther adds,) and was forced
to do many servile works himself, about his house, garden,
and cattel ; and aU this he did, as he said, rather than ac
cept of means, benevolence, or maintenance from the usur
pers, rebels, and robbers, of Christ's Church. He there
also persuaded, as he had done before^ some of the Earl
of Pembroke's chUdren, who had been his scholars, to ad
here to his majesty, although their father was misled and
adhered to the parliament, but they refused. Here Crom
weU, also, lord Ueutenant of Ireland, while his father was
Protector of England, offered him, as he did other Irish
bishops, 1001. per annum, if he or they would submit to
the then government, and conform in the ministry, but he
scorned that motion also, as his father tells us. After the

396 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
King's return, in 1660, he was restored to his bishoprick,
deanery and arch deanery, but rose no higher, nor was
translated to any other place, because the King was in
formed that he had kept pace with the parliamenteers ;
particularly with PhUip, Earl of Pembroke ; and that also
he enjoyed his deanery even in the times of usurpation,
paying a small rent to the usurpers, and not only suffered
the deanery house to go to ruin, but helped it forward, by
selling some of the wainscoat of it ; which last is frequently
reported by the neighbors at Bangor. Afterwards he re
tired into Ireland, lived as privately as might be, obtained
what he could from the revenues of his bishoprick, to
make reparations upon the Cathedral Church belonging
thereunto." The works that he hath written and published, are
these. 1. The Delights of the Saints, a most comfortable trea
tise of Grace and Peace, &c. London, 1622, 8vo.
2. Seven Golden Candlesticks, or seven lights of Chris
tian Religion. London, 1627, quarto. London, 1636,
folio. 3. The true Church, shewed to all men that desire to
be members of the same, in six books, containing the
whole body of Divinity. London, 1629, foUo.
4. The Right way to the best ReUgion, wherein is
largely explained the sum, and principal heads of the Gos
pel. London, 1636. This book contains twenty-four
sermons, at least, which he had formerly preached, and
mostly published, besides some treatises, among which is
the Delights of the Saints, before mentioned, and the
seven last, are the Seven Golden Candlesticks.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 397
• 5. -Vindicise Regum, or the Grand Rebellion, that is a
Looking Glass for Rebels, whereby they may see how by
ten several degrees, they shaU ascend to the heighth of
their design, &c. Oxon. 1643, quarto. Re-printed at
London, 1666, folio.
6. The Discovery of Mysteries, or the Plots and Prac
tices of a Private Faction in the present Parliament, to
overthrow the Established Religion, &c. Printed 1643,
quarto. London, 1666, folio.
7. Jura Majistratis, the Rights of Kings both in Church
and State ; granted 1, by God, 2, Violated by Rebels,
and 3, Vindicated by the Truth- Oxon. 1644, quarto.
London, 1666, folio.
8. The only way to Preserve Peace ; sermon at the
public Fast, 8th March, at St. Mary's, in Oxon. before
the House of Commons, on Amos, iv : 6. Oxon. 1644, 4to.
9. The Great Anti Christ Revealed, before this time nev
er discovered ; and proved to be neither Pope, nor Turk,
nor any single person, nor the succession of any one Mon
arch, or Tyrant, in any Policy ; but a collected Path, of
Multitude of hypocritical, blasphemous, and most scanda
lous wicked men, that have fulfiUed aU the Prophecies of
the Scriptures, &c. London, 1660, folio.
10. Seven Treatises very necessary to be observed in
these Bad Days, to prevent the Seven last Vials of God's
Wrath, that the Seven Angels are to pour down upon the
Earth. Revel. 16, &c. London, 1661, folio.
11. The Declaration ofthe Just Judgment of God ; 1,
upon our late King's friends ; 2, upon the King's ene
mies, that rebeU'd and warr'd against him. This is print>
ed at the end of the seven Treatises, &c.

398 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
12. Trutii Vindicated against Sacrilege, Atheism, and
Prophaneness, and likewise against the common invaders
of the Rights of King's, and demonstrating the Vanity of
Man in general. London, 1666, folio. This book con
tains, besides Truth Vindicated, these things following, of
bishop Griffith, (1,) The Grand Rebellion on Psalm 106,
16, contained in twelve chapters, (2,) The Discovery of
Mysteries, (3,) The Rights of Kings, both in Church and
State. These I have set down already, as having been
printed by themselves ; (4,) The Vanity of Man on Psalm
39, 6. Verily, Verily, &c.
13. Four Treatises ; Sufferings of the Saints ; Burning
of Sodom, &c. London, 1667, quarto.
14. Several Sermons, as 1. The Happiness of Saints
on John, 20, 26. Pruited 1657, quarto. 2, God's War
with the Wicked Rebels and Murtherers on Isaiah, 57, 21.
3, The Property and Prerogative of true Saints, on John
10, 27, 28.' 4, The monstrous murther of the most holy
Jesus, paralleled to the murther of Kings, on Acts 7, 32.
15, The four chief duties of every Christian Man on 1 Pe
ter, 2, 17, 6. The chiefest cause why we should love
God, on 1 John, 4, 19. 7, The Uvely Picture of these
hard times, on Jer. 14, 10. 8, The Grand RebeUion on
Psalm 106, 16. 9, The Tragedy of Zimri, that slew his
King, that was his Master, on 2 Kings, 9, 31. . AU these
Sermons, (except the first,) with others, were printed in
folio, in 1662.
14. Other Sermons, as 1st, Description of the four
beasts explained in four Sermons, on Rev. 4, 8 ; London,
1668, 4to. 2d, The Ejection of four Devils, on Matthew
17, 21 ; London, 1644, 4to. 8d, The Saving Serpent,

EAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 399
on John, 3, 14 ; London, 1664, 4to. 4th, The Monstrous
Murther of two Mighty Kings, on 2d Corinthians, 24, 23 ;
London, 1666, -410. 6th, The Faithful Shepherd, on
Psalm 8,0, 1 ; London, 1665. 6th, The Flying Sea, on
Psalm 114, 5 ; printed 1665, 4to. 7th, The only way
to preserve life ; preached before the House of Commons
at; Oxon. on Amos, 6, 6 ; printed 1666, 4to. Besides all
these he hath several other sermons which I have not yet
seen. He hath also written a book of his sufferings at
the time of the grand rebeUion, which was published in
English in 1664, but this neither have I yet seen. At
length this good old bishop, giving way to fate in Februa
ry or the beginning of March, in sixteen hundred seventy
and one, was buried in his cathedral church at Kilkenny..
By his last WUl and Testament, dated the 16th of Octo^
ber, 1671, and proved in the prerogative court at Dublin
on the 11th of April following, he bequeathed his lands
in Ireland called Fermorle, worth forty pounds per acre,
to be settled upon eight poor distressed widows, for whom
he had erected eight several almshouses in the parish of
S. Kinney, in his diocese. In the said will was a pas
sage by him. inserted, conceming the noble James, duke.
of Ormond, lord lieutenant of Ireland, for not promoting
him (as 'tis thought) to a high bishoprick, which being
esteemed scandalous, was struck out of his will when
poved. ( Wood's Ath.)
Griffith WUUams, CoU. Jes. Cant. A. B. 1606, Reg..
Acad. G, WiUiams, CoU. Magd., A. M., an. 1620, Beg.
Acad, . G, WUliams, CoU. Jes,, S, T. P,, an. 1620,. Ibid.

400 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
In 1643, was published in 4to. Ossonana, or a Bone
for a Bishop to pick ; being a vindication of some pas
sages in a Treatise lately published, caUed Anti-Calvinism,
from the impertinent exceptions of G. Williams, calling
himself Lord Bishop of Ossory, (Baker.)
An examination of such particulars in the Solemn
League and Covenant, as concerns the Law ; proving it
to be destructive of the Laws of England, both ancient
and modern, Oxford, 1664. This has been ascribed to
Griffith WiUiams, ( Wood.)
William Williams, son of Hugh WUUams, doctor of
divinity of Llanvisart, in the isle of Anglesea, became
scholar of Jesus College in 1652, continued there two
years or more, went to Grey's Inn, became a barrister,
and in 1667 recorder of the city of Chester, where he
was then reputed a very acute young gentleman. When
the popish plot broke out, he sided with the party then
dominant, was chosen burgess for the city of Chester, to
set in that Parliament, which began at Westm. on the
6th of March, 1678, for that which began at Oxon. 21st
March, 1680, in which two' last he was chosen speaker
for the House of Commons. After the Presbyterian plot
broke out in 1683, he became an advocate for them, and
the fanatics, particularly for John Hamden, son of Rich
ard Hamden, Esq., Lawrence Braddon, Sir Samuel Ber-
nardiston, &c. After King James II came to the crown,
he was taken into favor, and by him made solicitor general
in the place of Sir Thomas Powers, promoted to be at
torney-general, in the beginnmg of December, 1687, at
which time WiUiam WUUams received the honor of

family of WILLIAMS, 401
knighthood. Afterwards he was made a baronet. He
hath published several speeches, as 1st, Speech in the
House of Commons, when they elected him speaker ; 2d,
Speech to his Majesty, at the presenting him speaker by
the Commons, October 22, 1680. Both which were
printed at London in one sheet, in folio ; 8d, Speech to
the House of Commons upon the electing him speaker at
Oxon, 21st March, 1680 ; 4th, Speech to his majesty,
at the presenting him speaker by the Commons, 22d
March, 1680 ; both which were printed at Oxon. in folio
papers, 1681. 6th, Speech to Sir Robert Peyton, when
he was expelled, or spued out (as the author WUliams,
the speaker told him,) from the House of Commons, in
December, 1680. Which speech at large, with marginal
notes, reflecting pretty briskly on the most gross and
foul passages therein, were printed in half a sheet, on
one side, in folio, about the end of .February, 1681, with
this title to it : A specimen of the rhetoric, candor, gra-vi-
ty, and ingenuity of WUliam WilUams, Speaker of the
House of Conunons at Westm. in his speech to Sir Robert
Peyton, when, &c.
The reader is to know that there hath been one William
Wilhams who wrote himself philosopher and student of
the celestial sciences, author of a book entitled Occult
Physics, or the three principles of nature, anatomized by
a philosophical operation, &c., London, 1660, in 3 books.
This person I take to be the same with William Williams
author of Physic for famUies, both by sea and land,
printed in 1699, in 8vo.
Another WilUam WUliams, of Cardigansh, was author
of Divine Poems, and Meditations in two' parts- London,
34

402 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
1667, oct. Also, of Poetical Piety, or Poetry made Pi
ous, by rendering into its method Observations arising
from various divine Subjects, &c. London, 1677, oct.
To which is added a brief alphabetical expositor, explain
ing the most intricate words made use of in this book.
William Williams, author of a sermon mentioned among
the masters of arts. — Woods.
Daniel Williams, D. D., an eminent non-conformist
divine, was bora at Wrexham, in Denbighshire, about the
year 1644. He appears to have labored under disadvan
tages, as to his early education, the defects of which be
supplied by self-application and diligence. Being natur
ally of a serious turn of mind, he devoted himself to the
work of the Christian Ministry ; and at the age of nine
teen, became a preacher among the Presbyterians. Af
ter officiating in various parts of England, he went to Ire
land, as Chaplain to the Countess of Meath, and after
wards settled as Pastor of a church in Dublin. In this
situation he continued near twenty years, highly respected
and esteemed ; and having married a lady of_ an honora
ble family, he obtained with her a considerable estate.
Llis attachment to the Protestant cause, subjecting him
to inconvenience in that Catholic country, he removed to
London in the latter part of the reign of James II, and
after the revolution, he was chosen minister of a Presby
terian congregation in Bishopsgate street. In 1691, he
succeeded Mr. Baxter, as one of the lecturers at Pineow
Hall Chapel ; and he continued to officiate there till the
ological disputes occa»sioned a separation, and many of the
subscribers seceding, established the lectures at Salter's

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 403
HaU, whither Mr. Williams, together with Dr. Bates, Mr.
John Howe, and Mr. Alsop, removed as preachers.
In 1692, he pubUshed a tract called " Gospel Truth,
&c., vindicated against the ultra-Calvinism of Dr. Crisp,"
and he afterwards added a " Defence of Gospel Truth,"
&c. These publications subjected him to the imputation
of Soeinianism, which he indignantly repeUed. His wealth
and talents gave him much influence among his brethren
in the early part of the last century ; and he distinguished
himself by opposing the bills against occasional conformity,
and for informing the sacramental test on the dissenters
in Ireland, as well as on other occasions. He died Janu
ary 26, 1716-16.
Besides numerous benefactions to charitable purposes,
he bequeathed estates for the support of six Presbyterian
students, at the University of Glasgow ; and also his pri
vate coUection of books and a sum of money, for the foun
dation of a public library, in London, which led to the es
tablishment of the Red Cross Street Institution, opened in
1729. Dr. Williams' works were collected and published
in five volumes, octavo, consisting of practical discourses,
and tracts, 1738-1760. (Aiken, Gen. Biog. Christian

Edward Williams, D, D., master of Rotherham acad
emy, was born Nov. 14, 1750, at Glanelwyd, near Den
bigh. His father intended him for a clergyman in the es
tablished church. To this, however, the son became
averse, to the no small mortification and chagrin of his
parent. In 1771, he became a member of the Congrega
tional church, in Denbigh, where be commenced pubUc

404 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
speaking, and in a littie time was sent to prosecute his
studies at the dissenting academy at Abergavenney. His
first settiement in the ministry, was at Ross, in Herford-
shire, where he was ordained in 1776 ; but not liking the
Situation, he removed in the following year to Oswestry,
in Shropshire, where a more extended field of usefulness
presented itself to him. In 1781, an application was
made to him from lady Glenarchy, to receive under his
tuition, a few young men destined to the ministerial office,
to which he consented, and five were placed under hia
care. Soon after thia, the academy was removed from
Abergavenney, to Oswestry, where Mr. WUliams now com
menced the delivery of a course of college lectures, which
he continued for about ten years, when he transferred the
academy to other hands, and removed to Birmingham, in
1792. After spending three years at the latter place,
he received an invitation to superintend the concerns of
the Independent academy, at Rotherham, in Yorkshire,
to which station he removed in 1795, and that station he
Continued to occupy to the period of his death, March 9th,
1813. As a preacher, his reputation did not rank high ; he
was cold and heavy ; but he signalized himself as an au
thor, in the number, if not the merit of hig pubUcations.
His reply to Mr. Abraham Booth, on the baptismal con
troversy, made its appearance in 1789, in two volumes,
12mo., and in the following year he gave in four vol
umes, octavo, " An abridgement of Dr. Owen's Exposi
tion of the Epistle to the Hebrews." In 1804, he super
intended an edition of the works of Doddridge ; and two
years afterwards, of those of President Edwards, whioh

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 405
he accompanied with notes. He was fond of metaphysi
cal disquisitions, and undertook to expound the Origin of
EvU, not much to the satisfaction, however, of his own ad
mirers. In 1809, he published his greatest undertaking,
viz. " An Essay on the Equity of the Divine Government,
and the Sovereignty of the Divine Grace," which has
been abundantly praised by his friends, the fundamen
tal principles of which even his enemies would scarcely be
found hardy enough to controvert; viz., that in the ad
ministration of the divine Government, the Most High
never punishes his creatures but when they deserve it,
nor displays his sovereignty but in conferring unmerited
favors. This work has reached a second edition. Dr.
WUliams' character as a minister, and in all the social re
lations of life, was highly respectable, and his department
as president of the academy, entitled him to the warmest
testimonies of approbation from his students. (Life by
Mr. Gilbert Jones, Christian Biog. ^c.
Williams, of Pennrhyn, Caraarvonshire, created June
16, 1761.
Sir Robert Williams, the ninth Baronet, born July
20, 1764. Married in June, 1799, Ann, second daugh
ter of the Rev. C. Hughs, of Kimmell Park, in Carmar
thenshire, by whom he had Harriet Georgiana, born 4th
June, 1800, and a second daughter, born Sept. 3d, 1808.
Sir Robert was elected Representative in Parliament for
Carnarvonshire, in 1790, 1796, 1802, 1806, and 1807.
Hisfamily is lineally descended from Marchudel of Cyan,
Lord of Abergelen, in Denbighshire, of one of the fifteen
84*

406 family of -WILLIAMS.
tribes of North Wales, who lived in the times of Roderic
Maur, (Roderic the Great,) King of the Britons, about
the year 849. Of him was descended Ednyfid Fycham,
who being General of the Prince's host (LleweUen of Jer-
worth,) was sent to the marshes to defend the frontiers
from the approach of the EngUsh army, whieh was ready
to invade them. Commanded by Ramulph, Earl of Ches
ter, and kUled three of their Chiefs, Captains, and Com
manders, and a great many of the Soldiers, the rest he
put to fiight, and triumphantly returned to his Prince, who
in recompense for his good services, gave him, among
other honors a new Coat of Arms, for the coat whieh he
and his Ancestors had always used before, was the Coat
of Marchudel, viz.. Gules on Saracen's head, erased prop
er wreathed or the new coat was thus displayed ; Gules
between three Englishmen's heads, couped a chevereux
ermine. From the death ofthe last LleweUen Ednyfid's pos
terity, were the greatest men of any in Wales, and from
him descended the royal house of Tudor. The pedigree
of Marchudel is deduced from Bratus, the first King of
the Britons. The famUy seats are Carean in Anglesy and
Nant Carnarvonshire. (From Burke's Book Peerage
a/nd Baronetage.)
Sir Robert Williams, Baronet of Pennrhyn, in the
county of Caraarvon, born 20th July, 1764; inherited
the titie as ninth baronet, at the decease of his father,
19th August, 1796. Married 11th June, 1799, Anne,
3d daughter of the Rev. Edward Hughes, of KimmeU
Park, in the county of Camarthen, by whom he had
issue Harriet Georgiana, born June 4tii, 1800 ; Richard

FAMILY OP WILLIAMS. 407
Bulkley, bora September 23d, 1801 ; Robert Griffith,
horn July 26th, 1809 ; Arthur WeUesley, born December
16th, 1817. Harriet Georgiana, married May 10th,
1826, to Bria Pearce, Jr., Esq.
Created June 17th, 1661, 1st Bart. Griffith WiUiams.
Lineage. This most ancient family of the principality
of Wales, deduces its pedigree, with singular perspicuity,
from Brutus, son of Sylvius Posthumius, son of Ascaneus,
son of ^neas ; which Brutus was the first king of this
Mand, and began his reign before the birth of Christ.
Motto. Hebddim, hebddyim, ddu wadygan.
Seal^s, Fryass, Anglesea, and Nant Carnarvonshire.
Eltham Williams, Knt. created November 2, 1674,
Sir Edward WiUiams, seventh baronet, succeeded his
father. Sir Edward, July 12, 1804. This baronet is de
scended from the ancient family of WilUams of TallyUn,
in Bucknockshire, which was so serviceable to King John,
against his rebelUous barons, that he gave them for an
addition to their arms, as a high mark of his esteem, a
stag bearing the crown of England between his horns.
Sir Thomas, the first baronet of this family, was so created
in consequence of his faithful adherence and services to
Charles I. He was physician to Charles H, and his
brother James II.
¦Motto, "Vertus incumbit honori." Virtue rests
upon honor.
Family Seat- Guerault Lodge, Bucknockshire.
William of Bbdyl-widdan, Flintshire, created July
4, 1798.

408 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Sir John Williams, created a baron, as above, was
born December 22, 1761, married October 2, 1791,
Margaret, daughter and heir of Hugh WUliams, of Tiff-
ray, in Anglesea, by whom he had a son, John, born
.January 11, 1794, two daughters, Harriet and Emma.
Family seat, as above.
T. W. Harris, Esq., Librarian of Harvard College, who
has great opportunities for investigating this subject, has
sent me the following account of the arms of some of the
families of WiUiams, in England, and some other particu
lars. " The arms of John WiUiams," from whom have de
scended so many by the name of Robert, " are Ar. within
abordwe engr. qu. charged with crosses pattu or. and be
zants, a greyhound courant in fesse, betw. 3 Cornish
chougs p p r. Crest — a man's arm couped at the elbow,
habitad sa. charged with a cross patu or. the hand p p r.
holding an oak branch vest, fructed or. Motto, nil Soli-
dum." (Burke's Armory.) In the same book are given
the arms of " WUliams, (Boston, New England ; granted
1677.) Or, a lion rampant qu. on a che'ef ar, two doves
rising ar. Crest — an eagle with wings expanded p p r.
reposing the dexter foot on a mound or." Who the am
bitious American was to whom these arms were granted, I
know not. The arms of WUUams, of Gevernevet, are fig
ured in Burke's Extinct Baronetcies, with the genealogy
— and those of WiUiams, of .Herrington, with genealogy
in Burke's Commons, Vol. I, p. 614. There were sev
eral branches from the Herrington family ; some remained
in Dorsetshire ; others scattered ; their arms vary some
what.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 409
" The name of Robert occurs before 1657, and one by
this name was born in 1657, in the family of WiUiams, of
Ivytower, Pembrokeshire. There is neither cock nor
moor cock, in the arms and crest.
« In -Blomefield's History of Norfolk, 11 vols. 8vo.
London, 1806-10, the following are the only instances
wherein the name of WiUiams occurs.
Vol. IV. City an'3 County of Norwich, Northern ward,
lybridge, p. 465. Inscription on the Independents Mee
ting House. " Here lyith the body of Mr. Edward Wil
hams, late Minister and Elder of the Baptist's Congrega
tion, lately meeting in the Granary of the city of Nor-
mch, who died AprU 12, 1718, aged 78.
" la Williams dead 1 that cannot be,
Since dead in Christ, so livest he."
Vol. V. Hundred of Depwade, Tebenham, p. 278,
Vicars of Tebenham, 1464. Nic. WiUiams to his death
in 1603, p. 277. The church at Tebenham granted to
George Salter, and John WilUams, by the name of reven
ues and lands late of St. Faith's Priory.
Vol. X. MUford Hundred and a Half, Cramforth, p.
203. Inscription on a gravestone. " John Williams,
gent, some time servant to the Right High and Mighty
Prince John, Duke of Suffolk, which John WilUams died
July 2, 1501."
In Hutchin's History of Dorshet — 4 folio volumes —
there is considerable to bo found relative to the Williams
family of that country.
Looking over the old London Monthly Review from
about the year 1742, to about 1804, and the European

410 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Magazine to a later date, in all, nearly 160 volumes, I find
the following notices of distinguished individuals bearing
the name of Williams. Most of these are deceased, and
many of them were men of note, as will be seen.
Dr. Williams, Bishop of Chichester, is mentioned in the
London Monthly Review, Vol. II, 1764.
George Williams, a livery servant, wrote upon the sub
ject of the Trinity, in 1764, and his work was highly
spoken of by the London Review, Vols. 82 and 84. It
passed through two editions.
Rev. Peter WilUams, author of two editions of the
Welsh Family Bible. Europ. Mag., Vol. 80.
Robert WUUams, Esq., of Pembroke College, Oxford,
died Dec. 1797. Do., Vol. 81.
Mr. Stephen WilUams, calico printer, died June, 1797,
aged 86. Do., 81.
Rev. Francis WUliams, Exeter, died 1805. Do., 47.
Stephen WiUiams, Esq., Director of the East India
Company, and elder brother of the Trinity House, died
March, 1805. Do., 47.
John WiUiams, Esq., author of the Crisis of the Colo
nies considered. Lend. Month. Rev., Vol. 76, 1785.
John WiUiams, Esq., M. P. for Windsor, married Miss
Elizabeth Currie, third daughter of Dr. Currie, May,
1803. Europ. Mag.
Rev. James WUUams, D. D. Longworth, Berks, Rector
of that place, died Jan. 1808, aged 89. Do., Vol. 43.
Rev. J. WiUiams, Vicar of Abergavenny and Llantoif,
Monmouthshire, died March, 1808. Do., 48.
William WUliams, Esq., died at Wrexham, 1803. Do.,
Vol. 43.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 411
Rev. David WUUams, author of the Claims of Litera-
ature, and founder ofthe establishment of a Uterary fund.
Do., 1803.
John Williams, Esq., lately died in America ; better
known under the name of Anthony Pasquin, 1799. Do.,
Vol. 35.
Mr. Charles WilUams, many years Doorkeeper and
Messenger ofthe House of Commons, died 1799. Do.,
43. Sir Robert WUliams, M. P. for Caernarvon, married
Miss Ann Hughs, May, 1799. Do., 35.
Sir Thomas WiUiams married Miss Whapshare, of Salis
bury, in 1800. Do., 88.
Col. Edward WUUams, of the artillery, who constructed
a trigonometrical survey of the Kingdom, died at Molina
Place, Jan. 16, 1798. Do., Vol. 83.
Thomas WiUiams, Esq., died Feb. 24, 1798, at Wim
ple street. Cavendish Square. Do., 38.
Rev. John WiUiams, of Camarthen, died March, 1798.
Do. Isaac Roydd Williams, Esq., of Lincolnshire, married
Miss Davis, 1799. Do., 36.
Lady Williams, of Sir Booth WiUiams, died at Colches
ter, July, 1799. Do. 36.
Mr. Roger WUUams, woolen draper, Bath, died 1799.
Do. George WilUams, Esq., died at Bath, 1799. Do.
Joseph Williams, Stationer, died 1799. Do.
Griffith WilUams, Esq., Barrister at Law, died at Ru-
thing, 1799. Do.
The Lady of Sir Thomas WilUams, died in the Isle of

412 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Wight, in 1798. Her husband was Captain of his Majes
ty's ship, Endymion. Do.
G. J. H. Griffies WiUiams, Esq., of Bath, Baronet,
married Mary Ann Shaw, Dec. 1816. Do., 64.
Rev. Isaac WilUams, in Scotland, died in 1811, in the
77th year of his age, 50 years Vicar of the parish of
Llamroysled, Cardiganshire. Do.
Mr. Thomas WilUams, died" at Lee, Kent of Bennon-
dry, 1811. Do., 60.
Rev. T. WUliams, late Vicar of Weybridge, Suffolk,
one of the Chaplains of the forces, died on his passage
from Cambria to Santander, in 1814. Do., 66,
Thomas Williams, Esq., of Pancras Lane, Surgeon,
married to Miss Dunbar, of Bath, 1814. Do., 66.
Mr. Nicholas Williams, died at Berwick house, Dec. 1,
1807. Do.
Mr. Robert WUUams, died at Princes' street, Lombardy,
AprU 27, 181-.
Thomas Walter WUliams, wrote a work on the duties
of Justices of the Peace, in five volumes, published in
London, in 1796.
Rev. Thomas WUliams, clerk, chanceUor of the cathe
dral of Chichester, Rector and Vicar of Coching, and of
Sutton, m Norfolk, died at Seven Oaks, aged 94, m 1796.
Captain Knox, 1st Regiment of Foot Guards, married
Emma, daughter of Thomas WilUams, Esq., M. P., in
1796. Mr. George WUUams, Coal Merchant, Rutland
wharf, Thames Street, died in 1796.
Mr. Thomas Williams, late of Tottenham court,
attorney at law, died 1795.

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 413
Sir David WUliams, Baronet, married S. S. Stanley
In 1794.
Augustus WiUiams, Esq., died in 1794.
Sir Hugh WUUams, Baronet, M. P. for Beauharaois,
died in 1774.
Sir Edward WilUams, Baronet of Langford, county of
Brecon, died in 1798.
Thomas WiUiams, Esq., of" Wakefield Plain, died
1792. Charles WilUams, master of ceremonies at New Castle,
and companion of Sir Henry Liddell, on his voyage to
Lapland, died in 1800 at Alnwick castle.
Richard Williams, of Oxford, Sheriff, died in 1809.
Charles WiUiams, Esq., died at Sicily, 1810. He
had been at that station four ye'^ars, commander of his
Majesty's ship Hornet. He was one of the few survi
vors who recovered of their wounds in the gallant action
by the brave Sir Edward PeUew, in the Nymph frigate,
the first ship of war taken after the beginning of the
revolutionary war, since which time he served his king
and country in the Egyptian expedition, twice in the
West Indies, and on the coast of Africa. Eur. Mag.
1810, vol. 58.
John Williams, Esq., died at Kentishtown in 1810.
One of his Majesty's Sergeants at law.
Rev. Stark Williams, D. D., died in 1810, many
years vicar of Harrow-on-the-HiU, of Middlesex, and
Rector of Throwley, Kent.
W. P. WilUams, only son of Admiral WiUiams, of
Hoddington Herts, married the daughter of R. W.
Slenlow, Esq., 1811.
35

414 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
Andrew WiUiams, Esq., late Physician General, and
Colonel in the Hon. East India company's service at
Bengal, died at Southampton, 1811.
John WiUiams, died at Huxley, in the parish of Waver-
ton, at the_patriarchial age of 107 years, in 1816.
Mr. Richard Williams, of Holy-land, of Coffee house
Strand, died in 1816.
Edward Lloyd WUliams, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, married
a daughter of James Bell, Esq., 1817.
Rev. WUUam WilUams, died at Kitchen, March 20,
1817, aged 53. Seventeen years pastor of the parish.
(See his memoir in vol. 71, Europ. Mag., page 363.)
Thomas WiUiams, Esq., son of Captain Edward Wil
Uams, R. N., married at Guemsly, to Elizabeth Hog,
Sept. 1817. He was nephew to Sir Thomas WUUams,
K. C. B.
Mr. J. WUliams, of Daddleston, near Chester, aged 18,
married Miss E. Woods, an amiable damsel of 73 ! !
Thomas WUliams, of Temple house, Berks, M. P., for
great Marlow, died at Bath, Nov. 29, 1802.
Robert Williams, Esq., Director of the East India com
pany, died at Mill-hiU, June, 1812.
Rev. A. WUUams, D. D., in the academy in that neigh
borhood, died March, 1800, at Rotherham, Yorkshire.
Walter WiUiams, Esq., late Surgeon in the East India
company's service, Bengal, died in 1820, at Thayer
street, Manchester.
Thomas B. WUliams, Esq., of St. Ann, Jamaica, mar
ried Mary Sophia, daughter of Hon. John Forbes, 1820.
Elizabeth WilUams, died at Brenton, near Ta-vistock
May, 1812, aged one hundred and eleven years ! !

FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS. 415
Within four years, she had cut all new teeth. (See
Europ. Mag., Vol. 61.)
Rev. R. W. WUliams, died at Denton Vicarage, near
Aylesbury, Nov. 1820.
Henrietta, wife of Admiral Peere WUliams, died at
Hoodepton, 1819, aged 73.
Thomas Tyringham Bernard, Esq., son of Sir Scrope
Bernard, Bart., married Sophia Charlotte, only daughter
of Sir David WUliams, of Samet Herts, Bart.
Thomas H. WiUiams, of Plymouth, England, author of
a Tour to the North of Devon. Europ. Mag., 41.
Thomas WiUiams, Chief Officer of the Rattler, East
Indiaman, died at Demara, Nov. 30, 1801, aged 26.
Mr. T. WiUiams, Assistant Surgeon, Swanzee, and son
of Dr. Thomas Williams, of that place, narrowly escaped
assassination in the East Indies, died in 1809.
Helen Maria WiUiams, a distinguished writer on history
and general literature, born in the north of England, in
1762. She went to London at the age of 18, and was
introduced to the literary worid by Dr. Andrew Kippes.
The first production of her pen, appears to have been a
legendary tale, in verse, entitied " Edwin and Eltruda,"
(1782,) and this was foUowed by an " Ode on Peace," a
Poem, (1784,) and a coUection of " MisceUaneous Po
ems," (1786,) 2 volumes octavo. In 1788, she published
a Poem on the " Slave Trade ;" and the same year she
visited France, where she found many literary and politi
cal connections. In 1790, she went again to France and
settied at Paris; and soon after, appeared her Letters
written from France, in the summer of 1790, of which she
published a continuation in 1792. The object of these.

416 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
and some contemporary productions of this lady, was to
recommend the doctrines of the Girondists, and conse
quently, on their fall, under the tyranny of Robespierre,
she incurred great danger, and being arrested ; was some
time a prisoner in the Temple at Paris. On obtaining her
freedom, she renewed her application to literary pursuits.
Besides many works of minor importance, she engaged in
an English translation of the Personal Narrative of the
Travels of Humboldt and Boupland in America, (1814,
— 1821, 6 vols. 8vo.) Miss WUliams died at Paris, in
December, 1827. In addition to the works already men
tioned, she wrote " Julia," a novel ; (2 vols.) a " Narra
tive of Events in France," since the restoration in 1815 ;
and other pieces ; and she was, at one time, a contributor
to the New Annual Register. (Encyclopedia Ameri
cana.) Hepzibah Williams. — The followmg inscription was
copied by the Hon. Edward A. Newton, of Pittsfield, Mas
sachusetts, from a Tablet in the Parish Church of Con
way, in Wales, in the summer of 1846.
HEPZIBAH,
Relict of the late WiUiam WUliams, Esq., Attorney
General of the North circuit of Wales,
WHO AFTER A LONG LIFE OF VITAL FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, AND CEASELESS BENEVOLENCE TOWARDS
ALL MANKIND,
Followed her memorials of Charity into the presence of
God, on the 3d December, 1834.
Aged 98 years.
MATTHEW, XXV : 37, 38, 39, 40 :
Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, &c."

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 417

fiLLIAMS' GRADUATES OF CAMBRIDGE COLLEGE, ENGLAND,
FROM 1659 TO 1823.
Edward WilUams, Trinity, A. B. 1759, A. M. 1770.
Charies WiUiams, Trinity, A. B. 1761.
John Williams, Trinity, A. B. 1762, A. M. 1767.
Henry John Williams, John, A. B. 1799, A. M. 1803.
Roland WUliams, Regen. A. B. 1660, A. M. 1664.
WilUam. WUliams, Eman. A. M. 1661.
Griffin Williams, Regal, A. B. 1661, A. M. 1665.
Robert WilUams, John, A. M. 1662.
John WilUams, John, A. B. 1663.
Henry Williams, John, A. B. 1665, A. M. 1669.
Edward Williams, A. Tr. A. B. 1668.
Thomas WiUiams, M. D. per Literas Regius, 1669.
Robert WUliams, John, A. B. 1670.
¦ John Williams, Jesus CoU. A. B. 1671, A. M. 1677.
George WUliams, Regal, A. B. 1678. S. T. B. Com.
Reg. 1690.
Francis Williams, Trin. A. B. 1677, A. M. 1681.
Philemon Williams, John, A. B. 1677, A. M. 1681.
Theodore Williams, Christ, A. B. 1681, A. M. 1686.
Henry Williams, C. C. A. M. 1673, A. M. 1687, S. T.
B. 1694.
Edward WiUiams, C. C. A. B. 1687, A. M. 1702.
John WilUams, S. T. P. Comitus Regius, 1690.
James WiUiams, Trin. A. B. 1691, A. M. 1695, S. T. B.
1709.
Walter Galf.' WUliams, Jes. A. B. 1694, A. M. 1710.
86*

418 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS..
Griffin WiUiams, Trin. A. B. 1696, A. M. 1700, S T. B.
1708.
John WilUams, Reg. A. B. 1696.
John WUliams, Syd. A. B. 1701.
John Williams, Trin. A. B. 1704, A. M. 1708, S. T. B.
1719.
Perantus WUliams, John, M. B. 1705.
Counsel WiUiams, John, A. M. 1706.
James WiUiams, John, 1711.
John WilUams, John, A. B. 1712, A. M. 1716.
PhUemon WiUiams, John, A. B. 1714, A. M. 1718. S.
T. B. 1725, Orat. Pub. 1780.
Thomas WUUams, Regal, A. B. 1715.
Thomas WilUams, Regal, A. M. 1717.
Robert Williams, Trin. A. B. 1719, A. M. 1728.
William Williams, Trin. A. B. 1719, A. M. 1722.
Richard Williams, Sid. A. M. 1722.
James WiUiams, Pemb. A. B. 1722.
Thomas WiUiams, Regal, A. B. 1724.
Edward Williams, C. C. A. B. 1724, A. M. 1780.
Andrew WUUams, Regal, A. M. 1726.
Stephen WiUiams, Pemb. M. D. 1725.
Thomas WUliams, Regal, A. B. 1726.
Owen WilUams, Trin. A. B. 1727.
William WilUams, John, A. M. 1780.
Richard WUliams, John, A. M. Ricardo Baronis Onslow
ex filia nepos.
Thomas Williams, John, M. B. 1733.
John WiUiams, John, A. B. 1738.
Griffin WUUams, Regal, A. M. 1738.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 419
George WUUams, John, A. M. 1788.
John Williams, John, A. M. 1789.
WiUiam Williams, John, A. B. 1744, A. M. 1748.
John WiUiams, Regal, A. M. 1752.
David Williams, Regal, A. M. 1758.
Edward WiUiams, Regal, A. M. 1755.
Hugh WiUiams, Reg. A. M. 1756.
Rice WilUams, Eman. A. M. 1769.
WiUiam Peere WUUams, Clar. A. M. 1759, Baronet.
Anthony Williams, Pemb. A. B. 1762, A. M. 1783.
Edward WUliams, John, A. M. 1764.
Richard Williams, Christ, A. B. 1767, A. M. 1770.
WUliam Williams, Clar. A. B. 1767, A. M. 1770.
William WiUiams, John, A. B. 1768, A. M. 1771, S. T.
B. 1779.
WUliam Williams, John, A. B. 1768, A. M. 1771, S. T.
B. 1779.
WiUiam WiUiams, Mag. A. B. 1768.
Thomas Williams, Christ, A. B. 1769.
John Williams, A. Tr. LL. B. 1770.
Henry Williams, Reg. A. B. 1772, A. M. 1775.
Hugh WUliams, John, A. B. 1772, A. M. 1776.,
Thomas WiUiams, Christ, A. M. 1775.
Peter WiUiams, Christ, A. M. 1777.
John WiUiams, John, A. B. 1779.
Walter WUliams, Trin. A. M. 1779.
MUo Williams, Jes. A. M. 1779.
Henry WUUams, John, A. B. 1780, A. M. 1788.
Richard WilUams, Christ's CoUege, A. B. 1780, A. M.
1783.
Har. WilUams, Sid. A. M. 1781.

420 FAMILY OF -WILLIAMS.
Geor. Griffis WiUiams, John, A. M. 1786, Griffis
changed to WiUiams, A. B. 1783.
William Williams, Christ, A. B. 1796, A. M. 1799.
J. Haddy Wilson WiUiams, Clar. A. B. 1797, A. M.
1800.
John WUliams, Eman. A. M. 1797.
John Williams, Trin. A. B. 1798, A. M. 1801.
John WiUiams, John, A. B. 1798.
WiUiam WiUiams, John, LL. B. 1800.
Richard Williams, John, A. B. 1802, A. M. 1806.
William Henry Williams, Cai. M. B. 1803, M. D. 1808.
William Peere WiUiams, Trin. A. B. 1804, A. M. 1809.
WiUiam WiUiams, Pit. A. M. 1805.
Robert Henry Williams, Cai. A. B. 1806.
Robert WilUams, Trin. M. B. 1810, M. 1816.
Thomas Pearce WiUiams, John, A. B. 1812.
Richard Haddy WUUams, Cla. A. B. 1814.
Franklin Alf. WUUams, John, A. B. 1814.
WUUam WiUiams, John, A. B. 1814.
David Williams, Jes. A. B. 1817, A. M. 1820.
Erastus Henry Grifiiis WUliams, John, A. B. 1817, A.
M. 1821.
David WilUams, John, A. B. 1818.
TheophUus WUliams, Christ, A. B. 1819.
WUliam WiUiams, Begin. S. T. B. 1819.
Edward Williams, Trin. A. B. 1820, A. M. 1823.
WilUam Williams, John, A. B. 1820.
Charles Sawkins WUUams, John, A. B. 1821.
Robert Williams, Pemb. A. B. 1821.
F. D. VeU WiUiams, Begin. A. B. 1822.
Bulkely WilUams, Pit. A. B. 1828.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 421
Alfred WUUams Pemb. A. B. 1823.
John Charles WiUiams, Cath. A. B. 1823.
J. MaxweU Wjlliams, Tran. A. B. Post. Conn. 1823.
John Jefiries WiUiams, Pit. A. B. Post. Conn. 1823.

WILLIAMS' GRADUATES OF OXFORD COLLEGE, ENGLAND,
FROM 1659 TO 1782.
James WUUams. Hart LlaU, M. A. 1778.
Ar. WilUams, Jes. CoU. July M. 1722.
Balthazar Williams,, Queen's CoU. M. A. 1720.
Benjamin Williams, New Inn Hall, 1762, or 1662,
Benjamin WilUams, M. A. 1707.
Charles WiUiams, A. A. 1771, or 1671.
Charies WiUiams, M. A. 1770.
David WilUams, M. A. Oriel CoU. M. F. '75, B. and D.
- M. '83.
David Williams, Queen's, M. A. '73.
David Williams, Jesus CoU. M. A. '85.
David WilUams, New. College, B. C. L. 1770.
David WiUiams, Jesus College, M. A. '80.
:Edward Williams, Jesus CoU. M. A. '86.
Edward Williams, Chr. Ch. M. A. 1711.
Edward WiUiams, New. CoU. M. A. 1729.
Ezekiel WiUiams, Bxet. CoU. B. C. L. 1781.
Frederic WUUams, Line. Coll. M. A. 1734, B. and D.
D. 1740.

422 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.
George WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1740.
Gilbert Williams, Trin. CoU. M. A. 1719.
Griffin WUliams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1716.
Henry Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. '74.
Henry WiUiams, Jes. Coll. M. A. '98.
Henry WilUams, Jes. CoU. A. M. 1730.
Herbert Williams, Jes. CoU. A. M. 1730.
Hepton WiUiams, Trin. CoU. M. A. 1827.
James Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1730, B. D. 1747, D.
D. 1760.
Jenkins WiUiams, St. Jo. Bapt. CoU. M. A. 1701.
Sir John WiUiams, Baronet, Dorsethy., St. John, Bapt.
CoU. A. M. '91.
John WilUams, Bai. CoU. A. M. '90.
John WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. '79.
John Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1703.
John Williams, St. Mary HaU, M. A. 1718.
John WUUams, Mag. HaU, M. A. 1722.
John WilUams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1737,
John WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1747.
John WiUiams, St. Mary HaU, B. C. L. 1750.
John Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1768.
John WilUams, Jes. CoU. M. 1762.
John Williams, Jes. CoU. M, A. 1766.
John WiUiams, Pemb. CoU. M. A. 1769.
Joseph Williams, Madg. CoU. M. A. 1739.
Luke WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. '90, B. D. '97.
Paul WUliams, Wadh. CoU. M. A. 1709.
Peter WUliams, Jes. CoU. M. A. '91.
Rice Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1726, B. andD. D. 1763.
Philip WUUams, Esq., Oriel CoU. M. 1776.

FAMILY OF WILLIAMS. 423
Philip Williams, New CoU. M. A. 1767.
Richard WilUams, Oriel Coll. M. A. 1738.
Robert WUliams, Pemb. CoU. M. A. 1756.
JRoger WiUiams, AU Souls, M. A. June 9, 1699.
Samuel WiUiams, Hart. CoU. M. A. '73.
Theophilus WilUams, Univ. CoU. M. A. 1718.
Thomas WilUams, Oriel CoU. M. A. '75.
Thomas Williams, Hart. HaU, M. A. '79.
Thomas Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1710.
-Thomas WUUams, Bai. CoU. M. A. 1718.
Thomas WUUams, AU Souls CoU. B. C. L. 1714, D. C
L. 1719.
Thomas Williams, Jes. CoU. M A. 1720.
Thomas WUliams, Jes. CoU. 1728.
Thomas Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1740, B. M. 1743.
Thomas WilUams, Worcest. CoU. M. A. 1746.
Thomas WilUams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1755, B. D. 1763.
Tobias Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1686.
WUUam Williams, Alb. HaU, M. A. 1668.
William Williams, Jes. Coll. 1676.
WilUam Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1679.
William WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1699.
WiUiam WilUams, New Coll. M. A. 1701.
WUUam Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1706.
WUUam Williams, Exeter CoU. M. A. 1706, B. and D.
M. 1711.
WiUiam WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1712.
WUUam WiUiams, Christ Church, M. A. 1720.
5VilUam WilUams, Brown N. CoU. M. 1742.
WUUam WiUiams, St. Mary HaU, M. A. 1746, B. 1761.
WilUam Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1763.

424 FAMILY OF WILLIAMS.'.
WUUam Williams, Chr. Ch. M. A. 1767.
Charies WUliams, Magd. CoU. B. D. 1782.
Daniel Williamsy New CoU. M. A. 1776.
Elizur WiUiams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1781.
John Williams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1778.
John Williams„AU Souls CoU. M. A. 1781.
John Williams, Oriel CoU. M. A. 1781.
John WUUams, Wadham CoU. M. A. 1781.
John Henry WUUams, Mert. CoU. B. C. L. 17 74.
Jonathan Williams, Pemb. CoU. M. A. 1776.
PhiUp WilUams, Jes. CoU. M. A. 1777.
Thomas Williams, Bai. CoU. M. A. 1770.
William WilUams, Wadham CoU. M. A. 1781.

Williams, Fellows of the Royal Society, London.
Roger WUliams, 1663.
Sir John WilUams, Knight and Baronet, 1670.
Mr. Williams, 1698.
Mr. Williams, 1698.
Mr. WUliams, M. A. 1719.
Stephen WiUiams, M. D. 1734.
Mr. D. WUliams, 1766.
J. S. WilUams, Esq., 1801.
John Williams, Jr., Esq., 1828, also F. L. S.
Charles J. B. WiUiams, M. D. Profes. Union Coll. Lon
don, 1836.
Sir John "Wesley WUliams, Knight, 1889.

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