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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

THE

SURNAMES AND COATS OF ARMS

OF THE

WILLIAMSES

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF

ROBERT WILLIAMS OF ROXBURY,

And some of His Descendants.

COMPILED BY
A. D. WELD FRENCH.

PRIVATELY PRINTED.

V/-PH1XTERS-

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.

SURNAME AND ARMS.

THE following account of its origin is taken from
one of the Cornhill Magazines. " William is
one of those numerous names which belong to the
tertiary stratum of English nomenclature. First of all
in our history comes the pure English cognomens,
which our fathers brought with them from their old
home in Sleswig-Holstein. These, which are exempli
fied in King Beorhtuulf's charter, we may regard as
forming the primary series. Next ranks the secondary
deposit of Danish names, thickly scattered over the
north-east of England by the colonists who turned that
region into the Denalagu. Thirdly, we get the tertiary
stratum of Norman-French, Roberts, Henrys and Rich
ards. This stratum consists of original High German
words transplanted to Laon and Paris by the Frankish
conquerors of Gaul, adapted in turn by the Roman
ised Keltic people from their Teutonic aristocracy,

4 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
handed on to the Scandinavian setders in Normandy,
carried once more by the Norman barons to Eng
land, and there finally accepted by the Saxon, Anglian,
and Danish population.
"The earliest form of the name William with which
I am acquainted, is that of Wilhelm. It so happens
that this form might equally well be High or Low
Dutch, because the sounds which make it up are none
of them those liable to change in passing from the one
group to the other. Its two component elements. Will
and Helm, are good English and good German alike.
It is a litde tautological to say that Will means Will,
but not quite so much to say that Helm means Hel
met. Of course, we all know the old and shorter form,
of which helmet is a diminutive ; if nowhere else, at
least in Gray's ' Helm nor hauberk's twisted mail.'
Originally then, Wilhelm meant something very like
' stout warrior ;' for in early times men think of abstract
qualities mostly by their corresponding concrete. The
' resolute crest ' that was always seen in the thick and
forefront of the savage fight, — that is the underlying
notion of the modern William.
" When the Franks moved eastward from their Teu
tonic home into the country to which they have given
the name Frankreich or France, they naturally took
with them all their German names. Whether Wilhelm
was one of these, or whether it came in later with the
dynast)' of Karl the Great, our Charlemagne, I cannot
tell, though perhaps some more learned person may

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 5
have met with the name in the pages of Gregory of
Tours or his successors : at any rate, it speedily passed
into general use in Normandy, as soon as the Scandina
vian settlers had called the rich province of Neustria
after their own race. The first generation of North
men in Gaul naturally bore such Norwegian names as
Hrolf, Grim, Biorn, Harold, Thor and Haco. But the
younger crop of Christianised and Gallicised Normans
copied the baptismal designations of their Frankish
over-lords, and thus Hrolf himself, the Rollo of our
mutilated histories, first Duke of the new principality,
gave his son and successor the Frankish name of Wil
helm. This Wilhelm was followed by a continuous Hne
of Richards, Roberts, and other Wilhelms, till at last the
dynasty culminated in the great Conqueror of Eng
land, who introduced the Norman titles into his new
kingdom. " William the conqueror spelt his name Willelm,
though for a reason to be mentioned hereafter, the form
Pillelm occurs most often on his coins. Even before the
conquest, Williams were by no means unknown in
England, for the Normanising tendency had already
begun at the Court of Edward the Confessor. 'Willelm
Biscop ' as the Chronicle calls him, was a well known
personage under the saintly King, and English families
even then had taken a fancy for calling their sons after
the intrusive foreigners who flocked to the hospitality
of Westminster and Winchester. In fact, Norman
names were getting fashionable. But after the Con-

6 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
quest, the fashion became an irresistible tide. In a
few years all our native names had disappeared, and
every Dudda and Tate in England was christening his
or her children ' Rodberts,' ' Heanrig,' and ' Geofree,'
the Robert, Henry, and Geoffrey of later days.
"The modern French equivalent of William is of
course Guillaume. This form, again descends from
Wilhelm through the intermediate stages of Willelme
and Willeaulme. All Keltic nations have a fancy for
inserting a guttural before words which begin with a W.
Thus William in Welsh changes to Gwilym.
" The Conqueror's coins generally bear the legend
' Pillem Rex ' or ' Pillelm Rex,' where the P stands as
the old English form of W, but his great seal reads
' Willelmus.' William has given rise in turn to many
and various surnames of diverse order. First of all, it
occurs in the simple form as a patronymic. Next, with
the sign of the possessive, it gives origin to the family
of Williams.
" Besides the true English William, his Welsh syno
nym has given us a large tribe of Gwilliams and of
Gwilyms. The Scotch supplement the list with their
MacWilliams, but 1 do not know of any Irish equiva
lent." COATS OF ARMS OF THE WILLIAMSES.
The chief motive for describing them, is with the
hope that some genealogic and heraldic student will

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 7
make examinations, tracing the arms to the different
families in Great Britain, which may lead to the dis
covery of the ancestor and arms of Robert Williams.
The examinations here have only been conducted
from some of the earlier dates down to the first part of
this century ; they are far from complete, even for that
period, owing to the great scarcity in our country of
heraldic authorities for consultation, but at the same
time most of the principal arms are enumerated.
The arms are classified according to the principal
figures, and where there are more than one with the
same emblem it is very likely they indicate an arm of
difference from the chief armorial bearing. As an illus
tration, take the lion. The arms of the first three families
described are descended from the same ancestor; those
of the fourth and fifth families are, most likely, arms of
difference, and one of these is certainly such to the
other. The lion is confined to families in Wales or
those of Welsh descent. Besides, in the same country
are found the heraldic emblems of the stag, fox, nags'
heads, griffin, men's heads, spears' heads, etc.
The other arms are found, mainly in England, in the
counties of Salop, Lincoln, Cambridge, Huntington,
Hertford, Oxford, Berks, Middlesex, Kent, Sussex,
Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, as well as in
the cities of London and Bristol.
It will be observed that three of the coats of arms
were borne by families in Lincolnshire, which is
bounded on the southeast by the county of Norfolk,

8 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
from which county Robert Williams of Roxbury is said
to have made his departure for New England.
LIONS.
Williams of Flint, in the Principality of North Wales.
In Thoresby's Ducatus Leodiensis there is a record of
a paternal coat as follows: "Sable, a lion rampant
argent, armed and langued gules, on which were quar
tered the arms of the Bawds and Marradiffes," with
whom they married. The pedigree shows first the
name of Roger Williams of Flint, from whom descended
John Williams ( Receiver of Flintshire in the reign of
Edward the IV, which extended from the year 1461 to
1483 ), who married for his first wife the daughter and
heir of Edward Matthew. Their son. Sir George, as
sumed the surname of Matthew, which continued ever
after. Madam Elizabeth Williams, of Denton, in Lincoln
shire, sole daughter and heir of Richard Williams, had
for coat of arms. Quarterly, ist Sable, a lion rampant
argent, for Williams; 2d Argent, a cheveron between
three cross crosslets sable, for Anderson.
Sir Thomas Williams, alias Cromwell, Temp. Eliza
beth, had for his coat armor, Sable, a lion rampant
argent, armed and langued gules: crest, a demi-lion
rampant, doubled queued argent, langued gules, charged
with three guttees depoix, holding in the paws a spear
erect azure, ringed at the bottom or.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 9
Roger Williams, Esquire, of Longby Castle in Mon
mouthshire, in 1575 had for his arms, Gyronny of eight,
ermine and sable, a lion rampant or.
Sir Trevor Williams, Baronet, living in 167 1, married
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Morgan of Maugham,
Esquire, and co-heir by her mother to Ralph, Lord
Hopton. He was styled of Langiby Castle in Mon
mouthshire, and is recorded as having borne for his
arms, Gyronny of eight, ermines and erminois, a lion
rampant or : crest, a talbot passant party per pale
ermine and or, eared of the last.
John Williams of Boston in New England in 1767,
had, Or, a lion rampant gules, on a chief azure two
doves rising argent : crest, an eagle with wings ex
panded proper, reposing his dexter foot on a mound or.
Williams of Llanbedre, descended from Howva, the
son of Cynddelw, Lord of Llys Llieon in Anglesey, who
lived in the time of Griffith, son of Conan, Prince of
North Wales, and Owen Gwynedd, his son. Howva
bore Gules, a cheveron between three lions rampant or.
Williams, alias Cromwell, bore Gules, three chev-
erons argent, debruised by as many lions rampant or :
crest, a demi-lion rampant argent, charged with three
cheverons gules.
Williams of Dolanog, descended from Meredith, son of
Conan, Lord of Rhiwhirieth, Caed Tabog, and Neuodd
Wenn and brother of Griffith, son of Conan, Prince of
Xorth Wales, bore Quarterly, argent and gules, four
lions passant counterchanged of the field.

lo THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
Williams of Arddynwynt, descended of Kynrick
Evell, Lord of Eglwyseagl and son of Madog, Lord of
Oswestry, who bore Gules, on a bend argent, a lion
passant sable.
Williams of Aswarby in Lincolnshire bore Gules, on
a bend argent, a lion passant sable : crest, a cubit arm
erect, vested ermine and cuff argent, holding erect in
hand proper, a long cross goiles.
BOARS' HEADS.
Williams, Argent, a cheveron between three boars'
heads couped gules. STAGS.
Williams of Velin, Newydd, Brecknockshire, bore
Gules, a stag statant argent, collared and chained or.
Williams of Brecknockshire and Eltham in Kent-
shire, Azure, a stag passant argent, horns or, between
his horns a royal crown proper.
Williams of London, Gules, a cheveron ermine be
tween three stags' heads couped or.
WOLF.
Williams of Devonshire and Denton in Lincolnshire
bore Gules, a wolf issuing out of a rock from the sin
ister side of the escutcheon, all argent : crest, a lion
rampant proper.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. ii

FOXES.

Sir William Williams of Llanvorda, Knight and Bart.
and David Williams of Glan Alaw, Llansilin, Esquire,
with W^illiams of Chwaen and Williams of Penrhose, all
descended from Cadrod Hardd, Lord of Talebolion in
Anglesey, who bore Argent, two reynards or foxes,
counter salient in bend, the dexter surmounted of the
sinister, saltire like, gules. NAGS' HEADS.
Williams of Willaston, a descendant of Brochwel
Ysgetbrog, Prince of Powys, Earl of Chester, Baron of
Denbigh and Lord of Salop, anno 617, who bore for his
coat armor, Sable, three nags' heads erased argent.
Williams of Wellaston in Shropshire, Sable, three
nags' heads erased ermine : crest, on a mount vert a
stag argent, attired sable.
Williams of Alkmonburg in Huntingtonshire, bore
Argent, three nags' heads erased sable, a chief gules.
GREYHOUNDS.
Williams of Oxford, of Hilton and White Lavington
in Dorsetshire, bore Argent, a greyhound courant sable
between three Cornish choughs proper, within a bor-
dure engrailed gules, charged with eight crosses formee
or and as many bezants : crest, a cubit arm erect, hab
ited sable, charged with a cross formee or between

12 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
four bezants, cuff of the last, holding in the hand
proper, an acorn branch vert, fructed of the second.
Williams of Treverro in Cornwall, Or, a greyhound
courant sable between three Cornish choughs proper,
within a bordure engrailed gules, charged with eight
crosses formee or, and as many bezants.
Williams of Dorsetshire, Argent, a greyhound
courant in fesse between three martlets sable, within
a bordure engrailed gules.
Williams, Argent, a greyhound courant in fesse sable
between three martlets of the last, within a bordure
gules, charged with acorns or, husked vert.
Williams of Herrington, St. Peters, town and borough
of Dorchester in Dorsetshire. Arms, Argent, a grey
hound courant in fesse sable between three Cornish
choughs, in a bordure engrailed gules,^ charged with
crosses party azure and bezant.
Williams of Herrington in Dorsetshire, Argent, a
greyhound courant in fesse gules between three mart
lets sable, within a bordure engrailed of the second,
charged with eight bezants.
Williams of Somersetshire, Argent, a greyhound
courant in fesse between three martlets sable.
EAGLES.
Sir John Williams, Baronet, of Minster, in the Isle
of Thanet in Kentshire, bore for his coat armor, Vert,
three eagles displayed in fesse or.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 13
Williams of Minster, as stated by Edmondson, is the
same with, as crest, an eagle displayed or.
Williams of London, Vert, three eagles displayed in
fesse or, within a bordure of the last.
FALCONS.
Williams of Cambridgeshire, Or, a falcon volant az
ure : crest, a bustard close.
Williams, Or, a falcon volant sable.
Williams of Stowford in Devonshire, Argent, a fesse
vair, between three falcons' heads erased gules, each
collared with a ducal crown or : crest, a falcon.
COCKS.
Williams of Sarrat in Hertfordshire and Islington in
Middlesex, Argent, a cheveron between three cocks
gules, on a chief sable three spears' heads of the first,
the points embrued of the second.
GRIFFINS.
William Williams of Glany wan and Dyssryn in the
lordship of Denbigh, Rector of parishes of St. George
and St. Llanddulas and Vicar of Abergeley, also chap
lain to the right honorable Dorothea Helena, Countess
Dowager of Derby, ist coat as descended from Griffith
Goch, Lord of Rhos and Rhyvomec; the second as de
scended from Marchudd, one of the fifteen tribes of
North Wales, two coats Quarterly; ist. Or, a griffin ram-

14 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
pant gules ; 2d, Gules, a Saracen's head erased at the
neck, argent, environed about temples with a wreath of
the second, crined sable. The third quartering like
the second, and the fourth like the first.
Williams of Denbighshire, Or, a griffin segreant
gules. DRAGONS' HEADS.
Williams of Eltham in Kentshire, Argent, a dragon's
head erased, vert, holding in his mouth a hand gules.
Sir Thomas Williams of Eltham in Kent, Knight,
bore two coats. Quarterly, ist, Argent, a dragon's head
erased vert, holding in his mouth a hand couped at
the wrist gules ; 2d, Gules, three towers argent ; 3d, as
the second; and 4th like the first.
HEADS.
Williams of Cochwillien, of Estyrn Collwyn, of Doe-
nol ; of Marl, of Meillionydd, of Weeg Griffiths ; of
Plas Newydd in Anglesey, of Porth Aur, and Caer>'n, a
descendant of Ednyfed Vaughan, Lord of Abergeley
and Baron of Brynn Ffenigl, who bore. Gules, a chev
eron between three Englishmen's heads couped argent.
Williams, Gules, a cheveron ermine between three
Saxons' heads couped argent, and Williams of Penryn
in Caernarvonshire, had the same arms with due differ
ence.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 15
Williams of Veynol in Caernarvonshire, Gules, a chev
eron ermine between three men's heads or, crined sable.
SPEARS' HEADS.
Williams of Bristol, Sable, a cheveron argent between
three spears' heads of the last, the points embrued
gules, and Williams of Gwernyfed in Brecknockshire
bore the same arms, but had as a crest, a cock gules,
combed and legged or.
Williams, Or, on a cheveron sable three crescents of
the first, in chief as many spears' heads of the second,
in base a martlet of the last.
ORGAN PIPES.
Lord William of Tame, Sapphire, two organ pipes in
saltire between four crosses patee pearl.
Berry says the Williamses of Thame, Oxfordshire, and
Bewfield in Berkshire, had for their arms. Azure, two
organ pipes in saltire, between four crosses pattee
argent: crest, a fish were.* BENDS.
Williams, Or, a bend engrailed vert, between two cot-
tises sable: crest, out of a mural coronet or, a demi-
lion rampant of the first, holding a battle axe sable,
headed argent.
* Berry states that were is an old English term for vair or varry.

i6 THE WILLIAMS FAMIL Y.
Williams, alias Conway in Brecknockshire, Argent, on
a bend cottised sable, a rose between two annulets
gules, as stated by Berry.
Williams of Oswalstry in Shropshire, had. Or, a cross
moline, between four lozenges azure.
Williams of Wales, Party per pale azure and sable,
three fleurs de lis or.
Williams, Argent, a cheveron between three dice
sable, on each a cinquefoil of the field.
Williams of Chichester, Sussex, Argent, a cheveron
sable between three fire balls of the last, fired proper :
crest, a dragon's head argent hurtee, vomiting flames
of fire proper.
Williams of Devonshire, Temp. Henry II, Gules, on a
bend or, three chaplets of the field : crest, a chaplet
gules. Williams of Brecknockshire, Gules, a cheveron er
mine. ROBERT WILLIAMS.
There seems to be an interesting tradition in the
Williams family about the wife of Robert Williams, to
which that distinguished Chinese scholar Professor S.
Wells Williams refers, as follows: "that when Robert
Williams of England desired to come to this country,
his wife, who was of a good family and had been deli
cately brought up, though she was a truly religious
woman, dreaded the undertaking and shrunk from the

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 17
hardships to be encountered. While the subject was
under consideration, she had a dream foreshowing
that if she went to America she would become the
mother of a long line of worthy ministers. The dream
so impressed her that she rose up cheerfully and pre
pared for the journey. If she had such a dream it was
certainly fulfilled, but not in her day, as she died without
the sight in 1674. Nine years after, those two grand
children, John and William, came out of Harvard Col
lege and the day of fulfillment began."
In connection with this tradition, it is appropriate
here to refer to the statement made by the Rev. I. N.
Tarbox, viz : " One of Robert Williams's sons was Dea.
Samuel Williaijis of Roxbury, (deacon in Rev. John
Eliot's Church,) and another was Capt. Isaac Williams
of Newtown. In 1664, Samuel Williams of Roxbury,
had a son born, who was named John, and in the same
year, Isaac of Newtown, had a son born, who received
the name of William. These two boys, cousins, went
together to Harvard College, and were graduated there
in 16S3, at the age of nineteen. There were only three
students in that class. Its other member was Samuel
Danforth, Jr., son of Rev. Samuel Danforth of Roxbury,
colleague with Rev. John Eliot. Soon after graduating,
tliese two cousins were settled in the ministry, near each
other, on the Connecticut River.
John Williams was the first minister of Deerfield, or
dained at the age of twenty one, and the story of his
captivity, with a part of his family, after his wife and two

1 8 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
children had been slain before his eyes, makes one of
the sad records in our early annals.
William Williams was the first regular minister at Hat
field, where he continued for more than fifty-five years.
John Williams of Deerfield, and William Williams of
Hatfield, were the first men of this family name in New
England, who were college graduates, but since that
time more than one hundred and fifty of this name have
been graduated at Harvard and Yale Colleges alone,
and a good proportion of them have been ministers.
There is probably no name in New England which
can show so many ministerial settlements of more
than half a century, and so many half century sermons
preached, as the name of Williams. Without going
minutely into the subject, we will record a few facts
which will help to illustrate our meaning.
The figures will show the years of settlement in one parish :
Rev. John Williams, of Deerfield, 1686-1729.
Rev. William Williams, of Hatfield, 1685-1741.
Rev. Elisha Williams, D. D., minister at New-
ington. Conn., and the President of Yale College, 1725-1739
Rev. Stephen- Williams, D. D., of Longmeadow, 1716-1782
Rev. Warham Williams, of Waltham, 1723-175 1
Rev. William Williams, of Weston, 1709-1750,
Rev. Solomon Williams, D.D., of Lebanon, Conn., 1 722-1 776,
Rev. Stephen Williams, of Woodstock, Conn., 1747- 1795
Rev. Ebenezer Williams, of Pomfret, Conn., 1715-1753
Rev. Eliphalet Williams, D. D., of New Hart
ford, Conn., 1758-1803.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 19
Rev. Solomon Williams, of Northampton, 1 778-1 834.
Rev. Nathan- Williams, D. D., of Tolland, Conn., 1760-1829.
Rev. Wakham Williams, of Northford, Conn., 1750-1788.
Rev. Eleazer Williams, of Mansfield, Conn., 1 720-1 742.
Rev. Nehemiah Williams, of Brimfield, 1775-1800.
Rev. Samuel Williams, LL. D., HoUis Professor
of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Har
vard College.
Rev. Thomas Williams, of Providence, who has
just passed away at the age of 97, and who had
for some years been the oldest living graduate of
Yale College.
Rev. Elisha Scott Williams, son of Dr. Eli
phalet, of East Hartford, Baptist minister, born
1757, who graduated at Yale College in 1775,
and died in 1845.
Rev. Eleazer Williams,* "The Lost Prince."
As we have given a particular list of the ministers
belonging to this family, it is suitable that we should
mention a few names of distinction in other walks of
life, and they, like the ministers, all belong to genera
tions that have passed away.
Hon. Thomas S. Williams, Chief Justice of Connec
ticut. Hon. Israel Williams of Hatfield.
Col. Ebenezer Williams of Pomfret, Conn.

• 'Ihis does not complete the list of ministers belonging to this
stock, but will show some of the most conspicuous examples.

20 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
Hon. William Williams of Lebanon, Conn., Member
of the Continental Congress, and one of the signers of
the Declaration of Independence.
Major General William Williams of Stonington, Ct.
Major General William Williams of Norwich, Conn.
Hon. Thomas W. Williams of New London, Conn.
Col. Ephraim Williams of Newton.
Col. Ephraim Williams, son of above, founder of
Williams College.
Col. William Williams of Pittsfield.
Hon. Charles Kilborn Williams, Governor of Ver
mont and Judge of Supreme Court of Vermont.
ROBERT WILLIAMS.
Robert Williams of Roxbury is stated (though I find
no official record) as having arrived here about the
year 1637, from Norwich in Norfolk, which joins the
county of Lincoln in England. His name appears
among the early members of the First Church at Rox
bury. He was made a freeman on May 2, 1638, and
in 1642 he was possessed of twenty-five acres of land ;
the two acres of land near Dorchester Brook were
acquired for services rendered as Town Clerk. He
may have been a member in 1644 of the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company, though at the same time
the name of a Robert Williams appears on the record
of the First Church of Boston.
At an early date he was one of the five selectmen ;
in 1645 he became an annual subscriber to the Free

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 21
School Fund; in 1662 appears the record of his elec
tion as one of the Feoffees or Trustees of this fund.
Later on, he makes liberal arrangements to assist the
Free Schools, and his name appears on record at differ
ent intervals as late as the year 1684 as one of the
Feoffees. Ellis states " that Robert Williams was one
of the most influential men in town affairs."
It is generally believed his wife Elizabeth, who came
with him, had for her maiden name that of Stratton.
By her he had, as far as records indicate, all his chil
dren. Mary and Samuel came with their parents to
this country, and probably John, who died here Octo
ber 6, 1658. Isaac was born at Roxbury on September
I, 1638, and two years later appears the birth of Ste
phen ; besides these, one writer mentions a son Thomas
who died early in life. There is authority for suppos
ing that he may have had another daughter, but the
records examined show no indication of it; however, in
his will are found two grandchildren of different sur
names, Deborah Tatman (or Totman) and Elizabeth
Robinson,* but these were most probably daughters of
some of the children already named.
Elizabeth Williams, the wife of Robert, was a member
of the First Church ; her death is recorded at Roxbury
on July 28, 1674. On the third day of November of

* Among the early Roxbury church members is the record of an
Elizabeth, daughter of John Williams, possibly the son that died in
1658.

22 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
the following year Robert Williams was married to Mar
garet, the widow of John Fearing of Hingham ; ten
years afterwards in his will he mentions " my well
beloved wife," and on the 2 2d day of December, 1690,
is the record of the death of " the wife of Robert Wil
liams." He died on September i, 1693 ; a short time
previous he lost his brother Nicholas. According to
Drake, his homestead, in which five generations of the
Williams family lived and died, remained standing until
the year 1794, upon the site afterwards occupied by the
first brick dwelling house erected in Roxbury, and built
by a descendant. Dr. Thomas Williams. It is now
standing on Dearborn Street.
The will of Robert Williams was dated November 26,
1685, and was probated on September 29, 1693. In it
is made special mention of his son Stephen, as follows:
" I give to my son Stephen, my dwelling house, or
chards, barns, and other outhouses, and home lots
thereto adjoining, with the fourscore and ten rods
adjoining to my bai;n, reserved out of my swamp.
Inasmuch as I have in this my will given to 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 same roof with me, and
thereby hath been more helpful and comfortable unto
me than the nthpr cnnc Vioiro "
Cufiuin ^cepiieii lYiiiiains, a son of Robert and
Elizabeth Williams, from whom most of the Williamses

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 23
of Ro.xbury are descended, was born there on the 8th
day of November, 1640, and married Sarah,* a daugh
ter of Joseph Wise of Roxbury. Their first child was
born on August 13, 1667; the parents' names appear
on the First Church records in 166S. Stephen, like his
father, was much interested in town affairs. In his will
of May 7, 1 7 14, he names his son Joseph as one^of his
executors. Stephen's death took place February 15,
1719-20, and his wife survived him, as appears from
the date of her will, which was probated on August 30,
1728. Ensign Joseph Williams \vz.s born February 24, 1681,
and baptized two days after; was married May 22,
1706, to Abigail,f daughter of Ensign John Davis of
Roxbury, and died August 17, 1720. Abiel, his last
child, was born on the following October. His widow
was married again January it, 1732, to Edward Rug-
gles of Roxbury; she was a widow at the time, she
made her will, January 18, 1768, which was probated
June 26, 1772 ; in it she mentions son John Williams,
who was one of the executors.
Captain yohn Williams, the brother of Colonel Jos
eph Williams, was the second son of Joseph and Abigail
Williams, and was born September 17, 1712. His first

* Sarah Wise was born December 19, 1647.
t Abigail, daughter of John Davis, was born 12th mo., 19th day,
16S7.

24 THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.
wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. John Williams *
of Roxbury, to whom he was married by the Rev. Nehe
miah Walter on June 2, 1737. His second marriage
was on September 12, 1749, with Mrs. Bethiah Stead-
man,! by whom he had three daughters. She died
before him, and his will is dated April i, 1777, and was
probated April i8th of the same year. The executors
were his sons John Davis Williams and Jonathan Wil
liams. John Davis Williams, the second son of Captain
John and Elizabeth Williams was born December 25,
1739, and was christened John (which was also the
case with his son), but as this name was borne by
others of the same surname, he, out of respect to his
wife and her family, took the middle name of Davis.
There is a record of this change of name 2& early as
1769. The Rev. Amos Adams married him on Decem
ber 15, 1768, to Hannah, a daughter of Colonel Aaron
Davis ; she was born December 5, 1751. Both names
appear on the First Church records in 1 769.
It appears from record, that at a full town meeting,
held at Roxbury a few days after what was known as
* John Williams was born December i, 1684, married Sarah
^Veld 1742 ; he died Novem
ber 5. born August 25, 1716.
t Her maiden name was Parker, and she married Caleb Stead-
man, Jr., September 22, 1743.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY. 25
the Boston massacre, John Williams, Jr., was one of a
committee of seven, appointed to present a petition to
Lieut. Governor Hutchinson, asking for the immediate
removal of the troops. Stephen W. Williams says of
him, " that he commenced business with little or noth
ing, but by perseverance and industry accumulated a
property ; that he was a man of method, and was said
to be one of the best farmers in the State, if not the
very best.
John Davis Williams died on May 26, 1807, and his
wife lived until her ninety-third year, when she died at
the Williams homestead on Walnut Avenue in Roxbury,
the fifteenth day of March, 1844.
The children of John Davis and Hannah Williams
were :
John Davis Williams born January 28, 1770, married
Hannah Weld May 16, 1798, and died August 28, 1848.
Stedman Williams born March 16, 1773, married
Betsey Williams January i, 1795, and died February 16,
1852. Aaron Davis Williams born in 1778, and died the
following year.
Hannah Williams born July 2, 1781, married Daniel
Weld of Boston, May 29, 1800, and died October 21,
1841. Betsey Williams born Junes, 17^4. married Aaron
Davis Weld of Boston, December 25, 1804, and died
-April 10, 1807.

26

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY.

Aaron Davis Williams born July 3, 1787, married
Miss Nancy Bugbee, December 8, 18 14, and died De
cember 8, 1863.
Moses Williams born December 28, 1790, married
Miss Mary Blake, December 22, 18 18, and died Sep
tember 12, 1882.

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