John Williams, of
Surry and Isle of Wight Counties in the Colony of Virginia 1645-1692
Welsh Emigrant
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The Williamses settled between James River and the
Albemarle Sound following the Blackwater River
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Isle of Wight County was one of the original eight counties in the colony of Virginia and was originally named "Warrasquoyocke", for the Native Americans who lived there. The county was renamed the Isle of Wight in 1637 which became bounded by the counties of Surry which was formed from James City County and Nansemond which was formed from Lower Norfolk County. The boundaries of James River fronts Surry and Isle of Wight counties separated by the Lawnes River. Lawnes and Pagan Creek were the most important water ways within Isle of Wight which could be navigated by ships for several miles up river. Both river ways flowed into the James River and were the main transportation routes in the early 17th Century to sell exports to England. Many of the earliest settlers were located at the Pagan River which splits into two branches further up river. The southernly branch is called Cypress Creek and the northerly one, now called Smithfield Creek, was called Warrasquoyocke. The Native Americans knew this area as Warascoyak, meaning “point of land.”
The modern county seat of Isle of Wight town of Smithfield in colonial time was considered a “seaport” even though it is about 45 miles from Jamestown the original capital of Virginia Colony. Thirty miles further to the west of Smithfield is the area of the Blackwater River, originally called Indian River. By the latter half of the 17th Century, our the colonial ancestors settle here and acquired huge tracks of lands. The Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers flowed into neighboring Nansemond County then out of Virginia Colony via the Chowan River into the Albermarle Sound. This area was in dispute between Virginia and North Carolina for several decades and even into the 18th Century. It is this area that our Williams ancestors first came to America.
We know from DNA evidence data that John
Williams Sr. as he was described in his will was descended from the powerful
medieval Griffith and Williams families of northern Wales. His kinsmen had been
high sheriffs of the area and some were even lords of large estates. Younger
sons of these powerful families, removed from inheritance by the law of
Primogeniture over many generations became the Welsh squires of the gentry
class. In old England,a gentleman was defined as
someone who did not have to work but earned his income from the labor of
others. John Williams Sr. was no gentleman by this definition but probably a
younger son of a younger son of this old Welsh family.
John Williams had to earn his way in life
without the benefit of inherited wealth. By English law only the eldest son of
a family could inherit lands and titles from his father. This law was enacted
to keep large estates intact from which the family wealth was derived. Serfs
and later tenant farmers worked these land and paid the “land lord” rent. While
this law may have provided for the eldest son in a family, younger sons were pretty
much left to their own devices. Their
only inheritance was usually family connections that afforded them careers in
the military, the Anglican church, in business or as adventurers known as Gentlemen of
Fortune. Those taking the last of these as careers would have seen the British
oversea colonies as an opportunity where they could make their fortune.
While DNA evidence show that John Williams
descended from a prominent northern Welsh family connected to the Williams of Cochwillem, there is no evidence that at the time of his
immigration to America that he was connected to this wealthy family or had the means to pay for his transportation to the British colonies. He would have to sell his
labor for his passage across the Atlantic Ocean where eventually he became a
successful farmer and land speculator in the counties south of the James River in
an area collectively known as Southside Virginia.
John Williams was born circa 1645 in either
Gloustershire, England or perhaps even Northern Wales, parentage unknown. While his
paternity has not been determined yet we know that he had a kinsmen named
Thomas Williams and perhaps another named Lewis Williams as well as others. His father's name was probably either William or Thomas.
At the time of John Williams' birth the English and Welsh were in the middle of a great Civil War
between the commoners of Parliament and the aristocratic supporters of King Charles
I. Many people were leaving England for Virginia because of the conflict. It is certainly plausible that John Williams had knowledge of relatives in Virginia and that could have been one of the reasons he chose Virginia rather than wealthier colonies in the British West Indies like the islands of Barbados or Nevis
As it were John Williams grew to young manhood in a western Great
Britain near the city of Bristol that was severely religiously divided. Dissenters from the Church of England, like Puritans, Separatists, and Quakers, brought harsh consequences upon themselves. As that the King of England was also the head of the Anglican Church, dissenters were viewed as disloyal to the crown. However the theological revolution, embodied in the philosophy that free men ought
to have right to follow the dictates of their own conscience, allowed for dissent as a matter of faith. The largest dissenting sect, the Puritans, was embraced by the growing wealthy middle class. The Puritans wanted to "purify" the Anglican Church,
of much of its Catholicism rituals and symbols. The Separatists like the Mayflower Pilgrims wanted to be rid of the Anglican Church all together. The religious movement known as Quakers carried the
protestant concept further and believed there was no need for a religious
institution at all to mediate between them and diety.
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| King Charles I of England |
The Civil War broke out in 1642 when the Puritans and Presbyterians in Parliament accused King
Charles I of tyranny. The king ordered Parliament closed and Parliament declared the king of being a tyrant. The majority of the people
in Wales and in western England's Severn River Valley, where John Williams grew to maturity, were strong supporters of the king. The eastern part of England
and in particular London supported Parliament.
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| Oliver Cromwell |
For the next ten years England was without a king. Until John Williams was about 15, he lived first under a republican form of government known as the Commonwealth only to be
replaced by Cromwell's protectorate, a form of dictatorship. We know that John Williams Sr. received some form of schooling in England as he could sign his own signature however, as was common for younger sons, he probably was apprenticed out to learn a trade. His eldest son John Williams Jr was a weaver by trade and perhaps that was the same skill John Williams Sr was taught. Most boys were apprenticed to a master until they reached the age of 18 years.
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| Virginia House of Burgess |
For nearly a decade until 1660, England had
little governing control over the Virginia colony with Oliver Cromwell’s military
campaigns against the Irish Catholics. The House of Burgesses was left to govern the colony pretty much by themselves. Many of the Burgesses during this period were Puritans who took advantage of the absence of a royal
governor.
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| King Charles II of England |
So this is about all we do know about John Williams' early years before coming to America was that he born during the turbulent times of the English
Civil War and was a youth under Oliver Cromwell’s governance. He was probably no more than an adolescent when the English Monarchy was restored in 1660.
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Majority of Southside Virginia Colonists came from
Western counties of England from Bristol.
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Great Britain itself was an overpopulated nation of
more than 5 million people trying to recover from a weak economy that had been nearly crippled by a devastating Civil War.
It’s cities and towns were teeming with the chronically unemployed who
often had to resort to begging and thievery to survive. Sanitation conditions were deplorable in London and Bristol. Gangs of homeless youth roamed the
countryside in search of work making travel between towns dangerous. Many
desperate young men became highwaymen or took to the sea to become pirates. The
gallows were filled with desperadoes.
By the time John Williams was a young man of 18 [1663] and
ready to set out on his own prospects of financial success was dim. In England and Wales all the best lands had long
ago been taken by the upper classes. Commerce and owning land were the avenues for achieving wealth and John was neither a merchant or a landowner. As
a result, the chance that an ordinary commoner like John Williams could rise above
his station in life was remote.
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| Great London Fire 1666 |
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| Bristol 1673 |
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| Bristol Customs House line drawing circa 1666 |
Newspapers and pamphlets, as well as brokers, would have made John Williams aware that free land was to be had in
Virginia Colony just for the crossing. The Virginia Colonial Assembly had passed a law giving each
new immigrant a “headright” grant of fifty acres, the only requirement being that one had get there and stay there three years. But getting
there was the difficult part. Unless one was wealthy, the cost of going to
Virginia was prohibitive. At £6 the fare to Virginia that was more than most
working people made in six months to a year
The Virginia Colony was desperately
in need of laborers to clear the land, to plant the cash crop of tobacco and to help fend off the Indigenous people. The headright system encouraged wealthy individuals to pay the passage fare
for those who did not have the means in exchange for
their labor and for land. These folks who signed a contract, or
"indenture," were legally bound to work for a set period of time, usually
from four to seven years, to the individual who had agreed to pay their
passage. The people who owned the indenture often sold them to other people. Wealthy Bristol merchants themselves would often pay for transport and sell their contract for land and tobacco.
Additionally the indentured person being transported had
to relinquish their right to the free grant of 50 acres of land. That land was then offered to those who held the contract for importing the transported persons. Thus colonial
landholders not only received the immigrant's labor for several years, additionally he received fifty acres for every person he brought over.
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| Bristol Dock |
John Williams no doubt was a young man,
probably in his early 20’s when he made the decision to sign a
contract of indenture to Captain William Butler of Surry County, Virginia. He
may have after finishing his apprenticeship and finding no work to be had in
England. It is doubtful that John Williams even knew Captain Butler but
probably went through a broker. As to why he chose Virginia over Barbados we
can only speculate but that he had relatives or acquaintances there
already is a strong possibility. Even at that John Williams did
not travel alone to the New World. Two other young men, John Moor [Moore] and
Rowland Pitt, also signed an indenture to Captain Butler who agreed to pay their passage to America in
return for an indentureship of four years each.
The relationship of John Williams to John
Moore and Rowland Pitt, if any, is unknown. They may have been childhood
friends, or belonged to the same faith, or even been kinsmen of some kind. These three men, once freed from their indenture, continued to be friends i Virginia. Once the terms of their indenture was over to
Captain Butler, they settled as near neighbors in Surry County and in Isle of
Wight. John Williams and John Moor acquired estates next to each in Isle of Wight
and two of their children John Williams Jr. and Ann Moore even married whereby
the two men eventually became fathers-in-law to their children and shared
grandchildren.
As for Rowland Pitt records are much harder to
find. Documents in Isle of Wight County do not show any land transactions for
Rowland Pitt although there is a very wealthy Pitt family represented by Colonel Robert Pitt. Col. Pitt was a
very wealthy land owner who acquired nearly 10,000 acres between 1650 and 1665.
Although Rowland Pitt documentation is elusive, evidently he continued to
remain close to both Moore and Williams as he signed his name next to theirs in
the 1677 petition of grievances to King Charles II during the Bacon Rebellion.
There’s no evidence that Rowland Pitt married or acquired enough of an estate
to warrant even a probate inventory.
A land record for John Moor is interesting
that he is called “a shoemaker”. This
indicates that he had a trade as well as being a farmer, a trade he probably
learned in England as an apprentice. There is another more prominent Moore family
in Surry and Isle of Wight represented by Thomas Moore and his brother George
Moore. This family also included a John Moore who was acquiring land in Surry
County in 1662 near estates that John Williams would acquire in 1678. These estates were near the
present community of Windsor which were approximately 2 miles north of where John
Williams and John Moor settled in the Kinsale Swamp area a few miles west of the town of Franklin.
Nicholas Sessums stated in a legal document
that he was born about 1646 and thus would
have been about 20 or 21 years old when he left England. Probably John Williams and John Moor were of
similar age. In a Surry County record he
gave an oath stating that he had been in the county 40 years [1670] which was
probably when he was freed from his contract to Arthur Allen. He stated that he was transported to Virginia
by Arthur Allen [who was 60 years old in 1667 by oath] which is not correct
according to Bristol immigration records. However this indicates that Allen
must have bought his contract from Thomas Jarvis soon after arriving. Mrs.
Alice Allen, widow of Arthur stated in a
document dated 9 March 1671 that she
discharged Nicholas Sessoms of all claims of debts, which meant that Sessums
had fulfilled his contract of four years of labor. As that John Williams came
to America at the same time it is a reasonable assumption to that he had
fulfilled his obligations to Captain Butler about the same tme.
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Quaker Meeting where men and women both were allowed
to preach
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Another danger for a 1666 crossing was Dutch man of war ships. The
English and Dutch were at war. A fleet of four Dutch men-of-war came up the James River in 1667 and
destroyed 20 English trading vessels. The English Monarchy and the Dutch Republic had been at war since 1664 and did not settle their difference for over ten years during which time England took over the colony of New Netherlands and renamed it New York.
Surry County was very sparsely settled when John Williams arrived. In 1668, for example, the tithing tax rolls showed that
there were only 216 white males over the age of 16 in the County with an
estimated total population, counting Indians and Negro slaves, women and children,
of about 1,700. This population, except the Indians who were pushed west of Blackwater River, was mostly concentrated on a few
plantations widely scattered over a vest area of woods, swamps and streams.
The early Surry settlers afraid of Indian reprisals wanted no Indians to live in their area but they needed information that only the Indians could provide about marauding tribes coming into the area to attack. They also needed the fur and skin trade with the Indians that had been established. After an Indian War ended in 1646, the southside Virginians made a treaty with the Indians living within English settlements that the Blackwater River would be a boundary between them. The tribes agreed to the treaty because they were relatively weak with few warriors to protect themselves. The treaty provided the friendly Indians help from the settlers should other marauding tribes of Indians attack them. Thus, Indians were banned north of the Blackwater and the settlers felt safe to increase their numbers.
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| Blackwater River |
The Sixteenth Century Virginia Colony that John Williams entered in 1667 had a highly structured class system but it was unlike the one in England where a person's class was determined at birth. In Virginia one's class was determined by the accumulation of wealth which could be earned. Despite the fact that John Williams came to the new world as an indentured servant, in his lifetime he had achieved both wealth and social position placing him in the gentry class of large landowning planters.
Virginia colony was essentially ruled by a very small group of affluent and wealthy families, known as the "Tidewater Aristocracy." From the time of King Charles I reign and almost up to America’s own Civil War, Virginia was dominated by a three-tiered class system. At the top was the ruling wealthy landowners who were characterized by their vast plantations of thousands of acres. The Tidewater Aristocrats’ wealth was generated by the cultivation of tobacco and later by cotton, grown on lands worked by tenant farmers, indentured servants and eventually gangs of Africans in bondage. The wealthy elite's children attended colleges and universities in England and later in America. They had the leisure to pursue political science and the arts. Their influence far outweighed their numbers. Many of the Virginians we revere today as the founders of our nation were mostly from this Tidewater Aristocracy class. John Williams was not one of them.
John Williams became part of the large yeomanry class of independent farmer or "planter" which constituted the middle class. These farmers worked farms and plantations that ranged between an average of 50 to 500 acres. Some planters owned up to 1,500 acres or more but much of the land was was held as "speculation" to be sold off or divided among heirs. The Virginia yeoman farmer was comparable to a wealthy squire of England, however this group lacked the political and economic power of the Tidewater Aristocracy and rarely governed. Instead they were the sheriffs, judges, the jurists, clerks and other local county officials. As land owners they were entitled to vote in elections and they were required to pay tithing or a tax to support their local Parish.
Along with being farmers, these men often held a vocation as well, such as a “hatter”, a “shoemaker”, a “tailor” or a "weaver". Many of this group had been merchants or craftsmen in Bristol and had simply carried on the same trade in Virginia. However the main economic support for the middle class was still by agriculture and from the labor of those they imported to work the land. The earliest Yeoman Farmers owned but few African slaves but relied mostly on indentured white servants. The second generation were the ones who acquired African slaves to compete with the wealthy landowners but rarely had more than a few. While the children of the middle class of Colonial Virginia were often educated rarely did could they afford a higher education as could the children of the Tidewater Aristocrats.
The bottom third tier consisted of the majority of the people in Virginia. They were the landless whites who rented their farms. They were the indentured servants who were held in temporary bondage. They were the Native Indians who until they became large property owners were in this class simply because they were not white. Marriage into white families of the second generation gave their children the opportunity to change their station. On the bottom of the bottom were the slaves, consisting almost entirely of kidnapped Africans but also consisted of convicted white criminals, enemies of England and defeated Indians. While whites were considered indentured for life for the crimes they committed, the importation of Africans as enslaved laborers was different. It based on racism. African slavery had a theological component that one group of human beings were inferior to others. Their enslavement was not a punishment for crimes committed but a punishment for simply being black. Thus these human beings from Africa were imported as chattel or property based solely on their skin pigmentation.
Not much is known of Captain William Butler the importer of John Williams except that he was a well respected long time resident of Surry County, Virginia having served in the House of Burgess three times representing James City County and afterwards Surry when it was split off.
and again in 1642
. After Surry County was formed Butler served as a Burgess from that county in 1653 and 1658. Butler probably had Puritan sentiments to have served in the House of Burgess during the rule of Cromwell’s Protectorate. In 1657 and 1658 he once more served with other Surry land owners, Lt Col. Thomas Swann, and Captain Caufield as well as again with William Edwards. Captain William Butler's 700 acre plantation was bounded by Captain William Pierce, William Lawrence, Christopher Reynolds and a Mr. Stamp.
Captain William
Butler after claiming his 3 new servants, probably sold off all but one as the 1668 Tithing Roll of Surry County lists him as having but one serving man in his household. It is unknown which of the three men he kept, if any, for the man serving could have been someone else entirely.
Historian Thomas J. Wertenbacker, wrote that
the indentured servant upon his or her arrival in Virginia “was but the beginning of his
struggles. Before he could grasp the riches of the New World, he must pay the
price of his passage, must work out through arduous years the indenture to
which he had affixed his signature. And these years were filled not only with
toil, perhaps with hardship, but with the greatest peril. He might account
himself fortunate indeed if during the first twelve months he escaped the
so-called Virginia sickness. Tidewater Virginia for the English settlers was a
pest-ridden place. The low and marshy ground, the swarming mosquitoes, the hot
sun, the unwholesome drinking water combined to produce an unending epidemic of
dysentery and malaria. And at frequent intervals, especially in the early
years, yellow fever, scurvy and plague swept over the infant colony, leaving
behind a ghastly train of suffering and death.”
John Williams would have found this new land “laden with hardships and dangers.” Winters were severe compared to England yet he still would have hoped that he might better himself. Who ever John Williams ended up serving, his master at the end of the contract was expected to furnish each one of the transported with a small tract of land and the necessities of life. It is unknown whether any of these single young men labored together but if they did no doubt they shared the same living quarters and the same garden spot and livestock pens.
Life for John Williams was probably not complete drudgery as an indentured servant although it was strenuous and may have contributed to his early death. He had his friends, Rowland Pitt and John Moor as well as probably his brothers Lewis Williams and Thomas Williams who served other masters only a few miles away. Recorded leisure time activities from this period involved gambling on horse races and pig runs, swimming and fishing, and attending county dances. The servants of Captain Butler and of other masters would have been required attend worship in the Upper Parish and often participated in religious clubs that met to teach one another religious principles by question and answer. They would have been required to participate in funeral services.
John Williams, as well as John Moor, Rowland
Pitt, and Lewis Williams after four years of toiling for others would have ended their terms about the same time as
Nicholas Sessums did in the spring of 1671, which raises the question of when
did John Williams marry. One of the negative aspects of servitude, of which there were
many, was that the master retained the right to prohibit their servants from
marrying and could sell them at any time without their consent as was Nicholas
Sessums to Arthur Allen. The timing of the birth of John Williams' offsprings suggest that he had to have been
married no later than early 1671. If he was married prior to that it had to have been with Master's permission. As he would have been well known in the Lawnes Creek Community, he probably was married right away.
Indentures servants became a part of the small
community of settlers in Surry County and certainly were well
known and mingled with more established families. Upon gaining his freedom, probably
one of John Williams’ first acts was to marry being as he was a young man about 25 years
old . Upon freed from his contract by law he would have been given probably 50 acres
and some money or more likely livestock.
Some genealogist have long suggested that John Williams' bride was a
Moore from the established families of John, Thomas and George Moore of Surry County. There’s
no evidence of this that I have found in the resources available to me. I believe
they confuse this wife with his son, wife Ann Moor, daughter of his
friend John Moor. More troubling is that many more confuse her with Anne Whitley the
wife of Quaker John Williams.
What we do know from John Williams' will is that her name was Anne,
and from where he served his indenture, she had to have been one of the daughters of settlers on or near Lawnes Creek. It is highly
unlikely that she was a single indentured woman herself as generally these women were
mostly “convicts, rogues, prostitutes, and cheats” and "sent to the colonies to
empty Britain of desperate women". Women who voluntarily emigrated from to
America did so to leave the unemployment, homelessness, and hunger and they would
have offered little to a young man who wanted to rise in station in his
community where esteem was based on land ownership and marriage.
An extensive search of wills and
administrations leaves no clue to Anne’s family before she married and there are
very few women who would fit the age range and who also lived in the community of known
as the head waters of Lawnes Creek. Purely speculative at this point and due to
circumstances of later family connections, I believe Ann may have been the orphaned
daughter of John Vasser.
The 1651 will of John Vasser of Pagan Creek’s mentioned his widow Elizabeh and five children Elizabeth Vasser, John Vasser, Peter Vasser, Mildred Vasser and Anne Vasser. "My will is to give my eldest son John Vasser, Mildred, Peter, and Ann Vasser three cows called Young Harris, Old Star, and Young Star, with female increase of the said cattle until such time they come of age and then them and their increase to be equally divided amongst them."
Of these daughter's John Vasser's eldest daughter Elizabeth married the Quaker Daniel Boucher by 1652 so she had to have been at least 15 years older than the youngest daughter Anne. John Vasser's granddaughter Elizabeth Boucher married another Quaker named George Williams. As that eldest sister Elizabeth was betrothed to marry Daniel Boucher she was given two cows named Brown Bess and Naous and a gold ring.
Interesting how these five cows were named in the will which shows a relationship between farmers and their livestock. As that Anne did not come to age until about 1668 it is unknown how many of the increase of these three cows she shared with her siblings John, Peter, and Mildred.
The middle daughter Mildred Vasser was probably the wife of Thomas Parnell who died in 1689. Thomas Parnell's first wife died before he did so her name was not recorded. If she was Mildred Vasser then that would leave only Anne unaccounted for in records. We know that John Williams Sr's descendants married into this Vasser family and Southern families, particularly families of wealth and social prominence, often married their cousins and other kinfolk.
John Vasser Sr. left his entire estate to his wife Elizabeth Dowe when he died in 1651 and there doesn’t seem to be probate records showing when she died or an inventory of her estate. All her children were minors in 1651. Ann Vasser did not receive land from her father but simply livestock when she came of age. As a younger daughter a match with John Williams would have seem suitable especially if she was a widow with a daughter or even if she was approaching “old maid status.” The Vassers were a poor but well connected family and marriage into the Vassers would have opened opportunities with the in-laws of the family.
Anne Vasser was probably raised in the household of her oldest sister, Elizabeth Vasser Boucher, and she may have been displaced when her brother in law Daniel Boucher died in 1668. If she was shuffled from household to household she would have welcomed the opportunity to marry and become mistress of her own household.
Of these daughter's John Vasser's eldest daughter Elizabeth married the Quaker Daniel Boucher by 1652 so she had to have been at least 15 years older than the youngest daughter Anne. John Vasser's granddaughter Elizabeth Boucher married another Quaker named George Williams. As that eldest sister Elizabeth was betrothed to marry Daniel Boucher she was given two cows named Brown Bess and Naous and a gold ring.
Interesting how these five cows were named in the will which shows a relationship between farmers and their livestock. As that Anne did not come to age until about 1668 it is unknown how many of the increase of these three cows she shared with her siblings John, Peter, and Mildred.
The middle daughter Mildred Vasser was probably the wife of Thomas Parnell who died in 1689. Thomas Parnell's first wife died before he did so her name was not recorded. If she was Mildred Vasser then that would leave only Anne unaccounted for in records. We know that John Williams Sr's descendants married into this Vasser family and Southern families, particularly families of wealth and social prominence, often married their cousins and other kinfolk.
John Vasser Sr. left his entire estate to his wife Elizabeth Dowe when he died in 1651 and there doesn’t seem to be probate records showing when she died or an inventory of her estate. All her children were minors in 1651. Ann Vasser did not receive land from her father but simply livestock when she came of age. As a younger daughter a match with John Williams would have seem suitable especially if she was a widow with a daughter or even if she was approaching “old maid status.” The Vassers were a poor but well connected family and marriage into the Vassers would have opened opportunities with the in-laws of the family.
Anne Vasser was probably raised in the household of her oldest sister, Elizabeth Vasser Boucher, and she may have been displaced when her brother in law Daniel Boucher died in 1668. If she was shuffled from household to household she would have welcomed the opportunity to marry and become mistress of her own household.
When John Williams and Anne [Vasser] married in 1671 Anne would have been about 20 years old which by colonial standards would have been well past matrimonial age. for most colonial girls especially ones without a father. Some genealogists have suggested that Anne may have been a young widow with a daughter named Elizabeth when she married John Williams.
While there is no definite evidence that Anne was a Vasser or had been a widow with a child before she married John Williams Sr., the scenario fits as well as any other and there seems to be several familial connections with the Vasser family that suggests a link between the Williamses and Vassers.
Although not confirmed and probably never
will be I will promote Anne Vasser who would have been an infant at the time of her father's death as the likely spouse of John Williams our Welsh emigrant. As the youngest orphan of a family of not much wealth but prominence in the community she would have made a fine match for John Williams. His brothers-in-law would have been John Vasser, Peter Vasser, Thomas Parnell, and Daniel Boucher. All these men had connections with the Quakers of Lawnes Creek.
John Williams and Anne [Vasser] marriage year can roughly be determined by
the birth order of their children as mentioned in John’s Last Will and Testament.
Generally children are mention in wills by their birth order, even if listings
sons before daughters. The fact that two of John and Anne’s oldest
daughters are not mentioned in their father's Last Will and Testament complicates the matter however. One married daughter was
deceased by 1692 but her children were mentioned as legatees. Daughter Elizabeth Wright was certainly
married and probably living away from household as she is not mentioned nor
any of her children, if she had any, by the time John Williams made his will.
It is impossible to truly reconstruct the birth order of John Williams Sr. first three children but since they were probably all married by the time of his death and one had three known children born before his death, it is safe to say all these children were born between 1670 and 1675. I feel that the order is as follows: Mrs. John Browne born circa 1671 (since she probably married in 1685 and had three daughters before 1692), John Williams Jun born circa 1673 (since he was working his own plantation by 1692) and Elizabeth Williams born circa 1675 unless she was a step child.
It is impossible to truly reconstruct the birth order of John Williams Sr. first three children but since they were probably all married by the time of his death and one had three known children born before his death, it is safe to say all these children were born between 1670 and 1675. I feel that the order is as follows: Mrs. John Browne born circa 1671 (since she probably married in 1685 and had three daughters before 1692), John Williams Jun born circa 1673 (since he was working his own plantation by 1692) and Elizabeth Williams born circa 1675 unless she was a step child.
The mystery daughter who was deceased prior to her
father making his will was the wife of John Browne. She had three girls born prior to March 1692 which would suggest this unknown daughter
was married at least six years prior to their grandfathers death. This also indicates that this daughter was
married circa 1685 or 1686 and thus she could not have been born much later
than 1671. She had to have been the
oldest daughter as she would have been about 14 or 15 at the time of her
marriage. Her young age as a mother may have contributed to an early death. Deed
records show that John Williams and his son-in-law John Browne shared a land
patent in April 1685 which would indicate that this daughter was married to
John Browne near this time.
For decades genealogists have suggested that this
daughter was named "Bridgett" but there is no real proof of this. Her husband,
John Browne, was the son of John Browne. Sr., and his wife Bridgett. The mixup I feel comes from a land
record that showed that John Browne Jr selling land in the early years of the 18th century. He and a wife named Bridgett sold this land long after the daughter of John Williams Sr. had died. I suggest
that John Browne’s second daughter, Bridgett Browne, was not named after his first wife but rather
his mother Bridgett Browne. I think its more likely that John Browne's first wife was named Anne Williams.
None of John Williams other daughters were named Anne for their mother which would have been very unusually if no daughter was named for the mother. I suggest that this eldest daughter was named Anne for this reason. Indeed the oldest daughter of John Browne Jr is Anne Brown more and likely named for her mother.
It also seem reasonable that Anne Williams Browne was the eldest child of John and Anne Williams. If John Williams Sr. ended his indenture in the Spring of 1671 and married Anne [Vasser] shortly thereafter then their daughter Anne would have been about 14 years old when she married in 1685. This is a young age but certainly would have allowed her to have three children born circa 1687, 1689, 1691 before she died prior to March 1692.
None of John Williams other daughters were named Anne for their mother which would have been very unusually if no daughter was named for the mother. I suggest that this eldest daughter was named Anne for this reason. Indeed the oldest daughter of John Browne Jr is Anne Brown more and likely named for her mother.
It also seem reasonable that Anne Williams Browne was the eldest child of John and Anne Williams. If John Williams Sr. ended his indenture in the Spring of 1671 and married Anne [Vasser] shortly thereafter then their daughter Anne would have been about 14 years old when she married in 1685. This is a young age but certainly would have allowed her to have three children born circa 1687, 1689, 1691 before she died prior to March 1692.
John Williams Sr named in his will his “eldest son” John Williams Jr. As of March 1692 John Williams Jr was living away from his father’s family and managing a plantation in Surry County. It would be logical to assume he was born between 1672 and 1674. Presumably he was already married to Ann Moor the daughter of his friend John Moor the shoemaker. His eldest son John Williams would have been at least 18 to be managing a plantation and married.
John and Anne Williams second daughter was probably Elizabeth Williams. If indeed Anne Williams was the youngest daughter of John Vasser, then her mother would have been Elizabeth Dowe [Doyle] Vasser. This daughter Elizabeth Williams certainly could have been named after Anne Williams' mother Elizabeth Vasser. She was married by 1692 so she was born circa 1675.
There is some speculation by genealogist that John Williams may have married a young widow with an infant daughter. Marrying a widow with property was an expedient way to enter the community and become a property owner especially a young man with prospects.
The reason for this speculation is due to the enigma of Elizabeth Wright. She is mentioned as Anne Williams’ daughter in a 1693 deed of gift but she is not mentioned among the children of John Williams when he made out his will in March 1692. If Anne was previously married prior to her marriage to John Williams Sr. there should be a probate record from a first husband. None have been found to confirm that Anne Williams was a widow nor are there any land transactions to confirm it. However there is the thought that Elizabeth was had already received her inheritance at the time John made out his will or that she may have been disinherited for marrying without her father’s approval. In that case instead of being a step daughter Elizabeth would have been a second daughter in order to make sense in the birth order. Elizabeth Wright’s widowed mother named her in a deed of gift before daughters Mary and Jane suggesting she is older than the two youngest daughters.
The rest of John Williams’ children birth order and years can be reasonably
assumed. The children, who followed the three eldest Anne Williams, John Williams Jr., and Elizabeth Williams were William Williams born circa 1677, Mary Williams born circa 1679,Thomas
Williams born circa 1681, Nicholas
Williams born circa 1683, Richard Williams born circa 1685, Jane Williams born
circa 1687, and Theophilus Williams born circa 1689 who was named as the “youngest son”. This chronology does not take in to consideration any children who may have died prior to making of the will in 1692. One in ten infants died before they were a
year old, and four in ten children died before the age of six in Colonial Virginia. Childbirth was
the leading cause of death for women in colonial America. Sometimes a woman
would die due to complications from the birth, or a few weeks afterwards from
an infection. This certainly is what happened with John and Anne Williams' oldest daughter Anne Brown.
William Williams, the second son of John and Ann Williams, may have been named for John’s father because according to Colonial tradition, the second son was named after the father of the husband. In the late 17th century, the great majority of eldest sons in Virginia were named for their fathers. A similar pattern existed for daughters. Roughly 80% of all eldest daughters were named for either their mother or a grandmother (usually maternal).
Many colonial farmers like John Williams raised horses, milk cows, cattle, sheep, hogs and geese for feathers and their eggs. They also cultivated beans, Indian corn and squash, as well as tended apple and peach orchards. Isle of Wight became famous for their cured hams. Many families often operated homemade stills for the manufacture of cider and brandy, especially brandy for it was a major cash earning export as well as tobacco.
Colonial "manor houses" such as the
one John Williams left to his wife and other cabins were mostly single story
structures of plain and simple construction much like one would find in rural England. The wives of our forefathers made
these homes more pleasing by colorful patches of flowers and herbal
gardens. When not working in kitchen
gardens, women spun and carded wool to weave into clothes as well as cooked and
wash clothes. when men were finished in the fields and taking care of livestock
they often made homemade furniture such as chairs and tables. .jpg)
However these simple homesteads also had the
strong rural odors of the cow and sheep pastures, pig sties, horse stables and of the family privies. Most homes also had working dogs for hunting or guarding the
family at night. Wild animal life
abounded on these colonial land grants along the
Blackwater River and its tributaries. The waters teemed with fish, great snapping
turtles, quickly slithering water moccasins, hovering dragonflies, and
jitterbugs which skittered across the water's surface. The piney forests and
swamps were alive with bear, deer, squirrels, rabbits, beavers, and possums and
birds of every description. John Williams Sr. owned a musket as well as a sword but his musket may have been used more for hunting then in defense from Indians.
The majority of colonists in Virginia were were pleased when King Charles II reappointed Sir William Berkeley as Governor of
Virginia. However the
Virginians who had grown accustomed to governing themselves in absence of a Royal Governor and in the mid 1670's there was growing widespread discontent. As the pioneers began to encroach on Indian lands, more and more attacks on frontier settlements occurred and with the governors indifference to colonists complaints led to frustration. Landless settlers saw the governors's preoccupation in
making himself and his cronies wealthy at the expense of the colony led to
widespread discontent that would eventually break out in rebellion against his
rule.
The rebels mostly from Southside Virginia's counties of Surry, Isle of Wight, and Nansemond. The main leaders were hung and others sent into exile and slavery in the British West Indies. Charles II's government did not agree with Berkeley's handling of the crisis and following the put down of the rebellion, he was called back to England.
Afterwards a flurry of petitions were sent to the Crown either begging for forgiveness or asking the king to address the colonists' concerns. Among these was one asking for the pardon of William West. It was signed by many of the Isle of Wight land owners including John Williams Sr and John Moor. Another petition from Isle of Wight residents asking for forgiveness from the crown was signed by John Williams Sr, John Moore, and Rowland Pitt.
Later that year, in July of 1677, the new governor of Virginia ordered the inhabitants of Isle of Wight to quarter nearly
90 British soldiers because of their previous insurrection. The inhabitants
were supposed to have been paid 2 shillings a week for housing the soldiers but never were. By January 1678 the governor recalled the troupes to
Jamestown. It is not known but is possible that John Williams may have had to house a soldier during this time
 |
| John Williams manor plantation 1678 border Henry Applewhaite. The 400 acre plantation granted to George Peirce in 1681 was the land bought by John Williams and his brother Thomas Williams. John Moore the shoemaker's 300 acre plantation to the west, The John Moore plantation granted 1662 was not the same man |
Over the next four years John Williams Sr purchased with his brother Thomas Williams a 400 acre tract of land on Jenkin's Swamp about 2 miles south of his 1678 patent. The land was on the north side of Currowaugh Swamp and had been part of a patent from land speculator George Peirce. This deed is the first evidence that John Williams had a kinsman in Virginia.
THOMAS WILLIAMS BROTHER
We know from DNA results that John Williams Sr. had kin in Southside Virginia. A man named Thomas Williams who was in
the Virginia Colony had descendants who DNA matched those of John Williams Sr. There may have been more as well quite possibly Lewis Williams of Surry County. The
descendants of Thomas Williams’ DNA sequence is the same as the descendants of John’s
and they were at the minimum cousins, or perhaps even an uncle or nephew. The
more likely scenario is that they were brothers due to
the fact they purchased a 400 acre tract of land together. Whatever the actual
relationship both John and Thomas Williams share, they have the same paternal family tree from Wales.
THOMAS PARNELL SENIOR
the Cooper
Trying to reconstruct relationships, unless a
specific relationship is stated or implied, from seventeenth Century documents
is extremely difficult. For much of the process circumstantial evidence must be
taken into consideration. It helps to remember that there really weren’t that
many people living in Isle of Wight County in the latter half of the
seventeenth Century. It’s is estimated that less than 2500 people lived in the
County in 1680. Additionally there is
seems to be more than an incidental connection between the Williamses, the
Moors, the Vassers and the Parnells.
The daughter of John Moor and the son of
Thomas Parnell married after the death of their fathers connecting these two
families. Another daughter of John Moor married John Williams the Younger the
son of John Williams Senior the Welsh emigrant. From John Moor’s will, it is
known that Thomas Parnell had a parcel of land that bordered the property of
that of him but the exact legal description is unknown. John Moor also had land
whose property line joined brothers John and Thomas Williams at Jenkins Pond
and not too far from Currawaugh Swamp where Thomas Parnell had his estates in
Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
Thomas Parnell Senior signed his will on 10 October
1687 nearly seven months after his neighbor John Moor Senior made his but the
wills were recorded in the court house on the same date 9 June 1688. This
indicates that the two men died aound the same time in the spring of 1688. The
Inventory of Thomas Parnell’s estate revealed that he was a wealthy man even
owning a “negro” worth 4000 lbs of tobacco. His last will and testament showed
that besides being tobacco planter he was
a “cooper” or a barrel maker.
Barrel making was an apprenticed trade so Thomas Parnell probably learned it as
a child in England. In Colonial America, there were more coopers in the South
than any other profession according to historians. The coopers who worked on
Southern plantations produced the many hogsheads needed to ship tobacco from
Virginia to Great Britain. They also made butter churns, tubs, buckets, pails,
and other containers to store dry goods used on a farm. Everything grown or
used on the estates was stored in wooden vessels especially flour, corn, grain,
wine, whiskey, rum, molasses, cider, fish, gunpowder, nails and many other
commodities.
From the amount of land Thomas Parnell willed
each of his sons, he must have owned about 1500 acres in Isle of Wight, the
majority of it being at Currawaugh Swamp, a tributary of the Blackwater River
between Kingsale Swamp and Duck Swamp. In 1675 Parnell bought 250 acres for
6000 lbs of tobacco from Francis Ayres, another cooper, who had married the
widow of John Clark, a Quaker. John Clark will showed that the John Williams who
had married Ann Whitley was his indentured servant. Ayres
died in 1680 and an inventory of his estate taken 10 March 1679 [1680] showed that Thomas
Parnell had in his possession bedroom furnishings that belonged to the Ayres’
estate. A feather bed along with a feather bolster, a pillow, a rug and a pair
of old blankets belong to the bed at Parnell’s place was valued at 770 pounds
of tobacco. How they came into Parnell’s possession is unknown.
In 1677 Thomas Parnell he had bought 150
acres lands adjoining “Henry West, Anthony Mathews and [Arthur] Smith from
Edmond Palmer, whose occupation was given as a carpenter, In the same year 1677
this Edmond Palmer had also sold to John Williams Senior 100 acres adjoining “John
Williams’ lands” for 1500 lbs of Tobacco. These lands were part of a much
larger grant of a 2,800 patent given to Palmer on 5 February 1672 [1673] for transporting 56
people to Virginia. The original grant stated this property was bordered by Anthony
Mathews, John Portis, “Sheeres [John Sherer] & [John] Clarke”, Francis “Aires”
[Ayres], Arthur Smith, Mr [William] Bresses [Bressie] and Mr [William] Bodies [Boddie].
Many of these men were of the Quaker faith. John Sherer was one of those who
inventoried the estate of Parnell. acted as
Parnell received a patent of 150 acres adjoining
“John Richardson and Peter Hayes” on 21 January 1679 [1680]. “Situate in a
Forke between the second and third swamp of the main Blackwater”. As that
patents of 50 acres were given for transporting people into the colony, Parnell
must have imported 3 people.
Thomas Parnell’s largest land grant was given
20 April 1680 which contained 1100 acres located on the southside of Currawaugh
Swamp. “ “To all &c. Whereas &c. Now know ye that I ye sd. Pr. Henry
Chichiley Kn.t his maj.ty depty Govern.r &c give & grant unto Thomas
Parnell eleven hundred acres of land situate on ye south side Currawaugh Swamp
in ye lower parish of ye Isle of Wight County bounded (viz) begining at a red
oake a corner tree of land by him and - linscott formerly taken up then south
west by west sixty three chaines or one - hundred twenty sixe pole & south
by west two hundred & eighty pole along their former line to a red oake
Robert Lawrence Jun. his corner tree thence east north east three hundred
eighty fouer poles to a pine thence East by South one hundred & six pole to
a pine thence south East Eighty fouer pole to a pine in Hodges Councills line
thence East by South along ye sd Councills line two hundred fouerty eight pole
to a red oak thence north north east one hundred pole to a pine south East 50
pole to a pine thence northeast one hundred & twenty pole to a red oake in
Col Jos. Bridgers line & soe by Col. Bridgers line very near ye first station containing 1100 acres of
land. The said land being due by &
for ye transp.n ofi twenty two p.sons &c
To have & to hold &c to be held &c yeilding & paying
&c. provided &c dated ye twentieth - Day of Aprill one thousand sixe
hundred eighty ~”
This estate adjoined land formerly taken up
by “Parnell & [Giles] Limscott, Robert Lawrence, Jr., Hodges Councill's
line; & Col. Joseph. Bridger's line”. The patent was for transporting 22
people namely, William Howell, Phillip Sergant, William Phillips, John Driver,
Nicholas Sergant, Ann Bedford, Elizabeth Sergant, John Francis, James Watro,
John Hatton, Hubert Pettys, Ann Baylie, John
Crowder, Ann Pilgrim, Elizabeth Weston, Lucy Hold, John Corbit,
Elizabeth Brogen, Morris Williams, John Sneath, George Turner and 1 Negro. Perhaps
this last was the slave he owned at the time of his death. Thomas Parnell left
this 1100 acres to his second son, which was rather unusual as that first born
sons usually received the largest inheritance unless there was a family
issue.
Parnell stated in his will stated that he
also bought a tract of land in the Curawaugh Swamp area from “Col. Arthur Smith.”
A record of this deed has not been located but this tract must have been near
his huge grant dated 20 April 1680.
Not much is known regarding the immediate family
of Thomas Parnell except for the information found in his Last Will and
Testament which opens wide the door for speculation. Thomas Parnell is married
with several living children. He names a “beloved wife” but not by name anywhere in the
document. She is not given a legacy until after Parnell names his two sons
Thomas and Joseph, and a daughter Susanna. Parnell divides his moveable
property into seven shares and gave this “beloved wife” two shares of it; “unto
my beloved wife two shares of all moveable estate excepting all legacies that
shall be given.” The other five shares were to go his two sons and three
daughters; “five shares to be divided equally between my two sons and three
daughters which five shares with their
mother’s two make seven shares.” The wording “their mother” would suggest that
she was the mother of five of Thomas Parnell’s children.
Some genealogist suggests that Thomas Parnell
was married twice based on the vague wording “wives” when bequeathing clothing
to his married sisters. These items of clothing were described as “my wives
best suit of apparel” and “my wives second best suit of apparel. Although the word “wives” is certainly an
antiquated form of a possessive noun it is unlikely that he would give “the
best and second best suit of clothing” of a living “beloved wife” away to her
sisters in law. A more likely explanation is that these items of clothing had
belonged to a former wife and were unwanted by a second wife. Few second wives
would want to wear the clothes of a former dead wife. Parnell also bequeath the “best suit of
apparel of serge” of his daughter Jane to his niece Sarah Williams which would
indicate also indicate this daughter was deceased. It would not seem plausible
to give the best item of clothing away if the daughter was alive. As that
Parnell had three unnamed daughters who were minors to whom he could have given
Jane’s best suit it makes it all the more likely that these wearing apparel
were clothing of dead members of a first family.
Some suggest that Thomas Parnell’s wives may
have been daughters of John Vasser and John Portis. However there is no
explicit evidence for this conjecture. Many family groupings for Thomas Parnell
has his widow as being Susanna Portis however the name Susanna may have been
misreading of the nearly 350 year old document where a daughter Susanna was
named twice.
Its speculated that Thomas Parnell’s was
married to a daughter of the immigrant John Vasser who died in 1651. Much of
this is based on the fact that Vasser’s son Peter was called upon to inventory
Parnell’s estate, that there are several generation connections between the
children of Thomas Parnell and Peter Vasser, and John Williams who married Anne
Vasser was called “beloved friend” the term he used for his brother-in-law
Thomas Williams. The Parnell estate was ordered inventoried 17 August 1688 when
Peter Vasser, John Sherrer, and John Sojernor were appointed as
appraisers. Peter Vasser was not a near
neighbor of Thomas Parnell as was John Sherrer so his choice as an appraiser is
interesting. He may have been chosen because Vasser was an uncle to some of
Thomas Parnell’s children and would of have had an interest in the estate.
This John Vasser and his wife Elizabeth Dowe
came to Virginia Colony in the 1630’s and settled on Pagan Creek. There they
had two sons John and Peter and three daughters, Elizabeth, Mildred, and Anne.
Shortly after the death of Vasser, his eldest daughter Elizabeth married Daniel
Boucher, a prominent Quaker. Boucher had the means to raise these Vasser siblings
who were minors and was more than likely eager to marry them off to men who
could provide for them. The youngest daughter Anne Vasser certainly married
John Williams Senior circa 1671; therefore if Thomas Parnell married a Vasser,
she would had to have been the middle daughter Mildred. If this Vasser connection is correct then
Thomas Parnell would have been a brother in law to Daniel Boucher, John
Williams Senior and Peter Vasser. Daniel Boucher died long before Parnell in
April 1668. Daniel Boucher was unusual in that he took an inventory of his own
estate in March 1668 prior to his will being recorded in May 1668. In the
margin of the inventory he mentions a “dowlas tablecloth and wrought napkins
given to Mildred.” Certainly this was his sister-in-law Mildred Vasser and
perhaps were party of a wedding gift or dowry. She certainly would have been of
the age to marry.
Thomas Parnell provided for his wife for her
natural life and he put the estate of his minor children in her hands until
they came of age. “my will and desire is that my wife if in case it so happen
that it please God to spare her life for to enjoy the plantation and manor
house for life and is to have my whole estate in keeping with my sons and
daughters come of years except Susanna part and legacies.” It appears that this
wife might have been ill at the time of the writing of this will or there was a
contagious illness inflicting the settlers. It may be the reason why so many
young and middle aged men were writing wills during this period. In fact six
men in Thomas Parnell’s area had their wills record on 9 June 1688, the same
date as his. They were Daniel Miles, John Marshall, Francis Hobbs, William
Watson, Thomas Atchinson, and John Moor Senior.
John Moor Senior, the Shoemaker, specifically
mentioned in his will that he owned property next to some of Parnell’s
property; “son Thomas Moor and my daughter Elizabeth Moor and my daughter Anne
Moor each of them 100 acres of land joining Thomas Parnells line.” Moor also shared a boundary line with the
brothers John and Thomas Williams. Although John Moor Senior’s will was written
nearly six months prior to Parnell’s will, evidently they both died in the
spring of 1688 as that their wills were recorded on the same day 9 June
1688.
After the death of both Thomas Parnell Senior
and John Moor Senior the two families became permanently connected with the
marriage of their children Joseph Parnell and Elizabeth Moor. As that John
Williams Senior’s son John the Younger married Elizabeth’s sister Ann these
three families even became more connected after the deaths of these immigrant
patriarchs. John Williams the Younger, Joseph Parnell, and John Moor, Thomas
Moor, and William Moor were all brothers-in-law. Additionally Thomas Williams,
brother of John married Mary, Thomas Parnell’s sister.
Thomas Moore [Moor] and his brother William
Moore [Moor] were witnesses to a deed of their brother-in-law Joseph Parnell on
7 October 1707. Parnell sold off 284 acres of his inheritance from his father
Thomas Parnell Senior to a John Thomas.
This John Thomas along with John Williams the Younger and William Moore
were witnesses a land deed dated 20 October 1719 between John Britt “of North
Carolina in Meherring” and Hugh Brecy [Bressie] Jr. Although John Williams the
Younger was residing in Chowan Precinct at Horse Spring Branch at this date
other records show that he was going back and forth between North Carolina and
Virginia.
In
1723 John Moor Senior’s son, William Moore, was a witness to the Last Will and
Testament of William Vasser, Senior, the
son of Peter Vasser. William Vasser
Senior would have been a nephew of Thomas Parnell Senior if his father had
indeed married Mildred the sister Peter Vasser.
When Joseph Parnell signed his Last Will and
Testament 10 March 1736 [1737] his witnesses were were William Vasser, Jr.,
grandson of Peter Vasser, Jacob Moore, and Arthur Moore, grandsons of John Moor
Senior. If Joseph Parnell’s uncle was Peter Vasser then William Vasser Jr.
would have been the son of Joseph’s first cousin, William Vasser Senior. Joseph Parnell’s will was recorded 28
November 1737 and his heirs were his eldest son, Thomas Parnell, executor, wife Elizabeth Moor Parnell, around
56 years old at the time, and his other children William Parnell, Elizabeth
Parnell, Joseph Parnell [Jr.] , and “youngest son” John Parnell.
If Thomas Parnell Senior had married John
Vasser’s daughter Mildred Vasser and John Williams Senior had married her
younger sister Anne Vasser, it would explain a lot of these close family
connections. It would also have made John Williams the Younger and Joseph
Parnell first cousins as well as sons in law of the deceased John Moor.
Thomas Parnell does not specifically name
this wife an executrix of his will which is generally the case involving a
widow with minor children. Instead he appoints John Fulgham, John Williams, and
Thomas Williams to assist her in the carrying out the provisions of the will; “and
with all I do appoint my before named friends and overseers [John Fulgham. John
Williams, and Thomas Williams] to be assisting in the performance of this my
Last Will and Testament.”
Thomas Parnell had five children who were
minors “to have my whole estate in keeping with my sons and daughters come of
years.” However there were three other daughters, Anne Parnell Fulgham, Jane Parnell and Susanna
Parnell. Anne Parnell certainly would not have been considered a minor as that
she was a married woman. Jane Parnell was probably deceased and Susanna was
probably old enough to be given a horse, a silver spoon, and her “spinning
gear.” The three unnamed daughters are certainty the children of whom Parnell
entrusted his “beloved friends” for their education; “doe ordaine that my
Children Shal be brought up in the feare of the lord and to learne to wright
and reade and all accordinge to the discretion of my overseers". Thomas Parnell Junior and Joseph Parnell could
have been children of either a first or second wife although Thomas Parnell
refers to his “beloved wife” as their mother but she certainly could have been
a stepmother.
Thomas Parnell divided his estate into seven
shares, two of which went to the unnamed wife and five shares to his two sons
and three unnamed daughters. “unto my beloved wife two shares of al moveable
estate excepting all legacies which shall be given five shares to be divided
equally between my two sons and three daughters which five shares with their
mother’s two make seven shares.”
The legacies that were given that were not to
be part of the seven shares were given to sons Thomas and Joseph Parnell,
daughter Susanna, sisters Mary Williams and Jemima Drake, cousins a nephew John
Williams and a niece Sarah Williams, “beloved friends” John Fulgham, John
Williams, and Thomas Williams, John Drake, Joane Johnson, Boaz Gwinn and “my
man” an indentured servant Thomas Williams.
Thomas Parnell Senior left all his real
estate to his two sons Thomas and Joseph who were minors. As that any male
under 21 years was a minor these sons would have been born after 1668 and were probably
youth at the time of his father’s demise. While Thomas Parnell Senior evidently
left no real estate to his beloved wife he did allow that she would live at the
manor house and dwelling plantation for her natural life. Thomas Parnell
bequeathed to his eldest son Thomas Parnell the “dwelling plantation’” which
included about 400 acres. His legacy included the 250 acre plantations
purchased from Francis Ayres and the 150 Acre patent “Situate in a Forke
between the second and third swamp of the main Blackwater”, adjoining John
Richardson and Peter Hayes”.
Thomas Parnell Senior bequeathed to his “son
Joseph” over 1100 acres, “land bought of Edmond Palmer, adjoining upon Henry
West, Anthony Mathews and Col. [Arthur] Smith, also tract Curawaugh bought of
Col. Arthur Smith.” That Joseph received
nearly 3 times as much land as his eldest son leads to some speculation that
the 400 acres was improved land and the 1100 acres was not. Additionally he
left to his sons “moveable estate” to be
“shared equally” that included “all working tools both for cooper, carpenter,
and turner. A turner was someone who did lathe wood work.
The next legatee mentioned in Thomas
Parnell’s will was his daughter
“Susanna”. She inherited “one gray horse that George Williamson hath and one
silver spoon and all her spinning gear.” That she is mentioned separate and
apart from his beloved wife and three daughters implies that she was a daughter
from another marriage.
John Williams, his brother Thomas Williams,
and John Fulgham were mentioned as “beloved friends” by Thomas Parnell and
received personal items from Parnell “in remembrance of me.” The use of the
term “friends” may possibly indicate also that they were all Quakers as that
was the greeting they used among themselves and even today the official name of
the Quaker Church is the Society of Friends. This is not an unlikely scenario
as that religion and family connections generally determined marriage
possibilities, especially when property was at stake.
John Fulgham and John Williams were
bequeathed by Parnell expensive personal items of clothing with Fulgham having
first pick. Fulgham was given his choice “as he pleases” of a “cloth coate or
hayre camlett coat.” These items were waistcoats and the one Fulgham did not
choose “the refusal” was to go to John Williams
with “two drest [dressed] buck skins.” A camlet coat was usually a very
expensive waistcoat made of silk and some other material in this case hare fur
and often had expensive silver or gold buttons. A waistcoat was generally the
most elaborate article of a man's wardrobe in the seventeenth century. The deer
buck skins would have been made into hardy trousers or jackets.
Thomas Parnell then bequeathed to Thomas
Williams, “my second best suit of apparill [Apparel] and coastinge [coasting]
coalind which legacy I give unto my best friend and overseer in remembrance of
me.” The term “coasting coalind” is an archaic term for an item of clothing
that is unfamiliar today. Coastinge is certainly a 17th century
spelling of Coasting but the word coalind is an enigma. By the late seventeenth century, a man's
formal suit consisted of a coat, waistcoat, and breeches, or pants.
In the case of ”beloved friend” John Fulgham,
he was a sea captain as well as a Virginian planter who had married Parnell’s
daughter Anne prior to the writing of the will. John Fulgham was born 15 October
1639 in Pitminster, Somersetshire, England, the son of Anthony Fulgham and
would have been considerably older than Anne who was born circa 1669 mostly
likely the daughter of Mildred Vasser. If
John Fulgham, a son in law, was referred to as a “beloved friend” it is
certainly plausible and probable that both Thomas Williams Senior and John
Williams Senior were also in-laws to Parnell. In fact John Fulgham had
witnessed the 400 acre parcel transaction between brothers John and Thomas
Williams Senior and George Pierce in 1681. This property was the one next to
John Moor Senior. This deed document emphatically tied John Fulgham as an
acquaintance of Thomas and John Williams making it more than likely that these
three were the “beloved friends”. Fulgham
was nearly fifty years old when Thomas Parnell died and certainly a peer.
The only possible explanation for John
Williams to have been named a “beloved friend” is that he and Thomas Parnell
were brothers in law. John Williams was brother of Thomas Williams another “beloved
friend.”
An examination of the wills of both Thomas
Parnell Senior and Thomas Williams Senior show that the mark for Thomas
Williams signature on both documents are identical “Ŧ”. The Thomas Williams who was a witness to
Parnell’s will made his mark that was the same as when Thomas Williams signed
his own Last Will and Testament some five years later. While this mark was not unique to Thomas
Williams it is very strong evidence that they were made by the same man when
taken in consideration that Parnell mentions a sister named Mary Williams and
Thomas Williams names his wife as Mary. If Thomas Williams’ wife Mary mentioned
in his will was also the sister named in the will of Parnell then the two men would have been brothers-in-law.
Additional evidence that Parnell and Williams
were in-laws is that not only did Parnell bequeathed personal items to Thomas
Williams, he also asked Williams to be guardian of Parnell’s children and
executor of his estate. Williams was at Parnells side at the signing of Parnell’s
will as a witness.
.
Thomas Parnell requested that these three men become the “overseers” [executors and guardians] of his estate and children. He stated that the 7 shares of his estate was to be left “unto the care of my beloved friends Mr. John Ffulgham, John Williams; and Thomas Williams whom I appoint as overseers over my children and estate and with all I doe ordain.” He also placed these friends in charge of the education of his children; “doe ordaine that my Children Shal be brought up in the feare of the lord and to learne to wright and reade and all accordinge to the discretion of my overseers".
Towards
the end of his will Parnell reiterated his wish that these trusted men be
authorized to take care of his affairs. “Now the performance of this Will and
Testament my desire and will is that my wife if in case it so happen that it
please God to spare her life for to enjoy the planation and manor house for
life and to have my whole estate in keepinge [keeping] which my sonns and
daughters come of years Except Susannas part and legacies and with all I doe
appoint my before named friends and overseers to be assistinge [assisting] in
the performance of this my last will and testament.”
Another male legatee mentioned after the “beloved
friends” was John Drake who certainly was the husband of Thomas Parnell’s
sister Jemima. Drake was the son of Richard who was a English serge maker in
England. Serge is a type of twill fabric that has diagonal lines or ridges on
both sides, made with a two-up, two-down weave. John Drake’s family was from
South Petherton Parish in county Somerset, England where
John was baptized 3 May 1647. Sometime after 1650 his family moved to Bristol where
on 6 September 1658 his father Richard Drake indentured himself, his mother Thomazine and his siblings Thomas, and Mary to
a ship captain Andrew Ball. John Drake was indentured for ten years in return
for his transportation to the New World. As that Richard, his wife and daughter
Mary have been located past 1658 it is assume they died during the crossing.
John Drake and his younger brother Thomas arrived in Virginia as orphans.
John
Drake was sold to Hodges Council and Colonel Arthur Smith who both claimed head
rights to the boy. His younger brother Thomas was sold to Edward and Elizabeth
Gibbs a couple from Bristol, England also. When he turned 21 years old John
Drake’s indentureship was up about 1668 and shortly afterwards married Jemima Parnell.
Drake was no doubt a poor relation to Thomas Parnell
and probably worked as a tenant farmer for Parnell. He owned no lands until 22
September 1682 he received a patent of 100 acres of land “on the south west side of
Currawaugh Swamp in Isle of Wight County, beginning at the mouth of a Branch
that dividing it from Thomas Mann to “Hogges Councills” line then by his line
north west to [Thomas] Parnells corner and by Parnells lines north north left
at mark free of Col. Bridgers land and for by Col. Bridgers said swamp for the
transportation of two persons Richard Foote and Thomas Wiltshire.”
As
that Drake was never financially successful the money to import two people may
have been fronted to him or borrowed. Various inventories of estates in Isle of
Wight showed that John Drake as in debt to several planters. Evidently the 100
acres of land that he received as a patent was never cultivated for it was forfeited
by 1690 when the tract was regranted to one William Fowler. Drakes’ default
might be attributed to his death, perhaps from the same illnesses that swept away
many Isle of Wight settlers from 1687 to 1693.
John
Drake left no will, indicating that he died probably suddenly. His widow Jemima
Parnell Drake appeared in two records from 1694, including a deposition in
which she gives her age and implies her widowhood. 11 Dec 1694: Deposition of
Jemima Drake, aged 43, [1651] “states that last July she heard Samuel Cahoon
say that Thomas Norsworthy had sex with Frances Meacom.” After thus date she has
not been tracked and may have died or remarried.
On
the basis of ages, property locations, and colonial naming patterns, John and
Jemima Drakes off springs where probably Thomas Drake, Richard Drake, and John
Drake although there are no legal documents to substantiate. As Jemima Parnell
married probably about 1670 there must have been more children in the twenty
year interim before John’s death in 1690. A few would have been daughters who
married and other offspring who did not live to maturity. The children of John and Jemima Parnell Drake would
have been first cousins to Thomas Parnell and Thomas Williams’ children. A
daughter of Thomas Drake and Anne Griffith named Mary was born in 1712 and
married William Williams a son of Nicholas Williams and Anne Lewis. William
Williams was the grandson of John Williams Senior and grand nephew of Thomas
and Mary Parnell Williams.
John
Drake probably did not have the financial security of his brother-in-law Thomas
Williams and thus was not asked to care for Thomas Parnell’s children and
estate. Parnell did two legacies. and
John Drake to whom he left “my best leather breeches and waistcoat and hatt
which I commonly wear.” Drake was no
doubt a brother-in-law married to Parnell’s sister Jemima however he must not
have shared in Parnell’s affections as he was not called a “beloved friend.” He
did also give Drake one “ozenberry coate and a pair of dimetty or lininge
[linen] drawers.” The word ozenberry is a variant form or simply a misspelling
for the term “Osnaburg” or “ozenbrig” It’s a type of weave that originated in
Germany and was highly durable. Ozenbrig was perhaps the most widely used
imported cloth in Virginia which was “a tough, coarse linen woven in Osnabruck,
Westphalia. This cloth made into nearly everything “from breeches and entire
suits to sheets, table covers, and carpetbags”. As that Colonials did not wear
underwear in the modern sense, the term drawers referred to knee length shirts
that were worn under waistcoats and at night as nightshirts. A shirt made from
dimity would have been lightweight but as durable as linen cloth. The items of clothing given to John Drake would
have been work clothes more than dress clothe which indicates his status as a
laborer.
Mary Williams and her sister Jemima Drake
were left personal items that had belonged to Thomas Parnell’s wife most likely
a deceased first wife. “I give and bequeath unto my sister Mary Williams my
wives best suit of apparrell. I give and bequeath unto my sister Jemima my
wives second best sute of apparel.” Mary
Parnell Williams was probably the older of the two sisters and by her marriage
to a landowner probably had a higher status in the community. If Jemima was born in 1651, Mary was probably
born several years before that. Mary
Parnell Williams signed the inventory of her husband Thomas Williams with her
own mark of “M”. Evidently Thomas
Williams and Mary was married in 1670 or earlier as to have a son old enough to
have learned the trade of shoemaker.
Another legatee of Thomas Parnell was a
female named Joane Johnson. Her relationship to Thomas Parnell is an enigma. No
kinship nor servile relationship is mention. A planter named Robert Johnson
lived in the same proximity as Thomas Parnell to whom Joane may have been
related as his kin. She would not have been an indentured servant or she would
have been listed in the inventory of the estate. However she could have been a
faithful employed servant. Whatever may have been her relationship to Parnell he
gave her “ three els of the best dowlas I have in my custody.” These words were
archaic textile terms. An ell was a measurement from the elbow to the tip of
the forefinger and was standardize to be about 40 inches. So Johnson inherited
about 10 feet of plain cloth chiefly used for aprons or kitchen cloth but the
finer dowlas cloth were sometimes made into shirts for workmen. If the dowlas
cloth was the finest Thomas Parnell had it was probably used for shirts.
The next legatees were a nephew and niece for
whom Thomas Parnell uses the archaic term “cousin” to state his relationship to
them which could be used to describe any relative outside the immediate family
but was generally used for the children of one’s siblings. Parnell must have
had a special fondness for these relatives and they were probably mature enough
to receive a legacy on their own. These two
individuals were John Williams and Sarah Williams who were most likely
offspring of Mary and Thomas Williams. However this is problematic as that
Thomas Williams while mentioning a son named John in his will there was no
mention of a daughter named Sarah. As
that there were six years between the writing of the two wills 1687 and 1693 it
is certainly possible that Sarah may have died within that period.
“I give unto my cozen John Williams all the
hydes [hides] that hee had of myne in taninge [tanning] being seventeen in
number with tubs and implements only the said John Williams my cozen is to make
two pairs of shoos [shoes] a piece for my family that remains and one pair of
shooes for my man Thomas Williams against he is free and in performance of all
accounts to be cleare between us
likewise I doe appoint my man Thomas for his freedom, clothes of shooes and
stockings.”
This item in Thomas Parnell suggests that
John Williams was a shoemaker and that he was old enough to incur debt probably
the cost of the hides which could have been cow hides or deer hides. If so,
John Williams would have been born at least before 1667 if he was not a minor
under 21 years. This would have had Thomas Williams and Mary Williams marrying
before that time. It appears that this suggests that Thomas was an older
brother of John Williams Senior who came to Virginia in 1666 along with John
Moor Senior from Bristol, England. Having a relative already in Virginia may
have even persuaded John to throw his lot and fortune in with the settlers of
Virginia Colony.
“I give ad bequeath unto my cousin Sarah
Williams my daughter Janes best suet [suit] of apparel of serge.” Sarah would
have been an adolescent to have been given a suit of clothing. Sarah is not
mentioned in her father’s will that he made before he died in 1693. As in the
case of Anne Parnell wife of John Fulgham, Sarah may have been married by then
and simply not mentioned. She also certainly could have died during this time
from the disease that was ravening the
planters living along the swamps and waterways of Southside Virginia.
Mary Parnell Williams recorded the estate of
her late husband on 9 October 1693. No price was attached to his personal
property and his moveable estate which evidently the family was keeping and not
selling. Thomas Williams estate consisted of “14 heads of cattle young and old,
1 horse, 3 beds one of them a feather bed and the other two flock beds and
covering to them, one gun, one brass kettle about 12 gallons, 5 pewter dishes,
a pewter tankard about 3 pints, and a dozen spoons pewter, a spice mortar
brass, and 3 iron pots one of them about 8 gallons and the others 2 and 4
gallons, One long table and form, one great chest, one case of bottles and one
box of linen and three spinning wheels one of them is a woolen wheel and the
other two is linen wheels and one
hackle.” A hackle was a tool like comb for dressing flax, raw silk To separate, as the
coarse part of flax or hemp from the fine, by drawing it through the teeth of a
hackle or hatchel. From the inventory it appears that Thomas Williams was a
weaver or cloth maker. Mary Williams turned in the inventory to the court recorder
Hugh Davis which was required by law.
Perhaps in payment for witnessing the will or
maybe just as a close neighbor, Boaz Gwin received a legacy of a pig certainly
to be butchered for its meat. “I give and bequeath unto Boaz Gwin one barrow of
hogg of two years old due next fall.” A barrow is a young castrated pig used
for food and not for breeding. Gwin was a witness for many land owners in Isle
of Wight all though he did not seem to be an especially affluent man. He was
also called upon as well to witness the wills of Anne Vasser’s two husbands, John
Williams Senior and Arnold Shumacke.
Boaz Gwin began witnesses land and probate records in Isle of Wight as
early as 1679 and he witnessed over 10 legal documents before he died in 1698
when his wife Sarah gave an inventory of his estate. Boaz and Sarah Gwin’s daughter
Sarah Gwin married Thomas Summerell, son of John Summerell who owned 420 acres
on the east side of the Blackwater in the Kingsale area.
The other witnesses to Thomas Parnell’s will
were Robert Littleboy and Boaz Gwin’. Robert Littleboy had property in Isle of Wight
and in Surry County near the land grant of
John Williams Senior and John Brown. In 1684 Littleboy owed tobacco to the
estate of Thomas Pitt as did John Drake as well as many others. His will was
made in 1721 but not probated until 1730 so he must have been a young man when
he witnessed this will of Parnell. On 9 June 1688, Thomas Williams and Robert
Littleboy recorded and swore before the court that they had witnessed Thomas
Parnell sign his Last Will and Testament.
An appraisal of Thomas Parnell’s estate was
made 17 August 1688 which was valued at 7,915 pounds of Tobacco. The estate of
Thomas Parnell included “one negro man” who was valued at 4000 pounds of
tobacco. Although he was Thomas Parnell’s most valuable asset this person of
color was not bequeathed to anyone. As he was part of the estate’s appraisal he
may have been listed to be valued for taxes. As that the entire moveable estate
was valued at 7,915 pounds of tobacco, this slave was worth half of Thomas
Parnell’s estate. It possibly may well have been that this man was the Thomas
Williams who was to be given his freedom and called by Thomas Parnell as my
man.
Another inventory dated 26 February 1688
[1689] showed that Parnell’s plantation contained 24 heads of cattle and milk
cows.
It is a testimony to the hardship these early
Virginians endured that John Moor Senior, Thomas Parnell Senior, John Williams
Senior, Thomas Williams Senior, and probably John Drake all died relatively
young in their 40’s and all within about five years of each other. The strenuous
labor of being indentured servants before become land owners and the diseases
that arose from the swamp lands wore these men out in the prime of their lives
most never living to see any grandchildren.
So far no other Williams has been so
genetically identified as a kinsman to John Williams other than Thomas Williams but circumstantial
evidence suggest that Lewis Williams who died 1678 in Surry County, Virginia
was another brother or close kin.
However, so far no known descendant of Lewis Williams DNA has been tested
for confirmation.
John Williams Sr. and Thomas Williams on 9 September 1681 together bought a 400 acre tract of land part of a patent granted to George Pierce who had acquired the land from a headright patent dated 23 April 1681. Pierce transported 8 persons “John Williams, Edward Wilkson, Anthony Ward, Mary Walker, Edward Acly, Thomas Moore, Tuley Smith, Thomas Paine.” This leads one to speculate whether John Williams had returned to England on some business and came back with means to purchase land from Pierce.
The purchased land was just south of George Peirce’s
larger patent of 2,500 acres in the Corrowaugh Swamp and Kingsale Swamp area
east of the Blackwater River. Other huge estates were the 3000 acres plantation owned jointly by Colonel
Robert Pitt, Colonel Joseph Bridger and William Burgh near Duck Swamp.
This 400 acre tract of land shared a common
border on the northwest with John Williams Sr. old friend John Moor the shoemaker. John Moor acquired his 300 acre farm 23 April
1681 as a headright for transporting 6 people so he must have been a successful farmer in the ten years he was freed from his indenture. His farm shared a northwesterly border with Phillip Raiford [Wrayford and Rayford] whose 350 acre farmed adjoined John
and Thomas Williams land along a southwesterly border. John Moore may have been
the very reason John Williams acquired this tract because of its proximity to
him.
The Isle of Wight deed between George Pierce and John and Thomas Williams is as follows: “Know all men by these present that I George Peirce of the Isle of Wight County do assign all my right Title & Claim of the wherein mentioned four hundred Acres of Land & warrant the assignment Just & lawful, unto John & Thomas Williams of the aforesaid County their heirs & Assignees as Witness whereof my hand & seal this 9th of September 1681. Recorded October 10th 1681.Witnesses John Hale and Thomas T Jones.
The Williams brothers Plantation was watered by Jenkins Swamp that flowed across their land and across Phillip Rayford’s farm where it joined the Duck Swamp before becoming tributaries to the Blackwater River. A dam was constructed on the Rayford land which created a 1500 foot long pond known as Jenkins Pond that was primarily on the Willliams property until it became a swamp again into George Pierce’s land grant. Today this land would be roughly bordered by Knoxville Road Rt 609 on the East, Route 651 in the Northwest and on the south by Walter’s Highway Rt 258. This area is also known as the Kinsale and Carrowaugh area and is about two miles west of the farming community of Windsor.
Thomas Williams and John Williams Sr. each owned 200 acres of the grant but probably worked together. Thomas Williams was probably married a few years after he was freed from his indenture. His wife's name was Mary, last name unknown but perhaps Parnell the sister of Thomas Parnell, and he had six children before his death in 1693. His children were John Williams circa 1680, Richard Williams circa 1682, Thomas Williams circa 1684, Arthur Williams circa1686, Mary Williams circa 1688 and Ann Williams circa 1690. The exact birth order of his children is an estimate. They were all minors at the time of their father's death and his widow would have certainly remarried. John Williams Sr. and Thomas Williams children may have all known each other growing up on their father's plantation. Although it appears that John Williams Sr's manor house was on the 1678 purchased land.
Within a year John Williams Sr. purchased another tract of land from Quaker William Boddie of Lower Parish, in the Isle of Wight in 11 November 1682. The land description was that it was at Parson's Swamp on the eastside of lower Cypress Swamp but it had an undisclosed amount of land. One of the witnesses to the deed was John Jones who would later witnessed the will of John’s brother Thomas Williams. William Boddie had sold to John Jones, “Cooper”, also parcel of land where he now lives of 10 or 12 acres. In a 1691 deed transaction description Parson Branch was said to be on the east side of Cypress Swamp and listed John Williams, John Higgs, William Hooker, Christopher Bly, Joseph Wall and George Foster as all having lands in that vicinity.
The Isle of Wight deed between George Pierce and John and Thomas Williams is as follows: “Know all men by these present that I George Peirce of the Isle of Wight County do assign all my right Title & Claim of the wherein mentioned four hundred Acres of Land & warrant the assignment Just & lawful, unto John & Thomas Williams of the aforesaid County their heirs & Assignees as Witness whereof my hand & seal this 9th of September 1681. Recorded October 10th 1681.Witnesses John Hale and Thomas T Jones.
The Williams brothers Plantation was watered by Jenkins Swamp that flowed across their land and across Phillip Rayford’s farm where it joined the Duck Swamp before becoming tributaries to the Blackwater River. A dam was constructed on the Rayford land which created a 1500 foot long pond known as Jenkins Pond that was primarily on the Willliams property until it became a swamp again into George Pierce’s land grant. Today this land would be roughly bordered by Knoxville Road Rt 609 on the East, Route 651 in the Northwest and on the south by Walter’s Highway Rt 258. This area is also known as the Kinsale and Carrowaugh area and is about two miles west of the farming community of Windsor.
Thomas Williams and John Williams Sr. each owned 200 acres of the grant but probably worked together. Thomas Williams was probably married a few years after he was freed from his indenture. His wife's name was Mary, last name unknown but perhaps Parnell the sister of Thomas Parnell, and he had six children before his death in 1693. His children were John Williams circa 1680, Richard Williams circa 1682, Thomas Williams circa 1684, Arthur Williams circa1686, Mary Williams circa 1688 and Ann Williams circa 1690. The exact birth order of his children is an estimate. They were all minors at the time of their father's death and his widow would have certainly remarried. John Williams Sr. and Thomas Williams children may have all known each other growing up on their father's plantation. Although it appears that John Williams Sr's manor house was on the 1678 purchased land.
Within a year John Williams Sr. purchased another tract of land from Quaker William Boddie of Lower Parish, in the Isle of Wight in 11 November 1682. The land description was that it was at Parson's Swamp on the eastside of lower Cypress Swamp but it had an undisclosed amount of land. One of the witnesses to the deed was John Jones who would later witnessed the will of John’s brother Thomas Williams. William Boddie had sold to John Jones, “Cooper”, also parcel of land where he now lives of 10 or 12 acres. In a 1691 deed transaction description Parson Branch was said to be on the east side of Cypress Swamp and listed John Williams, John Higgs, William Hooker, Christopher Bly, Joseph Wall and George Foster as all having lands in that vicinity.
 |
| George Fox |
Persecuted at home and not welcomed in the
Puritan theocratic colonies of New England, many Quakers settled in Southside
Virginia, Maryland, and Rhode Island. However In
1660 an Act of the Virginia Assembly decreed that captains of any ship
bringing Quakers into the colony would be was fined 100 pounds. Additionally all
Quakers who did enter were to be expelled. This measure was largely ignored.
Three years after buying a tract of land from William Boddie, John Williams Sr. was wealthy enough to join his son-in-law John Browne in transporting 24 people to the colony. For this effort, John Williams Sr and John Browne Jr received a headright patent of 1200 acres on 20 April 1685. This land grant adjoined lands of Nicholas Sessums and Robert
Savage in Surry County. This almost two mile tract
of land was located probably near Pigeon Swamp.
 |
| This plat map does not show the 1200 acre grant of John Williams Sr and John Browne but doe show the location of Charles and Robert Savage's grant, that of Richard Blow, and Nicholas Sessums. This land was near Pigeon Swamp |
The 20 April 1685 grant of 1200 acre patent was located in Surry County but it gave no
geographical information such as rivers or creeks to define the area where it was located However the plat gave the names the people whose lands bordered the grant. Roughly John Williams the
younger’s farm was located in an area east of Cypress Swamp and west of Green
Swamp. To the south was the Blackwater
River and to the north Gray Creek. Pigeon Creek probably ran through some of the 1200 acre parcel.
The plat's starting point was a pine tree at the corner of Nicholas Sessums lands on the southeast side of Pigeon Swamp. From there it went 1732.5 feet southwest to a small red oake in Robert Savages line. Robert Savage's lands joined Charles Savages lands. From there it went west northwest 1221 feet to a red oak then south 4554 feet to a hickory tree then east southeast 1122 feet. From that hickory tree the line went southwest 1171.5 feet to a red oak tree and from this tree west south west 495 feet to a small red oak tree on Charles Savages line.
Charles Savage lands were on a
branch of the Blackwater and from here the line went north north west 2673 feet to a pine tree. The line then went southeast by south 439 feet to a stooping white oak then south 3960 feet to a red oak sapling. From here the plat line went southeast 4356 feet to a white oak tree on Richard Lane's line.
Richard Lane's lands were located near Sunken Marsh and Mill Creek. From here the line went southwest 1848 feet to a red oak on Robert Caudfield's line at Sunken Marsh. This plat line bordered Caudfield's line northwest 12,210 feet to a persimmon tree. The line continued 1023 feet to a pine tree at Joseph Walls corner tree then from there northeast by north 4686 feet to a pine tree on the south side the said branch near the head. Joseph Wall's lands were on the side of William Thompson's land on the northeast side of Cypress Swamp.
From that pine the line with northeast 1023 feet to a small black oak, then north another 6006 feet to a small red oak, a corner tree between Joseph Wall and Richard Smith line. Richard Smith’s lands were on the south side of Pigeon Creek. From this point 660 feet to a pine in a branch then northwest down a branch 4356 feet to a gum tree in the mouth of a small branch to Richard Blows corner tree. From there up a small branch and a line of trees 2739 feet to a white oak by a branch side being a corner tree between Richard Blow and Nicolas Sessums. Richard Blows lands were on the south side of Pigeon Creek as were Sessum. From the corner tree up the said branch southwest 924 feet tp a great pine at the head of said branch and after the same course 429 feet further to a red oak then southeast 660 feet to another red oak then south east 1551 feet to the end.
The patent described the land as adjoining
Nicholas Sessions, to Robert Savage, to Charles Savage, to Richard Lane, to Robert
Caufield, to Joseph Wall, to Richard Smith and to Richard Blow. All these men had lands
in this general area of Pigeon Swamp, Sunken Marsh, and Mill Swamp in Surry County. This 1200 acre property
is probably near the present community of Elberon on Virginia State HWY 31 about 10 miles north of Franklin Virginia. Six hundred acres of this tract of land was bequeathed by John Williams Sr to his sons according to his Last Will and Testament.
John Williams Sr. lived only another 7 years and died within five months of making
out his will. He wrote out his Last Will and Testament on March 9, 1692 although dated old calendar style as 1691. Prior to the middle of the 18th Century the legal new year began on March 25. His will was recorded in 9 August 1692 but a Surry County tithing record dated 10 June 1692 shows a John Williams living there although this could have been the son John Williams Jr. He probably died in July 1692 in Lower Parish, Isle of Wight as wills were recorded at the earliest conveyance of County Court. He was probably close to 47 years old when he died.By the time of John Williams Sr.'s death in 1692, he had acquired 975 acres near Antioch Swamp, 150 acres of land on Parson's Branch, 200 acres of land on the eastside of Blackwater River near Jenkins Swamp and 600 acres on Mill Swamp in Surry County.
John Williams Sr. mentioned in his Last Will and Testament his wife Ann sons, John “the eldest”, William, Thomas, Nicholas, Richard and Theophilus “the youngest son” and two daughters. Other legatees were three granddaughters with the surname Browne, William Hickman, Daniel Long Jr and Thomas Wright. .
It is clear from John Williams’ will that he raised and bred horses, cattle and milch cows on his place as well as grew tobacco. He willed five young cows to granddaughters, and his workers. He willed two mares and their foals to legatees. While he had laborers such as “my boy William Hickman” and Daniel Long Jr, it is doubtful that John used African Americans as bondage servants or they would have been mentioned in his will.
John Williams Sr. mentioned in his Last Will and Testament his wife Ann sons, John “the eldest”, William, Thomas, Nicholas, Richard and Theophilus “the youngest son” and two daughters. Other legatees were three granddaughters with the surname Browne, William Hickman, Daniel Long Jr and Thomas Wright. .
The Will of John Williams dated 9 March 1692,
probated 9 August, 1692, Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
In the name of God Amen I John Williams Senr
of the lower parish of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia: being very sick
and weak but of perfect mind and memory do give and bequeath all my wordly
goods as followeth. Imprimus I give and bequeath my Soul to
almighty God my maker hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to
obtain remission for my sins through his death and passion and my body to the
earth from whence I came to be decently buried by my beloved wife Ann Williams
and my children.
Secondly I give my now dwelling &
plantation unto my beloved wife Ann Williams during her life with all edifices
and buildings thereunto belonging and after her decease the manor plantation be
returned unto my eldest sonn John Williams and to the hyers [heirs] of his body and in
case he the said John Williams had rather stay in Surrey County on the
plantation that he is now seated or then to take the manor plantation then the
said manor plantation is to descend to my youngest sonn Theophilus Williams and
the hyres of his body truely begotten and in case John Williams wishes to take
manor plantation then Theophilus to enjoy the plantation in Surry County that
John Williams is now seated containing one hundred and fifty acres
Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son William
one parcel of land lying and being in Newport parish which parcel of land
contains two hundred acres lying near Meadows which parcel of land my foursaid
Sonn William Williams is to enjoy with all appurtenances thereunto belonging to
him and the hyers of his body truly begotten.
4th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn
Thomas Williams and the heyrs of his body truly begotten one hundred and fifty
acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the
same tract where my sonn John William now liveth and he the sayd Thomas
Williams and his heirs to enjoy the same with all benefits and appurtenances
there unto belonging
5th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn
Nicholas Williams and the heyrs of his body truly begotten one parcel of one
hundred and fifty acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County
and part of the same tract of land where my Sonn John Williams now liveth to
his heyrs truly begotten with all appurtenances and benefits there unto
belonging
6th I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Richard
Williams and the heirs of his body truly begotten one parcel of land lying and
being in Surry County containing one hundred and fifty acres being part of the
same tract of land which my aforesaid Sonn John Williams liveth and to him the
sayd Richard Williams and the heirs of his body truly begotten with all
benefits and appurtenances there unto belonging and after the possession of the
same.
I and in this my last Will and Testament I do bind charge and command all an every of my Sonns from the eldest to the youngest neither to sell lease or morgage any part or parcell of any of the aforesaid tracts of land by any means but to remain unto them and the heirs of their bodys truly begotten and in case that any of these my Sonns decease without Issue that then that parcell of land to whom it belongs shall be bound to the next surviving heir.
I and in this my last Will and Testament I do bind charge and command all an every of my Sonns from the eldest to the youngest neither to sell lease or morgage any part or parcell of any of the aforesaid tracts of land by any means but to remain unto them and the heirs of their bodys truly begotten and in case that any of these my Sonns decease without Issue that then that parcell of land to whom it belongs shall be bound to the next surviving heir.
7th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary
one feather Bed and boulster [stufed pillow] one Rugg one blanket one sheet
8th I give and bequeath unto my next daughter
Jane Williams one feather bed boulster Rugg one blankett one sheet
9th I give and bequeath unto Anne Brown my
grand daughter one yearling heifer [cow]
10th I give and bequeath to my grand daughter
Bridgett Brown one yearling heifer,
- next I give and bequeath unto my boy William Hickman one yearling heifer,
- likewise there is belonging unto Mary Brown one cow and yearling which I order to be delivered to her according to the direction of my wife,
- likewise I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid grand daughter Mary Brown one feather bed and boulster,
- likewise I give unto my Sonn Thomas Williams the marr [mare] foal which goes with the marr likewise I give all the future increase of my mare among my children and this increase be provided as they fall in course beginning at the eldest and for as they fall to the youngest whether heifer or mare as it happens and after my children and should then my grandchildren to have a part of the increase and
- likewise the mare at Thomas Wrights the first foal that she bring I give and bequeath it unto Daniel Long Junior and after Daniell hath his foal the mare and her after issue to be bound to Thomas Wright and the heyrs of his body lawfully begotten and
- after all these ligaties [legatees] in this my Will and for the performance of the same I do constitute and appoint my most beloved wife Ann Williams my whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to for and endeavour to perform all these many ligaties as they shall be demanded in Course of my children come to age and my aforesaid Wife Ann Williams to enjoy all my proper estate and plantation which is not here exprest as long as they live and for acknowledgement this is my last Will and Testament as Witness my hand this ninth day of March in the year of our lord god 1692 John (F) Williams Senior
The witness Boaz Gwin began witnessing land and probate records in Isle of Wight as early as 1679. He witnessed 10 legal documents including the two husbands of Anne Williams and that of Thomas Parnell who was married to a Vasser. There are no records of him owning any property in the county. He died in 1697 and his daughter Sarah married Thomas Summerell son of John Summerell who owned 420 acres on the east side of the Blackwater in the Kingsale area.
Alexander Matthews was the son of Elizabeth Boddie Matthew and grandson of William Boddie.
John Williams’s will was proved in open Court for the Isle of Wight County on August the 9th 1692 by the Witness of the
will and was ordered to be recorded
which was done by 20 weeks of the death of the deceased at the next County Court
session. Therefore it is pretty reliable that John Williams died in late July 1692
or very early August perhaps at the age of 47 years.
Anne Vasser Williams as widow was the Executrix of
the will of her husband John Williams Sr. She was given the plantation and
“Manor” house in Lower Parish of Isle of Wight. This land was to go to his oldest
John upon her death. Her sons Thomas, Nicholas, Richard and Theophilus were
given the 600 acres in Surry County that their father had received as a
headright in 1685 to be divided equally among them. John Williams, being the
eldest son had already established a home on 150 acres there in Surry and was
given the choice of staying in Surry and his inheritance in Isle of Wight would
revert to Theophilus. Son William Williams was given the 200 acre plantation
that his father had bought from George Pierce in 1681 so neither of these
tracts of land were the property called “the manor plantation.”
One of beneficiaries named in John Williams Sr. will was his son in law Thomas Wright who had married daughter Elizabeth Williams prior to his will being drawn in March 1692. The daughters of his son-in-law John Browne, Ann, Bridgett, and Mary were legatees as was William Hickman who married daughter Mary Williams after 1692.
Not much is known of the legatee Daniel Long Jr. except that his father of Daniel Long was a farmer of a small tract of land of 60 acres which he patent in 1682 probably as his own headright. He added 30 acres to it when he bought from Walter Rutter and his wife Martha Bagnall daughter of James Bagnall. This deed between Long and Rutter dated 29 October 1688 and the witnesses to it were John Browne and William West Jr. In April 1690 Daniel Long served on a jury along with William West, Walter Rutter, John Moore James Benn, Jacob Durden, Will Godwin, James Tullaugh, Wm. Bradshaw, Wm. Powell, John Bathurst, and Richard Hutchins to settle a dispute between John Nevill and Richard Reynold. Not much more is known of this family. I would not be surprised if Jane Williams, the one unaccounted for daughter, was married by Daniel Long Jr.
One of beneficiaries named in John Williams Sr. will was his son in law Thomas Wright who had married daughter Elizabeth Williams prior to his will being drawn in March 1692. The daughters of his son-in-law John Browne, Ann, Bridgett, and Mary were legatees as was William Hickman who married daughter Mary Williams after 1692.
Not much is known of the legatee Daniel Long Jr. except that his father of Daniel Long was a farmer of a small tract of land of 60 acres which he patent in 1682 probably as his own headright. He added 30 acres to it when he bought from Walter Rutter and his wife Martha Bagnall daughter of James Bagnall. This deed between Long and Rutter dated 29 October 1688 and the witnesses to it were John Browne and William West Jr. In April 1690 Daniel Long served on a jury along with William West, Walter Rutter, John Moore James Benn, Jacob Durden, Will Godwin, James Tullaugh, Wm. Bradshaw, Wm. Powell, John Bathurst, and Richard Hutchins to settle a dispute between John Nevill and Richard Reynold. Not much more is known of this family. I would not be surprised if Jane Williams, the one unaccounted for daughter, was married by Daniel Long Jr.
As noted before daughter Elizabeth was not mentioned in John Williams Sr. will. Some have speculated she was a step child to John Williams Sr. and not his daughter. Being a step child is pure speculation and there are other reasons why she was left out of her father's will. There appears to have been some family conflict with this daughter. Beside not being mentioned in her John Williams Sr.'s will, none of her brothers or sisters seemed to have much interaction with the Wright family. None of John Williams Sr's sons or family members acted as witnesses to any legal dealings of this family.
Thomas Wright Jr. was a much older than Elizabeth Williams, at least 20 years older if not 25. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibbs and he married Elizabeth Williams before 1693 and even more likely before March 1692. He would have been in his forties and she in her teens. The Wrights were not of the same social class as most of the landowners of Isle of Wight and perhaps John did not think him a suitable husband.
Thomas Wright is a legatee of sorts. John Williams bequeathed to Thomas Wright a foal from one of his mares. "the mare at Thomas Wrights the first foal that she bring I give and bequeath it unto Daniel Long Junior and after Daniell hath his foal the mare and her after issue to be bound to Thomas Wright." The average gestation of a foal takes 340 days but a mare can be bred every year so that earliest Thomas Wright could claim the mare was probably 1693. The fact that Thomas Wright was named in the will after John Williams servants indicates that John Williams was not all that fond of Thomas Wright. If Elizabeth and Thomas Wright had any children before John Williams made his will, they are not mentioned.
Thomas and Elizabeth Williams Wright probably did not have children until after March 1692. They were sons John Wright, James Wright, Thomas Wright, Joseph Wright and a daughter Mary Wright.
John Williams Sr. would have been buried at his manor plantation. If he had a marker it had long vanished. He is probably buried at the head waters of Burgh's Swamp [Antioch] as that his grandson Arthur Williams sold off 340 acres of John Williams Sr.'s manor to John Sellaway except for three acres of "burying places." Arthur Williams was the youngest son of John Williams Jr. and sold this land the 16 August 1730. Certainly this was burial grounds for his grandparents and Theophilus Williams the youngest child of John Williams Sr and his wife Ann Williams and possibly others. This deed was witnessed by Quakers Richard Pope and Thomas Gale.
 |
| Tobacco Farm near Windsor Virginia similar to where John Williams Sr is buried |
Within a year of John Williams Sr.'s death, his brother Thomas Williams and his youngest son Theophilus died. Theophilus died under the age of 5, perhaps in 1693 from measles. On 29 April 1693 Virginia Governor Edmund Andros issued a proclamation for a “day of Humiliation and Prayer” due to a measles outbreak in the colony. It must have been a wide spread epidemic for the Governor to issue a Proclamation.
Theophilus Williams was mentioned in his father’s will on 9 March 1692 but is absence from his mother’s Deed of Gift to her children as she was preparing to remarry. Therefore it’s safe to assume that he died after 9 March 1692 and before 9 April 1694 and was probably buried next to his father on the family manor plantation. Theophilus’ oldest brother John Williams Jr. is the only member of the family to name a son after this lost brother, presumably for the affection he had for this boy. John Williams Jr.'s own son was probably born close to the time of his young uncle’s death in 1693.
When John Williams Sr. died Anne Williams had
seven minor children to care for. William Williams, the second son was probably 15 years old followed by Thomas
about 13 Years old and Mary about 11 years old. The remaining children would
have been under 10 years old. However with the help of William Hickman and
Daniel Long Jr. she was able to provide for her young family by herself until
she decided to remarry in 1694 probably at the age of 45.
Anne Williams second husband was Arnold
Shumacke, a middle aged man with grown children of his own. He was not a man of
much means or property He was not a near neighbor according to deeds. So the marriage is hard to explain unless they
were of the same of religious persuasion or even perhaps friends before her
marriage to John Williams in 1671.
Arnold Shumake [Shoemake, Shumacke] was of
French descent as were the Vassers. The
surname name was derived from de la Chaumette which was Anglicized as "Shoomach" and later as Shumacke.
Records show him as living on Pagan Creek in Isle of Wight County, Virginia for
some years prior to 1668. John Vasser original headright grant was also on
Pagan Creek and Shumacke may have been a family friend since both families were
once French Huguenot Protestants. If so,
this may explain why he and Anne Williams married as he was much older than her and
brought little or anything into the marriage. He had grown 6 children, a son
and five daughters from a first wife who were living on their own. The children of John Williams may not have
been close to their step father or step brother and sisters for there is no
record of any interaction between the two families except for their mother’s
marriage.
Anne Williams and Arnold Shumacke were
married between 9 April 1694 and 21 May 1694 when her second husband recorded "I do give my free and voluntary consent to the within deed, made by my
now wife when she was in her widowhood."
The deed referred to was a deed of gift made out 9 April 1694 to her children of personal property and
possessions of her late husband John Williams. This probably was done to
assuage hard feelings and to make sure property of their father did not become
property of the new stepfather. In colonial Virginia a married woman could not
make out a will, so this was Anne Williams’s
way of insuring personal property went to her own children by means of this deed
of gift.
Anne Williams, widow of John Williams Sr, by
deed of gift has given to her loving children;
Anne Williams owned no real property of her own, John Williams Sr. having devised his estate to his children in his will. However Anne was given use of the manor plantation until her death. Her oldest son John Williams Jr. was given his mother's "great chest", which seems odd until one realizes that a chest was a furniture mainstay for the early colonists and were valuable. They were used for storage as it was still the custom to fold your clothes and put them away in chests. Hooks were just for hanging up your hat or cloak because they might be too wet to put away. Anne Williams valued this piece of furniture so much that she devised it to her second son if John the younger died to keep it in the family.
John Williams and Elizabeth Wright are only mentioned once in the deed of gift of Anne Williams so it appears that she was providing for her younger unmarried children as that once she remarried all of her property would become her new husband. She gave to each of her unmarried children, a ewe [female sheep] and lamb.To her sons she gave each two cows while to her daughters she gave only one but also any calf they may be carrying or nursing. Additionally each son got a steer.
All of her younger children except Richard received a pewter dish. In Colonial America, a collection of polished pewter was used and proudly displayed as a symbol of prosperity. While the very wealthy landowners ate from silver and imported china and the very poor ate with dishes made out with wooden trenchers and pottery mugs. The middle class in colonials day valued their pewter which was kept brightly polished. The down side of pewter is that sometimes it had lead mixed in with the tin which caused lead poisoning among wealthier Virginians.
Thomas, Nicholas, and Jane each received feather beds and a cylinder pillow called a bolster but the boys also got a blanket and sheet each. Daughter Mary as furniture "my great table and form." Both daughters Mary and Jane received iron pots for cooking. A pot generally had a cover and were imported from England. Not until 1735 did the first pots began to be manufactured in the colonies therefore pots were extremely valuable and would be passed on in wills or deeds of gifts as Anne Williams did.
The boys Nicholas Williams and Richard Williams were given their father's musket and sword but as they were under 7 years old they had to wait until they were 18 before they were to receive them. Almost as an after thought, Anne Williams gave to her daughters Elizabeth Wright, Mary and Jane Williams, her wearing apparel after her death.
“Son John Williams my great chest, he to have
it at my death if he is ye longest liver, If not to my next eldest son yet is alive and
further
I give unto my second son and his heirs one ewe and lamb and ye
increase to have delivered next spring. I doe give unto my son William Williams
and his heirs 2 cows and their increase, one steer above 5 years old and a
pewter Dish, dish to have yet delivered nexy spring.
I do give to my son Thomas
Williams and his heir one feather bed and “boulster” [a large cylinder shape
pillow], one blanket, one sheet, one steer, one pewter dish, two cows and their increase, a ewe
and a lamb and the increase to be delivered next spring,
I do give until Mary
Williams my daughter and her heirs one cow and calfe or with calfes and
increase, a ewe and lamb, a pewter dish, my great table and form and one iron
pott to be delivered unto her when she comes of age 18 years or marryed.
I do
give unto my son Nicholas Williams and his heirs 2 cows and calves or with
calfes, one ewe and lamb and increase, steare about 5 years old, one feather
bed and boulster, one blanket, one sheate, one pewter dish and his father
musket. Nicholas cannot be above seven years old , to be delivered unto him
when he is 18 years old.
I do give unto
my son Richard and his heirs 2 cows and calves or with calves with calve about
7 years old, one ewe and lamb and the increase, one steer about 5 years old
etc and his father’s sword to be
delivered unto him when he is 18 years old.
I do give unto my daughter Jane two
cows about 7 years old with calf or calves, ewe and lamb and the increase there
of, one feather bed and boulster that her father gave her to be her ticken [Ticking
is a strong, tightly woven fabric of cotton or linen used to make pillow and
mattress coverings. Evidently Anne wanted the feather bed relined.], a pewter
dish, a iron pot, a stear about 6 years old to be delivered to her when she
comes to age 18 years old and true and faithful delivery of the afore things to
my four children or their heirs.
I do these presents deed oblige myself and my
heirs executives and administrators to ye afore delivery of the things at the
times appointed in testimony of all which I have here unto sett my hand and
seal ye 9 April 1694 and I farther give my daughters Elizabeth Right, Mary Williams,
and Jane Williams all my wearing clothes, both linen and wollen that I shall at
my death to be equally divided among them or any of them that be living-
Witness
Arthur Smith, Arthur Smith Jr. and John Craine.”
Anne Williams owned no real property of her own, John Williams Sr. having devised his estate to his children in his will. However Anne was given use of the manor plantation until her death. Her oldest son John Williams Jr. was given his mother's "great chest", which seems odd until one realizes that a chest was a furniture mainstay for the early colonists and were valuable. They were used for storage as it was still the custom to fold your clothes and put them away in chests. Hooks were just for hanging up your hat or cloak because they might be too wet to put away. Anne Williams valued this piece of furniture so much that she devised it to her second son if John the younger died to keep it in the family.
John Williams and Elizabeth Wright are only mentioned once in the deed of gift of Anne Williams so it appears that she was providing for her younger unmarried children as that once she remarried all of her property would become her new husband. She gave to each of her unmarried children, a ewe [female sheep] and lamb.To her sons she gave each two cows while to her daughters she gave only one but also any calf they may be carrying or nursing. Additionally each son got a steer.
All of her younger children except Richard received a pewter dish. In Colonial America, a collection of polished pewter was used and proudly displayed as a symbol of prosperity. While the very wealthy landowners ate from silver and imported china and the very poor ate with dishes made out with wooden trenchers and pottery mugs. The middle class in colonials day valued their pewter which was kept brightly polished. The down side of pewter is that sometimes it had lead mixed in with the tin which caused lead poisoning among wealthier Virginians.
Thomas, Nicholas, and Jane each received feather beds and a cylinder pillow called a bolster but the boys also got a blanket and sheet each. Daughter Mary as furniture "my great table and form." Both daughters Mary and Jane received iron pots for cooking. A pot generally had a cover and were imported from England. Not until 1735 did the first pots began to be manufactured in the colonies therefore pots were extremely valuable and would be passed on in wills or deeds of gifts as Anne Williams did.
The boys Nicholas Williams and Richard Williams were given their father's musket and sword but as they were under 7 years old they had to wait until they were 18 before they were to receive them. Almost as an after thought, Anne Williams gave to her daughters Elizabeth Wright, Mary and Jane Williams, her wearing apparel after her death.
The deed of gift stated that Anne Williams most likely named her children in chronological order. From this deed record one could assume that
Mary was born after 1676, before her her sister Ann who was not 18 years old, and her brother Nicholas Williams who was born in 1684. This would indicate that Richard Williams, Jane Williams, and Theophilus Williams were born between 1685 and 1692. Her children Sons John Williams, William Williams,
and Thomas Williams who there are no stipulations when they could receive their gifts
however Nicholas and Richard were not to receive their gifts until they reach
the age of 18 years. Two children not
mentioned in the deed of gift are the deceased wife of John Browne nor Anne Williams infant
son Theophilus Williams.
This deed of gift then does raise questions
about how old and young were John and Anne Williams’ children and how many
children are unaccounted for. The birth order certainly was Mrs. John Browne,
John Williams. Elizabeth Wright, William Williams, Thomas Williams, Mary
Hickman, Jane Williams, Nicholas Williams, Richard Williams, and Theophilus
Williams. The oldest three children Anne Browne, John Williams, and Elizabeth
Wright had to have been born between 1671 and 1675 to have been married by
March 1692. If William, Thomas and Mary Williams were of age by April 1694
according to the deed of gift they would
have had to been born before 1676. If Nicholas was born in 1687 followed by Richard,
and Theophilus then there would have been an 11 year gap. Of course Jane
Williams could fill in the gap but that would leave a lot of years unaccounted
for.
Some genealogists contend that the scribe for
the deed of gift made an error in naming Nicholas only 7 years old. While
certainly he was a minor under 18 years for his mother to give him his father’s musket and son. If Mary Williams
was betrothed to William Hickman in 1694 that could move her birth year between
1679 and 1680 when would kind of close the age gap. Also if indeed John
Williams Sr. made several trips back and forth from England that could also
explain some of the gaps. In an age before birth control large families were
generally the rule for people who had been married at least 20 years as were
John Williams Sr and his wife Anne. They had ten children during
that span which indicated that for much of Anne’s married life she as pregnant.
There’s no indication that any of these ten children were twins either. Still
it’s a bit of a stretch to have had three children born in 3 years and two
months. Three births would have taken 27
months and between 1687 and March 9 1692 there are only 38 months. That left Anne with less than 4
months between nursing and becoming pregnant again. It would also have meant
that Theophilus Williams was an infant perhaps under 1 year old when his father
died. If Ann Williams is indeed Ann Vasser, daughter of John Vasser, she would
have been around 41 or 42 at the time of her husband’s death and in her late
30’s having children.
Anne and Arnold Shumake were not married very
long. In less than four years after their marriage, he made out his own will in 1697 which
was witnessed by Boaz Gwin, one of the witnesses to John Williams’ earlier
will. This would suggest that Arnold and Anne were living on the “manor
plantation.” In this will he is called "Arnell Shewmake"" which
he made out on 9 December 1697. This will only mentions “beloved wife” and not
Anne by name. His legatees were his son Moses, daughter Alice; granddaughter
Dorothy Davis; daughter Jane; daughter Sarah; daughter Margery and daughter Frances.
The will was recorded 9 February 1698 [old style 1697] however I have not been
able to determine who was the executor of his will. It is usually the widow
unless other stipulations were made. None of his Williams step-children are
mentioned in the will.
By the time Anne Williams Shumacke was nearly
50 years, she had out lived two husbands
and she may have lived another 6 years if the Anne Williams who appears in the
1704 Rent Rolls of Isle of Wight is indeed her. During colonial times
landowners in Virginia were required to pay a tax of one shilling to the king
for every 50 acres they owned. The 1704 Rent Roll List of Isle of Wight County Virginia only record six
Williams as having to pay a tax. An Anne Williams paid taxes on 150 acres with
neighbors being Anthony Fulgham, Edward Harris, and Thomas Joyner. If this is
indeed Anne Williams Shumacke it seems odd that the land is not listed under
her name by the second marriage. But she may have reverted back to Williams
after Arnold Shumacke death in deference to her Williams children. Ten
households from Anne Williams is John Browne who had 100 acres of land. Thirty-seven landowners from John Browne was
William Williams who also paid a tax on 100 acres. Thirty-six landowners from
William Williams was Thomas Williams. Thomas Williams was taxed on 100 acres
and there’s no indication that this is John Williams Sr.’s son or his brother
Thomas Williams's son.
Thirty-six more landowners further down the
list was a John Williams who paid taxes on 971 acres of land near Henry Pope. He
is certainly the son of John Williams and Anne Vasser Twenty–eight
landowners from this John Williams is William Williams who is taxed on a 1000
acres. This is certainly William Williams son of John Williams Sr. who married
the daughter of George Moore. He was given a 600 acre land grant two years
earlier in 1702 and with his other properties he would have had this amount in
1704.
John Williams Jr. was listed in the county owning a considerable
amount of land. As well as the 971 acres, he paid taxes on 600 acres of land next to Peter Vasser who was
taxed on 230 acres. Peter Vassers lands
were just south of the Surry County line on Mill Creek Swamp and west of
Pouches Swamp. Anne Williams property was 34 landowners away from this John
Williams.
Anne Vasser Williams Shumake died some time after 21
September 1719 when she is mentioned in an Isle of Wight deed between John Body [Boddie] and Alexander Mathews Jr. The land description stated that the 325 acres sold adjoined "Hezekiel
[Ezekiel] Fuller, William Bacon, Ann Shumach and the Cypress Swamp." From this record it is believed she lived at least 27 years after her husband John Williams Sr died in Isle of Wight County. There are no wills recorded
for Anne under the names Williams or Shumake. She died about 70 years old in Isle of Wight and while she could have made her own will or even and a Nuncupative will (oral
wills made on a deathbed) none were recorded.
John Williams Sr.'s will stated that his eldest son
John Williams the younger was to inherit the lands his mother lived on after she was
deceased. In 1704 John had moved away from Surry County and was living near Peter Vasser, John Williams Sr.
original manor plantation may have been near the Mill Creek Swamp .
It's clear from the various land patents and
deeds involving John Williams Sr. and his brother Thomas Williams that most of
their children resided around the area of Franklin Virginia on both sides of the Blackwater
river. Between 1695 and 1705 many of these children drifted west of the Blackwater and owed farms between the Blackwater and the Nottoway Rivers. Between 1705 and 1715 many of John and Thomas Williams’ descendants moved on into North Carolina and then on further south and west as time went by. However many of
their descendants stayed in what became Southampton County. In 1831 some of the descendants of these families of their descendants,
Jacob Williams, his nephew William Williams, and John “Choctaw” Williams, were
among those killed during the historic Nate Turner slave revolt.
CHILDREN OF JOHN WILLIAMS Sr and ANNE VASSER WILLIAMS
Anne Williams Browne 1671-1691 died at the age of 20
Anne Williams born circa 1671 Surry County, Virginia died before March
1692 Isle of Wight County, Virginia. She married John Browne Jr son of John Browne and
Bridgett about 1685. John Browne will was recorded 24 July 1721. In this will
Browne named the three granddaughters of John Williams Sr, Anne Browne, Bridgett Browne, and Mary Browne.
Unfortunately genealogist John Bennett Boddie, in his
Historical Southern Families Volume VI, listed John Williams Sr. daughter as a “Bridget” without any proof. Thereby John Browne’s wife has been
identified as “Bridget” Browne by many genealogists with no evidence to support
this view. The name “Bridget” does not appear among any of the naming patterns
of John Williams Sr’s. descendants nor in those of Thomas Williams Sr. The name
is unlikely to have been a family name on the Williams side of the family tree.
There is however a Bridget Browne listed as widow of a John Browne which may have been John Browne’s parents. This parentage lends some credence to assumption that this daughter Bridgett being the named for John Browne’s mother and not after his first wife. Then to add to further confusion, there is a deed in Isle of Wight that lists John Browne and “wife Bridgett” but long after the daughter of John Williams Sr. had died.
There is however a Bridget Browne listed as widow of a John Browne which may have been John Browne’s parents. This parentage lends some credence to assumption that this daughter Bridgett being the named for John Browne’s mother and not after his first wife. Then to add to further confusion, there is a deed in Isle of Wight that lists John Browne and “wife Bridgett” but long after the daughter of John Williams Sr. had died.
As that a daughter named “ANNE” has not been
identified in John Williams Sr’s family, it is more likely that the first
daughter of John and Anne Williams was named after her mother and that her
daughter Bridget was named for a paternal grandmother. yet there are no records
indicating what this eldest daughter of John Williams Sr’s “Christian” name was but colonial naming
patterns strongly suggest that it was Anne not Bridget.
This daughter is not named in the will of John Williams Sr nor is she mentioned in the Deed of Gift by her mother, Anne Williams. As that Anne Browne’s three daughters were mentioned in John Williams Sr will, it is logical to assume that he would have made provisions for grandchildren of a deceased oldest daughter and perhaps the only grandchildren he knew.
This daughter is not named in the will of John Williams Sr nor is she mentioned in the Deed of Gift by her mother, Anne Williams. As that Anne Browne’s three daughters were mentioned in John Williams Sr will, it is logical to assume that he would have made provisions for grandchildren of a deceased oldest daughter and perhaps the only grandchildren he knew.
John and Anne Vasser Williams could not have been married earlier than Spring 1671 due to terms of his indenture. Their first
child, who I will now call Anne, would then had to have been born in late 1671. We
know that Anne was the mother of three daughters at the time of the death of
her father. They were daughters Anne, Bridgett and Mary, all who were named in
the will of their grandfather John Williams Sr.
The eldest granddaughter was named Anne Brown presumably named for her
mother Anne Williams Browne but could have been just for the grandmother Anne
Vasser Williams.
These three daughters were born prior to
March 1692, and taking into account gestation and weaning, this meant that the
latest Anne Williams and John Browne could have been married was in 1686 when
Anne Williams was 15 and the earliest would have been 1685 when she was 14
years. This is the time that John
Williams and John Browne received their 1200 acre land grant. The daughters of
Anne Browne would presumably been born in this order; Anne Browne circa 1687,
Bridget Browne circa 1689, and Mary Browne circa 1690. Anne Williams Brown may have even died from
complications from childbirth being that she was a such a young mother.
The daughters of John Browne would not have
known their mother well, as the oldest would have only been around 5 years old.
They might even have been living within the Williams’ household until their
father John Browne remarried about 1693.
Genealogists have tried to link this man to
the son in law of William Broddie and also to an Indian Trader named John
Browne who owned property on the Blackwater River at Kinsale Swamp. Circumstantial evidence shows that John Browne most likely was the son of a John Browne who died intestate. His his was estate
probated 26 March 1666 with his "relict" [widow] administering the estate. John Browne Jr then would have been born circa 1650.
John
Browne: Dying intestate, administration requested by Bridgett Browne, his
relict, on 9 February 1665 [1666] and recorded 26 March 1666. , R, March 26,
1666. Arthur Smith and Edward Gibb acted as Security for Bridgett Browne’s
bond.
John Browne's age is a mystery but seems to based
on two records that contradict. An Isle of Wight County Virginia Court record
dated 1693 says that a John Browne gave oath in court that he was “25 years old". This age meant this John
Browne was born in 1668. In 1685 John
Williams Sr. along with a John Browne received a patent for a tract of land
containing 1200 acres for the transportation of 24 people to the colony. As
that it was about £144, this was a considerable investment. Most of which would
have been paid in tobacco to English Merchants who financed much of the
transportation of people to Virginia. The man who said he was 25 years old in
1693 would have been only 17 years old at the time at the time of the patent
and therefore it seems very unlikely that they were the same individual.
Generally in colonial times daughters married
at age 15 and then usually to a much older men who could provide financial
stability for these girls. If Anne
Williams was married to John Browne in 1685 it is doubtful that John Williams
Sr. would have allowed a marriage between a 17 year old boy and his daughter,
especially to a boy who would have been considered a minor. It’s is also
extremely doubtful also that John Williams Sr would have been granted the 1200
acre land patent with a youth. It is more logical that John Browne was closer
in age to John Williams Sr. than to his daughter Anne.
John Browne husband of Anne Williams cannot postitively be connected to the John Browne who died in 1668 in testate but the deceased certainly
could have had a grown son.
Some genealogist have connected John Williams
Sr. son-in-law with the Quaker William Boddie.
The Quaker had a son-in-law named John Browne who married Boddie’s
daughter Mary. This Browne was a shipwright who could have more than afford to
pay for transportation of emigrants in exchange for land and in 1682 John
Williams Sr after patenting the 1200 acres in Surry County had purchased a
tract of land from William Boddie. However this wife of John Browne the shipwright
lived long after Anne Williams Browne had died. John Browne and Mary Broddie
were married about 1676 and could not possibly be parents of John Browne the
son in law of John Williams Sr.
There is a John Browne also who received a
600 acre tract of land patent recorded in 1688 for transportation of emigrants
in the 1660’s. This land was located at the mouth of Kinsale Swamp on the east
side of Blackwater only a few miles from
lands that John Williams Sr and Thomas Williams Sr bought together in
1681. It is not clear which John Browne
this land was granted to. Some believe it was an Indian Trader also named
John Browne who accumulated land near the Cypress Swamp and Blackwater before
eventually moving to North Carolina and dying there. Other say it was for the son in law of William Boddie.
There are scant records to go by on John
Williams Sr. former son in law. His is not mentioned in John Williams will of
March 1692 but deed records show that John Browne was patented 220 acres in
Kinsale Swamp on 29 April 1692. His father-in-law may still have been alive at
this time.
In December 1693 John Browne and his former
brother-in-law John Williams Jr and his wife were involved in a lawsuit by
Phillip Raiford whose land adjoined John Williams Sr. tract on Jenkins Swamp.
It is not clear what the dispute was about.
Isle of Wight Co., Virginia 9 Dec 1693
Phillip Reyford (Raiford) to John Giles Power of Attorney Know all men by
theise p'sents, yt [that] I Phillip Reyford of ye Isle of Wight County, doe
ordaine, & appoint for me and in my stead John Giles of ye aforesd my true
and Lawfull attorney to appear for me in ye Isle of Wight County Court, their
to prosecute on my behalfe John Brown and John Williams & his wife untill
both ye businesses are brought to Judgem't as wittnesse my hand this 9th day of
Decemb'r 1693 Phill: Rayford witnesses; Rich: Stoner his m'ke Tho: Moore
If John Browne had been a married man in
December 1693 it seems logical that Phillip Raiford suit would have named a
wife as it did with John Williams. John
Browne did marry again by 1695 and had three more children, James Browne,
Thomas Browne, and Elizabeth Browne by his second wife probably a woman named
Bridget perhaps Lewis. A deed dated 1706 has John Browne and wife Bridget selling the 220
acres he patented in 1692 at Kinsale Swamp.
John Browne was still living in Surry County in May 1698 and was one of the appraisers of the estate of Robert Savage along with Timothy Walker and Robert Lancaster. His brother-in-law John Williams Jr was a witness to the Last Will and Testament of Robert savage. This would have been in the Southwark Parish.
John Browne was still living in Surry County in May 1698 and was one of the appraisers of the estate of Robert Savage along with Timothy Walker and Robert Lancaster. His brother-in-law John Williams Jr was a witness to the Last Will and Testament of Robert savage. This would have been in the Southwark Parish.
The 1704 Quit Rent Rolls of Isle of Wight
show that John Browne was pay land tax to the British Crown for 100 acres.
However in Surry County he still retained his 600 acres which shows that he was
the man who patented with John Williams Sr. in 1685 1200 acres of which his share
was 600.
John Browne continued to live on his Southwark Parish plantation probably marrying between 1693 and 1706 Mrs. Bridget Lewis as his second wife who had a son Isaac Lewis. He had at least three children by her, sons James and Thomas Browne as a daughter named Elizabeth. He lived there from 1685 until 1721 when he died.
John Browne continued to live on his Southwark Parish plantation probably marrying between 1693 and 1706 Mrs. Bridget Lewis as his second wife who had a son Isaac Lewis. He had at least three children by her, sons James and Thomas Browne as a daughter named Elizabeth. He lived there from 1685 until 1721 when he died.
The will of John Browne was dated January 1721
and recorded on 24 July 1721 in Isle of Wight. In the document he mention the 3
granddaughters of John Williams Sr, two who were now married plus three
additional children who were from a second marriage. He does not name a wife
although some genealogists speculate it may have been the Bridget of the 1706 deed.
1721: Browne, John. Leg. son James, my land
on Timothy Walker's road in Surry
County; son Thomas land on the same road; daughter Elizabeth; daughter Mary;
daughter Anne Camerine [Cameron], daughter Bridgett Wresbury [Rasbury]. Exs. sons
James and Thomas Browne, Dated. January 1720/21 Recorded July 24, 1721. Witnesses:
Thomas Nickson, George Goodson, Peter Green
He gave to his two sons James and
Thomas Browne, probably born in the late 1690’s, his 600 acre tract of
land in Surry County that was described as being on “Timothy Walker's road” A John Browne and Timothy Walker were both
mentioned in the 1668 Tithing List of Surry. If this is the same John Browne he
would have had to have been at least 16 years old [1652] Timothy Walker had
lands near Robert and Charles Savage as did John Williams Sr..
Two of John Browne's daughters from both marriages, Mary Browne and Elizabeth Brown were both unmarried in 1721 according to their father's will. It is possible that Elizabeth Browne
was a minor but not Mary. She was born circa 1690 and would have been about 31
years old when her father died. Both Anne and Bridgett were listed as married
women and they were living with their husbands Daniel Cameron and John Rasberry
in Chowen Precinct, North Carolina.
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by Anne Williams Brown.
I) Anne
Browne
(ca. 1686-after 1747). She married Daniel Cameron (1679-1752). Daniel Cameron
was in Bertie County North Carolina in 1728 He witnessed a deed to his wife’s
brother-in-law John Rasberry. Cameron
signed his will in Northampton County, North Carolina on 7 January 1747;
probated May 1752. Anne Browne was her
husband's Executrix and Witnesses were: William Whitley and Joshua Williams.
Joshua Williams was Anne Browne Cameron’s 2nd cousin and a grandson
of Thomas Williams, Anne’s great uncle.
II) Bridgett
Browne
(ca. 1688-after 1749). She married John
Rasberry (ca. 1680/85-1749/50) a "hatter" about 1705. The hatmaking industry was so successful in
the Colonies that in 1723 the Hat Act was passed by England's Parliament. This
act prohibited intercolonial trade in hats, restricted their manufacture, and
only permitted the hat makers two apprentices. John Rasberry on 4 Oct 1707 bought 75 acres
from Thomas Boon adjacent Thomas Kirby, part of the patent 1702 of Bridget Rasberry's uncle
William Williams. This land was on the west side of Blackwater River just north
of Franklin in Southampton County today, The Boon-Rasberry deed was witnessed
by her uncle Richard Williams, who was about a year older than Bridgett Browne
Rasberry, and Daniel Cameron, her brother-in-law. John Rasberry later sold this tract of land to
Joseph Godwin on 28 September 1713 as he and Bridgett Rasberry had moved a
short distance south on the Meherrin River into North Carolina where he bought
200 acres from John Early on 16 April 1711. The deed referred to John Rasberry as of Chowan Precinct of Albermarle
County at this time. On 20 October 1713 John Rasberry and Bridget
sold 635 acres on Meherrin Creek in Chowan for 2,000
pounds of tobacco. Since there seems to be no record of John acquiring this 635 acres and
the fact that Bridget had also "signed" the deed indicates that the
land had previously belonged to Bridget. On 19 July 1715 John Rasberry was a witness to a deed between his wife's uncle John Williams Jr and Lawrence Sarson for land in the Bear Swamp area that became Bertie County. in 1719 John Rasberry bought land from from Charles Jones and became neighbors. On 23 April 1725 Charles Jones deed to Briget [Bridgett Rasberry] Rasbeary 100 acres at Horse Swamp adjacent to James Howard, Peter West [son in law of Lewis Williams] "For love I do bare Briget Rasbeary the
daughter of John Rasbeary and Bridget his wife." Witnesses were Thomas Bird and Stephen
Williams.
On 14 August 1734, "John Rasberry,
hatmaker", purchased 220 acres on Cashy Swamp for 30 pounds near his wife's uncle and cousins. On 14 May 1735 John
Rasberry, hatmaker" purchased an additional 450 acres in Cashy Swamp for 45 pounds. John sold 250 acres on White Oak Swamp for 7 pounds on 26
July 1736. John Rasberry and wife Bridget sold 470 acres on Conritsy [Connarista] Swamp and Buck
Branch for 30 pounds; in May 1737, John sold 100 acres on Conaritsis [Connarista] Swamp
and ES Rattlesnake Branch at Buck Branch for 50 pounds; on 8 November 1737,
John sold 300 acres on SWS of a branch of Cashie River for 15 pounds; on 17
February 1738/39 John purchased 150 acres at Main Swamp for 30 pounds, and one
of the witnesses was William Rasberry; on 5 May 1743, John sold 150 acres
on White Oak Swamp for 60 pounds; and on 10 May 1743, John sold 400 acres
at Colt Branch for 15 pounds. John
left a will dated 11 September 1749, in which he named his wife
"Bredgit" and son William as executors. He named his children, 2
son-in-laws, 2 grandchildren, and bequethed to them land, slaves, and
Bibles. The 5 tracts of land, 2
plantations, and a number of slaves bequeathed to his family, as well as the
numerous land transactions, shows that John had accumulated a sizeable amount
of property during his life. He
"signed" his will by a mark in the presence of Isaac Hill and Edward
Williams, indicating he could not write. "North Carolina know ye that I John Rasbuary
being sick and weake in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to
God for the same Do make this my Last Will in manner and form following
Revokeing all former wills made by me first of all I Commit my Soul to the Lord
and my Body to the Earth from whence it was to be Desently Buried at the
Descresion of my Executors here after named Secondly my will is that all my
Just Debts and funeral Charges be fully paid and Contented. Item: I give and bequeth unto my son
William Rasbuary the Land and Plantation where he now lives being all Ready
Laid of to his and his heirs forever. Item: I also give and bequeth unto my son
Thomas Yaets a piece of land beginning at Pine Standing in the White Oak Meddow
/ Running a Long a Line of marked trees to the Spring Branch / Down the Sd
Branch to the White Oak / Down the White Oak to Wm. Hoseas Line / Up the line
to the first Station to him and his heirs forever. Item: I also give and bequeth unto my son
Arthur Pinner the Land and Plantation where he now lives on beginning at Wm.
Rasbuary's Line Running up the Sypres to the head from thence to Charles Jones
Line / a Long the Sd Line to the Main Swamp / a Long the main Swamp to Wm.
Rasbuarys Line to the first Station to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeth unto my Granson
John Rasbuary the Land of Wm. Rasbuary the Plantation where Arthur Pinner did
Live called the quarter and all the Land Belonging to it to him and his heirs
forever excepting my wife to have the use of it during her life and then to
return to him as before the said John Rasbuary. Item: I give and bequeth unto my Daughter
Rebekah Pinner one Negro woman called Judah to her and the heirs of her body
lawfuly begotin excepting my wife to have the service of her during her life
and then to return to her as before said. Item: I give and bequeth unto my daughter
Bridgit Yaits one Negro child called (Nancy?) to her and her heirs forever
lawfully begotin of her body ecepting my wife to have the use of it during her
life and then to return to her as before said. Item: I give and bequeth unto my daughter
Elizabeth Williams all the rights and title I have onto a Negro girl called
Cait excepting my gran daughter Mary Nicholes Rasbuary the daughter of
Christian Rasbuary to have the first live (born?) child that she the sd. Negro
Cait shall bring and to be well looked after till it (grows?) two years old to
her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeth unto my three
daughters Ann Beveler, Mary Unkers, and Christian Loid a Bible a Peace. Item: I give and bequeth unto my Son John Rasbuary the Plantation where I now live and all the Land there unto
belonging. Item: My Will is that all my (Negros?)
good Chetils [chattel] and Credits my well beloved wife shall have the use of it during
her life and after her Deseas to be Equally devided betwixt William Rasbuary,
Elizabeth Williams, Bredgit Yaits and Rebeckah Pinner and John Rasbuary and my
Will is that any one of my Children that shall go to make my will void in law
shall be cut off from all their former gifts and have only a Bible. I do appoint and ordain my well beloved wife
Bredgit Rasbuary, William Hosea and William Rasbuary my whole and Soul Exectrs
of this my Last Will and Testament and my estate to be devided by my exectrs
signed sealed and delivered in the presents of us. September 11, 1749 Isaac Hill, Edward Williams, John Rasbuary.
III) Mary
Browne
born circa 1690 and died after 1721. She
may have never married.
IV) Half
brother James Browne
(died after 1721) remains an enigma. He inherited from his father John Browne
part of the land patented by his father in 1685.
V) Half
Sister Elizabeth Browne remains an enigma.
VI) Half
Brother Thomas Browne
(circa 1698 died 1765) married Tabitha, maiden name unknown. He inherited land from his father land
in the Surry and Isle of Wight borderlands. On 14 July 1735 he sold this
property “on the north side of Timothy Walker’s Road” to Nicholas Valentine.
This is the only reference to him in the Surry deed books. He was probably
remained seated in Nansemond County until he moved into the Nottoway Basin by
26 May 1744 when William West “of North Carolina” conveyed to him 247 acres
adjacent Thomas Stevenson,Francis Williamson, and John Joyner. He signed his
will in Southampton County, Virginia on 28 November 1764;probated 11 January
1765. He did not mention his wife Tabitha whom his son Jesse Browne identified
when he signed her inventory of his father’s estate, as recorded on 14 January
1767.
John Williams Jr. 1673-1758 age 85
2) See section on John Williams and Anne Moore
of Cashy, Bertie County, North Carolina. Their children were John Williams, Theophilus Williams, James Williams, Sarah Castellaw,, Anne Herring, James Williams, Mary Herring Isaac Williams and Arthur Williams
Elizabeth Williams Wright 1675 - after 1701 age at time of death unknown
3) Elizabeth Williams was born circa 1675 probably in Surry County, Virginia and died after 1701. She is not mentioned in the will
of her father John Williams Sr, but is mentioned in the deed of gift made by
her mother in 1694. Some speculate that she was a child of Anne Vasser Williams' by a
former marriage. However her omission from the will of John Williams can be explained simply that she was married at the time and perhaps her inheritance was already provided for her. It also could be that her
father disapproved of the marriage. John Bennett Boddie states that Elizabeth Williams was married to Thomas Wright Jr which is almost certainly so as John Williams
mentions a Thomas Wright as a legatee in his will.
Elizabeth Williams may have been named for
Elizabeth Vasser, possibly her grandmother. If she was married in 1690 or 1691 Elizabeth would have been about 15 years old at the time of her marriage of about nine to ten years. Thomas Wright was
considerably older than Elizabeth more than triple her age. The age factor may
not have been enough of a reason for her father to disapprove of the marriage, however it seems
that the Wrights were not of the same social standing. It may be that Elizabeth became a Quaker as certainly Thomas Wright's family had strong Quaker ties. He evidently only shared a 100 acre grant with his brother George Wright.
Thomas Wright Jr. was the son of Thomas Wright Sr. and Elizabeth Gibbs. Thomas Wright Sr. had a will where he appointed his “relict” Elizabeth the executor of his estate. But the will has not been located. It was recorded 18 February 1663 [1664] and probated 25 March 1664. He may have only left an oral will. All of his children would have been minors under 18 years.
Thomas Wright Jr was born circa 1645 the oldest of four siblings. His two sisters married into Quaker families. His oldest sister Ann Wright was married four times and had children by all her marriages. She married first Thomas Griffen Sr who died about 1670. She remarried John Edwards who died circa 1677. Her last two husbands were William Relison and James Tullagh. James Tullagh estate was divided 1700 by Charles Durham who married Ann Whitley widow of Quaker John Williams. Thomas Wrights Jr.'s sister Elizabeth Wright married William Godwin. William Godwin had been indentured to Quaker Humphrey Clarke along with John Williams who married Anne Whitley. The brother of Thomas Wright Jr was George Wright who married a woman named Violet. The Wrights may have been Quakers which could have been an objection of John Williams Sr although she would have had to have her father’s consent being a minor. Quakers marraiges were performed outside of church simply by the witnessing of the marriage by other Quakers. Perhaps John Williams Sr did not approve and left her out of his will.
On 13 May 1674
Michaell Fulgham, Nicholas Fulgham, Anthony Fulgham, John Garner, Thomas Poole, Daniell Long,
Thomas Gross, Arthur Smith, Richard Jordan, Ambrose Bennett, John Viccars [Vasser], and Richard Reynolds served on an escheat jury regarding
100 acres belonging to John Upton, deceased. The property was sold by his relict Mrs.
Margaret Lucas to Thomas Wright. The legal term "escheat" simply meant that if a grantee died and had no heirs, his land
was "escheated" or reverted
back to the control of the land office. Then it was allotted to the next individual who applied for it. The parcel in question was considered escheat
and Thomas Wright lost title to it.
Thomas Wright Jr. was the son of Thomas Wright Sr. and Elizabeth Gibbs. Thomas Wright Sr. had a will where he appointed his “relict” Elizabeth the executor of his estate. But the will has not been located. It was recorded 18 February 1663 [1664] and probated 25 March 1664. He may have only left an oral will. All of his children would have been minors under 18 years.
Thomas Wright Jr was born circa 1645 the oldest of four siblings. His two sisters married into Quaker families. His oldest sister Ann Wright was married four times and had children by all her marriages. She married first Thomas Griffen Sr who died about 1670. She remarried John Edwards who died circa 1677. Her last two husbands were William Relison and James Tullagh. James Tullagh estate was divided 1700 by Charles Durham who married Ann Whitley widow of Quaker John Williams. Thomas Wrights Jr.'s sister Elizabeth Wright married William Godwin. William Godwin had been indentured to Quaker Humphrey Clarke along with John Williams who married Anne Whitley. The brother of Thomas Wright Jr was George Wright who married a woman named Violet. The Wrights may have been Quakers which could have been an objection of John Williams Sr although she would have had to have her father’s consent being a minor. Quakers marraiges were performed outside of church simply by the witnessing of the marriage by other Quakers. Perhaps John Williams Sr did not approve and left her out of his will.
In John Williams Sr. will, he left
Thomas Wright a foal and a mare but only after Daniel Long Jr received a foal from the mare first. Horses were valuable in colonial Virginia as that they had to be imported from England if not bred in Virginia. Anne Williams upon her second marriage left Elizabeth Wright some wearing
apparel but no household goods.
On 5 January 1696 [1697] Thomas Wright was one of the witness to the will of
Daniel Long Sr., the father of Daniel Long Jr. Daniel Long Jr and Thomas Wright had foals from the same mare according to legacies from John Williams Sr. Thomas Wright and Stephen Smith were called
Daniel Long’s friends in the will and were asked to divide Long’s estate between his wife
and children.
Elizabeth Wright had at least five children
before her husband Thomas Wright died in 1701 leaving her a young widow about
26 years old. Her children were John Wright Sr. [probably named for John
Williams Sr.] born circa 1692, James Wright, born circa 1694, Thomas Wright
born circa 1696, Joseph Wright circa 1698, and Mary Wright born circa 1700.
Thomas Wright made out his will on 23 October
1700 when he was nearly 55 years old and he died before 9 September 1701 when his will was recorded. Elizabeth Williams Wright was listed as
the Executrix of the will of her husband, Thomas Wright, Jr. The witnesses to
the testament were Richard Wilkinson, Jr., George Wright, and his wife Violet. The presence of Richard Wilkinson,
Jr. shows a connection between the Wrights and Epaphroditus Williams. Richard Wilkinson's sister Rachel Wilkinson married Epaphroditus Williams. This Epaphroditus Williams died in 1731 and
may have been connected to the family of descendants of George Williams the
Quaker who died in 1672. His sister Juliana Williams married John Wright, and was Elizabeth Williams Wright daughter-in-law.
As that Elizabeth Williams Wright was a young widow of 26 years old with five children under the age of ten when Thomas Wright died it
would seem more than likely that she remarried. That is unless she died young. There is no Elizabeth Williams
in the 1704 Quit Rent rolls of Isle of Wright or Surry. She was probably a Quaker and may have married another in Surry County. It is speculated that she may have married
John Daniel who estate was appraised 24 February 1728 [1729] at the house of
Elizabeth Daniel by John Chapman and Christopher Dickinson. In any case this branch of the family tree seems to have
the least to do with other members of the family of John Williams Sr.
John Williams Sr's Grandchildren by Elizabeth Williams Wright
I) John
Wright Sr. circa 1690- 1757 married Juliana Williams sister of Epaphroditus Williams. Their parents are unknown but seem to be Quakers. In 1709 he appraised the estate of William West Jr. along with Edward Long. If
he was 18 years old he would have been born in 1691 if 21 years old about 1688. In
1719 he is mentioned as living on the land of Robert Bagnall. In
1726 Michael Fulgham, John Wright and Joseph Wright appraised the estate of
Richard Williams which was at the request of John Hurst. Richard Williams was not his uncle but most like a relative of his wife Juliana Williams Wright. John Wright witnessed the will of Michael Fulgham dated 12 January 1727 [1728]
along with James Benn. In 1728 John Wright's brother-in-law Epaphroditus Williams died and left in his will property to family family members and friends. Evidently he had no issue. His legatees were his wife
Rachele, sister Julianna Wright, sister and Mary Hale. Other legatees were Mary daughter
of Nathan and Ann Bagnall, Rachele daughter of Thomas and Rachele Parker,
Susanna and Priscilla Marshall daughter of Humphrey Marshall, Sarah Pilkington
Jr. Humphrey Marshall had witnessed property records of William Williams and his wife Susannah in Chowan county North Carolina in 1706 when they conveyed land bought from Lewis Williams to Peter Parker. This may be a hint that Lewis Williams is related to Epahroditus Williams. John Wright was one of the appraisers of the estate of Christopher Dickenson in 1731
along with John Chapman. John Chapman was one of the appraisers of the estate of Epaphroditus Williams. This is why its speculated that Elizabeth Williams Wright was remarried to John Daniels. In 1741 John Wright's sister-in-law Rachel Williams of Newport Parish, wife of Epaphroditus Williams, died. Her Legatees were numerous including her nephew John Wright Jr. the son of John and Juliana Wright. Others were Ann the daughter Rev. James Peden and his wife
Mary, Mary, Easter, and Charity daughters of Anthony Holladay and his wife
Easter, Mary and Mary wife and daughter of Samuel Scutchins, Sabra, William,
and Thomas Parker, Elizabeth Pilkington,
Ann Chapman wife of Charles Chapman, Mary Chapman relict of John Chapman, Ann
Bagnall relict of Nathan Bagnall [died 1735] kinswoman [unnamed] eldest
daughter of Joseph Turner and his first wife, Rev. John Gemmell, Hugh Giles. John Wright Sr. made out his own will 1 September 1753 which was recorded 3 November 1757. His legatees were son John
Wright, daughter Ann Green, daughter Sarah Butler, daughter Elizabeth West,
daughter Julianna Driver granddaughter Julianna Green, to Sarah Alderson.
Witnesses Richard Reynold, Martha Wright [sister-in-law] William Brantley
II) James
Wright circa 1693 died 1762. He married Martha last name unknown. James Wright to son Joseph Wright in deed dated
11 Mar 1756 100 acres on the south side of Blackwater adjacent William Jones and Deep
Branch. 25 December 1761 made will in Southampton
County, Virginia. Legatees wife Martha, son John Wright and daughter Mary
Wright. Recorded 12 August 1762.
III) Thomas
Wright III circa 1695. In 1718 John Prime [born 1666] made out a will
leaving a legacy to “my nephew Thomas Wight” and nephew Robert Ruffin. He may have married Hannah Pinner daughter of Thomas Pinner who in his will of 1764 mentions grandsons Joseph and Henry
Right [Wright]1741.
IV)Joseph
Wright circa 1697-1745 Isle of Wight wife Martha. In
1722 he requested the appraisal of the estate of John Watts which was done by
John Hurst, Thomas Uzzell and John Wright. 1728
He witnessed the will of John Hurst
dated 1 January 1727 [1728] with Robert Brown and John Anthonyrue. Hurst
estate was appraised by John Wright and Joseph Wright 25 March 1728. Joseph Wright's estate
appraised 25 November 1745 by Joseph Weston,Joseph Norsworthy, Richard
Reynolds. Signed Martha Wright
V) Mary
Wright circa 1699 married William Rutter son of Walter Rutter and
Martha Bagnall. The Rutters were Quakers and lived near John Williams Sr. lands at Jenkins Pond. After the death of Walter Rutter, Martha Bagnall Rutter married
Thomas Allen. On 20
February 1710 [1711] Thomas Allen made out his will. His legatees were sons Roger Allen, Thomas Allen
the elder, Nicholas Allen, Thomas Allen the younger, William Rutter, wife
Martha, and daughter Ann. The will was recorded 25 May 1711. On 5
November 1718, Mary Wright Rutter's mother in law Martha Allen made out her will. Her Legatees were Martha Long, Patience Keally,
Nicholas Allen, Thomas Allen jr., Thomas Allen ye Elder, Roger Allen and son
William Rutter who was the executor. The will was Recorded 22 June 1719. On 27
January 1728 [1729] Mary's husband William Rutter made a nuncupative will [a deathbed testament] which was proved by Arthur
Brown and Joshua Hunter. He desired that William Wootten to have what was his, and the remainder of estate should belong to his wife. The statement was signed Mary Rutter. The same day 27
January 1728 [1729] Mary's brother's John Wright, Joseph Wright and William Noyall were
appointed to appraise William Rutter estate. The Appraisal was recorded nearly a year later on 22 December 1729 and two months later on 22
February 1731 the estate of William Rutter final appraisal was "at the house of Mary Rutter
presented by John Wright, Joseph Wright, and William Noyall." No further knowledge on Mary Wright Rutter whether she remarried or whether she had children.
William Williams 1677-1712 died at age of 35 years old
William Williams was the second born son of
John and Anne Williams. He was born circa 1677 and died about 1712 in Chowan County, North Carolina age about 35 years old. He married Mary Moore the daughter of George Moore Esq, and Mary Barcroft. He was about 15 years old when his father died in
1692 and and his father bequeath him the 200 acres Jenkins Pond Plantation that he had bought in 1681 from George Peirce adjacent to Thomas Mandue [Mandew], Phillip Raiford, John Moor, and his uncle
Thomas Williams.
William Williams seemed to have inherited more land from his father then his other sons and in 1694 his mother Anne Williams left him two cows in her deed of gift to her children. After his uncle Thomas Williams died in 1693 his cousin John Williams inherited Thomas Williams portion of the 400 acres. This land stayed within the family as John Williams Sr wished until it was sold by William Williams’ son John Williams, to Ralph Vickers. On 14 May 1718 “John Williams of ye County of Albemarle in North Carolina of ye one part and Ralph Vickers of Newport parish in ye County of Isle of Wight on ye other part” “in consideration of ye sum of forty Barrels of Tarr to him in hand payed by ye said Ralph Vickers” sold “one certain tract …in ye Isle of Wight County… beginning near ye plantation whereon William Williams did formerly dwell on ye north end of that survey” … “being the full half of a patent of four hundred acres of Land granted to George Pierce by Sir Henry Chickley Knt deputy Governor and Lord General of Virginia bearing Date of ye twenty third of April 1681 and himself ye said Pierce sold to John and Thomas Williams and record made October ye 10th 1681.” “Signed sealed & delivered John Williams the 20th day of May 1718.
Nearly 25 years later Ralph Vickers sold to Samuel Wilkins this 200 acres plantation with an additional 175 acres, The deed description was that the 200 acres was part of a 400 acre patent to George Pierce granted 23 April 1681 which was transferred to John and Thomas Williams in October 1681. This deed was witnessed by Thomas "Williamson" who was certainly a Thomas Williams. Often in colonial records the name Williams was transcribed in documents as "Williamson".
William Williams seemed to have inherited more land from his father then his other sons and in 1694 his mother Anne Williams left him two cows in her deed of gift to her children. After his uncle Thomas Williams died in 1693 his cousin John Williams inherited Thomas Williams portion of the 400 acres. This land stayed within the family as John Williams Sr wished until it was sold by William Williams’ son John Williams, to Ralph Vickers. On 14 May 1718 “John Williams of ye County of Albemarle in North Carolina of ye one part and Ralph Vickers of Newport parish in ye County of Isle of Wight on ye other part” “in consideration of ye sum of forty Barrels of Tarr to him in hand payed by ye said Ralph Vickers” sold “one certain tract …in ye Isle of Wight County… beginning near ye plantation whereon William Williams did formerly dwell on ye north end of that survey” … “being the full half of a patent of four hundred acres of Land granted to George Pierce by Sir Henry Chickley Knt deputy Governor and Lord General of Virginia bearing Date of ye twenty third of April 1681 and himself ye said Pierce sold to John and Thomas Williams and record made October ye 10th 1681.” “Signed sealed & delivered John Williams the 20th day of May 1718.
Nearly 25 years later Ralph Vickers sold to Samuel Wilkins this 200 acres plantation with an additional 175 acres, The deed description was that the 200 acres was part of a 400 acre patent to George Pierce granted 23 April 1681 which was transferred to John and Thomas Williams in October 1681. This deed was witnessed by Thomas "Williamson" who was certainly a Thomas Williams. Often in colonial records the name Williams was transcribed in documents as "Williamson".
As a landed property owner, William Williams married
into the prominent family of Judge George Moore of Surry County, Virginia. Moore may even have imported William Williams' uncle in 1669. However there is no evident connecting George Moore and John Moore the shoemaker, father of John Williams Jr's wife. As that many of the Williamses of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties were not related probably the same can be said of the Moores. George
Moore made out his will on 30 November 1710 in Isle of Wight County and he stated
that he was “aged about Seventy Eight [1632]”. His daughter Mary Moore was born circa 1680 and must have
been the youngest child of George Moore and Ann Barcroft Moore. William Williams and Mary Moore married most likely about 1698. With William Williams' marriage to Mary Moore, he then became a brother-in-law to Thomas White, Thomas Carter, and Richard Piland. [Thomas Carter was an ancestor to President Jimmy Carter]. As
that William Williams probably did not marry younger than 21 years
old, probably his children would have been born between 1698 and 1711, most likely on the plantation at Jenkins Pond. William and Mary Williams had at least three sons, John, Samuel, and Stephen some times recorded as "Steve". It seems strange that no son was named George after Mary's father unless he died as an infant. William and Mary Williams had a number of daughters who unfortunately were not named in William's will by name. He and Mary Williams had at least two daughters by 1712. The couple were only married about 11 years before William died and thus it is extremely unlikely they had more than six children at the most. The oldest son was probably Samuel Williams who is mentioned first in his father's will and in that of his grandfather George Moore. John Williams in
1718 sold lands inherited from his father thus he had to have been at least
18 years old. Stephen Williams sold land in 1720 which would indicate that he had to have been born circa 1702. William Williams' father in law George Moore left a legacy to only two of William Williams
sons, Samuel Williams and John Williams in 1710. However John Williams was only to inherit if Samuel Williams died. George Moore left Samuel Williams £1000 which was a small fortune.
William Williams as a young married man soon added to his lands in
Isle of Wight by becoming one of the early patentees in the Nottoway Basin
between the west side of the Main Blackwater and the east side of the Nottoway
River in an area that eventually became Nottoway Parish. These lands today are located in Southampton
County when it was created from Isle of Wight lands west of Black water.
On 28 October 1702, William Williams recieved a patent of 600 acres from by
Governor Francis Nichols on the Westside of Blackwater on lands that are just
north of where the town of Franklin is today. Other patentees on the same day were James
Bryan, Thomas Joyner (whose daughter married Thomas Williams, brother of
William Williams), and Thomas Mandue [Mandew]. Williams recieved the land for transporting 12 people to the colony.
The following year on 24 April 1703, William Williams added an additional 400 acres of land located in the Nottoway Basin. William Williams is listed on the Quit Rent list of 1704 as owning 1000 acres of land in Isle of Wight County however with his inherited 200 acres, the 600 acre patent and 1703 patent he should have been listed as owning 1200 acres.
The following year on 24 April 1703, William Williams added an additional 400 acres of land located in the Nottoway Basin. William Williams is listed on the Quit Rent list of 1704 as owning 1000 acres of land in Isle of Wight County however with his inherited 200 acres, the 600 acre patent and 1703 patent he should have been listed as owning 1200 acres.
In April 1704, William and Mary Williams began
to sell much of this land in Isle of Wight County, in smaller tracts, to Thomas
Kirby, John Barnes, Thomas Boone, and to his brothers John Williams, Nicholas
Williams, and Richard Williams. Evidently
by April 1704 William Williams began divesting his lands in Isle of Wight perhaps in
reparation of a move south into Albermarle County in the
Carolinas.
A series of land deeds made in April 1704 and recorded April 10th were filed in Isle of Wight’s deed
records from William and Mary Williams to the following:
On April 3rd 1704 William and his wife
- sold to Thomas Boone “in consideration of the sum of Six thousand pounds 150 acres on the Southside of the Blackwater Swamp it being part of a pattent of Six hundred acres of land bearing date the 20th day of October 1702.
- sold to Thomas Kirby 250 acres part of the 600 acre grant. Witnesses John Williams Nicholas Williams and John Barnes.
- sold to John Barnes 100 acres for five thousand pounds of good sound merchantable lot & cash witnesses John Williams Mary Williams Richard Williams John Underwood
- sold to his younger brother Nicholas Williams 110 acres for in consideration of ye just quantity of five Thousand pounds of good sound merchantable Lot & cash to me in hand paid on ye Southside of ye Blackwater Swamp. Witnesses: Thomas Kirby, Richard Williams, Mary Williams.
- sold to older brother John Williams 125 acres in consideration of ye just quantity of nine thousand pounds of good sound merchantable lot & cash to me in hand parcell of land containing one hundred & twenty five acres of being on ye South side of Blackwater Swamp beginning upon the upper side of Notaway Swamp witnesses John Barnes, Mary Williams, Richard Williams, Nicholas Williams
- sold to younger brother Richard Williams in consideration of ye such quantity of five thousand dollars of good sound merchantable Tobacco & cash to me in hand paid or otherwise will & sufficiently secured to be paid
Unfortunately for researchers there happens to be two or more William Williamses living in Chowan County during this time period of the first decade of the 18th Century. One is the son of John Williams Sr. of the Isle of Wight and the other is married to a woman named Susannah. There is also a William Williams who died in1725 who named a wife named Mary and three sons one named Stephen also.
It is difficult, without a wife name or a family member, to identify which deeds belong to whom. For example On 25 October 1706 William Williams "of Lower Parish Isle of Wight" sold to Peter Parker of Upper Parish of Nansemond 240 acres on eastside of Chowan River part of a patent of 640 acres granted to Lewis Williams May 1697. Witnessed John Parker, Robert Scott, and Humphrey Marshall. Humphrey Marshall's daughters are mention as a legatees in the 1728 will of Epaphroditus Williams. While Epaphroditus Williams was the brother in law of our William Williams' nephew, John Wright, and grandson of John Williams Sr., this deed did not involve him. Because the deed also says "with free consent of Susannah Williams", this William Williams is linked to the Quakers of Surry County and Lewis Williams, pioneer of Chowan Precinct.
William and Susannah Williams "his wife" were in Chowan County by 10 Oct 1704 or had dealings there when they gave Power of Attorney to Dennis Macclendon which was proved by the Oath of Thomas Snoden. A Deed of Sale acknowledged from Dennis Macclendon Attorney of William William̄s & Susannah his wife to Thomas Norcom and ordered to be recorded. An assignmentt of a Deed of Sale from Thomas Norcom to Thomas Snoden acknowledged in Court was ordered to be recorded. This land was evidently near Yawpin Creek in Perquimans County.
Back in the Isle of Wight, on 6 February 1708 [1709] William Williams and his wife Mary were still selling off land when they sold 70 acres of land lying on the southside of Blackwater Swamp, part of a patent of 400 acres granted on April 24, 1703. When the family actually relocated to Chowan County in the Albemarle Princinct is unknown but it was between February 1709 and December 1711 when William Williams made out his will there.
In 1705 Thomas Cary was appointed Governor of Carolina and he supported the Anglican Church and the colonists that supported the church. A delegation of Quakers went to England to complain and secured from the Colony's Proprietors orders to remove Cary. However returning to Carolina they found that William Glover who was head of the Colony's council was an even stronger supporter of the Anglicans. The Quakers withheld the orders to remove Cary and the Governor ousted Glover and switched allegiance to the Quakers. The Anglicans fled to Virginia and from1708 until 1710 the Quakers dominated the political life of the colony. It was during this time that William Williams may have moved to Chowan Precinct as Albemarle Precinct was the center of Quaker life in North Carolina.
In 1710 the boundary between Virginia and Carolina was so undefined that many settlers in Albemarle County thought they were in Virginia. A survey to determine the boundary was ordered and Phillip Ludwell and Nathaniel Harrison were commissioned to interview the inhabitants in Albemarle County and to survey a boundary. The kept a journal and had visited the home of Lewis Williams in late September 1710 and on 2 October 1710 they stopped at the home of a William Williams. Whether this is William and Maru or William and Susannah is unknown. However since the latter lived near Lewis Williams it would not have taken them days to reach their home as it would have William and Mary Williams. "The 2nd -The Maherine [Meherrin] Indians not being at home we proceeded to the Nansemond Indian Town, in order to take the latitude at Nottoway Rivers mouth, & to examine those Indians; but when we came there, most of the Indians were gone abroad to get Chincopens & it being a rainy day we could take no observation. I (Philip Ludwell) came up Chowan River almost from Wicocon Creek by water with Mr Beverley & set the Courses of the River as we came up, & guessed the distances, by whch we might be enabled to compute how near our observations at the two places agreed, & we found them to agree very near. At the Nansemond Town the Interpreter told us that when he went down to Wicocon Creek with a Nansemond Indian called Robin Tucker who was sent by the Indians to shew us the Creek on which the Wyanoakes formerly lived, he called at one William Williams's house, where he met with one Mr [William] Maul (who is ye same person appointed by Mr Lawson to supply his place at our taking the Latitude) and that being sometime in the House and the Indian left without, as soon as he (the Interpreter) came out, the Indian told him, That man (meaning Mr Maul) was not good for he had been (persuading) him to deny that the Weyanoakes had lived on Wicocon Creek, & promised him two bottles of powder and a thousand shott to do it. Upon which we examined the Indian charging him not to tell a lye of the Gentleman, & he assured us it was very true. This Mr Maul is Mr Lawson's Deputy Surveyor."
Whether the William Williams who is mentioned in this journal is the son of John Williams Sr can not be certain, however a little more than 14 months later William Williams made out his last will and testament. Within those 14 months a civil war broke out in the Carolinas over a dispute regarding who was to be governor of Carolina. In January 1711 Edward Hyde arrived in Chowan County claiming he was given the appointment to be governor over Thomas Cary. Hyde supported the Anglican faction. Cary was supported by followers around the capital at Bath on the Pamlico River. Hyde declared Cary in rebellion and in March 1711 Hyde led a two day march of 70 men from Chowan County to Bath but Cary was too well fortified to dislodge him. In early summer 1711 Cary with a six cannon brigantine and several small ships began an attack on Hyde and his Col. Thomas Pollack at his home on the Chowan River. One of Hyde's two cannons had a lucky shot and broke one of the masts of the Brigantine and Cary's forces retreated. When the governor of Virginia dispatched a company of the Royal Marines forces loyal to Cary refused to take up arms against the king's forces and by the end of July Edward Hyde triumphed however would died the following year of Yellow Fever.
Whether or not William Williams was involved in any of the conflict involving Cary's Rebellion, from 1708 until July 1711, the courts and government in North Carolina general ceased to function. On every side one could hear "the complaints of the poor men & families, who have been so long in arms that they have lost their crops & will want bread." Where crops had been planted and tended, a severe drought during the summer of 1711 had severely damaged their yield. Additionally yellow fever raged through the colony, during the summers of 1711 and 1712 bringing death to many early settlers.
On 9 December 1711 William Williams "of the County of Arbarmale in Chowan Gentleman” made out his will. He was only about 35 years old and his death could have been brought about my a number of diseases even weakened by yellow fever. Many reliable sources list William Williams as making out his will in 1704 instead of 1711. However it is extremely doubtful that he would have made out a will in December 1704 only to have it recorded in 1712. He was definitely alive in 1709 when had a land transaction recorded in Isle of Wight Additionally the witnesses to his will indicate that it was written in 1711 and not 1704 as that one of the witnesses, Robert Lanier, only came to North Carolina after 1710.
It is difficult, without a wife name or a family member, to identify which deeds belong to whom. For example On 25 October 1706 William Williams "of Lower Parish Isle of Wight" sold to Peter Parker of Upper Parish of Nansemond 240 acres on eastside of Chowan River part of a patent of 640 acres granted to Lewis Williams May 1697. Witnessed John Parker, Robert Scott, and Humphrey Marshall. Humphrey Marshall's daughters are mention as a legatees in the 1728 will of Epaphroditus Williams. While Epaphroditus Williams was the brother in law of our William Williams' nephew, John Wright, and grandson of John Williams Sr., this deed did not involve him. Because the deed also says "with free consent of Susannah Williams", this William Williams is linked to the Quakers of Surry County and Lewis Williams, pioneer of Chowan Precinct.
William and Susannah Williams "his wife" were in Chowan County by 10 Oct 1704 or had dealings there when they gave Power of Attorney to Dennis Macclendon which was proved by the Oath of Thomas Snoden. A Deed of Sale acknowledged from Dennis Macclendon Attorney of William William̄s & Susannah his wife to Thomas Norcom and ordered to be recorded. An assignmentt of a Deed of Sale from Thomas Norcom to Thomas Snoden acknowledged in Court was ordered to be recorded. This land was evidently near Yawpin Creek in Perquimans County.
Another deed in Chowan County showed that Nicholas Tyner sold to a William
Williams on 1 April 1707 300 acres on northwest branch of where Sarah Sowell alias Thomas lives. Tyner was a Quaker from Surry County Virginia but it is impossible to know if this is our William Williams. However its probably William Williams husband of Susannah.
The following year on 6 April 1708 Lewis Williams deeded to James and
Elizabeth Rutland, "son in law and daughter", 100 acres on Katherine Creek a tributary on the eastern side of the Chowan River. On the same day William Williams of Chowan Precinct "with the consent of Susannah my wife" sold to
Thomas Ashley "of ye aforesaid Precinct. Blacksmith, 100 acres more or
less as by a survey. Witness were Henry Lisle and Thomas Ward. There appears to more than a casual relationship between Lewis Williams and this William Williams who married Susannah.
Albermarle County was settled mostly by Quakers before 1720. The Colony of Carolina which had not yet been divided North and South had a more tolerant position on religion and the region was mainly controlled by Quakers. There had even been a Quaker Governor in the 1690's. Certainly Carolina was more inviting to Southside Virginia's Quakers than Virginia where Quakers had to pay taxes to support the Anglican Church and could not hold office unless they swore an oath which Quakers would not do as part of their religious beliefs. In Carolina they could "affirm" instead of swear and thus politically they controlled Albemarle County for about 25 years.
Albermarle County was settled mostly by Quakers before 1720. The Colony of Carolina which had not yet been divided North and South had a more tolerant position on religion and the region was mainly controlled by Quakers. There had even been a Quaker Governor in the 1690's. Certainly Carolina was more inviting to Southside Virginia's Quakers than Virginia where Quakers had to pay taxes to support the Anglican Church and could not hold office unless they swore an oath which Quakers would not do as part of their religious beliefs. In Carolina they could "affirm" instead of swear and thus politically they controlled Albemarle County for about 25 years.
In 1705 Thomas Cary was appointed Governor of Carolina and he supported the Anglican Church and the colonists that supported the church. A delegation of Quakers went to England to complain and secured from the Colony's Proprietors orders to remove Cary. However returning to Carolina they found that William Glover who was head of the Colony's council was an even stronger supporter of the Anglicans. The Quakers withheld the orders to remove Cary and the Governor ousted Glover and switched allegiance to the Quakers. The Anglicans fled to Virginia and from1708 until 1710 the Quakers dominated the political life of the colony. It was during this time that William Williams may have moved to Chowan Precinct as Albemarle Precinct was the center of Quaker life in North Carolina.
Whether the William Williams who is mentioned in this journal is the son of John Williams Sr can not be certain, however a little more than 14 months later William Williams made out his last will and testament. Within those 14 months a civil war broke out in the Carolinas over a dispute regarding who was to be governor of Carolina. In January 1711 Edward Hyde arrived in Chowan County claiming he was given the appointment to be governor over Thomas Cary. Hyde supported the Anglican faction. Cary was supported by followers around the capital at Bath on the Pamlico River. Hyde declared Cary in rebellion and in March 1711 Hyde led a two day march of 70 men from Chowan County to Bath but Cary was too well fortified to dislodge him. In early summer 1711 Cary with a six cannon brigantine and several small ships began an attack on Hyde and his Col. Thomas Pollack at his home on the Chowan River. One of Hyde's two cannons had a lucky shot and broke one of the masts of the Brigantine and Cary's forces retreated. When the governor of Virginia dispatched a company of the Royal Marines forces loyal to Cary refused to take up arms against the king's forces and by the end of July Edward Hyde triumphed however would died the following year of Yellow Fever.
Whether or not William Williams was involved in any of the conflict involving Cary's Rebellion, from 1708 until July 1711, the courts and government in North Carolina general ceased to function. On every side one could hear "the complaints of the poor men & families, who have been so long in arms that they have lost their crops & will want bread." Where crops had been planted and tended, a severe drought during the summer of 1711 had severely damaged their yield. Additionally yellow fever raged through the colony, during the summers of 1711 and 1712 bringing death to many early settlers.
On 9 December 1711 William Williams "of the County of Arbarmale in Chowan Gentleman” made out his will. He was only about 35 years old and his death could have been brought about my a number of diseases even weakened by yellow fever. Many reliable sources list William Williams as making out his will in 1704 instead of 1711. However it is extremely doubtful that he would have made out a will in December 1704 only to have it recorded in 1712. He was definitely alive in 1709 when had a land transaction recorded in Isle of Wight Additionally the witnesses to his will indicate that it was written in 1711 and not 1704 as that one of the witnesses, Robert Lanier, only came to North Carolina after 1710.
William Williams wrote in his will, “being very sick and week in body but of perfect mind and memory" bequeathed to “wife, Mary Williams,” 1/2 of land where he now lives....son, Samuel Williams 1/2 land "whereon I now live"...son, John Williams 175 acres and plantation on southside of Black water commonly known as Litell town...son, Steven Williams 400 acres.. each of my daughters, [not named]. Wife Mary sole Executrix. Witnesses: Tredell Keefe, Luis Williams, Robert Lanier.
William Williams will was recorded 15 April 1712 in Chowan Precinct, Albemarle County, North Carolina. As that the will was recorded in Albemarle County certainly the land left to his wife and son Samuel were in Chowan Precinct. His son John Williams was given a 175 acre plantation in Isle of Wight Virginia, and his son Stephen was given a 400 acre plantation location not determined. As that all of William Williams sons and daughters were minors Mary Moore Williams the administrator of the will and being a wealthy young widow with children she undoubtedly remarried.
The witnesses of William Williams' will indicate that William Williams plantation was near Salmon Creek but they als add to mystery to what was the relationship between William Williams and Lewis Williams if any. The fact that Lewis Williams was a witness to his will shows that they were close neighbors and well enough acquainted for William to ask Lewis to act as a witness. They other witnesses were Tredell [Treddell] Keefe and Robert Lanier both prominent land owners with ties to Lewis Williams and Edward Moore. On 20 January 1712 [1713] Tredle Keefe and his wife Elinor sold to Edward Moore, of Nansemond, County, Virginia 150 acres land on the Meherrin River in Chowan County. Edward Moore may have been the brother-in-law of John Williams Jr. On 20 April 1713 Moore, still in Nansemond County, gave Lewis Williams his Power of Attorney "to receive acknowledgment of the sale of 150 acres from Treddell Keefe to him. The other witness, Robert Lanier bought land on 21 July 1713 from Anthony Williams, son of Lewis Williams. Evidently William Williams had no close relatives in Chowan County to witness his will.
This Lewis Williams was originally from Nansemond County, Virginia but probably is not connected to the immigrant Lewis Williams who came to Surry County from Bristol England in 1666. That Lewis Williams who died in 1679 only had two children William and Mary Williams. William Williams son of Lewis Williams married Ann Sessions and way two young to be a father of Lewis Williams who died in 1717 in Chowan Precinct. DNA from the Chowan County pioneer Lewis Williams' descendants show clearly that he did not carry the same genetic markers as John Williams Sr., there for our William Williams could not have been a rellative. The difference in markers are highlighted in bold.
John Williams Sr.13-25-14-11-11-13-12-12-12-13-14-29-17-9-10-11-11-25-15-18-30
Lewis Williams 13-24-15-11-12-14-12-12-11-13-13-29-16-9-10-11-11-25-15-19-30
A bequest of Lewis Williams to John Williams has long puzzled family genealogist and is the basis for suggesting that John Williams Sr. and Lewis Williams were brothers. Lewis Williams states that John Williams is the son of William Williams, but which William Williams? The William Williams who married Susannah, or the William Williams who married Mary Moore? This John Williams evidently was not a grandson as that Lewis Williams named his other legatees as "grandsons" but not John Williams.
Circumstantial evidence suggests that William and Susannah Williams were related to the Quakers of Surry County due to their association with Humphrey Marshall and were probably relatives of Epaphoritus Williams. If Lewis Williams left anything thing to John Williams Sr. grandson John Williams, it was because they were neighbors and friends rather than relatives. When William Williams died in Chowan County he evidently developed a close relationship with Lewis Williams who witnessed to his will.
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by William Williams
I) Captain Samuel Williams (1698-1754) Samuel Williams was named in the will of his grandfather, George Moore. “Next I do give unto my grandson Saml. Williams One Thousand pounds when he shall come to the age of Eighteen and if should die before he shall come to age I give his Brother John Williams shall have Next”. Samuel Williams married Elizabeth Alston (ca. 1712-after
1767), the daughter of Colonel John Alston (ca. 1673-1755) of Chowan County,
North Carolina. He made out his will on 24 October 1753 in Edgecombe
County, North Carolina. "In the name of God Amen. The twenty-fourth day of
October One thousand seven hundred and fifty-three, I, Samuel Williams of the
county of Edgecomb in the province aforesaid being sick of body...do make
&c. this my last will and testament in manner and form following, First I
give and bequeath to my son William Williams 20 shillings, Second, to my son Solomon
Williams 20 shillings and the first negro child born on the plantation, Third,
to my Grandson Samuel Williams negro Patt Fourth, to my son Samuel Williams 100
acres in Mush Island I bought of Robert Lang and 100 pounds,Fifth, to my loving
wife, Elizabeth Williams, negroes Mingo, Coob, Priss, and Lucey, Sixth, to son
Joseph John Williams, the plantation where I now live, also the plantation I
bought of John Burt, 150 acres bought of John Egerton, 100 acres adjoining the
mill and 290 acres adjoining Yancey’s line and the Reedy branch.To my sons Samuel
and Joseph John negroes Brister, Tom, London, Easop, Diner, Hashey, Hannah,
Cloye, Molly, Essex, Rachel, Broomfield and Penny, with the remaining estate to
be divided between my wife and sons Samuel and Joseph John. Lastly, Executors:
my son William Williams and my Son Solomon Williams and my trusty and well
beloved friends Philip Alston and Benjamin Wynn." Samuel Williams was about 56 years old. His widow Elizabeth Williams She married later Richard Burt (1724-1805), as proved by a court
reference of July 1765 to their marriage agreement and by her deed of gift in
December 1767 to her sons William, Solomon, and Joseph John Williams. Children William Williams married Elizabeth Whitmell, Solomon Williams married Temperance Boddie, Samuel Williams Common Law wife Creese a slave, Joseph John Williams married Rosanna Conner and Elizabeth Alston, Elizabeth Williams died young.
II) John Williams (1700-1737) married Anne maiden name unknown. He was mentioned in two and possibly three wills. He was mentioned in his grandfather George Moore's will of 1710, his father’s will of 1711 and he may have been the John Williams mentioned as the “son of William Williams, deceased” in the aforementioned will (1716/17) of Lewis Williams. John Williams “of Albemarle County in North Carolina” in 1718 deeded to Ralph Vickers of Isle of Wight 200 acres of land that had belonged to his grandfather. How John Williams came to acquire this property is unknown as it was not left to him in his father's will. John Williams and his brother Stephen Williams “of Albemarle County, North Carolina” also sold to their uncle Richard Williams of Isle of Wight 170 acres adjacent his property in the Nottoway Basin which was part of a patent for 600 acres granted to their father, William Williams on 28 October 1702. On 21 October 1725, John Williams of North Carolina deeded to his uncle Nicholas Williams of Isle of Wight 125 acres at Nottoway Swamp—part of a patent of William Williams on 21 April 1703. John Williams was in the part of Bertie County that became Edgecombe County. Here the will of John Williams was received by the court in August 1737. He named his wife Anne executrix and left legacies to sons John Williams and Joshua Williams and daughter Mary Williams. He would have been about 37 years old.
II) John Williams (1700-1737) married Anne maiden name unknown. He was mentioned in two and possibly three wills. He was mentioned in his grandfather George Moore's will of 1710, his father’s will of 1711 and he may have been the John Williams mentioned as the “son of William Williams, deceased” in the aforementioned will (1716/17) of Lewis Williams. John Williams “of Albemarle County in North Carolina” in 1718 deeded to Ralph Vickers of Isle of Wight 200 acres of land that had belonged to his grandfather. How John Williams came to acquire this property is unknown as it was not left to him in his father's will. John Williams and his brother Stephen Williams “of Albemarle County, North Carolina” also sold to their uncle Richard Williams of Isle of Wight 170 acres adjacent his property in the Nottoway Basin which was part of a patent for 600 acres granted to their father, William Williams on 28 October 1702. On 21 October 1725, John Williams of North Carolina deeded to his uncle Nicholas Williams of Isle of Wight 125 acres at Nottoway Swamp—part of a patent of William Williams on 21 April 1703. John Williams was in the part of Bertie County that became Edgecombe County. Here the will of John Williams was received by the court in August 1737. He named his wife Anne executrix and left legacies to sons John Williams and Joshua Williams and daughter Mary Williams. He would have been about 37 years old.
III) Steven
[Stephen] Williams (born 1702 ) remains something of an enigma. He deeded the property he inherited from his father to William Byrd
on 17 July 1720 for 45 pound. This deed was witnessed by his brothers Samuel
and John. No will or estate papers for him have surfaced. He probably lived in
Chowan County. May have died without heirs.
IV) Unnamed daughter born before 1711
IV) Unnamed daughter born before 1711
V) Unnamed
daughter born before 1711
Thomas Williams Sr. 1679-1727 died at the age of 48 years old
Thomas Williams was born circa 1679 and died circa 1727 about 48 years old. He married Miss [Joyce?] Joyner and secondly Mrs. Susannah Blunt Davis. This Thomas Williams the son of John Williams
Sr is very elusive and hard to actually document. The sheer number of Thomas
Williamses coming out of the Isle of Wight without any definitive connection to any one family is daunting. Besides the son of John Williams Sr. there are
Thomas Williamses connected to Thomas Williams Sr., the Quaker John
Williams, and a grandson of Rowland Williams
all living near each other and contemporaries with each other. This Thomas Williams however, I believe is the ancestor of men, who my Britton Williams' daughters will marry in the 1790's.
Thomas Williams the son of John Williams Sr was about 13 years old when his father died in 1692. John
Williams Sr. bequeathed "unto my next Sonn Thomas Williams and the heyrs of his body truly begotten one hundred and fifty acres
of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the same
tract where my sonn John William now liveth and he the sayd Thomas Williams and
his heirs to enjoy the same with all benefits and appurtenances there unto
belonging.” Additionally John Williams Sr. gave this son "the marr [mare] foal which goes with the marr.”
Two years later in 1694 when his mother remarried Anne Williams deeded to her son Thomas “cattle”. How much is unknown but at least two. These were not milk cows but beef cows. He was a youth of about 15 when his mother remarried and would have been a step son of Arnold Shumacke. Thomas would have turned 18 years old in 1697 and of full age at 21 in 1700. Sometime during this period he married the daughter of Thomas Joyner. By the time his step father died in 1698, Thomas Williams was about 19 and while under age still, could marry with Ann’s consent and take over the duties of his own plantation in Surry County.
Two years later in 1694 when his mother remarried Anne Williams deeded to her son Thomas “cattle”. How much is unknown but at least two. These were not milk cows but beef cows. He was a youth of about 15 when his mother remarried and would have been a step son of Arnold Shumacke. Thomas would have turned 18 years old in 1697 and of full age at 21 in 1700. Sometime during this period he married the daughter of Thomas Joyner. By the time his step father died in 1698, Thomas Williams was about 19 and while under age still, could marry with Ann’s consent and take over the duties of his own plantation in Surry County.
Tracking Thomas Williams as an adult is
difficult for the reasons stated. However for all the Thomas Williamses
in the region, the 1704 Quit Rent Rolls only shows one in
Isle of Wight and none in Surry County where the lands he inherited from his
father was located. He may have lost much of his land by that time as he is shown owing debt in Surry County. He was by 1704 married and living on Seacock Swamp a branch of the Blackwater on the west side. Thomas Williams on the most part is not involved in any of the many land transactions
that his older brother William Williams was involved in during 1704 with every one of his other brothers, John, Nicholas, and Richard. The only exception was on 22 August 1719 when Thomas Williams, Christopher Reynolds, and Joseph Godwin, witnessed a deed of his deceased brother's sons. Both Christoher Reynolds and Joseph Godwin were Quakers. Thomas Williams' nephews John and
Stephen Williams sold to their uncle, Thomas' brother, Richard Williams land that once was part of a patent granted to William Williams from 28 October 1702, lands just above Franklin on the west side of Blackwater River.
Thomas Williams married Miss Joyner the daughter of
Thomas Joyner Jr and Elizabeth by 1702. In the Isle of Wight Deed Book volume 2 page 4, Thomas Joyner
called Thomas Williams his “son-in-law”. "9 August 1704, Thomas Joyner, Sr. of
Lower Parish, to his son-in-law Thomas Williams 150 acres on the south side of
Blackwater Swamp , (being part of a patent of 300 acres granted said Joyner on
23 October 1702,) bounded by Seacock Swamp and Terrapin Swamp. Signed Thomas
Joyner Wit: George Green and John Watts. The deed was later acknowledged as a deed of
gift.
The Joyners were probably Quakers as that
most of their legal transactions involved known Quaker families in the Isle of
Wight. As that his brother Nicholas Williams married into a Quaker family and perhaps sister Elizabeth Wright its not
unreasonable to assume he might have also. Whether Thomas Williams became a Quaker or not, circumstantial evidence show that his son John Williams was.
When Thomas Williams' father-in-law Thomas Joyner Jr. made out his will on 21 April 1708 he named wife Elizabeth, son Thomas Joyner [married Patience], eldest daughter Christian [married William Thomas], son Benjamin Joyner, son James Joyner, youngest daughter Martha [married Thomas Turner], son John, son Nemiah, grandson Thomas Joyner, cousin [neice] Lucy Joyner daughters Elizabeth and Deborah, and Thomas Williams.
"Elizabeth, my plantation where she now lives, after her death to son Thomas Joyner [married Patience]. To eldest daughter Christian, plantation where she lives; to son Benjamin land between William Kinchen and Arthur Purcell, to son James land where Charles Berkett lives, to youngest daughter Martha Joyner land where the widow Lother [Luther] lives, to son John plantation where he lives, to son Nemiah land; to son Thomas where he lives not given to Thomas Williams, to grandson Thomas Joyner, a horse; to cousin (niece) Lucy Joyner, a heifer, to daughters Christian, Elizabeth, Deborah five shillings apiece, James, Nemiah, Benjamin and Martha to have their parts at age 16. Witnesses: William West, Jenkins Dorman, and James Barnes.
"Elizabeth, my plantation where she now lives, after her death to son Thomas Joyner [married Patience]. To eldest daughter Christian, plantation where she lives; to son Benjamin land between William Kinchen and Arthur Purcell, to son James land where Charles Berkett lives, to youngest daughter Martha Joyner land where the widow Lother [Luther] lives, to son John plantation where he lives, to son Nemiah land; to son Thomas where he lives not given to Thomas Williams, to grandson Thomas Joyner, a horse; to cousin (niece) Lucy Joyner, a heifer, to daughters Christian, Elizabeth, Deborah five shillings apiece, James, Nemiah, Benjamin and Martha to have their parts at age 16. Witnesses: William West, Jenkins Dorman, and James Barnes.
The wife of Thomas Williams is not listed in
Thomas Joyner’s will. The eldest daughter Christian Joyner was married to William Thomas by 1723. A land patent dated 5
September 1723 show that William Thomas and wife Christian patented 290 acres
of land on the eastside of Seacock Swamp next to lands of James Barnes and
Thomas Williams. They would eventually move to North
Carolina by 1725 and Arthur Smith the son of Virgus Smith took over the land.
Two years after the death of Thomas Joyner Jr,
his brother Bridgeman Joyner deed to Thomas Williams land on 26 February 1710
witnessed by Quaker Richard Reynolds and husband of Elizabeth Williams daughter of George Williams. Thomas Williams later sold this land to John Council.
Thomas Williams first wife Miss Joyner died between 1721 and 1727 and was the mother of all of his children. Thomas Williams he married as his second wife Susannah Blunt Davis the relict of John Davis. Susannah Blunt was the daughter of Richard Blunt who died in 1688. Therefore Susannah was born in the 1680's was probably in her 40's when Thomas and she married.
When her father died the court ordered the sale of Blunt’s estate and his brother-in-law John Screws assigned his rights to his niece Susannah Blunt. She probably married around age 15 years [1700] to John Davis who died intestate in 1721. John Davis was the son of John Davis and Mary Green and had appraised the estate of Peter Deberry in 1712. Deberry was the father-in-law of John Warren and John was the brother of Thomas Warren. Thomas Warren's widow would marry Thomas Williams son Thomas Williams Jr. Peter Deberry left to his son-in-law John Warren property that adjacent was adjacent to William Thomas and there fore not to far from Thomas Williams.
When her father died the court ordered the sale of Blunt’s estate and his brother-in-law John Screws assigned his rights to his niece Susannah Blunt. She probably married around age 15 years [1700] to John Davis who died intestate in 1721. John Davis was the son of John Davis and Mary Green and had appraised the estate of Peter Deberry in 1712. Deberry was the father-in-law of John Warren and John was the brother of Thomas Warren. Thomas Warren's widow would marry Thomas Williams son Thomas Williams Jr. Peter Deberry left to his son-in-law John Warren property that adjacent was adjacent to William Thomas and there fore not to far from Thomas Williams.
John Davis did not leave a will but died intestate. His estate was appraised 23 January 1720 [1721] by Susannah’s cousin John Screws Jr, her brother Richard Blunt Jr, Arthur Davis [probably a brother to John], and Edward Crocker. This appraisal was recorded 27 February 1720 [1721]. John Davis' mother Mary Green Davis had made out her will 20 October 1720 and it was recorded on the same date 23 January 1720/1 that her sons appraisal was ordered.
Both Thomas Williams and Susannah had children from previous spouses. Susannah had at least son named Thomas Davis who was mentioned in Thomas Williams' will. Susannah Blunt Davis Williams became the step mother of Thomas Williams own children, John Williams, Thomas Williams Jr., Joyce Williams, and Joseph Williams.
On 9 July 1724, Thomas Williams patented 140 acres on the eastside of Seacock Swamp. The grant shared a northern line with William Thomas’s property. About a mile further up the river was the former 440 acre grant of Thomas Joyner, Thomas Williams and William Thomas’ father-in-law. Other Joyner relatives had land parcels all in the same general area.
Thomas Williams made out his Last Will and Testament on March 5 1726 [1727]. He must have been ill as that the will was probated a few months later on 22 May 1727 in the Isle of Wright County, Virginia.
On 9 July 1724, Thomas Williams patented 140 acres on the eastside of Seacock Swamp. The grant shared a northern line with William Thomas’s property. About a mile further up the river was the former 440 acre grant of Thomas Joyner, Thomas Williams and William Thomas’ father-in-law. Other Joyner relatives had land parcels all in the same general area.
Thomas Williams made out his Last Will and Testament on March 5 1726 [1727]. He must have been ill as that the will was probated a few months later on 22 May 1727 in the Isle of Wright County, Virginia.
Thomas Williams of Upper Parish, Planter, Legatees wife Susannah, "if she should remarry then reversion bequests left her to [go to] sons John and Thomas," "daughter Joyce, son Joseph". "I desire that my wife’s son, Thomas Davis be paid what his father left him. Wife executor." The witnesses to Thomas Williams will were Joseph Quantock and Michael Deloach. This choice of witnesses indicates that Thomas Williams was distant from his other siblings.
Joseph Quantock is kind of a mysterious person although he is a witness, along with Thomas Williams oldest boy John Williams, the will of Michael Deloach who had written his 20 April 1727 shortly after Thomas Williams. Quantock also was a witness to the will of Thomas Ward in April 1727. These wills are the only reference to a Joseph Quantock in any other record that I can locate.
While Thomas Williams died probably in May 1727 his estate was not appraised until that August. On 28 August 1727 John Mangum, William Bell, and Thomas Ward were appointed to appraise the estate of Thomas Williams. Thomas Ward had made out his will 15 April 1727, witnessed by John Williams, Joseph Quantock, and Susannah Williams. Thomas Williams may have been dead or too ill to witness Ward's will.
Thomas Davis, Thomas Williams' stepson was one of the appraisers of the estate of John Vasser Jr. in 1736.
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by Thomas Williams
I) John Williams born circa 1702 died 1754. He married Rebecca. He witnessed the will of Thomas Gay in 1750 along with his son in law Richard
Pope and Mary Coggan in which Gay left his minor children in the care of the
Quaker Monthly Meeting for their placement in homes. John Williams made his own
will 22 September 1754 and it was recorded 7 November 1754. He named two sons
Joseph Williams and John Williams and three married daughters but only Ann by
name the wife of Nathan Pope. His other daughters were the wives of Richard
Pope and Joseph Holloway. For some reason John Williams did not mention his
wife Rebecca in this will. On 2 January 1755 several men probably Quakers
recorded a document to assign Rebecca Williams her dower rights as John
Williams’ widow. The men who recorded the document were John Scott, John
Penner, Thomas Gay [son of Thomas Gay who died in 1750], Thomas Gale, James
Hough, John Marshall Jr and John Williams [probably son]. The document was
signed in the presene of William Eley, William Pass, and John Baldwin. Thomas
Gale, John Marshall Jr and William Pass were then assigned to appraise John
Williams estate.
II) Thomas Williams Jr. born circa 1704 and died unknown. He married about 1740 Sarah the relict of Thomas Warren Jr. Sarah may have been the daughter of Francis and Elizabeth Branch. On 5 May 1739 Elizabeth Branch deed to daughter Sarah Williams for love and affection a "negro girl Agney." Witnesses to this deed of gift were John and Catherine Dunkley. John Dunkley was the son in law of Thomas Williams uncle Thomas Joyner. The girl Agney may have been a wedding gift.
As husband of Mrs. Sarah Branch Warren, Thomas Williams Jr. gave an account of Thomas Warren which was recorded 24 August 1742 and examined by John Davis and Edmund Godwin. Some genealogists have Thomas and Sarah married in 1750 but as that he was already in charge of Warrens estate by 1742 that is highly unlikely. Sarah Warren Williams was the mother of four daughters and a son by 1735. Therefore she was married first to her first husband Thomas Warren Jr about 1725. He was the son of Thomas Warren Sr and Elizabeth Plaw and was born before 1684 as he was listed in the tithing List of Surry County in 1699.
As husband of Mrs. Sarah Branch Warren, Thomas Williams Jr. gave an account of Thomas Warren which was recorded 24 August 1742 and examined by John Davis and Edmund Godwin. Some genealogists have Thomas and Sarah married in 1750 but as that he was already in charge of Warrens estate by 1742 that is highly unlikely. Sarah Warren Williams was the mother of four daughters and a son by 1735. Therefore she was married first to her first husband Thomas Warren Jr about 1725. He was the son of Thomas Warren Sr and Elizabeth Plaw and was born before 1684 as he was listed in the tithing List of Surry County in 1699.
Thomas Warren Jr. made out his will 9 Sept 1735 which was recorded 24 May 1736 in Isle of Wight County. Sarah Warren was made executrix as all her children were minors. He named in his will son Thomas Warren, [born circa 1725] and daughters Mary Warren [born circa 1727], Jane Warren [born circa 1729], Martha Warren [born circa 1731, and Patience Warren [born circa 1733]. Witnesses to the will of Thomas Warren was John Dunkley and John Warren. Dunkley was the son in law of Thomas Joyner, the uncle of Thomas Williams Jr. John Warren was Thomas Warren's brother. An inventory of Thomas Warren's estate was signed by Mary Warren and recorded 25 October 1736. The inventory was taken by Thomas Williams Jr.’s cousin John Vasser, Thomas Williams Jr's step brother John Davis and and James Norwood.
Thomas Williams Jr and Sarah married between 1736 and 1742 probably in 1739 as widows with children and property did not remain widows long. Thomas Williams Jr. became the stepfather for Thomas Warren's children. Sarah Branch Warren Williams'only son Thomas Warren died some time before 1750.
By 12 April 1750 Thomas Williams and Sarah
had moved to North Carolina along with his married step daughters. Thomas and Sarah and the Step daughters sold to
John Holding 180 acres in Southampton County Virginia that had been left to
them by their father Thomas Warren. Strangely this deed transaction was not recorded
however until 8 Nov 1759.
“Thomas
Williams and his wife, Sarah,of the Province of North Carolina, sell to John Bowen, Jr.
and Mary, his wife, Hardy Hart and Jane, his wife, Arthur Hart and Martha, his
wife, all of North Carolina of the second part, and John Holding of the County of
Southampton in VA of the third part, for £36 a certain tract of land containing
180 acres in Southampton County, on the southside of Lithwood Swamp, being part of
a patent granted Bartholomew Andros for 320 acres by date of 16 June 1714 and by
said Andros conveyed to Robert Warren, Jr., Thomas Warren and John Warren, 26 October 1719...deceased, by the Last Will and Testament of Thomas Warren to his
wife, Sarah Warren, and after her death to his son, Thomas Warren and his
heirs;but the said Thomas Warren, Jr., dying an infant [under 21] with no
heirs, the said land was devolved to his four sisters, Mary, Jane, Martha and
Patience Warren, and whereas, the said Sarah Warren, relict of Thomas Warren,
hath intermarried with the said Thomas Williams and they being willing to sell
their right, being the first part, etc., and whereas, the said Mary, Jane and
Martha hath intermarried with the said John Bowen, Hardy Hart and Arthur Hart.”
The Hart brothers and John Bowen married Thomas Williams step daughters Mary, Jane, and Martha between July 1745 and April 1750 and youngest step daughter Patience married George Jordan between 1750 and 1755. A deed Between George Jordan and wife Patience of Northampton County, North Carolina and George Wood dated 11 Dec 1755 shows George and Patience Jordan selling their 46 acres part of a patent to Mary Warren, Jane Warren, Martha Warren and Patience for 185 acres on 4 Jul 1745.
While Thomas and Sarah Williams remained in North Carolina as did their sons in law Hardy Hart, Arthur Hart and George Jordan, John
Bowen and wife Mary Warren to return to Southampton
County where John Bowen made out his will 19 January 1762. It was recorded 9 September
1762. In his will he named wife Mary, and children Jonathan Bowen, Bethia
Vasser, Mary Bowen, Rebecca Bowen, and
Arthur Bowen. Their eldest son Jonathan Bowen married Ann Calthorpe the daughter of Charles annd Eleanor Butts Calthorpe. Their eldest daughter Bethia had married by 1762 there she would have been born before 1747. She married a Vasser but which one is presently unknown. This stepdaughter of Thomas Williams had a grandson, Charles Butts
Bowen, who married Martha Williams the
daughter of Britton and Elizabeth Williams of Granville County [Barnwell] South
Carolina. Britton Williams' other
daughter Sarah Williams married Josiah Vasser son of Joseph Vasser. Charles Calthorpe and Eleanor Butts Calthorpe had lands in Southampton adjacent to
Arthur Joyner and Nicholas Williams.
Thomas and Sarah Williams remained in Northampton County North Carolina as did step
daughters Jane Hart, Martha Hart and Patience Jordan however Mary Bowen returned
to Southampton County. A Northampton
County North Carolina deeds of Edmond Lewis dated 26 May 1757 and 23 Feb 1758 shows that Hardy Hart and his brothers-in-law Francis Boykin and George Jordan as well as Arthur Wall had lands adjoining the Lewis family.
There is no proof that Thomas and Sarah Williams had offspring of their own but as Thomas was in his late 30's when he married the widow Mrs. Sarah Warren who was in her early 30's there's no reason to believe that they didn't have children of their own. One such child may have been Jesse Williams who was born circa1745 and died 1782 in Georgia. Jesse Williams Last Will and Testament was dated 22 November 1782 and was
recorded December 1782 in both Northampton County, North Carolina and Greene
County, Georgia. His will named his wife Martha, thought to be Martha Hart, and
his father and mother Thomas and Sarah Williams. There is a deed dated 3 May 1773 in Northampton County from Thomas
Williams to son Jesse Williams. If this is the same Thomas and Sarah Williams then they died sometime after November 1782. Jesse Williams was the father of a son named Brittain Williams born 1770.
III) Joyce Williams born circa 1709 perhaps named for her mother.
IV) Joseph Williams born circa 1711 and died
in 1756. He married Mary and was probably a Quaker. The witnesses of his were Thomas Gale, John Gay [son of Thomas Gay who died 1750] and John
Richards. His will only mentioned two children John Williams and Rebecca
Williams. The executors of his will was his wife Mary and Jethro Gale who was
the son of Thomas Gale. His estate was appraised by John Baldwin, John
Richards, John Marshall.
Mary Williams Hickman 1681- After 1716 Age at time of death unknown
Mary Williams was born about 1681 and was about 10 years old when her
father died. He bequeath to his daughter “one feather Bed and boulster [stuffed pillow], one Rugg ,one
blanket, one sheet.' These were household items suitable for a dowry. John Williams Sr. left the
identical items to his other daughter Jane Williams except that Mary got a rug and
Jane did not.
Two years after her father died her mother Anne Williams left her some personal property in a deed of gift dated 9 April 1694. She gave her daughters some kitchen "pewter" [dishes] and wearing apparel. Perhaps Mary Williams was betrothed that the same stipulation was not placed on her as was her sister Jane, that she wait until she was 18 years of age before she could receive these items.
Two years after her father died her mother Anne Williams left her some personal property in a deed of gift dated 9 April 1694. She gave her daughters some kitchen "pewter" [dishes] and wearing apparel. Perhaps Mary Williams was betrothed that the same stipulation was not placed on her as was her sister Jane, that she wait until she was 18 years of age before she could receive these items.
Mary Williams married William Hickman in
probably 1696 with her mother’s consent as that she was only 15 or 14 years
old at the time. William Hickman was working for
John Williams Sr. at the time of Mary’s father’s death and probably was an apprentice and not an indentured servant.
Some genealogist claim was William Hickman was the son of an Edward Hickman while others claim a Nathaniel Hickman. As that one of his sons was named Nathaniel Hickman that may be the more accurate. Also some family histories, that are often just copied and not researched, state that he was born about 1664. If so he would have been 28 years old when John Williams called him “my boy”. I suggest that he was a minor more like a youth under 18 years [1675]. William was born in Isle of Wight so he was not imported by John Williams Sr. He would have been about 20 years old with Mary Williams between 14 and 15 years old when they married. Hickman was a legatee in John Williams' will was given a yearling heifer which was probably part of his contract for service.
By 1713 William Hickman made enough money to import three people to Virginia. He received a much larger patent of 150 acres for some reason. On 13 November 1713 he obtained a patent of 370 acres of "new land" in the Nottoway basin in the Isle of Wight.
Some genealogist claim was William Hickman was the son of an Edward Hickman while others claim a Nathaniel Hickman. As that one of his sons was named Nathaniel Hickman that may be the more accurate. Also some family histories, that are often just copied and not researched, state that he was born about 1664. If so he would have been 28 years old when John Williams called him “my boy”. I suggest that he was a minor more like a youth under 18 years [1675]. William was born in Isle of Wight so he was not imported by John Williams Sr. He would have been about 20 years old with Mary Williams between 14 and 15 years old when they married. Hickman was a legatee in John Williams' will was given a yearling heifer which was probably part of his contract for service.
By 1713 William Hickman made enough money to import three people to Virginia. He received a much larger patent of 150 acres for some reason. On 13 November 1713 he obtained a patent of 370 acres of "new land" in the Nottoway basin in the Isle of Wight.
Three years later on 8 October 1716, William Hickman sold to Henry "Bosman", a cooper, for 3000 pounds of
tobacco, 175 acres on the North side of Nottoway River, of his 370 acre
patent. His wife Mary Williams Hickman signed that she relinquished her dower rights to the land. Over twenty years later 22 August
28 February 1725, William Hickman sold another 160 acres of
the 1713 patent to Benjamin "Jonson" (Johnson), which was described as being on the
south side of Blackwater River and in the
forks of the Nottoway and Black Water. One of the landmarks was
"Hickman's Swamp". In July 1738 Benjamin Johnson sold this land back to Hickman
Hickman was living in Isle of Wight County as of November 1728 when he was one of the appraisers of the estate of Arthur Benn. Other appraisers were Samuel Brown, John Vasser, and James Garner.
Before 1732 William Hickman had moved to Nansemond County where Theophilus Pugh purchased of William
Hickman a parcel of land, on a branch of the Beaver
Dam Swamp however by 1739 William Hickman had moved to Edgecombe County North Carolina. A deed dated 10 June 1739 stated that a Christopher Guin sold lands adjoining that of William Hickman &
Frederick Jones, with Henry West one of the witnesses.
The West family seemed to be connected to William Hickman's family by 1730. The will of an Arthur West, made out 12 April 1727 and recorded May 1730, in Bertie County, North Carolina, devised to a Nathaniel Hickman land on Fishing Creek and to Robert, son of Henry West, land on Fishing Creek. Nathaniel Hickman was a son of William Hickman and may have married a daughter of Arthur West.
The West family seemed to be connected to William Hickman's family by 1730. The will of an Arthur West, made out 12 April 1727 and recorded May 1730, in Bertie County, North Carolina, devised to a Nathaniel Hickman land on Fishing Creek and to Robert, son of Henry West, land on Fishing Creek. Nathaniel Hickman was a son of William Hickman and may have married a daughter of Arthur West.
In November 1741, when William Hickman would have been about 66 years old he proved his land
rights in Edgecombe County, North Carolina paying a poll tax for one white person and one black person.
In 21 March 1743 [1744] he petitioned for 100 acres in
Edgecombe County and received a warrant for 100 acres. As he was approaching seventy years he probably was seeking land to devise to heirs rather than farm.
The North Carolina Archives does not now have William Hickman will but he was dead by 19 February 1745 when his will which disappeared was proved by oath dated 19 February 1744 [1745] it was not recorded by the the oaths of Wallace Jones, Drewry [Drury]Jones, and Mary Jones. His son Nathaniel Hickman qualified as executor. The father-son relationship of William and Nathaniel is predicated on Nathaniel's serving as executor, and the apparent difference in ages. William died in 1745 and Nathaniel died in 1795.
The 1750 will of William Jones of Edgecombe County, names son "Drewy", and mentions land formerly belonging to William Hickman. He named "Wallis" [Wallace] Jones as executor. Wallace Jones was the son of John Jones
The North Carolina Archives does not now have William Hickman will but he was dead by 19 February 1745 when his will which disappeared was proved by oath dated 19 February 1744 [1745] it was not recorded by the the oaths of Wallace Jones, Drewry [Drury]Jones, and Mary Jones. His son Nathaniel Hickman qualified as executor. The father-son relationship of William and Nathaniel is predicated on Nathaniel's serving as executor, and the apparent difference in ages. William died in 1745 and Nathaniel died in 1795.
The 1750 will of William Jones of Edgecombe County, names son "Drewy", and mentions land formerly belonging to William Hickman. He named "Wallis" [Wallace] Jones as executor. Wallace Jones was the son of John Jones
A detailed inventory showed that William
Hickman had considerable estate:25 barrels of Indian corn, 2 negro men, 42
head of cattle, 9 horses & mares, 1 bell & furniture, 1 pot & pot
hook, 1 frying pan, 2 & 3 dishes, 4 spoons, 1 bed cord, 1 clock, 1 hat, 2
pair of stockings, 1 pair of gloves, 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair comps to
over shirt, 1 waistcoat, cloth for suit of clothes, 1 bible, a drinking glass, 1
glass, 1 looking glass (a fairly rare item),honey scales, 3 books, 2 pair of
buttons, 8 brass buttons, ounce of brown thread, 1 cyphering book, 28 head of
hogs, 13 head of horses & 12 calves, 1 plantation, 1 ink glass, 1 knife
& fork, 1 file, 1 pocket book, 2 lb, 5 shilling in gold, 7 shilling & 5
pence in silver, 1 add, 1 gauge, 1 augor, 1 hand saw, 1 drawing knife, 2
gimbles, razors, 1 ink horn & pen knife, 3 weeding hoes, 2 stumps of hoes,
1 broad ax, 2 wedges, 1 gun, 1 powder tub, 3 pigeons, 1 meal sifter, 3 baskets,
1 jacket & britches, 77 head of hogs, 1 saddle, 2 ropes, 1 oxen, brigs,
wallet, 1 house knife.
The inventory of the "estate of William Hickman, deceased of Rocky Swamp" was signed by Nathaniel Hickman and presented to the court 21 May 1745. By some of the items listed in the inventory William Hickman may also have been a tailor.
Mary William Hickman probably died in Edgecombe County, North Carolina date unknown.
The inventory of the "estate of William Hickman, deceased of Rocky Swamp" was signed by Nathaniel Hickman and presented to the court 21 May 1745. By some of the items listed in the inventory William Hickman may also have been a tailor.
Mary William Hickman probably died in Edgecombe County, North Carolina date unknown.
In 8 April 1745, William Hickman, 100 acres in Edgecombe Co on the southside of Conoway Creek, joining the mouth of Fish Pond Branch and the creek. This could have been a delayed recording or it could have been to William Hickman Jr. his son
John Williams Sr. Grandchildren by Mary Williams Hickman
I) William Hickman, Jr., born about 1696 Isle of
Wight Co VA74, died 1761, Southampton County Virginia. Southampton County, Virginia was divided out of Isle of Wight, and the William Hickman's land fell into the new county, and Nottoway Parish. The lands he bought back may have been given to his son William Hickman Jr. who died there in 1761. On 8 February 1753, William Hickman sold William Grimmer 100 acres on Hickman Swamp,which was part of the land patented by William Hickman some 40 years before. The will of William Hickman Jr, was proved 8 Oct 1761. In his will he names sons Joseph Hickman and John Hickman and daughters Sarah, Martha, Elizabeth, Tamer and he may have had more as he names "and my surviving children". The executors of the estates were "friends" Albridgton Jones and Job Wright.
II) Nathaniel Hickman, Sr. born 1698 died 1795. Married first Sarah West (1712- 1740's) , Edgecombe County, North Carolina and secondly Sarah Strickland (1713-1805). Nathaniel is left land of about 180 acres on Fishing Creek in Bertie County in 1727 which later became Edgecombe County by his father in law Arthur West. He lived near Henry West.
- In July of 1742 Nathaniel Hickman bought from probably a cousin William Williams of Onslow County, North Carolina 200 acres of land on the southside of the Tar River in Edgecombe County North Carolina for 10 lbs Virginia currency. The land adjoined "Dr.Clancey and the branch next to the Hickman house; all houses, gardens, as by patent, 11 July 1739.Aug Ct 1742."
- Later on 12 May 1746 Nathaniel Hickman sold to Charles Matthews of Brunswick County Virginia for 15 lbs current money of Virginia 100 acres on the southside of Conaway Creek, joining the mouth of Fish Pond Branch & the Creek.
- Later that year he bought on 4 November 1746 from Christopher Guin for 10 lbs current money of Virginia 100 acres on the northside of Tar River, joining Indian Creek, Drew Smith & the river, part of 2000 acres granted to John Green.
- On 23 February 1748 [1749] Nathaniel Hickman "of Tar River"sold to John and Elizabeth Lott for 120 lbs Virginia money 640 acres with one water mill on the northside of Toisnoit Swamp. The witnesses of were Benjamin and Solomon Williams probably grandsons of John Williams Sr. and cousins.
- On 13 May 1749, Nathaniel & Sarah Hickman of Edgecombe County bought from Peter Mitchell for 100 lbs of lawful money of England 200 acres on the southside of Tar River, joining Dr Clancy the river and the fork of a branch next to the house where the said Hickman lives, part of a patent for 640 acres to William Williams, 11 Jul 1739. The same day Nathaniel Hickman bought from John Jones for 15 lbs money of Virginia for 100 acres on the northside of Tar River.
- 6 August 1751,Nathaniel Hickman of Edge County paid John Dew of Northampton County 50 lbs current money of Virginia for 300 acres with the Grice [grist] Mill,"thereon the northside of Toisnoit Swamp."
- On 8 February 1753 [1754] Nathaniel sold to William Grimmer 100 acres on Hickman Swamp in Southampton County Virginia as did his brother William Hickman. On 19 November 1757 Nathaniel Hickman Jr sold to first cousin one removed Matthew Williams of Edgecombe County for 9 lbs Virginia Currency 100 acres on the southside of Toisnoit Swamp. Matthew Williams was the son of Richard Williams and Nathaniel Hickman Sr.'s first cousin. The witness to this deed was Thomas Dickson [Dixon] and Nathaniel Hickman, Sr.
- Nathaniel Hickman was a Constable in June 1758 "In district where George Blackwell formerly was." In 1758 Halifax was formed from Edgecombe County and some of Nathaniel Hickman's property became located there. I760 Although there were numerous clusters of settlers in Edgecombe Co, the only town in the 18th century was Taraboro named for the Tar River on which it is situated.
- On Apr 27, 1763 Nathaniel Hickman of Edgecombe County sold to Thomas Spell, for £15 a tract of 100 acres on the north bank of Tar River and on Indian Creek adjoining Drew Smith, which land was purchased by said Hickman from Christopher Guin.
- In 1777 The western half of Edgecombe Co was sliced off to create Nash County and in 1855 its southern end was removed to make a considerable part of Wilson Co.
- When Nathaniel Hickman Sr was in his 80's he was still receiving grants from the state of North Carolina. 28 November 1785 in consideration of 50 Shillings for every 100 acres was paid into the NC Treasury.He was given & granted a tract of land containing 200 acres lying & being in the County of Edgecombe on the southside of a branch of Town Creek called White's Branch.
- Nathaniel's will in Edgecombe Co NC (10 Mar 1790/Nov. Court 1795) "In the name of God, Amen. I, Nathaniel Hickman of Edgecombe County and State of North Carolina. Being of sick and weak body yet of perfect sound sense and memory thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my "Last Will and Testament." First and principally I give and recommend my soul into the hand of God that gave it, and my mind I commit to the earth to be buried at the direction of my executors hereafter named and as to what worldly estate is hast pleased God to bless me with.I give, demise, bequeath and......of the same on the following manner......................... First my will and desire that my debts and funeral expense be paid. Item I lend into my beloved wife Sarah Hickman, the plantation and land wherein I now live with 300 acres of land belonging thereto, also I lend her 2 negro men namely Amritt and Guy , also I lend her all the........................ and residue of estate of what kind so ever it be during her natural life, together with my plantation and land lies on the branches of Town Creek. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving son Nathaniel, 150 acres of land after the decease of my said wife, Sarah Hickman, it being the upper part of the tract whereon I now live, to him and his heirs or assigns forever the same in full of my estate and a bar from his obtaining anymore. Item I give, demise and bequeath unto my loving son, William, 150 acres of land after the decease of my said wife, Sarah Hickman, it being the lower end of the tract whereon I now live, to him or his heirs or assigns forever the same in full of my estate and a bar from his obtaining anymore. Item I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter, Nancy Clark, 1/3 part of the cattle,......., hogs and sheep, also one woolen wheel and one linen wheel after the decease of my said wife, Sarah Hickman, to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Mourning Pittman, my negro man called Armitt, after the decease of my said wife, Sarah Hickman, to her and her.....................lawfully begotten of her body also I give her 1/3 of the cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep and working tools after the decease of her mother to her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Elizabeth Vivrett the sum of 5 shillings sterling, to her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Sarah Dixon, the sum of 5 shillings sterling, to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter, Mary Stricklin the sum of 5 shillings sterling to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my loving grandson, Snowden Hickman, and my friend Dempsey Dawson, executors of this my Last Will and Testament allowing this and only this to be my Last Will and Testament, in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the Tenth day of March in the year of our Lord God, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety: Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us. Dempsey Dawson, Roland Robbins. ,Dempsey Dawson, one of the executors & Snowden Hickman.
- 27 June 1803 an additional inventory sale was held by the executor Snowsden Hickman. The widow, Sarah, was probably dead by June 1803.
- 22 September 1803, a division of the residual estate among the heirs, to wit. "Mourning Pitman (now Mourning Carter), Snoden Hickman, Nancy Clark, Sarah Dixon, Elizabeth Viveritt, and Mary Stricklin, Aug 9, 1804, Aug Court 1804".
- The Children: 1.Sarah Hickman [1728-1816] married Thomas Dixon. 2. Nathaniel Hickman Jr [1730 died before Nov 1803]. 3.William Hickman [1732-1816] marred Mildred Smith in Edgecombe Co NC; married 2nd Lucretia Stricklin; living in Jackson Co GA in 1800; will recorded there in 1816. 4. Mary Hickman [1735 after 1790] married Mr. Strickland, 5. Elizabeth Hickman [1737-1807] married Abraham Dew, bond 2 Dec 1763, who was deceased by April 1774.She married 2nd by 1776 Thomas Vivrette Vivrett's will, proved in Nash Co., N. C. at Nov. court 1792, 6. Mourning Hickman [1740-1804] married 1st Pittman and 2nd Kindred Carter II
Jane Williams born 1684- after 1694 Age at time of death is unknown
Jane Williams was probably the youngest daughter of John and Anne Williams as that she is the last daughter mentioned in his will. Her father wrote "I give and bequeath unto my next daughter Jane Williams one feather bed boulster Rugg one blankett one sheet." Two years later her mother Anne gave her "pewter when 18" and "wearing apparel." Jane Williams would not have turned 18 until after 1700 probably about 1702. So far there hasn't been any record of her marrying so it is an enigma as to her fate.
Nicholas Williams 1686- 1749 died at the age of 63 years old
Nicholas Williams was born about 1686 and died 1749 at the age of 63. His family seemed to be the
only one whose Bible records remained intact long enough to be passed down to
relatives in this family. However his birth date was not recorded in it but his
death date was 18 Aug 1749. In his mothers deed of gift in dated 9 April
1694, Anne Williams mentions that Nicholas was seven years old. Depending when
his his birthday was means that he could have been born in either 1686 or 87.
The former year seems more likely as that he married Anne Lewis 24 February,
1704/05 when he was about 18 or 19. Even that seems young for men to marry in
colonial times. By common law he was still considered an “infant” or minor
until the age of 21 years. But as he had property and both parents might have been deceased by then he would have been able to marry by then. Many legal actions did not require that a
person be 21. For many legal actions, the
law merely required that the person be judged capable of discretion. The age of
14 years was generally accepted under common law as the age of discretion. At 21 a
person could marry without parental consent but under that age a parent consent
was necessary.
In March 1692 John Williams Sr. wrote in his
will “I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn Nicholas Williams and the heyrs of
his body truly begotten one parcel of one hundred and fifty acres of the
aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the same tract of
land where my Sonn John Williams now liveth to his heyrs truly begotten with
all appurtenances and benefits there unto belonging." This was part of the 600
acres that he acquired in 1685 shortly before his son’s birth. He would have been about 5 years old when he
inherited the property. Two years later his mother Anne Wllliams gave him a
deed of gift that stated “son Nicholas Williams his father‘s musket—Nicholas is
7 years old to have it at 18.” Nicholas
would have turned 18 if he was born in 1686 in 1704.
Nicholas Williams married Anne Lewis on 24 February 1703, according to a Bible record reported in John Bennett Boddie, in his Historical Southern Families, Vol. VI. The actual date would have been 24 February 1704. Under the old British Imperial system March 25 was the 1st legal day of the new year. As this date was from a Bible record and not an official document, written years after the event it could simply be wrong. Anne Lewis Williams was the daughter of Richard Lewis who left his will also in 1692. She is listed as having died 15 October 1760. She would have been about 70 years old.
Nicholas Williams married Anne Lewis on 24 February 1703, according to a Bible record reported in John Bennett Boddie, in his Historical Southern Families, Vol. VI. The actual date would have been 24 February 1704. Under the old British Imperial system March 25 was the 1st legal day of the new year. As this date was from a Bible record and not an official document, written years after the event it could simply be wrong. Anne Lewis Williams was the daughter of Richard Lewis who left his will also in 1692. She is listed as having died 15 October 1760. She would have been about 70 years old.
In the will of Richard Lewis, he placed the care of his infant daughter to a Mr. Bressie, which could have been William Bressie or his son Hugh. In any case both father and son were Quakers. One of the witnesses to Richard Lewis will was Alexander
Matthews who also witnessed Nicholas' father John Williams Sr's will. Alexander
Matthews was the grandson of Quaker William Boddie. Richard Lewis's association with so many Quakers suggests that this family was of the Quaker faith.
Richard Lewis. probably a Quaker himself, acted as a witness to Quaker George
Williams' will dated 1672. Richard Lewis had to have been born before 1651 to act as a witness. He may have been a son of a John
Lewis who was a witness of the will of John Vasser in 1650.
Richard Lewis of Lower Parish made out his will 13 December 1691 which was recorded March 26, 1692 in Isle of Wight County. He would have been over 40 years old. His wife Sarah must have been ill herself or perhaps from her pregnancy as none of Richard Lewis children were left to her care. She may have been a second wife as that his oldest son would have been born by 1677 and 14 years old at his father’s death. Son Richard Lewis Jr was of age by 1698 [21 years 1677] when he was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Moore.
Richard Lewis does mention an unborn child so we know his wife Sarah was pregnant at the time of his death and they probably were a young family. He mentions his children in this order in his will; Richard Lewis [Jr]., Thomas Lewis, Anne Lewis, and Elizabeth Lewis and the unborn child. His son Richard was left the plantation where William Duck lived and Duck was to provide tuition for this son presumably as part of rent. Thomas Lewis was given the lands rented to James Cullies but he entrusted his son to Thomas Giles. Thomas Giles must have been aged and may have even been Thomas Lewis grandfather. The will said that if Thomas Giles should die then Thomas Lewis was to be “free”. Daughters were given to the care of two Quaker families which also indicates this family were Quakers. Anne was given to Mr. Bressie and Elizabeth was given to the care of Richard Reynold and his wife Elizabeth Williams Reynolds. Elizabeth Williams Reynold was the daughter of Quaker George Williams and his wife Elizabeth Boucher. Elizabeth Boucher Williams was the daughter of Elizabeth Vasser and granddaughter of John Vasser who died in 1650.
Elizabeth Vasser married Quaker Daniel Boucher and she was probably the older aunt of Nicholas Williams. Nicholas Williams cousin Elizabeth Boucher married George Williams and when George Williams died in 1672 and their young daughter Elizabeth Williams was entrusted to the care of Quaker William Bressie. As that William Bressie did not die until 1701 he could have been the Mr. Bressie referred to in Richard Lewis will. The title Mister was used as a sign of respect. The The overseers [executors] of Richard Lewis’ will were Thomas Joyner, Jr. whose daughter married Nicholas Williams older brother Thomas Williams and Richard Reynolds, Jr. later would married Elizabeth Williams.
Richard Lewis of Lower Parish made out his will 13 December 1691 which was recorded March 26, 1692 in Isle of Wight County. He would have been over 40 years old. His wife Sarah must have been ill herself or perhaps from her pregnancy as none of Richard Lewis children were left to her care. She may have been a second wife as that his oldest son would have been born by 1677 and 14 years old at his father’s death. Son Richard Lewis Jr was of age by 1698 [21 years 1677] when he was one of the witnesses to the will of Thomas Moore.
Richard Lewis does mention an unborn child so we know his wife Sarah was pregnant at the time of his death and they probably were a young family. He mentions his children in this order in his will; Richard Lewis [Jr]., Thomas Lewis, Anne Lewis, and Elizabeth Lewis and the unborn child. His son Richard was left the plantation where William Duck lived and Duck was to provide tuition for this son presumably as part of rent. Thomas Lewis was given the lands rented to James Cullies but he entrusted his son to Thomas Giles. Thomas Giles must have been aged and may have even been Thomas Lewis grandfather. The will said that if Thomas Giles should die then Thomas Lewis was to be “free”. Daughters were given to the care of two Quaker families which also indicates this family were Quakers. Anne was given to Mr. Bressie and Elizabeth was given to the care of Richard Reynold and his wife Elizabeth Williams Reynolds. Elizabeth Williams Reynold was the daughter of Quaker George Williams and his wife Elizabeth Boucher. Elizabeth Boucher Williams was the daughter of Elizabeth Vasser and granddaughter of John Vasser who died in 1650.
Elizabeth Vasser married Quaker Daniel Boucher and she was probably the older aunt of Nicholas Williams. Nicholas Williams cousin Elizabeth Boucher married George Williams and when George Williams died in 1672 and their young daughter Elizabeth Williams was entrusted to the care of Quaker William Bressie. As that William Bressie did not die until 1701 he could have been the Mr. Bressie referred to in Richard Lewis will. The title Mister was used as a sign of respect. The The overseers [executors] of Richard Lewis’ will were Thomas Joyner, Jr. whose daughter married Nicholas Williams older brother Thomas Williams and Richard Reynolds, Jr. later would married Elizabeth Williams.
If Anne Lewis was raised as a Quaker it
would make sense that the family would have kept family records as that Quakers are excellent record
keepers. Anne Williams would have been about the same age as Nicholas Williams when they
married. As that Quakers frown on marrying outside of the faith, Nicholas
Williams may have became a Quaker also.
Nicholas Williams was about 18 when he
married and 17 when his older brother William Williams and wife Mary Moore Williams deeded him
110 acres in 1703 in the Nottoway Basin.
On 7 July 1725 Nicholas Williams witnessed a deed between Robert Hodges of Lower Parish and John Dunkley of Upper Parish. Robert Hodges was the father-in-law of Isaac Williams, Nicholas Williams' nephew. John Dunkley was a son in law to Thomas Joyner. The land was on Southside of Blackwater adjacent to lands of Sarah Branch.
On 7 July 1725 Nicholas Williams witnessed a deed between Robert Hodges of Lower Parish and John Dunkley of Upper Parish. Robert Hodges was the father-in-law of Isaac Williams, Nicholas Williams' nephew. John Dunkley was a son in law to Thomas Joyner. The land was on Southside of Blackwater adjacent to lands of Sarah Branch.
Nicholas Williams' eldest brother John Williams “of North Carolina” deeded Nicholas another
125 acres on 21 October 1725. In 1725 when Nicholas would have been about
39 years old when his brother John Williams Jr of Bertie County, North Carolina sold him the 125
acres located on the west side Blackwater River just north of modern Franklin in
Southampton County in Virginia. This land was part of a patent granted to their brother
William Williams in 1702 and sold to John Williams bearing date 24 April 1703. This
transaction was almost a gift as that John Williams sold his interest in this
land for 1 shilling.
“Nicholas Williams his heirs & for and during the full term & time of three years fully to be completed & ended yielding & paying for ye same yearly on ye tenth Day of December ye fee rent one ear of Indian Corn if ye same shall be Lawfully Demanded unto Ye said John Williams his heirs & to ye intent & purpose that by virtue of these presents & of ye Statue for Transferring Uses into possessions that ye said Nicholas Williams may be in actual & peaceable possession of ye heretofore granted premises”. John Williams traveled with Robert Hodges to Isle of Wight to register the deed. Robert Hodge’s daughter Martha Williams married John Williams son Isaac.
On 13 September 1733 Nicholas Williams "gentleman of Newport Parish" sold to Joseph Godwin and Thomas Jarrell "Gentlemen and Church Wardens" 1 acre of land on which to build a chapel. As that Quakers have meeting houses the wording of this deed is peculiar. Thomas Jarrell who married Martha Kinchen was a Quaker as was Joseph Godwin who witnessed the deed of Nicholas Williams nephews John and Stephen Williams to Nicholas Williams' brother Richard Williams in 1719.
“Nicholas Williams his heirs & for and during the full term & time of three years fully to be completed & ended yielding & paying for ye same yearly on ye tenth Day of December ye fee rent one ear of Indian Corn if ye same shall be Lawfully Demanded unto Ye said John Williams his heirs & to ye intent & purpose that by virtue of these presents & of ye Statue for Transferring Uses into possessions that ye said Nicholas Williams may be in actual & peaceable possession of ye heretofore granted premises”. John Williams traveled with Robert Hodges to Isle of Wight to register the deed. Robert Hodge’s daughter Martha Williams married John Williams son Isaac.
On 13 September 1733 Nicholas Williams "gentleman of Newport Parish" sold to Joseph Godwin and Thomas Jarrell "Gentlemen and Church Wardens" 1 acre of land on which to build a chapel. As that Quakers have meeting houses the wording of this deed is peculiar. Thomas Jarrell who married Martha Kinchen was a Quaker as was Joseph Godwin who witnessed the deed of Nicholas Williams nephews John and Stephen Williams to Nicholas Williams' brother Richard Williams in 1719.
In 1744 Nicholas and Anne Lewis Williams were in their 60's when they filed a deed of gift to their children William, Nicholas, Jacob, Johah, Lazarus,
Richard, Benjamin, Patience, Sarah, and Mary. They must have wanted to insure their children's inheritance while still alive. The Deed of Gift recorded June 23,1744 in
Isle of Wight County, Virginina.
I, Nicholas Williams Senior and Anne. My wife
send Greetings, etc of the County of Isle of Wight and Parish Nottoway for the
love and affection for our children do give, grant and conform unto them .....To my son, William Williams 30 pounds cash
in lieu of his land and also one nego girl named Lucy .....To my son Nicholas Williams [jr] land and
plantation whereon he now livith, containing 205 acres, and a negro boy named
Frank.....I have given unto my son, Jacob Williams the Plantations and lands whereon he now liveth containing 140 acres and one
negro girl, named Edy ..... To my son Jonah Williams plantation and
lands containing 260 acres and a negro
boy named Mingo.....To my son Lazarus Williams plantation and
lands containing one half that divident lying in Brunswick County and also a
negro boy named Anthony .....To my son Richard Williams, plantation and
lands it being the other one-half of that divident with his brother, Lazarus,
in the county of Brunswick, and a negro boy named Mingo (sic)......After the death of my wife, Anne and myself,
the plantation whereon we now live to my son Benjamin Williams, also a negro
gIrl named Marther and a negro boy named Pompey .... To my daughter Patience Williams a negro
girl, Elizabeth ....
To my daughter Sarah Williams negro girl Rachel .... To my daughter Mary Williams a negro girl ...
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by Nicholas Williams
I) William Williams, b. 18 Dec 1704 died 15 September 1775 Brunswick County, Virginia
II) Captain Nicholas Williams b. 4 Feb 1706/7 d. 1791 Thomas Clarke III
conveyed on 13 October 1748 to Nicholas Williams, Jr., no consideration
mentioned, 50 acres from property mentioned in the will of Thomas Clarke’s
grandfather, who was George Williams. Nicholas Williams, James Sampson Clarke, and
James Clarke witnessed on 30 December 1748 a conveyance by William Flake,
“Heir-at-Law to his uncle, Robert Flake, deceased” on 30 December 1748.
III) Jacob Williams, b. 24 Jan 1707/08 died 18 August 1769 Southampton County, Virginia
III) Jacob Williams, b. 24 Jan 1707/08 died 18 August 1769 Southampton County, Virginia
IV) Jonah Williams, b. 21 April 1711 died 9 May 1771 married Martha Eley
V) Patience Williams, b. 21 Jan 1712/13 died 12 September 1773
VI) Richard Williams, b. 11 Mar 1716/17 died 1 December 1769 Lunenberg, Virginia
VII) Lazarus Williams, b. 9 Mar 1718/19 died 17January 1787 Lunenberg Virginia
VIII) Mary Williams, b. 11 Nov 1720 died 2 April 1772
IX) Sarah Williams, b. 15 Nov 1723 died 1 October 1770 Southampton County Virginia
X) Benjamin Williams, b. 30 Dec 1726 died 12 June 1787 Onslow County, North Carolina
Richard Williams 1689-1738 died at the age of 49 years
Captain Richard Williams as he was known was born circa 1689 and died
1738 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. From his father's will and his mother's deed of gift he appears to have been second to the youngest of the sons of John Williams Sr. His father gave him 150 acres in Surry County when he was still a toddler and his mother gave him his father's sword when he came of age. Richard Williams did not come of age at 18 until 1707 and would not have married before that time. There is no record of his being place in the care of others after his father died so he must have remained in his mother's household during her marriage to his stepfather Arnold Schumake. He was not quite 10 years old when his mother became a widow again. His mother may have died around 1704 for William Williams began providing land for his younger siblings.
Richard Williams made out his will on 8 November 1737 and it was recorded 27 February 1737 [1738]. Will of Richard Williams: legacy. -
Son John land on which Arthur Edwards now lives; son Solomon my land on which John Row did
live; son Mathew; daughter Mary; Wife Sarah; son Elisha my land in Nanesmond
County, son Joshua land in Nansemond; son Daniel land in Nansemond; friend
William Wiggins; to my young children.
Executor Daniel Williams. Witness:
John Johnston, James Gardner, Elisha Williams. Two of Richard's children George Williams and Elizabeth Williams not mentioned by name in their father's will but had to have been his "young children".
Richard Williams' wife Sarah Williams did not remarry and survived him by about 13 years. The fact that she did not remarry while still having young children at home indicates that she had a strong family network that she could rely on.
When Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, her lands lay in the new county and here her will was recorded. Sarah Williams made out her will 24 March 1750 and it was recorded 14 June 1750. Sarah Williams of Littletown. Legacy. - grandson Richard son of my eldest son John Williams, decd.; son Daniel; son Elisha; son Joshua; grandson Thomas son of Joshua Wiliams; son George; son Solomon; daughter Elisabeth Daughtrey; daughter Mary Carr. Executor Son Daniel Williams. Witnesses were Joseph Carle(Carroll), William Barcroft.
When she died in 1750 Sarah Williams was living at her plantation called Littletown in the Nottoway Basin and her eldest son John was “deceased”. He had married and left an heir that Sarah Williams identifies as grandson "Richard Williams". She also names the two children who were not named in their father's will as being George and Elisabeth. Elisabeth Williams was married to John Daughtry by March 1750. So she may have been born around 1735. Daughter Mary Williams was also married to Robert Carr by 1750. Son Joshua Williams was old enough to produced a grandchild by that date also.
In 1704 Richard's older brother William sold him 130 acres of land on the south side of the Blackwater River just north of the town of Franklin. This certainly raises the question of how old Richard Williams was in 1704. If he was born circa 1689 he would have only been 15 years old. Under the common law, full majority was reached at the age of 21 and anyone under 21 was legally an infant. Only persons who had reached majority could perform certain legal actions such as buying or selling land without restriction. However minors could be landowners, since they could acquire land by gift or inheritance. Land was never owned without title, so a father’s will devising land to a minor resulted in the minor’s immediate ownership regardless of age. Likewise, nothing in the common law prevented an “infant” from buying land or other property. But, again, such an action could be later be repudiated by the minor but as the sell was between brothers there was little chance of that. This sale however was not simply a deed of gift. William Williams sold the 130 acres for 5,000 lbs. of tobacco.
About nine years later on 13 November 1713 Richard acquired 400 acres in the Nottoway Basin which later he devised in his will to his son John Williams. Richard Williams was on his way to becoming a prosperous planter with 150 acres in Surry County, and 530 acres in Isle of Wight County.
On 22 August 1719 Richard Williams' nephews John and Stephen Williams sold to their uncle, land that once was part of a patent granted to William Williams from 28 October 1702. This land is just above Franklin on the west side of Blackwater River in present day Southampton County. His brother Thomas Williams, along with Quakers Christopher Reynolds, and Joseph Godwin, witnessed the deed.
It was about this time Richard Williams married. His wife was probably his second cousin Sarah Vasser the daughter of John Vasser. John Vasser the son of Peter Vasser who died in 1736. Peter Vasser and Anne Williams, wife of John Williams Sr. were mostly brother and sister. Richard Williams and John Vasser would have been first cousins and his wife Sarah would have been a first cousin once removed.
John Vasser’s will was recorded 23 Aug 1736. Legatees. - son Nathan after his mother's death; to daughter Sarah; daughter Elizabeth; granddaughter Sarah Vasser; wife Margaret. My estate to be divided into three parts, one part to my wife; one to Simon Everett, and the third to my son Nathan. Simon Everett never married or had issue and was a Quaker.
It seems that once Richard Williams acquired land he kept it, for only one deed has so far been found showing him disposing of any land. "To all Christian people to who this present writing shall know ye that I Capt. Richard Williams of Isle of Wight County for the good will and natural affection that I bear to my four sons have after named Viz. Daniel, Elisha, George, and Joshua have given and granted to each of them one acre of land being part of a patent containing one hundred and eighty acres of land which patent is adjacent to the plantation whereon I now live, the said four acres I give to them Vis. One acre each in any part of the said patent. dated August 21, 1736."
On 22 August 1719 Richard Williams' nephews John and Stephen Williams sold to their uncle, land that once was part of a patent granted to William Williams from 28 October 1702. This land is just above Franklin on the west side of Blackwater River in present day Southampton County. His brother Thomas Williams, along with Quakers Christopher Reynolds, and Joseph Godwin, witnessed the deed.
It was about this time Richard Williams married. His wife was probably his second cousin Sarah Vasser the daughter of John Vasser. John Vasser the son of Peter Vasser who died in 1736. Peter Vasser and Anne Williams, wife of John Williams Sr. were mostly brother and sister. Richard Williams and John Vasser would have been first cousins and his wife Sarah would have been a first cousin once removed.
John Vasser’s will was recorded 23 Aug 1736. Legatees. - son Nathan after his mother's death; to daughter Sarah; daughter Elizabeth; granddaughter Sarah Vasser; wife Margaret. My estate to be divided into three parts, one part to my wife; one to Simon Everett, and the third to my son Nathan. Simon Everett never married or had issue and was a Quaker.
On 31 October 1726 Richard Williams received a patent for 190 acres and on 1 October 1729 he was granted 380 acres by Honorable Robert Carter in the Nottoway Basin.
It seems that once Richard Williams acquired land he kept it, for only one deed has so far been found showing him disposing of any land. "To all Christian people to who this present writing shall know ye that I Capt. Richard Williams of Isle of Wight County for the good will and natural affection that I bear to my four sons have after named Viz. Daniel, Elisha, George, and Joshua have given and granted to each of them one acre of land being part of a patent containing one hundred and eighty acres of land which patent is adjacent to the plantation whereon I now live, the said four acres I give to them Vis. One acre each in any part of the said patent. dated August 21, 1736."
By the time Richard Williams died in 1738, he owned 1,543 acres on the west side of Blackwater River and east of Nottoway River in what is today Southampton County. His plantation was called Littletown.
Richard Williams' wife Sarah Williams did not remarry and survived him by about 13 years. The fact that she did not remarry while still having young children at home indicates that she had a strong family network that she could rely on.
When Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, her lands lay in the new county and here her will was recorded. Sarah Williams made out her will 24 March 1750 and it was recorded 14 June 1750. Sarah Williams of Littletown. Legacy. - grandson Richard son of my eldest son John Williams, decd.; son Daniel; son Elisha; son Joshua; grandson Thomas son of Joshua Wiliams; son George; son Solomon; daughter Elisabeth Daughtrey; daughter Mary Carr. Executor Son Daniel Williams. Witnesses were Joseph Carle(Carroll), William Barcroft.
When she died in 1750 Sarah Williams was living at her plantation called Littletown in the Nottoway Basin and her eldest son John was “deceased”. He had married and left an heir that Sarah Williams identifies as grandson "Richard Williams". She also names the two children who were not named in their father's will as being George and Elisabeth. Elisabeth Williams was married to John Daughtry by March 1750. So she may have been born around 1735. Daughter Mary Williams was also married to Robert Carr by 1750. Son Joshua Williams was old enough to produced a grandchild by that date also.
Among those appraising the estate of Mrs.
Sarah Williams were Nathan Vasser who also participated in
December 1750 in the redivision of the estate of Richard Williams upon the
death of his widow Sarah. Nathan Vasser was the son of John Vasser and was probably Sarah Williams' brother. Sarah Williams grandson Robert Carr IV was was married to Nathan Vasser's youngest daughter Elizabeth Vasser.
In summary, a number of things can be stated concerning Richard Williams, son of John and Anne Williams. He was born about 1688 and in 1704 he was deeded his first tract of land, it being deeded to him by William Williams who can be identified as his brother. He was still a minor at that time and the consideration he used for the purchase of the land apparently came from the accumulation of this income from his father’s estate.
He was granted several tracts of land which came to lie in Southampton County, Virginia after that county was formed from Isle of Wight. He also owned land in Nansemond County, Va. Besides being a person who apparently had a frugal nature he was also of some importance in the community, having been a captain in the militia as proved by his being called “Capt. Richard Williams” in the only deed found showing his disposing of any of his land.
Richard Williams and his wife Sarah were married approximately 25 years and had at least seven children during that period. They were John Williams, Solomon Williams, Matthew Williams, Mary Williams, Elisha Williams, Joshua Williams, Daniel Williams, George Williams and Elizabeth Williams.
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by Richard Williams
I) John Williams (ca. 1714-1738) married Sarah , maiden name unknown. He died in Isle of Wight County shortly after his father made his will. His mother’s will of 1749/50 noted that he was deceased. He signed his will on 21 November 1737 (13 days after his father made his will); probated 27 February 1737 [1738], the same day his father’s will was probated. He left two minor children Richard Williams and Elizabeth Williams. Richard Williams grandmother Sarah left to John Williams son Richard the bulk of his grandfather's estates. 20 Feb 1755 - Southampton County Virginia Richard Williams to Albrighton Jones for 25 lbs 200 acres on the south side of Blackwater Swamp part of 400 acres granted Richard Williams, grandfather of said Richard on 13 Nov 1713. 14 August 1760 Richard Williams of Southampton County Virginia to William West for 13 lbs., 100 acres, part of a tract containing 380 acres granted to Richard Williams, grandfather of the said Richard Williams by Honorable Robert Carter, dated Oct. 1, 1729.
John Williams Sr.'s Grandchildren by Richard Williams
I) John Williams (ca. 1714-1738) married Sarah , maiden name unknown. He died in Isle of Wight County shortly after his father made his will. His mother’s will of 1749/50 noted that he was deceased. He signed his will on 21 November 1737 (13 days after his father made his will); probated 27 February 1737 [1738], the same day his father’s will was probated. He left two minor children Richard Williams and Elizabeth Williams. Richard Williams grandmother Sarah left to John Williams son Richard the bulk of his grandfather's estates. 20 Feb 1755 - Southampton County Virginia Richard Williams to Albrighton Jones for 25 lbs 200 acres on the south side of Blackwater Swamp part of 400 acres granted Richard Williams, grandfather of said Richard on 13 Nov 1713. 14 August 1760 Richard Williams of Southampton County Virginia to William West for 13 lbs., 100 acres, part of a tract containing 380 acres granted to Richard Williams, grandfather of the said Richard Williams by Honorable Robert Carter, dated Oct. 1, 1729.
II) Daniel Williams (ca. 1716-after 1755) was mentioned in the will of his brother Elisha but otherwise remains an enigma. William Whitley Jr. of Northampton County North Carolina to Arthur Barnes of Northampton County 24 Aug. 1751 for 4 pounds 10 shillings lawful money of Virginia 140 acres more on less on the north side of Maherrin river and the north side of Buckhorn swamp, joining Daniel Williams, other lands of William Whitleywhereon he now lives and William Wiggons [Wiggins], it being all the land John Miller bought of John Dow, all houses, buildings, etc. Wit: George Williams, William Barnes [William Wiggins mentioned in Richard Williams' will as friend] Arthur Barnes of Northampton Co. to Charles Barnes of NorthamptonCo. 4 Jan. 1755 15 pounds lawfull money of Va. 140 acres on the north Buckhorn swamp, joining Daniel Williams, William Whitley, Will Wiggins and George Williams
III) Elisha Williams [1718-1755] died without issue in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. He signed his will on 13 August 1751; probated February 1755. His legatees were all of the brothers identified in the wills of his parents (except for the deceased John Williams whose son Richard was a beneficiary) and his sister Mary Carr and Elizabeth Daughtry. Two of the witnesses were James and Drew Smith, brothers of Arthur Smith of Scotland Neck.
IV) Joshua Williams (ca. 1720-1761) married Sarah , maiden name unknown. He
was the executor for his brother Elisha in Edgecombe County in 1751 and left
his will in Halifax County North Carolina in 1761. His legatees were his wife
Sarah, sons Thomas Williams and Elisha Williams and daughters Temperance
Williams and Sarah Williams ,all of whom remain to be traced. Son Thomas Williams was mentioned in grandmother Sarah Williams' will March 1750.
V) Mary Williams (ca. 1722-after 1773) married Robert Carr III (ca. 1715-1773)son of Robert Carr II and wife Miss Lawrence. Robert Carr and Mary Williams children were Robert Carr IV who married Elizabeth Vasser daughter of Nathan Vasser, Matthew Carr married Elizabeth Wilkinson, Titus Carr married Winifred Stephenson daughter of Abraham Stephenson, Joshua Carr married Mollie Applewhite daughter of Arthur Applewhite, md 2nd Absalom Williams, Elizabeth Carr married George Williams, Martha Carr, Lydia Carr, Mary Carr married Benjamin Williams died 1787; 2nd married John Williams.
V) Mary Williams (ca. 1722-after 1773) married Robert Carr III (ca. 1715-1773)son of Robert Carr II and wife Miss Lawrence. Robert Carr and Mary Williams children were Robert Carr IV who married Elizabeth Vasser daughter of Nathan Vasser, Matthew Carr married Elizabeth Wilkinson, Titus Carr married Winifred Stephenson daughter of Abraham Stephenson, Joshua Carr married Mollie Applewhite daughter of Arthur Applewhite, md 2nd Absalom Williams, Elizabeth Carr married George Williams, Martha Carr, Lydia Carr, Mary Carr married Benjamin Williams died 1787; 2nd married John Williams.
VI) Matthew Williams (ca. 1724-1750) died intestate in Southampton County, Virginia in1750
VII) Solomon Williams (ca. 1726-1770) married Elizabeth , possibly a Lawrence , whose antecedents, in any event, are unknown. He signed his will in Halifax County, North Carolina on 15 August 1770; probated November 1770. He mentioned his children Charles Williams , Elisha Williams, Lydia Williams, Menia Williams, Lucy Williams Sarah Williams and Elizabeth Williams . Lydia identified another sister Jemima Williams in her will of 1773,and Lucy identified her brother Lawrence Williams in her will of 1783. The descendants of Solomon Williams are in Georgia Colony in 1770’s.
VIII) Elizabeth
Williams
(ca. 1728-1758) married John Daughtry
(ca. 1700-1754). He was the son of William Daughtry and Priscilla Whifield
IX0 George Williams (ca. 1730-after 1757) remains an enigma. Lived in Northampton County near his brother Daniel Williams between Buckhorn Swamp and Meherrin River. George Williams to John Oney dated 9 Aug 1757 - 100 acres on the west side of the Maherrin River adjacent Epaphroditus Williams, Lucy Clifton, Rose Path Branch, and Little Swamp (part of a patent to Robert Bryan on 12 Jan 1747),
Theophilus Williams 1691-1693 died at the age of 2 years old
Theophilus Williams was an infant maybe under 2 years old when his
father died in 1692. John Williams Sr. left to him “the manor plantation” after his mother Anne Williams
passed away. The “said manor plantation is do descend to my youngest sonn
Theophilus Williams and the hyres of his body truely begotten and in case John
Williams wishes to take manor plantation then Theophilus to enjoy the
plantation in Surry County that John Williams is now seated containing one hundred
and fifty acres.” When his mother made a deed of gift to her children in 1694 upon her impending marriage to Arnold Shumacke, Theophilus Williams is not mentioned. It is presumed that this child died prior to April 1694. His oldest brother John Williams Jr named his second son Theophilus probably in honor of the memory of this child. I suspect that he was buried next to his father on the "manor plantation" at the head of Burgh's Swamp. The name Theophilus suggests that his mother was at least a Quaker as the Quakers often named children after figures in the New Testament as opposed Puritans and Anglicans.
I am a direct descendant of William Huntt, who is supposed to have married a Judith Williams, or a Vasser. I am confused. Can you give me any information which might clarify this?
ReplyDeleteI would love to ask you some questions about my ancestor, John Dawson Williams, son of Samuel Williams and Charity Dawson---how can I contact you "off blog"?
ReplyDeleteExcellent history. I am a descendant of Theophilus Williams b.1777 in NC. Theophilus was the son of Sampson, who was supposedly a son of Roland or Rowland Sr. As best I can tell, Roland was probably born in the mid-1730s. I am curious if these people have connections to the Isle of Wight Williams, particularly the Welsh immigrants. They seem to have migrated from North Carolina to SC, very likely from VA.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Perry Williams
I am a direct descendant of the John Brown who left a will in Lunenburg County, Virginia; I believe it was probated in 1754. What is your opinion of his connection to the Browns of Surry County, and Isle of Wight County? His youngest son was named Valentine Brown, and there is a notice, on the internet, and without any source, of a land deal in which land was sold by the above John Brown's son Richard ( also my ancestor ), and that Thomas Brown had inherited said land from his father ( as you know, that is confirmed ). I've not been able to find any record of such a land sale, which is supposed to have taken place around 1754.
ReplyDeleteIf the author of this blog sees this, I am a descendant of a Williams family I think is connected to his--somehow. MY fifth great-grandfather is/was a Wiley Williams, b. ca. 1796 in NC. He wasn't the same man that married on Oct. 1, 1818 in Putnam County, GA to Nancy (Brown) Finch. Too many people are wrong about it.
ReplyDeleteWiley wedded Elizabeth Ruffin on Oct. 28, 1829 in Edgecombe County, NC. Ruffin was b. ca. 1810 in NC> Her surname was extracted from the death certificate of their youngest child, Sarah Ann "Sally" (Williams) Ezell of Russellville, AL.
The Williamses ended up in Tallapoosa County, AL by 1840. Wiley and Elizabeth passed before 1860 there. Evelina H. Williams (Sept. 1830-13 Aug. 1913), born in NC (prob. Edgecombe), was the oldest daughter and my ancestress.
Two Wiley Williamses and two William Williamses listed in the 1830 Edgecombe County, NC census could be a step closer to solving the puzzle. 1820 shows a Wiley separate near a William, but still. Related women named Tabitha, Sarah, and LAvinia Williams lived.
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ReplyDeleteEXCELLENT INFORMATION. DO YOU HAVE FURTHER INFORMATION ON FOLLOWING GENERATIONS. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WILLIAMS THAT COULD HAVE MIGRATED FOR A SHORT TIME TO PENNSYLVANIA.
ReplyDeleteYes, Excellent information. I am a direct descendant of Daniel Long, Sr., and have provided additional information on his family on FindaGrave.com. The interconnection between the Wright and Long families suggest a familial relationship.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for making all this wonderful information available. I am a descendant and the information you provided enabled me to validate that Mary Williams, daughter of John Williams Sr. and Anne Godfrey, was the wife William Hickman, making me a descendant of John and Anne.
ReplyDeleteMany many thanks for the hard work you did in researching the Williams family. It has proved invaluable to me! I am descendant of Elllsey Williams dau. of John Wilson Williams, who may or may not be part of this line! All family history, stories and bibles in my family point to him being son of Wilson Williams.
ReplyDeletethanks again!!
Thank you for this wonderful find! Back to my roots, I'm residing in Richmond, Va., so close to do some exploring! Williams line migrated to Middle Tenn., by way of Cumberland River. The area was also known as Southside (just like Southside, Va). A Tn native, I'm back full circle!
ReplyDeleteAre there any John Williams descendant groups?
Kind regards,
Katherine Williams Lewis
My great great grandfather was John Harvey Williams, he lived in Barnardsville, NC with my gg grandmother Mary Hyatt
ReplyDelete