Richard M. Williams was a descendant of a Welsh family, early resident on Long Island.  His father Nathaniel Williams was third in lineal descent.  His mother was Penelope Young from another Welsh family, from which also sprang Samuel Young of Saratota, a celebrated character in the political history of New York.  In 1793, while he was yet a minor, Richard M. Williams came to Geneva, Ontario Co., New York, where he was one of the first three to establish a store, and traffic with the Indians and pioneers.  In 1798, he and his wife went to Savannah, Georgia with his father.  His father died there.  In 5 or 6 years the unhealthy climate forced them to return to New York state.  In 1805, he opened a store at Aurora, N.Y.  In 1812, he succeeded John Griffin, his brother-in-law, in the Town of Middlesex, Yates Co., carrying forward a large operations as a farmer, merchant and manufacturer of potash and whiskey.  He was offered the office as First Judge, when Yates County was organized in 1823, but refused it; however, afterwards he consented to be Associate Judge for a short time.  He served repeatedly as Supervisor of the Town of Middlesex, Yates County.  By his efforts a mail route was established from Canandaigua through Rushville, Potter, Naples, Blood's Corners, Liberty and Prattsburg, keeping it up at his own risk and expense until the offices became remunerative to the government.  He had stores at all these places except Blood's Corners and Rushville.  He was a warm and steadfast friend and he endeavored to render his children intelligent and faithful to the moral virtues.  Only 4 of their 10 children lived to adulthood.