By Jared L. Olar
February 2020
Williams is a patronymic of English and Welsh origin that signifies a family descended in the male line from a man named William. The name is of Germanic origin -- Wilhelm, "will helm," "helmet will," that is, "having a strong will" -- and became one of the most popular Christian names in England following the Norman Conquest of A.D. 1066, when William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, made himself King of England. The name also spread in Wales under the form Gwilym. The particular Williams family that is the subject of the account below was a colonial Virginian family. It is uncertain whether this family was of English or Welsh origin, but there were certainly Welsh Williamses in Virginia during the 1600s (for example, Rice Williams of Richmond County, whose given name is the equivalent of the Welsh name Rhys ap Gwilym, and Morgan Williams of Westmoreland County, Virginia, whose given name is the equivalent of the Welsh name Morgan ap Gwilym). In any case, the following account is derived from early colonial Virginia records, particularly the deed books and will books of Old Rappahannock County and Richmond County, Virginia.
1. JOHN WILLIAMS, parentage and ancestry unknown, born perhaps circa 1640 probably in Virginia, died between 2 Dec. 1679 and 9 March 1681 at Moratico Creek, North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. John was a tailor and tobacco planter of colonial Virginia who lived at Moratico Creek in Old Rappahannock County (later Richmond County), Virginia. John's wife, whom he married perhaps circa 1666 in Virginia, was named EVE (NN), born perhaps circa 1642 probably in Virginia, died between 24 April 1704 and 4 Oct. 1705 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. John and Eve are known to have had a son, John Jr., and a daughter, Catharine (Catherine, Katherine).
John first appears on record as a land-owner mentioned in a Rappahannock County land grant of 20 Feb. 1662 to Robert Bedwell:
"To all &c whereas &c now know ye that I the said William Berkeley Knight Governor &c give and grant unto Robert Bedwell six hundred and forty acres of land in the county of Rappahannock in the parish of Farnham on the north side of Rappahannock River, and beginning at a marked red oak on the north east side of the land of JOHN WILLIAMS and north east three hundred and twenty poles to a marked red oak on the north east side of a branch of Totoske called the Beaver dams branch and thence north west over the said branch again three hundred and twenty poles to a red oak. Again south west three hundred and twenty poles to the land of John Williams aforesaid and finally south east three hundred and twenty poles by a line of marked trees that divideth this land and the land of JOHN WILLIAMS aforesaid to the place where it began including some certain points of land lying between this land and the aforementioned branch containing eighty seven acres being in all seven hundred and twenty seven acres land. Six hundred and forty acres thereof being formally granted to the said Bedwell and Richard Powell by patent dated the tenth of September one thousand six hundred and sixty one and is since become wholly unto the said Bedwell. And eighty seven acres the residence being per transportation of two persons &c to have and to hold &c. To be held &c yielding and bargaining to &c. Dated the twentieth of February one thousand six hundred and sixty two." [Rappahannock County, Va., Deeds, pages 105-106, Land Office Patents No. 5, 1661-1666 (vols. 1 & 2, pages 1-369), page 337]
T. H. Warner's History of Old Rappahannock Co. Virginia, 1656-1692 includes a quotation from a document recorded in Old Rappahannock County Will Book 2, page 109, that lists the Gentlemen living in Farnham Parish on 3 Nov. 1665. John Williams is included among those Gentlemen:
"The names of the Gentlemen of the vestry of Farnham in Rappa County as they were sworn the third day of November 1665. Viz. Mr. Francis Doughty, Minister; Lt. Col. Thomas Goodrich; James Samford; Thomas North; John Grigory; Thomas Button; Robert Bayley; Thomas Robinson; John Williams Recorded this 4 die 9 bris 1665 Pr. Robert Davies, Cl. Cur."
John Williams also signed as a witness to the following deed of sale, recorded 5 Sept. 1666 in Old Rappahannock County Deed Book 3, pages 86-88:
28 Ano Domo 1666 Wm. LLOID of Parish of Farneham and Mary his Wife the late Relict and Wido of Collo Moore FANTLEROY to Paule WOODBRIDGE of the same, Planter, consideration 1600 lbs. Tobacco, est. 200 acres bounds uppon the lands of Mr. Leroy GRIFFIN lying and being uppon the South East side of Farnham Creek and being taken out of a Pattent of 5,000 and od hundred acres of land. . . Entred into by the sd. WOODBRIDGE unto Robt. GOSICH for the true paymt. of 1200 lbs. of Tobacco: the consideracon for the above sd. land. S/Will: LLOYD, Mary LOYDE, Wits: David MANSELL, John WILLIAMS. Rec. 5th Die 7bris 1666.
John Williams also was a subject of a 1 May 1676 real estate transaction recorded on 3 July 1678, the final transfer in a series of transactions that began with a land grant to John Newman and William FitzHerbert on 28 April 1668:
JULY CORT. 78. TO ALL TO WHOM &c. I Sr. WM. BERKLEY, Knt: Governor & Capt. Gen'l, of Virginia &c, Whereas &c. Nov know yee that I ye said Sr. WM. BERKLEY Knt. Governor &c. doe vth ye consent of ye Councell of State accordingly give & grant unto JOHN NEWMAN & WILLIAM FITZHERBERT Three hundred & twenty acres of land being in ye County of Rappae: upon ye branches of MARATICO CREEK, bounding upon ye land of Mr. GLASCOCK &. Mr. TRAVERSE & upon a former Devidend of said NEWMAN & PAUL WOODBRIDGEs & upon ye land of Mr. STEPHENS beginning at a mked. corner white Oak in ye Woods runing ESE thence from a marked red Oak to ye Creek thence along ye Creek WNW to ye first mentioned tree ye said Land being due to ye said JNO. NEWMAN & WM: FITZHERBERT for ye transportation of seaven persons into this Collony, whose names are inserted undr. this Pattent in ye Records, To have & to hold ye sd land &c. Yeilding & paying &c. Provided &c. Given at JAMES CITTY under my hand & ye Seale of ye Collony this eight & twentieth day of Aprill in ye years of our Lord 1668 &c.
JNO. NEWMAN & WM. FITZHERBERTs Pattent for 320 acres of land in Rappae: County WM. BERKLEY
Recordatr Test PHIL. LUDWELL Cl Office
Recordatr xxi die Julii 1673
BEE IT KNOWN unto all men by these prsents that I JOHN NEWMAN, Planter, of ye County of Rappae: doe assigne over all my Right title & interest of ye wthin mentioned unto WM. FITZHERBERT & his heires forever As Witness my hand this 2d of Decembr; 1674
Teste NATH: RICHARDSON, JOHN NEWMAN, THO: GOULDMAN
Recognitr in Cur Com Rappae: 3 die Julii 1678
BEE IT KNOWN unto all men by these prsents that I Mr. WM. FITZHERBERT gent: of ye county of Rappae: doe assigne over all my right & title & interest of this within mentioned unto JNO. WILLIAMS & his heires forever, to have & to hold as Witness my hand this first day of May 1676
Test WM. CAMELL, WM. FITZHERBERT, PAULE WOODBRIDGE
Recognitr in Cur Com Rappae: 3 die Julii Ano: 1678
Recordatr Test EDMO. CRASK Cl Cur [Old Rappahannock Co. VA Deed & Will Book 6, Part I - 1677-1678, page 182]
The land that was the subject to the 1 May 1676 sale was then conveyed by John and Eve Williams to John Phillips on 6 April 1678, by means of the following deed that was also recorded 3 July 1678:
TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whom these prsents shall come, Know yee that I JOHN WILLIAMS of ye County of Rappae:, Taylor, doe by these prsents for valuable consideracions to me paid have sole unto JOHN PHILLIPS of ye County aforesaid, Planter, a certaine parcell of land included in a Pattent of a Devident of land granted unto & procured by JOHN NEWMAN & WM. FITZHERBERT lying & being in ye County aforesaid & upon ye Northwest side of MORATICO CREEK, ye said Parcell of land being pte. of ye aforesaid Devident & is bounded as followeth, beginning at ye mouth of a Creek runing out of MORATICO CREEK commonly known by ye name of ye OLD MANS CREEK & from thence along ye said MORATICO CREEK to ye extent of ye bounds of that line exprest in ye aforesaid Pattent & is bounded by ye land wch was THOMAS STEVENS & from thence up into ye Woods bounding upon ye said line of THOMAS STEVENS untill it meet wth ye branch of ye said OLD MANS CREEK & from thence as ye said Creeke runs into ye first Station To have & to hold ye said land wth all ye priviledges belonging unto him ye said JOHN PHILLIPS his heires or assignes forever, wth all ye priviledges belonging. In Witness whereof I have sett to my hand & Seale ye Sixth day of Aprill 1678
Signed Sealed & Delivd. in prsence of us WM. MEASURE, JOHN WILLIAMS, WM. FITZHERBERT
Recognitr in Cur Com Rappae: 3 die Julii 1678
KNOW ALL MEN by these prsents that I EVE WILLIAMS, Wife of JOHN WILLIAMS, do constitute my loveing Friend, JOHN INGOE, to acknowledge my right of a Deed of land to JOHN PHILLIPS as Witness my hand & Seale this 29th day of April 1678
Signed Sealed & Delivd in prsence of us JOHN ALLEN, EVE WILLIAMS, WM: OKEES
Recordatr xx2 die Julii 1678 [Old Rappahannock Co. VA Deed & Will Book 6, Part I - 1677-1678, pages 182-183]
The date of John Williams' death is unknown, but he last appears on record in a deed of gift recorded in Old Rappahannock County on 2 Dec. 1679, whereby he conveyed land to Rebecca Warren, daughter of John Warren, who married Jeremiah Parker circa 1693. John was certainly dead by 9 March 1681, when his widow Eve, in preparation for her impending remarriage, made the following deed of gift safeguarding the inheritance rights of her children John Jr. and Catharine:
KNOW ALL MEN by these prsents that I EVE WILLIAMS, ye Relict of JOHN WILLIAMS of MORATTICO CREEK deced, and being intended to joyne myselfe in ye holy state of MATRIMONY to WILLIAM SMITH, Carpenter, Now doth think it necessary to make a Deed of Gift to my Children which is as followeth, I ye abovesaid EVE WILLIAMS doe freely & of my owne accord give unto my Sonn, JOHN WILLIAMS & Daughter, KATHERINE WILLIAMS, one dividend of land lying and being at ye head of MORATICO CREEK bounding upon ye land of Mr. GLASCOCKs & Mr. TRAVERS & upon a former divident of Mr. JOHN NEWMANs to enjoy them & their heires forever after my decease & ye (abovesaid WILLIAM SMITH) except & always provided that if in ye case sd JOHN & KATHERINE WILLIAMS doe dye without heires before WM. SMITH or myselfe yt: then ye above land shall properly belong to any or either of or: heires, And further I doe give unto my Son, JOHN WMS., one Cow and Cow Calfe marked with two crops in ye right eare with ye feamale increase till ye sd JOHN bee of lawfully yeares of age & after to have all ye increase to him & his heires, likewise Whereas my Husband, JOHN WILLIAMS, did leave me a Mare I doe therefore give unto my Daughter, KATH: WILLIAMS, ye first mare fould yt: ye above said Mare doth brings & ye next fould I give to my Sonn, JON: WILLIAMS ye each two foulds shall be to them & their heires forever And Furthermore I doe freely give to my Daughter, KATHERINE WILLIAMS, three thousand pounds of Tobo: when she comes of age or at ye marriage And Likewise three thousand pounds of Tobo. to my Son, JOHN WILLIAMS, to him when he is of lawfull yeares of age As Witness my hand & seale this 9th day of March 1680/1
Testis WILL. FANTLEROY, EVE 7 WILLIAMS, EDWARD JONES
WM. SMITH having since ye signing of this Deed & before ye acknowledging hereof married with ye said EVE and at this Court confest to ye acknowledging of ye same
Recognitr in Cur Com Rappae: 3 die 9bris 1682
KNOW ALL MEN by these prsents that I EVE WILLIAMS of ye County of Rappae: & Pish of Farnham aforesaid doe appoint my well beloved Freind. ED. JONES, of same Pish & County aforesaid to be my true and lawfull atorney for me & in my name to record a Deed of Gift wch is dated ninth day of March 1680/1 ye which I made over to my Children alowing & granting to my said Atorney my whole power & promising to confirme wtsoever my said Atorney shall doe in the prmises in Testimony hereof I have sett my hand & affixed my Seale this 19th day of Aprill 1684
Testis WILLIAM SMITH EVE WILLIAMS
Recordatr xi die 9bris 1682 [Old Rappahannock Co. VA Deed & Will Book 6, Part II - 1679-1682, page 369-370]
Eve's second husband, WILLIAM SMYTH, born circa 1640 probably in Virginia, died between 9 Feb. 1699 and 2 Aug. 1700 in North Farnham Parish (probably at Moratico Creek), Richmond County, Virginia, was a carpenter. William made his will on 9 Feb. 1699 and died the following year prior to 2 Aug. 1700, when his will was probated. An abstract of his will, recorded in Richmond County Will Book 2, page 15, here follows:
Feb. 9, 1699 – Aug. 2, 1700 – Will of William Smyth – unto Abraham Goad and his lawful heirs, part of land according to the bounds that I did agree with him for his paying unto my wife Eve Smith – I give to John Goad and his heirs, son to Abraham and Katharine Goad, land whereon Abraham liveth – land join’g to my patent. To William Goad son to Abraham and Catherine, land whereon I am co-seated binding upon his father. I give to Hannah Goad dau. to Abraham and Katherine Goad my plantation whereon I now live (after decease of my wife Eve Smyth.) These legacies shall be duly performed after decease of my wife Eve Smyth. Wit: John Philips, Richard Sandfoe, Margaret Doson.
Eve survived her second husband William by about five years. She made her will on 24 April 1704 and died the following year prior to 4 Oct. 1705, when her will was probated. Her will is recorded in Richmond County Will Book 2, page 86. An inventory of her estate was ordered on 5 Dec. 1705 and was completed 15 Feb. 1706 -- "Inventory of Eve Smith taken at the home of Abraham Goad by George Glascock, Rawleigh Downman, Dominick Beneham (recorded in Richmond County Will Book 2, page 90). An abstract of Eve's will here follows:
April 24, 1704 – Oct. 4, 1705 – Will of Eve Smith – dau. Katherine Goad, her father John Williams – g-dau. Hannah Goad to her two men servants, etc., ½ doz. chairs, etc., great table, etc., two maires, cart and wheels and the boate etc., stock of cattle and sheep be divided into four parts – sd. Hannah to have half of them, the boys to have the other half – all that I gave the girl remain on the plantation – if Hannah dies without heirs, divided between two boys – if William die before he is of age then his part to go to the next child that Katherine Goad alias Williams shall have by Abraham Goad her present husband xxx son Abraham Goad sole Executor. Wit: Wm. Dodson, Charles Dodson Sr., Ann X Dodson.
The known children of John and Eve Williams were:
-- JOHN WILLIAMS JR., born circa 1672 at Moratico Creek in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died after 6 Nov 1706 probably in Richmond County, Virginia.
2. CATHARINE WILLIAMS, born 1 Jan. 1674 at Moratico Creek in North Farnham Parish, Old Rappahanock (Richmond) County, Virginia.
2. CATHARINE WILLIAMS, daughter of John and Eve Williams, born 1 Jan. 1674 at Moratico Creek in North Farnham Parish, Old Rappahanock (Richmond) County, died 23 May 1741 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. Catharine first appears on record in a 9 March 1681 deed of gift that was prepared by her mother Eve as Eve prepared to remarry (see above). Catharine is also named in the 9 Feb. 1699 will of her stepfather William Smyth and the 24 April 1704 will of her mother Eve (Williams) Smyth. Catharine married probably in 1692, probably in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, to ABRAHAM GOAD, parentage and ancestry unknown, born circa 1660 perhaps in Richmond County, Virginia, died in 1734 (between 7 March 1733 and 1 July 1734) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia. Some online sources specify Abraham's date and place of birth as 10 May 1665 or 1667 in North Farnham Parish, Lancaster (Richmond) County, but it is unknown where that information comes from. Others speculate that he was born before 1660. Abraham was a Virginia planter who first appears on record in 1682 in Lancaster County (later named Richmond County), Virginia, subsequently moving further up Virginia's Northern Neck into Richmond County (which was formed in 1692 from Old Rappahanock County).
Abraham and Catharine had three daughters and four sons. The North Farnham Parish Register, page 109, records the birth of three of those children: William, born Aug. 1693; Hannah, born Nov. 1695; and John, born 27 Nov. 1700. The names of the other four children -- Elizabeth, Abraham Jr., Alice, and Peter -- are attested in wills and other documents. On 24 March 1699, William Smyth of North Farnham Parish, stepfather of Abraham's wife, deeded to Abraham 150 acres of land on Moratico Creek, on the north side of the Rappahannock River, part of a quarter order of 498 acres (Richmond County Deed Book, Vol. 3, page 54). Abraham also obtained a land grant in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1701. On 14 Feb. 1704, Abraham obtained a grant of 208 acres in Richmond County, consisting of land adjoining David Fowler's, and on the Bryary Swamp 9 (Northern Neck Grants No. 3, 1703-1710, page 80).
Abraham was one of the three co-parties in a 7 July 1714 deed for a bond of 200 pounds that Anne Phillips, youngest child of John Phillips, took out as surety in discharge of her duties as administratrix of her late father's estate. The text of the deed, which was also signed by Abraham's eldest son William, is recorded in the 1711-1714 Richmond County Deed Book 6, page 240, and reads as follows:
KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we ANNE PHILLIPS, ABRAHAM GOAD and ROBERT REYNOLDS of the County of Richmond are held and firmly bound unto the Worshipll. her Ma'ties. Justices of the peace for the said County in the full and just sum of Two hundred pounds Sterl., to the which payment well and truely to be made we bind our selves our heirs firmly by these presents; Sealed with our seals and dated the 7th day of July 1714
THE CONDITION of this obligation is such that if the above bound ANNE PHILLIPS, Admrx. of all the goods chattells and creditts of JOHN PHILLIPS deced., do make a true and perfect inventory of all the goods chattells and creditts of the said deced., and the same so made do exhibit into the County Court of Richmond at such time as she shall be thereunto required by the said Court and the same goods chattells and creditts do well and truely administer according to Law, and further do make a just and true account of her actings and doing therein when thereto required by the said Court and shall pay unto such persons respectively as the said Justices by their order or Judgment pursuant to the Laws in that case made and provided; And if it shall hereafter appear that any Last Will and Testament was made by the said deced, and the Exr. or Exrs, therein named do exhibit the same in the said Court making request to have it allowed and approved. accordingly if ye said ANNE PHILLIPS being thereunto required do render and deliver up her Letters of Administration approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Court, Then this obligation to be void and of none effect otherwise to remaine in full force and virtue Sealed and Delivered in the presence of [no witnesses recorded]
ANNE her marke PHILLIPS, WILLIAM GOAD, ROBERT his marke REYNOLDS
Acknowledged in Richmond County Court the Seventh day of July 1714 by ANNE PHILLIPS, WILLIAM GOAD and ROBERT REYNOLDS and ordered to be recorded Test M. BECKWITH, Cl Cur
In Richmond County Deed Book 8, page 273, there is recorded a deed dated 1 March 1724 by which Abraham's wife Catharine and William Goad's wife Mary grant power of attorney in connection to a real estate transaction whereby Abraham and William conveyed a tract of land to William Downman. The deed says, "Catherine wife of Abraham Goad and Mary wife of Wm. Goad both of Richmond Co. parish of North Farnham appoint my well beloved friend Thomas Deall our atty. giving right of Dower in our husbands deed to Wm. Downman. Wit: John Goad.
Abraham made his will on 7 March 1733, naming his son John as executor of his estate, after which he probably lived on for another year or so. He signed his will "AG". His will was probated 1 July 1734, showing he had died by then. Abraham's will is recorded in Richmond County Will Book 5, page 238, and his will inventory is on page 240. Here is an extended summary:
March 7, 1733 – July 1, 1734 – Will of Abraham Goad
Imprimus, I give and bequeath to my grandson, William Goad, son of William Goad, dec'd, that plantation whereon Mary Goad now lives and all the land thereto belonging on that side of the swamp up to Mr. Griffin's line (excepting a small piece of land I have given bond to Mr. William Downman for the acknowledgement of).
Item, I give and bequeath to my son, John Goad, and his wife all the land that lies above the North Fork of the briary swamp that belongs to me up to Oakley's line . . . divides me and Thomas Durham . . . almost to Doc’t Dearavies [?] Rode opposite to the plantation of John Hightower whereon he now lives.
Item, I give to my son, Abraham Goad, all the land lying on the south side of my spring branch in case . . . from the line of the land given by me to my grandson William Goad . . . along the line of Goodmans up to Dearavies Rode etc. . . . If said Peter die without heir the said land is to fall to my son Abraham. If the said son Abraham should die without heirs, then the said land to fall to my son, Peter Goad and his heirs etc. . . .
Item, I give unto my son, Peter Goad, all the land lying on ye north side of my Spring branch . . .
Item, I give to the heirs of my son William Goad, dec'd, one shilling to be paid by . . . . To my daughter, Hannah Phillips, one shilling . . . To my daughter Elizabeth Dodson, one shilling . . . To my daughter, Alice Dodson, one shilling . . . To my wife Catherine, the use of my Negro woman, Judith, etc. . . . wife Catherine to live on my plantation during her natural life.
Son John Goad executor. Wit: Elizabeth Lawson, Winefred Miskell, Henry Miskell.
Although Abraham had named his son John as executor, in the event it was his widow Catharine who acted as executrix.
The children of Abraham and Catharine Goad were:
-- ELIZABETH GOAD, born circa 1690 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died after 1735 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married John Dodson.
-- WILLIAM GOAD, born Aug. 1693 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 18 Jan. 1733 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married Mary (NN).
2. HANNAH GOAD, born Nov. 1695 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- CATHERINE GOAD, born before 1700 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia.
-- JOHN GOAD, born 27 Nov 1700 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 23 July 1771 in Bedford County, Virginia, married Catherine (NN).
-- ALICE GOAD, born circa 1709 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died between 27 Aug. 1767 and 7 Sept. 1767 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, married twice.
-- ABRAHAM GOAD JR., Revolutionary War soldier, born 15 March 1711 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died 21 Sept. 1779 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, married Joanna Wheatley.
-- PETER GOAD, born 27 May 1714 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, died sine prole 1794 (before 1 Dec. 1794) in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, probably never married.
Williams Genealogy Resources:
A Workbook on the Dale Families of Virginia, with Particular Reference to the Branch which moved from the Northern Neck of Virginia to Woodford County, Kentucky (1958), by Almon Edward Daniels. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties, with family of John Williams Sr. (c.1640-c.1680). Ancestry of Catharine Williams Goad