Genealogy of Patty Rose
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| Notes for John* WILLIAMS | ||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - son of John WILLIAMS and Elizabeth PALMER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JOHN, Newbury, had (perhaps by two ws.) Sarah, John, Mary, and Lydia; prob. rem. to Haverhill; had there b. Joseph. His sec. w. was Jane, and his will of 9 Dec. 1670, was pro. 18 Mar. 1674. [ref 20] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JOHN1 WILLIAMS, of Newbury and Haverhill; m. Jane (___); rem. from Nb. to Hv. 1640-'2; one of the original settlers of Hv.; d. Feb. 10, 1673-4[Hv]; will Dec. 9, 1670; March 18, 1673-4. Wid. Jane d. Nov. 21, 1680[Hv]. Children: John, Sarah, Mary, Lydia, Joseph. [ref 36:360] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - John Williams, h. Jane, Feb. 10, 1673. [ref 51] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JOHN1 WILLIAMS was born in England or Wales about 1600 and died in Haverhill, Mass., 10 Feb., 1674. Among the early settlers in America, about 1633, came a colony from Newbury, England, to Massachusetts, selecting a charming site on the south bank of the Merrimac River, which the exiles were pleased to name after their old home. In the list of recorded first settlers is found one JOHN WILLIAMS, with his wife, son, and daughter. Where he was born or what ship brought him and his household goods away from his British home, it is almost hopeless to inquire. In the way of any general research the frequent recurrence of the name is an insuperable obstacle. There is a family tradition, however, which asserts that he came originally from Glamorganshire, Wales. As a rule the settlers banded together in accordance with the districts or the general neighborhoods whence they originated. Whenever a company, organized in England, had set out from a given locality, it would keep together in a measure when it reached this side of the ocean. Somewhat in corroboration of this, take certain men whose names we find on record as associated with John Williams about this date. The Rev. Thomas Parker, the first pastor of Newbury, who was instrumental in giving the name to the town, had served for a short time as a minister in Newbury, England; his father before him had had the living of St. Nicholas Hospital at Salisbury, whence this name was given to an adjoining settlemant in the new country. Rev. James Noyes, nephew of Thomas Parker, came in the same vessel with him, the "Mary and John," accompanied by Richard Littledale and William White, all settlers of Newbury. John [ref 81:13] Ayer (whose son afterwards married Sarah, daughter of John Williams) and Thomas Whittier, ancestor of the poet, settled at Salisbury, but it is supposed they came over about the same time, and all appear to have lived previously in the southern part of England. Some went no farther than Ipswich at first, but they kept in the same general vicinity. According to the statement in the "Sewell Papers," which refers to this particular party of emigrants, viz., the settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, "Men of means, dissatisfied with the state of affairs in their native England, favored the exodus of their sons to America, and assisted them with money for that purpose." It is even stated that houses in such towns as Newbury were owned by English proprietors, who received rental therefrom. The sojourn of John Williams in Newbury was not associated with any event of record until 1640, when he appears as petitioner to found a new town with the Rev. John Ward, the promoter of the scheme, and others, William White, James Davis, John Robinson, Henry Palmer, Samuel Gile, Christopher Hussey, and Richard Littledale, to whom were added four from Ipswich. To do this he must have been a man of some mark and substance, and of character equal to those with whom he was associated. A beautiful site was chosen on the opposite bank of the Merrimac River, some six or seven miles farther up the stream, and almost twelve miles from the sea. This spot they named Haverhill after the English town from which its projector came. Here in 1642 John Williams was admitted freeman: that is, he was made an acknowledged citizen of the place, was a member of the church, had a full right to vote on any and all questions, and had taken the oath of fidelity and allegiance. In 1643, according to a town vote, the valuation of his property was put at eighty pounds, which compares favorably with that of the 31 other land owners. Every stockholder who emigrated at his own expense was to receive fifty acres for each member of his family; and every fifty pounds contributed to the company's stock entitled the stockholder to two hundred acres of land. In the 4th division of land, 14 Oct., 1659, John Williams drew the 4th lot. In 1667 he again received a share in the distribution of some lands belonging to the town, which confirms the statement that he was one of the original proprietors, and to be such he must have been in possession of means brought from the old country. He also owned other property in Haverhill, some of which he gave to his sons during his lifetime. John Williams passed the residue of his days in Haverhill, dying there 10 Feb., 1674; his widow Jane surviving until 21 Nov., 1680. His will, [ref 81:15] dated 9 Dec., 1670, probated 18 Mar., 1674, mentions his children, John, Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Lydia, and a grandchild, Sarah, daughter of Sarah who had married John Ayer. John, the son, and Sarah, the daughter, had been born in England. Among a list of petitioners for clemency in 1652 in the case of one Pike, who got into trouble for lay-preaching, the names of both the father and son, John, appear. This would indicate that the younger man had reached his majority, which puts his birth no later than 1631. Sarah's marriage to John Ayer, 5 May, 1646, supposing her to be as young as sixteen, would place her birth in 1630, so that the father must have been born very early in the century, or possibly just before it began. Both children were evidently quite small when they came to this country. As there is no record of the births of any children for ten years, there is room for the supposition that Jane was a second wife, perhaps married in this country. During their sojourn in Newbury, their daughter, Mary, was born, 20 Sept., 1641; and Lydia and Joseph were born after their removal to Haverhill. Here the names of John Williams and of his wife, Jane, are the first ones recorded on the books of the "Town-Records," giving the date of Lydia's birth, 16 Mar., 1643, and that of Joseph's birth, 18 Apr., 1647. Both Sarah and Mary wedded well-to-do men, members of influential families of the place, whence it may be inferred that John Williams was in high esteem among his fellow townsmen. Lydia probably never married, unless to someone of the same surname, for in 1677 when she was thirty-four years of age, her name according to the records was still unchanged. As the son John's children were all daughters, Joseph was the only one to carry down the Williams name. The troublous times caused by Indian warfare were soon to begin. John Williams' descendants bore their full share of the hardships and did valiant duty in protecting their town, in many instances giving up their lives in its defense. [ref 81:15] JOHN1 WILLIAMS, married first probably in England, (___); and married second probably in Newbury, Mass., Jane (___), who died in Haverhill, Mass., 21 Nov., 1680, recorded "Jane (an antient widdow) widow John." Children by first marriage, born probably in England: Sarah, John. Children by second marriage, first born in Newbury, others in Haverhill: Mary, Lydia, Joseph. [ref 81:17] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (No. 30011 Salem, Mass. Probate Court) WILL OF JOHN1 WILLIAMS, 9 Dec 1670 - 18 Mar 1674: Last will & testamentt of John Williams Senior followeth first of all I make my wife sole executrixe--all my goods land & Cattle excepting what I...ve to my children as hereafter is expressed ...y Will is that my sonne John shall have halfe my four...h devission of upland besides what he have had allr...dy I give ... my sonne Joseph my house & orchard & house Lott & ye Commanidge that belong to it & all my duck-meadow ... this after my wifes deceace, alsoe I give to Jose...y Lott at ye ffishing Rever adjoyneing to my sonn J...nes this hee is to have at my decease I give to my daughter Mary all my west meadow after my wives decease ... & alsoe a quarter parte of my fourth devission of upland this to have at my decease I give my daughter Liddia all my east meadow after my wives decease & alsoe a plantting lott next to Samuell Semmons at ye westend of the Towne to have it after my wives decease, & alsoe I give her twenty acresse of my fourth devission to have at my my decease I give to my daughter Sarahs childe, Sarah Eyres twenty acresse of upland of my fourth devission, to have at my decease John Williams (seal) Signed & sealed in the prsence off vs William white Mary (her mark) White Wm. White & Mary White made oath that this writeing was the act and deed of John Williams senjr, & that he declared it to be his Will & know of no other will of his. Taken March ye 18:1673:1674 before me Nath:Saltonstall Commisr Entred & Recorded in ye County Records for Norfolk, lib:2d.pa323 ye 26th of Aprill 1674 as attests Tho. Bradbury recr. The Inventory of John Williams Sr: deceased in the month of ffebruary 1673, as followeth: Imprimus his dwelling house & hous lott 80.00.0 Item two Acresse meadow at the east meadow 10.00.00 Item five Acresse meadow in the west meadow 20.00.00 Item a persell of upland Joyning to Samll Semmons houslott 18.00.00 Item a pcell of upland Called by the name of a fourth devisson not it laid out 20.00.00 Item two Cows 08.00. Item one three yerling halfer 03.00.00 Item five sheep 02.10.0 Item three Swine 03.00.0 Item to beds & that belong to it 10.00.00 Item his wearing cloths 05.00.00 Item one Iron pott, Iron Skillatt 01.00.00 Item a brasse kittle & warming pon 01.00.0 Item a frying pon tongs & tramel 00.14. Item pewter & Smothing Ire 01.05.00 Item in barrels & other woodden vessels 01.10.00 Item a torne & cards & a box 00.10.00 Item a Chaine bittle wedges & ax 01.00.00 Item tow Comb sikcle & a chaire 00.12.00 Item in yerne & cloth at weavers 04.10.00 �191.11.00 This Enventory was prized by vs whose names are underwritten the 17th March 73.74. Capt. Saltonstall is ordered by ye County Court held at Salisbury 14:Aprill 74: to take oath to this Inventory Th: Bradbury Recr. William White henry palmer The Widdow Williams made oath to the truth of this Inventory and that as more appears shee will discover it to ye Court. October ye 10:1674 before me Nath: Saltonstall Com: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||
| Notes for Jane, wife of John Williams* | ||||||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - children Sarah and John may belong to a previous wife possibly daughter of Robinson GOULD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jane Williams, wid. john, "an antient widdow" Nov. 21, 1680. [ref 51] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | ||||||
| Last Modified 21 Oct 2004 | Created 4 Jan 2005 |