Williams, alias Williams Onslow of Spettisbury
The Williams family of Spettisbury in Dorset previously owned Tendring Hall in Suffolk. They were a branch of the Williams family of Wollaston in Shropshire. Here is the information I have on them :
According to the article on the Sheriffs of Montgomeryshire in volume 2 of Collections Historical and Archaeological relating to Montgomeryshire, this family is said to be 'of ancient standing in the parish of Alberbury' in Shropshire, and obtained the estate of Wollaston by marriage to Margaret daughter and heiress of Richard Fairford of Wollaston, by his wife Margaret, the daughter and heiress of Hugh Paunton of Wollaston, this Hugh having obtained Wollaston by marriage to Petronella, younger daughter and co-heir of Piers Pigot of Wollaston, the Pigots having held Wollaston since the 12th century. The former Margaret's grandson was
● William ap David, who married Gwenhyvar daughter of David Lloyd of Leighton and was father of
● Reynold ap William of Wollaston in Shropshire. Sheriff of Montgomery. He married firstly Margaret daughter and heir of Fulk Lee of Langley in Shropshire by Elizabeth daughter of John Leighton of Wattlesborough and had a son
● Thomas Williams of Wollaston in Shropshire. Sheriff of Montgomeryshire and Sheriff of Shropshire. He married Blanche daughter of Robert Powell and had issue
1.
Reynold Williams,
of whom presently, and
1.
Rose Williams, who married by 1551 (as his 1st wife) George Evelyn (who
died 30th May 1603). Their eldest son Thomas Evelyn (1551-1617) was
grandfather of Sir Edward Evelyn (1626-92), 1st Baronet of Long Ditton in
Surrey.
The son,
●
Reynold Williams of Wollaston in Shropshire, was admitted to the Inner
Temple on 10th November 1561. He became Sheriff of Montgomery. He
married Margaret daughter of Gerard Gore (c 1516-1607), Alderman
of London, by his wife Helen (d 1608) daughter of Ralph Davenant
of Davenants Land in Essex. Margaret was a sister of John Gore Lord Mayor
of London 1624-5 and of Sir Paul Gore 1st Baronet of Manor Gore in
Co.Donegal. Reynold and Margaret had, with other issue,
1. Thomas
Williams
of Wollaston in Shropshire. Eldest son and heir. He died in 1624.
6.
Edward Williams, their 6th son of whom we treat.
The 6th son of Reynold Williams,
●
Edward Williams, became a Merchant of London. He married Mary daughter
of Robert Palmer of Hill in Bedfordshire by his wife Mary
daughter of Walter Craddock of Staffordshire, and left a son,
● Reynold Williams. According to volume 1 of W.A. Copinger's work The Manors of Suffolk, the Williams family purchased the Tendring Hall estate near Stoke by Nayland in Suffolk from Thomas, son of Lord Windsor, and it was most probably this Reynold that did so. His will was pr. 3rd May 1689. He married 1stly Mary daughter of Richard Peacock of Finchley in Middlesex by whom he had issue
1. Reynold Williams, born about 1657. He entered Queen's
College Cambridge on 5th April 1677 and was admitted to the Inner Temple on 16th
June 1678. He probably died s.p.
1. Mary
Williams.
Reynold married 2ndly Sarah daughter of Sir Thomas Dyke of Horsham in Sussex by his wife Katherine daughter of Sir John Bramston of Skreens. By her he had issue
2. Thomas Williams of Tendring Hall near Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk. He married Elizabeth (baptized at Kedington in Suffolk on 30th May 1659), 4th daughter of Sir THOMAS BARNARDISTON 1st Baronet of Kedington in Suffolk by his wife ANNE, younger daughter of Sir WILLIAM ARMINE, 1st Baronet of Osgodby in Lincolnshire. Thomas Williams will pr. 30th May 1718. He left issue
i. Thomas Williams, only son and heir, was of
Tendring Hall. He married Alice
daughter of Anthony Bramston of Skreens in Essex by his wife Katherine
daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Nutt. Thomas is said to have either
died without male issue, or may even have died childless. The Tendring Hall
estate then passed to his uncle John, as noted below.
i.
Anne, who married (as his 3rd wife c 1732/3)
Sir ANTHONY THOMAS ABDY,
3rd Baronet of Felix Hall in Essex. Sir Anthony was baptized at Kelvedon in
Essex on 5th October 1688 and died on 11th June 1733 leaving two daughters and
co-heirs by his 2nd wife (the elder of whom married Anne's cousin Richard
Williams). Anne has been described by some as the Heiress of Tendring Hall.
However this is unlikely as the estate was in the hands of her uncle John at the
time he died in 1743. Anne died childless on 21st September 1745.
3. Sir John Williams, Lord Mayor of London, of whom presently.
4.
Edward Williams, whose only surviving child, Sarah, died unmarried.
Tendring Hall near Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk.
● John Williams, Kt. A Turkey Merchant and Director of the South Sea Company, he was an Alderman and Lord Mayor of London 1735-36. He married Mary 2nd daughter of Richard 1st Baron Onslow by his wife Elizabeth daughter and heir of Sir Henry Tulse, Lord Mayor of London 1683-84. He succeeded to Tendring Hall on the death of his nephew Thomas. John Williams died in 1743. His will pr. 4th July 1743. His widow Mary died in 1747. Her will pr. 1st December 1747. They left issue
1. Richard
Williams, eldest son and heir. Born c 1710 and educated at Westminster
School. He was admitted a Fellow-Commoner at St.Johns College Cambridge on 4th
August 1729, graduating M.A. in 1733. Admitted at the Middle Temple on 23rd
January 1731. He held the Tendring Hall
estate at the time of his death, childless, in 1750, and was succeeded by his
brother John.
2.
John Williams, of whom presently.
3.
James Williams, born in London in 1717 and educated at Westminster
School. He was admitted a Pensioner at St.John's College Cambridge on 5th April
1734, and admitted at the Middle Temple on 2nd November 1734. He subsequently
joined the Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was killed at Lafeldt
in Flanders on 2nd July 1747, unmarried
and leaving no issue.
● John Williams, heir to his brother in 1750. He assumed his mothers surname of Onslow becoming John Williams Onslow. He was born in 1716 and was admitted a Pensioner at St.John's College Cambridge on 5th April 1734, and entered the Middle Temple on 2nd November 1734. On 23rd January 1739 he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn, being subsequently called to the Bar at the Middle Temple. In 1744 he married Charlotte Maria (baptized at Kelvedon in Essex on 11th June 1723), elder daughter and co-heir of Sir ANTHONY THOMAS ABDY, 3rd Baronet of Felix Hall in Essex by his 2nd wife CHARLOTTE, 3rd daughter and co-heir of Sir THOMAS BARNARDISTON 3rd Baronet of Kedington in Suffolk. He succeeded his brother at Tendring Hall in 1750, but appears to have subsequently sold that estate to Sir William Rowley. John died in November 1779 and was buried at Spettisbury in Dorset. His will pr. 23rd November 1779. His widow possibly died about 1801/2 at Poole in Dorset. They had three sons
1. John
Williams Onslow, eldest son and heir, of Spettisbury in Dorset. Born in
1746. He died childless in 1790 and was buried at Isleworth in Middlesex. His
will pr. 19th February 1791. He was succeeded by his only surviving brother,
James.
2.
Anthony Thomas Williams, who died young.
3.
James Williams, heir to his eldest brother, of whom we treat.
● James Williams. Youngest son. Said to be of Spettisbury and Chettle in Dorset. Baptized at Kelvedon in Essex on 1st March 1753. On 26th May 1780 he married his 1st cousin Charlotte, daughter of THOMAS RYVES of Ranston in Dorset by his 1st wife ELIZABETH younger daughter and co-heir of Sir ANTHONY THOMAS ABDY 3rd Baronet of Felix Hall in Essex. Charlotte died on 8th June 1785 and was buried at Shroton in Dorset. James may have lived into the 19th century, perhaps dying at Lymington in Hampshire. They left four children,
1. James
Williams, born 30th March 1781. He apparently emigrated to the Cape of Good
Hope.
2.
Henry Peter Williams, born 9th January 1785. Like his elder brother, he
too apparently emigrated to the Cape of Good Hope. Nothing more is known of
them.
1.
Charlotte Maria Elizabeth Williams, born 3rd March 1782. She died,
unmarried, on 16th January 1868 and was buried at Iwerne Minster in Dorset.
2.
Harriet Mary Anne Williams, born 6th June 1783. She appears to have died
unmarried, perhaps in 1845, and was buried at Iwerne Minster in Dorset.