CAPTAIN ISAAC WILLIAMS

CAPTAIN ISAAC WILLIAMS

AND HIS GRAND CHILDREN

****

The Story of a Fighting Quaker

And

Three Generations

of Indiana Pioneers

****

No. 7

Benjamin Franklin Junior Historical Series

A Bookshelf of American Genealogy

Ben F. and Alice L. Dixon

First edition, 150 copies

Second Edition 100 copies

June 1, 1967

****

FAMILY HISTORIANS

Privately Published

6008 Arosa Street

San Diego 15 California

June 1, 1963

________________

(This reproduction was created in the year 2002 by scanning and converting the original publication into a Microsoft Word document on a desktop computer. The editor then “proofed” the resulting translationn Some minor updates which are clearly identified as editorial comments have been added. Converting the document to a HTML file resulted in the loss of column placements, etc. Roger G. Williams who linage is: Isaac Jr. >James Dixon >Rufus >Otmar >Stanley >Roger)

D E D I C A T I 0 N, 1 9 6 3

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To Pioneers of three Generations:

ISAAC WILLIAMS

Valiant Captain of the War of 1812;

His Son:

ELKANAH WILLIAMS

Eminent Physician and Medical Pioneer

in the Field of Eye Surgery;

His Grand-daughter:

AUNT CORNELIA JONES

who, aetatis 83; still keeps the home fires burning

in “The Big House”.

Dedicatory Note, 1967

^{=====================}

Aunt Cornelia passed away October 20, 1963, and now

sleeps the Long Sleep in Mount Olive Cemetery, near

Williams, Indiana.

+ + + + + + +

Her sister, Aunt Zipporah Smith, nearing 89, is

Captain Isaac’s only surviving grandchild. Living with

her daughter at Williams, Postmaster Becky Padgett, she

improves the hours with the old-time hobbycraft of quilt

piecing. These Family Historians had the honor and the

joy of meeting her, October 31, 1965, on the occasion of

a family reception our Hoosier Cousins gave us at Williams.

We salute her now, as the family's Matriarch.

(Aunt Zipporah Smith passed away__________. This reproduction editor had the privilege of meeting her daughter Becky Padgett, now the widow of Ratha Sims in the winter of 2000-2001.))

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

1963 POST SCRIPTS AND PREFACE 1967

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There were not enough copies of the 1963 edition! Hence a reprint is due, involving some additions and corrections to the original book. A majority of the 150 copies published four years ago went to the Adamson Reunion Association of Lawrence County, Indiana, for distribution to interested descendants of Captain Isaac, his sister Rachel (Adamson) and his distinguished neighbor, Elder Abram Kern, with whose children his own intermarried. We presented a goodly number to libraries and genealogical societies; but there were not enough to go around. Since l963 we have had to disappoint many libraries and relatives who wanted copies.

A number of corrections and additions have been made to the original material. Cousin Beulah Thompson, of Williams, Vice-Regent of her DAR Chapter in Lawrence County, contributed numerous pertinent dates and notes, which we have attempted to integrate with the original stencils.

The marriage record of Immigrant Richard Williams was located among Quaker documents at Swarthmore College, but was received too late for inclusion in our 1963 book. It is inserted here as page “1½.” Other Guinedd notes documenting relationships of Williams pioneers in Penn's Colony were sent by the late Miss Ethel McCorkindale of Ontario, California.

But the marriage record of her own ancestor, William Williams, Jr. the pioneer preacher and youthful uncle of Captain Isaac, was found by Mrs. Thompson. It was introduced as plate 4 of Lost Creek Memories and is incorporated here as an important pioneer document of our Quaker ancestry. Cousin Ethel, a retired school teacher, devoted many years to the compilation of a family history of John and Mary which we published for her several months in the wake of our own Captain Issac book. She had made this project a lifetime ambition. And about six months after her book was published she joined her Quaker fore-bears in the Valley of the Great Beyond.

Our answer to Query 1, (Where is Dr. Elkanak Williams buried?) was supplied by Mrs. Donald Wade of Cincinnati. The location is Grave 138, Lot 46, Spring Grove Cemetery on Spring Grove Ave., in Cincinnati. Mrs. Wade is the former Esther Williams of Cedar Point, Kansas, daughter of the late Henry Williams, grandson of Pryor and a g-gr-son of Captain Isaac. When Cincinnati's City Manager was unable to locate the record, we broadcast a call for information. Cousin Esther not only found the location and record, but she also contributed a beautiful colorfoto of Uncle Elkanah's memorial.

Descendants of another Isaac Williams of Indiana have claimed the signature on the 1816 Memorial to Congress (p. 17). Their claim may be valid. There were at least, before 1820, in the same general region of Southern Indiana, three apparently unrelated pioneers named Isaac Williams. To demonstrate which of the three was the actual signer would involve meticulous research in chirography and pertinent documents. It is not a matter of great moment. But we believe that our Captain Isaac was the signer. He is known to have been in the area for the purpose of locating his land, at the very time when the petition was being circulated. In as much as he was a distinguished officer of the late Indian Wars, 1813-14, his signature certainly would have carried weight in Congress.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

ERRATA, ADDITIONS, & CORRECTIONS

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1–A Ethel McCorkindale's additional notes on Williams of Guinedd

1½ Insert: Marriage Record of Richard Wi11iams, 1717.

8/9 Insert: Preacher Williams of Lost Creek

14. 1872 (not) 1875, was date of death of Emily Hammersley

17. Memorial to Congress: See preface, --last paragraph

***

Soon after the 1963 publication, Cousin Beulah Thompson sent these items of correction and addition, which we have endeavored to incorporate in the 1967 printing. Extra copies of this list are available to 1963 book holders who may wish to enter the corrections.

***

39: Garrett and Lucy are buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery--not Old Union

Clarissa, m. 11-11-1852 ***

Louis R., d. 9-12-1898

Celia, d. 11- 3-1923 P. 70: Rufus Williams, d 10-11-26

Cytha, m. 2- 2-1853 at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Emily d. 7-14-1921 Emily Wms Kern d. 9-22-1926

Clarinda d 10-11-1924 Giles Williams d. 2-9-1849

Cyrena Wi11iams Sears --

40: Susan, d. 7- 2-1934 died at Cooperston, Okla.

Miscena R. d. 5-29-1929 ***

Wm. M. d. 7-21-1933

42: Jane K. m. 3-22-1863

Lura B. Hall, b. 11-28-1857; d. 8-8-1914; m. Harvey Malott --

Who was b. 5-20-1850; d. 8-30-1920; both buried old Union

44: Cornelius Kern d. 2-27-1896

Isaac, b. 7-27-1834; d. July 7, 1928

*Rebecca, b. 3-14-1835; d. 11-16-59

*Abbie, d. 5- 8-1856.

(*Both buried at Old Union)

Pryor d. 5-?-99; buried at Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford

Add to this record: Melvina Kern Clark, d. 10-29-1916

45: Giles Williams, b. 2-9-1849; m. Jan. 4, 1887

Rufus, d. 10-11-1926; burial at St.Petersburg, Fla.

47: Bartimus,L. m. Emily Hammersley, 9-11-1862

m. Rachel MacDonald 1875 (not 1873)

Bartimus L. and Pearl Baker have issue.

49: Dr. Elkanah Wil1iams: Interred at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cin. 0hio

66: Lewis R. Wil1iams d. 9-12-1898 * * *

Emilia, d. 7-14-1921 P. 71: only one of Uncle Bart's

Clarinda, d. 10-11-1924 children left no issue.

Bartimus L. m. Pearl Baker

01evia J. Williams m. James. in 1883 and have a daughter Ruth

Leonard (not Howard) who m. State Senator George Dye

Susan d. 7- 2-1934 --with son Bart and grandchild.

Miscena R. d. 5-29-1929 --Beulah.

69: Cornelius Kern d. 2-27-1896

Isaac, b.7-27-1834; d.7-7-1228

m. 1861, Hanna Parr – b 1-19-1834; d. 3-5-1901

Pryor, d. 5 - ?-189

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

Table of Contents

Dedication - - p. iii

Table of Contents - - p. vi

Illustrations - - p. viii

Appreciation - - p. ix

Greeting - - p. x

PART I: QUAKER BEGINNING (vii)

"Richard the First" - (1)

Ancestral History - (2)

Gwynedd; and the Welsh Settlers - (3)

Illus: 6a and 6b: The Gwynedd Quaker Meeting - (10)

William Williams, Sr - (7)

The Will of William Williams - (8)

A Quaker Preacher Leads the Way - (9)

Journal of the Quaker Preacher - (10)

The Lost Creek Testimonial - (11)

Isaac Wil1iams, Sr. - (12)

PART II: CAPTAIN ISAAC - (13)

Captain Isaac Wi1liams, Jr - (14)

French Broad Country 15)

White River Country - (16)

Illus: (16a): Deed to a Bedford Town Lot

(16b): Bounty Land Certificate

Memorial to Congress - (17)

Kern Cousins - (18)

Captain Isaac: Fighting Quaker 19)

Captain Isaac and the War of 1812 - (20)

Illus: (24a): Heroes of the Creek War

(24b): Capt. Isaac and the War

The Old Journal - (25)

Ration Return - (26)

Equipment Return - (27)

Stacking Arms in Sevier County - (28)

Company Roll - (29)

Public Office and Public Trust - (30)

Official Records - (31)

Military Department of Tennessee 32)

Captain Isaac Williams - (33)

Company of Mounted Riflemen - (34)

Company of Drafted Militia - (35)

Company of Mounted Gunmen - (36)

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS Table of Contents

PART III: CAPTAIN ISSAC'S GRAND CHILDREN - (37)

These Left No Issue - (38)

2. Garrett Gibson Williams (39)

Illus: (39a): Capt. Isaac's Grand Children

(39b): Uncle Bart's Family

3. Richard Williams - (40)

4. Louisa M. Williams=Rubottom - (41)

5. Pryor L. Williams - (42)

Illus: (42a): Pryor Williams Family

(42b): Pryor Williams Grandchildren

American Ancestry of Pryor Williams: Data Sheet - (43)

6. Mahala Williams=Kern - (44)

8. James Dixon Williams - (45)

11. Elkanah Williams - (46)

12. Bartimus Williams - (47)

PART IV: DR. ELKANAH WILLIAMS - (48)

Dr. Elkanah Williams: His Life and Works - (49)

His Obituary - (50)

His Biography - (51)

Illus: Your Memorial to Dr. Williams - (54a)

A Cabinet of Private Correspondence (Nine letters) - (54)

PART V: THE GRANDCHILD - (65)

Uncle Garrett's Families - (66)

Uncle Richard's Sprouts - (67)

Grandfather Pryor's Children - (68)

Aunt Haley's Folks and kinfolks - (69)

Uncle Dick's Siblings - (70)

Uncle Bart's People - (71)

+++++++

+FINIS+

+++++++

BIBLIOGRAPHY + + + + + + + + + + + + DISTRIBUTION

YOUR FAMILY HISTORIANS======YOUR FAMILY RECORD

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

T H E I L L U S T R A T I 0 N S

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6a & B The History of Gwynedd Meeting was lithographed

from a typescript furnished in photostat by the

Friends Historical Society, Swarthmore, Penna.

16a Deed to a Lot in Bedford. (Alice Dixon document)

16b Bounty Land. Certificate. From National Archives,

(Courtesy of Jason: Adamson)

24a Heroes of the Creek War. From. House of Ancaducros

Archives. Isaac Williams photo loaned by Harry

Williams.

24b Captain Isaac and the Creek War

Maps from archives, House of Ancaducros

39a ) O1d Family Photos ----

39 ) Capt. Isaac's Grand Children.

) == Uncle Bart's Family

42a ) Pryor Williams Family

42b ) Pryor W:illiams Grandchildren

From family collections in.Indiana, Kansas and

California -- Alice Dixon, Nellie Emerson, Roxie

Hatfield, Cornelia Jones, Zipporah Smith,

Beulah Thompson, Harry Williams, et al

Also: 2nd Edition, 1967

Between Pages 8 and 9:

Plate 4 from "Lost Creek Memories" --

"Preacher Williams of Lost Creek"

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ISAAC WILLIAMS

A P P R E C I A T I O N

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A work of this nature cannot be put together hastily or easily. It requires cooperation from a host of folk and the consecrated help of many. The records here set forth have come from many sections of the country, contributed by numerous Adamson, Kern, Sears and Williams cousins, and others.

***

Some of those we must thank individually are: Aunt Nelia Jones, Leone Maegerlein, Harry and Nettle Williams of Williams, Ind.; Roxie Hatfield of Bedford; and Mrs. Alice Ingalls and the ladies of John Wallace Chapter, DAR; also Wm. B. Lindley of LaJolla, Calif.; and the Librarian of Swarthmore College for the history of Gwynedd.

***

Col. A. F. Carden, Tennessee National Guard, Chief of War Records in the Adjutant General's Office at Nashville, contributed the research which resulted in the historical sketch and rosters for the Creek Indian War.

***

Jason Adamson of Turlock, Calif., who combines strains of the Adamson, Kern, Sears and Williams lines all in one bundle, has conducted a widespread research in family lines for several years, and lent himself whole-heartedly to our project.

***

The McCorkindales of Ontario, Calif. -- Miss Ethel, John, and Mrs. Maude Bercich -- have given much information on the old Quaker Preacher, William Williams, their great-great-grandfather. And they have graciously loaned us their precious copy of his Journal, published in 1828 in Cincinnati, for background study.

***

Leading co-compiler of these records has been Mrs. Hale Thompson (Beulah Adamson) of Williams. Besides carrying on her share of the work on a busy farm, she has braved snow, sleet, floods, tornadoes, and the aches of arthritis to vitalize our book. Family Bibles, journals, ancient letters, wayside cemeteries, public records, newspaper files, libraries -- all these have been made to pay tribute to her enthusiastic search.

In his zeal to see the family history documented, Lisker Adamson her late father, must have inspired her in this work. She carries the torch for him. She is a graduate of Williams High and a member of the Alumni Association. She carried a winter course in home economics at Purdue. She belongs to the John Wallace Chapter, DAR, the Williams Home Demonstration Club of Lawrence County, and the Williams Church of Christ. Her husband, Hale Thompson, is a great-great-grandson of Captain Isaac. Beulah is a great-great-granddaughter of both Isaac Williams and Rachel Williams-Adamson.

***

The Cousinry owes her a tremendous vote of thanks for her interest and her consecrated endeavor. The Family Historians can do no less than to lead the cheering -- not only for her, but for all the others who have worked with her and with us in creating this book.

--BEN and ALICE DIXON

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

A GREETING

WILLIAMS COUSINS

This book had its inception in 1925, before "Uncle Ben Dixon" was even an in-law member of the family. In that year occurred the event which started the ball rolling. Frank Williams of Cedar Point, Kansas and Zetty Reynolds of Williams, In., made a record of all of the descendants -- that is, all they knew about-- of Isaac Williams and Abram Kern-- to the seventh generation.

It is a manuscript catalogue of names only, with few dates, in- cidents or anecdotes. But it is the basis of this and other items of the Benjamin Franklin series covering Lawrence County pioneers. Two originals were made. One of them is still in Indiana. The other we presume, belongs to the family in Kansas.

It was the copy which Frank Williams had which we borrowed in 1932, while enroute from Great Lakes, Ill. to San Diego, to make a typescript copy. Carbon copies were presented to the Library of Congress and the Institute of American Genealogy. Our copy (much worn and scribbled over with three decades of use) shows some sort of record of 296 families tracing their origin to Isaac Williams, his sister Rachel Adamson, and Elder Abram Kern.

***

At the Williams Reunion in Kansas, June 1962, Ben and Alice Dixon were requested to present a Williams History to the 1963 reunion. It will be held on Sunday, June 9th, at James K. P. Williams's old Marion County homestead near Florence. This project we have endeavored to execute in such a way that it will supply the needs of the entire family instead of just the Kansas branch.

In the time available it would be impossible to revamp the 1925 Williams-Kern catalogue in anything like a comprehensive presentation. It would be too costly either for us to undertake or the Association to under write. We decided on a practical approach: We therefore give you the history of Grandfather Isaac and his immediate family. By extending this study from his "Grand Children" to his Grandchild- ren (two of whom still survive in Lawrence County) we bring the Williams history within the reach of any branch that may desire to carry it further.

As this work continues, we hope it will inspire research in other branches. Besides the Adamson Reunion in Indiana and the Williams Reunion in Kansas, we are informed that the Embrees fore- gather every year at Bryantsville, md. And we are hopeful that renewed interest in the Bryant-Embree-Culbertson family history will bring about a reunion of descendants of David Culbertson and Sarah Bright.

***

We have learned of numerous Williams descendants in California. An old mountain man named Isaac Williams was here in 1832, and be- came a leading citizen. Another Isaac, son of Pryor and grandson of Capt. Isaac, came in the Gold Rush. Descendants of the Quaker preacher and his sister Priscilla are not too distant "neighbor." We would feel rewarded indeed if the interest generated by this book should stir up family zeal to organize a Williams Association in California

C a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (1-A)

"JOHN WILLIAMS of BLOCKLEY"

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Whi1e working with Miss Ethel McCorkindale of Ontario, Calif., on her family history for "John and Mary Williams" she gave us a batch of notes she had culled from research in Guinedd Quakerdom. She gave as her authorities for these data, the following:

"Early Families of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania"

"Jenkins Historical Collection relating to Gwynedd" and

"Philadelphia Wills, vol. II, p. 443"

We have not consulted any of the above, but submit Cousin Ethel's findings as leads for others who may wish to carry on this search for records of Williams ancestors.

JOHN WILLIAMS "of Blockley"

m. Catherine Morgan, 11-13-1707

Among the witnesses were:

Richard Williams

Ellin Williams

Sarah Williams

John Williams is shown to be related to William ap Edward, the father of the above Ellin and Sarah

JOHN WILLIAMS married --

(1) ll-l3-l7O7, Catherine, dau. of Owen Morgan

with issue: 1711, Elizabeth

1713, Jane

(2) 1714, Catherine Edwards

with issue: 1715, Owen

1718, Isabel

John Williams of Guinedd made his will 7-9-1726; it was probated 11-7-1726. It names his wife Catherine and his brother Richard.

***

RICHARD WILLIAMS

m. July 10, 1717, the widow Margaret Eaton

Among the witnesses were:

First, Jno Williams, followed by several Morgans; then

Later: Jno Wms

______ Williams (given name illegible)

Eliz Williams

Cath Williams

CONCLUSION: The foregoing notes, threadbare as they appear, demonstrate as conclusively as may be that John Williams of Blockey was an older brother of our Richard Williams of Guinedd.

[1999 Edition note: from Justin in 1999 support the thesis that Robert Williams & Gwen Cadwallader are the parents of John and Richard. Justin’s notes are appended to the end of this document.]

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WIILLIAMS (1½)

M A R R I A G E R E C O R D O F

RICHARD WILLIAMS and MARGARET EATON

Gwynedd, Philadelphia County, Penns. July 10, 1717

We submit the following document as a sort of "postscript" to page (1) of "Captain Isaac Wi11iams." The original record was recently found in the ancient and faded marriage record book of the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting. We are indebted to Mrs. Marjory P. Jones, Wallingford, Penna., for a photo-copy of the original.

" W H E R E A S Richard Williams of Gwyneds in ye County "of Phila & Province of Pensilvania Bachelor and Margaret "Eaton of ye Township County & Province affors. Widow Haveing "Declared Their Intention of Marriage to Each Other before "ye Present Monthly Meeting of ye People Called Quakers held at "Gwyned According to ye Good Order Used among Them Whose Proceedings "Therein after ye Deliberate Consideration Thereof and haveing "Consent of Parties and Relations Concerned now by ye Said meeting "Left to their Liberty to Accomplish Their Said Intentions This "Tenth Day of the Seventh Month In ye Year of our Lord "One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventeen They The "Said Richd William and Margaret Eaton Appeared in "A Publick meeting of the Said People at Gwynedd Affors- "And Ye Said Rich Wil1iams Takeing the Said Margaret "Eatton by the Hand and in A Solemn Manner Openly "Declare yt He Took her to be his Wife promising Through "God's Acceptance To be Unto her a Faithfull and Loveing Husband "Till Death Should Seperate Them And then and There in ye "Said Assembly the Sd Margarett Eatton did Likewise Declare "She Took ye Said Richd Williams to be her husband in Like "Manner Promising to be Unto him a Faithfull and Loveing "Wife Till Death Should Seperate Them And Moreover ye "Said Richd Williams and Margarett She According to ye "Custom of Marriage Assuming ye Name of Her Husband "As a Farther Confirmation Thereof Did Then & There to "These Presents Set Their Hands and We Whose Hands are "hereunder Written Among Others Present at ye "Solemnization of ye Said Marriage & Subscription in "manner attestd As Witnesseth Thereunto have allso to These "now Set Our Hands ye Day and Year Above Written

his

" RICHD W WILLIAMS Jno Pugh (illeg) Williams

mark Robt Evan Eliz Williams

" her Thos Evan Cath Williams

" MAGARET M WILLIAMS Owen Evan Ellin Robert

" mark Ewd Evan Jane Nailor

" Jno Humphrey Mary Loyd

" Jno Williams Edwd Woe Jane Evan

" Edwd Morgan Jno Wms Gwinett Humphrey

" Wm Morgan Edwd Robert

" Jno Morgan Evan Pugh

" Dann Morgan Thos Foulke

" Morgan Morgan Thos Lvan

" Jno Robert Hugh Jones

Hugh Evan

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (2)

ANCESTRAL HISTORY

Cousin Ethel McCorkindale of Ontario, Calif., a descendant of William Williams, the old Quaker Preacher -- youthful uncle of our Captain Isaac -- has contributed a brief introduction to the family's historical background.

Once when visiting an ancient cobwebby castle in Ireland, she came upon a quaintly familiar old portrait. "How in the world could this medieval battlement have a portrait of my Uncle John Williams"? she thought. On inquiring about it she was informed that she had been gazing on the likeness of Sir Oliver Cromwell, Protector of the Commonwealth. Then she learned that Sir Oliver was really a Williams!

The name Williams is derived from the Welch word "Gwylyn" meaning "sentinel". It has been used since the year AD 1086-- 20 years after the Conquest. As a family name it signifies "William's Son" and as a surname it dates back nearly five centuries. Not many variations are found anciently, the most common being Wilyams and Williamson.

Several genealogies exist for the early Welsh family of Williams. But all authorities agree that the surname was not in use in Wales previous to the time of Henry VIII (1509-1547). Welshmen did not use family names prior to that time, but referred to families as those of John, Owen, Morgan, Richard or William. Henry VIII himself is said to have urged the Welsh people to conform to the common practice of using surnames.

***

Burke's Peerage and Baronetage states that the Williams family is descended lineally from Marchundel of Gynn, the Lord of Aberglen of Denbigh, Denbighshire, who lived in the same time as Roderick Maur, the king of the Britons about AD 647. The pedigree of Marchudel is deduced from Brutus, King of the Ancient Britons.

Morgan Williams, of Glamorganshire, Wales, was the first ancestor to assume the surname Williams. He was the son of William (hence, William's son, or Williams), the son of Evan, the son of Thomas, a descendant of Brutus, BC 1199, To Morgan, a royal bailiff of King Henry VII (1485-1509), who married Catherine Cromwell, all present day members of the family owe their surname.

The family was represented in the early 16th Century by Sir Richard Williams (son of Morgan Williams and Catherine Cromwell), who was requested to take the name of Cromwell by Henry VIII. Sir Richard was a Member of Parliament in 1542. The name Richard thus is traditional from the very beginning of the family.

Oliver Cromwell, whose real name was Oliver Williams, was the son of Robert of Lancaster, the son of Sir Henry, the son of Sir Richard, the son of Morgan Williams. He assumed the name of Cromwell to please a parental uncle. Down through the reign of James I, the family styled themselves "Cromwell, alias Williams".

***

Williams Heraldry: The College of Heralds has made a field day of heraldic art for the various branches of this family. A number of interesting and striking coats of arms have been found. The following unique specimen is described in Burke’s Encyclopedia of Heraldry, but whether is belongs to Richard of Gwyned, we cannot say.

Arms: Sable, three horses' heads, erased, argent

Crest: A buck, statant, argent, collared, gold

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (3)

GWYNEDD

The Friends Meeting at Gwynedd, Penna., was the church home not only for the ancestors of Captain Isaac Williams, but also for the (supposed) ancestors of the husband of his older sister, Rachel Williams-Adamson. To this meeting in 1726 came John Adamson and his wife Anne. Their first son Thomas, born Dec. 23, 1717, was but two years senior to Capt. Isaac's grandfather, William Williams.

Both families -- Williams and Adamson-- migrated down the Valley of Virginia to North Carolina enroute to Tennessee. From East Tennessee they removed in 1817 to southern Indiana. For the Williams family the Quaker records of North Carolina bear ample witness to this hegira. But for the Adamsons there is a long break in continuity

Simon was the youngest of the seven children of John and Anne Adamson. He was born in 1733, and his mother passed to immortality in bringing him into this world. On July 25th of that year, Swamp Friends contributed forty shillings toward the relief of Father John and his family. This is the last we hear of Simon Adamson for three quarters of a century -- a serious break in continuity indeed.

In 1810 Simon Adamson, Sr., was received "at his own request" at the Lost Creek Meeting in Jefferson County, Tenn. Simon, Jr., was already a member there. If Simon, Sr., of Lost Creek, is identical with Simon, the Infant of 1733, then our thesis must be complete: namely, that he is the father of Thomas Adamson, Rachel's "long lost” husband. He would then be the sire of the four other Quaker Adamsons of the North Carolina-Tennessee frontier -- John, Joseph, Jesse and Enos -- whom we believe to be brothers of "Old Tom".

This, of course, is a thesis only. It still remains to be proven. Many known facts support it. But if true, it will shatter some of Our age-old Adamson tradition -- but some of our old problems in family history will be smoothly solved. Much tradition has been evolved around the Welsh beginnings of the Adamson and Williams families. This seems to be a good place to look at some of the facts.

PENN'S CHARTER

The Charter to William Penn's proprietary province of Pennsylvania was granted by Charles II on March 4, 1681. Penn wanted to name the province "New Wales". But the King over-ruled him. King Charles wished to to honor the grantee’s father, Admiral Sir Thomas Penn, who had served him well.

In a letter to his friend Robert Turner, dated May 1, 1681, William Penn related, with some little personal feelings of embarrassment, the details of the naming:

"This day my country was confirmed to me under the Great Seal of England, with large powers and privileges, by the name of Pennsylvania; a name the King would give in honor of my father.

"I chose 'New Wales', being, as this, a pretty hilly country. But Penn, being We1sh for a head -- as Penmaumoire in Wales, and Penrith in Cumberland, and Penn in Buckinghamshire, the highest land in England -- they called this Pennsylvania, which is, the high, or head woodland.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (4)

"For I proposed, when the Secretary, a Welshman, refused to have it called New Wales, Sylvania, and they added Penn to it; and though I much opposed it, an went to the King to have it struck out and altered, he said it was passed, and would take it upon him; nor could twenty guineas move the under-secretary to vary the same---

Penn convened a Council in 1682 to set up the government. Three original counties were set up -- Bucks, Chester and Philadelphia. Subsequently, in 1784, Montgomery county was taken off of Philadelphia; and in 1789, Delaware was taken from Chester.

Although Penn was thwarted in his desire to call his Province "New Wales", he was not disappointed in the Welsh immigration. Several Welsh came with him in his own ship, the Welcome. Thereafter, they came in shiploads. Penn granted them a vast strip of land called the "Welsh Tract", lying in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. In the former the townships of Easttown, Goshen, Nantmeal, Uwchland, Whiteland and Willistown were all settled by We1sh; in Delaware, Haverford, Newtown and Radnor; in Montgomery, Merion and Gwynedd.

WELSH IMMIGRATI0N

Dr. William H. Egle, for many years the State Archivist, brought together in his "Centennial History of Pennsylvania" many interesting details of Welsh impetus in the settlement of the Welsh Tract and adjacent communities. Robert Townsend, an early settler of Germantown bore witness:

"In the year 1682 I found a concern on my mind to embark with my wife and child, and went aboard the ship Welcome, Robert Greenaway, Commander, in company with my worthy friend William Penn, whose good conversation was advantagious to all the company--- The country continually increasing, people began to spread themselves further back--- A place called North Wales was settled by many of the ancient Britons, an honestly-inclined people, although they had not then made a profession of the truth as held by us; yet in a little time a large convincement was among them, and divers meeting-houses were built.

Among the adventurers and settlers who arrived about this time, says Dr. Egle, were many from Wales, of those who are called "ancient Britons", mostly Quakers--- of the original stock of that Society here. They had early purchased of the Proprietary, in England, 40,000 acres of land--- extending across the lower end of Montgomery into Chester and Delaware counties.

They took up enough of it on the west side of Schuylkill to make three townships, Merion, Haverford and Radnor. In a few years their number was so much augmented as to settle three other townships of Newtown, Goshen and Uwchland. After this they continued still increasing and became a numerous and flourishing people.

These early We1sh settlers were persons of excellent and worthy character, and several were of a very good education, prominent family and prosperous estate -- chiefly Quakers. Many of them were either eminent preachers of the society, or otherwise qualified and disposed to do good. Some, however, were devout members of the Church of England. Episcopalians of Gwynedd met at the home of Robert Evans, where Cadwallader Evans read the Bible to them.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (5)

PROMINENT WELSH SETTLERS

"Rowland Ellis was a man of note among the We1sh settlers, from a place called Bryn-Mawr, near Dolgelly, in the county of Marioneth. In 1683 he sent Thomas Owen and his family over to make a settlement. This was the custom of the welsh at first -- to send persons over to take up the land for them, and to prepare it against their coming. Rowland Ellis first came over in 1686, bringing with him his eldest son, Rowland, then a boy. About 100 Welsh passengers came at the same time. They had a long passage -- suffered much for want of provisions -- touched at Barbadoes, etc.

Rowland Ellis, after remaining about nine months here, returned to Wales, leaving his son with his uncle John Humphrey. He returned

to Pennsylvania in 1697, with his family, and about 100 other passengers, all from North Wales. He was then in his 45th year. He was a preacher among the Quakers, and an acceptable man in every station. He lived long to do good, and died in his 80th year, at his son-in-law's, John Evans' house, North Wales, now Gwynedd.

"Hugh Roberts was an eminent Quaker preacher; he removed from Wales to Pennsylvania about the year 1683, where he lived near eighteen years, to an advanced age. He had suffered much for his religion in his native country prior to his removal. On his return from a religious visit to Wa1es, in the service of preaching the gospel, in the year 1698, a number of the inhabitants of North Wales removed to Pennsylvania in company with him, where he arrived on the 7th of the 5th month

"Ellis Pugh, one of the early Welsh settlers who arrived in the Province in the year 1687, lived much of his time and died here, 1718. He was convinced of the Quakers' principles in Wales in the year 1674. He became a minister among them in 1680, in which capacity he continued until his death.

"In the latter end of 1698, William Jones, Thomas Evans, Robert Evans, Owen Evans, Cadwallader Evans, Hugh Griffith, John Hughes, Edward Foulke, John Humphrey, Robert Jones, and others, having purchased of Robert Turner 10,000 acres of land, began in the following year to improve and settle the same. They settled in Gwynedd township -- in English, North Wales. Of these original settlers, John Hughes and John Humphrey were Quakers. The others in general did not at first profess. But as the neighborhood increased, they,with many others joined in religious society with them.

THE FIRST CHUCHES

In the history of Montgomery County, the Centennial History recounts the establishment of the first churches:

"In 1683 a first-day meeting was established to be held at Takoney or Oxford. Another was also established at Poetquessing. And afterwards in the same year a monthly meeting was set up, to consist of these two meetings and that at Abbington, to be held by turns among them.

"The 24th of the 7th month, 1716, the meeting at Horsham was settled, at first only in the winter season; but Friends increasing. After some time a meeting house was built, and it was fixed there constantly -- and so continued.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (6)

"One of the venerable meeting houses, founded by the early Friends from Wales, is that in Lower Merion township, about two miles west of Manayunk. It was erected, as appears by a date on a tablet, in 1695, and is the oldest place of worship in the state.

"Among the early settlers of Merion were the Roberts family; Edward Jones, a man given to hospitality, and generally beloved by his acquaintances, who died in February 1737 at the advanced age of eighty-two; and Benjamin Humphrey, who came over in 1683, and died in November 1737, aged seventy-six. He was also remarked for his hospitality and was a useful member among the Quakers.

G w y n e d d

"A meeting house was built at North Wa1es (Gwynedd) in the year 1700, which was but two years after the arrival of the Welsh Friends at that place. Meetings were kept therein by the consent of the Haverford monthly meeting, unto which they had first joined themselves. Finding truth to prevail, and their numbers to increase, they found it necessary to build another meeting house in 1712; and on the 19th of the ninth month that year, the first meeting for worship was held therein.

"Their number still increasing, as well among themselves as by the union of many adjacent settlers, Friends belonging to North Wales or Gwynedd and Plymouth meetings, settled a monthly meeting for business among themselves, by the consent of the Haverford meeting aforesaid and the quarterly meeting of Philadelphia.

"The said monthly meeting was first held on the 2nd day of the twelfth month, 1714 or 1715, at Gwynedd meeting house and called the Gwynedd monthly meeting. Plymouth meeting house was built a considerable time before this, and a meeting for worship held there. The said meeting was in being the 4th of the first month, 1688-89, but how long before is not certain."

A sketch of the

A sketch of the 1695 Merion Meeting House is shown by Egle at page 954, volume II, Centennial History of Pennsylvania. Dr. Egle also explains that the reason why the Village of Gwynedd has disappeared from the map is a question of terminology. The village was platted in 1867. And on August 20, 1869, it was incorporated as a full-fledged borough, under the name of "North Wales"

"Ye Olde Stampynge Groundes"

1. Gwynedd, alias North Wales

2. Swarthmore College and the

==-Friends Historical Society

3. Westchester, County Seat

4. Norristown, do

5 Doylestown, do

6. Trenton, New Jersey

(7) Delaware County

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (9)

QUAKER PREACHERS LEADS THE WAY

William Williams, Jr., youngest son of William and Margaret Williams, was born at Cane Creek, Chathain county, NC, Sept. 7, 1763. He was a grandson of "Richard the first" of Gwinedd, and the youngest brother of Isaac, Sr., who married Rachel Pike. Thus he was the youthful uncle of both Capt. Isaac Williams and Rachel Adamson.

His father died before he was ten, and his mother remarried with Anthony Chamness, a widower. In 1782 he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker of Center Quaker community in Guilford county, ten miles from Greensboro. In 1786 he returned to Cane Creek, and there married Rachel Kemp.

Isaac Williams, Sr., his older brother, had the far west in his blood. After his marriage at Cane Creek, he took Rachel to New Garden and then to Surry county; and finally to Jefferson county, Tennessee. He was an original member of three frontier meetings: Deep River in Guilford county, 1778; Westfield in Surry, 1786; and Lost Creek in Jefferson, 1797.

William, too, listened to the call of far horizons. With his family he parallelled the moves of his big brother to Surry county and East Tennessee. Records of both families were preserved at Lost Creek On Sept. 21, 1799, Isaac was made Overseer of the Lost Creek Meeting. On May 21, 1803, William was recommended to be a Minister.

For a score of years, l804-23, this Quaker preacher, like the pioneer Circuit Riders of Methodism, itinerated the vast frontier. He made eight long journeys on the fringes of Quakerism, visiting Quakers everywhere. His work took him north and south, from Georgia to New England, and from the Atlantic to the far Northwest Territory.

Visiting Indiana as early as 1807 he found it to be a land flowing with milk and honey. In 1814 he led the van of the Williams stampede into that sweet land. He filed on a plantation in Wayne county, moving his family there from Newberry in Blount county, Tenn., and becoming the first citizen of Richmond. When the town was platted in 1816, he erected the first home. And in this home the first school of Richmond Indiana was set up.

About a year after establishing his city home, July 17, 1817, he departed on a year's Journey to visit the yearly meetings. He attended these gatherings in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The last of May, 1818, he was at the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia.

Then with his son Joshua, a student from nearby Mt. Holly, he set out on horseback to visit the old stamping grounds. On June 2nd they rode eighteen miles to Guynedd. He worshipped at the old meeting house where his grandfather and grandmother had been married in 1717. But, sad to say, not a soul there in 1818 could tell him anything of his grandparents. Not a single relative could he find.

There is no doubt but that he was a potent frontier influence, pointing Quakerism to the free land northwest of the Ohio. He led the exodus from east Tennessee in 1814. And by 1817 the wave of imigration had enveloped Capt. Isaac T.Villiams, and Big Sister Rachel Adamson and their families.... The old circuit riding Quaker Preacher went to his Heavenly Haven of Rest, August 25, 1824.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (10)

JOURNAL

OF THE

LIFE, TRAVELS, AND GOSPEL LABOURS

WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Dec.

A MINISTER of the

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS,

LATE OF WHITE-WATER, INDIANA

CINCINITATI:

LODGE, L'HOMMEDIEU, AND HAIMMOND--PRINTERS

1828

The above, set in an antique type, is the title page of a book of ministry and travel covering 272 pages and twenty years of Quaker ministry on the old frontier. There is little of family history or biography in this ook, except as it concerns the individual journalist. But there is a world of local history of the frontier, and of religious history of the middle west.

Besides his eight long itinerant journeys of shepherding to frontier Quaker communities, Brother Williams carried on a continual visitation among the members of meetings wherever he happened to be -- at Lost Creek, New Hope, Westfield, Cane Creek or elsewhere. He had a constant "concern" to bolster up the faith of his people and to explain the simplicities of Truth to those who knew it not.

Before he began a journey he had to feel the "concern" deeply in his innermost being. While carrying on the work of his farm, the vision would come from somewhere, of neighbors on the other side of the Tennessee, the Ohio, or the mountains, who needed Truth and the consolation of companionship and visitation. Once his concern became vitalized through silence, meditation, prayer and long consideration, he would lay the matter before the Meeting.

If the local Meeting approved, as it invariably did, he would take it to the Monthly, and perhaps also to the Quarterly session. Then, whenever God told him the time was ripe, he would bid family and friends goodbye, and take the trail. His plan of travel, only generally organized, he developed from county to county as he went along.

When he left home he had no idea when he would return. Like the Apostles of old, he carried no scrip in his purse nor took thought for the morrow. The brethren along the way took care of him, his trusty steed, and his companions in travel. The Heavenly Father provided the spiritual fuel. On one such journey (his third), he was away from home 51 weeks, travelled 495O miles and conducted 244 services.

The JOURNAL is gazatteer of Quakerism on the frontior. Hundreds of small, obscure Quaker meetings, many that have now been forgotten, are named. He identifies a host of individual Quakers whom he met, or who gave him hospitality-- and dozens of Quaker ministers who, like himself, were travelling afar with a concern for humanity in the heart.

On numerous occasions he mentions visiting relatives -- but does not name them. Many times he does name relatives, but does not identify them genealogically: "A meeting at John Williams"; "my brother Isaac's wife"; "my daughter's husband". But what is this petty lack in comparison with the rich cargo of spiritual zeal which saturates every page?

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ISAAC WILLIAMS LOST CREEK TESIMONIAL ISAAC WILLIAMS (11)

A Testimony from Lost creek Quarterly meeting, in the state of Tennessee, concerning our esteemed friend, William Williams, deceased;

late of White-Water Monthly meeting, in the state of Indiana.

He was born in the state of North Carolina, and brought up in the profession of the principles of the religious society of Friends; but we do not find any further notice taken of him, than being a member, until his marriage; he then removed to this state, and by his certificate, was accepted as a member of Lost creek Monthly meeting. Where, by the extendings of heavenly regard, and the teachings of divine grace, he came to experience that sanctifying power, which qualifies for the true gospel ministry; and about the year 1799 or 1800, a dispensation of the gospel was committed to his charge; and being faithful to the measure of grace and light afforded to him, he grew in his gift, and became a lively and able minister of the word of life; being qualified to divide the word aright to the different states he ministered unto; dispensing milk to babes, and meat to those of riper years.

He was a careful observer of the order of our religious society; and in his ministration was often led to speak a word to the faithful for their encouragement: but was close and sharp in reproof and rebuke to the lukewarm professor. Though largely gifted, his testimonies were delivered "not in enticing words of man's wisdom" but in the life, power and demonstration of the gospel: being, through divine inspiration, frequently led to the exhortation of the youth, and of the widowed and fatherless particularly. And notwithstanding he was thus gifted, he sat many meetings silent, waiting on the Lord; being careful not to minister without heavenly life and power.

He divers times visited the meetings and families within the verge of this meeting, for their strength and encouragement; nor were his labours confined to those of our society; he was often concerned (in the power of that love which knows no bounds) to declare the way of life and salvation to those of other denominations; and with the concurrence of the Monthly meeting to which he belonged, appointed meetings amongst them, which were generally to his and their satisfaction: he being qualified to explain the inconsistency of depending on the formal and ceremonial systems of worship, without coming to experience the substance.

In the year 1804 he obtained a certificate and performed a visit in gospel love to Friends and others in the states of Georgia, South and North Carolina. In 1807 he performed a religious visit in the state of Ohio. In 1808 he removed to Blount county in this state. About that time there was a Monthly meeting established in said county where he was found to be truly useful; and, with the concurrence of Friends, visited the adjacent counties.

He also, at different times, visited Friends and others in the states of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and part of Maryland; and on his return from those visits produced copies of minutes from Monthly and Quarterly meetings, expressive of Friends' unity and satisfaction with him in his public services. He lived several years within the verge of Newberry Monthly meeting and was a faithful laborer in this part of the Lord's vinyard. In the year 1814 he removed to White Water Monthly meeting in the state of Indiana, where, having fought the good fight and kept the faith, we have no doubt but that he finished his course in peace.

Signed by the direction of the Quarterly meeting aforesaid,

JOHN SWAIN ) Clerks

JANE LAURENCE)

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ISAAC WILLIAMS 112. ISAAC WILLILMS SR, (12)

Son of William and Margaret Williams

Born, Gwynedd, Philadelphia county, Pa., Nov. 7, 1742; died in Jefferson county, Tenn., probably before 1828.

Married, 1st, Jan. 24, 1765 at Cane Creek, Orange co., NC., Rachel, dau. of John and Abigail (Overman) Pike. She was born at Winchester, Va., Oct. 10, 1746; died Aug. 5, 1789, Surry co., NC.

Married, 2nd at Lost Creek Mtg., Jefferson co., Tenn., Dec. 26, 1792, Hannah, dau. of Thomas and Sarah (Antram) Beals. She was born Dec. 13, 1759, Guilford Co., NC.; took certificate to Lick Creek Mtg in Indiana. in 1828, and doubtless spent her 1ast days in Lawrence Co.

ISSUE: 1st mar. to RACHEL PIKE

1. John, born 12-19-1765 Orange Co. NC disowned 1795, New Hope

2. Abigail 1768 do nfr

3. William 6-14-1770 do disowned 1795; MOU*

4. Margaret 12-27-1771 do nfr

5. Ruth 2-09-1774 Guilford Co. M. Jonathan Adamson

6. Rachel 9-10-1776 Surry co. m. Thos. Adamson

7. Isaac, Jr 3-17-1779 do m. Amelia Gibson

8. Richard 9-16-1781 do disowned 1804; MCD**

9. Abel Lewis 12-20-1786 do do 1811 do

10. Priscilla) 8-05-1789 m. _______ Fresh

11. Mary ) ^)twins 8-05-1789 do d. March 2, 18ll

ISSUE: 2nd mar. to HANNAH BEALS

12. Sarah 11-8-1793 Jeff. co. Tenn. disowned 5-27-1815***

13. Catherina 11-13-1795 do nfr

14. Rebecca 9-23-1797 do disowned 1816***

15. Elizabeth 8-14-1799 do do 1817***

16. Nelly (Eleanor) 8-04-1802 do do 1820; MCD**

* Married out of Unity *** Joined Methodist Society

** Married contrary to discipline nfr No further record

Isaac Williams Sr. was a great pioneer. Born near Philadelphia, as a child he travelled down the Valley of Virginia to Loudoun Co., where he grew up. As a young man he removed again with his family to Orange Co., NC. He lived there in all the pre-revolutionary strife of the Regulation. Three Williamses were disowned for participation, but young Isaac maintained his good Quaker status.

At Cane Creek he married Rachel Pike, and in 1772 they removed to Deep Creek on the frontier of Guilford county.; and three years later to Surry in the "far west". After Rache1's death in 1789, he moved on to the frontier Quaker settlement at Lost Creek in Jefferson Co., East Tennessee. He was an original member of the Meeting at Deep River, 1778; Westfie1d, 1786; and Lost Creek, 1797.

A staunch Friend, Isaac raised sixteen sons and daughters in the Way of Truth. But most of them left the Fold, or were disowned for irregular conduct or marriage. Three daughters by Hannah Beals disgraced him by running away to Methodism. Little has been learned of his descendants other than the families of Captain Isaac and Rachel (Adamson) who removed to Indiana in 1817.

Rachel Pike died the same day her twins were born, August 5,l789. She was a noble Quaker woman, braving hardship and danger on a raw frontier for a quarter century; bearing eleven stalwart sons and daughters. At the time of their mother's death, Rachel was a lass of thirteen, Isaac a boy of ten.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS

(19)

CAPTAIN ISAAC, FIGHTING QUAKER

^{==============================}

The War of 1812

The Captain's Journal

Official Records

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (20)

CAPTAIN ISAAC AND THE WAR OF 1812

^{=================================}

The tradition, handed down from goodness-knows-where, that our Isaac Williams was a Soldier of the Revolution, was badly shattered when we invaded the Quaker records of North Carolina. He was born in 1779 -- hardly soon enough to be fighting for the cause of Independence. The fact of a staunch Quaker family background seemed to preclude any military service whatever.

Still, the Lost Creek Meeting disowned him, for undesignated cause. Why was that? If he had married out of unity or contrary to discipline, the minutes would surely so stated. How simple it would have been for him to condemn his conduct and secure reinstatement.

On the other hand, if he attended musters, or participated in riotous conduct (and what musters on that far frontier were less than riotous?), he would have been dropped unceremoniously, without commence. And, if he were a good provider for his family, and otherwise a good citizen and member of the community, no good Quaker clerk would want to complicate the record of his dismissal with catty remarks.

So it must have been. For adequate proof of his fighting proclivities is found in a worn and faded journal kept by him showing service in our second war with England. The book is the property of his grand daughter, Mrs. Cornelia (Aunt Nelia) Jones, of Williams, Indiana. From this ancient log, Mrs. Beulah Thompson has extracted some items of potent interest to the family history.

Among them is the return of arms and rations for a company of draftees out of Sevier county, Tennessee, for the month of January, 1814. The return indicates that Capt. Isaac Williams received fifty drafted militiamen from that county at a camp on Little Pigeon, and outfitted them with rifles and shotguns which were also drafted from citizens of Sevier. The outfit included sixteen firing pieces from Capt. Isaac's own private arsenal. After outfitting, he marched the company approximately 100 miles to the Hiawassee Garrison, located probably at the Big Spring, in present Meigs county. Enroute, his men were mustered in at Kingston, as a unit of Col. Samuel Bunch's regiment.

Information from the journal was translated into four pages of data (CF: The Old Journal, Post). Copies were forwarded to the County Clerk at Sevierville, the East Tennessee Historical Society at Knoxville, and the Adjutant General’s Office at Nashville, with a request for clarifying information. The County Clerk informed us that Sevier’s court house with all records had burned over 100 years ago. (Incident ally, the same thing happened to the records of adjacent Cooke county.) To date no information on our inquiry has come from the Historical Society.

But the Adjutant General's Office did itself proud for the Williams Clan. Col. A. F. Carden, Tennessee National Guard, the Chief of War Records, contributed that which makes a hungry family historian suffer with delight. He found that Captain Isaac Williams had nearly two years of active field duty with Tennessee forces during the War of 1812. He commanded not only a company of drafted infantry, but also two companies of volunteer dragoons -- one of mounted infantry, and one known as the "special battalion of mounted gunmen". His data included an alphabetical list of all of the men who served in these three units, with their ratings and dates of enlistment.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (21)

The analytical study of these records, plus the data of the old journal, and a synthesis of this material with the known facts of the campaign against the Creek Indians, enables us to present the family with a fairly complete and accurate report on Grandfather Isaac's military service.

Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson were married May 1, 1801. He was disowned June 20th following. We cannot be certain that he was not "churched" because of this marriage. But we are sure that he did not seek reinstatement for some very excellent reason. That reason may have been his affinity for "musters".

In the year that he was married and disowned, Andrew Jackson became the Major General of Tennessee Militia. We do not know what, if anything at all, was the relation of Quaker Isaac Williams to General Andrew Jackson during the ensuing twelve years. But we do know that as young Isaac reared his family he taught the boys how to shoot. By January 1814 he had built himself a family arsenal to the status of a young fortress with fifteen rifles and a shotgun. We know also that Captain Williams led three outfits into the field, 1813-15, under Old Hickory's command. And we know that he named his son, born June 5, 1814, on the heels of his return from the Creek campaign, Andrew Jackson Williams.

Word of the Fort Mimms Massacre of August 30, 1813, found the General flat on his back at Nashville. He was trying to recover from the effects of two lead slugs in his shoulder recently received in a tavern brawl. Three hundred and fifty people (some reports say more then 500) were housed in this frontier fort on the Alabama River. Soldiers, settlers, women, children -- all were butchered indiscriminately by hostile Creeks under Chief Weathersford, the Red Eagle.

Only a few escaped. The frontier blazed with preparations for revenge. Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi Territory, Tennessee and the U.S.Army buzzed with military ardor. Tennessee called out 4000 troops Sept. 25, 1813: 2500 militia and 1500 volunteers.

Capt. Isaac may already have been under arms at Shelbyville with a company of mounted infantry. The archives tell us that he made a forced march of 102 miles from that place to Huntsville, Ala., where his company was mustered into Col. Newton Cannon's dragoon regiment of the 24th. This regiment was a part of Col. John Coffee's cavalry brigade, which played a key part in the entire campaign.

General Jackson, hardly able to mount his steed, took command of the troops on October 7th. On the 12th he marched them 32 miles from Fayetteville to Huntsville. Mounted troops had already cut a road through the wilderness to Ditto's Landing on the Tennessee. Jackson moved there on the 19th. On the 22nd he moved 22 miles further to Thompson Creek. There he establoshed Fort Deposit as a supply base.

By the 29th he had crossed the Coosa Mountains and reached the Coosa River at Ten Islands -- 50 miles further into the wilderness. Enroute, Coffee's men had burned two Indian villages and confiscated 300 bushels of corn. At Ten Islands Jackson planned an attack on the village of Tallasahatchee. The battle took place November 3rd, with Coffee's Brigade delivering a smashing victory over Weatherford's Creeks. For five Tennessee dead and 42 wounded, Red Eagle swapped Old Hickory 84 prisoners and over 200 dead braves!

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (22)

The General built another fort at Ten Islands and called it Fort Strother. It became his base of operations. Spies came from Talladega with word that Red Eagle was concentrating warriors there, to wipe out this friendly village. Jackson fell upon the hostiles November 9th. His attack accounted for another 200 of Red Eagle's braves. Among the sixteen dead and 86 wounded whites were three dragoons of Capt. Isaac’s company. One died within a few days, two in December.

After this brief campaign Old Hickory had a world of trouble with mutineers. Contractors had failed to deliver food stores. The army was fighting on an empty stomach. A private complained to the General that he was hungry. “So am I”, said Old Hickory, "but I will divide my ration with you." He took from his pocket a handful of acorns and split the ration with G.I.Joe. He had already given his own private commissariat to the hospital.

We can only guess how hungry Isaac Williams and his mounted infantry were on that campaign. Then half the army attempted mutiny because of hunger, it is not likely the other half was well fed. In the month of November there were three serious attempts at mutiny; another in December. On December 12th Jackson dismissed the volunteers. The Governor ordered him to bring the army home.

But Old Hickory ignored the order. "If but two loyal men will stand by me," he said, "I will hold what we have gained." Said Colonel Coffee, "I will be one of them." Among the faithful few who remained with their General were Isaac Williams and his trusted dragoons. Governor Blount send two regiments of 60-day men (including Davy Crockett; with his coonskin cap!) to relive them. As a Christmas Greeting, the General released the Williams company on December 25th, 1813.

Capt. Isaac had hardly reached home for a festive New Year celebration before Governor Blount called him up again. He took command of a company of drafted East Tennessee Militia from Sevier county. On January 10, 1814, this company was mustered into Col. Samuel Bunch's regiment at Kingston. By easy stages, Williams marched his men to the Hiawassee Garrison, some 100 miles down the Tennessee from Sevier.

Beyond Hiawassee we cannot follow him. His journal carries him five days further to the end of January. But the chirography is too dim to decipher. Nor is there any clue in the company roll. He must have been at Fort Strother by February 6th, when Col. John Williams arrived with Ensign Sam'l Houston and the 39th US Infantry. Doubtless his company was present, too, on March 14th, and was paraded to witness the execution of Private John Wood, court-martialed and shot for insubordination.

Doubtless, also, he marched on the 18th, when the General set out for Horseshoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River. There Red Eagle and his braves -- the last fighting remnant of hostile Creeks -- were fortified at an impregnable site, ready to repel all attack. The Indian name of this place was Tohopeka. But in Indian lore it is synonymous with bitter, dismal defeat. For, on that day, March 27, 1814, the Red Eagle's fighting warriors were liquidated to a man. Then the day was done, the Creek War was ended.

Red Eagle made his last stand with an army of nearly 1000 braves. Over 200 were drowned trying to escape. Over 100 were missing. There were 557 corpses counted "dead on the field"; no prisoners. Jackson lost 55 killed and 146 wounded. There were no casualties in Captain Isaac Williams's company of East Tennessee Militia.

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ISAAC WILLIAMS (23)

The General now occupied the "Hickory Ground" -- soil sacred to the Indian, where no paleface theretofore had dared to tread! And across the Alabama River from this spot he erected a new strategic fort. General Pinckney of South Carolina insisted on naming it Fort Jackson in the General's honor. Here the now docile hostles came in to make their peace. Here the Red Eagle buried his tomahawk.

The troops were ordered home April 21st. They arrived in Nashville in May, to receive their coveted dismissal. The War Department celebrated a famous anniversary (April 19th: Battle of Lexington) by commissioning Old Hickory a Brigadier of the regular army. Still greater honors were ahead. When he got to Nashville a Major General's commission awaited him. On May 28th, 1814, he was given command of the Southern Military District.

As we have seen, the records of the campaign reveal that Isaac Williams was a fighting comrade of two other famous frontiersmen in the Creek War: Davy Crockett and Sam Houston. Crockett was one of the 60-day volunteers who came to Old Hickory's aid in December 1813 --when mutineers nearly ruined him and Capt. Isaac was among the few whc sustained. Sam Houston, an ensign of the 39th US Infantry, played a conspicuous role in the Battle of the Horseshoe, March 27th, 1814.

Captain Isaac stayed at home long enough this time to plant a crop of corn and lay it by before he was called up again. In September he took command at Shelbyville of a separate battalion of mounted gunmen the largest of his three companies. It was recruited for six months' service in Major William Russell's battalion of Col. Robert Dyer's First Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Gunmen. This organization was a part of Coffee's Cavalry Brigade in Carroll's Tennessee Division. It played a prominent part in the New Orleans campaign.

Family tradition has given us no hint that Captain Isaac was at New Orleans. But we are firm in the belief that he marched with his regiment in Coffee's Brigade. General Jackson left Fayetteville for Mobile on September 15th. On the 28th the mounted gunmen marched 25 miles from Shelbyville to Fayetteville to muster in. It is reasonable to suppose that they speedily followed their general to Mobile and that they participated in the Florida campaign.

Old Hickory arrived at New Orleans November 22nd. There was an action at Lake Borgne, December 14th. Coffee's Brigade arrived on the 20th. It had come 800 miles through the wilderness to Baton Rouge, over the “Old Spanish Trail.” Then, by a forced march of 150 miles, it reached New Orleans in two days. Coffee's Brigade and Col. Dyer's Dragoons played leading roles in the battles of December 23rd and January 8th 1815.

For a mind's eye picture of Captain Isaac and his troopers, let us peruse T. Walker’s delightful description of this famous battle unit:

“Coffee's Brigade had performed the remarkable and tedious march from Fort Jackson, on the Alabama, around the lake, to the Mississippi River, which they reached by the old Spanish road, at Sandy Creek, a few miles above Baton Rouge. Hastening to this town, Coffee found there a messenger from Jackson,...directing him to push forward with all rapidity, leaving his sick and baggage at Baton Rouge.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

(25)

THE OLD JOURNAL

^{===============}

Ration Return

Equipment Return

Drafted Men and Arms

Public Service and Public Trust

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (26)

R A T I O N R E T U R N

^{= = = = = = = = = = = = =}

Company of Drafted East Tennessee Militia, Captain Isaac Williams

=== January, 1814, in the Second War. with Great Britain ==

***

( This return was found in a ledger or daybook kept by )

( Captain. Isaac Williams for his personal records, and was)

( evidently transcribed by him from the original return.)

( The book is the property of his grand-daughter, Mrs. )

( Cornelia Jones, of Williams, Indiana. The following )

( records were copied verbatim from said book, January 7 )

( 1963, by Mrs. Belah Thompson, Williams, Indiana. )

“ Jan 8, 1814. A true and accurate account of the returns of Capt.

“Isaac Williams Company of drafted East Tennessee Malta???

"At little Jan 8, 1814 Return for 2 days (illegible, probably 50 men

Pigeon and received complete rashions of meat and meal.

"At Adoner No sope candles nor vinegar

"Pitners The 10th 2 days 50 men no sope candles nor vinegar

"Knoxville The 12th 2 days 50 men no sope nor vinegar

”Knoxville The 14th 3 days 47 men no sope nor vinegar

"Knoxville The 17th 4 days 47 men Complete rashions

"Kingston The 21st 3 days 47 men Complete rashions

“Highwassee The 24th day 48 men no cope candles nor vinegar

Garrison

Ditto The 25th 4 days 48 men no candles nor vinegar

"Camp (?) The 28th 2 day 46 men no sope candles nor vinegar

"Camp (?) The 30th 2 days 46 men no cope candles nor vinegar

***

NOTES

1) Camp at Little Pigeon was probably at its mouth, where it flows into the French Broad, since there is no reference to Sevierville.

2) Adoner: Study of the chirography may indicate this to have been Adair's, a station five or six miles from Knoxville.

3) Pitmers -- no data available.

4) Knoxville: The return of rifles suggests that the Knoxville camp may have been on south side of the river in Sevier county.

5) Kingston: The march was probably via Campbell's Station where no doubt the company camped over night.

6) Highwassee Garrison: On or near the Hiawassee River southwest of Knoxville about 70 or 75 miles by trail. The company may have used flatboat transportation downstream from Kingston. This camp may have been located at Big Spring, in present day Meigs county.

(7) Camp (?) -- Indecipherable, possibly Camp Reed. No data.
^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (27)

E Q U I P M E N T R E T U R N

^{===============================}

Company of Drafted East Tennessee Militia, Captain Isaac Williams

-=== January, 1814, in the Second War with Great Britain ===

( Capt. Wi11iams's Journal, referred to on the previous )

( page documents the equipping of his company under the )

( frontier practice of drafting arms along with the men.)

( The following table is a consolidation of information )

( contained in 34 entries made by Capt. Williams in the )

( book under date of January 18, 1814, at his camp in )

( "Sevier County, Tenn. near Knoxville. Each entry is )

( dated and written out in full. Items and values are )

( spelled out as instanced by the first entry given in )

( full below. Entries were apparently made from a form )

( of standard usage. )

***

"Sevier County Jan the 18th 1814”

“Received of Hugh Duggan one rifle Gun for the use of my Co. which was valued to Twenty Dollars to be returned or paid for by the United States in the care of Jno Frazier.”

***

THE DRAFTED ARMS

^{================}

Eighteen East Tennessee Citizens furnished the armament for this company of draftees. Frontier usage approved the drafting of arms as well as men, and the county courts or county lieutenants activated this draft. Since the arms were all receipted for in Sevier county, where this company was formed, it is reasonable to suppose that the men listed below were early settlers and pioneers of that county.

NAME SUPPLIED VALUE

1. ADAMA. Daniel, 1 rifle & 1 shotgun $ 21.

2. BERRIER, John 1 rifle 12.

3. CAMPBELL, John 1 rifle 15.

4. CROCKETT, John 1 rifle 15.

5. Darieys, Zachariah 1 rifle 10.

6. DUGGAN, Hugh I rifle 20.

7. DUGGAN, Williams 1 rif1e 15.

8. FARAYS, Samuel 1 rifle 15.50

9. FINCANNON, James 1 rifle 20.

10. GRIMMET, Jacob 1 rifle 20.

11. HUDSON, Obadiah 1 rifle 18.

12. KERR, Jonathan 1 rifle 6.

13. LEMMONS, Jacob 1 rifle 20.

14. MANNON, Job 1 rifle 16 .

15. McCHAITEY, David 1 rifle 15.

16. WATKINS, Isaac 1 rifle 12.

17. WILLIAMS Isaac 15 rifles 1 shotgun 238.50

18. ? , Edward 1 rifle 20.00

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (28)

E Q U I P M E N T R E T U R N

^{==============================}

Stacking Arms in Sevier County

The 34 equipment and custody entries in Captain Isaac's journal of 1814, show that he and seventeen other citizens of Sevier County stacked arms in his camp near Knoxville January 18, 1814, in order to equip his drafted company for the second campaign against the Creek Indians

“Sevier County, Jan the 18th 1814

^{=============================================================================}

“Received of "for the use "which was "in the care of

of my Co. valued at (*)

1. Hugh Duggan 1 rifle Gun $20.00 Jno Frazier

2. James Fincannon do 20.00 William Smith

3. Samuel Farays do 15.50 Robert Mattheys

4. Job Mannon do 16.00 Jonathan Will

5. Jacob Lemmons do 20.00 John Patison

6. Daniel Adams 1 shot Gun 10.00 Jeremiah Routh

7. Daniel Adams 1 Rifle Gun 11.00 Ephraim Maples

8. William Duggan do 15.00 William Foster

9. Edward ( ? ) do 20.00 Richard Catlett

10. Jacob Grimmet do 20.00 Daniel Emmet

11. Isaac Watkins do 12.00 John Richards

12. John Campbell do 15.00 Drewry Breadaway

13. John Crockett do 15.00 Richard Evans

14. Zachariah Daneys do 10.00 Thomas Pate

15. Obadiah Hudson ..do 18.00 Benjamin Thomas

16. David McChaney ..do 15.00 Wm. Hite

17. John Berrier do 12.00 Stephen Routh

18. Jonathan Kerr do 6.00 Jeremiah Routh

19. Issac Williams, Capt. do ** 20.00 John Frazier

20. Isaac Williams do ** 20.00 William Smith

21. Isaac Williams do ** 15.50 Robert Matthews

22. Isaac W7illiams do ** 16.00 (not signed)

23. Isaac Wi1liams do ** 20.00 John Patison

24. Isaac Wi11iams 1 shot Gun ** 10.00 Jeremiah Routh

25. Isaac Williams I Rifle Gun*** 11.00 Ephraim Maples

26. Isaac Williams do *** 15.00 William Foster

27. Isaac Williams do *** 20.00 Daniel Emmett

28. Isaac Wi1liams do *** 12.00 John Richards

29. Isaac Wil1iams do *** 15.00 Drewry Breadaway

50. Isaac Wil1iams do *** 15.00 Richard Evans

31 Isaac Williams do *** 10.00 Thomas Pate

32 Isaac Williams do *** 18.00 Benjamin Thomas

33 Isaac Williams do *** 15.00 William White

34 Isaac Wi11iams do *** 6.00 Michael Armbrister

(*) Entry reads "to be returned or paid for by the United States"

(**) Captain Isaac’s guns 19 to 24: "to be returned when discharged

preferred"

(***) Guns 25 to 34, Capt. Isaac: '”to be returned at Camp Reed" (or similar name.)

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (29)

COMPANY ROLL

^{=============}

Company of Drafted East Tennessee Militia, Captain Isaac Williams

==== January, 1814, in the Second War with Great Britain ====

A study of this old journal, with its itinerary, ration and equipment and custody returns, reveals also the names of several members of this 1814 draft. Besides Captain Isaac, and the other seventeen citizens who furnished the arms, we have the names of nineteen men of the company who accepted custody of the guns, as against their safe return. This perhaps represents a certain community spirit among men of Sevier. Those who took custody were probably friends or neighbors of the men who loaned the guns. For the complete roll of this company, we must turn to the official alphabetical list furnished by the Adjutant General's Office.

NAME SIGNED FOR VALUE

1. ARMBRISTER, Michael 1 gun $ 6.00

2. BREADAWAY, Drewry 2 guns 30.00

3. CATLLETT, Richard 1 gun 20.00

4. EMMETT, Daniel 2 guns 40.00

5. EVANS, Richard 2 guns 30.00

6. FOSTER, William 2 guns 30.00

7. FRAZIER, John 2 guns 40.00

8. HITE, William I gun 15.00

9. MAPLES, Ephraim 2 Guns 22.00

10. MATTHEWS, Robert 2 guns 31.50

11. PATE, Thomas 2 guns 20.00

12. PATISON, John 2 guns 40.00

13. RICHARDS, John 2 guns 24.00

14. ROUTH, Jeremiah 3 guns 26.00

15. ROUTH, Stephen 1 gun 12.00

16. SMITH, Wi1liam 2 guns 40.00

17. THOMAS, Benjamin 2 guns 36.00

18. WHITE, William 1 gun 15.00

19. WILL, Jonathan 1 gun 16.00

20. WILLIAMS, Capt. Isaac 1 gun 16.00

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (30)

PUBLIC OFFICE AND PUBLIC TRUST

==============================

Company of Drafted East Tennessee Militia, Captain Isaac Williams

==== January, 1814, in the Second War with Great Britain ====

***

A study of this series of faded entries, now a century and a half old, in the daybook of a "renegade" East Tennessee Quaker, tells us a good many things about Captain Isaac Williams and the frontier conditions of his time. It reveals first of all the real reason why he was never reinstated in the Quaker faith -- which disowned him for reasons unstated. Although a man of peace at heart, he was also a citizen of valor and a man of war when duty called.

It reveals also how meticulous he was in considering his public duty as a public servant. By carefully copying these items in his journal from the required official records, he was not only protecting himself and his military reputation. He was also making it possible for others to prove military bounty rights if his testimony should ever be required for that purpose.

This drafted company performed at least 24 days of service, Jan. 8 to 31 inclusive (as evidenced in the journal) on the Tennessee frontier in 1814, probably in the Indian war. The men marched -- or marched and floated -- if they used the bateau method of travel by floating down the river -- over 100 miles to the Hiawassee frontier, and of course, the same distance back again.

The State supplied the rations, but the guns were drafted from Citizens, subject to reimbursement at the owner's appraised value if not returned. The ration included meat, meal, candles and soap. Meat for stamina, corn meal for filler, vinegar for nutrition (an anti-scorbutic), soap for sanitation, and candles for illumination. But in eleven ration entries, only three reported full rations. Two entries reported no soap or vinegar; six reported "no sope, candles, nor vinegar".

Seventeen citizens furnished 18 guns; one furnished sixteen --two shotgun and 32 rifles for a company of 50 men. Shotguns were appraised at ten dollars each; rifles at various prices, six, ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, fifteen-fifty, sixteen, eighteen and twenty dollars. Daniel Adams loaned a rifle and shotgun; Isaac Williams a a shotgun and fifteen rifles.

Each gun was assigned to the custody of a soldier. Six signed for one gun each, twelve for two, and one for three. Thus, with the captain, we can account for twenty members of the company that mustered at the mouth of Little Pigeon and marched to the Hiawassee frontier and beyond.

Still another inference can be drawn from the study of this return: Namely, that Captain Isaac Williams was a leader of men, a leader of his community, and a citizen who maintained a very respectable arsenal of his own. He furnished almost half of the armament, and preferred to have it returned rather than to receive reimbursement; at the appraised value. It was the normal, natural thing to do for the Governor or the Adjutant General to issue the captain's commission to the man of his community who was looked to for frontier leadership.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

(31)

OFFICIAL RECORDS

^{==================}

Adjutant General's Report

Company of Mounted Infantry

Company of Drafted Infantry

Company of Mounted Gunmen

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (32)

MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE

OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

Cordell Hull Building

Nashville 3, Tennessee

AGTN-K Williams, Isaac 16 April, 1963

War of 1812

Mr. Ben F. Dixon, Archivist

House of Ancaducros

6008 Arosa Street

San Diego 15, California

Dear Mr. Dixon:

This is to acknowledge your letter of 17 March 1963 with reference to Captain Isaac Williams during the War of 1812.

Records of this office are not adequate to provide all the information you set out as being desired in connection with a family history of the Williams Family.

This office has examined available records which are in alphabetical index form, not of photostatic interest, and find information as set forth in the four page enclosure herewith. There is no charge for this service.

We are unable to find from our sources of information an official record of Hiwassee Garrison or Camp Reed. The 70 or 75 miles as shown in item 6 of Notes on the Ration Return would have placed the Hiawassee Garrison on the Hiwassee River at Westmore in Polk County south of Etwah, if 70 miles, or if 75 miles, at Calhoun on Bradley-McMinn County Line or Big Springs in Meigs County.

It is our hope, however, that the inclosed four pages will be of interest and possibly some value in shaping up the Williams book. This office would appreciate very much indeed a complimentary copy of the brochure from your mailing list. Address it to the undersigned at 331 Cordell Hull Building, Nashville 3, Tennessee.

FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL:

1 Incl

a/s /S/ A. F. CARDEN

Colonel, TennNG

Chief, War Records

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (33)

Adjutant General's Office

Tennessee National Guard

---- A report on:

CAPTAIN ISAAC WILLIAMS

^{======================}

History records Andrew Jackson as being elected Major-General of Tennessee Militia in 1802.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812 he offered his services with some 2500 Tennessee Volunteers to the U.S.Government and was ordered to Natchez, Mississippi. When ordered to disband in 1813 by the Secretary of War, he refused and marched his troops back to Tennessee

In 1813-1814, with these troops and other Southern state troops, he engaged in an expedition against the Creek Indians. In 1814 he was appointed Major-General in the Regular U.S.Army and placed in Command of the Department of the South. He engaged in attacks against the British in Florida (then Spanish Territory) and successfully defended New Orleans in a decisively won victory in January 1815.

In January 1814, the East Tennessee Militia was organized for service by Draft-- for service under Maj-Gen Andrew Jackson.

Records indicate that Captain Isaac Williams organized and commanded three (3) different companies; they appear to have been

1. The Mounted Riflemen, 24 Sept 1813 -- 25 December 1813, of Co1onel Newton Cannon's Regiment. This regiment travelled 103 miles from Shelbyville, Tennessee to Huntsville, Ala., where they were mustered in for service in the campaign against the Creek Nation -- discharged 25 December 1813 by Order of the Secretary of War.

2. The East Tennessee Militia, 10 Jan 1814 -- May 1814, of Colonel Samuel Bunch’s Regiment. This regiment mustered in at Kingston and served in the expedition against the Creek Indians.

3. The Separate Battalion of Mounted Gunmen, 28 Sept 1814 -- 27 March 1815, of Major William Russell’s Battalion and Colonel Robert Dyer’s Regiment. They travelled 25 miles from Shelbyville, Tenn to Fayetteville, Tenn where they were mustered into service.

Following is an alphabetical listing of men who served in Captain Isaac Williams' Companies; their names, rank, date of enlistment and branch of service as shown in records of this office:

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (34)

COMPANY OF MOUNTED RIFLEMEN

Colonel Newton Cannon's Regiment

Tennessee Troops

War of 1812

This regiment was in service from 24 September until 25 December. 1813. It travelled 103 miles from Shelbyville, Tenn., to Huntsvil1e, Ala., where it was mustered in for service in the campaign against the Creek Nation. Discharged 25 December 1813 by Order of the Secretary of War.

***

This company of Mounted Rifles was organized and commanded by Captain Isaac Williams of Sevier county.

Company Roster

NAME RATING DATE ENLISTED

1. BINGHAM, William Ensign 9-24-1813

2. BONDS, Nelson Pvt 9-24

3. CAMPE, John Cpl 9-24

4. CAUGHRAN, Aun B. Pvt 11-18-13

5. CHURCH, Asa Trumpeter 9-24

6. CROW, Mansfield W. Cpl 9-24

7. DEEN, Charles Sgt 9-24

8. EDMONDSON, Benjamin Pvt 10-1-13

9. HENSON, Thomas Pvt 9-24

10. HOPKINS, John + Pvt 9-24

1l. JORDAN, James Pyt 9-24

12. KING, William Pyt 9-24

13. LUTHER, George Pvt 9-23

14. MCGLAUGHTON, Absolom Pvt 9-24

15. MOKINSEY, Rolly ++ Pvt 9-24

16. MARSHALL, Leaven Sgt 9-24

17. MERCHANT, David +++ Pvt 9-24

18. MERCHANT, John Rvt 9-23

19. MOORE, Levi Pvt 9-24

20. POINTER James * Pvt 9-24

21. STARRETT, Benjamin Pvt 11-18

22. STARRETT, Joseph Pvt 9-24

23. TINDLE, Samuel pvt 9-24

24. WILLIAMS, Elijah, Jun'r Pvt 9-24

==================================

(+) Died of wounds, Dec. 1813, received at Battle of Talledega

(++) Died November 18, 1813

(+++) Died December 20, 1813

(*) Deserted, Oct. 10, 1813

Information from Adjutant General's Archives, Tennessee National Guard., concolidated for the purposes of thos book.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (35)

COMPANY OF DRAFTED MILITIA

Colonel Samuel Bunch, Third Regiment

East Tennessee Militia

War of 1812

In January 1814, the East Tennessee Militia was organized for service by draft, for service under Maj.-General Andrew Jackson. This regiment, commanded by Col. Samuel Bunch, was mustered at Kingston, January 10, 1814, served in an expedition against the Creek Indians, and was mustered out in May, 1814.

The Sevier County Company was organized and commanded by Captain Isaac Williams.

Company Roster

NAME RATING NAME RATING

1. ADAMS, Simon Fifer 23. LONG, Moses Pvt

2. AMBRESTER, Michael Pvt 24. MALCOLM, John Pvt

3. ANDERSON, Jos. Pvt 25. MANNON, John Pvt

4. ATCHLEY, Jos. Pvt 26. MAPLES, Ephraim Pvt

5. BLACK, Wi1liam Pvt 27. MAPLES, Thomas Pvt

6. BRYANT, William Pvt 28. MATHIS, Robert Pvt

7. CAMPBELL, Shadroack Pvt 29. NEWMAN, Isaac Pvt

8. CATLETE, Benjamin 1/Lt 30. OAKS, Isaac Pvt

9. CATLETT, John Pvt 31. OWENS, Steward Pvt

10. COTLETTE, Benjamin Pvt 32. PATE, Thomas Pvt

11. DICKMAN, William Pvt 33. PATERSON, John Pvt

12. EMMITT, Dan'l Pvt 34. ROPE, James W. Sgt

13. EVINS, John Pvt 35. ROUTH, Jeremiah Pvt

14. EWINS, Richard Pvt 36. ROUTH, Stephen Pvt

15. FRASIER, John Pvt 37. SHULL, Absolom Pvt

16. GRAVES, George Drummer 38. SHULL, Abraham Pvt

17. HENSON, Thomas Pvt 39. SMITH, William pvt

18. HICKMAN, William Pvt 40. SRADER, Christopher Pvt

19. HILL, Jonathan Cpl 41. THOMAS, Benjamin Pvt

20. KERR, Dan'l Sgt 42. TUCKER, CPL Cpl

21. KERR, Robert Pvt 43. WHITE, William Cpl

22. KERR, William Ensign

========================

Information from the Adjutant General’s Office, Tennessee National Guard, Nashville1 Tenn., rearranged and consolidated for the purposes of this book.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (36)

COMPANY OF MOUNTED GUNMEN

Designated: "The Separate Battalion of Mounted Gunmen'1

Russell's Battalion, Major William Russell

Dyer's Regiment, COl. Robert Dyer

Coffee's Cavalry Brigade, Tennessee Division

***

This company, officially known as "The Separate Battalion of Mounted Gunmen" served from 28 September 1814 until 27 March 1815. They travelled 25 miles from Shelbyville, Tenn. to Fayetteville, Tenn., where they were mustered into service.

The Separate Battalion was organized and commanded by Capt. Isaac Wi1liams, of Sevier County.

NAME & DATE OF ENLISTMENT RATING NAME & DATE OF ENLISTMENT RATING

1. ASHLEY, James, 9-28-14 Pvt 40.HOOVER, James, 10-6-14 Pvt

2. BAIRD, John, 9-28 2/Lt 41.HOLT, Henry 9-28 Pvt

3. BENJAMIN,Hsnry 9-28 Pyt 42.HOPKINS, Dennis 9-28 Pwt

4. BIZZLE, William 10-06 Pvt 43.HOWELL, Abner 9-28 Sgt

5. BOND, Nelson 10-06 Pvt 44.HOWELL, Jos. B. 9-28 Blacksmith

6. BRYANT,William I.11-15 Pvt 45.JACKSON, Roby 9-28 Saddler

7. BURKES, James 9-28 Pvt 46.JAMERSON, Robert 9-28 pVT

8. BURKS, LeRoy 9-28 Pvt 47.JOHNSON, Samuel 9-28 Pvt

9. BUSBY, Robert 9-28 Pvt 48.KINSEY* Benjamin 9-28 Pvt

10. BROWN, Solomon 9-28 Pvt 49.LEWIS, Joshua 3-28 Pvt

11. CALVERT, William 10-06 Pvt 50.MCCRAIG, Samuel 9-28 Pvt

12. CHILDRESS, Mitchell 9-28 Pvt 51.McGLAUGHLAN, Sam 9-28 Pvt

L3. CLARDY, Abraham 10-06 Pvt 52.McKEE, James 9-28 Pvt

14. CLARDY James 9-28 Pvt 53.McWHIRTER, Francis 9-28 Pvt

15. CLARDY, Richard 10-06 Pvt 54.MAY, Thomas 9-28 Blacksmth

l6. COTTEN, John 9-28 Pvt 55.MELTON, Michael 9-28 Pvt

17. COTTEBHAM,William 9-28 Pvt 56.Miller, Henry 10-06 Pvt

18. COX, James 9-28 Pvt 57.MORGAN, James 9-28 Farrier

19. DAVIS,_____ ** 9-28 Waiter 58.MORGAN, Joseph 10-06 Pvt

20. DAVIS, James*** 9-28 Pvt 59.NICHOLS, Thomas 9-28 Pvt

21. DEANE(Deen)William9-28 Pvt 60.PERKINS. William 10-06 Pvt

22. EDMONDSON, Robert 10-12 Pvt 61.BEADE, John 9-28 Pvt

23. ETHERIDGE,Jeremiah9-28 Pvt 62.RODGER, George 9-28 Pvt

24. EVANS(Evens),George 9-28 Pvt 63.RODGERS, Isaac 9-23 Pvt

25. FISHER, George 9-28 Cpl 64.RODGERS, Joseph 9-28 Pyt

26. FISHER, Michael 9-28 Sgt 65.RODGERS, Samuel 9-24 Cpl

27. FITCHE, John 9-28 Pvt 66.RODGERS,William 9-28 Pvt

28. FREEMAN, Isum 9-28 Pvt 67.RUSHING, John 9-28 Pvt

29. FULLER, Benjamin 9-28 Pvt 68.SELF,Ashburn 9-28 Pvt

30. GIBSON, William 9-28 Pvt 69.SHARP, William 9-28 Sgt

31. GOLSTON, Eli 9-28 Pvt 70.SMITHE, Nelson 10-06 Pvt

32. GOODALL, John T. 9-28 Pvt 71.TANKERSLEY,John B. 11-15 Pvt

33. HANDLEN, John 9-28 Pvt 72.TUPPIN, Mathew S. 10-06 Pvt

34. HARRIS, Dorrel 9-28 pvt 73.WALKER, Martin D. 10-02 PYt

35. HENSON, Thomas 10-06 Pvt 74.WELLS, John J. 9-28 Pvt

36. HERNES, James 9-28 Pvt 75.WILLBOTRN ,Johnson 10-06 Pwt

37. HICKS, John C. 10-16 Pvt 26.WILLIAMS, Elijah 10-06 pvt

38. HILL, Abraham 11-15 pvt 77.WILLIAMS, Ezekial 9-28 Pvt

39. HILL,John 11-15 Pvt ====================================

=================================== (In formation from the Adjutant

* Kiernsey )General’s Office, Tennessee Nat-

** Servant for Maj. Wm. Russell, ( ional Guard, Nashville, Tenn,

assigned to Capt. Williams ) Rearranged and consolidated for

*** Died Nov. 14, 1814 ( purposes of this book.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS PAY AND MUSTER ROLLS 36-A

^{====================}

Captain Isaac's old ledger has paid off: First from Nashville; now from Washington. When this mimeograph job was half done, there arrived from the National Archives, via Jason Adamson, photostats of Capt. Isaac's original pay and muster rolls of Sevier county draftees. Every decipherable name in the old book is verified. Some spellings differ, some readings are in error, but the facts are there just as they were recorded in 1814 by his clerk and paymaster.

These rolls cover the entire period of the company's service, show names (and numerous autographs), ratings, pay, date of joining and muster out, and any special remarks. Each document carries 50 names, and they support each other. Both show January 10th as original date of muster, and May 16th as final date. Two men deserted in January two were furlowed and discharged at Fort Ross in March. Several were mustered out at Fort Williams April 27th, some at Fort Strother May and the rest at Nashville May 16th.

The pay scale is really something: Privates 8 dollars per month. musicians (fife and drum) 9; corporals 10; sergeants 11. Officers did better: Ensign, 20; lieutenant 30; and captain 40 dollars. One man is credited with 8 days service, but most served over three months, many 4 months and 7 days. Total payroll for the campaign was $ 1719.26. Captain Isaac received -- shall we say, the Lion's Share -- $169.03 for four months and seven days in the field with this militia outfit

We have incorporated all important data from these two important documents into one table, to supplement previously known activities of this company. The Muster Roll is serialized 1 to 50, in a beautiful clerkly Spencerian hand, with all names capitalized. The Payroll is serialized by rank and rate, and exhibits many specimens of handwriting. Some autographs are by mark. The table follows both spelling and capitalization as shown in both rolls.

These documents give us at least two additional field stations where this company was on duty: Fort Williams and Fort Ross. No doubt both were temporary forts or stations in the Creek country, named for officers in command. Perhaps Fort Wil1iams was a station established by Capt. Isaac's own company, bearing his name in tribute. Perhaps too this Fort Williams on the Coosa Indian frontier was inspiration for the naming of Fort Williams later established on the White River.

Date of enlistment for all men of this command was January 10th 1814, when the company was mustered into Col. Samuel Bunch's Regiment of East Tennessee Militia at Kingston.

Date of separation, and place separated or mustered out, is shown by the following key, based on these two official War Department documents;

A. Last muster, May 16 1814 (at Nashville, Tenn.)

B. Last muster, April 26, at Fort Williams, Alabama

C. Last muster, May 1, at Fort strotber, Alabama

D. Discharged at Knoxville, January 16th.

E. Furlowed (and discharged) at Fort Ross, Alabama, March 6th.

F. Discharged at Fort Ross, March 9th.

G. Transferred January 31st, to Capt. Hawk's Company.

H. Received, February 1st, from Capt. Hawk's Company.

J. Deserted the Command between Kingston and Hiawassee Garrison

-- Moses Long, January 22; William Thomas January 23.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS 36-B

EAST TENNESSE MILITIA, 1814 DRAFT

^{=================================}

Captain Isaac Williams's Company: Col. Samuel Bunch's Regiment

MUSTER ROLL, JAN. 10, 1814 PAY ROLL, MAY 16, 1814

Name and Rank Muster-Out Name, Rank and Rate of Pay

1. Isaac Williams Capt A 5-16 1. Isaac Williams Capt $40

2. John Catlete 1st Lt " 2. John Catlett 1st Lt 30

3. William Kerr Ensign B 4-26 3. william Kerr Ensign 20

4. Daniel Kerr Sgt A 5-16 1. Daniel Kerr Sgt 11

5. James Wilkosson " B 4-26 2. James Wilkosson " 11

6. William Bryant " A 5-16 3. William Bryant " 11

7. Jonathan Hill Cpl C 5- 1 1. Jonathan hill Cpl 10

8. William Tucker " B 4-26 2. william tucker " 10

9. William white " A 5-16 3. william white " 10

10. George Grove Drummer B 4-26 1. George grove Drummer 9

11. Simon Adams Fifer C 5- 1 2. Simon adams Fifer 9

12. Michael Ambrester Pvt A 5-16 1. michael amBrester Pvt 8

13. Joseph Atchley " “ 2. Joseph atchiey " 8

14. Joseph Anderson " D 1-16 3. Joseph anderson " 8

15. Drura Braadayway " C 5- 1 4. Drura Braadayway " 8

16. William Black " A 5-16 5. william Black " 8

17. Richard Cattlett " B 4-26 6. Richard Cattlett " 8

18. Benjamin Cattiett " “ 7. Benjamin Catlett " 8

19. John Evins " C 5- 1 8. John evins " 8

20. Frederick Emmit " B 4-26 9. frederick emmett " 8

21. Daniel Emmit " A 5-16 10. Daniel emmett " 8

22. Richard Evins " " 11. Richard Evens " 8

23. William Foster " " 12. william foster " 8

24. John Frasier " " 13. John frasier " 8

25. William Hickman " " 14. william Hickman " 8

26. Robert Kerr " B 4-26 15 Robert Kcrr " 8

27. John Lindsey " A 5-16 16. Johniifldsey " 8

28. Moses Long " J 1-22 17. moses Long " 8

29. Ephraim Maples " A 5-16 18. Ephram maples " 8

30. Thomas Mapies " E 3- 6 19. Thomas maples " 8

31. John Matson " A 5-16 20. John matson " 8

32. John Malcom " " 21. John malcom " 8

33. Robert Mathis " " 22. Robert mathis " 8

34. John Mannon " " 23. John mannon " 8

35. Isaac Newman " " 24. Isaac Newman " 8

36. Isaic Oaks " B 4-26 29. Isaac onkes " 8

37. Steward Owens " A 5-16 26. Steward owans " 8

33. John Patterson " C 5- 1 27. John paterson " 8

39. Thomas Pate " C 5- 1 28. Thomas Pate " 8

40. John Richards " A 5-16 29. John Richards " 8

41. Jeremiah Routt " C 5- 1 30. Jeremiah Routt " 8

42. Stephen Routt " B 4-26 31. Stephen Routt " 8

43. Abraham Shull " C 5- 1 32. abraham Shull " 8

44. William Smith " " 33. William smith " 8

45. Christopher Brader " F 3- 9 34. Christopher Srader " 8

46. Benjamin Thomas " A 5-16 35. Benjamin Thomas " 8

47. Wulliam Thomas " J 1-23 36. william Thomas " 8

48. William Trull " G 1-31 37. william trull " 8

49. James Williams " A 5-16 38. James Williams " 8

50. George Wilkosson " HA 5-16 39. George Wilkosson " 8

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (40)

11273. RICHARD WILLIAMS

Son of Captain Isaac Wi1liams and Amelia Gibson

Born August 16, 1806, Sevier County, Tenn.

Died August 10, 1880, Lawrence co., Indiana

Married Nov. 12, 1829, Abigail, daughter of Abraham Kern and

Susan Wilson. Ceremony performed by bride's father Elder Kern

She was born Nov. 13, 1811, Bourbon Co., Ky.; died Oct.7,1893 in Lawrence county. She came to Indiana with her family in

1816. Richard Williams came in 1817.

They were buried side by side at Mt. Olive Cemetery, of which congregation they were charter members.

ISSUE

1.+Ahinoam Williams born Sept. 27, 1830; d. Sept. 5,1851

Married William Withers April 2, 185 (Epitaph; Apr. 3)

2. Asenath Williams (infant) born Sept. 26, 1832; d. Dec. 5, 1833

3.+Commodore Perry Williams born July 20, 1834; d. Jan.14, 1898

Married Elizabeth S. Chase (l840-1916), dau. of Bayliss Chase

4. +Canaan Williams born Oct. 31, 1836; d. Oct. 12,1920

m. 1) E1izabeth Jane Hastings; m. 2) Miranda Mosier

5.+Susan Williams born Sept. 24, 1838; died 1934

Married Hollis H. Chase, son of Bayliss Chase and Susan Howard

6. Mahalia Williams born Jan. 5, 1840; died Apr.13,186?

m. A. D. Hinshaw, as his first wife, without issue.

7.+Miscena Rebecca Williams born Dec. 31, 1842; died _________

m. Jacob Bossert Apr. 26, 1868, b. Germany, 1837; Civ.War Vet

8. Cornelia Ann Williams born March 8, 1845; d. Feb. 4, 1934

m. A. D. Hinshaw, 1870, as his second wife; no issue

9.+Tilghman H. Williams born June 26, 1847; d. July 27, 1930

m. Josephine McClung, November 4, 1873

Daughter of John McClung and Lydia Scott

Born May 6., 1852; died April 22, 1896

10.Olevia Jane Williams born Feb. 27, 1850; died ________

m. James Leonard, Oct. 11, 1874; removed to Oregon

11. Infant son born & died March 9, 1852

12+William Mathes Williams born April 6, 1854 died 7-11-1933

m. 1) Flora I. Short (1855-1899), December 9, 1876

m. 2) Kate Williams of Salem, June 12, 1902, who died

m. 3) Belle Pinic (1868-1926) of Orange county, Aug.25, 1923.

13. Infant son b&d Nov. 1856

The Richard Williams home and farm were at old Port Williams,

where Richard built his big house on the site of an old Indian fort.

All the family belonged to the Port Williams Christian Church, but later became identified with Mount Olive.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (41)

11274. LOUISA M. WILLIAMS--RUBOTTOM

Daughter of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson

Born, June 15, 1808, in Sevier county, Tenn.

Died, Nov. 1833, in Lawrence Co., Ind. (Probably buried, with her husband, in the little Cox Cemetery, near Williams.)

Married, June 26, 1823 (by Robert Gorton, JP) Samuel Rubottom, son of Simon Rubottom and E1izabeth Dunn.

ISSUE

1. Delilah Rubottom born Oct. 20, 1824; no further record

2. Eliza Rubottom born May 30, 1826; nfr

3. Elkanah Rubottom born July 28, 1828; died March 2, 1850

Burial at Cox Cemetery; Marker.

4. Squire Rubottom born died _______

5. Miriam Rubottom Grave in Cox Cemetery with marker and

illegible date -- probably 1852.

Information on this family is very sketchy and incomplete. We are not positive that all the above are children of Samuel and Louisa or that there were not others. We do not know whether Louisa has today any living descendants; or whether any of the above had issue.

RUBOTTOM OF NORTH CAROLINA

We have compiled this basic information on Rubottom from a variety of sources, but principally from North Carolina Quaker records.

There is an old Quaker cemetery called Napton in Chatham county, NC, one corner of which is full of Rubottoms. Two of the graves house Thomas Rubottom and his wife Phebe Dixon. They had at least two children: Hannah, who married Samuel Dowd, an administrator of estates; and Simon, a famous gunsmith of Siler City. About 1790, Simon married Elizabeth Dunn--out of unity. Elizabeth was immediately disowned by the Cane Creek Meeting. But when her son Joseph was born, she appeared before the meeting, condemned her conduct, and was reinstated. Simon and his son Joseph were later received in membership.

Simon Rubottom--ISSUE--Elizabeth Dunn

1. Joseph Rubottom, born about 1792; married, 1813, Hannah Cox

2. Jane Rubottom, b. Dec. 23, 1793; married William Cox, 1813

3. Mary Rubottom, b. about 1795; married ? Dixon, 1809.

4. George Rubottom, b. about 1796; married Miriam Dixon 2-l6-18l7

5. Thomas Rubottom, b. about 1798; married Edith Dixon 4-10-1817

The census of 1820 lists eight others (statistics, not names):

3 sons between 16 and 26; 2 sons and one dau. between 10 and 16; one son and one daughter under 10. Doubtless all were born in North Carolina. Doubtless also, Samuel who married Louisa Dixon is one of those three sons between 16 and 26 in the year 1820.

Simon took his family from Chatham Co., NC to Lawrence Co., Ind. in 1815. In 1817, Thomas and George took certificates from the Lick Creek Meeting to Cane Creek with release to marry Edith and Miriam Dixon. Cane Creek granted the dispensation, and they were married with the blessings of the church. Then they returned to Indiana, and in 1820 they were listed as heads of families, neighbors to Simom. Edith and Miriam Dixon, their wives, were daughters of Nathan and Sarah (Winters) Dixon. Simon Rubottom is famous in Lawrence county annals for having erected the first grist mill on White River, 1821.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (42)

11275. PRYOR L WILLIAMS

Son of Captain Isaac Williams and Ame1ia Gibson

Born Jan. 22, 1810, in Sevier county, Tenn.

Died, Sept. 1, 1846, Lawrence county, In.; buried at Old Union

Married, July 7, 1831, Anna Kern, daughter cf Abraham Kern and Susan Wilson. Her father, Elder Kern, tied the knot. She was born April 7, 1815 in Nicholas Co., Ky., and rode into Lawrence county on a sled, in the hard winter of 1815-16. She died Jan. 11, 1895, and is buried at Mount Olive Cemetery

After the death of Pryor Williams, she married, 1851, Daniel Hall -- a widower with two minor children. By him she had four more children, whose names are listed below.

ISSUE

1. Rhoda Williams born March 20, 1832; died Oct. 17,1846

2. Isaac Wi1liams born Dec. 28, 1833; died ____________

No issue. He was an old bachelor. Went to Califernia in the Gold Rush, and then on to Oregon. He was an enthusaistic Mason, and became Grand Master in Royal Arch masonry in Oreg. After the Civil War he was in Texas, participating in the early cattle drives to Dodge City and Abilene. And then he filed on land in the Cottonwood Valley -- and talked his brother Jim into heading for Kansas.

3.+Abraham Williams born Sept. 16, 1835; died August 6,191?

Married Belle Williams. Became an eye specialist, with Dr. Elkanah Williams as his mentor. Practiced in St. Louis.

4.+ Christopher Columbus Williams born July 31, 1837; d. Jan. 29,l885

Married Elizabeth Anne, dau of Wm. McBride Embree. Went to Chase

county, Kansas, 1882.

5.+Jane K. Williams born Nov. 20, 1839; died Jan. 28, 1938

Married Lewis M. Reynolds, March 22, l863.

6. James K. Polk Williams born Jan. 28, 1844; died. Nov. 28, 1917

Married Marie Antoinette Reed, dau. of John Reed and Mary Frances

Milner. She was born Sept. 15, 1846; d. Aug.27,1917

7.+Lucy Ellen Wi11iams born March 5, 1847; died May 30, 1914

Married Elijah, son of William Crawford and Jane Morrow.

Of this family, only Jane K. and Lewis Reynolds remained in Lawrence county. Abram went to St. Louis to practice. Isaac, James K., Christopher C., and Lucy Crawford, all migrated to Kansas and established homes in the Cottonwood Valley of Chase and Marion counties.

ANNA KERN'S SECOND FAMILY

(Married Daniel Hall)

1. Thomas Hall, stepson, age 7 in 1851

2. Emily Hall, stepdaughter, age 4 in 1851

3. William T. Hall, b. 1852, married Alice Faite

4. Elcaney Hall, b. 1853

5. Susan Hall

6. Laura B. Hall, b. 1857, married Harvey Malott: both buried at

b. 11-28-57; d. 8-8-l914 b. 5-20-50; d.8-3-1920 (old Union

QUARTET OF PRYOR’S GRANDCHILDREN

Topeka, Kansas: 1905

Four of the Six Children of:

CHRISTOPHER C. WILLIAMS and ELIZABETH ANNE EMBREE

Left to right:

Nellie Belle (Emerson) b. 1875; Franklin E. 1872

Anne E.(Dwelle) b 1869 Henry E. 1862

= = =

Nellie Williams-Emerson (1-25-1875) is the oldest

Living descendant of Captain Isaac Williams. The

Runner-up is Walter G. Williams, born 2-26-1875

C a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (43)

AMERICAN ANCESTRY

OF PRYOR WILLIAMS

^{== ===== ========}

In view of the very considerable volume of family records we have received since the issuance of the "Pryor Wi1liams" brochure nearly four years ago, we take this opportunity to circulate an "errata" sheet for corrections and additions thereto. There were some evident typographic and editorial errors; and some also due to faulty or limited information. Those of you who have the former brochure should make the following changes:

Page 3: CHART: (1) Jacob Overman: Scratch "German immigrants' and insert “From Wethersfield, Mass." Note: Dorothea was 2nd wife and not mother to the children named. (2) Richard Wi1liams m. 7-10-17 Margaret "Eaton, Widow". (3) Pike: Change "Abigail" to "Rachel”. (3½) Under Amelia Gibson: "1802" should be 1801; Cocke Co. should be “East" Tenn. (4) Abram Kern ancestry: Mark "Questionable"

Page 6: Kern Ancestry may be in error, as there is evidence that the father of Elder Abram Kern may have been Adam instead of Abram II

Page 7: Jacob Overman: (5) Scratch (in Germany) and insert "in New England, 2nd". (6) Insert, "Children were by first wife, name not available".

Margaret

Page 10: Richard Williams: (7) Add after "Eaton" “m. at Guinedd,1717"

(8) Under William, "Son of William" should be "Son of Richard".

(9) 7th child Rachel m. “Joshua" instead of Josiah Chamness.

Page 11: Isaac Wi1liams Sr.: (l0) The date 5-8-1789 should be "8-5-1789" in 3 places: 5th line from top and children 10 & 11, Priscilla and Mary. (11) Sixth child Rachel married "Thomas" instead of "Byrd D" Adamson.

Page 13: Isaac Williams, Jr: (12) Isaac Williams's death, 2nd line should be "2-13-1856" instead of "about 1864/5". (13) Third and 4th lines, and wherever occurring, "Lost Springs" should be "Lost Creek". (14) Next to last paragraph, "Byrd" Adamson should be "Thomas".

Page 17: Note on Williams Clan in Kansas:

Since publication of this brochure, the Williams Clan in Kansas, through its historian, Mrs. Natalie Wheeler, Route 2, Marion, Kansas, has compiled a nearly complete list of the descendants of Pryor Williams and Anna Kern to and including the

year 1962.

(This reunion continues in 2002 in the Marion, Kansas area.)

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (44)

11276. MAHALA WILLIAMS-KERN

Daughter of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson

Born April 2, 1812, in Sevier county, Tennessee

Died May 3, 1853, in Lawrence county, Ind.; buried at Old Union

Married, Feb. 2, 1832, Eli, son of Abram Kern and Susan Wilson.

Ceremony performed by his father, Elder Abram Kern. Eli Kern

was born in Kentucky, July 15, l8l3, and died Jan. 13, 1856,

at Bedford, Ind. Interment at Old Union.

ISSUE

l.+Cornelius Kern born Jan. 14, 1833; died 2-27-1896

Married Melvina Sears, daughter of David Sears

and (Rainey) Morris. She was born Oct. 30, 1838; m. Nov. 29,1855.

2.+Isaac Kern born 7-27-1834; died July 7, 1928

Married Hannah Parr, 1861: b.l-19-1834; d. 3-5-1901

3. Rebecca Kern born 1835; d. ll-l6-l859 no issue Buried at

Old Union

4. Abraham Kern born 1836; d. _________; no issue

5.+Pryor Kern born 1838; d. May, 1899; burial Green Hill

Married Mary Francis Romine, Oct. 26, l873 (Bedford

6. Abbie Kern born 1839; d. 5-8-1856; no issue. Burial at

(Old Union

7. +Melvin Kern, d. Oct. 29,1916 *** m. _______ Clark

KERNS IN LAWRENCE COUNTY

In 1820, when the first US Census was taken there, there were two Kern families in Lawrence county: those of Abram and William Kern. They were neighbors as well as brothers, William a few years older. Abram, the Dunkard Preacher, was born in 1786 in North Carolina.

In 1850, when the age and nativity of each individual was recorded there were nine Kern families. Forty-six of the name were reported, with ages ranging from one month to 64 years. Nativity: Pennsylvania, 1; Tennessee 1; North Carolina 2; Kentucky 6; and Indiana 36. We have been able to identify all but two of these census families:

N A M E AGE NATIVITY NO. IN IDENTIFIED:

KERN FAMILY

Abraham 64 NC 2 The Dunkard Elder

Alexander I. 48 NC 6 No

Benjamin 32 Ind 6 Son of William

Edward 43 Ky 8 No

Eli 38 Ky 8 Son of Abraham

Jacob 21 Ind 3 Son of William

John Sr. 28 Ind 4 Son of Abraham

Noah 32 Ind 6 Son of William

Peter 27 Ind 4 Son of William

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (45)

11278. JAMES DIXON WILLIAMS

Son of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson

Born March 3, 1816, in Sevier county, Tenn. Captain Isaac's last Tennesseean

Died, April 28, 1856, Lawrence Co., Ind.; buried at Old Union

Married _________ , Cytha, daughter of William Cox and Jane Rubottom. She was born Feb. 12, 1820, and died April 19, 1906 interment in Williams Church of Christ Cemetery.

ISSUE

1. Eldridge Williams born June 2, 1839, Lawrence Co. Died Nov. 13, 1862, in Seminary Hospital, Frederick, Md. He was a Pvt., Co. D, 27th In. Vols. Participated in the sanguinary Battle of Antietam, and was fatally wounded. See, Cabinet of Correspondence, Part IV: Letter from Eldridge to Aunt Sally, and letters from Elkanah and Aunt Sally to Abram.

2.+Louisa Williams born July 20, 1841; died May 28, 1916

Married, Dec. 15, 1858, Wesley Rout, son of Lewis Rout and Sarah Bryant. He was born Nov. 27, 1828, and died Mch.lO,1903

3.+Rufus Williams born March 9, 1843; died Oct. 11, 1926

Married Susan J. Kern (b. 1846), daughter of Albert Kern and Elizabeth Hutton. Buried at St. Petersburg, Fla.

4.+Minerva Williams born April l0, 1845; died Feb. 16, 1903

Married George W. Kern son of John R. Kern and Mahala Adamson He was born Aug. 17, l845; died Oct. 21, 1927

5.+Emily Williams born April 20, 1847; died Sept. 22, 1926

Married David L. Kern, son of Albert Kern and Elizabeth Hutton. He was born March 20, 1842; and died Feb. 8, 1928

6.+Jacob Giles Williams born Feb. 9, 1849; d.June 4, l928

M. l-4-1887,Alice Roark-Hendrickson (1860-1909). She is buried at Mt. Olive; he at Williams Church of Christ Cemetery.

7.+ Cyrena Williams born April 20 1851; died ________

Married David L. Sears (b. l849) son of Adam Sears and Rebecca Wright.

8. Michael Elijah Williams born 1853; died 1882

Married Mary A. Boyd; no issue. She was the daughter of Jesse Boyd and Martha Hollowell. They were married Dec. 21, 1880.

9.+Daniel Webster Williams born Feb. 26, 1856; died Sept. 17, 1888; burial at Mount Olive. Married Talitha Craig

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (46)

1127.11 DR. ELKANAH WILLIAMS

Son of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson

Born December 19, 1822, in Lawrence county, Indiana

Died Oct. 5, 1888, at Hazelwood, Penna.; interment at Cincinnati, Ohio (as per obituary in Cincinnati Inquirer, 10-6-1888)

Married, 1st, Dec. 23, 1847, Sarah L. Farmer, dau. of ___________ and __________ of Bedford. She was born April 28, 1826, and died August 2, 1851; burial at Old Shiloh Cemetery

Married, 2nd, Sarah B. McGrew, dau. of ____________ and ______________ She was born __________ and died ___________

ISSUE

Elkanah Williams and Sarah Farmer

1. Clara E. Williams born Oct. 28, 1848; died Nov. 25, 1853;

Buried at Old Shiloh beside her mother.

2.+Mary Belle Williams born, Bedford, Ind., about 1850

Married Henry Hill Sturges

No issue by 2nd marriage to Sarah McGrew

NOTE: In Part IV, following, you will find an obituary and biography of Dr. Elkanah Williams, together with a cabinet of personal correspondence which is both enlightening and delightful to read.

The obituary states that his remains were brought to Cincinnati for burial. The City Manager of Cincinnati states that the Department of Vital Statistics has no record of such burial.

QUERY: Where is the grave of America's First Eye Specialist?

(Reproduction note: This question is answered in the Postscript & Preface of this book.)

+++++++

DESCENDENTS

+++++++

Inasmuch as we have received no further data on the descendants Of Dr. Elkanah Wil1iams, we shall complete his record here. We hope someone in Lawrence County will be able to contact his descendants, if any survive, so that the record may be brought down to date.

1127.11.2 MARY BELLE WILLIAMS=STURGES

Daughter of Dr. Elkanah Williams and Sarah L. Farmer

Born in Bedford, Indiana, about 1850 or '51; died

Married ___________ Henry Hill Sturges

ISSUE

1. Henry Hale Sturges

2. Paul Sturges

3. Roscoe Sturges

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (47)

1127.12 BARTIMUS WILLIAMS

"Uncle Bart"

Son of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson

Born, Feb. 11, 1825, in Lawrence county, Indiana

Died June 1, 1882, and is buried at Mt. Olive Cemetery.

Married three times:

1st, Oct. 8, 1850, to Rebecca D. Armstrong, who died without issue

2nd, 9-11-1862 to Emily Angeline Hammersley; she was born Nov. 7, l835; died August 26, 1872 and is buried at Mt. Olive with Uncle Bart.

3rd, June 17, 1875, to Rachel L. McDonald; born April 17,1847; died Nov. 2, 1895; buried at Mt. Olive.

ISSUE

Bartimus Williams and Angeline Hammersley

l.+Isaac Wil1iams born Jan. 2, 1870; died Jan. 1, 1936

Married Nov. 11, 1889, Lola Kern, dau. of David L. Kern and Emily Williams. She was born March 16, 1872

ISSUE

Bartimus Williams and Rachel McDonald

2.+Cornelia Williams born Sept. 22 1876. Still with us, 1963

Married Walter A. Jones, son of John L, Jones, Aug. 10, 1898.

3.+Zipporah Williams born July 15, 1878. Still with us, 1963

Married E1za Smith at Williams, Oct. 3, 1896.

4. Richard Garfield Williams, born Aug. 25, 1880; died April 12, l899.

No issue

5.+Bartimus L. Williams born Feb. 25, 1883; died 1961, burial at Mt. Olive Cemetery.

Married pearl Baker March 3, 1902; issue.

How many pillars the Mt. Olive Church had in the old days is a moot question. If there was ever only one, Uncle Bart was it. Reference to an old ledger kept by his father, Captain Isaac, tells the story:

Entry: "Deed for Mt. Olive Church property made Feb. 8, 1870 by Bartimus Williams and his wife; Emily A. Williams, William N. Hinshaw. Arthur D. Hastings, Lewis Sr. Williams, and Bartimus Williams and their successors as trustees to hold for the purposes of a church." The church was built in 1871.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

(48)

1967 Edition: The Answer to

Query No. 1, below:

( Grave 138, Lot 46 )

( Spring Grove Cemetery )

( Spring Grove Ave. ) Was

( Cincinnati, Ohio. ) given

( = = = = = = = = = by

(Mrs Donald Wade

(= = = = = = = =

"To Keep his Memory Green!"

PART IV

DR. ELKAHAH WILLIAMS

^{====================}

Obituary

Biography

Correspondence

Of all of the grand children of Captain Isaac Williams and Amelia Gibson the grandest, perhaps, was Doctor Elkanah. Affectionately known to his family and friends as "Caney" or "Kanie", he certainly deserves the most attention from historians. He pioneered in this country in the field of eye and ear medicine and surgery. He was the first American physician to make a specialty of the diseases of the eye. And he was the first in any American medical college to occupy & chair in ophthalmology.

He authored numerous treatises on diseases of the eye, and treatment of the sane. Some where in family or medical archives there is a collection of his writings made by his widow, Sarah McGrew=Williams following his death.

Captain Isaac's descendants want to know two things about their illustrious uncle:

Query 1: Where is Elkanah Williams buried? Somewhere in Cincinnati or somewhere back home in Indiana"?

Query 2: Where is the historic collection of his writings, which Dr. Thomas R. Shastid described in the American Encylopedia of Opthalmology? Is it buried somewhere in family collections? or has it found its place in some museum or reference library?

If you, who read this tribute to the memory of Dr. Elkanah Williams, this country's pioneer in ophthalmology, can answer either of these queries, please advise:

FAMILY HISTORIANS

Ben and Alice Dixon

6008 Arosa Street, San Diego 15, California

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (49)

DR. ELHANAH WILLIAMS

^{====================}

Medical Pioneer

Synopsis of his Life and.Works

1822: Born, Lawrence county, Indiana, son of Capt. Isaac Williams Education: Common schools, and Bedford Academy

1847: Graduated Asbury (Depauw) University

Teacher, common schools

Married Sarah Farmer of Bedford; she died in 1851

1850: MD Degree, University of Louisville

General practice at Bedford; graduate studies at Louisville

1852: Opened practice in Cincinnati

Married Sarah MoGrew

1853: To Europe for special studies in oto-laryngology; 18 months in Paris; London, Moorfields; Prague, Vienna, Berlin.

1855: Opened special eye-and-ear practice, Cincinnati

Established charity clinic at Miami Medical College

1860: Occupied Chair in Ophthalmology, Miami Medical-- 1st in U.S.

l861-65: Asst. Surgeon, U.S.Marine Hospital Service, Civil War

1862: Attended Paris Medical Congress

1862-72: Ophthalmic Surgeon, Commercial Hospital, Cincinnati

1867-73: Co-Editor, Cincinnati Lancet and Observer

1872: Attended London Medical Congress

1875: President Ohio Medical Society

1876: President American Ophthalmological Society,

and New York Ophthalmic Congress

1886: Retirement; Alabama (Mobile) residence

1887: Retirement; Southern California (Los Ange1es) residence

1888: Death, Oct. 5th at Hazelwood, Pennsylvania

Remains to Cincinnati for interment (says Enquirer, 10-6-88)

Survived by widow, Sarah McGrew-Williams, and daughter, Mary Belle Williams=Sturges.

Interment: Grave l38, Lot 48, Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (50)

DR. E. WILLIAMS IS DEAD

Cincinnati ) ( October

Enquirer) One of the Most Eminent of Oculists ( 6, 1888

He Introduced the Use of the Ophthalmoscope

The Life Work of a Brilliant Light in the Medical Profession

+++

Dr. E. Williams, the celebrated occulist, of this city, is dead. He died yesterday at Hazelwood, Penn., at the home of his friend, Rev. H. D. Walter. His death was not unexpected. About two years ago he was afflicted with an incurable affection of the brain.

Since then he has not practiced his profession. Instead, he has been travelling over the country in search of health accompanied by his wife. Winter before last he spent in Mobile, Ala. Then he went to Los Angeles, Cal. From there he went to the East, and remained there until his death.

With the passing away of Dr. Williams the medical profession loses one of its brightest lights, and the world one of its most distinguished men, in his particular specia1ty. He was born in Indiana sixty years ago, and was educated there until he began the study of medicine. This he did at Louisville, Ky., and graduated from the college there. After practicing for a time in Indiana he went to Europe and continued his studies in Germany and France. He mastered the languages of each of those countries. About 1854 he returned and began the practice of his profession in this city, where he remained until overcome by the affliction which caused his death.

+++ A WONDERFUL CAREER +++

In the medical world Dr. Williams stood for years at the head of the oculists. He was in Europe when Helmholtz discovered the ophthalmoscope, and he was the first one to introduce its use and application in England. The Doctor was placed in charge of the eye and ear clinic in the greatest London medical college, and his fame soon became world wide. He was the father of ophthalmology in the United States. When he advocated separate treatment and scientific consideration of diseases of the eye and ear, the old practitioners laughed at him, but he lived to see his claims recognized. The distinguished man was the author of many able papers on the treatment of the eye and ear, and he was untii a short time before his illness a valued

+++ CONTRIBUTOR TO MEDICAL JOURNALS +++

Of this country. He made three trips to Europe, and was received with distinguished consideration. Dr.Wi1liams received some very large fees, and he frequently treated the needy and poor for nothing. People came from all parts of the world to consult him. A well-known Cincinnatian who was in Paris several years ago, while talking to a French physician, happened to mention Cincinnati. "Ah," remarked the Frenchman, do you know Dr. Williams, the great occulist who lives there?”

The eminent dead occupied his office on Eighth street, between Vine and Walnut, for more than thirty years. It is said he affected

+++ HUNDREDS OF WONDERFUL CURES +++

His skill with the knife was remarkable, and he could perform the most delicate operation successfully. For several years past, Doctor Wil1iams was associated with Dr. S.C. Ayres and Dr. Eric E. Sattler.

Dr. Williams was honored by foreign medical societies with honorary membership as much as any other American. In 1876 he was the President of the Medical Congress that assembled in this city. In his specialty as an oculist he was a recognized authority the world over.

He leaves a widow surviving him. The Remains will be brought to this city for interment. A meeting of the medical profession has been called for this evening at half past eight o'clock, at the Miami Medical College to take action on the death of the distinguished doctor.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (51)

DR. ELKANAH WILLIAMS

^{====================}

Medical Pioneer

Elkanah Wil1iams was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, December l9, 1822. He was Captain Isaac's eleventh child. The parents had started their family in Tennessee twenty years before with a biblical name, Laban. Now they looked into the Bible for a name to start their second ten. Elkanah was the name of a righteous Israelite -- the father of Samuel the Prophet who organized the Jewish monarchy. In the history of names there have not been many Elkanahs. But this one out of Hoosierland proved to be a great one.

He went through the common schools of Indian Creek township. He attended Bedford Academy and the University of Indiana at Bloomington. In 1847 he graduated from DePauw, then known as Asbury University. For a brief period he taught in the rural schools of Lawrence county. Then he entered the University of Louisville from which he graduated in 1850 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

He was greatly influenced both in his personal philosophy and his medical indoctrination by his contacts with Dr. Daniel Drake, the great pioneer medical mentor of Kentucky and Ohio. Drake's scientific masterpiece, "Diseases of the Interior Valley of North America" was published the year he graduated. There is no doubt but that it was the influence of Dr. Drake, coupled with that of Dr. S. D. Gross, a leading practitioner of Louisville, that inspired Elkanah to go to Europe for graduate studies in surgery.

While teaching in Lawrence county in the winter of 1847, Elkanah decided to give himself a Christmas gift -- a family of his own. On December 23rd he took Sarah S. Farmer of Bedford as his wife. And while he was pursuing his medical studies at Louisville, two daughter were born to them; Clara and Mary Belle. After graduation he opened an office in Bedford as general practitioner, with very good success. But his home was saddened by the death of his wife in 1851. He buried her at Old Shiloh cemetery.

His home shattered, he decided to leave Bedford and move to the medical center of Cincinnati. Closing his home and office, he first went to Louisville for some graduate work in surgery, and then removec to Cincinnati, in 1852. But by November of that year, his mind was made up -- he would visit the great medical centers in Europe and specialize in treatment of diseases of the eye and ear.

His brothers -- all prosperour farmers -- enthusiastically agreed to look after his girls while he was gone, and to finance him to any required extent. Garret, Richard, Dick and Jack and Bart pooled resources and told him to go the limit. He could repay them whenever he was able. But in the meantime, he agreed to visit agricultural and mechanical fairs in Europe and relay to them the latest and newest projects in continental scientific farming.

One of the things he did under this informal contract, was to purchase for them a good stud horse in France. He shipped it home to them, highly insured. And with this animal the Williams brothers, Alex Cox, and Henry Culbertson bred up a fine line of draft horses in southern Indiana

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (52)

He left for Europe in November, 1852, and was away for more than two years. In Paris he studied for eighteen months with DesMares, Nelaton and Roux. Helmholtz, at Konigsburg, had just invented the ophthalmoscope, and Dr. Williams immediately became associated with Dr. Andre Anagnostakis in a modification of the instrument. He then went to London where for several months he was connected with the great Moorfields Clinic.

There he made the first demonstration in the British Isles of the use of the ophthalmoscope. He also published the first article in English on the subject: "The Ophthalmoscope" which appeared in the London Medical Times and Gazette for July 1 and 8, 1854. His precepotors in London were Bowman, Dixon, Wordsworth and others. After his tour at London he pursued his studies further at Prague, Vienna, and Berlin.

He had some sadness along with his fun in Europe. His oldest daughter, Clara, died November 25, 1853 -- just a year after he had left Indiana. She went to join her mother at Old Shiloh. And the news of her death was the Christmas greeting Elkanah received that year.

Returning to Cincinnati in 1855, he resumed his practice, but limited it to the field of the eye and ear. It has been said that he "was the first regularly accredited physician in America who confined his practice strictly to those branches." The old time general practitioners cast a lot of sarcasm and jealousy in his direction, deriding his "specialty" as high-toned medical aristocracy.

But Dr. Elkanah went quietly about his work, and the profession finally came around to his way of thinking. In the same year he organized his charity clinic at Miami Medical School. And while he was receiving high fees from patients who could afford to pay for eye surgery, he was at the same time giving thousands of dollars worth of professional service free to those who couldn't pay.

In 1860 he was given the Chair in Ophthalmology at Miami Medical -- first such chair in America. As the Professor of Ophthalmology he delivered the first series of clinical lectures ever given in this field. He trained many skilled students in the field of eye surgery, and then sent them out across the country to establish the specialty. One of his students was his nephew Abram, the son of Pryor Williams who, on completion of his studies went to St. Louis and set up there the first "Eye Specialist" office. Elkanah's teaching career covered a period of twenty years.

During the Civil war when the medical school was closed, he was commissioned an assistant surgeon in the U.S.Marine Hospital Service -- predecessor of today's U.S.Public Health Service. In this capacity, when he learned that his nephew Eldridge Williams lay dangerously wounded in Seminary Hospital at Frederick, Maryland, after the Battle of Antietam, he travelled all the way thither, with "Dear Aunt Sallie' to do what could be done for the young hero. (See Letters 5, 6, 7.)

For thirty years Dr. Williams was a leader in medical affairs not only in Cincinnati and Ohio, but across the nation and internationally. He was president of the Ohio Medical Society and of the American Ophthalmological Society, as well as the New York Medical Congress of 1876. He attended the World Medical Congress at Paris in 1862 (where he presented a paper in French) and the Congress at London in 1872.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS (53)

He contributed numerous professional articles to the medical press including nearly 50 covering his specialty, nearly all of which were were published in the Cincinnati Lancet and Observer. He was co-editor of this organ from 1867 to 1873. Dr. Thomas H. Shastid, in a biographical article (American Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology) says: "There exists a privately collected book in which his articles, or at least the most of them, were brought together by Mrs. Williams, with an artistic title-page and a table of contents running to many pages, from the pen of his pupil, the late Major Christian R. Holmes of Cincinnati."

+++

Dr. R. Sattler, another of his associates of Cincinnati, has supplied a charming characterization of Dr. Elkanah Williams:

"Tall and broad-shouldered, with a merry facial expression which mirrored his genial character, eyes which by their soft and penetrating gaze fascinated the attention and invited discussion, associated with a frank and earnest address, uniformly courteous manners, devoid of all studied or acquired polish, one could but be impressed that with him the art of being and appearing agreeable was a natural or spontaneous attribute or gift.

"Endowed with a disposition broad, generous and affectionate, an even and jolly temperament, he attracted many people, and in his social as well as professional relation he was always a conspicuous man, in particular because his ready conversational power, adaptive ability, and diverse funds of information rendered easy an approach with strangers

"His fund of story telling was, among his friends, almost proverbial; and this, as well as his knack for their favorable introduction, must also be considered as one of his characteristics; certain it is that it afforded him as much plaasure as it often did his listeners.

"In his judgement of men and their actions, he was as charitable as he was liberal and just; firm in his own convictions pertaining to religious and secular affairs, he accorded the most respectful recognition to the views of others. He was an upright Christian, and his conduct in religious matters was exemplary. To his own cherished religious views, and to the simple creed of his church, he was zealously devoted."

+++

Both of his wives were "Aunt Sally" -- the first, Sarah Farmer, who sleeps with little Clara at Old Shiloh. There are few memories of this Aunt Sally other than the epitaph. The second Aunt Sally was Sarah McGrew -- and there are still many happy memories of her among the descendants of Captain Isaac Williams, scattered as they are. She was a mother to numerous Williams cousins who loved to visit her and Uncle Caney in Cincinnati -- or to live with them and attend lectures or go to business college.

Two years before his death, Dr. Williams retired completely from practice. He had become aware of an apparently incurable tumor or other brain affection. For two years he and Aunt Sally travelled far and wide in quest of relief. The California sunshine did not help. Neither did Alabama's balmy weather. In 1888 they were in Pennsylvania, visiting with an old friend at Hazelwood, the Rev. H. D. Walter. Elkanah Williams died in his home, October 5, 1888.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

(54)

DR. ELKANAH WILLIAMS

^{====================}

A Cabinet of Private Correspondence

from, to,and concerning the famous Indiana oculist

(1853--1883)

These letters, forwarded by Mrs. Beulah Thompson to amplify other biographical material on Elkanah Williams, have been copied from family archives in Lawrence county. They represent the most active period of "Uncle Caney's" life. The originals are in possession of his niece Mrs Cornelia Jones, of Wiliams, Indiana.

Where the copyist has been uncertain of chirography, in some obscure passages, we have tried to restore it by interpretation. The editorial approach has been to preserve spelling, punctuation and capitalization. Lengthy pages of longhand have, however, been broken up into cogent paragraphs that do not exist in the originals. Parenthetical insertions are largely editorial.

+++

(1) July 4, 1853

Andrew J. Williams to Elkanah Williams in Paris. "Respected Brother" Big deal about a stud horse.

(2) April 30? 1856

Elkanah Williams to "Dear Sallie" his wife. Death and sadness in the family

(3) March 16, 1857

Bartimus williams to "Dear Brother". Corn and hogs and cattle, and a "flowering" mill.

(4) March 16, 1857

Andrew J. Wil1iams to "E. Williams, dear Brother". Rheumatism; again the horse; and the secret of success.

(5) Novembcr 27, 1861

Eldridge Williams, Recruit, to "Dear Aunt Sallie". How it feels to be a soldier.

(6) November 12, 1862

The Doctor's Wife to "Dear Abram". Cousin Eldridge at point of death after falling in action at Antietam.

(7) November 12, 1862

The Doctor to "Dear Abram". Empyema at Seminary Hospital, Frederick, Maryland. The Lord's will be done.

(8) December 24, 1875

E. Williams to "My dearest Wife". Brother Jack died last night. The cup of life is a strange mixture of joy and sorrow.

(9) February 11, 1883

Dr. Williams to "my dear old friend", Dr. Isaac Denson. A budget of cherished memories.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 1 (55)

(Elkanah Williams: Correspondence)

(1) RESPECTED BROTHER

United States of North America State of Indiana Lawrence County,

July the 4th, 1853

Mr. Elkanah Williams, Respected Brother:

As I am sick with a bowell complaint today, and having received your letter of June the 5th yesterday, and as there is not much going on today but Barbecues and big Dinner, in Commemoration of the Elustrious 4th of 76, I think it a fit time to answer your letters.

We are all well as common but Mahala, She is dead! She Died 1st of June; was as well as usual until the day before she died. She was unwell, and at night she took some Medicine and in the Morning she thought she ought to take some oil; Eli fixed it and went to the bed to give it to her, and spoke to her and she said nothing, and in a minute he saw she was dying! He sent a boy to our house and I jumped on a horse and went up as soon as I could, but she lived only 3 minutes after I got there.

The children took it very hard, (and in fact Eli no better). She has been sickly so long that it did not surprise any of us, (and I think it will not you). They are doing well. Richard has a lite tuch of the Blues at the time, the 1st one he has had since his wife was sick. His health is better, but I think he gets more foolish every spell.

James K. Polk has left Hall's, and is at Richards. Hall gets drurk whenever he can get it. Ambrose proposed to me the other day that we would go over some night and prize him out and look at him by moonshine! I have but little doubt but it will have to be done. (So if you write, say nothing about it.) Ann has met her mach in Hall. Her boys are living with us and Bart.

Bart was here yesterday, which was Sunday, and brought your letter. He says that he saw Jim's wife, and your children and (they) are all well. Elkanah, I shall not name all the connections, suffise it to say, they are all well, excepting bowell complaints. Cytha, Eldridge and myself have it the worst sort. Dick is hearty, he has a fine son born the 2nd of May. Bart's wife I think gets stouter.

We have fine corn, sorry oats, and the best wheat you ever seen. --Rye indifferent. -- As a general thing health is good save Flux (and) Wooping Cough. -- Bedford lost several with these two complaints. -- The old man gets along much after the old fashion.

The Pork Men have sustained a very heavy loss. Ambrose and Bowline lost they say 9000 Dollars, others think it more. Wash and Gaither have a fine crop on the Oliver Farm. Rail road stock is better ($37 to the share) if it will get up to 50 ours may slide; I never think it will. We sold Jim 4 three year old steers the other day for 75 Dollars. I bought a mare this spring for $65 worked her a month and she took the colic and died. So goodbye 65 dollars. --

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 2 (56)

I am glad to learn that you are well pleased with your trip to Paris. If you want more money, put it off till just time to attend to it, then write how much, when send it, how send it and I will get it for you. It is very likely that I will have to get it out of the Bank, which will make it aspedient not to get it till you want it.

We have drye weather, but I think there will be good corn crops this year. and of course pork will be flat. Come what may, we are so near out that we can see out; which is more than some can do. We are making large pasture of blue grass with the intention of raising cattle. We intend to sow 100 Acres in clover in the spring, for the Hogs I think there is some way to make money with less work than we have generly done.

I received a letter from John Butler and V.I. Irvin in California the other day. Vol says that they are not getting rich so fast as some wrote back, but are making 100 Dollars per month, and well. (Deleted: An unclear item about brother Garrett.)

Elkanah, you in your first letter to me gave a description of the french horses. Henry Culbertson brought the letter to me, and when I read it, he was very anxious I should find out more about it, and if we liked, we should make arrangement with you to bring one when you return to the United States. I was to write to you on the subject, which I did. And have received your letter.

Now Elkanah, I will tell you our object. First, we are 5-- if he dies It is but our luck; 2nd, if they are large and stout as you say by crossing them with ours we can produce a good breed; 3rd, that mules are the highest they ever were, and every fellow of the big bugs have turned their attention to them, and you can easily see that large mares are the ones to raise mules from, (and finally) that a large mare is worth 150 dollars. Therefore it is, that we want a large horse

I have no doubt that if we had one, that he would pay expenses the first year. We would stand him so high that we would get but the best mares. in order that you -- (Here Uncle Jack lays down his pen.)

July the 7th -- Elkanah, I have seen H. Culbertson, and shown him your letter, and he thinks we will be certain to want the horse. I will tell you what to do: see some of the best of the horses, take a Tape Line and measure him around the girth, and then around the whole Horse that is, give us the circumferance from the center of his breast around his buttie, to his breast again. Also, see if there is any way of Inshuring him to New York.

We think of sending for him before you come home. If we had him here this winter, he would pay- for himself by the time you return to the United States. Men who ought to know, say they would as soon risk him by himself, by having him Insured, as to have some person with him. I want your opinion on that, Elkanah, as this will cost you considerable of Trouble, but if you will attend to it, I will return the complement -- If we can send for the horse, then it will be a fit time for you to send for what money you want ----

I think that we will be nearly certain to send (for) him, before your return. Please to give all of the Information that I have requested --

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 3 (57)

It is awful Drye here -- corn looks well, but wants rain. we are done plowing, and are in the Oats -- Our oats are good, but oats in general are sorry. I have worked the hardest this summer that I ever did. So hard that I cannot write (that you can see without telling you). Bart is nearly done, Garret is done --

Since writing the above, I learn that the James Boys and wife -- have the Chills, but not bad. The old man is hearty. I want you to see (to) all the things I have requested of you. and then write immediately -- be certain to write.

Yours in hopes that we may see Each other again -

ANDREW J. WILLIAMS

N.B. (Big rain today)

(Editorial note: The “old man” is

(Captain Isaac, still hale and

(hearty wnen this letter was writ-

(ten.... Elkanah's two girls were

(OK -- but one of them would be

(gone before Christmas.... The

(items about Hall concern Anna

(Kern's second husband.

+++

(2) DEAR SALLIE

New Albany

April /29 or 30/ 9. A.M. /1856/

Dear Sallie:

I hear this morning that Dixon died Tuesday night. Jack is still very sick -- no better. I am going out on the cars in a few minutes--will see him tonight. I fell sad this morning beyond all expression. Since I was last at Bedford, father & Dixon have both gone to eternity. My brother in law Mr. Kern died while I was there, and in all probability Jack may soon follow.

0H how uncertain is our lease upon life & how little is life worth living for!! WithIn the last few years so many of my dear relatives & friends have died that I scarcely feel any more desire to live myself. You know that I do not set a very high estimate upon my privilege to sojourn longer in this world of sorrow & disappointment.

But, my dear, do not be sad at what I say. It is for you & your sweet Belle that I still want to live, & if I cannot be happy myself, it is my ardent ambition to Contribute to tbe enjoyment of those whom I so dearly love.

Adieu dear Sallie -- Adieu

E. WILLIAMS

(Editorial note: Dear Sallie is

(Sarah McGrew, second wife.Sweet

(Belle is Mary Belle, daughter

(by 1st wife, Sarah Farmer. Mr.

(Kern is Eli, Mahala's husband.

(Dixon died April 28th, after MN.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 4 (58)

(3) DEAR BROTHER

White River, In(d)

March 16th, 1857

Dear Brother:

I take the opportunity I now have to in form you that we are all well except Jack he is in trouble verry much with a pain in his hip he is over at Port Williams at meeting will be here in the morning and write to you Jake Wright has been preaching over there for three days we were all over Sunday Becca and I were over to day was too tire to go tonight the boys is gone. I have got no answer from you since my last letter.

It is fine weather now and I hope we will have spring it is a verry scarce time of food for stock Jack & I will have a nough I think to take us through we have 175 head at the Ratliff place feeding them fodder corn and all. I have 13 fat cattle nice ones, I can sell them at 4 cts gross now do not intend to sell till about the middle of may I wish you could write to me and let me know what beef is worth in your Citty write ever few weeks and it may be of some advan tage to me.

Alex Cox has 10 head and Ab Armstrong has 10 head. We will all sell to gether Richard has ten or twelve I don’t know what he is going to do with his Garret has three head he has been feeding them about 2 years and has kept them from 10 to 50 dollars above the market they consist of two old oxen & one old cow se have lots of fun with him about them they are verry fat he says if there is any money in cattle he don't know where it is

A man from Albany was to buy them last spring and the same man was back a few weeks ago but failed the fun was the man took his horse across the river over night as the ise was about to break up Garret told him he could turn. him In the hog pen over there the man came back staid till next morning after breakfast Garret said he asked him if his horse did not need feeding next morning no he replied I fed him enough last night to do him Garret went over after he was gone God he said he reckoned he didn’t need feeding he had turned him (in) to about 150 bbls of corn he says he wasted about four bbls he says he wants him to come again to buy his cattle he says he thought the first time he would steal now he knows it

Elic Cox says he is going to Cincinnati to buy a mill this spring he wants to get a flowering mill he wants the kind that was at the state fair. I wish you would try to learn about them if you can and write to me as soon as you get this and I will tell him I am very anxious for him to get it. That one in Indianapolis had two run of stones and a wire bolt and they said it would grind 100 bbl of flour a day. what will it cost.

I was at Vincennes last week Garret & Lewis went with me I entered 18 Acres of land at 12½ cts per Acre Garret entered 40 Acres joining his Marten farm. Lewis was entered. it is now about oat sowing time we are making rails Old W is sawing timber Garner & I are making Billy & Poke are feeding at home Jakie & Rufus is feeding the stock cattle.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 5 (59)

Dail Bowden cut his knee verry bad about 3 weeks ago & has never been away from home since till today he rode (to) meeting he thinks he will be able to work in another week we were getting out timbers for a stable when he cut it you heard about (the) death of Mrs. Farmer how are you doing I will let Jack finish it

B. WILLIAMS

(Editorial note: The next letter

(from Uncle Jack is a continuation

(of the above. Jake Wright is

(Elder Jacob Wright, a famous

(Hoosier “Campbellitete.” Becca is

(Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Bart's 1st

(wife. Lewis, Garrett's oldest

(son. Jakie & Rufus, Uncle Dick’s

(boys-- Jakie is Jacob Giles.

(Billy & Poke must be Billy

(Withers and JKP, Pryor's boy.

+++

(4) DEAR BROTHER

March the 16th 57

Mr. E. WILLIAMS,

dear Brother:

I have been sadly afflicted in my thigh and Rheumatism. It is the same that I hurt some 15 years ago. It is in my hip at times, then it is my thigh, and then in my knee. It is a little better at this time, but lacks of being well.

We have been working at the Hurricane, and have been all of the time except about 6 weeks in that awful cold weather in the winter. We (are) very much behind owing to the cold weather Henry is down there now fencing, I am at home Our Folks are all well, the boys have a lot of work to do this spring and I (will) get them a hand today if I can. I would give 100 Dollars that I was well. but it may all come out right.

As for our horse, he is fine, and Alex will go to town to day and see Dunn and they will advertise him. He will stand as usual. His colts look fine, my furgeson colt is the best in the lot. I think I could get 200$ for it I will send you an advertisement when written Garret is as usual, (at) any hog fighting

As for an other matter in your letter of last winter, I can not say what would be best, unless I knew all about it. I have no chance to write on the subject, as the house is full. Do as you think best, but have your Eyes open, not get like a boy, (so that you can see nothing) This thing will concern you more than any one else -- Look Sharp! I left last winter soon after getting your letter. and did not get to answer it. Bart had just written and I thought that would do for the time. I think it will come up this summer.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 6 (60)

Richard says, he and his wife will pay you a visit this spring --he is about strate now. J. Wright preached at Port Williams on Sunday come down when you have an opportunity to do so. But by all means stick to your Businys Clost, as that is the whole secret of getting a long -- Save, and Skin

Write me a letter down in Martin Direct your letter Dover Hill Martin Co. Isaac Kern is at Bart's and will take this to town today -- Your child was well on last friday, when Isaac left. Jims Family is well. Old Mrs. Farmer is Dead!

I think our Horse will do a fine business this year. Dunn is very anxious that he should stand in Bedford this season, but we think differently -- we will get as much as he can do any How at Alex, as Alex (is) to keep him. Paper out -- be shure to write, yours

A. J. WILLIAMS

(Editorial note: Hurricane, the

(Williams farm down the river.

(Alex Cox was one of the partners

(in the stud horse operation.

(Henry is probably Henry Culbert-

(son, another partner. "Your child

(is Mary Belle, and Jim's family

(Uncle Dick's, whose full name

(was James Dixon. Isaac Kern, the

(son of Eli and Mahala.

+++

(5) DEAR AUNT

SALLIE Camp Harrow, Nov. 27th 1861

Dear Aunt Sailie:

We are finely located in Uncle Sams quarters and have plenty of good tough beef and hot Slop to eat and good quarters to Sleep on so you may suppose that we are doing very well. Danil and I came to this camp three weeks ago we have been in camp every since and are very well satisfied with Camp life as for my part I could not be seen off. James Briant has neither joined the Church nor the Army Leut is putting in his time sparking I wish the poor fellow would get a wife:

I expect that we are in the best camp in the State Mearous Bus Spring and all the property belonging to them, this place cost the Government $l,000,0OO we will be consolidated tomorrow or next day

There are 850 men in this camp under Col. Landrum our Captains name is Evens the Col. and our Captain boath belong to the Christian Church they are boath good men as ever lived our regament will be thrown into Gen. Boyles brigad, this suites me very well as I am asquainted with the General and know him to be one of the best men in the State besides he ranks amongst the smartest men in the State

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 7 (61)

But however we have some great rowdies and rogues in the camp all that I am minus (is) a tincup but maybe I can steal another. I would like to come and see you but furlows are hard to come at and I must go home and spend Christmas so I can not come to see you until after that time and very uncertain then for it (is) very likely we will be in Dixey. (I hope so by the Lord)

For tis now the time of strif and war,

The contest round one, every side;

Nations are bound to Saturn's car

Of those who meet him in his pride

Is there no arm his power to break?

Are there no hearts that deeply feel?

Sons of the Nation, rise! awake!

Obey your country's call,

Go bear (her glorious) banner forth,

Its glittering web of light unfold,

And scatter light from pole to pole,

My patriotism leads me to all most insanity as you may perceive from the above lines. We are in the very center of a secession hole Harrods Boug is nearly all secession, but they are all very civil we go in town every day and drink all the whiskey we can find and run about like fools of Course

We have one man in our Camp that we call Col. Luel, and we call dress parade “desperation". We manage to run over Col. Luel and stomp him in the mud and I dare not say there is not a little cursing on th part of Col. Luel he came from the knobs his eye (are) right on top of his head with hair about a foot and a half long. So much for Col. Luel ---

Aunt please write to me soon so that I may get your letter before I go home.

(direct to E. Williams

Camp Harrow in care of Capt. Evans)

Col. Landrums Regament

Written by

E1dridge W.

(Editorial note: The next two

(letters tell how Eldridge and

(his patriotic zeal made out when

(he got to Dixie.

***

(6) DEAR ABRAM

Seminary Hospital Frederic

Nov 12th 1862

Dear Abram:

We reached here about nine o'clock last night after riding all day from New York. We Did not wait for your draft as we met a kind friend who lent us $90. We asked him to return your letter with draft to Cincinnati as without Kanie's signature it would be worthless.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 8 (62)

I know that the news from Eldridge will grieve you very much. Kanie does not think that he can live through today at the utmost one or two days. His blood is absorbing the pus and as he can take no nourishment he is going down very fast. Poor boy! He is constantly talking of what he is going to do when he gets well. He is very cheerful and patient and tries to laugh when I remind him of how he and Jimmy used to get into the sugar can. He is very much reduced and looks very different from the Eldridge who came to see us before he went into the army.

Jack is quite well and keeps up wonderfully considering what a very great deal this is to him. They are very glad to see us. Kanie made Jack go to bed last night and he sat up. Today we moved Eldridge into a private room adjoining ours with a door opening between where he will be more comfortable. He and Jack have felt very lonely from not receiving more letters from Bedford. Jack has written six times without any success. They were very glad to hear of Christy's boy as were we.

I think that we will (be) home the last of this week without fail. We will telegraph you when we start, I will leave this open for any message your Uncle may have to send.

With love your affectionate

(7) DEAR ABRAM

Nov. 12 (1862)

Dear Abram:

It is now 12 o'clock we have dressed Eldridge this morning & fixed his bed after having given him strong doses of stimulata. He is a little more lively this morning & has not had such a cadaverous look as last evening. He passed a restless night -- coughed a good deal & expectorates pus. His chief sufferings now are oppression of breathing & cough which seem to be the result of empyemia. His pulse is 140, very feeble & fluttering & breathing rapid & laboring.

I thought last night that he would not live over today, but he haa rallied a little this morning under the active stimulation which I subjected him to, on my arrival. But I see no single symptom to hang any sanguine hope upon. 0! if the poor patient boy could only get well! But the Lord's will be done!

Sallie & I will stay here a few days till he either dies or gets better, I am very sorry that you have been kept back from Lectures so long, but it has been unavoidable. We will try to make up for it in the future. Leave our money matters till I get home, unless I instruct you,further. -- We can hear no word from Rufus & have no idea where he is unless dead or in some hospital at Philadelphia or Harrisburg, Pa. We will do all we can to find him I can hardly write as you can see. E. W.

Direct to Seminary Hospital as before

(Editorial note: Abram is the

(son of Pryor Williams; he is in

(Cincinnati, reading medicine

(with Uncle Kanie. Hence the

(careful discription of symptoms

(in Elkanah’s letter.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 9 (63)

+++

(8) MY DEAREST WIFE

Trinity Springs

Friday Dec 24, 1875

My dearest Wife:

The agony is over. Brother Jack died last night at 9 1/2 o'clock. He suffered a great deal till nearly the end, except when I sat by him and soothed him with chloroform. I could not bear to leave him much as I longed to be at home with you. In the morning I thought he would die before noon & I could ride to Shoals and get off on 2 P.M. train.

Then I decided to go after night & reach the 2 oclock train before day. Just after dark it commenced a drenching rain which continued till the morning. There is scarcely any bottom to the roads and I dared (not) to go, as I could not avoid getting drenched & drowned in mud. I intended to get home this morning & spend the day and return by this evening train to the Funeral.

As it is I will stay over. We will go to Barts (some 6 miles)this P.M. and from there to Old Union near Fayetteville, where he will be buried tomorrow at 12 oclock. I wish so much you could be there but you could not get there in the awful state of the roads.

I will go from there direct to Mitchell and take the first train for Cincinnati. I think the train goes east saturday night as usual at 3 oclock or near that, for Cincinnati. If so I will get in Sunday between 8 and 9 o’clock.

I hope you will have your christmas tree tomorrow all the same, as you have made all the arrangements and the children will expect it. I will be here to weep with those who weep & you can rejoice with them who rejoice. The cup of life is a strange mixture of joys and sorrows, but in the wisdom of God it is so combined for our good. So let us ever believe and be not cast down by the one and intoxicated by the other

I was very sorry you were not with me to contribute in your tender and thoughtful way to the comfort of one of the noblest and best men that ever lived. As it was he lacked nothing that any could do. I ever saw such universal love and devotion. It seemed that poor Hensons heart would break. It is all over but the "dust to dust" which is easy.

Give my dearest love to Mary and Henry. Kiss the dear little boy on Christmas for his grandfather, and remember that I always love you above all others in this world -- not others less but you more. Hoping we may soon meet in health and have yet a respite of happiness before either shall be called away, I am ever your loving husband.

E. WILLIAMS

(Editorial note: So the great

(General's little namesake, born

(on the French Broad Farm at the

(close of the Creek War, joined

(Capt. Isaac and General Andy in

(the Great Bivouac. And Uncle

(Kanie was there to ease his

(journey.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS CABINET: 10 (64)

+++

(9) MY DEAR OLD FRIEND

Cincinnati, Ohio

Feby 11, 1883

My Dear Doctor Denson:

On this sleepy and dreary day, in the woods where dreariness shows off to its best advantage, up above and in full view of the Ohio river which is out on the biggest swell it has indulged in this century, you will not be surprised if I should walk back about 30 years in memory and make a call on you.

I have a distinct boyhood recollection of you and always in association with the dear ones that were sick. My personal confidence in you as my ideal representative of the grand healing art was so great and so sincere that when you reached the old home I felt that death could not come. Many a night have I layed myself down in that beautiful assurance, and slept soundly, after many anxious and wakeful nights because you were in the house and had agreed to remain all night.

How well do I remember the time when our family consisted of an even dozen (including my father and mother) all practically grown, and when the thought of burying a single one of them brought tears to my heart, and I felt I could not endure the reality. Well, forty and more years have run away and how stands the circle now? Garrett now 76 or over and myself are left and to all earthly appearances I shall be left to bury him. Bart and I who were chums and always together as boys fighting with and for one another on occasion have of late years when together talked over old times and wondered which would live to bury the other. That question then in the misty future was settled a few months ago when that cross fell on me, as the crown was placed on him.

I no longer brood over these visitations and feel that I cannot bear them. I have borne them with the grace which was sufficient for the day as each departure came. The family is nearly all over the river now and I am waiting for the boatman and ready to say, "Take, 0 Boatman, thrice thy fee.”

I do not write this, my dear old friend, in a melancholy spirit, and I hope it will not make you sad. It is simply the expectant call of an old and loving friend to another. So many of the ties that bind me to this life are broken, as the attractions in heaven increase, that I am looking forward and upward now instead of back to the old graves of the past.

But if I ever come to Bedford again and hear that you are alive, I shall come and shake your hand and look you in the eyes and say in my neart, if the words falter,

"Be of Good Cheer, God Bless you!"

E. WILLIAMS

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

(65)

PART V

THE GRANDCHILDREN

OF CAPTAIN WILLIAMS

^{===================}

This book is now as complete as available time and facilities make possible prior to the June reunions of the families concerned at Florence, Kansas and Bedford, Indiana. The Williams Association of Kansas will meet at the old homestead of Uncle J. K. P. Williams on June 9th. Two weeks later the Adamson Family Reunion will occur at Bedford.

Part V., the logical next section of the book, will present the family records of thirty-four grandchildren of Captain Isaac Williams -- those who left known descendants. Much of this material has been assembled, thanks to the field cooperation of so many of the Adamson, Kern, Sears and Williams cousins. But it has not been completely edited or prepared for the tedious task of cutting the mimeograph stencils.

Because of the large amount of material discovered which had to be carefully edited for Captain Isaac's book-- and the limited time available for the purpose -- the work on the Adamson and Culbertson families had to be delayed until after the June reunions.

Three books on the Lawrence county Cousinry are now in the making, and we will turn them out with whatever speed, efficiency and economy we are capable of. The three brochures, on all of which a considerable amount of work has already been done, are:

ADAMSON: The Great-Grandchildren of Herschel Williams-Adamson

CULBERTSON: The Family of David Culbertson

WILLIAMS: The Grandchildren of Captain Isaac Williams.

The Williams brochure is encompassed by the forecast presented in the next six pages.

I. Uncle Garrett's Families

II. Uncle Richard's Sprouts

III. Grandfather Pryor's Children

IV. Aunt Haley's Folks and Kinfolks

V. Uncle Dick's Siblings

VI. Uncle Bart's People

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .I. (66)

11272

UNCLE GARRETT’S FAMILIES

Uncle Garrett bore, as his prenomen, the full name of his maternal grandfather, Garrett Gibson. The first we hear of him is as the head of a family in 1790 in Surry County, NC. He was a member of the Westfield Quaker Meeting; and on Feb. 15, 1800, he took a certificate to the Lost Creek Meeting in Jefferson county, Tenn. Two years later, May 22, 1802, he was chosen Overseer of the Lost Creek Meeting. Other members of his family evidently were not Quakers, as we find no reference to them in either Lost Creek or Westfield minutes.

A family Bible record shows the marriage of his daughter Amelia to Isaac Williams on May 1st, 1801, and the date of her birth to have been June 6, 1786. This places her nativity in Surry County, and her age at marriage at fifteen. When the family removed to Indiana in 1817 she was 32 years of age, and already the mother of eight children.

Lucy Kern, life partner of Uncle Garrett, was the daughter of Abram Kern and Susan Wilson. The family record precedes on p. 33. Of their fourteen children, eight married and left descendants. Uncle Garrett and Aunt Lucy may be seen in lithograph on a preceding page.

Six of their children left no issue: Celia, b. l833, married Mike Stipp as his second wife, without issue; three sons, Civil War Veterans-- Adam K., died of measles in service, Laban, killed in action at Gettysburg, and Daniel Boone, wounded in action, died in California in 1876; and two who died in infancy, Jackson, b. 1840, and Rebecca, 1849.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

^{==========================}

112721. Clarissa Williams, b. May 11, l830 d. April 20, 1871

m 1) Pleasant Bowman, with issue

m: 2) George Phillips, with issue

112722. Lewis F. Williams, b. July 20, 183l d. Sept. 12, 1898

m 1) Sarah Hays, with issue

m..2) Sarah McDonald, with issue

112724. Cytha Williams, b. Oct. 8. 1834 d. May 17, 1880

m. Milton McKee, with issue

112727 Ambrose Williams, b. May 11, 1839 d. Sept. 19, 1881

m. Eliza Cox, with issue

11272.10 Emilia Williams, b. Nov. 1, 1844; d. 7-14- 1921

m. William Franklin Mitchell, with issue

11272.11 Zachary Taylor Williams,b. Feb. 8, 1847; d. Sept. 9,1906

m. Sarah J. Witsman, with issue

11272.13 Clarinda Williams, b. Aug. 20, 1851; d. October 11, 1924

m. Love Bossert, with issue

11272.14 Emmaline Williams, b. April 17, l853; d. Jan. 10, 1895

m. Theodore Short, with issue

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .11. (67)

11273

UNCLE RICHARD’S SPROUTS

Our Quaker ancestor’s name was carried down at least through four generations, in Virginia, North Caro1ina, Tennessee and Indiana. There were Richards in all generations. Captain Isaac was a great-grandson. He had an uncle Richard and a brother Richard. He named his third son Richard. The name has clung to all branches of the family through 500 years of the family's recorded history.

Uncle Richard married another of Elder Abram Kern's beautiful daughters. And some pioneer photographer of Lawrence county has preserved their likeness for our family archives. John E. Williams, a grandson, recorded some recollections for his own grandchildren, on January 1st, 1940:

"My grandfather Richard... lived across the river at what was known as Port Williams, a small town 1/2 mile west of Port Williams Church. Port Williams town, and a fort at one time, for protection from the Indians. Had a store and a few houses.. Richard built the brick house where the old fort stood. At one time he owned three good river bottom farms. Where the brick house stood, and across the river what was known as the Green farm, and he owned what is called Hopper's Bottom." The brick house, built before 1870, still stands in 1963. (Reprodution note, it is still standing and occupied in 2001.)

Six children left no issue: Mahalia, b. 1840 and Cornelia, 1846, first and second wives of A.D. Hinshaw; Olevia Jane, 1850, who married James Leonard, and whose child died in infancy; and three others that died in infancy: Asenath, 1852-3, and two sons, 1852 and 1856.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

^{==========================}

112731. Ahinoam Williams, b. Jan. 27, 1830; d. Sept. 4, 1851

m. William Withers, with issue

112733. Commodore Perry Wi11iams, b. July 20, 1834; d. Jan. 14, 1898

m. Elizabeth S. Chase, with issue

112734. Canaan Williams, b. Oct. 31, 1836; d. Oct. 12, 1920

m. 1) Elizabeth Jane Hastings, with issue

m. 2) Miranda Mosier

112735. Susan Williams, b. Sept. 24, 1838; d. July 2, 1934

m. Hollis H. Chase, with issue

112737. Miscena Rebecca Williams, b. Dec. 31, 1842; d. May 29, 1929

m. Jacob Bossert, with issue

112739. Tilghman H. Williams, b. June 26, 1847; d. July 27, 1930

m. Josephine McClung, with issue

11273.12 William Mathes Williams, b. April 3(6), 1854; d. July 21, 1933

m. l) Flora I. Short, with issue

m. 2) Kate Williams of Salem

m. 3) Belle Pinic of Orange county.

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .111. (68)

11275

GRANDFATHER PRYOR'S CHILDREN

Of all of Grandfather Pryor's family, only Aunt Jane Reynolds did not go west after the Civil War. The Williams hegira even included Pryor's widow, Anne Kern -- widowed a second time with Hall's demise. She spent a lot of time in later years in the homes of C.C. and J.K.P. Williams and Lucy Crawford in Chase and Marion counties, Kansas. Uncle Abram was probably first to hit the trail. He studied medicine with Dr. Elkanah in the 50's, and then became, like his uncle, an eye specialist, and went to St. Louis to set up his practice.

Uncle Ike was a Gold-Rusher, with itchy feet. He put in several years in California and Oregon. He was a Blue Lodge Mason in California and in Oregon became Grand Master of the Royal Arch. Then he went to Texas, got into the big cattle drives, and landed up in Kansas where he met the railroad at Abilene and Dodge City.

Ike convinced his young brother James K. Polk that Kansas was God's Country. So in l87l Uncle Jim and Aunt Nette (Antoinette if you please) brought their three children to Marion county. In another ten years Kansas called to Christopher to come for his wife's health. He brought the family in '82, died in '85 -- and his wife survived him 30 years!

Lucy, the youngest girl, came also, and raised a large crop of Crawfords in Kansas. Elijah Crawford, her husband, was a brother to Samuel J., a civil War governor of Kansas. The brothers were born in Lawrence county, Ind., to William Crawford and Jane Morrow. They had come from North Carolina in 1815, in the same wave of migration that had brought Simon Rubottom. Samuel J. won fame and glory in the Ozarks with the Second Kansas Regiment. But he had to give up his military career in 1864 when nominated and elected to the governorship. Elijah made more fame, as far as the Williams family is concerned by siring eight healthy, husky great grandchildren of Captain Isaac.

Two of Pryor’s children left no issue: Rhoda (1832-1846) who died during youth; and Isaac, the Gold-Rusher, Grand Master and Texas-Kansas Cowpuncher.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

^{==========================}

112753. Abraham Williams, b. Sept. 16, 1835; d. August 6, 1912

m. Belle Williams, with issue

112754. Christopher Columbus Williams, b. July 31, 1837; d. Jan. 29,

m. Elizabeth Anne Embree, with issue 1885

112755. Jane Kern Williams, b. Nov. 20, 1839; d. Jan. 28, 1938

m. Lewis M. Reynolds, with issue

112756. James K. Polk Williams, b. Jan. 28, 1844; d. Nov. 28, 1917

m. Antoinette Reed, with issue

112757. Lucy Williams, b. March 5, 1847; d. May 30, 191

m. Elijah Crawford, with issue

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .IV. (69)

11276

AUNT HALEY'S FOLKS AND KINFOLKS

Three of Captain Isaac's boys married three of Elder Kern's girls. As we have seen, Garrett, Richard and Pryor teamed up with Lucy, Abby and Annie. And Elder Kern tied the knot good and tight in each case. We are fortunate indeed that pictures of these three pioneer Williams wives have been preserved for our family archives.

One of Captain Isaac's daughters (Aunt Mahala) found a man in the same family -- and the same preacher to tie the knot. She married Eli Kern, who came on the sled from Kentucky when he was three years old. They were married in 1832. She passed away in '53, and he followed he in 1856.

Uncle Eli and Aunt "Haley" both joined the Immortals over a century ago. Neither of them heard the bugle blasts for the War between the States. Memories and anecdotes of their twenty-one happy wedded years have been forgotten. Only three of their six children left descendants. But the Census Marshal of 1850 has left a robust and healthy picture of a happy family:

He found a farmer from Kentucky, with a farm worth $7000 and a family worth far more. His wife Mahala from Tennessee, was 39 years old. They had a farmer, John Fisher, 32, native of Kentucky, working for them. And they had six fine children: Cornelius, 18; Isaac1 16; Rebecca, 15; Abraham, 14; Prior, 12; and Abigail, 11. It is a good picture -- even without an ancient daguerreotype to prove it.

Three years later Uncle Jack left a sadder picture. He described Mahala’s passing in his letter to Elkanah in Paris:

“...Mahala, She is dead! She Died 1st of June; was as well as usual until the day before she died. She was unwell, and at night She took some Medicine and in the morning she thought she ought to take some oil; Eli fixed it and went to the bed to give it to her, and spoke to her and she said nothing, and in a minute he saw she was dying. He sent a boy to our house and I jumped on a horse and went up as soon as I could, and she lived about 3 minutes after I got there.”

Three children left no issue: Abraham, born 1836; Rebecca, 1835; and Abigail, 1839.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

112761. Cornelius Kern, born January 14, 1833; died Feb.27, 1896

m. Melvina Sears, with issue

112763. Isaac Kern, born 7-27-1834; died Ju1 7, 1928; m. 1861

m. Hannah Parr, with issue; b. l-19-1834; d. 3-5-1901

112765. Pryor Kern, born circa 1838; died May ? 1899

m. Mary Frances Romine

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .V. (70)

11278

UNCLE DICK'S SIBLINGS

Isaac and Amelia named him “James Dixon”, but he was always known as Dick, or Uncle Dick. We have not identified the source of this name. It may be that Amelia's mother was a Dixon; or possibly they wanted to honor some other relative, friend or neighbor with a namesake.

He died April 28, 1856, making three deaths in the family in four months. Eli Kern’s was January 13th, and Captain Isaac's February 13th. “I feel sad this morning, beyond all Express” wrote young Doctor Elkanah. Uncle Dick was a prosperous farmer. He and Uncle Jack pooled resources and labor. When he died, Uncle Jack became the mainstay of his widow and orphans. Dixon’s wife was Cytha Cox, a noble pioneer Quaker girl of the North Carolina stock.

The Census Marshal of 1850 gives a glorious picture of the James Dixon Williams household. On the day he took the schedule there were sixteen people present. Besides Uncles Dick and Jack and Cytha, there were six children: Jacob 1, Emily 3, Minerva 5, Rufus 8, Louisa 9, and Eldridge 10. Cytha’s niece, Telitha Cox, 13, also lived with them. Three farm hands were present, George W. Richards, 23, Wi1liam Richard 20, and Samuel Ventis, 19. There must have been a big house or barn building program in progress, for there were three builders present also: George Bacon, 21, carpenter, with helpers Jacob Henry 21, and John Butler, 20. Wasn't that a good family for Cytha, 29, and Te1itha, 13, to cook and wash for? And there were still three children to come before the Grim Reaper had his day.

Two of Uncle Dick’s siblings left no issue: Eldridge, born 1839, went away to war, a happy patriotic recruit of 1861. He was badly wounded at Antietam, and died a few days later in a military hospital, under the watchful care of Dr. Elkanah and Aunt Sallie. Michael Elijah born 1853, married Mary A. Boyd, but left no issue.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

^{==========================}

112782. Louisa Wi11iams, b. July 20, 1841; d. May 28, 1916

m. Wesley Rout, with issue

112783. Rufus Williams, b. March 9, 1843; d. Oct. 11, 1926,

m. Susan J. Kern, with issue St. Petersburg, Fla.

(Great grandfather of this reproduction’s editor)

112784. Minerva Wil1iams, b. April 10, 1845; d. Feb. 16, 1913

m. George Kern, with issue

112785. Emily Williams, b. April 20, l847; d. Sept. 22, 1926

m. David L. Kern, with issue

112786. Jacob Giles W1illiams, b. Feb. 9. 1849; d. June 4, 1928

m. Alice Roark-Hendrickson, with issue

112787. Cyrena Williams, b. April 30, 1851; d. Cooperston, Okla.

m. David L. Sears, with issue

112789. Daniel Webster Williams, b. Feb. 26, 1856; d. Sept. 17,1888

m. Talitha Craig, with issue

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS .VI. (71)

1127.12

UNCLE BART'S PEOPLE

Uncle Bart's People were Children of Mount Olive. Mount Olive church was built in 1871 on land deeded for the purpose by Bartimus Williams and wife. Emily A. Williams, William N. Hinshaw, Arthur D. Hastings, Lewis R. Williams, Bartimus Williams and their successors were named trustees. The deed was dated Feb. 8, 1870, according to a memo in an ancient Williams ledger. Among the charter members were Bartimus Williams and wife, Canaan Williams and wife, Garrett Williams and wife, Richard Williams and wife, Tilghman Williams and wife, and Captain Hastings and Obed Lamb and their wives. The cemetery is a little Williams City, presided over by Uncle Bart and two of his wives.

Before Mt. Olive was built, the folks from north of the River used to go over to Port Williams, to the church erected there in 1850. John Williams, Richard's grandson, wrote in his memoirs: They surely had a wonderful congregation. Grandfathers Williams and Hastings, Bro. Killis Bex, Embrees, Bryants and others, when they would walk and come from Bryantsville and from across the river. Mt. Olive was built in 1871, all that had to cross the river to get to Port Williams quit. Several from our neighborhood went there to church, in spite of the handicap of crossing the river by ford or boat."

Of Uncle Bert's three marriages, the first to Rebecca Armstrong was childless. The second with Emily Angeline Hammersley produced another Isaac Williams. There were four children of the third marriage with Rachel McDonald.

One child of the latter marriage left no issue: Richard Garfield Williams (1880-1899) who died in youth; Bartimus L. Williams, born 1883, married Pearl Baker, with issue.

THOSE WHO LEFT DESCENDANTS

^{==========================}

1127.12.1 Isaac Williams, son of Bartimus and Angeline Hammersley

b. Jan. 2, 1870; d. Jan. 1, 1936.

m. Lola Kern, with issue

1127.12.2 Cornelia Williams, daughter of Bartimus and Rachel McDonald

b. Sept. 22, 1876: age 87 next September; d. 10-21-1963

m. Walter A. Jones, with issue (Burial, Mt. Olive.

1127.12.3 Zipporah Williams daughter of Bartimus and Rachel

b. July 15, l878: age 85 in July '63

m. Elza Smith, with issue.

1127.12.5 Bartimus, 1883-1961 m. Pearl Baker; issue

THESE TWO GRACIOUS LADIES

OF WILLIAMS, INDIANA

+++

ARE THE ONLY SURVIVING GRANDCHILDREN OF CAPTAIN ISAAC WILLIAMS

^{==============================================================}

June l 1967: How appropriate it is that theirs

We close this edition should be the last names mentioned

With a Grand Salute to a in this memorial book in his honor

Grand Lady, “Aunt Zippy" --

Capt. Isaac's only living Grandchild.

(72)

^oC a p t a i n

ISAAC WILLIAMS

This is one of six books dealing with

Quaker family history, which we have pub-

lished during the past eight years, as

genealogical items of

The Benjamin Fraank1in Junior

=== Historical Series ===

1. Adamson Source Book. 1942-60.

2. Ancestry of Pryor Williams. 1959.

3. Rachel Adamson's Hoosier Clan. 1961.

7. Captain Isaac Wil1iams. 1963. 1967.

8. John and Mary Williams. 1963.

14. Lost Creek Memories. 1966.

The books were published in a limited

number, for the Adamson and Williams re-

unions of Indiana and Kansas. They dea1

largely with the pioneer southern Indiana

families of Adamson, Kern and Williams.

During the past three decades we have

compiled a vast amount of fami1y history

on theses and many related families, among

which are Bright; Cox, Culbertson, McBride,

Rout, Rubottom, Sears, et al. We plan to

publish on these families also.

The reunions for which our; series has

been adapted are-usually held on the last

Sunday of June, as follows:

Adamson: At or near Bedford

Williams: At or near Marion, Kansas.

FAMILY HISTORIANS

Ben and Alice Dixon

6008 Arosa Street

San Diego Calif 92115

(The editor of this reproduction has written a history of the descendents of his great grandfather Rufus Williams [page 70 of this document]. He was assisted greatly in that effort by many Williams family relatives all across the USA. He lived in southern Indiana until 2001 and enjoyed several visits to the area around the town of Williams. Only a small portion of the original Williams holdings are still titled to family members.)

Roger Glenn Williams

8525 Gulf Blvd Apt 208

Navarre Beach, FL 32566-7267

850–939-7157,(2002 AD)