Melville Williams - 1856 - 1920

My great grandfather...

MELVILLE WILLIAMS (1 MAR 1856 – 4 MAR 1920)


Melville Williams was the son of Jeremiah Williams of Pennsylvania and Rebecca L. Lindsay of Ohio. Melville was born in Indiana on 1 Mar 1856. By the time Melville was four years old, he moved with his family to Blythe Township, Caldwell County, Missouri. Blythe is located just outside of Kingston, Missouri in the northwest portion of Missouri. When Melville was 19 years old, he moved to California with his father, boarding with his cousin Ella J Williams Green.

In 1885, Melville and his father had moved to Lookout, Modoc County, California, where he was a stockraiser. On 3 Aug 1890, Melville married Martha Ellen Carmichael, daughter of Modoc pioneer Moses Allen Carmichael, at the Carmichael homestead west of Lookout. (Moses had been granted 160 acres by the US government in 1875 for his homestead, which was adjacent to Jeremiah Williams’ homestead). Melville and Martha’s first child, Chauncey Albert, was born on 8 Dec 1891. They had a second child, a daughter, in 1894. This daughter died within a year. In 1895, Melville moved his family from Modoc County to Texas County, Missouri. There they had the following children:

Rebecca May (4 May 1896), Houston, Texas, MO
James (15 Feb 1901), Houston, Texas, MO
Eusebia Jane (23 July 1903), Houston, Texas, MO

While in Missouri, Melville and family lived in Bartlett Township, Shannon County, where they farmed, and Houston, Texas County. Melville’s sister, Lucy Parmenter, was a resident of Houston, MO. She lived there with her children: Alfred Melville (1880-1966), Byron, John (1889-1928), and Effie (1892-1974).

On April 13, 1906, Melville and family arrived back in the Big Valley, specifically Bieber, to settle for the rest of his days. Upon their return, Melville and Martha had three more children:

Charles (7 July 1906), Bieber, Lassen, CA
Roy Elsworth (16 Aug 1907), Bieber, Lassen, CA
Elizabeth (13 March 1910), Bieber, Lassen, CA
Archie (3 May 1912), Bieber, Lassen, CA

Melville was a teamster, hauling freight with mule teams throughout the northern California and Nevada areas. At times, Melville hauled freight for Nathan Bieber, a general merchandiser and Wells Fargo Agent, for whom the town of Bieber is named. In July of 1910, Melville and Martha suffered a horrible tragedy with the loss of their firstborn child, Chauncey, who died of an accidental gunshot wound to the abdomen. Melville died three days after his 64th birthday and was buried at the Hillside Cemetery in Nubieber, Lassen, CA. After Melville’s death, his wife Martha moved to Susanville with her sons Roy and Archie. There she worked as a cook at a lumber camp for the Lassen Lumber Company. Martha died in 1950 in Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.

Jeremiah Williams - 1824 - 1892

Our family seems to have liked the name Jeremiah. This is the third in my direct line. At least the name skipped generations!

JEREMIAH WILLIAMS (17 MAR 1824 – 25 DEC 1892)

Jeremiah Williams was the second of four sons for Isaac and Martha Williams. Jeremiah most commonly went by the name Jere, or Jerry. He was born in Bucks County, PA, and traveled across the entire country in his lifetime. At the age of 15, Jeremiah and family had moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, where they remained for around 15 years. While in Ohio, Jeremiah worked on his father’s farm. Jeremiah became a doctor while he was living in Ohio, and was known by his nieces and nephews as “Uncle Doc”. He married Rebecca L. Lindsay on 22 Apr 1847 in Miami County, OH. Rebecca was the daughter of Dr. William R. Lindsay and Rhoda Allison Smith of Preble County, OH. Jerry and Rebecca had their first child, William Lindsay on 03 Nov 1849.

Around 1854, they moved to the northern part of Jay County, Indiana, in Jackson Township. In May of 1854 Jerry and Rebecca lost their son, William, to consumption. Two more children were born to Jerry and Rebecca while living in Indiana. Melville was born on 4 Mar 1856 and his sister, Lucy Aldine, was born there in Sept 1857. Their three children were:

William Lindsay Williams (03 Nov 1849 – 26 May 1854), Jefferson, Coshocton, OH
Melville Williams (1 Mar 1856 – 4 Mar 1920), Westchester, Jay, IN
Lucy Aldine Williams (Sep 1857 – 1907), Westchester, Jay, IN

Sometime between 1858 and 1860, Jeremiah and family moved to Blythe Township, Caldwell County, Missouri. Jeremiah and his family lived in the Kingston, MO area until 1875. In 1862, Jeremiah was the Postmaster for Kingston. Jeremiah also had the privilege of being one of 66 delegates elected to the 1865 Missouri Constitutional Convention.

Sometime prior to March of 1875, Jeremiah and Rebecca divorced, though no records of this divorce can be found in Caldwell County, MO. Rebecca subsequently married Nathan Cope on 11 Apr 1875. After Nathan’s death in 1888, Rebecca married Joseph M. Knott on 11 Jan 1891. No death date is known for Rebecca. She appears in Kingston in the 1900 census. The land she owned near Kingston belonged to a Mr. Switzer in the 1907 Caldwell County Atlas. Lucy Aldine Williams married Wilken R. Parmenter on 24 Dec 1875. Lucy and Wilken moved to Houston, Texas County, MO, where he died and 1892. Lucy died around 1907.

In March of 1875 Jeremiah and Melville moved to Grand Island, Colusa County, California, along with his niece, Ella Jane Green, and her family. There they boarded with Ella, and her husband John F. Green. John Green was a farmer and Jerry and Melville helped John work the land.

In 1885, Jeremiah and Melville moved to Lookout, Modoc County, California. Jeremiah staked out a claim for 160 acres, which was next to his nephew Oliver G. Williams and Melville’s future father-in-law, Moses Allen Carmichael. Jeremiah built a house and a barn and farmed 12 acres. In his homestead application, the land and buildings were considered to be worth $300. In May of 1892, Jeremiah was granted the deed to the 160 acres in Modoc County by the US Federal Government by the Homestead Act.

Jeremiah died on Christmas day, 1892. Local cemeteries have no record of his interment and it is theorized that he was buried on his land.

Isaac Burson Williams - 1794 - 1869

Isaac was my 3rd great grandfather, and the first to leave the East Coast and head West.

ISAAC BURSON WILLIAMS (23 Apr 1794 - 1869)

Isaac Burson Williams was the 7th child of Jeremiah and Mercy Williams. Isaac was born in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, PA. He married Martha Shelton White (11 Nov 1788 – 12 Sept 1856) on 25 Jul 1818. Isaac’s granddaughter, Ella Jane Williams Green, writes this about Isaac in her book about her life;

“My grandfather, Isaac B. Williams, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a stone house on the Delaware River. (I had the pleasure of visiting this house one hundred and ten years later.) He was a Quaker, though a very liberal one, and he refused to be married in Quaker meeting because he would not have the banns published two months in advance, and have them debated about, considered, and approved or otherwise, as the case might be. As he refused to apologize, as Grandmother did, he was dropped from the membership. Grandfather always used the Quaker language and it seemed perfectly natural for us children to say “thee” and “thou” in addressing him.”

Isaac was a farmer, just like his father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He and Martha originally lived in Richland Township in Bucks County, PA. While living in Pennsylvania, they had at four sons and one daughter who died in infancy:

Clayton (), Richland, Bucks, PA
Jeremiah (17 March 1824), Richland, Bucks, PA
Joseph (1828), Richland, Bucks, PA
Charles (1831), Richland, Bucks, PA

Sometime prior to 1840, Isaac and family moved to Jefferson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio. Isaac moved West with his brothers Jeremiah and Benjamin, as well as his sisters Susan and Margaret, who was married to Abel Lester. Isaac farmed in the area until just before 1853, when he and his family moved to Jackson Township, Jay County, Indiana. This is where his wife, Martha, died on 12 Sept 1856. Martha is buried in the Westchester Cemetery just north of Portland, IN.

All four of Isaac’s sons lived in Jay County, IN. His middle son Joseph, married Mary E. Boyd while living in Coshocton County, OH. Joseph had two children with his first wife; Oliver Goldsmith (1850) and Ella Jane (1853). After the death of his first wife, Joseph married the widow Nancy J. Stephens in Jay County, IN.

Isaac’s youngest son, Charles, married Amanda E. Samuels in Jay County, IN. They had 4 sons; William Thadeus (1856), Jesse Elsworth (1861), John Edgar (1871), and Charles B (1881).

Isaac’s oldest son, Jeremiah, married Rebecca L. Lindsay, daughter of Dr. William R. Lindsay of Preble County, OH. Jeremiah is the subject of the next generation and will be discussed further in the next section.

Isaac lived on the Bear Creek in Jay County, along with his son Charles. Isaac owned other land on the “Loblolly”, an area of quicksand and sinking holes of the Limberlost forest. This land he rented to his son Jeremiah.

Ella Green describes Isaac as “a portly man, well over six feet tall, and weighed around two hundred and twenty-five pounds. He was always smooth shaven and had a jovial expression. He used to take me on his knee and tell me stories or sing songs.”

In 1863, Isaac moved to Caldwell County, MO, along with Charles and his family. His son Jeremiah had moved there with his family prior to 1860. Together they lived in the Kingston area, in both Kingston and Grant townships.

Isaac died 27 Mar 1869 in Kingston, Caldwell County, Missouri. He is buried in the Kingston Cemetery.

Jeremiah Williams - 1749 - 1834

Benjamin's son, Jeremiah was my 4th great grandfather.

JEREMIAH WILLIAMS (9 Jul 1749 - 27 Feb 1834)

Jeremiah Williams was born to Benjamin and Mercy Williams in Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. At the age of 8, his family moved across the Delaware River to Bucks County, PA, where he was raised on his father’s farm in Nockamixon Township. Since Jeremiah and his family were Quakers, they probably did not take up arms during the Revolutionary War (1776-1783). On 22 Apr 1779, Jeremiah married Mary Blackledge (1758 - 21 Jun 1831) at the Richland Meeting, Bucks County, PA.

Jeremiah and Mary resided in Tinicum Township where they had nine children:

John Williams (27 Jan 1780), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Thomas Blackledge Williams (1 Apr 1781), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Benjamin Williams (18 Dec 1782), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Susan Williams (10 Jun 1785), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
William Williams (12 Jun 1789), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Samuel Williams (18 Jun 1792), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Isaac Burson Williams (23 Apr 1794), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Margaret Williams (28 Apr 1796), Tinicum, Bucks, PA
Jeremiah Williams (28 Dec 1798), Tinicum, Bucks, PA

Jeremiah died on 27 Feb 1834 in Tinicum, Bucks, PA.

Benjamin Williams - 1722 - 1809

My direct line Williams ancestry goes through Jeremiah's son, Benjamin.

BENJAMIN WILLIAMS (4 Nov 1722 – May 1809)

Benjamin Williams was born 4 Nov 1722 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, to Jeremiah and Mary Williams. In 1743, he moved to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, with his father’s family. Shortly after his arrival to New Jersey, Benjamin married Mercy Stevenson (b. 1719) on 11 Oct 1744, in the Kingwood Monthly Meeting. In 1758/59, he moved his family from New Jersey, across the Delaware River, to Buckingham Township, Bucks County, PA. He purchased 500 acres in Tinicum Township and later purchased another 500 acres in Buckingham Township, all of which he farmed. The original land Benjamin owned was previously owned by Chief Nitimus and his tribe. Chief Nitimus was always an honored guest in the home of the Williams family. A story of their interaction is related in Davis’ book on the History of Bucks County:

“Soon after taking possession of the land in Nockamixon the young Indians roaming over it at will, gathered the apples from the trees and took them away, and disturbed the water in the spring until it was unfit for use for a time. Benjamin expostulated with Nutimus, and asked why they did it. Nutimus replied it was true the Indians had sold the land, but not the apples and spring. Benjamin asked them how much they wanted for the apples and spring, and the chief replied, five bushels of Indian corn, five bushels of buckwheat and five loaves of ryebread. After that the spring and the apples were not disturbed.”

Benjamin was instrumental in the building of the Buckingham Monthly Meeting house. While the new meeting house was being constructed in 1768 the Friends congregation met at Benjamin’s home in Buckingham.

Buckingham Friends House

Benjamin and Mercy had 11 children:

John Williams (29 Mar 1745), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Mary Williams (11 Dec 1747), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Jeremiah Williams (9 Jul 1749), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Margaret Mercy Williams (4 Jun 1751), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Lydia Williams (18 Aug 1752), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Benjamin Williams (30 Oct 1756), Kingwood, Hunterdon, NJ
Anne Williams (15 Jul 1758), Nockamixon Twp, Bucks, PA
William Williams (20 Sep 1760), Nockamixon Twp, Bucks, PA
Samuel Williams (20 Jul 1762), Nockamixon Twp, Bucks, PA
Susannah Williams (30 Jul 1765), Nockamixon Twp, Bucks, PA
Frederick Williams

In 1803 Benjamin conveyed the Buckingham property to his son Samuel, his Nockamixon property to sons Benjamin and William and his Tinicum property to his son Jeremiah. The sons executed bonds and warrants in payment, the value of which was included in Benjamin's estate.

Benjamin died at the home of his son Samuel in May of 1809 and was buried at the Buckingham Friends Cemetery, Bucks County, PA.

Jeremiah Williams - 1683 - 1766

I'll start with my furthest back ancestor I am certain of...

JEREMIAH WILLIAMS ( 22 Aug 1683 - 15 May 1766)

Jeremiah Williams was born in Boston, MA to Joseph and Lydia Williams. He was the sixth of eight children for Joseph and Lydia. As a child, Jeremiah he was bound to a ship carpenter to learn the trade. Family lore says that Jeremiah moved with his master to Wilmington, DE. While he was an apprentice there, he left the Church of England and joined the Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers. The first appearance of Jeremiah in Quaker records is with the Rhode Island Monthly Meeting.

At a Monthly Meeting in Portsmouth
18th day 4th month 1706 (18 June 1706)
Thomas Conwell is appointed to Accompany friends to Long Island. Jeremiah Williams is also appointed to accompany women friends through the country.

In 1706, Jeremiah requested a certificate from the Rhode Island Monthly Meeting to remove to Philadelphia. The meeting records indicate Jeremiah was already living in Pennsylvania.

28th day 11th month 1706/07 (28 January 1707)
Jeremiah Williams requests of this meeting a certificate, he being now at Philadelphia & likely there to abide. Therefore this meeting do appoint Thomas Hix & John Heldley to enquire concerning his clearness as to marriage and conversation and make report to our next monthly men's meeting.

The certificate was granted to Jeremiah and the next month during the Rhode Island Monthly Meeting.

On 1 April 1708, Jeremiah married Philadelphia Masters (14 May 1684 – 06 May 1715) in Flushing, Queens County, New York.

The New York Monthly Meeting records the following in their minutes:

At a monthly meeting ye 4th of 1 mo 1707/08 at ye meeting house in fflushing.
Jeremiah Williams & ffiladelfia Masters appeared before this meeting & declared their intentions of Mariage wth eachother two women friends members of the womens meeting coming with then the man producing one certificate from Rhode Island and also one more from ffiladelfia both confirming his good behavior & conservation also his clearness from all women relating to marriage this meeting hath ordered them to come to ye next monthly meeting for their answer.

At a monthly meeting at ye meeting house in fflushing ye 1st 2 mo 1708.
Jeremiah Williams & ffiladelfia Masters appeared at the meeting being ye second time & declared their confident intentions of marriage this meeting upon good consideration being satisfied all things are cleared hath left them to their liberty to accomplish same according to the good order of truth.

Family tradition holds that Philadelphia received her name by being the first white child born in Philadelphia. George and Mary Masters were living in New York at the time of their pregnancy with Philadelphia. Late in her pregnancy, George and Mary made a trip from Long Island to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While they were visiting Philadelphia their daughter was born. Consequently the Masters family was presented a silver spoon from William Penn to mark the occasion.

Jeremiah and Philadelphia had two children prior to her death in 1715. They were:

Joseph (15 May 1710), Flushing, Queens, NY
Hannah (8 Nov 1711), Flushing, Queens, NY

After the death of Jeremiah’s wife Philadelphia, he married the widow Mary Newbury (Newberry) Howland of Providence, Rhode Island, on 11 Sept 1716. Mary Howland was the widow of Jedediah Howland of Providence.

The Rhode Island Monthly Meeting records the following regarding their marriage:

31st day 5th month 1716
Jeremiah Williams of Long Island & Mary Howland of Newport widow appeared before this meeting & signified their intentions of marriage with eachother if the Lord permit & with friends approbation this meeting desired them to wait until next monthly meeting for answer & Thomas Richardson & Joseph Borden are desired to take case that the estate in the widows hands be settled according to the devise of the testator Jedadiah Howland.

28th day 6th month 1716
Jeremiah Williams & Mary Howland appeared before this meeting for answer & nothing appearing by the return of the friends appointed to hinder their intentions they are therefore left to their liberty to consummate their marriage in the desent order of truth having a sartificate of their proceedings with not left them twelve friends hands to it & Thomas Richardson & Joseph Borden are appointed to take case that the marriage of Jeremiah Williams and Mary Howland be consummated in the desent order of truth and they to make report to the next monthly meeting.

25th day 7th month 1716
Friends appointed make report that the marriage of Jeremiah Williams & Mary Howland was accomplished in the desent order of truth.

Jeremiah and Mary began their married life in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. There Jeremiah ran a mill and store, which he had purchased 5 July 1715 at Hempstead Harbor, Nassau Island, Queens Co, New York from John Robinson.

In 1743 Jeremiah and his family moved to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, residing near Quakertown. Jeremiah was involved in the establishment of the Kingwood Monthly Meeting in 1744 and later chosen to be an elder. In 1758/59 Jeremiah and his extended family moved to Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, PA. The 500 acre tract that they purchased was bounded to the east by the Delaware River. Jeremiah and Mary had the following children:

Ann Williams (17 Jun 1719), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Walter Williams (17 Dec 1720), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Benjamin Williams (4 Nov 1722), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Mary Williams (26 Nov 1724), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Jeremiah Williams (18 May 1726), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Lydia Williams (6 Feb 1729/1730), Hempstead, Long Island, NY
Martha Williams (Abt 1731), Hempstead, Long Island, NY

Jeremiah died in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, PA, on 15 MAR 1766 at the home of his son Benjamin. He is buried at the Kingwood Meeting Cemetery, Hunterdon County, NJ.

The Kingwood Monthly Meeting wrote the following Memorial for Jeremiah upon his death.

Our antient friend and Elder Jeremiah Williams came to reside amongst us Recommended from a Monthly Meeting of friends on Long Island as an Honest Sober and orderly member of our Religious Society in Unity and many years he was a servisable member and a Diligent and Constant attender of our meetings for Worship and Discipline, until he Suffer’d his mind to be too much Cast Down under the Thoughts of Some Disappointments and Troubles he meet with. He did not attend our Meetings So Constant as he had heretofore Done but we have Good reason to believe Some time before his Death he Witnessed in a great measure and overcoming his former Troubles and Exercises. He was a generous and kind open Harted man in Entertaining Friends and such as Travel abroad in the Service of Truth. Some time before his Death he was attended with many bodily afflictions, being helpless above too years, which he bore with Great patience. Sometimes he would say could I think I am like Job, he being attend with many ails; often desiring to be Deliver’d if it was the Lord’s Will. He Departed this Life at the House of his Son Benjamin in Penna. With whom he had Liv’d for some years, on the 15th. Day of the 5th month 1766 aged 83 years wanting about one month and was Decently buried in friends burying Ground at Kingwood.