This Joseph Williams is often mistaken for Joseph Williams, the son of Roger Williams of Providence, RI. Roger Williams did have a son named Joseph, however he was born in Providence in 1643, not Boston in 1641. Another fact which often creates confusion is in the names of both Josephs' wives: Lydia. Joseph Williams of Roger married Lydia Olney in 1669. This is also the approximate year of marriage for Joseph Williams of Boston and Lydia Somes (Soames). This confusion has led to many erroneous ancestries for Jeremiah Williams, a son of Joseph Williams of Boston. There are a few documents which help the researcher appropriately connect Jeremiah Williams to Joseph Williams and ultimately Robert Williams.
Besides the will of his father Robert, there are a few other documents which are key to tying Joseph Williams with Robert Williams of Boston.
The first document comes from the Boston Town Records. On 25 February 1677/78 the Boston Selectmen Minutes record the following:
Let vnto Joseph & Benjn Williams the priuiledge of a Ferry from Bostone to Wenesemet, for 3 yeares from ye 25th of March next, they or either of them paying to the treasurer of this towne for the vse of ye Towne 8ld. p. ann. in mony. And Transportinge the Honrd Majestrates Ferrige Free, according to formr custome.
The ferry Joseph and Benjamin were allowed to lease was the same ferry they helped their father Robert operate.
The Suffolk Deeds also record a deed which mentions Joseph and Lydia Williams and their tie with Robert Williams.
To all Christian People to whome this present Deed of Sale shall come, Joseph Williams of Boston in the Mattachusetts Colony of New England Cordwainer sendeth greeting: Know Ye that whereas Robert Williams Father of the sd. Joseph Williams in and by his last will & Testament bearing date 12th. October 1677 did devise and bequeath unto the sd. Jospeh the ground upon which his house standeth in Boston aforesd. with full egress and regress from his house down to the way next the water side, which passage way lyeth between the then dwelling house of sd. Robert Williams and the house of Benjamin Williams; Also a Six foote way along before his dore up to the cross fence that stands above his house, and all the land from the sd. Cross fence up to the cross fence between mr. Vyal and mr. Ruck; onely hee leaving a Six foote way next to the sd. fence; which land is to run upon a straight line over to the other fence; Also a third part of the beach below the way which is below his dwelling house the middle part of sd. beech and wharfe as in and by the sd. will and Record thereof reference thereto being had will appeare: Now Farther Know Ye that the abovenamed Joseph Williams for and in consideration of the Sume of Eighty pounds currant money of New England to him at the Ensealing & delivery of these presents well and truly paid by Thomas Berry of sd. Boston Marriner the receipt whereof I do herby acknowledge and thereof do acquit exonerate & discharge the sd. Thomas Berry his heres Exrs. admrs. and assignes for ever Have granted bargained sold enfeoffed convayed and confirmed, and by these presents Doth freely fully & absolutely grant bargain Sell enfeoffe convay and confirme unto the sd. Thomas Berry his heires and assignes for ever All that his messuage or Tenement with all the land whereupon it standeth and is thereto belonging scituate lying and being at the Northerly end of Boston abovesd. And is the house and land abovementioned, Buttled & bounding Easterly upon the Six foote way leading between this sd. Tenement & land & the land of Samuel Ruck, measureing next the sd. way or passage thirty Seven foote in breadth, the upper side of the land adjoying upon the land given to his Son Joseph and others measureth thirty five foote and a halfe foote, the whole length of the sd. land on ye. westermost side including the hosue measureth Seventy foote, the bredth of the land at the Northermost end next the land of Benjamin Williams measureth twenty four foote including the house and Six foote way, the ffence along by the Eastermost side of the house is thirty two foote to the cross fence, the length of the cross ffence about the middle of the land on the Eastermost side is Sixteen foote: And the wharfe or beach below the highway measureing twenty foote in breadth and running down to the Seaward to low water marke lying between the wharfe and beach of Benjamin Williams on the one side & the wharfe or beach of Phoebe Eglin on the other side Together with all Fences waies allys passages well waters watercourses Easements rights liberties priviledges and appurtenances whatsoever to the sd. Messuage or Tenement belonging, or therewth. at any time heretofore or now used occupied and injoyed, And all the Estate right title interest use possession claim and demand whatsoever of him the sd. Joseph Williams of in and to the same To Have and to hold the sd. Messuage or Tenement and all ye. land thereto belonging with the rights liberties previledges and appurtenances thereof as abovegranted unto the sd. Thomas Berry his heires & assignes To his and their onely proper and absolute use benefit and behoofe from henceforth for ever And the sd. Joseph Williams for himself his heires Exrs. and Admrs. doth covenant promiss grant and agree to and with the sd. Thomas Berry his heires Exrs. Admrs. and assignes That at the time of the Ensealing and delivery of these presents He the sd. Joseph Williams is the true sole and proper Owner of the abovegranted and bargained premises and every part and parcel thereof and standeth lawfully Seized and possessed of the same in his own proper right of a good perfect and absolute Estate of inheritance in fee simple without any manner of condition revertion or limitation of use or uses whatsoever, and that hee hath in himself full power good right and lawfull Authority to grant Sell alienate convay and confirme the same as abovesd. Free and clear and clearly acquitted & discharded of and from all and all manner of former and other grants bargains Sales mortgages wills entailes jointures dowers judgements Executions Seizures forfeitures acts alienations titles troubles charges and incumbrances whatsoever And Farther that the sd. Joseph Williams his heires Exrs. and Admrs. shall & will from time to time and at all times for ever herafter warrant and defend the said premises and every part thereof unto the sd. Thomas Berry his heires & assignes against the lawfull claim’s and demands of all and every person and persons whoesoever, And will at any time hereafter upon demand give unto him or them such farther ample and legall assurance thereof as may reasonably bee devised advised or required And Lastly Lydia wife of the sd. Joseph doth herby freely and fully Surrender and give up unto the sd. Thomas Berry his heires and assignes all right of Dower and power of thirds which Shee might have had & claimed in and to the premises. In Witness whereof the sd. Joseph Williams and Lydia his wife have hereunto put their hands & affixed their Seales. Dated in Boston the nine & twentieth day of May Anno. Dom. One thousand Six Hundred Eighty and three Annonq R.R. Caroli Secundi Angliae & tricessimo Quinto.
Deliud in presence of
Richard Way
Isa: Addington
Joseph Williams & a Seale
Lydia Williams & a Seale
Joseph Williams and Lydia his wife personally appearing 31o: May 1683 acknowledged this Instrumt. To bee their voluntary act and deed. Before me S. Bradstreet Govr. Entered pro. June 1683 p Isa: Addington.
Using Clough's topographic map which depicts the land owners and lots of Boston in 1676, we can place the Williams land, homes and wharf near to Copp's Hill Burying place (click image to see lots #54,#55, #56 and #14 below).
Six months before the sale of their land to Thomas Berry, Joseph purchased part of the land of Mary Field of Boston. According to the deed dated 8 December 1682, the land was located:
Piece or parcel of Land scituate lying and being in Boston abovesd. Neer unto the North meeting House there, butted & bounded as hereafter expres’t Vizt. upon the Land of John Phillips North-East, the Land of sd. Mary Field South-East, the Highway leading from the Mill bridge Street towards Halsy’s wharfe (commonly so called) South west, and with the sd. Mill bridge Street Northwest, or however otherwise bounded Measuring in breadth at the front to the highway on the South-west Thirty Seven foote, and in breadth at the reare or North-East end Twenty five Foote; and in Length or depth Fifty Six Foote Together with all Fences rights liberties previledges & appurtenances thereto belonging or in any kinde appertaining.
Once again, Clough shows the land owned by Mary Field in 1676 at lot # 1 and #2 on the corner of Mill Street to Winnisimet Ferry and Street to Scarlett's Wharf (click image for full size).
This deed from 1682 becomes important in the link between Jeremiah Williams and Joseph Williams and ultimately Robert Williams. In 1716, Jeremiah Williams, "of Long Island, a merchant", sold his rights to the above mentioned land. He sold this land to his brother, Joseph Jr.. My ancestor Jeremiah Williams was living on Long Island in 1716 and was a merchant at that time. Though we can't be 100% certain this is my ancestor, it is very probable. On the very next page in the Suffolk County, MA Deed records, there is a transfer of rights from Joseph's Jr.'s sisters, Mary Williams, Lydia Dyer and Elizabeth Knight. These two deeds name 5 of the 8 children of Joseph and Lydia Williams.
Joseph Williams probably married Lydia Somes (b. 3 October 1649 ) of Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts in 1669. Lydia was the daughter of Morris and Elizabeth Somes.
Together, Joseph and Lydia had the following children:
Joseph (14 Feb 1670), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Lydia (13 Dec 1671), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Hannah (20 May 1674), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Daniel (25 Dec 1676), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Hannah (26 May 1679), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Jeremiah (22 Aug 1683), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Elizabeth (09 Dec 1687), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Mary (06 Nov 1689), Boston, Suffolk, MA
Joseph died in 1706, without a will. His burial place is unknown. Lydia probably died around 1711 and her burial place is also unknown.
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