Elizabeth "Betsey" Williford

According to the 1860 United States Federal Census, Elizabeth Wiliford lived with her husband and children in White River Township, Washington County, Arkansas. The family at the time consisted of:

• Head James Wiliford 30
• Wife Elizabeth Wiliford 32
• Daughter Mary Wiliford 13
• Daughter Nancy Wiliford 12
• Son William Wiliford 10
• Son George Wiliford 8
• Son Charles Wiliford 4
• Daughter Harriett Wilford 3
• Alexander Murphy 27
• Jane Murphy 24
• Sinda Clark 18
• John Murphy 5
• Henry Murphy 1

The following information about the life and times of Elizabeth "Betsey" Williford are borrowed from her page at her FindaGrave site:

Elizabeth "Betsey" Williford, age 71, died Thursday, February 20, 1896 in Washington County, Arkansas.

She was born February 1, 1825 in Buncombe County, North Carolina, the daughter of Wiley and Mary Adaline (Brown) Cosby.

Her father moved the family from North Carolina to Jefferson County, Alabama between 1830-1833, . Then between December 1843-1845 they came to Washington County, except for a daughter, Nancy, who married Robert Anderson Hixs and stayed in Alabama.

Betsey and James M. Williford were married on May 14, 1845 in Washington County, Arkansas. They were the parents of twelve children.

Betsey is buried in Kings Cemetery.

Betsey's father, Wiley, was among a group of about 90 people from Washington County and 13 from Madison county who left Fayetteville in April 1849 as part of the "Gold Rush". They met up with two other groups, 9 from Benton County and 14 from the Cherokee Nation and headed to California.

He is thought to have died in 1849/50 near Carson City, Nevada, as reported by his friend and partner, George W. Lewis, who married her mother after returning in 1852.