Eunice Mather Williams

• BIRTH 2 Aug 1664 Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
• DEATH 1 Mar 1704 (aged 39) Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
• BURIAL Old Deerfield Burying Ground, Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA, MEMORIAL ID 38302893, Photos by Barbara Hanno & Jeff Lloyd ©2004-2022

Deerfield Massacre

On the night of 28 February 1714, approximately 300 French and Indian soldiers took 109 citizens captive, besides killing a total of 56 men, women and children, including two of Williams' children (six-year-old son John Jr., and six-week-old daughter Jerushah) and his African slave Parthena. The raiding party led the Williams and other families on a march over 300 miles (480 km) of winter landscape to Canada. En route to Quebec, a Mohawk killed Williams' wife after she fell while trying to cross a creek, along with Frank, another African slave. Others of the most vulnerable older and youngest people died, some at the hands of Indians who judged them unable to go on. Williams remained steadfast and encouraged the other captives with prayer and Scripture along their journey to Quebec. The large party had seven weeks of hard overland travel to reach Fort Chambly. [1]

Inscription Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Eunice Williams, the vertuous & desirable consort of the Revrd. Mr. John Williams, & daughter to ye Revrd. Mr. Eleazer & Mrs. Esther Mather of Northampton. She was born Augt. 2, 1664, and fell by rage of ye barbarous Enemy March 1, 1703-4 - Prov. 31. 28. Her children rise up and call her Blessed.

Parents
Eleazer Mather 1637–1669
Esther Warham Stoddard 1644–1736

Spouse
John Williams 1664–1729

John Williams, son of Samuel Williams (1632-1698) and Theoda Parke (1637-1718). John Williams (1664-1729), one of the most well known members of the Williams family, was an ordained minister and an early settler of Deerfield, Massachusetts. [4] He lost his first wife, Eunice Mather, and two of his children in the Indian raid known as the Deerfield Massacre (1704) and was held in captivity in Canada for two years before returning to Deerfield. [2, 5] She was killed shortly after the Deerfield (MA) Massacre of 1714 [6] John Williams (1664-1729), one of the most well known members of the Williams family, was an ordained minister and an early settler of Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Siblings
Warham Mather 1666–1745

Half Siblings
Mary Stoddard Meeks 1671–1734
Esther Stoddard Edwards 1673–1770
Christian Stoddard Williams –1764
Anthony Stoddard 1678–1760
Sarah Stoddard Whitman 1680–1758
John Stoddard 1681–1748
Rebekah Stoddard Hawley 1685–1766
Hannah Stoddard Williams 1688–1745

Children
Eleazer Williams 1688–1742
Esther Williams Meacham 1692–1751
Stephen Williams 1693–1782
Eunice Waongote Marguerite Kanenstenhawi Williams Arosen 1696–1785
John Williams 1698–1704
Warham Williams 1699–1751
Jerusha Williams 1704–1704

Sources

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Deerfield

[2] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38302893/eunice-williams

[3] http://www.babcock-acres.com/Misceallaneous/deerfield_captives_of_1...

[4] HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 662

[5] http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/nyhs/williams_content.html

[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunice_Williams