Rufus Williams

Rufus Williams, son of Benjamin (2) and Susannah (Howard) Williams, was born 1723, and died January 25, 1769. He married Mercy Shaw.

Sybil Williams, daughter of Rufus and Mercy (Shaw) Williams, was born February 19, 1768, and died March, 1843. She married, in 1786, Sanford Lincoln, of Attleboro.

Source: William Richard Cutter Encyclopedia of Massachusetts, Vol 7

Descent from Richard Williams and Frances Deighton.

The first five generations seem solidly sourced. See link before for the genealogy of Samuel Williams, of Grafton, New Hampshire, who was born in Taunton in 1746.

The tree below Samuel is questionable. Did he have a son, Thomas Williams, born in Grafton in 1791? It's possible, but needs better evidence.

Did Thomas Williams, b. 1791, have a son, Samuel, born in Taunton? It seems unlikely that one of the Williams of Grafton returned to Taunton. Apparently the family owned property and lived for a long time on Williams Hill in Grafton.

Did Samuel Williams, born 1817 in Taunton, go to New Zealand and from there to Australia? So far, I have found no evidence for the Samuel Williams born in Taunton in 1817, so first we need to verify that he existed, find his parents, and figure out if there is any evidence for the Australian Samuel Williams to be identified as a Samuel Williams of Taunton.

1. Richard Williams, of Taunton 2. Benjamin 3. Benjamin 4. Rufus 1723 5. Samuel of Grafton 1746

here's where it breaks down, supposedly

6. Thomas 1791 Grafton 7. Samuel 1817/18 TAUNTON Their youngest son, Benjamin married Rebecca Macey, Macey, daughter of Lt. George and Susannah [Street] Macey. Tlhey had a son BENJAMIN,3 born July 31, 1695, who married, December 22, 1720, Susanna Howard of Bridgewater, daughter of Maj. Jonathan and Sarah [Dean] Howard; they had an only son, Rufus, born about 1723.

Rufus Williams married, March 1745/6 Mercy Shaw, daughter of Jonathan and Mercy [Mason] Shaw of Raynham.and their first born was Samuel Williams, born in Taunton, March 20, 1746/7. Col Samuel Pitts of Taunton, who died at Louisburg, October 24, 1745, was the guardian of Rufus, whose mother died in his infancy, and who apparently lived with Cob Pitts and with the Colonel's widow after his death.

She married James Williams, and a fragment of the Bible of the latter (imprint 1734) is still held by the descendants of Samuel's, which undoubtedly came to them from Rufus. Ir purports to be the Bible of James Williams; it contains a record of the deaths of Col. Pitts and James Williams, but nothing further relating to the family.

As the population of Taunton increased, individuals and colonies went away into the vast wilderness and established new homes and founded new towns. Among these was Samuel Williams, who with several of his Taunton neighbors, emigrated to Grafton, New Hampshire; he settled on what is still called "William's Hill" and cleared a farm which has been in the possession of his descendants ever since.

Samuel Williams (Rufus4, Benjamin3, Benjamin2, Richard1) was born in Taunton, March 20, 1746; he married, January 25, 1770, Mercy Case of Rehoboth, daughter of William and Mary Case, born in 1748; he died in Grafton, July 7, 1824, and she, May 28, 1841,

Children, born in Taunton:

1. Samuel April 25, 1771
2. Mercy
3. Alexander 1754
4. Rebecca 1788

Need to verify that Thomas Williams, b. 1791 in Grafton is their child. Not listed in Genealogy of Samuel Williams of Grafton!

Genealogy of Samuel Williams of Grafton, N.H., Fifth in Descent from Richard Williams, of Taunton