William Williams

William (John) Williams [Parents] was born about 1555 in Huntingdon, Wotton-under-edg, Gloucester, England. He died on 29 Sep 1618. He married Jane Woodward on 4 Dec 1603.

Other marriages:

Shepheard, Jane

Was tall of stature. (Fullers - wool industry). X mark on will. Is hamlet of Synwell, Parish of Wooten Under Edge (Glouchester Co.) Was once a center of cloth making.

Saw some reference to his cousin, Thomas Williams - Mayflower.

Jane Woodward was born in 1569 in Synwell, , Gloucester, England. She died on 2 Feb 1614/1615. She was buried in Wotton-under-edg, , Gloucester, England. She married William (John) Williams on 4 Dec 1603.

   She is the second wife of William and mother of Richard.

They had the following children:

1. Elizabeth Williams was born about 1605.

   She perhaps removed to New England apparently unmarried.

2. Richard Williams

3. Jane Williams was christened on 19 Mar 1609 in Whetenhurst, Gloucester, England.

   She was baptised at St. Mary the Virgin church. Apparently unmarried before 1655 testate.

4. Roger Williams was born about 1610 in St. Mary, Wooten-Under Edg, Gloucester, England.

5. John Williams was born on 26 Apr 1612 in St. Mary, Wooten-Under Edge, Gloucester, England.

6. Samuel Williams was born about 1614 in St. Mary, Wooten-Under Edg, Gloucester, England. He died in 1669 in Synwell, Gloucestershire, England.

===================================

Jane Shepheard died in 1603. She married William (John) Williams on 15 Nov 1585.

They had the following children:

1. Samuel Williams was born about 1595 in Synwell, , Gloucestershire, England.

   He was a fuller at Eastington Co. Gloucester

2. Ann Williams

GEDCOM Note

Biography

Parentage ===William Williams of Wotton-under-Edge was the son of John Williams of Wotton-under-Edge and Theobalde (Unknown) Williams. His parentage is established by a bequest to "William Willyams my Sonne" in his father's will.<ref name="TAG9p142"/>

Date of Birth ===William's date of birth is uncertain. Based on the fact that, in 1608,he was listed in the "Men and Armour of Gloucestershire" as being between 50 and 60 years old, he was probably born in 1548-1558.<ref name="TAG9p142"/> Based on the fact that he married his first wife in November 1585, he was probably born in the later part of that range, say in1555-8. The TAG article estimates that he was born about 1555,<ref name="TAG9p142"/> which is reasonable, but perhaps on the early edge of the probable range.

Place of Birth ===Gov. Joseph Hartwell Williams' lineage of the Williams family, published in NEHGR in 1897<ref name="NEHGR51p212"/> and relied upon by several secondary sources (including Cutter's "New England Families"<ref name="Cutter4p2102"/> and Frost's "Ancestors of Amyntas Shaw"<ref name="Shaw17"/>), described William and his father as "of Huntingdon, near Wotton-under-Edge." No reliable source has been found for any Huntingdonthat is near Wotton-under-Edge. The town of Huntingdon and the district of Huntingdonshire are more than 150 miles away. There is, however,a hamlet called Huntingford, which is part of the parish of Wotton-under-Edge, and less than 4 miles west of the hamlet of Synwell. Although no reliable evidence has been found that establishes that William was born in Huntingford, the proximity makes it plausible.

First Marriage and Children ===William married, first, Jane Shepard, in Wotten-under-Edge on November 15, 1585.<ref name="1stMarriage"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/><ref name="TAG9p139"/> They were married on the same date that William's brother John got married.<ref name="1stMarriage"/>

William and Jane had the following children:# (possibly) Matthew, b. perhaps sometime in 1586-90 (based on the fact that in the "Men and Armour of Gloucestershire 1608" he was listed as about 20 years old (which, since the only options were about 20, about 40 and about 60, means he was probably 16-30 years old)),<ref name="MenAndArmour"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/> had issue in 1610 and 1612,<refname="TAG9p139"/> d. perhaps before September 1618 (based on not being mentioned in Williams will). The proposition that Matthew was William's son is based on the fact that (1) Matthew was the only other Williams from Wotton-under-Edge who was include in "Men and Armour of Gloucestershire 1608," (2) both were listed as living in the Synwell portion of Wotton-under-Edge, and (3) their age difference as listed in "Menand Armour of Gloucestershire 1608" is appropriate for them being father and son.<ref name="MenAndArmour"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/> The primary argument against Matthew being William's son is that neither he norany of his children are mentioned in William's will.# Ann/Anna, bpt. December 9, 1599 at St. Mary the Virgin, Wotten-under-Edge,<ref name="AnnBpt"/><ref name="TAG9p139"/><refname="TAG9p143"/> m. January 26, 1623/4 John Hale/Hall in North Nibley, Gloucestershire<ref name="AnnMarriage"/><ref name="TAG9p143"/>
William's first wife, Jane (Shepard) Williams, died before 1603.<ref name="TAG9p142"/>

Second Marriage and Children ===William married, second, Jane Woodward, in Cam, Gloucestershire on December 14, 1603.<ref name="2dMarriage"/><ref name="GloucMarriages110"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/><ref name="RoyalAncestryIIp412"/>

William and Jane had the following children:# Samuel, b. probably 1604 or 1605,<ref name="SamElizDOB"/> m. 1st July 29, 1630 Mary Holden at Wotten-under-Edge,<ref name="SamuelMarriage1"/><ref name="TAG9p143"/> m. 2d October 24, 1637 widow Alice Knight at Eastington, Gloucestershire<ref name="SamuelMarriage2"/><ref name="TAG9p144"/> d. 1668 or 1669<ref name="TAG9p144"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp94"/># Elizabeth, b. probably 1604 or 1605,<ref name="SamElizDOB"/> probably never married and emigrated to New England (based on reference in sister Jane's 1650 will to "my brother Richard Williams and my sister Elizabeth Williams that are in New England")<ref name="TAG9p144"/> # Richard, bpt. January 18, 1606/7 at St. Mary the Virgin, Wotten-under-Edge, m. February 11, 1633 Francis Deighton in Great Witcombe, Gloucestershire, d. about August 1693 Taunton, Province of Massachusetts Bay# Jane, bpt. March 19, 1608/9 at St. Mary the Virgin, Wotten-under-Edge,<ref name="JaneBpt"/><ref name="TAG9p144"/> never married,<ref name="TAG9p144"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp93"/> d. 1655 in Whetenhurst, Gloucestershire<ref name="TAG9p144"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp93"/>
William's second wife, Jane (Woodward) Williams, was buried on February 2, 1614/5.<ref name="2dWifeBurial"/><ref name="NEHGR51p212"/>

Wife Susanna? ===The 1894 "Gloucester Notes" which discussed a number of records that had been discovered with respect to Richard Williams' family, mentionedthat there is a record of a Susanna Williams who was buried January 11, 1610/1<ref name="SusannaBurial"/> and speculated that she may have been William's wife.<ref name="GloucNotesVp94"/> No further evidence supporting the proposition that William married a woman named Susanna has been found.

Sons Roger, John or William? ===Some family trees show that William also had sons named Roger (b. 1610or 1614), John (b. April 26, 1612) and William (b.1623).<ref name="Geni"/> No children by those names, however, are mentioned in William's will (which lists his children) or the wills of his children Samuel and Jane (which refer to their siblings),<ref name="GloucNotesVp93"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp94"/> and no reliable evidence supporting the existence of any children by those names has been found. No record of a Roger Williams or William Williams born in Wotton-under-Edge in the relevant time frame has been found. Moveover, William's suggested date ofbirth (1623) is 5 years after this profile's William's death. While there is a record of the baptism of a John Williams in Wotton-under-Edge on April 26, 1612, the record states that he was a bastard Williams and seems to suggest that the mother (but not the father) was a Williams.<ref name="JohnBpt"/><ref name="TAG9p139"/>

Public Life ===An entry in the "Men and Armour of Gloucestershire 1608" (which is a listing of men who might be eligible for military service) for William Williams of Sinwell in Wotton-under-Edge parish describes him as "A60.tallest stature," which meant that he was probably between 50 and 60 (the only choices were A20 (about 20), A40 (about 40) and A60 (about 60)) and of a stature suitable for being a pikeman.<ref name="MenAndArmour"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/>

The entry in the "Men and Armour of Gloucestershire 1608" described William as a "fuller."<ref name="MenAndArmour"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/> However, in his will, he described himself as a yeoman.<ref name="TAG9p143"/>

Will; Burial ===William made his will on September 26, 1618. In his will, he describedhimself as "of Synwell in the parish of Wootton under Edge County Gloucester Yeoman," made bequests to sons Samuel and Richard and daughters Anne, Elizabeth and Jane, and appointed Richard Tindall of North Nibley as executor and William Marken and Robert Tratman as overseers.<ref name="Will"/><ref name="TAG9p143"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp94"/> Willliam was buried at Wotton-under-Edge on September 29, 1618.<ref name="Burial"/><ref name="TAG9p142"/> His will was proved on January 14, 1618.<ref name="TAG9p143"/><ref name="GloucNotesVp94"/>

<ref name="Will">Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK. Will # 251. Reference Code 219352.</ref> <ref name="SamuelMarriage2">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P127 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="SamuelMarriage1">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="AnnMarriage">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: GDR/V1/168</ref> <ref name="2dWifeBurial">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="Burial">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="JohnBpt">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="SusannaBurial">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="1stMarriage">Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials,1538-1813 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.</ref> <ref name="2dMarriage">Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P69 IN 1/1</ref> <ref name="JaneBpt">Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813</ref> <ref name="AnnBpt">Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813</ref> <ref name="Shaw17">Josephine C. Frost, "Ancestors of Amyntas Shaw and His Wife Lucy Tufts Williams," 1920, p 17</ref> <ref name="Cutter4p2102">William Richard Cutter, "New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial, Vol IV," 1915, p 2102</ref> <ref name="NEHGR51p212">"Richard Williams of Taunton and his Connection with the Cromwell Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 51 (1897)," p 212</ref> <ref name="RoyalAncestryIIp412">Douglas Richardson, "Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Volume II," 2013, p 412</ref> <ref name="GloucMarriages110">W.P.W. Phillimore, "Gloucestershire Parish Registers. Marriages. Vol VII," 1902, p 110</ref> <ref name="Geni">"William Williams," geni.com</ref> <ref name="GloucNotesVp93">W.P.W. Phillimore, "Gloucestershire Notes and Queries, Volume V, 1891-1893," 1894, p 93</ref> <ref name="GloucNotesVp94">W.P.W. Phillimore, "Gloucestershire Notes and Queries, Volume V, 1891-1893," 1894, p 94</ref> <ref name="MenAndArmour">"Men & Armour for Gloucestershire in 1608" (online searchable database of the information produced bya military survey of the county of Gloucesteshire conducted by John Smyth the Steward of the Berkeley Estate in that year)</ref> <ref name="SamElizDOB">The dates of birth of Samuel and Elizabeth are based on the fact that (1) they were listed before Richard (bpt. Jan. 1607) and Jane (bpt. Mar. 1609), respectively, in William's will and therefore probably olderand (2) their parents were married in December 1603. There is no evidence that establishes whether Samuel or Elizabeth was born first. It is possible that one of them was a child from William's first marriage and thus born sometime before 1603.</ref> <ref name="TAG9p139">The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), p 139: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)</ref> <ref name="TAG9p144">The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), p 143: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)</ref> <ref name="TAG9p143">The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), p 143: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)</ref> <ref name="TAG9p142">The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), p 142: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)</ref>

Sources

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