John Williams (abt. 1530 - bef. 1578)

Born about 1530 in Gloucestershire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Theobalde (Unknown) Williams — married about 1554 in Gloucestershire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 27 Aug 1578 before about age 48 in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England

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Biography

Disputed Parentage: Richard Williams of Dixton, Gloucestershire

Gov. Joseph Hartwell Williams' lineage of the Williams family, published in NEHGR in 1897^[1] and relied upon by several secondary sources (including Cutter's "New England Families"^[2] and Frost's "Ancestors of Amyntas Shaw"^[3]), shows that he was the son of a Richard Williams of Dixton, Monmouthshire and his second wife Christian. There is indeed a will of a Richard Williams of Dixton, Gloucestershire with a wife named Christian and a son named John.^[4] There were, however, a very large number of Richard Williams and John Williams in Gloucestershire at the time and no reliable evidence has been found that supports the proposition that John Williams, son of Richard Williams of Dixton, was the same person as John Williams who died in Wotton-under-Edge in 1578. The distance between Dixton and Wotton-under-Edge is approximately 40 miles, which is too far to use proximity as an argument that they were likely the same person.

Exhaustive research, including by the College of Arms, published in TAG in 1932 was unable to find any evidence that established the parentage of John Williams and concluded that "little reliance can be placed on [Gov. Joseph Hartwell's lineage of the Williams family], as the researches then carried out were apparently made with the object of supporting the preconceived idea that a connection existed with the family of Cromwell alias Williams."^[5]

Date and Place of Birth

John's date and place of birth are uncertain. Based on the fact that his eldest son was probably born sometime in 1548-1558, John was probably born sometime in 1520-36, with 1530 being a decent best-guess estimate. One of the researchers retained for the 1932 TAG article speculated that John Williams of Wotton-under-Edge probably came from somewhere else, possibly from Wales, as a large number of people migrated from Wales to the English border counties during that period.^[5] It is therefore a reasonable proposition that John was born in either Gloucestershire or Wales.

Of Huntingdon or Huntingford?

Gov. Joseph Hartwell Williams' lineage of the Williams family describes John as "of Huntingdon, near Wotton-under-Edge."^[1][2][3]) No reliable source has been found for any Huntingdon that 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 John lived in Huntingford, the proximity makes it plausible.

Marriage

John's will refers to his wife Theobalde. Her maiden name is unknown. Assuming that she was the mother of all of John's children, John and Theobalde were probably married sometime in 1545-1558, with 1554 being a reasonable best-guess estimate. Their place of marriage, like John's place of birth, is uncertain and may have been in Wotton-under-Edge, elsewhere in Gloucestershire or perhaps in Wales.

Children

Based on the children named in John's will, John and (presumptively) Theobalde, had the following children:

1. William, b. perhaps about 1556, m. 1st November 15, 1585 Jane Shepard at Wotton-under-Edge, m. 2d December 14, 1603 Jane Woodward at Cam, Gloucestershire, buried September 29, 1618 at Wotton-under-Edge
2. John, b. perhaps about 1558, m. (2d?) November 15, 1585 Katherine Plomer at Wotton-under-Edge, had issue buried in 1585 and baptized in 1599 in Wotton-under-Edge
3. Hugh, b. perhaps about 1560 (under 24 at time of father's will in 1578), had issue baptized in 1599 and 1603 in Wotton-under-Edge
4. Frances, b. perhaps about 1562 (under 20 at time of father's will in 1578), perhaps buried March 11, 1581 in Wotton-under-Edge

Will; Death

John made his will on April 17, 1578. In his will, he requested to be buried in the church yard of Wotton, made bequests to the poor of Wotton, sons William, John and Hugh, daughter Frances, Richard Burnam son of Anthony Burnam, and Johane Williams daughter of Edmond Williams, bequeathed all the rest of his goods to Theobald his wife and made her sole executrix.^[6][7] John was buried at Wotton-under-Edge on August 27, 1578.^[8] His will was proved on June 25, 1579.^[7]

Transcription of will here: Will of John Williams of Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire 1578

^{[9] [7] [6] [5] [3] [2] [1] [4]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Richard Williams of Taunton and his Connection with the Cromwell Family," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 51 (1897)," p 212
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} William Richard Cutter, "New England Families: Genealogical and Memorial, Vol IV," 1915, p 2102
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Josephine C. Frost, "Ancestors of Amyntas Shaw and His Wife Lucy Tufts Williams," 1920, p 17
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK. Date: 1559. Will: 255. Reference Code 207325
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), p 137: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK. Date: 1579, Will Number: 50, Wotton under Edge, Consistory Court of Gloucester, Reference Code: 211050
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT, Vol 9 (1932), pp 141-2: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)
8. ↑ Burial: "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813"
   Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 in 1/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 4732 #1748492 (accessed 25 August 2022)
   John Williams burial on 27 Aug 1578 in Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire, England.
9. ↑ Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P379 IN 1/1