Richard Williams (1726 - 1781)

Born 6 Aug 1726 in Monocacy, Prince George County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Prudence Beals — married 11 Oct 1746 in Maryland

Descendants

Died 6 May 1781 at age 54 in New Garden, Guilford County, North Carolina, USA

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Biography

Richard was a Friend (Quaker)

Richard Williams performed Patriotic Service in the American Revolution.

Richard Williams is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A126581.

Richard Williams was born on 6 Aug 1726 in Monocacy, Prince George's, Maryland. During the American Revolutionary War, Richard and his wife, Prudence Beals were living in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he rendered goods and services in the support of the Continental Army. ^[1] Richard is honored for his Patriotic Service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as DAR Ancestor #A126581. Application for membership in the Society has been made by his sons, Jesse Williams, who married Eleanor Johnson; John Williams, who married Sarah Wheeler; Silas Williams, who married Mary Hunt, and Richard Williams, Jr. who married Susannah Pointer; and of his daughters, Charity Williams, who married William Hiatt; Mary Williams, who married Jonathan Hoggatt, and Sarah Williams, who married Samuel Stanley. ^[2]

He was the first Quaker settler, and one of the earliest settlers in Guilford county. He gave the land on which the "New Garden Meeting House" stands, as well as timber tracts. The Battle of Guilford Court House, the last battle of the Revolution, was fought nearby, and Richard Williams' house was occupied by the wounded officers. Smallpox breaking out among them, Richard Williams caught it and died. ^[3] Fairfax is located in Blue Ridge Mountains. ^[4]

Children

^[5]

• Silas - b 5 Aug 1747, m 16 May 1770 to Mary Hunt
• Chanty - b 6 May 1750, m 17 May 1769 to William Hiatt
• Jesse - b 13 Jan 1753, m 9 Jun 1774 to Eleanor Johnson; m 2nd 9 Jul 1788 to Sarah Terrill
• Richard - b 29 Sep 1755
• Mathias - b 10 Dec 1760, died unmarried
• Sarah - b 10 May 1763, m 14 Feb 1781 to Samuel Stanley
• Dorcas - b 16 Dec 1765, m ___ Hackett
• Ruth - b 8 Feb 1768, m May 1794 to Charles Gordon
• Mary - b 27 Jul 1770, m 14 Oct 1793 to Jonathan Hackett
• John - b 18 Mar 1773
• Ann - b 7 July 1775, m ___ Jessup

Richard died June 6, 1781, in Guilford county, North Carolina and is buried in the New Garden Friends Burial Ground. (Quakers) Although his Find A Grave memorial gives the modern county of Frederick as the birth location, that county was not established until 1748 ^[6]

Researcher's Notes

Richard was born about 1729 and is the son of George Williams and Joanna Mills. He died in 1781.

North Carolina Archives: "The Williams Family" Page 14: On 7th month 27th, 1746, appears the following entry: Richard Williams. 1st. The minutes spread upon the record book of Fairfax (Virginia) Monthly Meeting, shows that he was the son of George Williams, the founder, and married Prudence Beales.

Quaker Meeting On 7th Month 29th, 1746: "Richard Williams and Prudence Beales appeared here and signified their intention of taking each other in marriage, it being the second time, and nothing appearing to obstruct their proceeding, they are left to their liberty to accomplish their marriage according to the good order used amongst Friends, and the Meeting appoints Henny Ballinger and Jonathan Williams to see it so accomplished and make report to next Monthly Meeting." ^[7]

Quaker Meeting On 12th Month 25th, 1746: "The Friends appointed to attend the marriage of Richard Williams and Prudence Beales report that it was orderly accomplished." ^[8]

The next record states: "Joseph Wells requests a certificate for himself and wife to the Monthly Meeting of Carver's Creek, in North Carolina. Also request is made for certificate for Thomas Beales and wife and Richard Wiliiams a!id wife to the above said Monthly Meeting."

These certificates were approved and signed on 6th month 26th, 1749, and Richard Williams and his brother-in-law Thomas Beales, a minister of the Society of Friends, and their wives, then moved to Guilford County, North Carolina.

A grandson of Prudence (Beales) Williams in his published "Reminiscences" wrote of her in 1S76. "My grandmother remained a widow for the rest of her life, and died respected by all who knew her. She was an Elder in the Religious Society of Friends for many years, and was highly esteemed. She was opposed to slavery and a friend of the oppressed." She was born 3rd month 1st, 1730 ; died 6th month 26th, 1815.

Prudence Beales was the daughter of John Beales, of Bealesville, Maryland. John Beales, Sr., was a member of the Society of Friends who settled near Aston, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He married in 16S2, Mary, the daughter of William Clayton, Sr., and later moved to Nottingham, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1726. His children so far as definitely known, were John, Jr., William, Jacob, Mary and Patience. Prudence, daughter of John Beales of Nottingham and later of Bealesville, who married Richard Williams, had 11 brother named Thomas and probably one named I'.owatcr. It is certain that Prudence and Thomas Beales were children of John Beales, but whether of the father or his son John, is not known, probably of the latter. Thomas Beales was a Minister of the Society of Friends and was the first white settler in the State of Ohio, having gone there in 1702 from North Carolina under the auspices of his Meeting to preach to the Indians.

William Clayton, father of Mary Clayton who married John Beales, Sr., arrived in the ship "Kent" from London in company with certain commissioners sent by the Proprietors of New Jersey, to purchase lands from the Indians, etc., in 167S. He purchased the share of Hans Olson, one of the original graiitecs of W.arcus Hook, and settled at that place. He was an active and consistent Friend and also participated...

Sources

1. ↑ North Carolina Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers, #3741, Roll #S.115.135
2. ↑ DAR Ancestor # A126581
3. ↑ Colonial Families of the United States of America, Volume II" by George Norbury Mackenzie
4. ↑ http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/o/l/Paul-Holzer-Phoenix/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0654.html
5. ↑ Colonial Families of the United States, Vol. II, William Family, pp. 757-758
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18583108/richard-williams
7. ↑ Quaker Meeting On 7th Month 29th, 1746
8. ↑ Quaker Meeting On 12th Month 25th, 1746

• North Carolina Archives: "The Williams Family" Page 14
• http://riverwye.s406.sureserver.com/getperson.php?personID=I13283&tree=Watkins