Willis Williams (abt. 1809 - abt. 1874)

Born about 1809 in Georgia, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1874 at about age 65 in Greene, Georgia, United States

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Biography

Willis Williams is a part of US Black heritage.

Grandfather of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Referring to his son, Adam Daniels (A. D.):

"Born in Greene County, Georgia, to slaves Willis and Lucretia Williams, Adam Daniel spent his childhood on the William Nelson Williams plantation, Penfield. After the death of his father in 1874, he and his family moved to nearby Scull Shoals, a rural community on the Oconee River." ^[1]

Willis died around 1874.^[2]

Research Notes

Likely match:

• "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVHP-DY1 : 7 November 2014), Wm N Williams, Greene county, Greene, Georgia, United States; citing line number 1, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 442,899.
• 1860 Census: "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules"
  The National Archives in Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Eighth Census of the United States 1860; Series Number: M653; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7668 #91345091 (accessed 22 February 2022)
  Wm N Williams in Greene, Georgia, USA.

This Slave schedule shows one 50-year-old man owned by William N. Williams who is likely Willis.

Sources

1. ↑ "Williams, Adam Daniel (A. D.) (1861-1931)" Published by the Martin Luther King Research and Education Institute, Web accessed September 13, 2016.
2. ↑ https://www.archives.gov/files/atlanta/education/resources-by-state/images/mlk-supplemental.pdf

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC3Q-RTR : 17 October 2014), Willis Williams, Georgia, United States; citing p. 48, family 485, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,652.
• https://www.archives.gov/files/atlanta/education/resources-by-state/images/mlk-supplemental.pdf