Searching for Williams ancestry beyond Elijah Williams in order to locate name of immigrant ancestor from Wales.

Question

Looking for the name of the father of Elijah Williams who married in NC in 1830 as I am trying to trace my Williams ancestry back to the original immigrant from Wales. My great-grandfather was John CASWELL Williams and it appears that Elijah Williams was his father.

Someone has already provided the name of Elijah but I would like to find out as much as possible as I know so little about that lineage. My late father was born in Halifax County NC in the Scotland Neck area and he remembers visiting Shocco Creek in NC as a young boy and he told me that some of his relatives lived there but he didn't remember much about them because he was so young. The family Bible was destroyed so we do not have that resource. In my Williams heritage are surnames such as Jordan, Davis, Horn, Hart, Peeler. Most of them settled originally in the Tidewater Va. area before migrating to the Halifax, Edgecombe, Bertie counties area.

Thanks for any information. Nina Nan Williams Nethery

Comments

There is a book titled, "The Williams Family, Descendants of John Williams of Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales."  The first John Williams in the book was born in Wales about 1620, three generations that followed each included men named John Williams the 4th one lived in the 1700's in Monaghan County, Ireland. All four were farmers and feltmakers (made hats).

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Thank you. I will see if I can locate it in the Chattanooga TN library as I live within 3 miles of the city limits. I think that I should probably consider getting one of my brothers to submit to the DNA testing to find out which Williams family we tie in to as there are MANY folks that bear that surname. That is the third most common name in Wales, following Jones and Smith. We toured-self motor trip-the British Isles in 2012 and, while I enjoyed Wales, my favorite was the highlands of Scotland. All of my known heritage is Welsh, Irish, English, and Scots but I am a descendant of some folks who were in this country in the /early/mid-1600's and early 1700's so I guess I'm really an all American gal of 76 years. Thanks again for the info.

Nina W. Nethery

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Nan :  Can you give any dates,What do you know about John

Caswell Williams.I need more info from you.All of my ancestors are from

Wales.Will take a look for you.

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1880 Census in Whitaker Township Nash Co., NC had my great-grandfather-John CASWELL Williams listed as age 46 and that he was a merchant-owned a mercantile store. His wife, Sallie Stokes was listed as being 36 and the children at that time were:

David 10, Benjamin F. 9, Loula 7, Daniel W. 5, Samuel Jeff 3 and Fletcher, the baby as 1. NOTE: My grandfather, Henry Whitaker Williams was born in 1882 and there was one more daughter born of this union who I believe was named Sally Bet.

In the 1870 census, Liberty Township, Nash Co., NC the listings were:

CASWELL Williams, age 36 but Sallie's age was listed as 28-an error on one of the census reports? It appears that there was also a Joe Williams -age 29 and a Nancy Williams age 69 living there as well. This would be before the first child was born to my Williams great-grandparents so I would imagine that Joe W. was a brother and Nancy W. was John CASWELL Williams mother.

If anyone can shed some light that helps me locate my original immigrant Williams ancestor, I would appreciate it. My late father remembered visiting a place near his home in NC called Shocco Creek where Elisha Williams had settled. Dad was a young boy at the time and was told he was visiting relatives but he did not know the exact kinship.

Thanks for any information that is forthcoming.

Nina Nan WILLIAMS Nethery

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Nan,

I am so hoping you can help me.  I believe my ancestor is Elijah Williams, but I am not sure which one.  His son, Isaac, was supposedly born in SC--the Old Pendleton District about 1785.  He died (Isaac) in 1818 in OPD from a snakebite. His sons Eli Addison and John Alexander Williams stayed in the area and from that my lineage began.  I have a newspaper clipping of their family, and they told the reporter that the family is originally from Wales. Where can my DNA be sent to discover my past?  I have it on Ancestry.  Wanda Williams Knight in South Carolina

Answer 1

There are two named John C Williams and many John Williams' have a father named Elijah Williams. Which one is yours?

John C Williams
Son
United States Census, 1920
birth:    1897    Georgia
residence:    1920    Militia District 35, Screven, Georgia, United States    
father:    Elijah S Williams
mother:    Rose Ann Williams
other:    Emily Williams, Hattie M Williams, Laura B Williams, Elizah Williams, Robert Williams        

John C Williams
Son
England and Wales Census, 1881
birth:    1876    Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales
residence:    1881    Swansea (Town), Glamorganshire, Wales    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Caroline Williams
other:    Elizabeth A Williams, Richard C Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1940
birth:    1939    Louisiana
residence:    1940    Vidalia, Police Jury Ward 5, Concordia, Louisiana, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Mary Williams
other:    Dorthea Williams, Dorthy Williams, Essie Lee Williams        

John H Williams
Son
United States Census, 1940
birth:    1926    Mississippi
residence:    1940    Beat 2, Montgomery, Mississippi, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Eddie Williams
other:    Mary Williams, Lovallie Williams, Robert L Williams, Thomas Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1940
birth:    1914    Georgia
residence:    1940    Militia District 1356, Glynn, Georgia, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Ruby Williams
other:    Thomas Williams, Robert Bradley, Lucile Bradley, James Bradley, Henry Bradley        

John D Williams
Son
United States Census, 1940
birth:    1921    Texas
residence:    1940    Silsbee, Justice Precinct 5, Hardin, Texas, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Ella Williams
other:    Alvin Williams        

John D Williams
Son
United States Census, 1930
birth:    1908    Georgia
residence:    1930    Fort Myers, Lee, Florida, United States    
father:    Elijah B Williams
mother:    Alpha Williams
other:    Magaret L Williams, Ruth H Williams, Sarah E Williams, Alma F Williams, Louise A Williams        

John L Williams
Son
United States Census, 1930
birth:    1919    Mississippi
residence:    1930    Beat 5, Sunflower, Mississippi, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Nalie Williams
other:    Ida M Williams, J D Williams, Louise Williams, Harbell Williams, Hattie L Williams, E L Williams        

John D Williams
Son
United States Census, 1920
birth:    1908    Georgia
residence:    1920    Woodrow, Lee, Florida, United States    
father:    Elijah B Williams
mother:    Alpha M Williams
other:    Francis Williams, Alma Williams, Louise Williams, Ollie Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1910
birth:    1876    West Virginia
residence:    1910    Cameron, Marshall, West Virginia, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Susan Williams
other:    Alferd Williams        

John L Williams
Son
United States Census, 1900
birth:    February 1885    Kentucky
residence:    1900    Magisterial District 4, Caney, River Precincts Walnut Grove town, Morgan, Kentucky, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Anzy Williams
other:    Elizabeth Williams, Franky Williams, Maloy Williams, Martha A Williams, Caner Williams, Orva Williams...        

John O Williams
Son
United States Census, 1900
birth:    January 1876    West Virginia
residence:    1900    Liberty district (north side), Marshall, West Virginia, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Susan Williams
other:    Alfrea Williams        

John R Williams
Son
United States Census, 1900
birth:    February 1897    Tennessee
residence:    1900    Civil Districts 5-6, Henderson, Tennessee, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Rhoda Williams
other:    Addie May Williams, Lula J Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1900
birth:    February 1877    Arkansas
residence:    1900    Beverly Township, Sebastian, Arkansas, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Nancy Williams
other:    James Williams, Isaac Williams, Pink Williams, De Rosa Williams, Elijah Williams, Harrison Williams...        

John W S Williams
Son
United States Census, 1900
birth:    July 1897    Georgia
residence:    1900    Militia Districts 942, 1218, Weddington, Humphrey, Paulding, Georgia, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Jannie Williams
other:    Lela J Williams, Elijah B Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1871    North Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Mitchells, Bertie, North Carolina, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Caroline Williams
other:    Robt Williams        

John T Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1867    North Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Upper Town Creek, Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Milley Williams
other:    Noah Williams, W B Williams, Lizzie Williams        

John F Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1874    North Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Saint Johns, Hertford, North Carolina, United States    
father:    Elijah E Williams
mother:    Martha C Williams
other:    William Pierce, Pate Pierce, Lillie Z Nickens, Rolana Williams, James P Williams        

John W Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1857    Ohio, United States
residence:    1880    Crown City, Gallia, Ohio, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Eliza Williams
other:    James M Williams, Colonel Workman, Elizabeth Williams, Chas W Williams, Leathy E Williams, Myrta M Williams...        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1871    Tennessee, United States
residence:    1880    District 18, Bedford, Tennessee, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Jane Williams
other:    Amos Williams, Dennie Williams, Susan Williams, Thomas Irving Williams, Theop Williams, C Adaline Williams

Comments

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1868    Tennessee, United States
residence:    1880    District 13, Marshall, Tennessee, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Charlotte Williams
other:    Alonjo Williams, Irvin Williams, Lucy Alice Williams, Cliffe Williams, General Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1870    Mississippi, United States
residence:    1880    Beat 2 Water Valley, Yalobusha, Mississippi, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Cherry Williams
other:    Henry Williams, Middleton Williams, Claudy Williams, Catherine Williams, Louis Williams        

John R Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1879    Tennessee, United States
residence:    1880    District 4, Henderson, Tennessee, United States    
father:    Elijah H Williams
mother:    Susan Williams
other:    Sarah Smith, Miles Hamler, Jas H Williams, Oscar D Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1868    Tennessee, United States
residence:    1880    District 11, Jefferson, Tennessee, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Martha Williams
other:    Nancy Williams, Edmond Williams, William Williams        

John Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1874    South Carolina, United States
residence:    1880    Fair Forest, Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Emily Williams
other:    Elijah Williams, Annie Williams, Mary Williams, Emma Williams, Anderson Williams        

John W Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1847    Illinois, United States
residence:    1880    Pope, Fayette, Illinois, United States    
father:    Elijah Williams
other:    Charley Williams, E Makala Williams, William Williams, James Williams        

John M Williams
Son
United States Census, 1880
birth:    1864    Illinois, United States
residence:    1880    Le Moine, McDonough, Illinois, United States    
father:    Elijah P Williams
mother:    Mary E Williams
other:    Orin Williams, Fannie L Williams, Sarah Williams, Lydia Williams, Frederick M Williams, George L Williams...        

John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening:    21 October 1792    ROWLEY REGIS, STAFFORD, ENGLAND    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Rachel        

John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening:    14 July 1870    St. Leonard's, Bilston, Stafford, England
residence:        Bilston, Stafford, England    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Susanna        

John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening:    24 July 1842    Christ Church, Coseley, Stafford, England
residence:        Coseley, Stafford, England    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Emma        

John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening:    23 November 1856    PHILLACK, CORNWALL, ENGLAND    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Jane        

William John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
christening:    25 April 1869    Wedmore, Somerset, England
residence:        Wedmore, Somerset, England    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Tamar        

John Williams
England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975
birth:    25 January 1840    
christening:    24 July 1842    COSELEY IN SEDGLEY, STAFFORD, ENGLAND    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Emma        

John W Williams
Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953
birth:    3 September 1856    Ohio
death:    27 May 1926    Millersport, Fairfield, Ohio
burial:    29 May 1926        
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Elizabeth Griffith        

John M. Williams
Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947
birth:    2 December 1864 / 1865    Tennesse Twp., Illinois
death:    23 November 1939    Lamoine, McDonough, Ill.
burial:    26 November 1939    Plymouth, Hancock, Illinois
residence:    23 November 1939    Plymouth, Lamoine, McDonough, Illinois    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Mary E. Fisher
spouse:    Mrs. J. M. Williams        

John Williams
Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925
birth:    1870    Canada
marriage:    25 December 1910    Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Victoria Gray
spouse:    May Tobias Tibbitts
other:    Chas. Tibbitts, Melissa Knickerbocker        

John Williams
Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
marriage:    25 December 1910    Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Victoria Gray
spouse:    May Tobias Tibbitts
other:    Chas. Tibbitts, Melissa Knickerbocker        

John Robert Williams
Texas Deaths, 1890-1976
birth:    1 December 1878    Chester, Tennessee
death:    11 January 1971    Odessa, Ector, Texas, United States    
father:    Elijah Harrison Williams
mother:    Susan Elizabeth Pierce        

John Williams
West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999
death:    26 May 1951    Marshall, West Virginia    
father:    Elijah Williams
mother:    Susan Williams        
 
John A Williams
Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920
birth:    1916    
death:    3 October 1916    Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States    
father:    Elijah H Williams
mother:    Sarah H Lythgoe

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Hi!

Since my great-grandfather, John CASWELL Williams was 46 in the 1880 census in Whitaker Township, Nash County, NC, his would have been born circa 1834. In the 1870 census, he was married to Sallie Stokes with no children but it appears that a brother, Joe Williams-age 29, and his mother, Nancy Williams-age 69 lived with my great-grandparents. By the 1880 census, these two persons were not listed as living with them but there were 6 children ranging in age from one to ten. My grandfather, Henry Whitaker Williams did not come on the scene until 1882 and one more daughter was born after that. Large family!

None of the names that you provided seem to fit my family so either there is another Elijah Williams out there somewhere or the name may have been misspelled as there is an Elisha Williams that was in the general area and it appears that we may fit into that Williams family somewhere along the way.

Thanks for your information and I will keep trying to break down these "brick walls".

Nina Nan Williams Nethery