Catherine Elizabeth (Baggs) Williams (1830 - 1902)

Born 13 May 1830 in Black Spring, Montgomery County, Arkansas, USA

Descendants

Died 28 Oct 1902 at age 72 in Center Point, Arkansas, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jim Williams [send private message]

Biography

Catherine (aka Elizabeth) married Thomas Williams, a man about 24 years her senior. By 1870, the family was living in Arkansas and had seven children at home.^[1] In 1880, only five children were still at home. The family resided in Cove, Polk County, Arkansas.^[2]

According to family folklore, one or both of Catherine’s parents was Cherokee. My grandfather, Catherine’s grandson, Thomas Marvin Williams, stated that she was a Cherokee medicine woman and was considered a healer when doctors weren’t available. This information is based solely on my grandfather’s handwritten memoir. I have found no records to support or refute this information.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCZ-G7L : 12 April 2016), Elisabeth Williams in household of Thomas Williams, Arkansas, United States; citing p. 21, family 141, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,560.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWK-MFN : 13 August 2016), Elizabeth Williams in household of Thomas Williams, Cove, Polk, Arkansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 128, sheet 525B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0054; FHL microfilm 1,254,054.