Lewis Williams (abt. 1648 - 1717)

Born about 1648 in Glamorganshire, Wales [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Walburton) Williams — married [date unknown] in Cowan, North Carolina

Descendants

Died 1717 at about age 69 in Chowan, North Carolina

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Biography

Lewis Williams was a Carolina colonist.

Lewis Williams was in Nansemond Co, VA in 1667 when he signed the “Grievances” in support of Bacon’s Rebellion. He is claimed as a headright by at least three different individuals in 1679 and 1680. He patented land on the Southern Branch of the Nansemond River in 1682 when one of his headrights was Rowland Williams. He was granted land in North Carolina in Chowan Precinct in 1697. Lewis Williams was a member of the Vestry of Southwestern Parish of Chowan Precinct.
Lewis^[1]

Lewis Williams Entry, Historical Southern Families

Williams and his wife Mary — sold land West of the Chowan in what is now Hertford County by 1703. Lewis Williams received several grants from the Province of North Carolina between 1697 and 1714; he also sold many of the tracts.

On April 30, 1707 the Virginia Council sends letter of protest about Lewis Williams presence west of the Chowan near Meherrin creek and then in June, 1707 it is reported to Council that Lewis Williams was engaged in a dispute with the Meherrin Indians that the latter have attacked him in his house, and that “his life is doubted and his family in danger”. Later, Lewis Williams is said to have driven the Indians away.^[2]

Death/Burial/Will/Probate

Will of Lewis Williams of Chowan Precinct, dated Oct 1, 1716 and proved April 16, 1717: Wife Mary and son Anthony, exrs. Witnesses: William Cranford, Grissie Littleson. Clark of court: R. Hicks^[3]

I Lewis Williams of Chowan Precinct in the County of Albemarle in the Province of North Carolina

• To Son Anthony Williams and Martha his wife, the plantation they live on and at their demise to Grandson Lewis Williams and his heirs ...
• Grandson John Jones 100 acres;
• Grandson Charles Sowell 100 acres;
• Grandson Lewis Jones 100 acres;
• Grandson John Patchett 100 acres;
• John Williams son of William Williams, decd 5 pounds;
• Daughter Priscilla West the plantation he lives on after the decease of wife Mary; and land on Katherine's Creek. Should Priscilla die without heirs the land and plantation is to go to grandson John Williams.
• Wife Mary, the plantation at Catawatsky, pigs (male, female and young); this plantation goes to grandson Lewis Williams if Mary remarries or when she dies. Other livestock is to be divided among the children of Anthony Williams. She also gets to remain at the main plantation (Priscilla's), receives 1/2 the movable goods, a horse, 1 negro man, and other items.
• Grandson John Williams, beneficiary should Priscilla not have heirs.
• Other small items are bequested to the previously mentioned persons

Children

This list is from his will and may not contain children who died young.

1. Anthony m. Martha
2. Priscilla West
3. Daughter m. Jones (m. John Jones d. Chowan Co. NC ^{[citation needed]}. Children John, Lewis.
4. Elizabeth ? m. Patchett (m. John Patchett who died 1711 Chowan Co. NC. Child. John.^[4]
5. Daughter m. Sowell. Child Charles.

•  ? William is not named son and had a son John mentioned in the will, but was given 5 pounds instead of land. Is he the same as grandson John Williams mentioned as beneficiary should Priscilla die without heirs?

Sources

1. ↑ Historical Southern Families Vol. VI, page 224
2. ↑ Colonial Papers of North Carolina. 
[1]
3. ↑ NC Dept of Hist and Archives NC Wills 1663-1789 Vol 34 p 68. :Wills, 1663-1789; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; :Probate Place: North Carolina. :Item Description: Secretary of State Original Wills, Tomes, Joshua - Zimmerman, Jno. 3 Images - Probate Record for Lewis Williams 1717 North Carolina, (later USA). Full will accessed online 11/7/2015 at North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
4. ↑ PATCHITT, JOHN Probate:March 14, 1710-1711. Wife: ELIZABETH. Son: JOHN ("my plantation"). Executor: not named. Witnesses: DAVID JONES and WILLIAM TANNER. Original missing. Recorded in Book 1712-1722, page 36. (Source: Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, By: J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, 1910, Page 281) Accessed [http://genealogytrails.com/ncar/chowan/wills_abstracts_p.html Chowan County North Carolina Genealogy and History - Wills and Probates

• WikiTree profile Williams-11364 created through the import of Williams Family Tree(1).ged on May 30, 2012 by Chris Harter. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Chris and others.

• John C. Rich Family Tree Maker

• Hist So Fam Vol VI Boddie, Will: 1717, Chowan County, NC

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Peter Roberts for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Peter and others.