Osborne Williams (1773 - 1854)

Born 10 May 1773 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Sally (Wade) Williams — married 27 Feb 1797 in Henry, Virginia, USA

Descendants

Died 24 Sep 1854 at age 81 in Cumberland, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

Osborn Williams was likely born in what is now Henry County, Virginia, although at the time of his birth it was part of Pittsylvania County. ^[1] He is buried near Leslie in Cumberland County, Kentucky. The cemetery is located on the north side of Highway 691 about 3.5 miles west of Burkesville. His gravestone reads: "In Memory of Ozburn Williams, Born May 10 1773, Died Sept. 24 1854, aged 81 years." ^[2] Osborn's wife Sally, his daughter Betsy Smiley, and his brother Lemuel are all buried in the same cemetery.

Throughout his life, Osborn signed his name as 'Ozburn,' including on his marriage bond, numerous deeds, and in his will. His gravestone also uses that spellling.

Ozburn Williams married Sally Wade in Henry County, Virginia, on 2 March 1797. ^[3] The marriage bond was signed on 27 February 1797 by Ozburn and his father Garrott Williams. ^[4]

Although the early census records for Henry County, Virginia, no longer exist, tax records show Ozburn Williams owned property in Henry County in 1810. ^[5] By 1812, he was in Cumberland County, Kentucky, where he purchased 120 acres of land near Marrowbone Creek. ^[6] Over the next 40 years, he bought and sold a number of parcels of land, all on the waters of Marrowbone Creek.

Ozbourn Williams appears in the 1850 US census for the "Cumberland Division" of Cumberland County, Kentucky. He was a farmer, age 77. He owned 12 slaves.

Osbourn and Sarah Williams began life in very moderate circumstances, but over the years they accumulated valuable property, and at the time of Osbourn's death, he was worth about $35,000, a considerable sum of money in that time and place. ^[7]

Ozburn Williams signed his will 1 July 1852, with a codicil dated September 1854. It was recorded in Cumberland County on 16 October 1854. As a special bequest, he gave his daughter Virginia E. Williams the 104 acre tract on which he lived. The remainder of his estate was to be sold and divided equally among his living children: Sallie Moore, John O. Williams, David Williams, Mary Nunn, Virginia E. Williams and Robert L. Williams. The children of Docia Pace, Judith Gearhart and Daniel Willliams, his deceased children, were also provided for. He appointed his sons John O. Williams, David Williams and Robert L. Williams as executors. ^[8]

Osborn and Sally had at least 9 children:

1. Sally Williams, born 1798; married _____ Moore.
2. Daniel Williams, born 1799.
3. John O. Williams, born 19 March 1801, Henry County, Virginia; died 10 November 1856, Cumberland County, Kentucky, from typhoid fever; married Louisa Walthall.
4. Dosia Williams, born 15 October 1803; died 3 May 1841; married Thomas N. Pace. Children: William O. Pace; Sally Ann Pace, married Thomas W. Patterson; Joseph C. Pace; Elizabeth Frances Pace, married Lewis C. Allen; Edward B. Pace; John A. Pace; Henry S. Pace. Lived in Cumberland County.^{[9] [10]}
5. Judith Williams, born about 1806; died before 1849; married John Gearheart; moved to Missouri; had five children: James O. Gearheart, John H. Gearheart, Sarah E. Gearheart, Susan O. Gearheart, and Caroline S. Gearhheart.^[11]
6. David Williams, born 3 March 1810, Virginia; married Nancy Daughtery.
7. Mary "Polly" Williams, born 1 January 1812; died 30 January 1854; married (1) George Rowland, (2) George Washington Nunn, (3) Thomas N. Pace.^[12]
8. Virginia Elizabeth Williams, born 24 December 1814; died 30 June 1880; married Milton Smiley.
9. Robert L. Williams, born 1817, Kentucky.

George W. Williams (born about 1820, died about 1834) is likely another of Osborn and Sally's children, but that needs proof.

Sources

1. ↑ Kentucky Genealogy and Biography, Volume V, 3rd edition, 1886.
2. ↑ Osborn Williams Find A Grave memorial #64073648
3. ↑ Dosha Pace Bible. Cumberland Co., KY Bible Records, privately published by R. N. Smith, 1983, page 139.
4. ↑ Henry County Marriage Bonds, 1778-1849, by Virginia Anderton Dodd, 1953, page 57. FamilySearch.org
5. ↑ Six Decade Index of Federal Censuses for Henry County, Virginia, by Anne Vestal-Miller, 1988, page 70. FamilySearch.org (film #007857819, image 868 of 1413).
6. ↑ Cumberland County, Kentucky, Deed Book B, page 214. FamilySearch.org
7. ↑ Kentucky Genealogy and Biography, Volume V, 3rd edition, 1886.
8. ↑ Cumberland County, Kentucky, Will Book E, page 274. FamilySearch.org (film #004820079, image 509 of 696).
9. ↑ Cumberland County, Kentucky, Deed Book M, page 466. FamilySearch.org
10. ↑ Cumberland Co., KY Bible Records, privately published by R. N. Smith, 1983, page 137.
11. ↑ Cumberland County, Kentucky, Deed Book L, page 380. FamilySearch.org
12. ↑ Cumberland Co., KY Bible Records, privately published by R. N. Smith, 1983, page 137.