James Williams Senior (1759 - 1842)

Born 22 Feb 1759 in Chester County, Pennsylvania

Husband of Nancy (Piatt) Williams — married about 1785 in Washington County, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Murphy) Williams — married 26 May 1806 in Adams County, Ohio

Descendants

Died 11 Jul 1842 at age 83 in Adams County, Ohio, United States

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Biography

James Williams Senior served with Washington County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

James Williams Senior is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A126183.

James Williams was living in Washington County, Maryland in 1777 and moved to Washington County, PA in 1778. He then moved to Brooke County, Virginia and in 1781 Moved to Ohio County, Virginia. He was involved in numerous military operations along the frontier. He went from Ohio County, VA to St. Louis in 1786 and returned to Ohio County, In Jan 1790, James went to St. Louis serving under Maj Doughty as a volunteer scout and spy ahead of a boat heading to Marietta. June 1790, he returned home to Ohio Co., VA.^{[1][2][3] [4]}

James Williams was one of the first settlers of Adams County, Ohio. "Among the first settlers were James and Joseph Williams. They came about 1796, and James Williams erected a cabin on the east side of Ohio Brush Creek near where the Cedar Mills Pike crosses that stream, or about sixteen rods above the crossing of the old Cincinnati and Portsmouth Road."^[5][6]

He was married at least twice.

The first documented wife of James Williams was Nancy Piatt, a daughter of Jacob Piatt. ^[7] They were married about 1785. ^[8]

His first wife Nancy died about 1805 or 1806.

James married his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Murphy Miller on 25 or 26 May 1806 in Adams County, Ohio. His second wife, Elizabeth, was allowed a bounty land claim 19 April 1855 based on his military service. At that time she resided in Adams Co., Ohio.^[9]

In the 1840 census Adams Co., Ohio, James Williams was listed as a Revolutionary War veteran age 82. ^[10] He is probably the male age 70-80 living in the household of Andrew Jones in Jefferson Twp., Adams Co Ohio. Andrew Jones was the husband of James' youngest daughter, Vienna.^[11]

He died 11 July 1842 in Adams County, Ohio. ^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Military Record for William Williams the brother of James Williams. Revolutionary War claim for pension R.11637, based upon his service in that war. William Williams was born Apr. 24, 1761 Washington Co., Md. He applied for pension Sept. 16, 1835 while a resident of Stonlick twp., Clermont Co., OH where he had lived over 33 years. Military and Personal Record: while a resident of Washington Co., Md, - about May 1778 he enlisted in Capt. Lowder's MD Company, marched to Ft. Frederick, MD, served under Lt. Henry Shryock and guarded prisoners taken at the surrender of Burgoyne. He served four months in all. His Father, name not shown, and brothers; James and Joseph, also served at said fort. In the fall of 1778 William Williams moved with his father to Washington Co., Pa. Thence to Brooke Co., Va. and in March 1781 moved to Ohio Co., Va. to Coxes Fort. He served three months at said fort as a spy under Lt. Linley and Capt. Wm. McMan. He moved from VA to Newtown, Hamilton Co., OH and then to Clermont Co., OH. His claim was not allowed as he did not render service of six months in a military capacity as required by the pension law.. The date and place of soldiers' death are not shown. In 1850 the post office address of his widow, Mary Williams, was Gallipolis, OH. In 1835 the soldier's brother, James Williams, was a Justice of the Peace of Jefferson twp., Adams Co., OH. He was born in 1759. James Williams received a military pension for service in the Revolutionary War--Applied for pension Oct 25, 1832 and it was granted in 1833. Fall of 1777, he was living in Washington Co., MD when he enlisted as a substitute for another man in Capt Jacob Louder's Co. March and April 1778, James along with his father (Matthew) and brothers (William and Joseph) guarded prisoners from the defeat of General Burgoyne in the Battle of Saratoga. They marched to Ft. Frederick, Washington Co., MD. In the fall of 1778 along with his father and brothers (Charles and William) James moved to Washington Co., PA where they served in various scouting parties for Indians until 1780. October 1780 a campaign of mounted men was proposed to rendevous on the Ohio River and march against the Sandusky Town near Lake Erie. He enlisted in Washington Co., PA as a private in Capt Eleazar Williamson's Co and marched in a campaign against the Indians along the Ohio River to the mouth of Big Beaver when the campaign was abandoned. He then volunteered in a short expedition (30 days) of 100 mounted men through the Indian country to Muskingum River and the middle Moravian town. They took Indian prisoners and returned to Wheeling Fort near Pittsburg. The spring of 1781 he was drafted as a substitute for another man in the PA militia, Lt Lindley's Co., to guard frontiers along the Ohio River serving as a spy from Cox's Fort to the mouth of Cross Creek. Serving as a private in Capt Timothy Downing's Co under Col William Crawford in June 1781 he volunteered taking along his horse, rifle and provisions in an expedition against the Indian towns on the Sandusky River and had a battle with the Indians. Went from Ohio County, VA to St. Louis in 1786 and was called out against some Indians near Silver Creek. Returned from St. Louis Sep, 1786. Jan 1790, James went to St. Louis and served under Maj Doughty as a volunteer scout and spy ahead of a boat heading to Marietta. June 1790, he returned home to Ohio Co., VA.
2. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension File of James Williams, MD, VA, OH. S3590. Source for his date and place of birth and marriage to his second wife, Elizabeth (Murphy) Miller. Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900[1]
3. ↑ Pension papers, an affadavit filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Adams Co., Ohio, dated Oct 25, 1832
4. ↑ Evans, Nelson W. A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record of Southern Ohio. 1903. p 214, 215
5. ↑ Evans, Nelson W. A History of Adams County, Ohio: from its earliest settlement to the present time. West Union, OH: E.B. Stivers. 1900. p 335, 336, 429. Jefferson Township.
6. ↑ 1810 Tax List for Adams County, Ohio lists *Williams, James. The names preceded by an asterisk were original proprietors and not tax payers in 1810.[2]
7. ↑ Adams Co Deed Book 9:329, 6 Jan 1817. Heirs of Jacob Piatt to Benjamin Piatt: Widow Nancy, Thomas Pettit & Peggy; Rebecca Bayless, late Pyeatt; Polly Williams, late Pyeatt; James Williams Sr, husb. of Nancy Williams, decd; Matthew, Rebecca, and Sally Williams, heirs of Nancy; David Murphy & Caty, late Caty Williams of Scioto Co OH.
8. ↑ Based on oldest daughter Catherine's age being 20 years old at the time of her marriage in 1806 to David Murphy.
9. ↑ Pike County Republican, 20 May 1875.
10. ↑ US Census 1840; Jefferson, Adams, Ohio; Roll: 375; Page: 30; Image: 65; Family History Library Film: 0020158M. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.[3]
11. ↑ Year: 1840; Census Place: Jefferson, Adams, Ohio; Roll: 375; Page: 31; Family History Library Film: 0020158. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
12. ↑ Find-A-Grave [4]

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed July 10, 2016), "Record of James Williams", Ancestor # A126183. (Mabel Mackoy, Williams n/d. Joseph Spencer Chapter DAR, Portsmouth, Ohio).

• Information regarding his second wife Elizabeth Murphy. *William B. Bogardus Collection of Brouwer, Brower and Brewer Family Material and Correspondence, Anneke Jans and Everardus Bogardus Descendants Association, Wilmington, Ohio, Box 8:D:293-B, Abraham Brower-Mary Wilts File 8:D:293-B. Pedigrees, Descendant Charts, correspondence with other researchers, DAR applications. Excerpts from History of Early-Cook Family, compiled and written by Mrs. Audrey Nourse Townsley, DAR national #322943, including Statement of Geo. B. Earley, of Jamestown, Ohio; Additions by Miss Benita B. Cook, DAR national #379752; and History of Williams Family, by Miss Mabel Mackoy, DAR national #134223[5]

• Ancestry of Matthew Williams posted on Ancestry Jul 1, 2014[6]