Extracted from a series of email by
Dr. Melton Meek, MD
I am writing this in an attempt to get us all on the "same track" and to try to eradicate any areas of disagreement. I find that some of the published Williams materials are in error. I will welcome any comments/disagreements/data or sources concerning this.
Most of this comes from my publication: "Pemberton And Williams Families, England, Rhode Island and Virginia", published in 1992. I sent a copy of this to the Roger Williams Family Association, Rhode Island and they consider it to be the most inclusive publication that they have.
JAMES WILLIAMS, MARRIED ALICE PEMERTON, daughter of Robert and Katherine (Stokes) Pemberton. Alice was baptized 18 Feb 1564/5, St. Albans Abbey, Hertsfordshire Co, Eng and died 1 Aug (or May?) 1634/5, London; buried St. Sepulchre church. Will: 1 Aug 1634 -26 Jan 1634/5, P.C.C. Vol. 27, page 12 James Williams, was born @1562/66, probably at St. Albans, lived at CowLane,St. Sepul- chres-Without-Newgate parish, London and died @1621, London. His will: 7 Sep 1620 -19 Nov 1621, P.C.C. Vol. 24, page 50.
The antecedant background for JAMES WILLIAMS is still very vague and unproven. Some researchers maintain that this line, originally, came from Wales and not from the Hertsfordshire area of England. My primary data is obtained from the records of G. Andrews Moriarty..a famous genealogist in England, published in the "New England Historical and Genealogical REGISTER, Vol. 47 and from Henry Fitgerald Waters; "Genealogical Gleanings in England" published in the REGISTER, Vol. 43 etc... Waters was a very famous genealogical researcher and was a Williams Descendant, also.
Moriarty: "It will thus be seen that a good deal is known about the maternal ancestry of Roger Williams (of RhodeIsland--brother of our Shadrack Williams). But, up to date, nothing has been learned concerning the parentage of his father: JAMES WILLIAMS (I). The latter, (James) was admitted free of the Merchant Taylor's Company, by servitude on 7 Apr 1587, a date when he must have been about 21 years of age. (MPM: ages accepted by the Guild of Merchant Taylors was 7-21 years) He lived in Cow Lane within the parish of St. Sepulchres Without Newgate in London. It is reasonable to SUPPOSE, however, that he had a connection with St.Albans, where he had found his wife.
Moriarty: James Williams MAY have come from the west in Gloucestshire, near the Welsh border. (MPM: The St. Albans Pemberton families SUPPOSEDLY came from Cheshire area, England.)
Moriarty: "the following items, taken from the Hertsfordshire records, were printed in the "Herts. Genealogist and Antiquary". They seem suggestive, although they do not prove anything regarding the parentage of James Williams. They are, however, useful as a basis for furthur re- search in the paternal ancestry of Roger Williams, of Rhode Island (MPM: also for Shadrach/Sidrach Williams). "Subsidy for Herts. 37 Henry VIII (1545) TRING MAGNA, JAMES WILLIAMS, GENT......taxed 4s.... (Herts. Gen. and Ant., Vol. II, p. 27) (MPM: Tring was small town few miles NorthWest of St. Albans, Hertsfordshire, England)
Will of JOAN AUDLEY, of Hitchin, co. Herts, widow, dated 14 Mar 1580 & proved on 6 Feb 1583/4. To be buried in Hitchin. To daughter: Joan Audley. To sons: William and John Audley. To daughter: AGNES WILOIAMS AND TO HER CHILDREN, JAMES AND JOAN. To daughter: Agnes Coop and her children. To son: Robert Papwort and his children and his son: Williams. This will mentions WILLIAM AUDLEY, my last husband. James Tyde, of Dunstable, executor; son: William Audley. Overseers: Son- Robert Papworth and friend Mr. Thomas Parrys. (Herts, Gen. and Ant. Vol. II, p. 229)
"Subsidy for Herts, 37 Jenry VIII (1545) Hitchin, viii." WILLIAM AUDLEY, taxed 40s (ibid, Vol. I, p. 329) Herts-Feet of Fines: Hilary Term 25 Elizabeth (1582/3) John Bowyer, Esq. querant and WILLIAM AUDLEY AND MARK WILLIAMS AND AGNES, HIS WIFE, deforciants. A messuage in Hitchen alias Hutchyn. (ibid. Vol. II, p. 307)
From Moriarty: "It may be SUGGESTED that JAMES WILLIAMS, of Tryng Magna in 1545, was the father of MARK WILLIAMS, who married AGNES AUDLEY, dau. of William and Joan Audley of Hitchin and had issue JAMES and Joan Williams, who were evidently young in 1581. This James Williams may be identical with James Williams, who was admitted to the Merchant Taylor Company in 1587 and is the known father of the founder of Providence, R.I"
Another interesting will, of MARGERY PATE, dated 22 Sep 1617 of St. Pulkers (St. Sepulchers Parish, London) confirms the children of James and Alice (Pemberton) Williams. I have been unable to find any definite connection of the Williams Family to the other indiv- iduals named in her will with the exception fo the LIDE (prounounced LLOYD) family members. The widow of Roger Williams, son of Shadrack and grandson of James/Alice Williams, late intermarried with a Lloyd family in Virginia. Since Margery ( ) Quille/Pate leaves legacies to James and Aliace Williams and to three of their children (she does not mention Sidrach/Shadrack), I would assume a close relation- ship and perhaps even a sister (???) of James Williams.
Will: Weldon 100 (P.C.C. = Perogative court) MARGERY PATE "Margery Pate, of the parish of St. Pulkers, London, widow, 22 September 1617, and proved 2 Oct 1617. My body to be buried within the church of St. Pulckers, near unto my former husband Richard Quille. To my godson: John Miller, to Hudson Miller, to Anne Miller wife of Thomas Miller, to my cousin Thomas Miller and to his daughter... to Judith Claxton and to her daughter Ann Nicholes...to Elsieh Pynnocke and to ROBERT LIDE... To JAMES WILLIAMS, twenty shillings to ALICE WILLIAMS, WIFE UNTO JAMES WILLIAMS, twenty shillings. To Alice Quille (Certain household goods and wearing apparel) To Elizabeth Albrocke...to ELIZABETH LIDE WIFE UNTO HENRY LIDE and to Herny, James, Maurice and Cassandra Lide, children unto Henry Lide....to ROGER WILLIAMS, SON OF THE SAID JAMES WILLIAM, twenty shillings to ROBERT WILLIAMS, SON OF THE SAID JAMES WILLIAMS, twenty shillings and to KATH- ERINE WILLIAMS, DAUGHTER OF THE SAID JAMES WILLIAMS, twenty shillings. To Elizabeth and Sarah Webster, daughters of John Webster and John Webster, his son and the rest of Webster's children...to Edward Gooddcoole, Richard Bradley, Elizabeth Younge, widow and Michael Bolton. HENRY LIDE, of Westminster, Esq, to be sole executor and JAMES WILLIAMS OF ST. PULKERS, MERCHANT TAYLOR, OVERSEER."
James Williams was called by titles of Citizen, Merchant Taylor and Turkey Merchant in various documents. The following information is pertinent to this discussion. Henry F. Waters --"Genealogical Gleanings....p. 427, dated 1889... "On the above named pages, the Rev. Roger Williams (of St .Albans).... George Fxo dig'd out of his Burrowes" (Published Nar. Club, vo. v, p. 146) is quoted to show that Roger Williams had a brother, who was a Turkey Merchant... On page 299, Henry F. Waters furnished reasons for thinking that this Turkey Merchant may have been Sidrack, son of James Williams of London....... The editor of the "Register" sent a copy of the July number containing this matter to the clerk of the Merchant Taylor[s Company, of London, asking for entries in the Company's books about Sidrack Williams and his father: James Williams, both Freeman of that Company and asking also if there was any evidence on the books that Sidrack Williams was a Turkey Merchant" He receive the following reply:...... "Merchant Taylor's Hall, London, E.C. 31 Aug 1889 (MPM: I visited this Hall in London a few years ago...still an active Guild...I was not able to obtain any records there since they were getting ready for a banquet that night and I was very short of time.)
Dear Sir: In reply to your letter of the 2nd inst. I have much pleasure in forwarding to you the enclosed particulars from our Records regarding Sydrack Williams and his father. J.W. Dean, Esq. I am, dear Sir...Yours truly....F.G. Faithfull. 1620 Feby 20. Sydrack Williams, the son of James Williams, is admittee into ye Freedom of this Company by Patrimony. Witness he is his Sonne Thomas Morse, Innholder and Edw Webster, Merchant Taylor (MPM: see Margary Pate will for Webster)(Ordinary court book, 1619-1630, fol. 118)""
(Note: James Williams was admitted to the Freedom of the Comany by Servitude to Nicholas Tresswell, on 7 April 1587. (Alphabetical List of Freemen, 1530-1648) AND James Williams, lists "my kinsman-Thomas Morse, in his will of 7 Sep 1620, London. I have not been able to trace this Thomas Morse kinship.)
James Williams/Alice Pemberton
Son: Sidrach/Sidrack, Sydrach/Sydrack/Shadrack Williams Information sent to correspondant: Amelia Gilreath by Dr. James Courtney, found in London visit, "Boyd's Index" (my summary) THOMAS TILER married JUDITH CLINT Dau: Anne Tiler married 1. Francis Pinner B: 1599 D" 10 Jul 1637 10 Oct 1621 2. SHADRACK WILLIAMS B: 1594 (@1600 PRIOR INFO) D: 1647. Barwick (in Elmett), Co. York, Eng.
Note: the data on Shadrack agrees with my prior findings. I do not believe that Shadrack ever came to Virginia. He, and his partner, William Clobery, did ship merchandise to Virginia in 1625 from London. I believe (without proof) that he sent his son: Roger to VA to carry on his business and that Roger was, probably, born in London.
Shadrack Williams, Children: from "Main International Genealogical Index (IGI)-British Isles. Shadrack Williams: Father: James Williams; Mother: Alice Pemberton Born: about 1600, St. Albans, Hertford, England. Christening: 10 Jan 1600, St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate Parish, London , England. (christenings usually occured in first year of life...however, Shadrack may have been born in 1594.)
I found St. Sepulchre church, near old Newgate Prison, on my last trip to London. It is near the Tower of London, and is in the Old City of London area. It does not have a cemetery at this time. Visited mid-week and could not get inside the church or find the rector etc. The outside "bulletin board" was completely blank. Most of churches mentioned in the various wills and deeds that I have are still present in London....all of them "locked-up" during the wee week. Strange!!! From IGI: Christenings: St. Albans, St. Albans, Hertford, England HIS CHILDREN:
Anne, Shadrack's first wife died 1637: "Parish Records, Putney, Surry Co, England" Burials: 1637 July 10 ______(blank)_______, wife of Sydrach Williams, Gent. Judith, Shadrack's second wife, d.@ Aug 1638: "Administrations, Prerogative Court, Canterbury" Judith Brown, Stepney, Middlesex admin. granted to Sidrack Williams, h. (husband) on 13 Aug 1638. IGI info: Marriage: Shadrach Williams to Judith Brown, 11 Apr 1637, St. Alphage Parish, Greenwich, Kent County, England. There is a discrepancy here in date - they were probably mararied 11 Apr 1638, and she died a few months later. Shadrack's children must have been by his first wife: Anne.
JAMES WILLIAMS DESCENT: (Married - Alice Pemberton) Son: Shadrack/Sydrach Williams, married 1. Anne Pinner 2. Judith Brown
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As presented by William Mann Morrison, 280 Rockin Hill Drive, SW, Marietta, Georgia, 30060, Correspondent/author of "Morrison-Williams, Second Edition, 1989", p 166ff.
Morrison, in my opinion, makes a major mistake in the lineage of Sydrach Williams - who married Anne Pinner, England. He places him as a son of John and Anne (Weston) Williams of the Williams=Cromwell=Welch lineage - instead of being a son of James and Alice (Pemberton) Williams, of St. Albans, England. Morrison is an excellent researcher, however, and I am including several pages of his book that outline the Williams-Cromwell descents (plus some of my own research).
It has been well documented, elsewhere, that Roger Williams, of Rhode Island, son of James and brother of Sydrach - initially tried to marry a ward of Lady Joan Barrington, of London. Roger was serving as Chaplain to this family of Sir Francis and Joan (Cromwell) Barrington at the time. OLIVER CROMWELL, (LATER LORD PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND), was a nephew of this Lady Joan (Cromwell) Barrington. Therefore, Roger Williams, of Rhode Island and Oliver Cromwell must have known each other quite well. (see included Cromwell/Williams information, below).
Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier, whom he probably met at the home of his aunt - Lady Joan Barrington. Lady Barrington was a close neighbor of Sir James Bourchier, father of Elizabeth Bourchier.
Descent (including) JOHN WILLIAMS
Son: MORGAN WILLIAMS, MARRIED KATHERINE CROMWELL, eldlest dau. of Thomas
Cromwell, Earl of Essex.
Son: SIR RICHARD WILLIAMS, married Frances Murfyn, daughter of Sir Thomas
Murfyn, Lord Mayor of London. (King Henry VIII had a Cromwell ancestry, which
had "died out" and asked Sir Richard Williams to change his name to
CROMWELL...so that the name could be perpetuated... Sir Richard did so...and was
Knighted etc....)
Son: Sir Henry Williams alias Cromwell, Knight, married Joan Warren, dau.
of Sir Ralph Warren, Twice Lord Mayor of London.
Children: (including)
Son: OLIVER CROMWELL, LORD PROTECTOR OF ENGLAND.
Then, according to Morrison's book information:
ROGER WILLIAMS, BROTHER OF ABOVE SIR RICHARD WILLIAMS alias CROMWELL -
Married Margaret Mathew
Son: John Williams
Son: John Williams married Ann Weston
Son: SYDRACH WILLIAMS AND ANNE PINNER
Son: Roger Williams married Joan ____________.
NOTE: I believe this line to be in error!
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Roger Williams, born 15 dec 1625, died 6 Jan 1677. He married Joan Frith, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Frith. She was born about 1650 and died 2 Feb, 1703, in Rappahannock County, VA.
Shadrack Williams, born 1673 and died 1 Feb 1709. He married Elizabeth Walker.
Roger Williams, born 1700, died 1767. He married Ann Williams (see: Williams Line Number 2). For Roger's will and descendants, see "Combined Williams Families".
One question, who is Samuel Williams? Luke is 28 years old, not old enough to have a son old enough to sign the will. John would have been 37. He not old enough to have had a son old enough to sign.
I have no deeds in Richmond Co., VA for Henry. I have never seen HUKEY on any Richmond records of any type.
Many, many times deeds were NEVER recorded at the Courthouse....and if so, were recorded many years after the fact of the sale etc. Getting to the courthouse was not so easy at that time for many people. In addition, they had to pay a fee for registration and those "Scotch-Irishmen" were not ABOUT to pay such fee. Deeds of Gift are a very valuable genealogical resource. I have been able to trace a family group for 2-3 generations utilizing only deed information.
Let me know what you think, please.
Mel