History of Bucks County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
Names and Page # Index

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY of Nockamixon and Tinicum, and other parts of Bucks county, trace their ancestry to Joseph Williams, of Boston, Massachusetts. He and his wife, Lydia, had ten children, namely: Joseph, born 12 mo., 14, 1670 (O. S.); William, 10 mo., 13, 1671; Richard, 12 mo., 8, 1673; Hannah, 3 mo., 20, 1674, died in infancy; Daniel, 10 mo., 25, 1676; Hannah, 3 mo., 26, 1679; Jeremiah, 6 mo., 22, 1683 (referred to hereafter); Elizabeth, 7 mo., 22, 1686, died in infancy; Elizabeth, 10 mo., 9, 1688; and Mary, 9 mo., 6, 1869.

Jeremiah at an early age was bound to a ship carpenter to learn the trade. During his apprenticeship he left the church of England and joined the Friends or Quakers. 1 mo., 28, 1706-07 (O. S.), he presented a certificate to the monthly meeting of Philadelphia from the Monthly Meeting of Rhode Island. 1 mo., 1707-08, he requested a "Certificate of Clearness" from the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting to Flushing Monthly Meeting to marry Philadelphia, daughter of George and Mary (Willis) Masters. In 1680 or '81 George Masters, a tailor of New York, married Mary, daughter of Henry Willis, of Flushing, Long Island. Henry was fined for allowing his daughter to be married by Friends ceremony. After their marriage they went to England, where their first child, a daughter named Mary, was born in 1682. Upon their return to this country they must have been in Philadelphia for a time, as their second child, a daughter, was born there in 1684. She was the first white female child born in the city and was named Philadelphia for the city in which she was born. Jeremiah and Philadelphia Williams lived in the city of New York. They had two children. Joseph, born 3 mo., 15, 1710, died in infancy; and Hannah, born 9 mo., 8, 1711, married Benjamin, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Jackson) Doughty, of Long Island, in 1737. Philadelphia Williams died 3 mo., 16, 1715, and the same year, 5 mo., 5, he bought a mill property at Hempstead Harbor, Nassau Island, Queens county, New York, of John Robinson. The following year, 7 mo., 11, 1716, Jeremiah married Mary, daughter of Walter and Anne (Collins) Newbury, of Newport, Rhode Island, and widow of Jedediah Howland. This is a copy of their marriage certificate.

Marriage Certificate—Whereas, Jeremiah Williams, late of New York, but now of Hempstead in Lond Island, and Mary Howland, widow and relict of Jedediah Howland, of Newport, in Rhoad Island, Having declared their intention of taking each other in Marriage before severall Publick Meetings of the people commonly called Quakers in said Rhoad Island, according to the Good order used among them whose proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof with regard unto the righteous law of God and example of his people recorded in the Scriptures of Truth in that case were approved by the said Meetings, they appearing clear of all others and Having consent of parents and others concerned.

Now these are the certifie all whom it may concern that for the full accomplishing of their said Intentions this eleventh day of the Seventh month called September in the year according to the English, one thousand seven hundred and sixteen they the said Jeremiah Williams and Mary Howland appearing in a publick assembly of the People and others met together for that purpose in Publick Meeting place at said Newport and in a solemn manner, he the said Jeremiah Williams taking the said Mary Howland by the hand did openly declare as followeth:

Friends, in the fear of God and before this assembly whom I desire to my witnesses I take this my friend Mary Howland to be my wife promising through the Lord's assistance to be to her a faithful and loving husband till death separate us. And then and there in the said assembly the said Mary Howland did in like manner declare as followeth; Friends, in the fear of God and before this assembly whom I declare to be my witnesses I take this my friend Jeremiah Williams to be my husband promising through the Lord’s assistance to be to him a faithful and loving wife till death separate us. And the said Jeremiah Williams and Mary Howland as a further consideration thereof did then and there to these presents set their hands.

And we whose names are hereunto subscribed being present among others at the Solemnizing of their said Marry and subscription in manner aforesaid as witnesses hereunto have to these presents subscribed our names the day and year above written.

JEREMIAH WILLIAMS,

MARY WILLIAMS.

Witnesses—Johannah Mott, Elizabeth Whartenby, Jacob Mott, Mary Wing, William Barker, Hannah Brinley, Bethia Folger, Ann Kay, Clark Rodman, Susanna Freeborne, Ephraim Hicks, Katherine Hull, Thos. Leach, Hannah Hull, Samuel Collins, Thomas Rodman, John Headly, Thomas Borden, Ruth Fry, Peter Easton, John Stanton, Junr., Dorcas Easton, Samuel Buffum, Johannah Leach, Thomas Hicks, Susannah Hicks, John Hull, Junr., Mary Caine, Deliverance Cornell, Abigail Hicks, Elizabeth Borden, Rebecca Bennett, Hope Borden, Ann Redwood, Alice Borden, Sarah Redwood, Mary Borden, Mary Stanton, Thomas Rodman, John Easton, Walter Newberry, William Anthony, Ann Cranston, John Wanton Justice, Elizabeth Bordens, George Cornell, Leah Newberry, Joseph Borden, Ann Richardson, John Borden, Martha Cornell, Thos. Richardson, Patience Anthony, Patience Redwood, Hannah Fry, Sarah Newberry, Sarah Borden, Ann Newberry, Blenham Stanton, A. Redwood, Catherine Clarke, Ann Clarke, Hannah Rodman, Katherine Sheffield.

At the time of her marriage to Jeremiah, Mary had one son, Joseph Howland, born 10 mo., 25, 1710 (O. S.). The children of Jeremiah and Mary Williams were: Anne, born 4 mo., 17, 1719, married out of meeting, 1744; Benjamin, born 9 mo., 4, 1722 (referred to hereafter); Mary, born 9 mo., 26, 1724; Jeremiah, born 3 mo., 18, 1726; Lydia, born 12 mo., 6, 1729; and Martha, date of birth unknown, married Benjamin Hill, at Kingwood, 8 mo., 3, 1753 (N. S.). In the year 1743 or '44 Jeremiah and his two sons, Walter and Benjamin, and daughter Martha moved to Kingwood, Hunterdon county, New Jersey. His daughter Mary came in 1758. Jeremiah, at the establishment of the Monthly Meeting at Kingwood, was made with Joseph King the first elder of that meeting. Some years after this his health failing he, with his wife and daughter Mary moved to their son Benjamin's, he having moved some years before to Nockamixon township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He remained with his son until his death, 3 mo., 15, 1766 (N. S.), and was buried in the old grave yard at Quakertown, New Jersey. His will was written in Nockamixon, 1 mo., 23, 1760, proved 6 mo., 6, 1766. His wife died in 1774. Her will is dated Nockamixon, Pennsylvania, 6 mo., 12, 1766, proved 3 mo., 20, 1774.

Benjamin Williams, son of Jeremiah and Mary (Newbury) Williams, was born 9 mo., 4, 1722 (O. S.). He married Mercy, daughter of John and Margaret Stevenson, of Kingwood, New Jersey, in 1744. Their children were: John, born 1 mo., 29, 1745, married Hannah Pursell; Mary, born 10 mo., 11, 1747; Jeremiah, born 5 mo., 9, 1749 (referred to hereafter); Margaret, born 4 mo., 4, 1751, married John Iliff; Lydia, born 8 mo., 18, 1752 (N. S.), married David Burson; Benjamin, born 10 mo., 30, 1756, married Dorothy Leiper; Anne, born 7 mo., 15, 1758, married Jacob Ritter; William, born 9 mo., 20, 1760, married Rachel Leiper; Samuel, born 7 mo., 20, 1762, married Sarah Watson; Susanna, born 7 mo., 30, 1765, married a Mr. Stroud; Benjamin and his family moved to Nockamixon township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, some time prior to 1760, and must have lived there for some considerable time before receiving a deed for the property. It was finally deeded to him in 1769. There were 515 acres and 31 perches, the boundaries reaching from near the Narrows to the village of Upper Black's Eddy along the river, and extending over the hill regions for a considerable distance. This was the land once owned and controlled by the Chief Nutimus and his tribe, and this chief was always an honored guest of Benjamin Williams, Sr., whose home was nearly on the site of the mansion built by Jacob Stover soon after purchasing in 1818. Benjamin Williams, Sr., and his family lived here during the time of the raids by the Doans, and having a valuable horse of which he was very fond, and hearing of the approach of the Doans, he quietly stabled his favorite horse in his kitchen and it was thus saved from falling into the hands of the lawless gang. Soon after taking possession of the land in Nockamixon the young Indians roaming over it at will, gathered the apples from the trees and took them away, and disturbed the water in the spring until it was unfit for use for a time. Benjamin expostulated with Nutimus, and asked why they did it. Nutimus replied it was true the Indians had sold the land, but not the apples and spring. Benjamin asked them how much they wanted for the apples and spring, and the chief replied, five bushels of Indian corn, five bushels of buckwheat and five loaves of ryebread. After that the spring and the apples were not disturbed. In 1778 or '79 Benjamin bought about 500 acres of land in Tinicum township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and built the house on the river road now owned by Clinton Haney, near the little hamlet of Lodi. The little creek which empties into the Delaware was the northern boundary of this tract. His son, Jeremiah, took possession of this tract in 1779. Some time after this Benjamin bought about 500 acres in the beautiful Buckingham Valley, which was occupied by his youngest son Samuel.

In his will, which was dated Nockamixon township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 3 mo., 16, 1809, and probated 5 mo., 30, 1809 he mentions "a general arrangement of my estate," in which, on the 4^th d of the 1^st m. in the year one thousand eight hundred and three" he deeded to his three sons, Jeremiah and Benjamin the land on which they were living, and on the "3^rd of the first m. in the year one thousand eight hundred and four" he deeded the land in Buckingham to his son Samuel, who was then residing there. Benjamin died at the home of his son Samuel in Buckingham and was buried in the grave yard at the Buckingham Meeting House. He died in 1809, probably in the early part of the fifth month.

Jeremiah, son of Benjamin and Mercy (Stevenson) Williams, born 5 mo., 9, 1749, married 4 mo. 25, 1779 (N. S.), Mary, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Blackledge, of Richland township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: John, born 1 mo., 27, 1780 (referred to hereafter); Thomas B., born 4 mo., 11, 1781, married Rebecca Arndt; Benjamin, born 12 mo., 18, 1782, married, first, Mary (Meredith), widow of ----------- (?) Burson, second, Rachel, daughter of Benjamin and Dorothy (Leiper) Williams; Susan, born 6 mo., 10, 1785, never married; William, born 6 mo., 12, 1789, married Hannah Whiting; Samuel, born 6 mo., 18, 1792, died 1812; Isaac B., born 4 mo., 23, 1794, married Martha Shelton White; Margaret, born 4 mo., 28, 1796, married Abel Lester; Jeremiah, born 12 mo., 28, 1798, married Elizabeth Lake.

John, son of Jeremiah and Mary (Blackledge) Williams, born 1 mo., 27, 1780, married July, 1804, Christiana, daughter of John and Anne (Kimple or Kimball) Moore. Christiana was born 3 mo., 5, 1781. Their children were: Mary, born 5 mo., 20, 1805, married Nathan Whiting; Newbury Davenport, born 5 mo. 9, 1807, married Lucy Adelaide Gould; was made the first cashier of the Frenchtown, New Jersey, National Bank, when that institution was established; James, born 8 mo. 23, 1809, married first Phoebe Treichler, second, Josephine Krause (widow). He died March 14, 1903, at the age of nearly ninety-four years; Ann Eliza, born 7 mo. 30, 1812, married Jonas Smith, at this writing, August 26, 1905, she is still living in possession of all her faculities, and enjoying a ripe old age in the home of her only child, John W. Smith, at Stockton, New Jersey. Barzilla Newbold, born 7 mo., 4, 1814, referred to later; and Caroline, born 1 mo., 18, 1821, married Thomas W. Harris. John and Christiana Williams built a home on the estate of his father, at Lodi, at the intersection of the river road and a road leading back to the western part of the township. The place is now owned by a Mr. Adams. After the death of his father, Jeremiah Williams, in 1834, John bought land, in Tinicum township, of the William Erwin estate, about 300 acres, and moved there in the spring of 1837. In the settlement of his father's estate, Thomas was the only purchaser of any part of the original estate; his purchase being about one-half of the land on the north and west side of the tract. His three brothers, Benjamin, Isaac and Jeremiah, with their sisters, Margaret Lester and Susan Williams moved to Ohio with their families about 1840. John died 6 mo. 6, 1858. Prior to his death he sold the middle portion of the tract, bought of the Erwins, to Conrad Wyker and at the sale, after his death, the northern portion was bought by his son Barzilla and the remaining portion by his daughter Caroline. There had been a few lots sold to others for building purposes, and these together with three houses on the south side of the public road comprise the little village of Erwinna.

Barzila Newbold Williams, born 7 mo. 4, 1814, married first, in 1839, Mary, daughter of Azariah and Anna Cummings Davis, of Sussex county, New Jersey, and had two daughters: Stella, born 6 mo. 13, 1841, died 10 mo. 4, 1843; and Anna M., born 1 mo. 4, 1844, married, 2 mo. 15, 1877, William H., son of Rev. Samuel and Katherine (Wolfinger) Stahr. William and Anna lived in Philadelphia; he died 3 mo. 9, 1903; they have one daughter, Francelia Williams, who resides with her mother in Philadelphia. She was born 1 mo. 10, 1878. In September, 1847, he married Sarah S., daughter of William L. and Elizabeth (Large) King, by whom he had two children: Josephine King, born born 10 mo. 4, 1852, referred to hereinafter, and Sarah Francelia, born 3 mo. 4, 1855, married 3 mo. 7, 1878, Evan Thomas, son of Elisha and Harriet (Lukens) Worthington. Their children were: Elisha, born 2 mo. 27, 1879; Helen born 6 mo. 15, 1881, died 9 mo. 30, 1881; Eleanor F., born 12 mo. 7, 1887, died 6 mo. 15, 1888. Evan T. and Sarah F. Worthington resided in Buckingham, Pennsylvania, where he had a general store until the spring of 1890 when they moved to Newtown, Pennsylvania, where he conducts the middle store purchased by him before his removal to Newtown. Barzilla's second wife died 1 mo. 26, 1856, and in March, 1858, he married Mary, daughter of George and Maria (Davis) Morrow, by whom he had one son, Samuel Silvey, born 2 mo. 1, 1859; he married Harriet May, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Hagenbuck) Hendricks, of Chicago. They were married 12 mo. 10, 1888, have one child, Marion Francelia, born 6 mo. 7, 1897. Samuel Silvey and his family reside in Chicago, he is the associate manager of the Detroit Stove works, whose main office is located in Chicago. On 6 mo. 1, 1875, Barzilla married his fourth wife, Hannah, daughter of Ralph and Martha Harrison, and widow of a Mr. Johnson, of Camden, New Jersey, who still survives him. They had no children. He died 6 mo. 1, 1901, and was buried in the Pursell burying ground at Upper Black’s Eddy, Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

Josephine King Williams, daughter of Barzilla and Sarah (King) Williams, and the compiler of this record, was born at Erwinna, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 10 mo. 4, 1852. She married, 4 mo. 22, 1885, Stacy B., son of Bruce M. and Martha (Poore) Pursell, of Upper Black’s Eddy, Pennsylvania, a record of whose ancestry on both sides is embraced in this work. At the time of their marriage Stacy was a druggist in Portland, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1888, he sold his drug store in Portland and they removed to Bristol, Pennsylvania, their present place of residence. In the settlement of the estate of Barzilla Williams, the administrator, Stacy B. Pursell, sold the farm to Readen Tettemer, and thus, excepting a store property in Erwinna, owned by Joseph Williams, and a house and lot at Lodi, owned by Mrs. Alice (Williams) Winter, all the ancestral estate in Tinicum has passed out of the name, as it has also in Nockamixon; only a few acres of the hill regions of that tract are now owned by the descendants of Benjamin Williams, the original purchaser.

Text taken from 273-276

Davis, William W. H., A. M. History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III

Transcribed October 2001 as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html

Published November 2001 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/