Several people have contributed information regarding the Major's family.  There has been so much melding of our communal knowledge that it would be a yeoman's task to cite who supplied each item.

Susan Bishop should have a medal - or at least a new pair of reading glasses, for tirelessly finding so many family members in census records spread from Illinois to many points west, and for locating and transcribing obituaries.  She also obtained a copy of John Williams' pension records and transcribed Letitia Jones Williams' "Widows Brief", claiming a pension based on John's military service.

Helen Vargas generously provided page after page of her research, not only on Williams descendants, but also ancillary relatives.  She gathered some portions of family history through letters sent and received from Williams descendants now gone.

Mickey L. Dutcher gave us a copy of her grandmother's ledger. This wonderful notebook, which we refer to as Goldie B's Journal, was compiled by Goldie Beatrice Read Williams (1898-1990) from personal knowledge and discussions at Williams family reunions over a period of many years.  It gave us a strong backbone onto which we could confidently attach so much of what we had individually found.

Jeff Henson educated all of us with early history gleaned from tax rolls, estate papers, etc., and shared Jones family documentation.  Some portions of Jeff's information is based on the research of Sandra Dow.

Charles H. Willams contributed Major John Williams' will and associated papers.

Sally Williams provided, in particular, details on her ancestor, Lemuel Rhodes Williams.

Marcia Farina, the author, whose grandparents owned the Hancock Township farm where John and Letitia spent the last years of their lives, has spent innumerable hours deciphering and photographing tombstones, and searching through old local newspapers, scrapbooks and various other sources.

We have shared, discussed and weighed evidence, and in some cases developed differing opinions. As with any genealogical record, the interested researcher would be wise to pursue an independent course of investigation, validating and documenting to his or her own satisfaction.

Additional details are available on the page displaying the tombstones of John and Letitia Williams, with links to several related news articles and essays.  Of particular interest is a Sunday School class picture from the 1890s, taken in front of the original Majorville Church building.  This rare gem was shared by Roger Vanderveen, a descendant of Elizabeth Letitia Williams White.

It will take some time to fully present the Major's extended family on this website.  In the meantime, researchers should be sure to visit Susan Bishop's database on Rootsweb.  She is everlastingly grateful for the information she has received from so many helpful folks, and would like to pass along that kindness to all who are interested.

Susan's Genealogy

His first wife was Mary Jones, born in South Carolina, the daughter Joseph and Elizabeth Jones. (Elizabeth's maiden name may have been Palmer.)  See also: Sarah Jones Williams, Mary's sister.

John and Mary were married in 1812 in South Carolina, and their first son was born there.  They moved to Kentucky between 1814 and 1817, and lived in Christian County, in an area that became part of Trigg County, Kentucky, in 1820.

John Williams was listed on Trigg County tax roles in 1820; 1821 - 300 acres, Little River Butler Survey; 1822 - 300 acres, Caney Creek on Little River; 1823 - 330 acres; 1826 - 200 acres, Little River; 1827, no land.

After leaving Kentucky in approximately 1828, the family came to Illinois and lived for a short time in Sangamon County.  Within a year or two, they settled in the scantly populated wilderness of Hancock County.

According to the above mentioned biography, Mary died sometime between 1833 and 1836 in Hancock County.  Her burial location is unknown.

The children of John Williams and Mary Jones were:

i.	Lemuel Rhodes Williams, born April 26, 1814, in Union District, South Carolina.  He died December 27, 1904, in Adair County, Missouri, burial at Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery in Kirksville, Adair County, Missouri.
ii.	Patrick McCorkle Williams, born January 1, 1817, in Christian County, Kentucky.  He died March 12, 1893, at Colmar, McDonough County, Illinois, and was buried in Colmar at St. Mary's Cemetery.
iii.	James Madison Williams, born February 11, 1819, probably in Christian County, Kentucky.
iv.	Mary Stevens Williams, born September 14, 1821, in Kentucky, probably Trigg County. She apparently died prior to December of 1846, burial location unknown.
v.	John Palmer Williams, born December 5, 1823, in Kentucky, probably Trigg County.  He died February 5, 1837, probably in Hancock County.  His burial location unknown, but we can almost guess that he would have been buried near his mother.
vi.	Parmenus McNelly Williams, born April 8, 1826, in Kentucky, probably Trigg County.
vii.	Elizabeth Leticia Williams, born December 28, 1828, in Illinois.  Based on the Williams chronology as we know it, this birth may have occurred in Sangamon County.  Elizabeth died December 10, 1888, in Illinois, probably in or near her home in Fountain Green Township, Hancock County, and is buried at Majorville Cemetery.
viii.	Elijah Renshaw Williams, born October 10, 1830, in Illinois.

Letitia was born about 1806 in South Carolina.  She died February 20, 1886, and was buried beside John.  Tombstone

John and Letitia's children were:

i.	Benjamin Franklin Williams, born November 27, 1836, in Hancock County, Illinois.  He died after April 1, 1910.
ii.	Rufus Barryman Williams, born November 25, 1838, in Hancock County.  He died July 8, 1862, at the battle of Big Springs in Mississippi.  He is buried at Corinth National Cemetery, in Corinth, Mississippi.
iii.	Sarah Ann Williams, born December 20, 1840, in Hancock County. Sarah married William H. Winslow on September 11, 1860; he died in December of 1862, a casualty of the Civil War. She married Abel Gordon on June 10, 1867.  Abel died August 25, 1891, in Missouri, probably Adair County.  Sarah died May 25, 1909, in Missouri, also probably Adair County. They are both buried at Bethel Cemetery near Kirksville, Adair County.
iv.	Wayman Wesley Williams, born April 23, 1843, in Hancock County.  He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, was discharged for disability in 1862, reenlisted in 1864 and served until 1865. Wayman married Anna M. Fortney on September 11, 1866, in Hancock County.  She was the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ann Fortney. Wayman died February 7, 1904, in Alma, Harlan County, Nebraska; Anna died January 2, 1933, in Alma.  They are both buried at Woodruff Cemetery, Woodruff, Phillips County, Kansas.
v.	Lucena Ruth Williams, born July 15, 1845, in Hancock County.  She died February 24, 1912, at Greensburg Township, Knox County, Missouri.  Burial at Greensburg Cemetery.
vi.	Huston J. Williams, born November 13, 1847, in Hancock County, died after April 1, 1910. This son's middle name seems to have been James, but he also went by Jones.  On one set of marriage documents, he was named as Jones Williams; on another set, he signed his name as both James H. Williams and J. H. Williams.  In his father's will, he was named as James.
vii.	Margaret Anzonetta Williams, born July 17, 1851, in Hancock County.  She died May 27, 1923, at Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, burial at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois.

John Williams, 58, male, farmer, value of real estate 1200, born NC
Lettitia, 44, female, born SC
Elizabeth, 21, female, born IL
Elijah R, 19, male, born IL
continued on next page
Benjamin F Williams, 14, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Rufus B, male, 10, born IL, attended school within the year
Sarah A, 8, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Wayman C, 6, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Lucena R, 4, born IL, attended school within the year
Huston J, 3, born IL

John Williams, 60, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1000 owned, born NC
Mary, 55, female, born NC
Ruther, 22, male, farmer, born IL
Sarah, 20, female, born IL
Wennon, 18, male, farmer, born IL, attended school within the year
Jane, 14, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Huston, 12, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Margaret, 9, female, born IL, attended school within the year

There's little question that this is the same John Williams as the 1850 enumeration, but this 1860 listing certainly serves up confusion.  Note that the wife's name is shown to be Mary (the first wife's name) when it should have been Letitia.

Jeff Henson suggests that someone other than an immediate family member claimed knowledge of the family and provided this information to the enumerator.

I, John Williams of the Township of Hancock, County of hancock, and State of Illinois, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do therefore make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.  After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I want the residue of my Estate, both real and personal disposed of as follows. To wit: I want my wife Letetia Williams to have the use, control, and benefit of my property both real and personal, as long as she remains my widow.  And after her death or marriage, I want the aforesaid property sold and the proceeds divided equally amongst all of my lawful heirs and I likewise appoint my son Lemuel R. williams to be Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and that the Executor has the right to sell for cash down or on time as he may think best for the heirs.  In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this thirteenth day of August A.D. 1867.

John Williams (signature)

The above written instrument was subscribed by saiud John Williams in our presence and acknowledged by him to each of us to be his Last Will and Testament and we at his request and in his presence have signed our names as witnesses and written opposite our names our respective places of residence.

L.T. Zinns, Fountain Green, Hancock Co., IL
J.R. Evans, Hancock Township, Hancock Co., IL

Lemuel R. Williams being duly sworn deposes and says that John Williams late of the County of Hancock and State of Illinois, is dead, and that he died on or about 4 September 1867 and that his Personal Estate will probably amount to the sum of $1,000, that said John williams left at the time of his decease, Lutitia Williams, his widow, and Lemuel R., Patrick M, Elijah R. Benjamin F., Wayman W., James, Margaret A. Williams, Sarah Ann Jerden, Lucena Medcaf, Elizabeth White, his children and Lemuel B. Franklin Williams Fanni J. Bell and other names unknown his grand children.

L. R. Williams (signature)

Subscried and sworn before me this 12 day of September 1867
R. W McClaughy, Clerk
by D. H. Ferguson, Deputy

Callihan, Thomas, 33, married, farmer, born IL, both parents born PA
Margaret A, 28, wife, married, born IL, father born NC, mother born SC
William E, 9, son, single, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born IL
Clara E M, 2, daughter, single, born IL, both parents born IL
Williams, Lutitia, 74, mother-in-law, widowed, keeping house, born SC, father born NC, mother born SC