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A Williams family of Boston, Mass.

This is a summary of research to date on the family of David Williams, Esquire, a son of Benoni Williams b. November 18, 1745 in Providence Rhode Island (or, alternately, Cranston - Glocester - or Newport! - depending on the source) and his wife Amie Bennett.

The Providence Phoenix newspaper obituary (Nov 2 1817) for Benoni (Benoni>Joseph>Daniel>Roger) says he was editor of the first Republican newspaper published in Providence, in 1802, called "The Impartial Observer." He appears in the Boston City Directory, however, by 1805.

A marriage notice for his son David in the United States Chronicle (RI newspaper) of June 9, 1803: "Cynthia Williams daughter of John Williams of Mansfield, and David Williams, merchant, formerly of this town, at Mansfield, by Reverend Mr. Green"

So Benoni, and wife Amie Bennett Williams, and David, relocated to Massachusetts. David and Cynthia Williams (nee Williams) had two daughters born in Mansfield, and then moved to Boston, where David is found in the City Directory "engaged in commerce" later described as "W.I. Goods" (West India). Their subsequent children were born in Boston. Much of the rest of what I have been able to learn about this family comes from their son, David Homer Williams, the proprietor of the Mt. Auburn cemetery lot where much of this family lies.

David Homer Williams and family at rest.

Lot No. 3124 on Acanthus Path in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge MA, holds five engraved stones:

  1. BENONI WILLIAMS born in Gloucester R.I. Nov. 16, 1745 died in Boston, Ms. Nov. 1, 1817;
    AMEY WILLIAMS born May 15, 1760 died in Sudbury Ms Mar. 7, 1835;
    BENONI WILLIAMS died in Boston Apr. 16, 1816 aged 1 yr 11 ms & 16 ds.
    EARNEST A. WILLIAMS died in Boston Aug. 27, 1823 aged 3 ys, 8 ms & 19 ds.
    These four, David H. Williams' grandparents and two brothers who died in infancy, were first buried in Mansfield and in 1861 were transferred to Mt. Auburn after it opened.
    The back of this stone reads: "Grandfather, and Grandmother; Brothers; Descendants of Roger Williams; "I am the way, the truth and the life."
  2. DAVID WILLIAMS "born in Providence, R.I. March 25, 1780, died in Boston Ms. June 4, 1861" and on back: "Father; Love never dies."
  3. CYNTHIA WILLIAMS "born in Mansfield, Ms. November 11, 1779, died in Boston, Ms. August 10, 1864" and on back: "My Mother"
  4. CYNTHIA A. WILLIAMS "wife of George N. Nichols, born July 4, 1814, died Feb. 11 1897;" MARY L. NICHOLS "born Dec. 13, 1857 Died Feb. 14, 1917"
  5. DAVID H. WILLIAMS "born June 26, 1807 Died Apr. 28, 1883;" MARY SMITH, "wife of David H. Williams born Nov. 30 1806 Died Aug. 27 1881."

This lot was owned by David Homer Williams (son of David and Cynthia, grandson of Benoni and Amey Bennett Williams, and brother to little Benoni and Earnest A. Williams who died young). Cynthia A. Williams Nichols was his sister and Mary L. Nichols his niece. This family group can be found on page 143 of "Roger Williams of Providence, R.I. Volume I" by Bertha Williams Anthony and Harriett Wood Weeden; I thank Elsie B. Williams, Registrar of the Roger Williams Society, for her letter confirming this connection.

Here is a list of other relatives mentioned in the Mt. Auburn cemetery documents - I would very much like to correspond with researchers of these lines!

Also, the next lot over, number 3125, was owned by John P. Turpin, husband to David and Cynthia's daughter Mary Ann Williams Turpin. In this lot: Also mentioned Bradford S. Turpin, son of John M. Turpin and Ellen Adelia Rogers.

Descendants of David Williams Esq. (originally of Providence) and Cynthia Williams (of Mansfield, Massachusetts; a descendant of Richard Williams and Frances Deighton)

Generation No. 1

1. David Williams, Esquire (Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born March 25, 1780 in Providence, Rhode Island, and died June 04, 1861 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. He married Cynthia Williams March 20, 1803 in Mansfield, Bristol, Massachusetts, daughter of John Williams and Mercy Briggs.

Children of David Williams and Cynthia Williams are:
+ 2 i. Almira Williams, born December 09, 1803 in Mansfield, Bristol, Massachusetts; died Aft. 1860.
+ 3 ii. Mary Ann Williams, born March 03, 1805 in Mansfield, Bristol, Massachusetts; died December 10, 1891 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
4 iii. David Homer Williams, born June 28, 1807 in prob. Boston; died April 28, 1883 in Mt. Auburn Cemetery. He married Mary Smith May 29, 1833 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
+ 5 iv. Ann Elizabeth Williams, born 1809 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; died December 19, 1845 in Mississippi River, Ohio.
+ 6 v. Henry Bennett Williams, born 1812 in Boston, Massachusetts; died Aft. October 1881.
+ 7 vi. Cynthia Ann Williams, born July 04, 1814 in Boston, Massachusetts; died February 11, 1897 in Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
8 vii. Benoni Williams, born May 16, 1817 in Boston, Massachusetts; died April 15, 1819 in Boston, Massachusetts.
9 viii. Ernest Augustus Williams, born January 08, 1820 in Boston, Massachusetts; died August 27, 1823 in Boston, Massachusetts.


Generation No. 2

2. Almira Williams (David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born December 09, 1803 in Mansfield, Bristol, Massachusetts, and died Aft. 1860. She married Henry Briggs February 09, 1834 in East Sudbury, Wayland, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Child of Almira Williams and Henry Briggs is:
+ 10 i. Henrietta Williams Briggs, born May 04, 1835 in Massachusetts; died January 22, 1905 in Weston, Mass.

3. Mary Ann Williams (David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born March 03, 1805 in Mansfield, Bristol, Massachusetts, and died December 10, 1891 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts. She married John P. Turpin April 22, 1830 in Hollis Street Church, Boston, Mass, son of Benjamin Turpin and Lydia Wheaton.

Children of Mary Williams and John Turpin are:
+ 11 i. Mary Ada Turpin, born March 13, 1832 in Massachusetts; died September 19, 1910 in Massachusetts.
+ 12 ii. John McNamara Turpin, born April 19, 1829 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; died May 17, 1865 in Massachusetts.

5. Ann Elizabeth Williams (David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born 1809 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and died December 19, 1845 in Mississippi River, Ohio. She married Charles Bowen November 15, 1831 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, son of Dijah Bowen and Elizabeth Flint.

Children of Ann Williams and Charles Bowen are:
13 i. Charles Henry Bowen, born September 05, 1832 in Boston, Massachusetts; died November 1845 in Mississippi River.
14 ii. Frances Anne Bowen, born September 25, 1836 in Massachusetts. She married Edwin M. Dr. Kellogg October 11, 1869 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
+ 15 iii. Mary Williams Bowen, born December 25, 1839 in Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio; died November 29, 1908 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

6. Henry Bennett Williams (David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born 1812 in Boston, Massachusetts, and died Aft. October 1881. He married (1) Lucretia Jackson March 10, 1847 in Newton, Middlesex, Mass, daughter of William Jackson and Hannah Woodward. He married (2) Eugenia Stowe Gilbert June 03, 1852 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, daughter of Lyman Gilbert and Eugenia Stowe.

Child of Henry Williams and Lucretia Jackson is:
16 i. Lucretia E. Williams, born 1848 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts. She married Samuel P. Reed July 21, 1876 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Child of Henry Williams and Eugenia Gilbert is:
17 i. Eugenia Marion Williams. (Never married.)

7. Cynthia Ann Williams (David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born July 04, 1814 in Boston, Massachusetts, and died February 11, 1897 in Mt. Auburn Cemetery. She married George Nelson Nichols April 18, 1844 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

Children of Cynthia Williams and George Nichols are:
+ 18 i. Ann Homer Nichols, born May 04, 1846; died May 26, 1926.
19 ii. Mary Louise Nichols, born December 13, 1857 in Massachusetts; died February 14, 1927. (Never married.)


Generation No. 3

10. Henrietta Williams Briggs (Almira7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born May 04, 1835 in Massachusetts, and died January 22, 1905 in Weston, Mass. She married Edward Hon. Isaiah Jr. Thomas Bef. 1860, son of Isaiah Thomas and Mary Reeder.

Children of Henrietta Briggs and Edward Thomas are:
20 i. Ada Mary Thomas, born March 14, 1860 in Pleasant.
21 ii. Amy R. Thomas, born 1862.
22 iii. Bertha W. Thomas, born 1859.

11. Mary Ada Turpin (Mary Ann7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born March 13, 1832 in Massachusetts, and died September 19, 1910 in Massachusetts. She married Daniel Chauncey Brewer December 28, 1853 in Hampden, Massachusetts, son of James Brewer and Harriet Adams.

Children of Mary Turpin and Daniel Brewer are:
23 i. David Homer9 Brewer, born December 08, 1854 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts.
+ 24 ii. Daniel Chauncey Brewer, born September 14, 1861 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died 1932.
25 iii. Mary Ada Brewer, born September 07, 1858; died May 13, 1862.

12. John McNamara8 Turpin (Mary Ann7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born April 19, 1829 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and died May 17, 1865 in Massachusetts. He married Ellen Adelia Rogers April 17, 1856 in Boston or Worcester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, daughter of William Rogers and Adelia Strong.

Child of John Turpin and Ellen Rogers is:
26 i. Bradford Strong9 Turpin, born April 28, 1857 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; died Aft. 1891.

15. Mary Williams8 Bowen (Ann Elizabeth7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born December 25, 1839 in Zanesville, Muskingum, Ohio, and died November 29, 1908 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married Thorndike Deland Hodges April 25, 1867 in Haverhill, Massachusetts, son of John Hodges and Mary Deland.

Children of Mary Bowen and Thorndike Hodges are:
+ 27 i. Mabel Thorndike9 Hodges, born January 30, 1868 in New York City, NY; died Aft. 1930.
28 ii. Frances Edwina Hodges, born July 14, 1872 in Orange, New Jersey; died November 03, 1890 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
+ 29 iii. Richard Osgood Hodges, born 1877 in Elizabeth, New Jersey; died WFT Est. 1907-1967.
+ 30 iv. Charles Bowen Hodges , Sr., born June 29, 1870 in Orange, Essex, New Jersey; died October 15, 1947 in Boston Massachusetts.

18. Ann Homer8 Nichols (Cynthia Ann7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born May 04, 1846, and died May 26, 1926. She married Walter Harris Tenney January 01, 1868 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, son of Nathaniel Tenney and Susan Parker.

Children of Ann Nichols and Walter Tenney are:
31 i. Walter Harris9 Tenney, born 1868.
32 ii. Winthrop P. Tenney, born 1871.
33 iii. Maude Tenney, born 1875.
34 iv. Susan Tenney, born 1878.


Generation No. 4

24. Daniel Chauncey Brewer (Mary Ada8 Turpin, Mary Ann7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born September 14, 1861 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, and died 1932.

Children of Daniel Chauncey Brewer are:
35 i. Daniel Chauncey Brewer, born July 23, 1896 in Massachusetts; died July 24, 1896 in Buried in Mt Auburn Cemetery.
36 ii. Katharine C. Brewer, born November 1898; died December 04, 1899 in Buried in Mt Auburn Cemetery.

27. Mabel Thorndike Hodges (Mary Williams8 Bowen, Ann Elizabeth7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born January 30, 1868 in New York City, NY, and died Aft. 1930. She married Joseph M.D. Kittredge October 31, 1889 in South Orange, New Jersey, son of Joseph Kittredge and Henrietta [Kittredge].

Children of Mabel Hodges and Joseph Kittredge are:
37 i. Joseph Kittredge, born November 26, 1890 in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He married Dorothea Davis December 29, 1920 in Washington, D.C..
38 ii. Francis Bowen Kittredge, born October 07, 1898 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He married Mary Peebles February 27, 1924.
39 iii. Edwina MD Kittredge, born December 09, 1900 in Brookline, Massachusetts; died Aft. 1935. She married Lewis C. F. Newbury Abt. 1930.

29. Richard Osgood Hodges (Mary Williams8 Bowen, Ann Elizabeth7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born 1877 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and died WFT Est. 1907-1967. He married Abby Dana Ames June 11, 1902 in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, daughter of Fisher Ames and Virginia Lee.

Child of Richard Hodges and Abby Ames is:
40 i. Richard Ames Hodges, born Abt. 1905.

30. Charles Bowen Hodges , Sr. (Mary Williams8 Bowen, Ann Elizabeth7 Williams, David Esq.6, Benoni Jr.5, Benoni4, Joseph3, Daniel2, Roger1) was born June 29, 1870 in Orange, Essex, New Jersey, and died October 15, 1947 in Boston Massachusetts. He married Imogene Burt October 13, 1898 in Waterloo, IA, daughter of Adin Burt and Almira Burnham.

Children of Charles Hodges and Imogene Burt are:
41 i. Charles Bowen Hodges, Jr., born December 07, 1901 in Pittsburgh, PA; died September 07, 1981 in Andover, MA. He married Marjorie Atlee Mason March 17, 1924 in Germantown, PA.
42 ii. Richard Burt Hodges, born February 07, 1905 in Pittsburgh PA; died April 16, 1985 in Portland, ME. He married (1) Alice Deriemer Suffern June 08, 1929 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He married (2) Margaret Shepard Chapman December 02, 1939.

For ancestors of David and Cynthia see my surname website.

Prepared by Jane Peppler; please contact me if you can identify any of these people, or have research to share!