Copyright 1999 Perry Streeter (Content updated 2 January 2005) (c) 1999 Perry Streeter mailto:perry@streeter.com http://www.perry.streeter.com This document is Copyright 1999 by Perry Streeter. It may be freely redistributed in its entirety provided that this copyright notice is not removed. It may not be sold for profit or incorporated in commercial documents without the written permission of the copyright holder. I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented below including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections within this scope, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated. Brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson of Greenwich Township, Sussex (now Warren) County, New Jersey Descendants of Willem-1 Gerritsen of Flatlands, Kings County, New York and Willem-2 Willemsen of Gravesend, Kings County, New York Much of the following document was published as the cover article--"Brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson of Greenwich Township, Warren County, New Jersey: Did They Descend from Willem-1 Willemsen, Willem-1 Davidszen [Williamson] or Someone Else?"--in the July, August, September 2000 issue of New Netherland Connections (Volume 5, Number 3). It was hoped that this high profile placement in Dorothy Koenig's scholarly publication would prompt other researchers to help identify the immigrant ancestor of brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson. The introduction to my original New Netherlands Connection article follows: I owe a great debt of gratitude to Dorothy Koenig, Alice Smith, Catherine Di Pietro, Annette Truesdell, Dot Williamson, Grace Eckel, Lisa Henderson, Wayne McKean, and Bill Borden, without whom this article would not have been possible. As a child growing up near Springfield, Illinois, I spent my childhood summers in my parents' hometown- -Greenwood, Steuben County, New York. My paternal grandparents' farmhouse was built by my great-great- grandparents, Francis Marion-3 and Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter about 1875. My grandparents are gone now but I still enjoy spending time at the farm and hope to make it my primary home someday soon. Surrounded by the collective inheritance of generations--old photographs, letters, bibles, etc.--I developed an obsession with genealogy as a teenager. Since then, I have never ceased searching for all genealogical and biographical details for all of my direct ancestors. I have a few hazy memories of my great-grandmother, Mary (Williamson) Streeter, who died when I was only six years old. When I began researching my roots, I quickly identified her great-grandparents, Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Williamson, in existing family records. Some basic research revealed that Abraham was a native of New Jersey who had settled in Greenwood after a residence of some years in Tompkins County, New York. For years, I tried in vain to identify Abraham's father or pinpoint his origins in New Jersey. Meanwhile, an interesting theory on Abraham's maternity emerged while researching the ancestry of Daniel Richey, another direct ancestor who had also originated in New Jersey and migrated to Greenwood via Tompkins County. Daniel Richey proved to be a Junior and the will of Daniel Richey Senior identified a daughter, Charity (Richey) Williamson. Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Williamson named their second daughter Charity. Was Charity (Richey) Williamson the mother of Abraham? That speculation was destined to remain only a tantalizing theory for several years. The big breakthrough in Abraham Williamson's origins literally came from out of the blue. For several years, I had been in correspondence with Alice Smith regarding our common descent from the Laning/Lanning family of Long Island and New Jersey. In 1998, based solely on an occurrence of the all-too-common Williamson surname, Alice sent an email message to me with a full transcription of a family record that had recently been published in The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey. Instantly, I had the names of Abraham Williamson's parents, John and Charity (Richey) Williamson; paternal grandparents, Peter and Catherine (_____) Williamson; and maternal grandparents, Daniel and Juda (_____) Richey. I was thrilled to confirm my long-held theory of dual Richey ancestry. Armed initially with only the names of Abraham's grandparents, Peter and Catherine (_____) Williamson, I was eager to tackle my Williamson ancestry anew. It seemed logical to assume that the Williamson and Richey families had been acquainted in New Jersey. Through miscellaneous Williamson items in my Richey files, postings to Internet discussion groups, the generous assistance of several correspondents, and a week-long trip to numerous research sites in New Jersey last summer, I have assembled the following article. While I have learned a great deal about Peter Williamson and the ancestry of his wife, Catherine Griggs, I have not been able to prove Peter's line of descent from an immigrant ancestor. Research in this line is greatly complicated by the large number of unrelated Williamson families in New Netherland and New Jersey but the small number of given names that all of these families used for generations. My original hypothesis was that the Williamsons were Scots-Irish Presbyterians like the Richeys. However, it now appears likely that bothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson descended from a Dutch immigrant, Willem-1 Willemsen or possibly, Willem-1 Davidszen [Williamson]. Peter's wife, Catherine (Griggs) Williamson, was a descendant of the Griggs, Gulick, and Lanen Van Pelt families of New Netherland and New Jersey; these families were often associated with the descendants of Willem-1 Willemsen and his father-in-law, Pieter-1 Claesen Wyckoff. The process of writing this article has been a very productive exercise; I hope that its publication will prompt the readers of New Netherland Connections to help me determine who was the immigrant ancestor of Peter and Jacobus Williamson. Since the publication of my article in New Netherland Connections, DNA testing has confirmed that brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson of Greenwich Township were descendants of Willem-2 Willemsen and Mayken Pieters Wyckoff of Gravesend, Long Island and further analysis using conventional research techniques has identified them as sons of William-3 Williamson. As you will read below, the brothers lived in close proximity to and had multiple points of association with the families of Gulick, Hains, Wilkins, Whitaker and Wyckoff, some of which also originated in Gravesend. As you will also see, other descendants of Willem-2 and Mayken also resided in Sussex County, including Greenwich Township. In July 2002, Dr. Aline Garretson's article, "The Gerritsen- Willemsen Family Record, and the Williamson Family of Gravesend" appeared in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record (hereafter The Record). The document below now contains important corrections from this article. Willem Willemsen, formerly thought to be the progenitor of the family, was actually the son of Willem-1 Gerritsen of Bermuda and Long Island and Mary _____. Willem's wife, Mayken, was the daughter of Pieter-1 Claesen Wyckoff and Grietje Cornelis Van Ness. Unfortunately, Dr. Garretson made no attempts to determine whether or not brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson were descendants of Willem-2 Willemsen and Mayken Pieters Wyckoff, despite my efforts to enlist her assistance. Nor did she recognize that many of the Williamsons of neighboring Hunterdon County were also descendants of this couple. Her health was failing while she was researching the Williamson and Garretson descendants of Mary _____ by her husbands, Willem-1 Gerritsen and Gerrit-1 Remmersen. Perhaps, with more time, she would have expanded the scope of her research and revised her manuscripts. Sadly, Dr. Garretson did not live to see the fulfillment of her dying wish--that her manuscripts be published in The Record as planned. Early in 2003, Dorothy Koenig informed me that Dr. Garretson's poor health had prevented her from completing her manuscripts for The Record, neither of us knowing yet that she had actually died on 13 December 2001. In response, I provided Harry Macy, Editor of The Record, with an update of my NNC article in hopes that he would be able to find the "missing link" in my long-sought Williamson lineage that Dr. Garretson had not pursued. That effort gave Mr. Macy sufficient cause to revisit Dr. Garretson's research in hopes of identifying more descendants of Willem-2 Willemsen and Mayken Pieters Wyckoff among the Williamson families of New Jersey. Meanwhile, I recalled that Dr. Garretson had been a librarian at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania, which is not terribly far from where I live. The current library staff were kind enough to direct me to the Tioga County, Pennsylvania Courthouse where I obtained the name of the woman who served as the Executrix to Dr. Garretson's estate. When I made contact with Pat Neal, I discovered that she had been trying in vain to determine where Dr. Garretson's manuscripts were to have been published. Dr. Garretson had passed away without having had an opportunity to communicate this critical information. Consequently, Pat was delighted to hear from me and offered to deliver Dr. Garretson's research files to me. I forwarded these materials to The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, including the long-awaited Garretson manuscript for publication in The Record. Although Dr. Garretson's files yielded no new information on the origins of Peter Williamson, it was a pleasure to meet Pat and to be a small part of bringing Dr. Garretson's research to publication. Since the publication of my NNC article, I have also appreciated the assistance and support of Harry Macy, Richard McCool, Margery Freas, Marilyn Schmidt, Richard Williamson, James "Jim" Waldeck, Robert Smith and many others. Early Williamsons of the Musconetcong River Valley In 1714, Hunterdon County was created from West Jersey; Morris County was created from Hunterdon County in 1738; Sussex County was created from Morris County in 1753, and Warren County was created from Sussex County in 1825. Greenwich Township was created when Morris County was formed and now belongs to Warren County. The Musconetcong River forms the western boundary of Hunterdon County and the eastern boundary of Sussex and Warren Counties; it flows in a southwesterly direction towards Easton, Pennsylvania, where it joins the Delaware River. Numerous associations between Peter Williamson and Peter Wyckoff include the latter witnessing the former's will and the former's son witnessing the latter's will. In reviewing my Richey family files for Williamson items, I found that "David Williamson's Land" marked the southern boundary of property belonging to Peter Wyckoff, located on the north side of the Musconetcong River near Asbury, Warren County, New Jersey, and partially described by the following citation: Parcel I ... The will of Peter Wyckoff, dated 20 April 1809 indicates that he owned the entire tract at that time. He provided that it was to be divided among his four sons. Deeds executed by them show how it was to be distributed. Reading clockwise: I-A Cornelius, I-B John, I-C Peter and I-D Jacob (Hattie M. Seiwell, Mary Ollive Stanbury's 1250 Acres fronting on the Musconetcong River 31 May 1715, [1990]). WYCKOFF, Peter. 1217S - W. 19 Apr 1809; Filed 16 Oct 1809. Wife: Not named. Sons: John, Peter, Jacob and Cornelius. Daughters: Sarah, Mary and Elisabeth. Others: Gr-dau, Lenah WYKOFF. Executors: Son, John WYCKOFF and Joseph WILLSON. Witnesses: Daniel WILLIAMS [sic, probably Daniel Williamson], Imla DRAKE and John WILLIAMSON. This was the will of Peter-5 Wyckoff (Martin-4, Pieter-3, Nicholas-2, Pieter-1 Claesen), son of Martin-4 and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Wyckoff, who married first, _____ Vandervoort, and married second, Martha Hageman. It was probably witnessed by Peter Williamson's sons Daniel and John. Imla Drake was probably Imla-5 (Joseph-4-3-2, John-1) (Randy and Todd Easton, "John Drake--6 Generations", ). Perhaps Imla Drake was a descendant of the Emley family that was also associated with Peter Williamson, as shown further below. For some time, I incorrectly assumed that David Williamson was a land owner in 1715, based on the title of the source quoted just above. That assumption was apparently false; it now seems more likely that David Williamson was Peter Wyckoff's neighbor in 1809. However, I am confident that the land associated with David Williamson on the map was actually purchased by Peter Williamson, in 1760 or earlier, as will be shown further below. In any case, I soon learned that "...in all of the present Warren County there was no trace of white settlement in 1715"; the first settler deeds in what is now Warren County date from 1723 (Dr. George Wyckoff Cummins, History of Warren County, New Jersey, [New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1911], 23). From the records provided below, it is evident that Peter's brother, Jacobus Williamson, first settled in (now Warren, then) Sussex County in 1755. Peter also settled in Sussex County by 1755 or earlier. From the Williamson genealogy in the Vliet-Williamson Day Book (hereinafter VWDB), we learn that Peter Williamson, had a brother, Jacobus Williamson. Elizabeth-9 "Lizzie" Williamson, a descendant of Jacobus Williamson, recorded a multi-generation Williamson genealogy in the day book of a general store operated by her father, Charles M. Williamson, and his brother-in-law, Samuel-7 Vliet (Abraham-6, Garret-5, Daniel-4, Jan-3 Janse, Jan-2 Dirckes, Dirck-1 Jans Van der Vliedt). I am extremely grateful to Grace Eckel for providing a photograph from page 484 of VWDB which identifies Peter as a "Brother to Jacobus." Peter's son John is listed along with three of John's children and several of his grandchildren. However, it should be noted that the records pertaining to Peter's descendants vary somewhat with other sources. On 11 December 1902, another descendant of Jacobus, Daniel-7 Williamson of Bloomsbury, New Jersey was featured in an article entitled "He Remembers 90 Years Back" in The Washington Star of Washington, New Jersey. Daniel recalled: I was born March 23, 1810, in Warren county, then a part of Sussex county, about two miles west of Asbury, at the old Williamson farm, which was purchased by my great- grandfather [sic, disputed below], James Williamson, in 1740, from William and Hannah Henerie, who inherited it from her father one of the original proprietors of West Jersey Province, for the sum of twenty-five pounds. This farm descended to my grandfather, and then to my father, General James Williamson, and then to myself who am the fourth generation to own it. With the exception of Daniel's reference to the year 1740, his story is confirmed by the primary documents. On 3 September 1755, "William Henery of Greenwitch in the County of Sussex... and Hannah his wife" deeded to "James Williamson of the County of Middlesex... a Tract or Parcel of Land Situated on the northwest Side of Muskonetcong river in the Township of Greenwitch" for L-25. This 65-acre plot was bordered by "land formerly Surveyed to Richard Hains being also Joseph Sackets corner," Amos Wilkins, and [John] Whittakers land. This transaction was witnessed by Marshall Hart and Jean Henarie. On 17 May 1756, John Bassett of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County deeded to 148 acres to "Jacobus Williamson of the County of Sussex" for L-220. This land in Sussex County was bordered by a "Corner of Hains Land", the "Muskonetkong River," "Johannes Crevelings Line." It was "part of Five Hundred and Twenty Acres... which was by the said John Basset Purchased of and from William Wilkins and Amos Wilkins," on 28 June 1755, "who sold the same by Vertue of the Last Will and Testament of their Father Thomas Wilkins." This transaction was witnessed by Philip Fisher and John Gulick. James is the English equivalent of the given name Jacobus; Jacobus is a Latin name and was often shortened to Jacob or even Cobus by the Dutch. It appears that Daniel Williamson and other descendants of Jacobus probably read the deeds quoted above too literally--they identified Jacobus and James as father and son rather than recognizing them as different names for the same ancestor. However, Jacobus encouraged potential confusion in this regard by naming sons James and Jacob! When presented with this alternate view of her Williamson lineage, Grace Eckel was able to support the same conclusion: I've been going over Daniel Williamson's newspaper interview again. Taking into account his age at the time (92) it's not surprising that he "misremembered" a few things; the dates on the deeds for one thing. For #2, the farm did not pass from his father to him alone; it was divided among the four sons of James S. For # 3, he stated that he had three grandchildren, when in fact there were four: Emma, who married Walter Godfrey (my paternal grandparents) Rachel, who married Sam Weller, "Miss Lizzie", the spinster schoolmarm, and Caroline, who married Eugene Linaberry (all listed in the VWDB>.) If he could forget a fact as basic as a grandchild, could he have miscounted the generations?? (correspondence, 14 November 2004) The following document shows that Peter Williamson, "Brother to Jacobus," was also a land owner in Sussex County before 10 June 1760: By virtue of a Warrant from the Council of Proprietors to the Surveyor General directed bearing date the Twenty Ninth day of March Anno Dom 1717... And by virtue of a conveyance from the said Society to... William Heulings and Daniel Smith jun-r... And by virtue of one other conveyance from the said William Heulings & Daniel Smith jun-r unto Elisha Emley... And by virtue of a conveyance from the said Elisha Emley unto Peter Williamson by deed dated the Tenth day of June 1760 of forty seven acres thereof I have caused the said Forty Seven acres of land to be Surveyed unto the said Peter Williamson by my Lawful Deputy Elisha Emley his Return whereof to me beareth date the Twenty first day of June 1760. Lying in the County of Sussex and bounded as followth viz Beginning at a White Oak Lettered W a corner of Survey made to John Whittaker from thence it runs South thirty five degrees East Six Chains & forty Lings to a heap of stones in a Line of Other land of the Said Williamson thence along his Line 2-d North Sixty Six degrees East twenty three Chains & thirty links to a post in the Line of John Gulicks Land... (Proprietors of the Western Division of New Jersey, Book H, Page 483 on Reel 1 [Microfilmed by the Rutgers University Library 1952- 54]). Note above the phrase, "Other land of Said Williamson." When did Peter Williamson acquire other property in Sussex County prior to 10 June 1760? As will be shown further below, other records indicate that Peter was a resident of Sussex County by 1755. Did brothers Peter and Jacobus settle in Sussex County together in 1755, or did Peter's arrival there actually precede that of Jacobus? Is the lack of a Sussex County purchase deed for Peter Williamson prior to 1760 explained by the possibility that he settled in the area before Sussex County was set off from Morris County in 1753? On 28 May 1765, Peter Williamson and "Christopher Cummins" served as Constables to manage the jury during "a general quarter sessions of the peace and inferior court of common pleas at Newtown in and for the county of Sussex," (Brad and Carol Stark, The Minutes Book of Sussex County, New Jersey: Court Records 1764-1766 [hereinafter Minutes]; [Heritage Books, Inc.], 70). Peter Williamson and "Christopher Cummings" served as Constables again for the December court term in 1765, along with Peter Kinney (Minutes, 120). "Christian Cummings," "Peter Kenny" and Peter Williamson were among the Constables identified during the February court term in 1766 (Minutes, 132). As late as 1793, when a Militia Census was taken, Greenwich Township was referred to in print as "Grannage." Thus, it seems higly likely that the reference below pertains to Peter Williamson of Greenwich, Sussex County whose property included land in Hunterdon across the Musconetcong River: 1773, June 26. Hunt, Samuel, of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon Co. Int. Adm'r--Hugh McAllester, of said place. Fellowbondsman--Peter Williamson of Greenage, said Co. Witness--Furman Yard. 1773, April 10. Inventory, L-42.0.9, made by Peter Williamson and Abraham Kline. 1774, Aug. 18. Account by Adm'r. Lib. 14, p. 534; Lib 15, p. 528 (New Jersey Colonial Documents: Calendar of Wills--1771-1780, 587) Late in 1773, a William Williamson was associated with a Williamson-Cotaunch marriage: William Cotaunch (Cotanch) and William Williamson, both of the County of Sussex... [bound to]... William Franklin, Governor... 500 pounds... 8 Dec 1773. ... William Cotaunch... obtained license of marriage for himself and for Sarah Williamson... [w] And'w Ledlie and Tho's Potts (Patricia M. Bergener, New Jersey Marriages, #550) Some researchers have asserted that Sarah was the daughter of William Williamson. However, Peter Williamson identified a daughter Sarah in his will (see further below). Sarah's married name appears as Claunch in the published abstract of Peter's will. Examination of the original shows that the handwriting may also be interpreted as a Cotaunch. Also, William and Sarah (Williamson) Cotanch named a son Peter. Furthermore, according to Harry Macy, Editor of The Record: One bondsman was usually the groom... The other one was often a relative of the bride, and when this is the case, in my experience, her brother would be the most likely candidate, followed by her father, uncle, cousin-- but I think that her grandfather would be much less likely to appear in this role. Thus, we have the probable but unproven conclusion that William Williamson was the son of Peter Williamson. Serving as a bondsman in 1773, William was probably born circa 1752 or earlier. In 1774, Peter Williamson and James Williamson were named as taxpayers in Greenwich Township, Sussex County. Peter Williamson owned land in both Sussex and Hunterdon Counties, spanning the Musconetcong River; he resided in Sussex County. In 1775, a William Williamson died in Sussex County. Although this William was probably Peter's kinsman, he was not his son as will be explained further below. 1775, Sept. 6. Williamson, William, of Sussex Co. Int. Adm'x--Elizabeth Williamson, of said Co. Fellowbondsman--Henry Gulick, of Hunterdon Co. Witnesses--Martha Hughes and Rachel Caldwell. Lib. 16, p. 531 (New Jersey Colonial Documents: Calendar of Wills--1771-1780, 587). From an examination of the original document abstracted above (Sussex 00219, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, New Jersey), it is clear that Henry Gulick actually signed his name as Hendrick at "Greenwich Forge." Greenwich Forge was located on the Musconetcong River about four miles from its mouth at what is now Warren Glen (Robert H. Smith, correspondence [17 March 2000]). My research indicates that the William Williamson who died in 1775 was the son of Nicholas and Rachel (_____) Williamson. New Jersey Queries #12 (1992) included the following: Nicholas Williamson, resided at New Brunswick, Middlesex Co., NJ 1738; died Hunterdon Co., NJ 1760 had a daughter, Mary Williamson who married 1754 Capt. Henry Gulick. According to Jan Gulick, it was Henry-5 Gulick (Samuel-4, Hendrick-3, Jochem-2, Hendrick-1) (1734-1798) who was married in 1754 to Mary Williamson, daughter of Nicholas Williamson. They named their second son Nicholas and their second daughter Rachel. Thus, the following baptismal records must pertain to Mary (Williamson) Gulick and some of her siblings: From the New Brunswick, New Jersey RDC: 21 Apr 1734 William to Nicholas Williamson and Ragel 19 Feb 1738 Maria to Nicholas Williamson and Rachel From the Readington, New Jersey RDC: 6 Nov 1744 Cathelina to Nicholas Willemsen and Rachel It appears that the Hendrick Gulick of Hunterdon County who married Mary Williamson was identical with the Hendrick Gulick of Hunterdon County who was a bondsman in the administration of William Williamson's estate in 1775; Hendrick was apparently William's brother-in-law. It follows that the William Williamson who died in 1775 was the son of Nicholas and Rachel (_____) Williamson. Nicholas Williamson named his first son William and his second daughter Cathelina. It is virtually certain that Nicholas was an otherwise undocumented son of William-3 Williamson (Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) and his (first) wife, Catelyntje-3 Gulick (Jochem-2, Hendrick-1), as first published in my 2000 NNC article. On 1 September 1777, a William Williamson witnessed the will of Andrew Fleming of Hardwick (now Warren, then) Sussex County along with Thomas Fleming and Sammons Oliver (File 236S). With the death of William Williamson, son of Nicholas and Rachel (_____) Williamson, occurring in 1775, the witness to this 1777 will was probably the son of Peter Williamson or his brother, Jacobus/James. On 20 June 1778, Peter Williamson, James Williamson, Christian Cummans, and Peter Wyckoff were among the jurors at Oxford in the trial of the State of New Jersey versus William Melleck. Mellick was found guilty of being a Tory and his property was confiscated (Andrew D. Mellick, Jr., The Story of an Old Farm, [Somerville, New Jersey: The Unionist Gazette] [1889], 560). Peter Williamson, along with Daniel "Richee," was among the taxpayers of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey on the earliest extant lists, 1778 and 1780 (The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, hereinafter GMNJ, 47:117-123). Daniel-2 Richey (John-1) was the future father-in-law of Peter's son, John Williamson. On 16 December 1779, as recorded in the first book of Sussex County, New Jersey deeds (A:4) on 15 April 1785, Cornelius and Eve (_____) Flummerfelt of [Peck West] sold 80 acres in "Mansfield Wood House Township" "being part of Lot N-o 59" to William Williamson [also of Peck West] for L-90. This property was on the northwest bank of the river and bordered the lands of James Martin and John Rosenburgh. The transaction was witnessed by Thom-s [Wilkins], Robert Glass, and Zachariah Flummerfelt. "Peck West" was probably a phonetic misspelling of Pequest, a settlement that lies where Mansfield, Liberty, Oxford and White Townships meet. The Pequest is a tributary of the Musconetcong River. The grantee of this 1779 transaction was probably the son of Peter Williamson, or his brother Jacobus/James. Lot N-o 59 has not been geographically pinpointed yet but it is interesting to note that the property of Nathan Stanbury is designated as "Lot #52" in one of Hammond's maps. On this same map, immediately downstream from the Stanbury Tract and spanning the river, are the properties of Amos Wilkins (Burlington A:307, 266 acres, 1743) and Thomas Wilkins (Basse, p 184, 520 acres, 1718). The Stanbury and Wilkins properties all bordered land owned by "John Whitaker now Peter Woolever Nov. 5, 1791." Across the Musconetcong River from Nathan Stanbury lay 880 acres sold to Samuel Barker in 1749 (Burlington, E:133) and afterwards to John Bowlby in 1765 (Burlington, N:153). In December 1780, Peter Williamson held 45 acres of unimproved land in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, valued at $15; Daniel and John "Richee" held property nearby. Peter and the Richeys held property in Bethlehem but resided in Sussex County. In the summer of 1789, under "Persons Names in Sussex County" are listed Peter Williamson, Daniel Richey, and John Richey. In the summer of 1790, Peter Williamson was assessed a tax on his 40 acres of unimproved land in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Rateables). Daniel and John Richey held property nearby. When Christian-1 Cummins died on 11 March 1781, John Henderson, Cornelius Flummerfelt and Peter Williamson were appointed to inventory his estate along with Robert Miller, John Pottinger and Mr. Johnson; Daniel Richey witnessed the will. Christian-1 and Catherine (_____) Cummins had a son, Christian W.-2 Cummins (b. 4 December 1751; d. 15 October 1833) who married Elizabeth Williamson. This Elizabeth Williamson may have been identical with the Elizabeth Williamson who served as the Administratrix in 1775 for the intestate settlement of William-5 Williamson (Nicholas-4, Willem-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). The following reference probably pertains to the son of Peter Williamson, or his brother Jacobus/James: Peter Kinney, [perhaps Peter-4 Kinney (David-3, Peter-2, Adrian-1 Pieterse), son of David-3 Kinney and Angelche Mowerson, who married first Elizabeth Shipman and married second Mary Biggs] lived on the Greenwich Tract of Sir Robert Barker's land and was embroiled in a court battle from 1784-1788 in which Peter eventually lost possession of his farm. He was neighbors with William Williamson and Peter Wyckoff (Jr.) during this time and appears on several tax ratables as such. (Catherine Di Pietro, correspondence, [24 September 1998]) On an "Index Map, 1688-1765" (D. Stanton Hammond, J.D., compiled & drawn from official land records for The Genealogical Society of New Jersey--1963 Map Series #4), the "Barker Tract" is depicted on the south side of the Musconetcong River in what must now be the Township of Alexandria in Hunterdon County. On the north side of the river, the Barker Tract was bounded by properties belonging to J. Bray (500 acres), A. Heath (600 acres) and E. Backon (750 acres). These properties were in what is now Warren County, in Greenwich and perhaps Mansfield Townships. Unfortunately, no other property lines are illustrated on the north side of the river between Backon and Chadd, whose 300 acres spanned the river at Bloomsbury. Peter Williamson married Catherine-4 Griggs (Daniel-3, John-2- 1), daughter of Daniel-3 Griggs and his wife, Jacomyntje-3 (Gulick) Griggs (Jochem-2, Hendrick-1). In 1785, Peter Williamson and Thomas Peterson, doubtless the brother-in-law of Catherine (Griggs) Williamson, provided depositions in support of Daniel-4 Vliet (Jan-3 Janse, Jan-2 Dirckes, Dirck-1 Jans Van der Vliedt) of Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Vliet's deed to nearly 330 acres in Bethlehem and Greenwich had been destroyed or carried away by the British Army in 1776 or 1777. In May 1788 the Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled in favor of Vliet and accepted a survey as a sufficient substitute for his lost deed. Peter Williamson and Thomas Peterson were instrumental in this process: Peter Williamson, of Greenwich, Sussex County, on 15 September 1785 at a Supreme Court held at Trenton deposed before David Brearley, Chief Justice, that he is well acquainted with the tract of Daniel Vliet which the applicant bought of Abraham Hains late of Burlington County and which he has been in peaceable possession of for upwards of thirty years. He, this deponent, saw Andrew Johnson, who has since died, sometime before 1776 deliver the deed to William Hawling, late of Burlington County, to have it proved. Thomas Peterson, of Greenwich, Sussex County on 22 September 1785 deposed... The land was divided by the Musconetcong River which was also a boundary between the two counties. The land was also traversed on each side of the River by a road, later being called by [Deputy George] Armstrong a "great road." (Thomas B. Wilson, "Lost Deeds," GMNJ, [64:2]; [May 1989]). Note the use of the phrase, "for upwards of thirty years," in reference to Peter Williamson's deposition. It is implied that Peter had been acquainted with Vliet's property since at least 1755, the same year in which his brother Jacobus "of Middlesex County" first purchased land in Greenwich Township. Again, I wonder--did the brothers settle in Sussex County together in 1755 or did Peter actually arrive earlier? Williamsons of Middlesex & Somerset Counties, New Jersey Per the deed quoted above, Jacobus Williamson resided in Middlesex County prior to settling in (now Warren, then) Sussex County in 1755. He had children baptized at New Brunswick, Middlesex in 1750; at Six-Mile Run, Somerset in 1752; and at New Brunswick again in 1757. Consequently, he is probably identical with the Jacobus Williamson was listed as a freeholder in New Brunswick, Middlesex County in 1752 (GMNJ, Vol. 4). Freeholders for New Brunswick in 1748 and 1750 were Nickolas, William and Laurence Williamson. Laurence came from Flatbush, bapt. 1684, m. Sara Stoothoff 1711, [and was] related to Aert Williamson... William [the Freeholder of 1748 and 1750 was probably identical with the] William and Jannetje Couwenhoven [who were] members of the First Reformed Dutch Church in 1738 in New Brunswick, who had moved from Monmouth County, after 1725, [he was] probably descended from Willem Davidszen. (Aline L. Garretson, DUTCH-COLONIES-L@rootsweb.com [20 July 2001]) By omission, the quotation above indicates that neither Peter or Jacobus were Freeholders at New Brunswick in 1748 or 1750. Also, no men named Peter or Jacobus Williamson appear in "A List of Ye Freeholders in the Western Precinct in Somerset County" in 1753 ("Eighteenth Century Freeholders in New Jersey," GMNJ). Perhaps this is additional evidence to support theory that Peter settled in Greenwich Township before Jacobus did so in 1755. Laurence Williamson was certainly the son of Willem-1 Davidszen. As asserted above, Nicholas Williamson was the son of William-3 Williamson (Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). The identification of William Williamson is particularly challenging since William-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) and William-3 Williamson (David-2, Willem-1 Davidszen) were of roughly the same age, both married women named Jannetje and both resided in or near New Brunswick. Some of the early Williamsons associated with the First RDC of New Brunswick, Middlesex County included Laurens Willems (Member 1717, Three-Mile Run), Peter Wilmsen (Member 1728, Three-Mile Run) and William Wilimsen (Member 1738, Three-Mile Run). Peter Wilmsen joined the church on 20 September 1728, along with Peter Slegt and Roeloff Voorhees Jr.; Peter served as a Deacon in 1732. "Laurens Willems" the son of Willem-1 Davidszen, Peter and William were probably the sons of Willem-1 Davidszen's son, David--2 Williamson. In the following excerpt pertaining to Franklin Township, Somerset County, Captain William Williamson is thought to be identical with William-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). The Jacobus Williamson cited therein may have been his uncle, Jacobus-3 (Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). A few yards south of the Union schoolhouse, where Martin Johnson lives, in 1766 was the house of William Williamson, commonly called Captain Williamson. The first of that name, of whom we read in this section, was a Lawrence Williamson, who, with his wife, Sarah, were members of the Dutch church at New Brunswick at its organization in 1717, and in which he was an elder in 1719. In what part of the congregation he lived is not known. There was also a William [Williamson], an elder there in 1750. There was a Jacobus [Williamson] living in the neighborhood of Ten-Mile Run in 1735, and a William [Williamson] in this section, who had several children baptized in the old Six-Mile Run church at the brook, at an early date. Whether or they were connected with the William named above is not known... A tradition in the Williamson family states that the Captain's father's name was William, and that he owned an immense tract of land, extending from the Millstone river to Lawrence's brook, contain [sic, containing] several thousand acres... The Captain died in 1785. ("Franklin Township Notes," Somerset County Historical Quarterly). Obviously, some of the Williamsons of Middlesex County descended from Willem-2 Willemsen while others descended from Willem-1 Davidszen. Willem-2 Willemsen and Mayken Pieters Wyckoff The available evidence suggested that brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson belonged the family of Willem-2 Willemsen and Mayken Pieters Wyckoff. A comparison of DNA test results between a known descendant of Peter Williamson and a known descendant of Willem-2 Willemsen has confirmed that Peter was indeed a descendant of Willem-2. Willem-2 Willemsen, eldest son of Willem-1 Gerritsen and Mary _____, was born in Bermuda in 1651 and died Gravesend, Long Island on 2 February 1722. Willem was married at [Flatlands, Long Island] about 1677 to Mayken-2 Pieters Wyckoff, baptized at New Amsterdam 19 October 1653, died before 1 December 1721, daughter of Pieter-1 Claesen- Wyckoff and Grietje Cornelis Van Ness of Amersfoort. For more information on the descendants of Willem and Mayken, please refer "The Williamson Family of Gravesend," starting with the July 2004 issue of The Record. Children (Dr. Aline Garretson, "The Gerritsen-Willemsen Family Record, and the Williamson Family of Gravesend," The Record [July 2002]): i. William-3, b. 1678-80; m. (1) Catelyntje-3 Gulick (Jochem-2, Hendrick-1), dau. of Jochem-2 Gulick and Jacomyntje-2 Teunisse Van Pelt; resided on Six-Mile Run, North Brunswick Township, Middlesex Co., NJ as early as 1710; William may have had more than one wife and the maternity of his younger children is unknown. ii. Margaret/Gretie, m. Abraham Emans. iii. Pieter/Peter, bapt. 16 April 1682; m. Gravesend ca. 1715 Cornelia Johnson. iv. Marretje/Mary, bapt. 12 April 1685; m. Bartholomew Marsh. v. Cornelis, b. Gravesend ca. 1687; m. Grietje-3 Gulick (Jochem-2, Hendrick-1), dau. of Jochem-2 Gulick and Jacomyntje-2 Teunisse Van Pelt; resided at Six-Mile Run [Franklin Park], Somerset Co., NJ by 1710. vi. Nicholas of Gravesend, b. ca. 1689 (GMNJ, Vol. 21) or b. 1680 (13), d. 10 Sep 1779 (GMNJ, Vol. 21); m. (1) 1715 (William H. Benedict, New Brunswick, NJ. Hist, [1925]) Lucretia Van Voorhees, d. before 1773, dau. of Stephen Coerte Van Voorhees possibly by his second wife Eva (GMNJ, Vol. 21); m.(2) as her second husband Ida Remsen, b. 3 Jan 1703, d. 3 Nov 1784, m. (1) Jan Van Wicklen, dau. of Jeremias Remsen and Heyltie Probasco (GMNJ, Vol. 21). vii. Jacobus, b. ca. 1690-94; m. Marya _____. viii. Annetje, bapt. 29 May 1695; m. John-3 Griggs, Jr. (NYHSC) (John-2-1), son of John-2 Griggs of Gravesend and his wife, Martha. Identifying the Father of Brothers Peter & Jacobus Williamson Peter Williamson of Greenwich Township was reportedly the son of a William Williamson. This claim comes from an unknown source in some unspecified Griggs records at Rutgers University; as provided by Lisa Henderson via email correspondence of 12 December 1998. Further details on the unknown source at Rutgers University are greatly desired. In "Griggs of New Jersey," Genealogy of The Griggs Family [Pompton Lakes, New Jersey: The Biblio Company; 1926], Walter S. Griggs did not identify Peter Williamson's father. Based on the 1755 deed of Jacobus Williamson, the father of brothers Peter and Jacobus was certainly born no later than 1713. If other theories pertaining to the land purchases of his brother Peter, as detailed above and below, are correct, then their father was born before 1710. Please note that these dates have been calculated using a minimum interval of 21 years between the generations as well as a minimum age of 21 years for buying land. Although it was possible for intervals between generations to have been shorter, intervals were probably more than 21 years in most cases. Peter Williamson identified sons "Daniel and John" in his will. Daniel was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Daniel-3 Griggs, indicating that he was probably the second-born son. From Daniel's land transactions documented further below, it is evident that he inherited Peter's "homestead" property. These references both suggest that Daniel was older than John. As shown above, Peter probably had another son William who predeceased him. Thus, the probable birth order of Peter Williamson's sons was William, Daniel and John. The eldest son of Jacobus Williamson was also named William. Therefore, the father of brothers Peter and Jacobus was indeed most likely named William. In order to present a theory for confirmation or refutation through further research, let us assume that the father of brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson was in fact named William. Among the descendants of Willem-2 Willemsen there were many men named Willem or William in his honor. In theory, each of his five sons should have named their eldest sons William. Four grandsons of Willem-2 Willemsen so named can be ruled out as the father of brothers Peter and Jacobus for the following reasons: --Willem-4 (Willem-3) left a will identifying his children. --Willem-4 (Pieter-3) was not baptized until 1718. --William-4 (Cornelis-3) left a will identifying his children. --William-4 (Nicholas-3) left a will identifying his children. More details on these first cousins all named William Williamson are available in the July 2004 and October 2004 issues of The Record. It seems highly probable that Jacobus-3 would have also named his eldest son William but we do not yet have proof of any son so named. Jacobus's only documented son was Jacobus-4, baptized in 1720. Named in honor of his father, Jacobus-4 was probably the third son of Jacobus-3, who was born ca. 1690-94. If William-4 (Jacobus-3) existed, he was born ca. 1710-1720. Depending on when Jacobus-3 was actually born, it is possible that a William-4 (Jacobus-3) could have been the father of brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson. However, the window of opportunity for a William-4 (Jacobus-3) to have been born before 1713 was very narrow and it was highly unlikely that he was born before 1710. From the preceding analysis, it is more probable that brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson were grandsons, rather than great- grandsons, of Willem-2 Willemsen. Retaining the assumption that their father was in fact named William Williamson, we are left with the conclusion that they were heretofore unidentified sons of Willem-3 Williamson. This theory is also supported by the following points: --William Williamson was probably the eldest son of Peter Williamson but predeceased him; he was probably named in honor of Peter's father. --William Williamson was probably the eldest son of Jacobus Williamson; he was probably named in honor of Jacobus's father. --Jacobus Williamson arrived in Greenwich Township from Middlesex Co., where William-3 Williamson resided. --William-3 Williamson had other descendants who resided in Sussex Co., NJ, namely William-5 (Nicholas-4, William-3). --William-3 Williamson "should have" named a son Peter to honor his eldest brother before he named a son Nicholas after a junior brother. --Peter Williamson's son John was probably the youngest; he may have been named in honor of Johannes-4 Williamson (William-3). --Willem-2 Willemsen had other descendants who resided in Greenwich Township, Sussex Co., NJ, namely Ann (Marsh) Fine, wife of John Fine; daughter of Bartholomew Marsh and Mary Willemsen (Willem-2, Willem-1 Gerritsen). From DNA testing, we know that Peter Williamson was a descendant of Willem-2 Willemsen. Although it is possible that Peter was a son of Cornelis-3 or Jacobus-3, he had no descendants bearing these names whereas William is found multiple times in subsequent generations in this branch of the Williamson family tree. Other researchers have asserted that a Peter-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) existed. In so doing, they also identify his wives as Willemtje ____ and Mary-4 Cossart (David-3, Jacques-2-1). However, Peter's eldest son David was born by his first wife, Willemtje, not by Mary. Thus, it appears likely that this Peter Williamson was actually the heretofore unidentified second son of David-2 Williamson (Willem-1 Davidszen) and Marytje Van Nest, having been named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Pieter-1 Pieterszen Van Neste. In view of all of the evidence presented above, we are left with the conclusion that it was Peter-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) who married Catherine Griggs and settled in Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, along with his brother Jacobus. Identifying the Mother of Brothers Peter & Jacobus Williamson Peter and Jacobus Williamson were documented as brothers (VWDB). Per "The Williamson Family of Gravesend" in The Record, other possible brothers of Peter and Jacobus included Cornelis, Dirck and Abraham Williamson. Peter and Jacobus chose to live in close proximity to each other and at a distance from their other brothers. It seems more likely that they were full brothers rather than simply paternal half-brothers, but the latter possibility cannot be ruled out. Both Peter and Jacobus named their probable first sons William yet neither named a known daughter Catalyntje or any variation thereof so it seems reasonable to speculate that Catalyntje Gulick, the only known wife of William-3 Williamson, was not their mother. Jacobus named his third son Jacob and his second son, John, was presumably named in honor of the boy's otherwise unknown maternal grandfather. Assuming that Jacobus and his wife, Lydia, followed the Dutch pattern in naming their sons, they probably followed the pattern when naming their daughters. If Elizabeth, the name of their third eldest daughter, can be considered a variation of Lydia, then their eldest daughter Charity was probably named in honor of the girl's otherwise unknown maternal grandmother and their second eldest daughter Elenor may have been named in honor of Jacobus's mother. The only known daughters of Cornelis and Abraham Williamson were both named Eleanor/Nelly/Neeltje. The maternal grandmother of Abraham's daughter was named Engeltje. In the Dutch naming pattern, the eldest daughter was sometimes named in honor of her paternal grandmother, rather than her maternal grandmother, if the former had predeceased the latter. Thus, if William-3 Williamson also married a woman named Eleanor/Neeltje _____, she may have predeceased all of her son's mothers-in-law, with the exception of Jacobus's. However, neither Peter Williamson nor Dirck Williamson had a known daughter named Eleanor/Neeltje. In Peter's case, his eldest known daughter was named in honor of her maternal grandmother so there may have been an even elder daughter named in honor of Peter's mother who died without issue before him. Dirck's eldest known daughters were probably twins, Antje and Sara. If Sara was named only in honor of her mother, it follows that Dirck may have had an elder daughter born before his twins for whom there is no known baptismal record. Thus, there is the possibility that both Peter and Dirck had eldest daughters who were named Eleanor/Neeltje. However, if William-3 Williamson married a woman named Eleanor/Neeltje _____ and she died young, he may have married yet again. Both Peter's and Dirck's second eldest known daughters were named Sara/Sarah. If their mother was named Sarah, then there were no eldest daughters "missing" from their families, per the traditional naming pattern. Jacobus also named his youngest daughter Sarah. If Peter and Jacobus were full brothers and both sons of a woman named Eleanor/Neeltje, then Peter probably had an elder daughter named in her honor who died without issue and both men may have named younger daughters after their step-mother. If Peter and Jacobus were full brothers and both sons of a woman named Sara/Sarah then Jacobus' youngest daughter Sarah may have been named after an elder daughter so-named who had died young. If Peter and Jacobus were only half brothers, then Peter may been the son of Sara/Sarah and Jacobus may have been the son of Eleanor/Neeltje. Thus, we are left with highly speculative theories that William-3 Williamson married second, Eleanor/Neeltje _____, and perhaps third, Sara/h _____, with no certainty at this point in time as to which woman, if either one even existed, was the mother of brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson. Brothers Peter and Jacobus Williamson & Descendants 1. Peter-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), "Brother to Jacobus" (VWDB) was almost undoubtedly the son of William-3 Williamson. Based on a recorded land purchase in 1760, he was certainly born circa 1739 or earlier. Two factors suggest that he may have been born circa 1731 or earlier. First, as indicated above, he was probably the father of the William Williamson who served as a bondsman for the 1773 marriage of William Cotaunch and Sarah Williamson. Second, his first land purchase in what became Sussex County may have predated the county's formation in 1753, as speculated above. Peter died in Greenwich Township, Sussex County (since 1839 Franklin or Greenwich Township, Warren County), New Jersey, between 22 September 1791, when his will was made, and 10 October 1791, when an inventory of his estate was made. Peter married Catherine-4 Griggs (Daniel-3, John-2-1). Catherine was born, probably about 1733 but certainly before 1742; she died after 2 April 1805 when she was named in the will of her brother Joakem-5 Griggs; she was the daughter of Daniel-3 Griggs and Jacomyntje-3 Gulick (Jochem-2, Hendrick-1) of Gravesend, Long Island and Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She was identified as "Catline" in her father's will but two of her brothers named her as Catherine in their wills; she may have been named in honor of her father's first wife who died in childbirth or shortly thereafter; however, Catherine's maternal aunt was Catelyntje-3 Gulick, (first) wife of William-3 Williamson (Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). Catherine's mother, Jacomyntje-3 (Gulick) Griggs, was the daughter of Jochem-2 Gulick and Jacomyntje-2 Teunisse Van Pelt (Teunis Jansen-1, Jan-A, Barthomeus-B, Jan-C). Please see New Netherland Connections 4:1 and 5:1 for more information on the Lanen Van Pelt family. Peter and Catherine (Griggs) Williamson are identified in the Ancestral File (Genealogical Society of Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) as both having been born in 1733; she is identified as Catherine-3 Griggs (Daniel-2, John-1); my research indicates that she was actually Catherine-4 Griggs (Daniel-3, John-2-1). Given the common surnames and given names involved, this record alone would not provide enough evidence to think that Catherine's origins had been correctly identified. However, when I researched other records pertaining to Catherine's family, I found the necessary confirmation. Catherine's brother, Joakem-4 Griggs (Daniel-3, John-2-1), married Anna-5 Bennet (Cornelius-4, Adrian-3, Adrian-2 Willemse, Willem-1 Adriaenz), baptized 11 September 1720, daughter of Cornelius-4 and Engeltje (_____) Bennet of Middlesex County, New Jersey. One of Anna (Bennet) Griggs's sisters, Charity "Geertje" Bennet, married Garret-4 Williamson (Nicholas-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) and another sister, Hendrickje Bennet, married Abraham Williamson, a probable son of William-3 Williamson (Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen) and brother of Catherine's husband, Peter Williamson ("The Williamson Family of Gravesend, The Record [January 2005]). Apparently, Joachim and Anna had no children: 1805, April 2. Griggs, Joakem, of Amwell Twsp., Hunterdon Co.; will of. Wife, Anna, $1,334; also 1/3 of my lands, during her life. A stone wall to be built around the graveyard on brother, John's plantation. Brother, John Griggs, $80. Brother, Samuel Griggs, $80. To Mary Hill (wife of Isaac Hill), $80. To Anna B. Vanfleet (daughter of Andreas Vanfleet), $80. To Acha Hill (son of Isaac Hill), $267. Other 2/3 of real estate to be sold and the other 1/3 to be sold after my wife's decease, and monies from the sale of real and personal estate to be divided in five parts. Brothers, John and Samuel, each 1/5 part. Sister, Catherine (wife of Peter Williamson, of Sussex), 1/5 part. Sister Mary (widow of Thomas Peterson), 1/5 part. The children of sister, Margaret, dec'd (late wife of Harp Peterson), 1/5 divided between them. Executors--brother, John Griggs, and friends, Isaac Hill and Cornelius Wyckoff [probably the husband of Anna' sister Barbara; he was the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Van Pelt) Wykcoff]. Witnesses--Alexander Bonnell, William Geary, Nathaniel Saxton. Proved Oct. 17, 1806. 1806, Oct. 7. Inventory [not totaled]; made by Alexander Bonnell and Jonathan Higgins, Jr. File 2204 J. (New Jersey Colonial Documents: Calendar of Wills--1806- 1809, 144-5) This record established proof of marriage between Catherine Griggs and a Peter Williamson and placed them in Sussex County, New Jersey. However, I was somewhat troubled by the phrase, "Sister, Catherine (wife of Peter Williamson, of Sussex)," in the abstract of Joakem Griggs's will. If Peter Williamson died in 1791, why was Catherine not designated as a widow in 1805? A careful examination of the original will on microfilm at the New Jersey State Archives revealed the actual text as "one other fifth part thereof unto my sister Catherine she was the wife of Peter Williamson of Sussex." This is a great example of why it is so important to check primary documents. On 21 September 1791, Samuel Large, Joanna Riddle and William Runkle witnessed Peter's will: In the Name of God Amen I Peter Williamson of the Township of Greenwich in the County of Sussex being weak in Body but of Sound mind and memory blessed be to God do this day TwentyFirst of September and in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and ninety one 1791 do Publish and declare this to be my Last will and Testament Revoking and Disallowing all other wills heretofore made by me. in the First place I Reammand my Soul to the almighty god that gave it and my body to the Earth from whence it came to be Buried in a Decent manner and as for Such worldly goods as it has Pleased god to favor me with, it is my will that all my Honest Debts and funeral Charges Shall be Quickly paid and Satisfi-d, and it is my will that my Personall Estate Shall be Sold and my Lands Rented untill all of my Debts are paid and Satisfied and the next place I do give and bequeth unto my daughter Sarah Claunch [or Cotaunch?] the Sum of fifty Pounds in god and Silver money to be paid in one year after all the Debts are discharged and I do also give and bequeth unto my Daughter mary Lacy the Sum of fifty Pounds in god and Silver to be paid in Two years after the Debts are Discharg-d and I do give and bequeth unto my three grandChildren the Children of David and Jemimah Henderson the Sum of fifty Pounds in god and Silver to Equally Divided among them that is Sixteen Pounds thirteen shillings and four Pence each and to be pad as they Come of age and as for my Landed Estate it is my will that it be Equally Divided between my two Sons Daniel and John at the Descression of my Executors and to pay yearly and Every year unto my widow the Sum of fifteen Pounds gold or Silver money while She Remains my widow and a good Room in the House I now Live in and firewood Sufficient brought to her Door and also to have 2 Cows of her own Choosing of my Stock and my 2 Sons are also to find Provisions for her Cows in the winter and Such Pasture as their own have in the summer and my 2 Sons to pay the Daughters Legacies out of the Landed Estate and I do make and ordain Peter Wickoff and my wife Catherine to be my Executors and Excu-x of this my Last will in Trust and for the interest thereon mentioned in witness whereof I do have here unto Set my hand and Seal this TwentyFirst day of September in the year above mentioned. (35:41; File 513S, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, New Jersey) On 14 October 1791, Peter Wyckoff certified an inventory of Peter's estate, totalling L-298.7.9, appraised on 10 October 1791 by Samuel Large and Imla Drake. In addition to the usual household and farm items, were also identified L-108.15.11 "in Obligation," and "a judgement against the Estate of Tho-s Peterson Dec-d" at L- 10.5.6. Peter Williamson willed his lands to his sons Daniel and John without any details on how it was to be divided. The brothers must have lived comfortably with this ambiguity for it was not until 1822 that they executed deeds to formalize a division of their father's property at the nominal price of $5 each. On 21 January 1822, John and Charity (Richey) Williamson of Bethlehem, Hunterdon County deeded to Daniel Williamson of Greenwich Township "those 3 lots in Sussex." One lot of 132.5 acres was bordered by the Musconetcong River and Jacobus Williamson. Another 30-acre lot bordered Peter Wyckoff and a small parcel of 3.5 acres was bordered by a corner belonging to John Weller, formerly James Williamson (Source?). On the next day, 22 January 1822, Daniel and Ann (_____) Williamson deeded to John Williamson of Bethlehem, Hunterdon County 53.75 acres of lands with buildings. One boundary marker included a "heap of stones formerly Jacobus Williamson's corner now a corner of General James Williamsons land"; Philip Woolever was cited as another neighbor (Source?). Also on 29 January 1835, Daniel and Ann (_____) Williamson also sold two tracts of land in Greenwich Township to James C. Kennedy, "the first being the homestead on which Daniel Williamson now lives." This property was 132.5 acres bordered by the Musconetcong Creek, James Williamson, and Philip Woolever. The second property of approximately 30 acres bordered John Heller. Two lots previously conveyed to James S. Williamson and George Richey were excepted from the transaction. Collectively, this was "the same land and premises which Peter Williamson died seized of and which other lands in the County of Hunterdon was by his will and testament bequeathed unto his two sons John and Daniel Williamson and being by them divided." (GID, 12:498). Children, birth order uncertain: i. [William-5, b. ca. 1752 or earlier; d. before 21 Sep 1791; existence and parentage probable but unproven; placement based on his role as a bondsman for the 1773 marriage license of William Cotaunch and [his sister] Sarah Williamson; he was probably named in honor of his paternal grandfather.] ii. Jemimah, b. circa 1752 or earlier; named in honor of her maternal grandmother, Jacomyntje-3 (Gulick) Griggs, and therefore probably the eldest daughter; m. David Henderson; three children. David was probably the son of James Henderson of Alexandria Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ, as identified in James's will of 29 June 1792 (New Jersey Archives, Post-Revolutionary Documents and Calendar of Wills 1791-1793, File #1611J); [Jemimah's brother] Daniel Williamson served as an Executor to James's will and that of his widow, Ann (New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills 1801-1805); he probably married David's sister, Susannah Henderson. iii. Sarah, b. circa 1753 or earlier; named perhaps in honor of her paternal grandmother or step- grandmother; probably m. shortly after 8 December 1773 William Cotaunch/Cotanch (Patricia M. Bergener, abstracts of William Nelson, New Jersey Marriages, Vol. 22; pgs. 76 & 456; #550), d. before 1802, son of John W. Cotanch of Knowlton Township, NJ (William Marsh, "Williamson Family Tree," manuscript [2000]). [Children, surname Cotanch: 1. John. 2. Benjamin. 3. Peter.] Was Catherine "Caty" (Contanch) Richey their daughter, being named in honor of Catherine (Griggs) Williamson? Robert-3 Richey (Daniel-2, John-1), son of Daniel-2 and Juda/Jude (_____) Richey, b. 1766 (Between the Lakes Cemeteries, hereinafter BLC); d. 31 July 1860 (BLC); m. Catherine "Caty" Contanch (death record of son, Benjamin C. Richey); bur. Old Log Meetinghouse Cemetery, Ulysses, Tompkins Co., NY (BLC); children born 1801-1821; dau. Clarissa Jane-4 Richey m. Minor Updike, son of Isaac Opdyck/Updike and Sarah-5 Williamson (Jacobus/James-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). iv. Mary, m. _____ Lacy. v. Daniel; b. probably ca. 1761 or earlier; named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Daniel-3 Griggs, and therefore probably the second son; probably m. (1) Susanna Henderson, dau. of James and Ann (_____) (Coleman) Henderson of Alexandria Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ; Daniel served as an Executor to both Henderson wills and "Daughter Susannah Williamson" was left 2 shares in Ann's will of 22 March 1802. Daniel, probably m. (2) [Ann "Nancy" _____]; as the latter couple, they were probably identical with the Daniel and Nancy Williamson who sold land in Greenwich Township, Warren Co., NJ on 23 Aug 1826 to George Richey (GID; Record 2:368); Daniel and Nancy also sold land in Greenwich Township on 15 Feb 1828 to James Williamson (GID; Record 4:366). Also, Daniel Williamson of Greenwich Township was among those identified in a list of "Delinquent Direct Tax Payers Sussex County 1815" (Dorothy Stratford, GMNJ, [59:2]; [May 1984]). 3. vi. John (VWDB), b. 14 Aug 1762; m. Charity-3 Richey. 2. Jacobus-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), also known as James, born circa 1734 or earlier based on his 1755 land purchase; died intestate before 30 December 1803 when an inventory of his estate, totaling $455.15 was taken by William Smith and Jacob Creveling (Warren County Wills, 40:514 [#103SS]); married first Lydia _____; married second, Catharine _____. In 1755, when of Middlesex County, New Jersey, he bought 65 acres on the north side of the Musconetcong River in Greenwich Township (then Sussex, now) Warren County, New Jersey. On 10 January 1804, Thomas Stewart was appointed Administrator of the settlement. Fellowbondsmen were William Smith of Greenwich Township and Thomas Anderson of Newtown Township. (New Jersey Colonial Documents: Calendar of Wills--1805-1805). Per a New Jersey state legislature act of 24 May 1780 pertaining to the real estate of those dying intestate, James' land, 180 acres more or less was divided into twenty equal shares, each of his seven sons receiving two shares, and each of his six daughters receiving one share (Grace Eckel, correspondence [23 March 2000]). Among the papers left by his son, James S., is a document showing that on 22 August 1804, the 1/10th share owned by Abraham Williamson and Catherine, his mother, was sold by George Beidelman, High Sheriff of Sussex County, to William McCullough "in accordance with the twenty-first section of an act" making land liable to be sold, for the payments of debts" passed February 18, 1799 (Grace Eckel, correspondence [6 September 2003]) Children, ordered as they consistently appear in numerous documents pertaining the settlement of their father's estate (Eckel); by Lydia ____ . i. William-5, named in honor of his paternal grandfather; d. Mansfield Township, (then Sussex, since 1825) Warren Co., NJ before 16 Nov 1820; m. Sarah _____, d. before 7 Dec 1837 when her estate sold land in Mansfield Township, Morris Co., NJ to her son-in- law, Stewart M. Brown (Grantor Index of Deeds, Warren County, New Jersey [hereinafter GID], Records 15:480-81). William d. intestate; division was ordered on 16 Nov 1820; land on the banks of the Musconetcong River; in Mansfield Township neighbors were William Martin, Benjamin Leak, Elisha Bird, [John] Hockenbury, John Bird, and the heirs of Peter Williamson; in Independence Township, Sussex Co., neighbors were Zibah Osmun, Adam Fisher and the heirs of John Robertson; in Washington Township, Morris Co., neighbors were Bertes Bird and John Hance (Frederick R. Alleman and Virginia Alleman Brown, Abstracts of Divisions of Warren and Sussex County Estates Filed at Sussex County Courthouse, Newtown, New Jersey from 1789-1918 [hereinafter A&B Abstracts], [Washington, NJ, 1978], CA 327; Map CA 338). Children, surname Williamson: 1. James. 2. Mary, m. _____ Howell. 3. Sarah, m. Richard Williamson. 4. Elizabeth, m. Stewart M. Brown. 5. Rebecca, m. Joseph Groff; eight children. ii. Charity, presumably named in honor of her otherwise unknown maternal grandmother; bapt. as "Geertje" to "Jacobeas and Liedea" at Six-Mile Run on 5 April 1752; m. Peter Cougle; lived in Hunterdon Co., NJ. Children, surname Cougle: 1. John, m. Margaret _____; lived in Luzerne Co., PA. 2. James, m. Elizabeth _____; lived in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ. 3. William, m. Elizabeth _____. 4. Peter, m. (1) Jemima _____, this union may be represented by the marriage of a Peter Cougle to Minca Williamson in the Greenwich Presbyterian Church, Greenwich Township on 10 Oct 1817, Jemima being the English equivalent of Jacomyntje and Minca being nickname for Jacomyntje and, if so, Jemima may have been identical with Jemima-6 Williamson (John-5, Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), b. 9 Feb 1797, dau. of John-5 and Charity (Richey) Williamson; m. (2) Warren Co., NJ 27 May 1837 Rebecca Williamson, b. ca. 1819; resided in Mansfield Township in 1850. 5. Charles, m. Elizabeth _____. 6. Joseph, m. Jane _____; an innkeeper in Bloomsbury, NJ. 7. Lidia, m. Robert Martin; lived in Alexandria Township. 8. Mary, m. Tunis Fisher. Children, presumed by Lydia _____. iii. Elenor, named perhaps in honor of her paternal grandmother; m. John Belles. iv. John; presumably named in honor of his otherwise unknown maternal grandfather; m. Margaret _____; d. before 1 April 1815; resided in Bucks Co., PA. Children, surname Williamson: 1. Lydia. 2. Margaret. Both lived in Hilltop Township, Bucks Co., PA. v. Elizabeth; presumably named in honor of her mother if Elizabeth and Lydia may be interpreted as variations of the same name. vi. Anna, b. ca. 1776 or earlier; m. Hunterdon Co., NJ 17 Jan 1797 Paul Kelch, b. ca. 1776 or earlier (Waldeck). vii. Jacob, named in honor of his fahter; lived in Bath, PA. Children, by Catherine _____: viii. Abraham, also known as Abram (VWDB); doubtless identical with the Abraham J. Williamson b. NJ ca. 1775 or earlier; d. Covert, Seneca Co., NY 1 March 1851; m. (1) Hunterdon Co., NJ 11 June 1797 Sara Lacock (Waldeck), b. ca. 1775, d. before 3 July 1919; Abram m. (2) Hunterdon Co., NJ 3 July 1819 Eliza Heath, b. NJ (Waldeck); Abram Williamson resided in Enfield, Tompkins Co., NY in the 1830 Federal Census; Abram Williamson resided in Covert, Seneca Co., NY in the 1840 Federal Census. Children, surname Williamson, birth order and maternity uncertain ("Petition of Eliza Williamson of Covert, Seneca Co., NY, widow of Abraham J. Williamson [who] died 1 March 1851" (Waldeck): 1. Rebecca, b. NJ ca. 1800; d. after 1850; m. Knowlton Township, Warren Co., NJ by Rev. William B. Sloan to John Creveling, b. NJ ca. 1805; d. after 1850; resided in North Liberty, Philadelphia, PA in 1850 (Louis G. Creveling, Creving Family Genealogy, excerpt provided 13 April 2003). 2. Mary, d. before 1 March 1851; m. _____ Goddard. 3. Joseph, b. 1809; d. 1889; m. Delaney Frantz; resided in Covert, Seneca Co., NY as of 1 March 1851; migrated to Steuben Co. NY; probably identical with the Joseph Williamson residing in Allegany Co., NY in 1880 (Waldeck). 4. John, b. ca. 1811; resided in Steuben Co., NY as of 1 March 1851; migrated to Allegany Co., NY. 5. Nelson, b. [1813]; resided in Enfield, Tompkins Co., NY as of 1 March 1851; direct ancestor of James "Jim" Waldeck, please contact him directly at for more information. 6. Washington, b. [1816]; resided in Covert, NY as of 1 March 1851. 7. Christopher, b. [1817]; resided in Covert, NY as of 1 March 1851. 8. Henry, b. [1820]; resided in Covert, NY as of 1 March 1851. 9. Jane, m. Francis Marshall; resided in Covert, NY as of 1 March 1851. 10. Sarah, d. before 1865; m. 1842 Edward Campbell; resided in Covert, NY as of 1 March 1851. ix. Mary, b. ca. 1775 or earlier; m. Hunterdon Co., NJ 10 July 1796 Aaron Harris (Waldeck) or A. Davis (VWDB), b. ca. 1775 or earlier. Children, surname Harris or Davis (VWDB): 1. John. 2. Jehu, father of Aaron. 3. Harriet, m. _____ Shackleton. x. James S., b. Franklin Township, NJ 17 March 1780; d. Franklin Township 16 April 1863; m. Neomi Echman, b. 1780, d. 1848, dau. of Jacob Echman of Mansfield Township, NJ (A&B Abstracts, 30); James S. and Neomi Williamson sold land in Mansfield Township, Warren Co., NJ on 5 June 1827 to Henry M. Winters (GID, Record 4:366). Children, surname Williamson: 1. Jacob E., b. 1801; m. Catherine-7 Drake (Imla-6-5, Joseph-4-3-2, John-1), dau. of Imla-6 Jr. and Jane (Kerr) Drake (Bill Borden; Susan Curtis, correspondence [20 Oct 2003]; Randy and Todd Easton, "John Drake--6 Generations", ); it was probably her grandfather, Imla-5 Drake, who appraised the inventory of Peter-4 Williamson (William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen); resided in Franklin Township in 1850. 2. George W., b. ca. 1808 (1850 Federal Census); m. Mary M. _____; resided in Franklin Township in 1850. 3. Daniel, b. 23 March 1810; d. 10 Sep 1908; bur. Greenwich Prsby. Cem.; m. his first cousin, Rachel Williamson, b. 1818, d. 1847, dau. of Richard and Sarah (Williamson) Williamson. 4. Charles E., b. 13 July 1813; d. 5 Feb 1899; m. Helena Ann Fine, b. 16 Dec 1818, d. 7 Feb 1896. 5. Sarah Ann "Sally." xi. Sarah, b. [say 1781]; m. Isaac-6 Opdyke/Updike (Abraham-5, John-4, Lawrence-3, Johannes-2, Louris-1 Jansen), b. NJ 1780, son of Abraham-5 and Jannetje "Jane" (Vandervoort) Updike; grandson of my probable direct ancestors, John-4 and Mary (Bragaw) Updike, see Louris Jansen Opdyck of Gravesend, Long Island for more information; resided in [Tompkins Co.,] NY on 3 Feb 1804; went on to MI (VWDB). Child, surname Updike (Alice Raven, correspondence March 2000; Betsy Crane, correspondence March 2000): 1. Minor, b. Enfield, Tompkins Co., NY 11 June 1821, m. Clarissa Jane-4 Richey (Robert-3, Daniel-2, John-1), b. Tompkins Co., NY 1817, d. Ulysses, Tompkins Co., NY 7 Feb 1885, dau. of Robert-3 and Catherine "Caty" (Contanch) Richey; both bur. Old Log Meetinghouse Cemetery, Ulysses, NY; named son Rob Richy Updike. Catherine (Cotanch) Richey was perhaps a granddaughter of Peter and Catherine (Griggs) Williamson as discussed above. xii. Samuel, b. ca. 1791 or earlier; m. Lydia _____, "a minor under 14"; probably identical with Samuel Williamson and Lydia Bush m. Hunterdon Co., NJ 12 March 1812; lived in Hunterdon Co., NJ in 1816, "went to Phil[adelphia]" (VWDB). Children, surname Williamson (VWDB): 1. Harriet. 2. James, "went to Indiana." 3. Ephraim. 4. Elizabeth, m. J. Williamson. 5. Margaret, m. _____ [Halline?]. xiii. Peter, presumably named in honor of his paternal uncle; b. [say 1782]; d. Beattystown, NJ 1816; m. 26 March 1808 Joanna Bird (Elisha, James, Elisha), d. Hackettstown, NJ 1831, dau. of Elisha Bird and Rachel (Osmun) Bird, m. (2) John-6 Sutton (Nathan-5, Jonas-4, Richard-3, William-2, George-1), b. 1789, son of Nathan-5 and Elizabeth (Robins) Sutton; resided at Beattystown, NJ. John Sutton moved with members of the Bird family to Lapeer, MI. (Judy Jamieson Pisano, correspondence, 21 Oct 1998) Children, surname Williamson (marriages: David A. Haven, correspondence, 8 Feb 2001): 1. James, b. 1813; d. 1887; m. Margaret Van Atta, b. 1820, d. 1887, dau. of Elijah and Catherine (Case) Van Atta; bur. Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Chester Township, Morris Co., NJ. 2. Oakley, m. (1) Catherine Van Atta, dau. of Elijah and Catherine (Case) Van Atta; m. (2) Sarah Van Atta, dau. of Elijah and Catherine (Case) Van Atta. 3. Susan. 3. John-5 Williamson (Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), son of Peter-4 and Catherine (Griggs) Williamson ("John and Charity Williamson Family Record," GMNJ, 72:16; hereinafter JCWFR), was born, probably in (then Greenwich Township, Sussex County now) Warren County, New Jersey on 14 August 1762 (JCWFR). He died in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey before 12 February 1838 (Hunterdon County Inventory 4479J). John was married on __ December ____ by Thomas Bowsby Esq. to Charity-3 Richey (Daniel-2, John-1), daughter of Daniel-2 and Juda/Jude "Jerusha" (_____) Richey, born, probably in (then Sussex, now) Warren County, New Jersey on 27 August 1770 (JCWFR). John was probably identical with the John Williamson of Greenwich Township listed in the militia census of 1793. The discovery of the article, "John and Charity Williamson Family Record," was a significant breakthrough in my Williamson research. The following article revealed the parents and grandparents of Abraham Williamson and confirmed the theory that his mother was Charity (Richey) Williamson, a daughter of Daniel-2 Richey Sr.: This family record is inscribed on a piece of hand-decorated paper firmly attached to the inside lid of a family heirloom, an antique blanket chest. Mrs. Milton Seagraves, Milford, NJ has the chest and her cousin, Mrs. Leah Fritsch photographed it and the family record for transcription, which became #5258 in the GSNJ collection. Peter Williamson and Daniel "Richee" were mentioned in the following family record were among Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County taxpayers on the earliest two extant lists, 1778 and 1780 [GMNJ 47:117-123]. Peter Williamson's grandson, Peter, born 1808, married Charity Clifford, a granddaughter of Revolutionary War patriot John Clifford. The couple inherited the Clifford family homestead in (now) Union Township, which appears in the Historic American Building survey as the Clifford-Williamson House. John Williamson son of Peter Williamson and Catherine Williamson was born August 14th 1762 Charity Williamson daughter of Daniel Richey and Juda Richey was born August 27th 1770 The above couple was married Decem [blank] Thomas bowsby Esq. Feamily [sic] Genealogy by Daniel [Richey?] made June 9th 1812 The Bowlby family were also early land owners along the Musconetcong River; it was probably a Thomas Bowlby that married John Williamson and Charity Richey. On 27 May 1825, John and Charity "of Bethlehem, Hunterdon" sold land in Greenwich Township to Margaret Covenhoven of Greenwich for $1,299.98. One parcel was a small woodlot of 5.25 acres bordered by Peter Woolever and Jacob Hooser that had previously been sold to John Williamson and William Handy by William and Lena (_____) Allen. A second parcel of 53.84 acres was bordered by Mr. Standerry, General James Williamson and Daniel Williamson, being part of the property which "Peter Williamson did and by his last will and testament give and bequeath to the said John Williamson" by a "demesne of fee" (Warren County Deeds, 1:239). From this transaction, we learn that Charity was illiterate; she simply made her mark instead of signing her name. In 1830, John was enumerated in the Federal Census as a resident of Bethlehem, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Daniel, Daniel P., Jacob, James S. and John H. Williamson were identified as residents of Greenwich Township, Warren County that year. By the 1840 Federal Census, Charles E. and Daniel Williamson were the only ones bearing the surname in Greenwich Township. John died sometime before 12 February 1838 when "A true and Perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and Chatteles Rights and Credits Monies and Effects of John Williamson Late of the Township of Bethlehem in the County of Hunterdon Deceased" was "taken and appraised By us the Subscribers," James S. Williamson and William C. Smith (Hunterdon County New Jersey Inventory 4479J); James S. Williamson was John's first cousin. At $102.50, "1 Lot of oats in Stacks Rye & wheat" was John's most valuable possession. Also included in John's inventory were "one Note against Peter Cougle Given to P.J. Wellever; John Williamson Shurety app Desperate [?] $147.36." There were several other notes against Peter Cougle given to R.H. Kennedy for amounts of $426.00, $150.00, and $88.00. Other financial items pertaining to Peter Cougle were "Sheriff Frees Receipt for Money Paid for P. Cougle $172.43" and "Rescite for Money Paid to Jo-s Johnston for P. Cougle $131.37." Peter Cougle was probably identical with or otherwise closely related to the Peter Cougle who married John Williamson's first- cousin, Charity-5 Williamson (Jacobus/James-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), daughter of Jacobus/James-4 and Catherine (_____) Williamson. Other financial items in John Williamson's inventory included notes against John Richey, D. Williamson, G. Williamson, William Williamson, P.R. Williamson, John Williamson, G.W. Williamson, Peter R. Williamson and William Williamson. Given the sad state of John Williamson's financial affairs, it is not surprising to discover the following entry in records of the Warren County Orphans Court on 7 December 1838: Daniel R. Williamson and Peter R. Williamson administrators of John Williamson Late decesed having at December Term made and exhibited to this Court under oath a just and true account of the personal Eastate ad debts of the deceased as far as they cane discover the Same by which it appears that the present Eastate is Insufficient to pay his debts whereupon on applation of the Said administrators Setting for that the Said Decesed died Seized of real Eastate in the County of Warren Containing about 40 acres joining Lands of Peter Weller Margaret Conover [and] others in the Said County and praying the aid of this Court in the premeces it is ordered by the Court that all persons Interested in the Lands Tenements hereditaments and real Eastate whereof the Said decesed died Seized in the County of Warren do appear before this Court on fryday the 15th day of February Next 1839 to This Court if any they have who so much of the real Eastate where of the Said decesed died Seized aforsaid Should not be Sold for the payment of his debts or the residue thereof as the Case may require. According to the act of assembly in Such Case made [and] provided and of your pettioners Daniel R. Williamson Peter R. Williamson. Margaret Conover was doubtless identical with the Margaret Couvenhoven cited above as a neighbor to the Williamsons; one branch of the family adopted Conover as a variant spelling. On 26 March 1839, another record in the Warren County Orphans Court included: ...this Court doth order... the said Daniel R. Williamson & Peter R. Williamson Administrators as aforesaid to Sell all the Real Eastate Lying in the County of warren Containing about 40 acres adjoining Lands of Peter Wellever Margaret Conover and others of which the Said John Williamson died Seazed of... Notices of the sale of nine lots on 28 June 1839 were published in the Warren Journal and a report was provided during the August court term. The Nine lots were sold to Jacob Riddle, John Thatcher, G.W. Williamson, William Creveling, Daniel Williamson, James S. Williamson, James C. Kennedy, William Creveling Jr. and John M. Wilson. Some of these transactions are documented in greater detail as follows: Daniel R. and Peter R. Williamson, co-administrators of the estate of John Williamson, with others sold land in Greenwich Township to William Creveling Jr. of Franklin Township on 25 May 1840 (GID, 18:352); to John M. Wilson on 11 February 1841 (GID, 18:703); to William Creveling on 2 December 1841 (GID, 19:536); and to Daniel Williamson Jr. on 18 May 1863 (GID; 56:563). John and Charity did not follow Dutch traditions strictly in naming their children. Of course, neither one of them was of full Dutch ancestry. However, all of their children bore names found in the Williamson-Richey families. Children (JCWFR): 5. i. Abraham-6, b. 2 July 1791; probably named in honor of a paternal uncle who may have died without male issue of his own; m. Sarah Smith. ii. Charity, b. 21 July 1793; named in honor of her mother. iii. Daniel R., b. 12 March 1793 [sic, say 1795]; co- administrator of John Williamson's estate; named in honor of his maternal grandfather; perhaps his full name was Daniel Richey Williamson. Child, surname Williamson: 1. Daniel Jr.; purchased land from his grandfather John's estate in Greenwich Township on 18 May 1863 (GID, 56:563). iv. Jemima, b. 9 Feb 1797; named in honor of her paternal aunt. Jemima is the English equivalent of Jacomyntje and Minca is a nickname for Jacomyntje so she may be the Minca Williamson who was m. in the Greenwich Presbyterian Church, Greenwich Township on 10 Oct 1817 to Peter Cougle, son of Peter Cougle and Charity-5 Williamson (Jacobus/ James-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). v. John, b. 3 June 1801; named in honor of his father. vi. Sarah, b. 7 Sep 1803; named in honor of her paternal aunt. vii. Wilham, b. 28 Dec 1805; possibly named in honor of his paternal uncle and great-grandfather; probably identical with the William R. Williamson, b. 28 Dec 1805; d. Polk Township, Huntington Co., IN 21 Feb 1880; m. Warren Co., NJ 16 Feb 1832 Sarah-4 Iliff (James-3-2, Richard-1), b. 12 Jan 1806, d. Polk Township, IN 13 Dec 1890, dau. of James-3 and Grace (Stevenson) Iliff (Lynn Tinsley, "Tinsley Roots, Branches & Twigs" Database at RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project, based in part of the work of Charles Allen Iliff at the Library of Congress; hereinafter Tinsley). Children, surname Williamson (Tinsley): 1. James Iliff, b. 3 June 1832; d. IN 27 Sep 1896. 2. Elizabeth, b. 21 Feb 1834; d. 24 Dec 1906. 3. Samuel C., b. 1 Nov 1835; d. 15 Sep 1863 in Civil War. 4. Jane, b. 11 July 1837. 5. Sarah, b. 21 March 1840. 6. Mahlon, b. 10 Dec 1841; d. 28 Dec 1807. 7. Anna, b. "Huntertown" [sic, Hunterdon Co.], NJ 4 March 1843; d. Andrews, Huntington Co., IN 30 March 1909; m. Huntington, Huntington Co., IN 16 Feb 1864 George Granville Sharp, b. 10 Jan 1843, d. Huntington, IN 9 May 1893, son of Isaac Taylor and Catherine Wood (Lewis) Sharp ("Fruchey Family Page"). 8. Amy, b. 4 Oct 1846. 9. Lewis, b. Huntington Co., IN 7 Oct 1851; d. KS Jan 1918. viii. Peter R. (VWDB), b. 4 May 1808; d. 8 Nov 1878; m. 9 June 1829 Charity Clifford (Charles, John, ...), b. 18 Jan 1808, d. 18 Dec 1901, dau. of Charles and Leah (Hoagland) Clifford; both bur. Bethlehem Baptist Cemetery, Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ. Peter was co-administrator of his father's estate; named in honor of his paternal grandfather; will was documented in Union Township, Hunterdon Co., NJ in 1878 (13:235). Children, surname Williamson (Will; Bible Record; some in VWDB; Larry McClain's WorldConnect Database at RootsWeb): 1. Ann Mariah, b. 1 March 1830; d. 13 Dec 1835; m. Mahlon Fox; Ann Fox in VWDB. 2. Charles Clifford, b. 15 May 1832; d. 3 Feb 1871; bur. Bethlehem Baptist Cemetery. 3. Jane Elizabeth, b. 29 Oct 1835; d. 13 Dec 1835. 4. John Ritchie, b. 22 April 1837; m. Mary Elizabeth-4 Creveling (Andrew-3, Peter-2, Johannes-1) b. 10 July 1839, dau. of Andrew-3 and Mary Ann "Ruth" (_____) Creveling (Louis G. Creveling, Creveling Family Genealogy, excerpt provided 13 April 2003); John in VWDB. 5. Enoch Welliver, b. 14 Jan 1840; m. Sarah Elizabeth Sheets; Enoch in VWDB. 6. Reuben Armitage, b. 31 Aug 1842; m. Sarah R. Rounsaville; Reuben in VWDB. 7. Joseph, b. 2 Jan 1849; m. Bertha Race; "John Clifford, first lieutenant in Capt. Carhart's company, Second Regiment, Hunterdon, who lived many years in [Union] township, on the farm on which his great- grandson, Joseph Williamson, now resides...," (History of Hunterdon County, 517). ix. MaryAnna, b. [18] Feb 1812; perhaps named in honor of her paternal aunt. x. [Gardner? or dau. who m. _____ Gardner?; doubtful placement per VWDB only.] xi. [Harriet?] m. _____ Maxwell; doubtful placement per VWDB only.] 4. Abraham-6 Williamson (John-5, Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), was born in New Jersey (Census Records), probably in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County (Census Records) on 2 April 1791 (Williamson Family Bible Records, hereinafter WBRs). His birthdate is given in error as 2 July 1791 in JCWFR; the original image reads 2 April 1791 in agreement with WBRs. Abraham died in the Town of Greenwood, Steuben County, New York on 3 December 1874 (WBRs) "Aged 83 yrs 8 Mo. & 1 Day" (tombstone). Abraham was married, probably in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, on 15 February 1813 (WBRs) to Sarah "Sally" Smith (Robert, ...). Sarah was born in New Jersey (Census Records) on 8 June 1795 (WBRs); she died in Greenwood, New York on 6 June 1849 (WBRs). Sarah, or "Sally," was the daughter of Robert and Jemima (_____) Smith of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Abraham and Sarah are both buried in the northwest corner of the Anson Brewster Cemetery on Slaght Road in the Town of Greenwood, New York. Abraham and Sarah named their eldest sons Robert and John, prompting me to consider the theory that Robert was named in honor of his otherwise unknown maternal grandfather, Robert Smith. In April 2003, using an Internet search engine, google.com, I found a posting from 2000 in the archives of NJHUNTER-L@rootsweb.com (a discussion list for genealogy in Hunterdon County, New Jersey) by Glenn Van Vliet that provided a solid match. Robert Smith of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey made his will on 8 February 1812; it was proved on 27 November 1813. He identified his wife, Jemima, and his children William, Joseph, Robert, John, Hetty, Jemima, Sally, David and Asher. Sally is a common nickname for Sarah. Thus it appeared likely that young Sally Smith married Abraham Williamson after her father's will was made but before it was proved. Indeed, with Robert Smith's passing, there may have been some pressure on his daughters to quickly find another means of support as soon as they were old enough to marry. Following a Dutch tradition, Abraham and Sarah named their eldest son Robert instead of John because the maternal grandfather had predeceased the paternal grandfather. In April 2004, Dot Williamson provided deeds which proved that Sarah (Smith) Williamson was indeed the daughter of Robert and Jemima (_____) Williamson. Sarah's eldest sister, Elizabeth, married her husband Abraham's kinsman and neighbor, Peter-6 Wyckoff (Peter-5, -Martin-4, Pieter-3, Nicholas-2, Pieter-1 Claesen). Abraham and Sarah named their daughters Lucy, Charity and Jemima. Charity was obviously named in honor of her paternal grandmother, Charity (Richey) Williamson. In his will, Sarah's father, Robert Smith, identifed a wife and a daughter both named Jemima so it seems clear that Jemima Williamson was named in honor of her maternal grandmother. The naming order also suggests that Charity (Richey) Williamson predeceased Jemima (___ ) Smith. Eldest child Lucy Williamson has no obvious antecedent in her parents' families to explain her prominent position in the birth order. Perhaps Sarah (Smith) Williamson had a sister Lucy who died young. A common migration pattern found in other ancestral families of mine from Northwestern New Jersey to Tompkins County, New York and on to Greenwood, New York initially suggested that the Williamsons may have been from the same part of New Jersey. Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Williamson named their second daughter Charity and their youngest son Daniel. This prompted me to consider the possibility that Abraham's mother was identical with Charity (Richey) Williamson, a daughter of my direct ancestor, Daniel-2 Richey Sr. (John-1). Among the children identified in the 1813 will of Daniel-2 Richey Sr. of Ulysses, (then Seneca, now) Tompkins County, New York, are a son, Daniel Richey Jr., and a daughter, Charity (Richey) Williamson. The Richeys had also originated in northwestern New Jersey and moved to Tompkins County, New York before settling in Greenwood, Steuben County, New York: Abraham Williamson and Daniel Richey Jr. came from Ulysses [Tompkins County, New York] in 1827, settling in the west part of the town [Greenwood, Steuben County, New York]. As I subsequently learned from JCWFR, Daniel Richey Jr., was Abraham's maternal uncle. No Abraham Williamson can be found in the 1820 Federal Census of Tompkins County, New York; the family was probably still residing in New Jersey. By the 1830 Federal Census, Abraham Williamson was residing in the Town of Greenwood, Steuben County, New York. A small number of vital records survive for the Town of Greenwood prior to the implementation of civil registration by New York State in 1880. Sally Williamson, age 52, married housekeeper, died of a chronic disease on 6 June 1849; Sally is a common nickname for Sarah. The use of "housekeeper" in this sense probably means a female head of household keeping her own house, rather than a woman employeed in someone else's household. In 1850, Abraham's household consisted of himself and his youngest son, Daniel, 11, along with family of his son, Chester: Chester, 27; Electa, 19; and Seymour, 4/12. In 1870, Abraham was residing with his son, John. By 1873, Homer Mallory (1827-1918) had taken ownership of Abraham's farm; Francis and Jemima (Williamson) Updyke still lived across the road. The Williamson farm was part of Lot #7 in the Town of Greenwood (1873 Atlas of Steuben County). Abraham's farm became known as the Homer Mallory farm; it was located on the south side of Slaght Road on West Greenwood Hill, near the Allegany County border and just west of the farm of Clarence Abram and Arbella "Belle" (Boyd) Slaght. None of the buildings survive today; however, two stone foundations can still be found not far from the road in some brush. The Slaghts were the adoptive parents of the my paternal grandmother, Virgil Elizabeth (Mahoney) (Slaght) Streeter. During Virgil's childhood, Homer Mallory's widowed and childless daughter, Libbie (Mallory) Bundy (1864-1952), lived at the farm; Clarence Slaght's cousin, Wilbur Cronk, shared Libby's home as a companion and farm laborer. Children (WBRs): i. Lucy-7, b. [NJ] 31 Dec 1813. ii. Charity, b. [NJ] 11 Aug 1815; named in honor of her paternal grandmother, Charity (Richey) Williamson. iii. Robert, b. [NJ] 5 Sep 1817; d. 29 Nov 1820 (WBRs); named in honor of his maternal grandfather, Robert Smith. 6. iv. John, b. NJ 14 Sep 1819; m. Adeline S. Brundage; named in honor of his paternal grandfather, John Williamson. v. Chester, b. Steuben Co., NY 6 Nov 1823; d. Neponset Township, Bureau Co., IL; m. Greenwood, NY by. C. Graham, clergyman of Whitesville, Allegany Co., NY on 22 July 1849 to Electa Jane Rogers (Town of Greenwood Vital Records), b. Tompkins Co., NY 27 Sep 1831, d. Neponsit, IL, dau. of John and Luzitta (Smith) Rogers of Tompkins Co. and Greenwood; resided in Bureau Co., IL before 1860 (Claire L. Williamson Jr., correspondence). Children, surname Williamson: 1. Seymour, b. 27 May 1850; m. (1) Henry Co., IL Mary Hill. 2. Lafayette E., b. 16 March 1852. 3. Sarah, b. NY 26 Sep 1854; m. A. Kepler, b. Webster City, IA ca. 1854. 4. Pardon, b. IL 22 May 1857. 5. Luzitta, b. 14 May 1859. 6. Gilbert R., b. IL 28 June 1861. 7. U. Grant, b. IL 28 July 1863. 8. Chester, b. IL 8 Sep 1865. 9. Effie, b. IL 29 Aug 1870. 10. Hattie, b. 1 March 1872; m. John Edward Tharp; named as contact for her uncle, Daniel Williamson, in the event of his illness or death. vi. Jemima, b. 1 Nov 1825; named in honor of her maternal grandmother, Jemima (_____) Smith; m. Francis-7 Updyke (George-6, Joshua-5, Benjamin-4, Albert-3, Johannes-2, Louris-1 Jansen), b. 1820, son of George-6 and Susan (Groff) Updyke; descendant of my direct ancestors, Johannes-2 and Catherine (_____) Updyke; see Louris Jansen Opdyck [Updike] of Gravesend, Long Island for more information. George Updyke was b. in Bethlehem, Hunterdon, NJ 1788; resided next to the Williamson farm in 1850 and 1870. Children, surname Updyke: 1. Huron, b. 19 May 1846; d. 20 March 1929; m. Mira Glover, b. 22 July 1845, d. 18 Aug 1924. 2. Martha Jane, b. ca. 1848; d. Andover, NY 1929; m. George E. Brown. 3. Charles, m. Cora Whitney. vii. Charles Wesley, b. Ulysses, Tompkins Co., NY 6 July 1827 (or 1829); d. Greenwood, NY 21 Oct 1891; bur. Anson Brewster Cemetery, Greenwood, NY; resided in Greenwood, NY in 1860 and 1880; m. (1) 24 Aug 1851 Lucy Jane-7 Mason (Elliott-6, Enoch-5. Ebenezer-4, Joseph-3-2, Hugh-1), b. Clear Creek, Chautauqua Co., NY 28 Aug 1833, d. Greenwood, NY 13 Feb 1857 age 23 years, 5 months and 6 days, bur. Anson Brewster Cemetery, Greenwood, NY, dau. of Elliott-6 and Jemima (Smith) Mason; m. (2) 1857 Nancy Maria-7 Mason (Elliott-6, Enoch-5. Ebenezer-4, Joseph-3-2, Hugh-1), b. Clear Creek, NY 9 April 1837, d. Greenwood, NY 17 Dec 1868, m. (3) ca. Spring 1870 Nancy-8 (Crusen) Atkins (Francis-7, Jasper-6, Francis-5, Derrick-4, Francis-3, Derrick-2, Garret-1), b. 13 Feb 1839, d. 17 Dec 1868 [1868?], bur. Anson Brewster Cemetery, Greenwood, NY, dau. of Francis-7 and Catharine (Groundyke) Crusen, m. (1) John W. Atkins, son of William Atkins, by whom she had one son, Spurgeon Atkins, b. 1860 (1860 Federal Census, as provided by Nancy Gartland [correspondence 19 Aug 2004]). Nancy (Crusen) (Atkins) Williamson was a desc. of the my direct ancestors, Francis-5 and Mary (_____) Krusen; see Gerret Dircksen Croesen of Brooklyn, New York for more information. Many of the details on Chester's family came from Descendants of Capt. Hugh Mason in America (1937) by Edna Warren Mason. Children, by Lucy Jane Mason, surname Williamson: 1. Elvert Elliott, b. Hartsville, Steuben Co., NY 26 Aug 1852; d. Lewis, Edwards Co., KS 25 March 1912; m. Greenwood, NY 28 Sep 1887 Mary Persis Coston, b. 7 Oct 1757, dau. of Hiram & Mary Elvira (Jamison) Coston. 2. Olive Jane, b. Greenwood, NY 26 Feb 1854; d. Heppner, Morrow Co., OR 25 Feb 1933; m. Andover, Allegany Co., NY 27 March 1876 Francis Eugene Campbell, b. Tioga Co., PA 18 Dec 1854, son of Charles and Matilda (Updyke) Campell. Children, by Nancy Maria Mason, surname Williamson: 3. daughter, b. Greenwood, NY 9 July 1858; d. young. 4. Charity, b. Greenwood, NY 23 Nov 1859; m. Heppner, OR 14 Dec 1897 Sterling Cyrus Smith, b. Colebrook, CT 13 Jan 1866, son of Marshall David and Olivia (Hotckiss) Smith. 5. Delora E, b. Greenwood, NY 19 July 1862; d. 17 May 1903; m. Andover, NY 29 Dec 1881 Frederick Phinney, d. 26 July 1900, son of Briar Phinney. 6. Otis Mason, b. Greenwood, NY 21 March 1865; m. Lewis, KS 23 June 1895 Effie Ostrander, b. Jasper, Steuben Co., NY 13 Nov 1875, dau. of Peter A. and Nancy Jane (Hoyt) Ostrander; resided in Lewis, KS in Dec 1932. 7. Rosalie, b. Greenwood, NY 3 May 1867; d. Greenwood, NY 13 Sep 1867. 8. Helen Maria, b. Greenwood, NY 1 Aug 1868; d. Heppner, OR 5 Jan 1897; m. Shelby, MI 22 Feb 1885 Sterling Cyrus Smith, widower of her sister. Child, by Nancy (Crusen) Atkins, surname Williamson: 9. Ortha Jane, b. 23 April 1874. viii. Elias, b. Greenwood, NY 6 June 1831 (obituary); d. Greenwood, NY 25 Jan 1897 (obituary); m. (1) 28 Oct 1854 (WBRs) Olive Adelia-8 Miner (Aiden-7, Allen-6, Jonathan Ransford-5, Jonathan-4, Thomas-3, Manassah-2, Thomas-1), b. Lansing, Tompkins Co., NY 24 March 1833, d. Greenwood, NY 1 Sep 1888 (WBRs) of "cholera morbus" after a period "of poor health for a long time" (obituary), dau. of my direct ancestors, Aiden-7 and Susan A. (Smith) Miner of Greenwood, New York, see Thomas Miner of Stonington, Connecticut for more information; m. (2) 9 April 1893 Alice (_____) Minard (WBRs), m. (1) James Minard (obituary), d. after 25 Jan 1897; Methodist; farmer; sawmill owner. Greenwood--Mr. Elias Williamson is going to build a new house opposite the M.E. [Methodist Episcopal] Church. (Canisteo Times [3 June 1886]). Greenwood--Mr. Elias Williamson has his new house nearly completed. It is a fine one. (Canisteo Times [2 Dec 1886]). Children, by Olive Miner, b. Greenwood, NY, surname Williamson: 1. Emma, b. 25 Dec 1857; m. 1875 Peter Rollins. 2. Addie, b. 30 Aug 1860; d. 2 March 1942; m. 1 Dec 1881 Newton Emmett Coston, d. 14 Jan 1924. 3. George Miner, b. 15 April 1862; d. 1914; m. Jennie Tobias, b. 1863, d. 1934; bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY. 4. Nellie, b. 28 June 1864; d. 1944; m. 29 Dec 1886 Lewis Ersley. 5. Delia, b. 31 Nov 1868; m. 5 Dec 1889 Byron E. Austin. ix. William, b. 2 May 1833. x. Daniel, b. NY 25 July 1839; d. Soldiers & Sailors Home, Quincy, Adams Co., IL 18 Jan 1913; bur. Kewanee, Illinois; resided in Bureau Co., IL by 1860; enrolled as a Private in Co. H, 93rd Illinois Infantry at Neponsit, IL on 14 Aug 1862 for a three-year term; mustered into service at Chicago, IL on 18 Oct 1862; mustered out at Louisville, KY on 23 June 1865; discharged from the Minnesota Soldiers' Home, Minnehaha, MN on 14 April 1903; admitted to the Illinois Soldiers & Sailors Home, Quincy, Adams Co., IL on 22 April 1903; never married (Claire L. Williamson Jr., correspondence). 5. John-7 Williamson (Abraham-6, John-5, Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), was born in New Jersey (1880 Federal Census), probably in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, on 14 September 1819 (WBRs); he died in Greenwood, Steuben County, New York on 16 October 1882 (WBRs). John was married in Greenwood, New York on 28 March 1849 by Philetus Farrar, Esq. to Adeline S. Brundage (John, Solomon, [Benjamin], ..., John-1 Brundish) (Town of Greenwood Vital Records), born in Onondaga County, New York on 20 September 1830, died in Greenwood, New York on 10 February 1906, daughter of John and Jemima (Knight) Brundage; they are both buried in the Greenwood Cemetery in Greenwood, New York. Very little is known of John Williamson. Although he survived into the age of photography, we have no pictures of him, as we do of Adeline. The following has been excerpted from the obituary of his younger brother, Elias ("A. Friend," Scrapbook of Sabra (Coston) (Wing) Scribner): ... [Abraham and Sarah (Smith) Williamson] were among the early settlers [of Greenwood, Steuben County, New York]. His mother died when he was but a boy, and there being a large family he had to go out and shift for himself. The writer has heard him say that the children used to go to school barefooted, each one would heat a slab of wood and carry with them, and when their feet got cold they would lay it in the snow and stand on it till they were warm, then run on. Think of the contrast, then and now... By the 1870 federal census, John's father, Abraham, was residing with him. In the 1873 Atlas of Steuben County, a J. Williamson was residing on Lot #126 just north of the village of Greenwood. This was probably the residence of John Williamson for, in the 1880 federal census, we find the household of John and Adeline adjacent to that of their son, Merritt and his wife, Cora, and the household of Cora's mother, Mary Jane (Krusen) Brundage. The Israel Morris and Mary Jane (Krusen) Brundage farm was the property now owned by the family of George Miner-10 Williamson (Ordo-9, George Miner-8, Elias-7, Abraham-6, John-5, Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen); this charming old Greek Revival farmhouse sits on the west side of Route 248 just north of its intersection with Route 417. ...Maud, the daughter of Merritt C. and Cora C. (Brundage) Williamson. Her maternal grandfather, Israel Brundage, owned what was known as the Old Brundage Mill (flour and lumber), at Greenwood, eventually selling this to [Maud's] paternal grandfather, John Williamson. (William M. Stuart, Who's Who in Steuben) In the 1873 Atlas of Steuben County, a J. Williamson (Lot #3) and a Jno. Williamson (Lot #4) are also shown on what is now known as Williamson Road in the southwest corner of the town. These Williamsons may have been brothers Joseph and John Williamson, sons of John-7 Williamson (Nelson-6, Abraham J.-5, Jacobus/James-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen). John settled in Wellsville, Allegany County, New York by 1880. By the 1880 Federal Census, only their children Melvin, Caroline and Chester were still residing at home. However, Melvin was married by then. John was identified as a Lumberman. On 4 October 1882, John made his will shortly before his death as with witnessed by George D. Woodward and William Baker (Steuben County, New York Register of Wills, 19:74): In the name of God. Amen-- I--John Williamson of the town of Greenwood in the County of Steuben and State of New York being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament that is to say-- First, After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Adeline S Williamson the sum of one thousand dollars with interest from my death in lieu of her dower & of any distribution share of my estate to which she might otherwise be entitled-- Second--I give and bequeath to my son Melvin S Williamson the sum of five dollars Third I give and bequeath to my son Merritt C Williamson the sum of five dollars-- Fourth I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Jackson wife of Charles H Jackson the sum of five dollars-- Fifth--I give and bequeath to my daughter Jemima Brooks wife of John C Brooks the sum of five dollars-- Sixth--I give and bequeath to my daughter Caroline Williamson the sum of five dollars to be paid to her upon her becoming of full age-- Seventh--I give and bequeath to my son Chester Williamson the sum of five dollars, said sum to be paid to him by my executors upon his becoming of full age Eighth--I give devise and bequeath all the residue of my estate both real and personal to my beloved wife Adeline S. Williamson Ninth--I appoint my said wife Adeline S. Williamson and my son Merritt C Williamson executors of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made-- In witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this fourth day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and eight two. The Canisteo Times of 8 April 1886, also indicates that John was a miller, an occupation also held by his son Merritt at times: Greenwood--We understand that D.H. Parshall has traded his house and lot in this village for the mill property owned by Mrs. J. Williamson. For Christmas 1888, Adeline presented her granddaughter, Mary (Williamson) Streeter, with a small autograph book. On the last page she wrote: "Dear Mary, When on these Lines you Look Remember it was your grandma that wrote this in your Book," with "remember me" inscribed vertically at the margin. Children, probably all born in Greenwood, Steuben County, New York (Steuben County, New York Probate Records, File A-11737, File A-12259): i. Melvin S.-8, b. 8 May 1850; d. Canisteo, Steuben Co., NY 11 April 1923; m. before 1880 Margaretta "Etta" Thompson, b. NY ca. 1851 (1880 Federal Census); resided with his parents in Greenwood in 1880; resided in Greenwood, NY on 11 Jan 1883; resided in Jasper, Steuben Co., NY as of 18 March 1889 (Autograph book of Mary (Williamson) Streeter). Child, surname Williamson: 1. Roseltha, b. NY ca. 1874. 7. ii. Merritt C., b. 4 Sep 1851; m. Cora Charity Brundage. iii. Arabell E., b. 12 April 1854; probably died young; not identified in father's will. iv. Sarah Jane "Jennie," b. Greenwood, NY 2 April 1856; d. Jackson residence, Greenwood, NY 8 Aug 1909; bur. Bennetts Creek Cemetery, Greenwood, NY; m. 1874 Charles M. Jackson, b. 11 Sep 1852, d. 1918; resided in Augusta, Eau Claire Co., WI on 11 Jan 1883; resided in Greenwood, NY on 10 Feb 1906. Children, surname Jackson: 1. Earl; resided at Bennetts in 1909. 2. Mary, m. W. Vanderhoef; resided in Greenwood in 1909. 3. Lottie. v. Jemima, b. 5 May 1858; died before 10 Feb 1906; m. John C. Brooks; resided in Wellsville, Allegany Co., NY on 11 Jan 1883 and 6 July 1886; resided in Andover, Allegany Co., NY on 18 Jan 1891. Greenwood--J.C. Brooks and wife of Wellsville, were visiting Mr. B. Lewis last week (Canisteo Times [6 July 1886]). Children, surname Brooks, birth order uncertain: 1. Minnie; wrote: "Mary, Your loving friend and cousin, Minnie Brooks, Andover, N.Y., Jan. 18th 1891," (Autograph book of Mary (Williamson) Streeter). 2. Adaline, resided in Cleveland, OH on 10 Feb 1906. vi. Homer J., b. 26 July 1862; d. 19 Oct 1865; bur. Anson Brewster Cemetery, Greenwood, NY. vii. Eva J., b. 28 June 1864; d. 19 Oct 1865; bur. Anson Brewster Cemetery, Greenwood, NY. viii. Caroline Frances, b. 20 Dec 1866; d. Friendship, Allegany Co., NY 23 April 1944; bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY 25 April 1944; m. Raymond Drew-4 Ersley (Chauncey Johnson-3, Johnson O.-2, Francis-1), b. Greenwood, NY 14 April 1862; d. Friendship, NY 3 Aug 1924, son of Chauncey J.-3 and Lydia (Davis) Ersley (Family Records of Robert S. Hunt); resided in Greenwood, NY on 11 Jan 1883; resided in Friendship, NY on 10 Feb 1906; bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY. Children, surname Ersley: 1. dau., b. Greenwood, NY 3 Feb 1892; d. residence, Wolf Spring Road, Scio; bur. Woodlawn Cemetery, Scio; m. 3 June 1916 Ortaville D. Dodson. 2. Vinnie, m. Bruce Cornwell; resided in Richburg, NY. 3. Eloise, m. _____ Hunt; resided in Wellsville, NY; 4. Clayton, resided in Erie, PA. ix. Chester, b. 30 May 1869; d. Excelsior Springs, MO 17 April 1927; m. Minnie Hardy; resided in Greenwood, NY on 11 Jan 1883; resided in Lewis, KS on 10 Feb 1906. Children, surname Williamson: 1. Clarence, b. 12 June 1898; d. 11 October 1963; bur. Kinsley Cemetery, Kinsley, KS. 2. dau., resided in Pawnee, NE. 6. Merritt C.-8 Williamson (John-7, Abraham-6, John-5, Peter-4, William-3, Willem-2 Willemsen, Willem-1 Gerritsen), was born, probably in Greenwood, Steuben County, New York, on 4 September 1851; he died at the home of his daughter, Maud (Williamson) Kellogg in Greenwood, New York on Saturday, 10 November 1928 following a "stroke of Apoplexy." Merritt was married on 4 July 1877 to Cora Charity Brundage (Israel Morris, Benjamin S., Solomon, [Benjamin], ..., John-1 Brundish). Cora was born in Greenwood, New York on 27 January 1860; she died at the home of her daughter, Maud (Williamson) Kellogg in Greenwood, New York at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, _____ 1932. Cora was the daughter of Israel Morris and Mary Jane (Krusen) Brundage; her middle name honored both of her grandmothers, Charity (Lanning) Brundage and Charity (Richey) Krusen. As great-grandchildren of Solomon and Mary (Collins) Brundage, Merritt and Cora were second cousins. As great-great- grandchildren of Daniel-2 Sr. and Jerush "Juda" (_____) Richey, they were third cousins. They are both buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, New York. In 1880, Merritt and Cora resided next to her mother; Merritt's parents lived on the other side of Mary Jane (1880 Federal Census). Merritt was a resident of Greenwood on 11 January 1883, when his father's will was probated. Merritt was a life-long resident of Greenwood with the exception of a thirteen-year span in which he resided in Andover; this period was from approximately 1883 to about 1896. In 1895, Maud and Mary are shown in an Andover school picture. In the 1900 Federal Census, "Mett Williamson," "Farmer" was residing in the Town of West Union, Steuben County, New York with wife Cora and their children, Maude, Mary, and John. Tragically, their daughter, Calla, had died of a ruptured appendix in the summer of 1899. On 5 December 1905, a dinner was given at the Greenwood Hotel by the business men of Greenwood in honor of the subscribers to the capital stock of the Greenwood Bank. Among the business men identified in the flyer was "M.C. Williamson, Dealer in hay, straw and produce." In 1917, "produce dealer" "M.C. Williamson" and Cora owned a house and lot and Greenwood; they also had one horse and telephone service (1917 Farm Journal Rural Directory). When the Williamsons returned to the Village of Greenwood, they took up residence on the west side of North Main Street. This house is currently owned by [Ben Smith]; it is situated across the street from the home of their granddaughter, Janette (Streeter) Cornell. Cora was a practical nurse; Janette and her first cousin, William Greenwood Kellogg Jr., were born at the Williamson home. The were still residing there, with their son John, when the Federal Census was enumerated in 1920. "Met" identified himself as a "Produce Buyer at home." During Merritt's time in Andover, he had been a miller; he turned grain into flour using a water-powered mill. He was a tall man with dark hair. He liked to smoke cigars and play pool at the old Greenwood Hotel. As a child, his grandson, Francis Marion Streeter, was impressed by the fact that Merritt could recall the assassination of President Lincoln. Greenwood Loses a Well Known Man Greenwood, N.Y., Nov. 13--The death of Merritt C. Williamson, 77, occurred, Saturday November 10 from a stroke of apoplexy suffered two days previous. His death took place at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William G. Kellogg, Sr., in this village. Mr. Williamson was one of the best known and most esteemed and respected residents of this town. He had spent all of this life here with the exception of a few years in Andover. He was man of sunny disposition, strict honesty, high ideals, and was kind husband and father and a generous and obliging neighbor. His death is regretted by hundreds of friends. He was born September 4th, 1851 in Greenwood, the son of John and Adeline Williamson. He leaves his wife, one son, John Williamson of Wellsville, two daughters, Mrs. Miner Streeter and Mrs. W.G. Kellogg of Greenwood and a sister, Mrs. R.D. Earsley of Friendship. He was oldest of nine children of whom Mrs. Earsley is now the only one living. Mr. Williamson was about his work Thursday as usual and was downtown when he was stricken suddenly. The funeral was held on Monday at 1:30 pm, from the Kellogg home, Reverend J.W. McGavern [former pastor of the Greenwood M.E. Church] officiated assisted by Reverend F.G. Andrus. Burial in Greenwood cemetery. Among those from away who attended the funeral were: Mrs. R.D. Earsley of Friendship; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Hunt of Wellsville; Mr. and Mrs. O.D. Dodson of Wellsville; Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Brundage, Belle Brundage, and Mrs. P.M. Smith [sic, Swink] of Andover, Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Groff of Canisteo, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Spencer of Oswayo, Pa., Mr. and Mrs. Howard French of Whitesville (Hornell Tribune, 10 November 1928). As her grandchildren recalled, Cora was a good but stern woman; she was not loveable and affectionate like Merritt. William Greenwood "Bill" Kellogg Jr. reportedly told his sister, Jane, "You can have Grandpa Kellogg. I'm going to keep Grandpa Grandad"; Grandpa Grandad was Merritt Williamson. The wording of Merrit's and Cora's obituaries echoes these characterizations. Part of Cora's cool manner can probably be attributed to a sad childhood. Her father, Israel Morris Brundage, died shortly before her eleventh birthday. Cora's mother never remarried but, somehow, "After Mr. Brundage's death, Mrs. Brundage with her four small children continued to occupy the farm for a number of years, Mrs. Brundage bravely taking up the management and care of the same, as well as looking after the care and education of her family," (Obituary of Mary Jane (Krusen) Brundage). No doubt, Mary Jane (Krusen) Brundage must have been a strong and independent woman in an era dominated by men. These characteristics are still evident in Mary Jane's female descendants. On 17 January 1891, Cora was probably the C. Wmson of Andover, N.Y. who inscribed the following in Mary (Williamson) Streeter's autograph book: "Mary, Honor the lord in the days of thy youth that thy days may be long in the land which the lord thy God giveth thee," along with "ever your true friend and well wisher" added vertically at the margin. One indication of Cora's independent nature was her active participation in the civic life of the community. In the 1906-07 Year Book of the Anna C. Etz League, Cora Williamson was identified as the Assistant Secretary and a member of the Year Book Committee. It is interesting to note that the league motto was "Nothing is denied to her who wills." On 12 September 1906, she presented a paper entitled "Public Library Work." On 24 May 1907, Cora served as hostess for the bi-weekly meeting. On 11 June 1923, Cora was elected to the office of Secretary for the coming year by the trustees of the Greenwood Cemetery Association. On 17 December 1923, it was noted that "A special meeting of the [Greenwood] Cemetery Association was held at the home of F.D. Young to appoint a Secretary in place of Mrs. Cora Williamson who had moved away from town. Mary D. Young was appointed in her place," (Proceedings of the Greenwood Cemetery Association: Organized 26 May 1876 in Greenwood, Steuben County, New York). Merritt and Cora spent their later years apart; they were effectively divorced. Merritt lived with his daughters, Mary and Maud, by turns. When Cora "moved away from town," she went to live with her son, John Williamson, in Wellsville. According to the annual directories of Wellsville, Cora and John shared an apartment at 118 Madison Street (southeast corner of its intersection with Scott Avenue) from as early as 1924 until at least 1928. By 1930, Cora and John had moved to 111 East Pearl Street. John had been living alone at 24 Madison Street in 1921. After Cora's death, he apparently left Wellsville; he is not listed in the 1933 directory. The old lilac tree shading the south porch at the Streeter Farm grew from a shoot taken from Cora's Madison Street residence. Respected Resident of Greenwood Passes Away Mrs. Cora Williamson, 72 of Greenwood, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W.G. Kellogg, in Greenwood Saturday evening at 10 o'clock. She had been sick two weeks with cerebral hemorrhage. Mrs. Williamson was born in Greenwood January 27, 1860. Her younger years were spent in Greenwood, Andover and Wellsville. She was the daughter of Israel and Mary Jane Brundage who lived in the old Williamson homestead in Greenwood. She was married to Merritt C. Williamson of Greenwood July 4, 1877. Mr. Williamson died four years ago. She was a member of the Methodist church of Wellsville, Missionary society of that church, the Eastern Star and Rebekah lodge of Greenwood. She was a most respected resident and from one of the most prominent families in this country. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. W.G. Kellogg and Mrs. Miner Streeter of Greenwood, one son John Williamson of Greenwood, two sisters, Mrs. A.M. Groff of Canisteo and Mrs. P.M. Swink of Andover, one brother, B.S. Brundage of Andover. She also left four grandchildren, one niece and one nephew. The funeral was held Tuesday at 10:30 at the home of W.G. Kellogg in Greenwood. Rev. T. Garland Smith of the Wellsville M. E. church officiated. Burial was made in Greenwood cemetery. The bearers were: John Armstrong, Lee B. Craft, Norman Rogers, Willis Scribner, Hiram Berger, and Lee Wallace. Merritt and Cora both died at the home of their eldest daughter, Maud (Williamson) Kellogg. The small neighborhood of Church Hill in Greenwood, situated between downtown and Dryden hill, derives its name from this stately residence. This large Greek Revival house was originally a church. The Kelloggs removed the steeple and converted it to a home. Merritt and Cora had only four grandchildren--two Kelloggs and two Streeters. My paternal grandfather, F. Marion Streeter, often stayed at the Kellogg home with his first cousin, William Greenwood "Bill" Kellogg. It was a always a special treat for them to spend the night on one of the second-story sleeping porches. Children: i. Maud-9, b. 3 June 1878; d. Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, PA at 1:05 pm on _____ Dec 1936; first Worthy Matron of Greenwood Chapter No. 574, O.E.S.; m. at her parents' home, Greenwood, NY 29 Oct 1911 William Greenwood "Bill" Kellogg, b. Greenwood, NY 4 Feb 1870, d. at Kellogg Residence, Church Hill, Greenwood, NY 6 April 1956, son of Silas and Bessie (Davis) Kellogg, Canisteo Academy 1889, Cornell University 1893 LL.B., Cornell University 1894 LL.M., admitted to the bar 1895; both bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY. Children, surname Kellogg: 1. William Greenwood "Bill," b. Williamson residence, Greenwood, NY; d. New Hartford, NY; m. First Presbyterian Church, New Hartford, NY 27 Dec 1941 Sara Katherine Evans, dau. of _____ and Mary (_____) Evans; Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA; four sons. 2. Jane Brundage, d. [Newport Richey], FL 17 Sep 1996; m. Bedford, OH 15 October 1959 Loren Wilfred Copping; Penn Hall Preparatory School for Girls, Chambersburg, PA; no children. * ii. Mary, b. Greenwood, NY 27_September_1881; d. at the home of her daughter, Calla Janette (Streeter) Cornell, Main St., Greenwood, NY 25 Feb 1973; m. at her parents' home, Main St., Greenwood, NY 24 April 1907 Miner Thomas-4 Streeter (Francis Marion-3, Thomas-2-1), b. Streeter Farm, Greenwood, NY 23_July_1883, d. of nephritis St. James Mercy Hospital, Hornell, Steuben Co., NY on Saturday, 16_July_1943, son of Francis Marion-3 and Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter; my great-grandparents; see The Streeter Family of Dunnings Farm, East Grinstead, Sussex, England for more information. iii. John Brundage, b. 28 Aug 1883; d. Andover, Allegany Co., NY 31 Dec 1946; bur. Valley Brook Cemetery, Andover, NY. Employee of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; member of the Greenwood Methodist Church, Sentinel Lodge No. 151 and the Corning Consistory; resided at 24 Madison Street, Wellsville, NY in 1921. iv. Calla, b. 11 March 1885; d. [Rexville, Town of West Union], Steuben Co., NY 28 Aug 1899 of a ruptured appendix. An emergency appendectomy performed on the kitchen table failed to save her. On 12 Nov 1894, she wrote in her sister's autograph book: "Mary, I only won't [sic, want] one spot to write these words. Forget me not. Remember your loving sister Calla Williamson." Mary never forgot her sister Calla; she named her only daughter Calla Janette.