Williams Family History

Previous Page | Next Page | Return to Main

Captain Isaac Williams and His Grandchildren Pioneers of Lawrence County, Indiana By Ben & Alice Dixon

QUAKER PREACHERS LEADS THE WAY

William Williams, Jr., youngest son of William and Margaret Williams, was born at Cane Creek, Chathain county, NC, Sept. 7, 1763. He was a grandson of "Richard the first" of Gwinedd, and the youngest brother of Isaac, Sr., who married Rachel Pike. Thus he was the youthful uncle of both Capt. Isaac Williams and Rachel Adamson.

His father died before he was ten, and his mother remarried with Anthony Chamness, a widower. In 1782 he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker of Center Quaker community in Guilford county, ten miles from Greensboro. In 1786 he returned to Cane Creek, and there married Rachel Kemp.

Isaac Williams, Sr., his older brother, had the far west in his blood. After his marriage at Cane Creek, he took Rachel to New Garden and then to Surry county; and finally to Jefferson county, Tennessee. He was an original member of three frontier meetings: Deep River in Guilford county, 1778; Westfield in Surry, 1786; and Lost Creek in Jefferson, 1797.

William, too, listened to the call of far horizons. With his family he parallelled the moves of his big brother to Surry county and East Tennessee. Records of both families were preserved at Lost Creek On Sept. 21, 1799, Isaac was made Overseer of the Lost Creek Meeting. On May 21, 1803, William was recommended to be a Minister.

For a score of years, l804-23, this Quaker preacher, like the pioneer Circuit Riders of Methodism, itinerated the vast frontier. He made eight long journeys on the fringes of Quakerism, visiting Quakers everywhere. His work took him north and south, from Georgia to New England, and from the Atlantic to the far Northwest Territory.

Visiting Indiana as early as 1807 he found it to be a land flowing with milk and honey. In 1814 he led the van of the Williams stampede into that sweet land. He filed on a plantation in Wayne county, moving his family there from Newberry in Blount county, Tenn., and becoming the first citizen of Richmond. When the town was platted in 1816, he erected the first home. And in this home the first school of Richmond Indiana was set up.

About a year after establishing his city home, July 17, 1817, he departed on a year's Journey to visit the yearly meetings. He attended these gatherings in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The last of May, 1818, he was at the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia.

Then with his son Joshua, a student from nearby Mt. Holly, he set out on horseback to visit the old stamping grounds. On June 2nd they rode eighteen miles to Guynedd. He worshipped at the old meeting house where his grandfather and grandmother had been married in 1717. But, sad to say, not a soul there in 1818 could tell him anything of his grandparents. Not a single relative could he find.

There is no doubt but that he was a potent frontier influence, pointing Quakerism to the free land northwest of the Ohio. He led the exodus from east Tennessee in 1814. And by 1817 the wave of imigration had enveloped Capt. Isaac T.Villiams, and Big Sister Rachel Adamson and their families.... The old circuit riding Quaker Preacher went to his Heavenly Haven of Rest, August 25, 1824.

JOURNAL

OF THE

LIFE, TRAVELS, AND GOSPEL LABOURS

WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Dec.

A MINISTER of the

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS,

LATE OF WHITE-WATER, INDIANA

CINCINITATI:

LODGE, L'HOMMEDIEU, AND HAIMMOND--PRINTERS

1828

The above, set in an antique type (not transferred to this web site.) is the title page of a book of ministry and travel covering 272 pages and twenty years of Quaker ministry on the old frontier. There is little of family history or biography in this book, except as it concerns the individual journalist. But there is a world of local history of the frontier, and of religious history of the middle west.

Besides his eight long itinerant journeys of shepherding to frontier Quaker communities, Brother Williams carried on a continual visitation among the members of meetings wherever he happened to be -- at Lost Creek, New Hope, Westfield, Cane Creek or elsewhere. He had a constant "concern" to bolster up the faith of his people and to explain the simplicities of Truth to those who knew it not.

Before he began a journey he had to feel the "concern" deeply in his innermost being. While carrying on the work of his farm, the vision would come from somewhere, of neighbors on the other side of the Tennessee, the Ohio, or the mountains, who needed Truth and the consolation of companionship and visitation. Once his concern became vitalized through silence, meditation, prayer and long consideration, he would lay the matter before the Meeting.

If the local Meeting approved, as it invariably did, he would take it to the Monthly, and perhaps also to the Quarterly session. Then, whenever God told him the time was ripe, he would bid family and friends goodbye, and take the trail. His plan of travel, only generally organized, he developed from county to county as he went along.

When he left home he had no idea when he would return. Like the Apostles of old, he carried no scrip in his purse nor took thought for the morrow. The brethren along the way took care of him, his trusty steed, and his companions in travel. The Heavenly Father provided the spiritual fuel. On one such journey (his third), he was away from home 51 weeks, travelled 495O miles and conducted 244 services.

The JOURNAL is gazatteer of Quakerism on the frontior. Hundreds of small, obscure Quaker meetings, many that have now been forgotten, are named. He identifies a host of individual Quakers whom he met, or who gave him hospitality-- and dozens of Quaker ministers who, like himself, were travelling afar with a concern for humanity in the heart.

On numerous occasions he mentions visiting relatives -- but does not name them. Many times he does name relatives, but does not identify them genealogically: "A meeting at John Williams"; "my brother Isaac's wife"; "my daughter's husband". But what is this petty lack in comparison with the rich cargo of spiritual zeal which saturates every page?

LOST CREEK TESIMONIAL - ISAAC WILLIAMS

A Testimony from Lost creek Quarterly meeting, in the state of Tennessee, concerning our esteemed friend, William Williams, deceased;

late of White-Water Monthly meeting, in the state of Indiana.

He was born in the state of North Carolina, and brought up in the profession of the principles of the religious society of Friends; but we do not find any further notice taken of him, than being a member, until his marriage; he then removed to this state, and by his certificate, was accepted as a member of Lost creek Monthly meeting. Where, by the extendings of heavenly regard, and the teachings of divine grace, he came to experience that sanctifying power, which qualifies for the true gospel ministry; and about the year 1799 or 1800, a dispensation of the gospel was committed to his charge; and being faithful to the measure of grace and light afforded to him, he grew in his gift, and became a lively and able minister of the word of life; being qualified to divide the word aright to the different states he ministered unto; dispensing milk to babes, and meat to those of riper years.

He was a careful observer of the order of our religious society; and in his ministration was often led to speak a word to the faithful for their encouragement: but was close and sharp in reproof and rebuke to the lukewarm professor. Though largely gifted, his testimonies were delivered "not in enticing words of man's wisdom" but in the life, power and demonstration of the gospel: being, through divine inspiration, frequently led to the exhortation of the youth, and of the widowed and fatherless particularly. And notwithstanding he was thus gifted, he sat many meetings silent, waiting on the Lord; being careful not to minister without heavenly life and power.

He divers times visited the meetings and families within the verge of this meeting, for their strength and encouragement; nor were his labours confined to those of our society; he was often concerned (in the power of that love which knows no bounds) to declare the way of life and salvation to those of other denominations; and with the concurrence of the Monthly meeting to which he belonged, appointed meetings amongst them, which were generally to his and their satisfaction: he being qualified to explain the inconsistency of depending on the formal and ceremonial systems of worship, without coming to experience the substance.

In the year 1804 he obtained a certificate and performed a visit in gospel love to Friends and others in the states of Georgia, South and North Carolina. In 1807 he performed a religious visit in the state of Ohio. In 1808 he removed to Blount county in this state. About that time there was a Monthly meeting established in said county where he was found to be truly useful; and, with the concurrence of Friends, visited the adjacent counties.

He also, at different times, visited Friends and others in the states of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, and part of Maryland; and on his return from those visits produced copies of minutes from Monthly and Quarterly meetings, expressive of Friends' unity and satisfaction with him in his public services. He lived several years within the verge of Newberry Monthly meeting and was a faithful laborer in this part of the Lord's vinyard. In the year 1814 he removed to White Water Monthly meeting in the state of Indiana, where, having fought the good fight and kept the faith, we have no doubt but that he finished his course in peace.

Signed by the direction of the Quarterly meeting aforesaid,

JOHN SWAIN ) Clerks

JANE LAURENCE)

12. ISAAC WILLILMS SR,

Son of William and Margaret Williams

Born, Gwynedd, Philadelphia county, Pa., Nov. 7, 1742; died in Jefferson county, Tenn., probably before 1828.

Married, 1st, Jan. 24, 1765 at Cane Creek, Orange co., NC., Rachel, dau. of John and Abigail (Overman) Pike. She was born at Winchester, Va., Oct. 10, 1746; died Aug. 5, 1789, Surry co., NC.

Married, 2nd at Lost Creek Mtg., Jefferson co., Tenn., Dec. 26, 1792, Hannah, dau. of Thomas and Sarah (Antram) Beals. She was born Dec. 13, 1759, Guilford Co., NC.; took certificate to Lick Creek Mtg in Indiana. in 1828, and doubtless spent her 1ast days in Lawrence Co.

ISSUE: 1st mar. to RACHEL PIKE

1. John, born 12-19-1765 Orange Co. NC disowned 1795, New Hope

2. Abigail 1768 do nfr

3. William 6-14-1770 do disowned 1795; MOU*

4. Margaret 12-27-1771 do nfr

5. Ruth 2-09-1774 Guilford Co. M. Jonathan Adamson

6. Rachel 9-10-1776 Surry co. m. Thos. Adamson

7. Isaac, Jr 3-17-1779 do m. Amelia Gibson

8. Richard 9-16-1781 do disowned 1804; MCD**

9. Abel Lewis 12-20-1786 do do 1811 do

10. Priscilla) 8-05-1789 m. _______ Fresh

11. Mary ) ^)twins8-05-1789 do d. March 2, 18ll

ISSUE: 2nd mar. to HANNAH BEALS

12. Sarah 11-8-1793 Jeff. co. Tenn. disowned 5-27-1815***

13. Catherina 11-13-1795 do nfr

14. Rebecca 9-23-1797 do disowned 1816***

15. Elizabeth 8-14-1799 do do 1817***

16. Nelly (Eleanor) 8-04-1802 do do 1820; MCD**

* Married out of Unity *** Joined Methodist Society

** Married contrary to discipline nfr No further record

Isaac Williams Sr. was a great pioneer. Born near Philadelphia, as a child he travelled down the Valley of Virginia to Loudoun Co., where he grew up. As a young man he removed again with his family to Orange Co., NC. He lived there in all the pre-revolutionary strife of the Regulation. Three Williamses were disowned for participation, but young Isaac maintained his good Quaker status.

At Cane Creek he married Rachel Pike, and in 1772 they removed to Deep Creek on the frontier of Guilford county.; and three years later to Surry in the "far west". After Rache1's death in 1789, he moved on to the frontier Quaker settlement at Lost Creek in Jefferson Co., East Tennessee. He was an original member of the Meeting at Deep River, 1778; Westfie1d, 1786; and Lost Creek, 1797.

A staunch Friend, Isaac raised sixteen sons and daughters in the Way of Truth. But most of them left the Fold, or were disowned for irregular conduct or marriage. Three daughters by Hannah Beals disgraced him by running away to Methodism. Little has been learned of his descendants other than the families of Captain Isaac and Rachel (Adamson) who removed to Indiana in 1817.

Rachel Pike died the same day her twins were born, August 5,l789. She was a noble Quaker woman, braving hardship and danger on a raw frontier for a quarter century; bearing eleven stalwart sons and daughters. At the time of their mother's death, Rachel was a lass of thirteen, Isaac a boy of ten.