Background
The map to the right shows the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina and this same line is shown in the map
below.
The map below is a Google map I created to show the location of the Williams family in early Virginia as well as the
location of other relatives like the Kitchens, Philips, and Thomas families. Also shown are the location of several
other early land owners as an aid in identifying the location of deed and land patents bearing their names.
The map is interactive, providing the ability to click on a marker and read information about that marker. For
example, click on one of the straight lines and a bubble will pop up identifying it as the border between two Virginia Counties.
Click on the square outlined at the top of the map and a bubble will pop up identifying the source map for this area
of Virginia.
Yellow houses identify relatives. Green houses identify landowners who are not relatives. Red drops identify Williams
shown on the 1861 Engineer's map of Virvinia. A Blue drop identifies Littleton, VA in Surry County. A yellow pin
identifies Thomas Williams and his descendants. A Blue pin identifies Nicholas Williams and his descendants.
A purple pin identifies John Williams and his descendants. A green pin identifies Richard Williams and his descendants.
These are all sons of John and Ann Williams. Two green men identify wherer John and his probable brother Thomas first
lived.
The above Google interactive map was created using Grants and Deeds along with the five maps below plus the indian land
maps and the Surry County
Patents and Grants maps shown further below on this page.
I regard William M. Mann, Jr., the author of the 1961 Mann book on John Williams and his descendants, as the gold standard
for research on this family. The below clip from that book indicates the likely birth date of John Williams and his
likely brother Lewis along with Lewis' death date and place.
>center>
JOHN WILLIAMS, born about 1647, Isle of Wight, VA; died about 1692; Married Anne ?
It's
clear from the various land patents and deeds involving John Williams that most of his children resided around the
area of Franklin VA north on the Blackwater river and east above the Nottoway River toward the town of Jerusalem, now known
as Courtland VA.
Many of the
descendants, including some of the children of Richard Williams, my ancestor, moved on to North Carolina and then on further
west as time went by. However as late as 1864 a substantial number of Williams continued to reside in this area as shown
on the map below which was published by the Chief Engineer's Office, D.N.V. in 1864.
According to Dr. Bary Bascom Hayes,
Thomas Williams and his purported brother John Williams appear to have lived
in the Lawne’s Creek community of Surry and Isle of Wight.
John Williams, the oldest son of Thomas
Williams, was the first member of this family to move to the Nansemond-Isle of Wight borderlands in 1678, as noted in greater
detail below.
As also noted in the material about
John Williams, the apparent brother of Thomas, they bought 400 acres three years later (10 October 1682) from the prominent
speculator George Pierce near John Williams, son of Thomas. Click on this link to view this patent and its transfer to John and Thomas Williams. This purchase is cited in various transactions of their progeny, but none is more descriptive than the conveyance
by Thomas Williams’ nephew John Williams “of Albemarle County in North Carolina” to Ralph Vickers of Isle
of Wight in 1718—the deed noting that the land was part of the great
patent of George Pierce to 2,500 acres in the Corrowaugh-Kingsale area adjacent Colonel Pitt and Colonel Joseph Bridgers
as well as Matthew Strickland’s large grant of 1680 and John Moore’s plantation.
See the Isle
of Wight Great Book, Vol. 2, p. 182; cf. Nugent, Vol. 2, pp. 205, 216-17.
Thomas Williams signed his will 28 January
1691; proved 9 August 1693.
Click on any of the maps below to open a large map in a separate window.
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VA 1863 map showing location of land owners
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Map showing land owners on the Blackwater river
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Map showing land owners on the Blackwater river
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Map showing land owners on the Blackwater river
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Children of John Williams and Anne ?
Click on a child's name to go to more information on this page relating to that child.
BRIDGETT WILLIAMS, born about 1670, Isle of Wight, VA; died before 1694; married JOHN BROWN
ELIZABETH WILLIAMS was born about 1672, Isle of Wight, VA; married THOMAS WRIGHT who died
about 1701, Isle of Wight, VA.
JOHN WILLIAMS, born about 1674, Isle of Wight, VA; died about Oct 1757, Bertie County, NC; married ANN MOORE.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, born about 1678, Isle of Wight, VA; died about 1712; married MARY Moore based on George Moore will naming grandsons Samuel
and John Williams and Williams wife was named Mary and they had sons Samuel and John.
THOMAS WILLIAMS was born about 1680, VA and died after 19 Mar 1761; married SUSANNAH BLUNT who born about 1686 in
Isle of Wight VA and died 5 Mar 1727 in Isle of Wight VA
NICHOLAS WILLIAMS, born about. 1685, Isle of Wight, VA; died 18 Aug 1749; married ANNE LEWIS .
CAPT. RICHARD WILLIAMS, born about 1688, Isle of Wight, VA; died about 1737, Isle of Wight, VA; married SARAH ? about 1710; born about 1688, New Kent. VA; died about 1750, Southampton County, VA.
History of Isle of Wight
The original name of Isle of Wight county was Warraskoyack and the boundaries of the
county of were: Northerly, by Lawnes Creek; Easterly, by James River as far as the plantation of Richard Hayes, formerly John
Howard's; the southern boundary by certain creeks to the head of Colonel Pitt's Creek (this proved somewhat uncertain); and
westerly into the woods indefinitely. In 1637, the name of the county was changed by an act of the General Assembly to Isle of Wight county.
Of course the county was one parish, and the parish was called Warraskoyack; and so it continued to be called until March,
1642-3, when the county was divided into two parishes, to be called, respectively, The Upper Parish and The Lower Parish.
The Upper Parish is the gold
and blue area on this map while the Lower Parish which was also
known as the Newport Parish is the purple and red area.
Later the names were changed to Warraskoyack for the Upper and Newport for the Lower Parish.
In 1734, the Upper and Lower Parishes were both divided at the Blackwater River.
The western portion (shown in gold) of the Upper
Parish combined with the southern portion (shown in purple)
of the Lower Parish to become Nottoway Parish which became Southampton County when it was formed in 1749.
The eastern part (shown in red) of the Lower Parish which was also known as Newport Parish combined with the
northern part (shown in blue) of the Upper Parish ,
the whole of which was then known as Newport Parish, covering the entire Isle of Wight c
County court records begin with 1652, when Surry was formed from the part of James
City County that lay southwest of James River.
In 1732 the portions of the southwestern part of the Isle of Wight and Surry counties
that lay below the Nottoway River were added to
Brunswick county which had been formed in 1720 from Prince George county.
In 1748 the entire county of Southampton was carved out of Isle of Wight county. Southampton county,prior to 1734,was known
as the Nottoway Parish of Isle of Wight
The Blackwater River continues to flow through
the middle of what was the original Isle of Wight County
and is now the dividing line between Isle of White and Southampton Counties.
The Blackwater River is a true blackwater river. Its water is clear, dark, slightly acidic, and tannin stained. Its drainage basin contains many swamps. The river's flood plain is mostly forested and swampy, including bald cypress and tupelo swamp forests. The upper Blackwater River is called Blackwater Swamp. In this region of Virginia, many
streams are called "swamps" but still function like streams in being long and linear, with water moving from one end to the
other and laid out in a normal stream tributary network. In contrast, some of the region's wetlands are not streams, such
as the bog-like pocosins found on the higher land between swamp-stream drainages.
The Blackwater River was a transportation route in the 17th and 18th centuries, connecting the Chesapeake Bay settlements with the Albemarle Settlements. It was one of the few rivers of colonial Virginia that did not empty into Chesapeake Bay yet lay close to
the colony's oldest settlements on the James River. Settlements in the Blackwater's drainage basin were founded very early in Virginia's history. As a result,
the Blackwater River became one of the early migration routes southward from the James River into the region then called Southside
Virginia, and beyond into the Albemarle District of Carolina (later North Carolina). Today's usual definition of Southside differs somewhat from that of colonial times.
In 1781 Greensville county was formed from part of Brunswick county next to Isle of Wight and
Sussex counties.
Sussex County was formed in 1753 from the part of Surry County that was south of the Blackwater river.
Counties is generally the Blackwater River
and together they make up the original
James
City
County.
The county is thirty-seven miles in length and an average breadth of eleven
miles, with an area of about three hundred and fifty square miles. It extends from 36° 38' to 37° 07' north latitude and from
0° 2' to 0° 36' longitude east from Washington. The land dips to the northeast from a plateau a little west of Bethel Church, and from that same
plateau it dips to the northwest and west; the former, by many swamps, ravines and creeks, conveys its water to James River;
the latter, by the same means, conveys its water to the Blackwater (formerly
Indian) River and the Nansemond River.
The map below shows the approximate locations of Patents, Grants and Transactions for Surry County VA between
1614 and 1666. Notice the map also contains a list of the earliest patents on the Blackwater River with an arrow pointing
from the list downward.
The Surry County Patents and Grants map falls in the area indicated
by the red oval in the map below. To see a more detailed map of the Patents
and Grants in a new window click on the above map.
Surry County, Virginia,
Historical Society and Museums, Inc. P. O. Box 262, Surry, VA 23883
Phone (757) 294-0404 E-mail address: schsmi@widomaker.com.
From the earliest settlements south
of the James River, the land all the way to what is now North Carolina,
was considered part of the Virginia Colony. When James City County was formed in 1632, it included
all this land. When Surry county was separated in 1652, it included all the land south of the James River to the present North Carolina border.
Before Surry was split from James City, the settlers
made the first of many treaties with the Southside Virginia Indians. It appears that the Southside tribes of Indians were
relatively weak, and hardly had enough warriors to protect themselves. This treaty provided help from the settlers, should
other marauding tribes of Indians attack them.
The settlers wanted no Indians to
live in the area they had settled. They also wanted information only the Indians could provide on the marauding tribes coming
into the area to attack both the local Indians and the settlers. They also needed the trade with the Indians that had been
established.
The Blackwater River became the dividing line.
Indians South, settlers North. This agreement in 1646 settled the Indian War of 1644 - 1646.
This treaty between the inhabitants
of this colony and Necotowance, King of the Indians settled (temporarily) relations with the Indians. Article 5 of the treaty
states "And it is further enacted that neither for the said Necotowance nor any of his people, do frequent come into hunt
or make any abode nearer the English Plantations than the lymits of Yapin the black water, and from the head of the black
water upon a straite line to the old Monakin Towne, upon such paine and penaltie as aforesaid."
Article 8 is quoted "And it is further
thought fit and enacted, that upon any occasion of message to the Governor or trade, the said Necotowance and his people the
Indians doe repair to Forte Henery alias Appomattuck Forte or to the house of Capt. John Floud, and no other place or places
of the south side of the river, at which places the aforesayd badges of striped stuff are to be and remain."
Thus, Indians were banned north of
the Blackwater and Capt. Flood's plantation was one of two routes the Indians could go to Jamestown
from the south side of the James River. [See The Old Dominion in the Seventeenth Century
by Warren M. Billings, page 227.]
Surry
County inherited this treaty when it was formed in 1652. It was no problem for the settlers at that time. It took nearly another
50 years before most of the land north of the Blackwater was settled.
There were some exceptions to the
treaty. Benjamin Harrison purchased 350 acres from the Waynoak Indians in 1686. Others received Patents that did not clearly
identify the location. Whether any of these were actually settled is questionable. Likely many were trying to be first in
line when the land opened for settlement.
By 1700, the restriction on settlement
was a problem for the Surry settlers. Surry was fully settled to the Blackwater River, although there still were pockets of
unsettled land, mostly smaller parcels of land. There was pressure to change (abandon) the treaty of 1646. Like all their
treaties with the Indians, the settlers changed or abandoned them when they got in the way of settlement.
Another problem was facing the Surry
settlers. The only way to get a Land Patent was with headrights. Each settler coming in to Virginia
received the right to 50 acres for himself and any family members or others that they paid for the trip to Virginia. This had worked well in the early years but now there were settlers who had been
here for several generations.
There was little land available for
purchase, and the farm patented several generations ago would not support all of their descendants. In addition, tobacco wore
the land out in just a few years. Many of these settlers had accumulated some wealth, mostly by raising tobacco. There was
a growing demand to change the Land Patent system to allow payment to receive land patents. The land patent system was changed
by April, 1701.
The first day patents were allowed
to be filed on land south of the Blackwater was April 25, 1701. Patents for 19,918 acres were filed that day, over 31 square
miles, and another 16,858 acres later in 1701. Thus over 57 square miles were patented in 1701. The largest patent was 5400
acres and the average acreage was 835 acres, much larger than patents had been north of the Blackwater River.
This was America's first land rush. Those with the most land north of the Blackwater got
the most to the south. While it did not have the glamor of the west with thousands of settlers racing their horses across
the plains, it was much more effective.
Most, if not all, were patents to
Surry County
citizens. Obviously this action was anticipated for years by Thomas Swann, surveyor of Surry County. Surveys for these patents are
dated as early as 1695. Swann obviously had surveyed land for his friends years before it was legal to do so. Surry citizens
were prepared and ready when the laws changed. There was little or no opportunity for outsiders to get first choice of the
land below the Blackwater.
Because of these actions, the bloodlines
of the settlers of the area below the Blackwater were nearly identical to those north of the Blackwater River. They also took their indentured
servants and slaves with them as they settled this southern part of Surry
County. In some instances, only the indentured servants and slaves inhabited
the land in the first years after the patents were given. Tobacco production also moved south. Soon, little tobacco was raised
north of the Blackwater. Later, these settlers repeated this action in later settling Greensville and other Southside Virginia Counties.
Soon Virginia was settled to the North Carolina
border.
With this swift, massive settlement,
the area of Surry County
south of the Blackwater increased in population very quickly. It took nearly a century to settle Surry south to the Blackwater.
By 1728, after 27 years of settlement, there were more settlers south of the Blackwater then in the originally settled area
to the north. These new settlers petitioned the Governor to move the courthouse near the center of the counties population.
Surry County's court house was moved
from near the James River to the land of Howell Edmonds, south of the Blackwater
River near or at Shingleton Plantation in 1728. This site is off Rt.
40 just as you cross the Blackwater River
and enter present day Sussex County
from Surry.
This area south of the Blackwater
continued to grow in population, while the area north of the Blackwater did not. Completely settled, there was little if any
usable land left unsettled north of the Blackwater. In 1754, the part of Surry south of the Blackwater petitioned the Virginia
Council to be separated from Surry to form the new Sussex County. It was granted., although the power of the Allens saved little Surry for Surry County. Sussex
is south of Surry, just as Sussex is south of Surrey in England.
Surry
County moved its courthouse back close to the James River at Troopers, while Sussex moved theirs further south, close to Littleton.
The following three maps show some of the area on the south side of the Blackwater River and who owned land in that area.
You can see in the map above the general location of the area shown in these maps below the Blackwater River and in the counties
of Surry and Southampton.
It's not clear what time period this map covers, but it had to be after 1701 when patents were issued for the land south
of the Blackwater River.
The "Indian Land"indicated above is shown in the map below. Landowners include Thomas Williams,
probably the son of John Williams, and John Exum who married Elizabeth Kinchen. They were the parents of Sarah Exum
who married Capt. Joseph Philips in 1751. They were the parents of Joseph Philips who migrated to Nashville TN in 1791.
His daughter, Margaret Peggy Thomas, married Josiah Frederick Wiliams who is John Williams' great grandson.
William Kinchen is one of the landowners in the map below and is probably the father of the Sarah Kinchen
above who married Capt. Joseph D. Philips. Several Williams are also shown in the map and most are probably sons of
John Williams.
JOHN WILLIAMS, born about 1647, Isle of
Wight, VA; died about 1692; Married Anne?
JOHN
WILLIAMS, my ancestor, was born about 1647 based on the age of his
children as noted in the deed of gift of his wife after he died. He died about 1692 based on his will. He
married ANNE ? who was named in his will, although the version transcribed below shows her as "Ann". It does show a
grand daughter named "Anne" who is the daughter of Bridget Williams. His
wife Anne was born about 1647 based on his assumed birth date.
Record of Wills and Deeds, Vol 2, page 317 1662-1715
Will of John Williams dated 9 March 1692, probated 9 August, 1692,
Isle of Wight Co., VA.
In the name of God Amen I John Williams Senr of the lower parish of
the Isle of Wight County in Virginia: being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory do give and bequeath all my
wordly goods as followeth
Imprimus I give and bequeath my Soul to almighty God my maker hoping
through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to obtain remission for my sins through his death and passion and my body to
the earth from whence I came to be decently buried by my beloved wife Ann Williams and my children.
Secondly I give my now dwelling & plantation unto my beloved wife
Ann Williams during her life with all edifices and buildings thereunto belonging and after her decease the manor plantation
be returned unto my eldest sonn John Williams and to the hyers of his body and in case he the said John Williams had rather
stay in Surrey County on the plantation that he is now seated or then to take the manor plantation then the said manor plantation
is do descend to my youngest sonn Theophilus Williams and the hyres of his body truely begotten and in case John Williams
wishes to take manor plantation then Theophilus to enjoy the plantation in Surry County that John Williams is now seated containing
one hundred and fifty acres
Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son William one parcel of land
lying and being in Newport parish which parcel of land contains two hundred acres lying near Meadows which parcel of land
my foursaid Sonn William Williams is to enjoy with all appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and the hyers of his body
truly begotten.
4th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn Thomas Williams and the heyrs
of his body truly begotten one hundred and fifty acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the
same tract where my sonn John William now liveth and he the sayd Thomas Williams and his heirs to enjoy the same with all
benefits and appurtenances there unto belonging
5th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn Nicholas Williams and the
heyrs of his body truly begotten one parcel of one hundred and fifty acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry
County and part of the same tract of land where my Sonn John Williams now liveth to his heyrs truly begotten with all appurtenances
and benefits there unto belonging
6th I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Richard Williams and the heirs
of his body truly begotten one parcel of land lying and being in Surry County containing one hundred and fifty acres being
part of the same tract of land which my aforesaid Sonn John Williams liveth and to him the sayd Richard Williams and the heirs
of his body truly begotten with all benefits and appurtenances there unto belonging and after the possession of the same.
I and in this my last Will and Testament I do bind charge and command all an every of my Sonns from the eldest to the youngest
neither to sell lease or morgage any part or parcell of any of the aforesaid tracts of land by any means but to remain unto
them and the heirs of their bodys truly begotten and in case that any of these my Sonns decease without Issue that then that
parcell of land to whom it belongs shall be bound to the next surviving heir.
7th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary one feather Bed and boulster
one Rugg one blanket one sheet
8th I give and bequeath unto my next daughter Jane Williams one feather
bed boulster Rugg one blankett one sheet
9th I give and bequeath unto Anne
Brown my grand daughter one yearling heifer
10th I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Bridgett Brown one yearling heifer, next I give and bequeath unto my boy William Hickman one yearling heifer,
likewise there is belonging unto Mary Brown one cow and yearling which I order
to be delivered to her according to the direction of my wife, likewise I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid grand daughter Mary Brown one feather bed and boulster, likewise I give unto my Sonn Thomas Williams
the marr foal which goes with the marr likewise I give all the future increase of my mare among my children and this increase
be provided as they fall in course beginning at the eldest and for as they fall to the youngest whether heifer or mare as
it happens and after my children and should then my grandchildren to have a part of the increase and likewise the mare at
Thomas Wrights the first foal that she bring I give and bequeath it unto Daniel Long Junior and after Daniell hath his foal
the mare and her after issue to be bound to Thomas Wright and the heyrs of his body lawfully begotten and after all these
ligaties in this my Will and for the performance of the same I do constitute and appoint my most beloved wife Ann Williams
my whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to for and endeavour to perform all these many ligaties as they shall
be demanded in Course of my children come to age and my aforesaid Wife Ann Williams to enjoy all my proper estate and plantation
which is not here exprest as long as they live and for acknowledgement this is my last Will and Testament as Witness my hand
this ninth day of March in the year of our lord god 1692
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us John (F) Williams Senior Seal,
Boaz Gwine, Thomas (T) Gwynie
Proved in
open Court for the Isle of Wight County august the his mark
Alexander (T) Matthew’s 9th 1692 by the Witness and ordered to be recorded. his mark Test John Pitt Ck Ct
Hard Copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond, Virginia
Anne is the wife of John Williams. Her last name is not known. She was born about 1647 based on the assumed
birth date of her husband.
From Google Book "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County VA, DEED BOOK 1, Page 615"
Anne Williams, widow of John Williams, by deed of gift has given to her loving children;
to son John Wilhams a chest; son Wm. Williams 2 cows; son Thomas Williams cattle; dau.
Mary Williams, pewter, son Nicholas Williams his father ‘s musket—Nicholas is 7 years old to have it at 18.
Son Richard his father’s sword at 18. Dau. Jane pewter when 18. To dau. Eliza. Wright, Mary and Jane Williams
wearing apparel.
9 Api. 1694. John Cram.
Arnold Shumarke gives his consent to deed made by his wife when she was in widow hood. May
21, 1694.
https://web.archive.org/web/20200413221544/https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/246464/I17982/-ann/individual
1691: EXECUTRIX: Was the Executrix in the will of her husband John Williams,
Sr.dated 9 March 1691/92. She was given plantation. [WILLS AND ADMINISTRATION OF ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA; Blanche A.
Chapman; Family Line Publications, 1994, pp. 33-34. (Isle of Wight County wills and estates from 1647-1800)].1694: Seventeenth
Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Deed Book 1 page 615
Children of John Williams and Anne ?
BRIDGETT WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1670, Isle of Wight, VA; d. Bef. 1694; Married
JOHN BROWNE.
John Browne. Sr., and Bridgett, his wife, he sold to Samuel Cannady 220 acres, "the plantation he lately lived on", patented
April 29, 1692, ln L. P. Kinsale (Lower Parish, Kinsale Swamp). Wit. Richard Exum, William Murry.
DB 2 1704-1715”.
Bridgett was the mother of three daughters at the time of the death of her father. Anne, Bridgett and Mary were named
in the will of their grandfather John Williams.
Bridgett Williams is not named in the will of John Williams she is not mentioned in the Deed of Gift by her mother, Anne
Williams, dated 9 April 1694, Isle of Wight County, VA, Deeds. It is likely she had already received her share of John William's
Estate at the time of her marriage. She may have been deceased by the date of Anne Williams deed of gift to her other children.
ELIZABETH WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1672, Isle of Wight, VA; m. THOMAS WRIGHT;
d. 1701, Isle of Wight, VA.
Source: 1961 DECENDANTS OF JOHN WILLIAMS OF ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA,
by William M. Mann, Jr.
Elizabeth was not mentioned in the will of John Williams, but mentioned
in the dead of gift made by her mother in 1694 which may indicate that she was a child of Anne's by a former marriage; but
her omission from the will of John Williams can be deasily explained by assuming that she was married at the time.
Mr. Boddie (Historical Southern Families, p. 217) states that
she married Thomas Wright which is almost certainly so as John Williams mentions a mare at Thomas Wright's in his will.
The only Wright on the 1704 King William County Quit Rent Roll (of taxable landowners) was a Thomas Wright with 225 acres.
She is the Executrix in the will of her husband,
Thomas Wright, Jr., dated 23 October 1700, Isle of Wight Co., VA.
JOHN WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1674, Isle of Wight, VA; d. Abt. Oct 1757,
Bertie County, NC; m. ANN MOORE, 1695, Isle of Wight, VA; b. 1675, VA; d. Abt.
1746.
ANN JONES was mentioned in her husband's will which he wrote in 1741-42 but did not sign the deed
of guift her husband made giving his grandchild, Ezekiel Williams 640 acres 26 February 1757. His will was probated in January
1758 so she probably died between 1741 and 1757.
John Williams was born about 1670 in Isle of Wight VA and died abt 1757 in Chowan County NC.
1693: Isle of Wight Co., VA, Deed Book 1 (1688-1704) abstracted
by Matt HARRIS [surname capitalization, line breaks & brackets mine]
Isle of Wight Co., VA, Deed Book 1, p. 94 9 Dec 1693 Phillip
REYFORD (RAIFORD) to John GILES Power of Attorney
Know all men by theise p'sents, y.t [that] I Phillip REYFORD
of ye Isle of Wight County, do ordaine, & appoint for me and in my Stead John GILES of ye afores.d my true and Lawfull
attorney to appear for me in ye Isle of Wight County Court, their to prosecute on my behalfe John BROWN and John WILLIAMS
& his wife untill both ye businesses are brought to Judgem't as
wittnessed my hand this 9.th day of December 16
his Phill. R RAYFORD m'ke Rich: STONE Tho: MOORE Recorded HD Cl
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1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 412-413
John Williams and brother Nicholas witness deed for brother William Williams.
******************************************************
1715: About 1715 he moved to North Carolina.
Colonial Bertie County NC Deed Books A-H 1720-1757: p.141 LAURENCE
SARSON to JNO WILLIAMS,
Know all men by these presents yt I LAURENCE SARSON of the
Precinct of chowan of the Province afsd for & in Consideracon of the Same of twenty Barrels of Pitch to me in hand pd
by Jno WILLIAMS of the sd Precinct of Chowan the receipt whereof I the sd LAURENCE SARSON do hereby acknowledge and thereof
Acquitt & Discharge the sd Jno WILLIAMS his Heirs exn admrs forever by these presents Have Given granted bargained Sold
Released & confirmed and by these presents do give grant Release & Confirm unto ye sd Jno WILLIAMS his Heirs &
Assignes forever One Tract of Land Lying & being in Chowan Precinct
afsd & adjoyning upon THOMAS Jones’s Land in Bear Swamp
then Runing up the Main Swamp to the Upper Beaver Dam there along a line of Mark’d trees to the sd WILLIAMS’s
own Line which appears mine at Large in the Patent & Conteyning Two hundred & twenty Acres more or Less wth
all woods ways waters Priviledges Profitts Comidities & appurtences to the Same belong or in any ways appertaining And
ye Reversion & Reversions Remainder & Remainders therof. To have and hold all ye afsd tract of Land with all ye Singular
appurtenances unto ye sd Jno WILLIAMS his Heirs & Assignes for ever to & for ye only use & hehoof of ye sd Jno
WILLIAMS his Heirs & Assignes forever. And I ye sd LAU. SARSON for my self my Heirs exrs & Admrs Do warrant promise
& Grant to & with ye sd Jno WILLIAMS his Heirs & Assinges for ever yt I I ye sd LAURENCE SARSON my Heirs Exrs
Admrs ye before bargained premises with the appurtenances unto ye sd Jno WILLIAMS heirs & Assignes for ever against all
manner of Persons whatsoever shall & will warrant & for ever by these presents defend.
In Witness wherof I ye sd LAURENCE SARSON have hereunto sett
my hand & Seal this 19th of July 1715. Seal’d & Del’d in presence of LAU. SARSON HENRY KING JNO
RASBERRY
Hard Copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
********************************************************
1716: He gives his daughter Ann Herron
150 acres in Albemarle county NC.
DEED OF GIFT: p. 395: WILLIAMS to HEARIN To all persons to
whom these presents shall come I JNO. WILLIAMS do send greeting know ye yt the said JNO. WILLIAMS in the county of Albemarle
in Chowan in ye Province of North Carolina Weaver for & in Consideration of Love good will & affection which I have
& do bear towards my loving Daughter ANN HEARIN of the Same County & Province have given & granted by these presents
do fully Clearly & absolutely give and Grant unto the said ANN HEARIN
she & her Lawfull Heirs of her own body Lawfully begotten forever one Hundred & fifty acres of Lands whereon the new Giveth beginning
in the fork of the Horse Spring branch Johning upon THoS JONES’s Line so up ye Western part of sd branch unto a Maple
by the run Side so up a Crooked line to a Pine in the Side of the other branch so runing down the branch to ye first Station.
Now if she hath not her due She Shall take it on the Eastern Side of the branch beginning at ThoS JONES’s Corner tree
in the branch betwixt the branch & my Pattent Line which runeth partly betwixt me & THOs JONES afsd which Land
I give freely to her & her Heirs for ever as afsd. But her husband if he shall pretend to Sell & to Lease it or Mortgage
it or Sell any ways make away any timber of Lightwood shall forfeit ye Land afsd as wittness my hand & Seal ye 15th Ober
1716.
Jno WILLIAMS Test. THOS BROWN JNO EDWARDS
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
************************************************ VOLUME II COLONIAL BERTIE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA DEED BOOKS
LAND PURCHASE: - LUKE WHITE to JOHN WILLIAMS, 15 July 1718, ("two
hundred and fifty acres of land lying in Chowan Precinct on Chowan River between where the said LUKE WHITE now lives and where
THOMAS GRANT now lives...") The deed is then asigned by JOHN WILLIAMS to SAMUEL WOODWARD on 23 day Oct 1718. Witnesses: JOHN
SMITH, ROBERT HICKS.
*****************************************************
From "THE LOST TOWN OF CASHY" 1739-1790 BERTIE COUNTY, NORTH
CAROLINA
A list of of Freeholders living between Salomon Creek and Cashy
River in Bertie..January 9, 1719
Theophilus Williams, John Williams
Act Creating Road Over Cashy Edenton 1717 Ordered yt
the inhabitants on the north side of Bear Creek and those on the west side of Roquist Creek may choose a main road from "New
Market" over the head of Kesiah to Sandy Point at ye mouth of Salmon Creek, and yt Robert West, Martin Gardner, William Jones,
John Hardy, John Edwards, Charles Barber, and Samuel Herring to be a jury to lay out said road.
************************************************************
1719: CHOWAN COUNTY, NC, LAND DEEDS BOOK B1: p.18
LAND PURCHASE: SESSOME to WILLIAMS, This Indenture made the
20th Day of July 1719 betwen NICHOLASS SESSOME of the Precinct of Chowan of the one part and JOHN WILLIAMS of the other part.
witensseth yt the said NICHOLASS SESSOME for & in Consideration of Sixteen pounds Sterling to him in hand pd by NICH JOHN
WILLIAMS afsd the receipt whereof he the sd NICHO SESSOM doth hereby acknowledge & of every part & parcale therof
doth hereby acquit Exonorate & Discharge the sd JOHN WILLIAMS his HEIRS & Assignes forever. Have Given Granted bargained
Sold & do by these presents fully Clearly & Absolutely give Grant bargain aliene and Sell all qt part & parcel
of Land lying & being in Chowan Precinct beginning at the mouth of the Black Haw Branch yn up the sd branch to the main
Swamp yn down the sd Swamp to the first Station, Containing Eighty acres be the same more or Less To have & to hold. the
sd Land bargained & sold as afsd unto the sd JOHN WILLIAMS his Heirs & Assignes forever with all the Rights members
& appertenances thereof for ever with all Houses Orchards Gardains Nurserys & Clear ground woodland ground water &
water courses & all other Libertys & Priviledges therein & thereon Contained And the sd NICHOLASS SESSOME doth
promise & warrant yt on the Ensealling & Delivery hereof he hath a good rights full power & law full authority
to bargain & Sell the saame unto the sd JOHN WILLIAMS his Heirs & Assignes for ever & by these presents doth warrant
the sd promises bargained & sold as afsd to be & remain free from all Claim & Demands of the sd NICHOLASS SESSOME
his Heirs Execs & Asnsd in any other person or persons w’soever And yt the said Land premises now are & So shall
& may for ever herafter remain Continue and be unto the sd JOHN WILLIAMS his Heirs & assignes for ever free &
freely acquitted Exonorated & discharged of & from all & all matter of former or other Gifts Grants Leases uses
will Titles Judgements Rents & Arrearages of Rents of all other Inumbrances of what nature of Kind soever And yt the sd
JOHN WILLIAM his Heirs & assignes shall from time to time & at all times hereafter peaceably & Quitely have hold
use occupy posses & Enjoy the sd Land & premises without the Lett Suit trouble Deniall Disturbance Molestation Interruption
or Eviction of the sd NICHOLAS SESSOME his Heirs Execs & Admrs or any other Person or Persons wtsoever laying lawfull
Claim thereunto or any part in parcell thereof
[NEED TO FIND THE REST OF THIS DEED I SEEM TO HAVE MISPLACED]
*********************************************************
1719: Patent Book 1, Pg. 289: November 11, 1719 James Castelaw
patented 640 acres in Chowan Precinct adjoining Philip Walston, Charles Barber, Jonathan Standley, John Williams. [Province
of North Carolina, 1663-1729, Abstracts of Land Patents by Margaret M. Hofmann.]
*********************************************
EARLY LIVESTOCK OWERS IN THE BERTIE. EDGECOMBE, FRANKLIN,
GRANVILLE, HALIFAX, HERTFORD, MARTIN, NASH, NORTHAMPTON, WARREN, AND WASHINGTON COS., N. C., AREA, 1722-1741
In a 20-year period (1722-41 ), over 500 live stock marks were
recorded in Bertie County Court. At that time, livestock roamed freely through the woods and fields, and some sort of identification
was necessary in order to know who owned what, and which. (To protect gardens and crops, some sort of a brush, or wooden or
rail fence was necessary.) No two marks were identical. (The branding of cattle in the western states a century later was
something similar.) Here are some sample live stock marks as taken from these Bertie records:
"Coll. William Maule came into Court and Records his Mark Vizt.
a Close Crop in the left [ear ED.] and Two nicks under the right. Granted."
"Isaak Hill Esqr. came into Court and Records his Mark Vizt."
a square in the upper side of the Right ear and [an?] Under Square in the left."
Parts of the 40-page listing of "Bertie Co. N. C. - Live, Stock
Marks,, 1724-174" (Archives, File No. 10.902.1) are torn and missing, but most of the names have been preserved. Below, the
names only will be listed, along with the years: P. 8 [ dated 1729 ] John Williams
**************************************************************
1722: Patent Book 1624 pg 21 George Cockburne 10 Aug
1720
440 acres in Chowan Precinct on the S side of Cassia River,
joining the N sideof Rocquis Swamp, a pocosin, a Branch and John Williams. Witnesses: C. Eden, Thos Pollock, Wm Reed, Richd
Sanderson, Fra Foster
************************************************************
1724: Witnessed by son Isaac Williams and daughter Ann Williams Herring.
P 388 Bertie Precinct, Albermarle County, Province of North Carolina
To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come
I John Williams and Ann my wife Send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting, Know ye that I Jn Williams of Bertie Precinct in
the County of Albermarle and province of No. Carolina with the free consent of Ann my wife for divers good cause and considerations
is thereunto moving, but more especially for the Valuable consideration of twelve pounds to us in hand paid by Hen. Overstreet
of the province and precinct aforesaid is secured to be paid the Receipt whereof we do by these presents Acknowledge ourselves
fully contented satisfied and paid do therefore bargain and sell alienate and forever make over and confirm unto the aforesaid
Hen. Overstreet to him his heirs Exe and Assigns forever a certain Tract or piece of Land containing two hundred and thirty
five acres in Bertie precinct lying back of a Survey of Martin Gardners the So. side of Casiah Swamp Beginning at a Red Oak
in a marsh on the No. Et. side of a swamp that makes out of Rockquist Running then No. 38 Et. 240 pole to a hickory then No.
60 Wt. 220 pole to three hiccorys then So. 30 Wt. 118 pole to three pines on a branch side that makes into the swamp then
the windings of the branch and the swamp that makes into Rockquist to the first station together with all Houses gardens orchards
timber and timber trees thereon standing lying or growing with all Easements profits and appurtenances unto the same belonging
or any ways appertaining To Have and to Hold all and Singular the aforesaid devised and every part and parcel thereof to all
intents and purposes unto him the said Hen Overstreet his heirs Exe Adm and assigns from hereinafter and forever in as full
and ample manner as any land is holden in this Goverment warranting the same to be free and clear of and from all manner of
Rent or Rents dew to our Sovereign Ld. the King or the absolute Lds proprietors of the Goverment, and the above said Saile
do warrant and maintain in every article and clause as is above Expressed and to defend the same from all manner of person
or persons claiming by from or under us or either of us our heirs Exe or Adm or any ways whatsoever as also to acknowledge
the same in Bertie precinct __ when thereunto reasonably bequested we bind ourselves our heirs Exe and Adm in the penal sum
of Twenty four pounds Fr money of Great Britain, In witness whereof we have set our hands and seals 2nd day of August 1724 Jn
Williams Ann A Williams Isaac Williams, Wm Jones Ann A Herring
Bertie Precinct May Court 1728, Isaac Williams by Virtue of a
Power of Attorney from Jn. Williams and Exe acknowledged the above deed of Sale in due form of Law in Open Court, which on
motion is ordered to be Registered
Test Edw Mashborne Dept Clk
P 389
Know all men by these presents that we ye subscribers doth
firmly by these presents Constitute and ordain and appoint in our names and stead our Trusty and well beloved Friend Isaac
Williams to be our true and Lawful Attorney to acknowledge a certain Tract or parcel of land unto Hen Overstreet or his order
in Bertie precinct Court, what our Attorney shall Lawfully do shall stand in as full force and Power as if we were personally
in place, as witness our hands and seals this thirteenth day of November 1727
Isaac Williams Jurist Jn Williams Seal William Jones Ann A
Williams Seal
Bertie precinct May Court 1728 The within power of Attorney from
Jn Williams Exe to Isaac Williams was proved in Open Court in due form of Law by the Oath of Isaac Williams one of the Evidences
thereto which on motion is ordered to be Registered
Test Edw. Mashborne Dept CLK Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
***********************************************************
1725: John Williams of North Carolina is selling 125
acres located in Isle of Wight County in Virginia to his
brother Nicholas Williams of Isle of Wight, being a part of a tract in a patent Granted to their father Wm Williams
bearing date 24 April 1703.
John
Williams to Nicholas Williams IOW Co. 1725
p715
This Indenture made this twenty first day of October ye tenth
year of ye Reign of our Sovereign Lord George & in ye year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred & twenty
five between John Williams of North Carolina of ye one part and Nicholas Williams of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia of ye other part
Witnesseth that ye said John Williams for & in consideration of ye sum of 0ne schilling to him in hand paid by ye said
Nicholas Williams ye receipt whereof he Doth hereby acknowledged & himself to be there with fully satisfied contented
& paid & by these presents Doth acquit & Discharge the said Nicholas Williams his heirs & hath devised Bargained
Lett leased and to farm letter and by these presents doth devise bargain Lett lease & to farm Lett unto ye said Nicholas
Williams his heirs & assigns all that messuage plantation or parcel
of situated lying & being in ye Isle of Wight County in Virginia bounded as followeth, Viz, Beginning at a marked corner
tree of John Barnes being a Gum standing by ye Bun side of Nottaway Swamp thence up the Dividing Line to a pine standing by
ye side of a branch thence up the Branch to a pine tree standing in Ye said Branch being a Corner tree so up a line of marked
trees to ye patent Line & according to Pattent to a marked Red Oak being made a corner tree of the Dividing Line between
John Williams & Nicholas Williams from thence down a line of marked trees to Gum standing standing in the Run of a branch
so down the branch to a Gum & down a line of marked trees to Gum standing in Nottaway Swamp by the run side being a corner
tree from thence down this Run run to a Gum being a Corner Tree standing in the side of ye Run being a Corner tree between
John Barnes and John Williams by Estimation one hundred & twenty
five acres being ye same more or less which said Land being a part
of a tract in a pattent Granted to Wm Williams bearing date ye twenty forth day of April one thousand seven hundred &
three & said land together with all houses Orchards Gardens roadways waters water courses & all other profits
& advantages to ye same belonging or in any wise appertaining To Have & To Hold the said Devised premises & every
part thereof unto ye said Nicholas Williams his heirs & for and during the full term & time of three years fully to
be completed & ended yielding & paying for ye same yearly on ye tenth Day of December ye fee rent one ear of Indian
Corn if ye same shall be Lawfully Demanded unto Ye said John Williams his heirs & to ye intent & purpose that by virtue
of these presents & of ye Statue for Transferring Uses into possessions that ye said Nicholas Williams may be in actual
& peaceable possession of ye heretofore granted premises & hereby may be the better enabled to accept of a grant or
Conveyance of ye Reversion & Inheritance there of to him & his heirs for ever in Witness where of the said John Williams
hath hereunto set his hand & Seal ye Day & year above written.
John Williams Seal Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence
of us David Gay At a Court held for Isle of Wight County t his 25 day of October 1725. John Williams came Robert
x Hodges into Court presented & acknowledged this his mark deed unto Nicholas Williams & admitted to record
Test H. Lightfoot Cl Ct
Hard Copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at
The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia [June 200
************************************************************
1725: Great Book Vol 2, P 717
This Indenture made ye twenty third day of October ye tenth year
of ye Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George & in ye yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred twenty five Between
John Williams of North Carolina of ye one part & Nicholas Williams of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia of the other
part Witnesseth that ye said John Williams for & in consideration of ye sum of Eighteen pounds currant money to him in
hand paid by ye said Nicholas Williams whereof he doth acquit & discharge the said Nicholas Williams his heirs Exe &
assigns & hath Remised Released & forever Quit Claim unto ye said Nicholas Williams & by these presents for himself
& his heirs doth fully & clearly & absolutely Remise Release & forever Quit Claim unto ye said Nicholas Williams
& his heirs forever all such Right in the Interest & Demands whatsoever as ye said Jon Williams had or ought to have
of in or to one hundred & twenty five acres of Land be ye same more or less now in ye quiet & peaceable possession
of ye said Nicholas Williams may more Largely appear by interest of one Lease bearing Date to Days before ye Date of these
presents to him ye said Nicholas Williams granted by ye John Williams situate lying & being in ye Isle of Wight County
in Virginia & bounded as Followeth (viz) Beginning at a marked corner tree of John Barnes being a Gum standing by ye run
side of Nottaway Swamp thence up ye dividing Line to a pine standing by ye side of a branch thence up ye said branch to a
pine tree standing in ye said Branch being a Corner tree so up a line of marked trees to ye pattent Line so according to ye
pattent to a marked Red Oak being made a Corner tree of ye Dividing Line between John Williams & Nicholas Williams from
thence down a line of marked trees to a Gum standing in ye Run of a branch so down ye branch to a gum so down a Line of marked
trees to a Gum standing in Nottaway Swamp by ye run Line being a Corner tree from thence down ye Run to a Gum being a Corner
tree standing in ye side of ye Run being a Corner tree betwixt John Barnes & John Williams by Estimation one hundred and
twenty five Acres be ye more or Less which said Land being part of a tract in a pattent granted to Wm Williams bearing date
ye twenty fourth Day of April one thousand seven hundred & three which said Land together with all appurtenances thereunto
belonging unto the Said Nicholas Williams & his heirs forever To Have and to Hold all & singular ye aforesaid Land
& premises so that neither ye said John Williams nor his heirs nor any person or persons whatsoever by from or under him
or them shall or will by any means hereafter have Claim Challenge or Demand Estate Right Title or Interest of in or to the
aforesaid premises or to any part or parcel thereof by he & they & every of them shall be utterly excluded & Debared
for ever by these presents & also ye said John Williams & his heirs doe warrant ye aforesaid Land to the said Nicholas
Williams & his heirs for ever with a general warranty against all persons whatsoever In Witness ye said John Williams
hath here unto set his hand & Seal ye Day & year first above written Signed Sealed & Delivered John Williams
Seal In presence of us Robert Willkins At a Court held for Isle of Wight County the David Gray 29th day of October
1725 John Williams came his into Court presented & acknowledged this his Robert ® Hodges Deed unto Nicholas Williams
& admitted to record mark
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at
The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia [June 2004]
************************************************************
1727: WITTNESS: B 304--JOHN GRAY TO THEOPHILUS WILLIAMS Aug 8,
1727. 80 pds. 7 sh. for 640 A. on WS Falling Run. Adj. WILLIAM GRAY, JOHN WILLIAMS. Wit: JAMES CASTELAW, SAMUEL WILLIAMS.
August Court 1727. *.
***************************************************************
1729: Book C p 145- 146 Item 19 Bertie Precinct, North Carolina John Williams is conveying property
to his grandson Thomas Castellaw son of James Castellaw and his wife Sarah Williams Castellaw.
John Williams is conveying property to his grandson Thomas Castellaw son of James Castellaw and
his wife Sarah Williams Castellaw.
1729: Book C p 145- 146 Item 19 Bertie Precinct, North Carolina Know
all men by these presents that I John Williams of Bertie Precinct planter for an in consideration of the sum of Ten pounds
to me in hand paid before the signing & sealing of these presents well and truly paid by James Castellaw of ye said precinct
planter the receipt I do acknowledge and of every part and parcel thereof do exonerate acquit and discharge the said James
Castellaw his heirs or Executors have given granted bargained & sold aliened conveyed and confirmed and doth by these
freely fully and absolutely give grant bargain sell alien Convey and confirm unto Thomas the son of the said James Castellaw
one Tract of Land lying on the north side of ____ river near to Runaroy Marsh being the plantation whereon John Glisson now
lives containing by estimation two hundred and fifty acres be it more or less butted and bounded thus viz Beginning at a white
by the Indian Village pond James Blounts corner tree turning along his line South eighty two degrees East one hundred and
forty pole to the center of three white oaks in James Blounts line Anthony Herrings corner thence along his line South four
degrees west three hundred pole to a gum in a great Swamp thence the winding of the said Swamp and by the Indian Village Meadow
and Village pond to the first station To Have and to Hold the said granted and bargained premises with all the appurtenances
privileges and commodities to the same belong or in any way appertaining to him the said Thos. Castellaw his heirs and assigns
forever to his and their own proper use benefit and behoof forever and I the said John Williams for me my heirs Exe Adm do
covenant promise and grant to and with the said Thomas Castellaw his heirs and assigns that before the Ensealing hereof I
am the true sole and lawful owner of the above bargained premises and am lawfully seized and possessed of the same in my own
proper right as a perfect Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple and have in my self good right full power and lawful authority
to grant bargain sell convey and confirm the said bargained premises in manner as abovesaid and that the said Thomas Castellaw
his heirs and assigns shall and may from time to time and at all times forever hereafter by Virtue of these presents lawfully
peaceably and quietly have hold use occupy possess and enjoy the said devised and bargained premises with the appurtenances
free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated and discharged of and from all manner of former and other gifts
grants bargains Sales leases mortgages wills intails joynters dowries judgments executions encumbrances and extents Furthermore
I the said John Williams for myself my heirs Exe Adm do covenant and engage the above devised premises to him the said Thomas
Castellaw his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims or demands of any person whatsoever forever hereafter to warrant
secure and defend, and Ann the wife of me the said John Williams doth by these presents freely and willingly surrender all
her Right of Dower and power of thirds unto the above devised premises unto him the said Thomas Castellaw his heirs and assigns,
In Witness whereof we have herein unto sett our hands this 14th day of Aug 1729
John Williams Seal Signed Sealed and delivered in presence
of his Ann (A) Williams Seal Edm (E) Davis mark his John (R) Mathews mark
Bertie Precinct August Court 1729 John Williams came into
Court and acknowledged the above Deed of Land to James Castellaw ordered to be Registered Test Tho Crew Ck Ct
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
*****************************************************
Ann and John Williams are selling to Whitmell land witnessed
by sons Arthur, Isaac and son-in-law Samuel Herring
1730: Bertie County Deed Volume F, p 111, Williams to Whitmell
North Carolina To all people to whom these presents shall come Greeting be known ye that I John Williams of the County
of Bertie in the Province aforesaid for and in Consideration of the Sum of forty Pounds Current money of Virginia to me in
hand before the Ensealing hereof Well and truly paid by Thomas Whitmell of the Province and County aforesaid the Receipt whereof
I do hereby acknowledge and myself therewith fully satisfied and Contented and thereof and of every Part and parcel thereof
do Exonerate acquit and Discharge the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs Executors & Adm forever by these Presents to have
given granted bargained sold aligned conveyed and confirmed and by these presents to freely fully and absolutely give grant
bargain sell alien Convey and confirm unto him the said Thomas Whitmell His heirs and assigns forever one Messuage or tract
of Land Situate lying and being in the Province and County aforesaid containing by estimation four Hundred and forty Acres
be it more or less Butted and Bounded beginning at a Spanish Oak Thomas Turners Corner tree on a Branch of Recquiss then South
eighty five East one hundred and sixty poles to the Center of a Sweet Gum a Black Gum and Red Oak then North sixty five Degrees
East Sixty poles to a pine then North fifty five West one hundred and twenty four pole to a Red Oak formerly John Edward’s
corner tree then along his Line North Twenty Degrees East five Hundred and twenty pole to a pine then West three hundred and
five poles to a poplar in a Branch of Recquiss Thence the Meanders of the Branch to the first station To Have and to Hold
the said granted and bargained premises with all the appurtenances privileges Commodities to the same belonging as in any
wise appertaining to him the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs and assigns forever to his and their only proper use benefit and
Ecru of forever and I the said John Williams for me my heirs Executors and Administrator do Covenant promise and grant to
and with the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs and assigns forever that before the Ensealing hereof I am the true sole and Lawful
owner of the above Bargained promises and am Lawfully Seized and Reposed of the same in mine own proper right as a good perfect
and absolute Estate of Inheritance in Fee Simple and Have in my self a good Right full proven and Lawful Authority to grant
bargain Sell Convey and Confirm said bargained premisses in manner as above said and that the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs
and assigns shall and May from time to time forever hereafter by force and Virtue of these Presents Lawfully Peaceably &
quietly have Hold use Occupy possess & enjoy the said Demised & Bargained Premises with the appurtenances free and
Clear and freely and clearly acquitted Exonerated & discharged from all and all manner of former or other gift gifts grants
bargains Sales Leases mortgages Wills Intacts Joynters Dowers Judgements Executions Encumbrances and Extents further more
I the said John Williams for my self my heirs Executors and administrators do Covenant and Engage the above Demised premises
to Him the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs and assigns against the Lawful Claims or Demands of any Person or Persons Whatsoever
forever hereafter to Warrant Secure and Defend And Ann Williams the wife of me the said John Williams doth by these Presents
freely willingly give yield up and Surrender all her Right of Dowry and power of Thirds of in and unto the above Demised Premisses
unto Him the said Thomas Whitmell his heirs and assigns In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed my Seal
this Twenty first day of January 1730
Signed Sealed & Delivered John Williams seal in the Presence
of us Samuel (SH) Herring Ann (A)Williams seal his mark Arthur Williams
Isaac Williams Bertie County Court 1730 The within Deed of
Sale was duly Proved in open Court by the Oath of Arthur Williams one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto which motion is
ordered to be Registered
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
**********************************************
1745 - This Arthur Williams is the son of John Williams who is the son of John and Ann.
Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Pages 167-168: ARTHUR WILLIAMS to THOMAS
FISHER of Isle of Wight County dated 9 Jun 1757 - 200 acres adj. ROMAS OBERY, Cypress Swamp, BARNES, and TIMOTHY DRAKE (patent
to ARTHUR WILLIAMS on 10 Jul 1745), S: ARTHUR (signed) WILLIAMS, W: JAMES JORDAN (signed) SCOTT, MICAJAH (signed) EDWARDS,
and HENRY (signed) TAYLOR
**********************************************
1757: NC Deeds Book E 1736-39 Pt. 1, p436 Bertie County, Province
of North Carolina
To all People to whom these presents shall come I John Williams
of the Province of North Carolina and County of Bertie Planter do and greeting, Know ye that I the said John Williams of the
said Province and County aforesaid for and in consideration of the love goodwill and affection which I have and do bear to
my loving grandson Ezekiel Williams of the County aforesaid, have given and granted and by these presents do freely clearly
and absolutely give and grant unto the said Ezekiel Williams his heirs Exe Adm or assigns all and singular that parcel of
land containing by estimation 640 acres, Beginning at the center of two white oaks and a red oak Phillip Walston’s corner
in Charles Barber’s Line then along Walston’s bounds to a black oak Jonathan Standly’s corner then along
Standley’s bounds to a gum Phillip Walston’s corner then along his bounds to a white oak John Williams corner
then along his line to a white oak then So. 18 Wt. to the first station which said land was formerly granted by Patent bearing
date the eleventh day of November 1719 also after my decease the bed and furniture whereon I now lie my chest and my trunk
and a case of bottles to him to be by him the said Ezekiel Williams to be possessed after my decease but it is to be observed
that the land and stock of what kind so ever to be now found, I give and dispose to he the said Ezekiel Williams to be by
him possessed immediately and to his discretion without any condition only he the said Ezekiel Williams paying its quitrents
now due or to become due. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of February 1757
John Williams Seal Signed sealed and delivered in the presence
of her Thomas Whitmell, Priscilla (X) Vanpelt Nathaniel Cooper mark
Bertie County July Court 1757. The within Deed of Gift was
in open Court duly proved by the oath of Thomas Whitmell an evidence thereto, and in motion was ordered to be registered.
Test Benjamin Wynn Clerk Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the North
Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
**********************************************************
P. 395- 18 Dec 1756- John Williams, yeoman to Benjamin Brown,
planter. Wit: John Sawkill, Isaac Hill, Fazbee Hill. 130 ac. black How br. - John Early's, Isaac Hill's, John Williams', corner.
Rattle Snake branch. [Bertie Deeds Bertie Co., NC Deeds Book E 1736-39 Pt. 1]
**********************************************************
1757: NC Deeds Deed Book H p436 Bertie County, Province of North
Carolina
To all People to whom these presents shall come I John Williams
of the Province of North Carolina and County of Bertie Planter do and greeting, Know ye that I the said John Williams of the
said Province and County aforesaid for and in consideration of the love goodwill and affection which I have and do bear to
my loving grandson Ezekiel Williams of the County aforesaid, have given and granted and by these presents do freely clearly
and absolutely give and grant unto the said Ezekiel Williams his heirs Exe Adm or assigns all and singular that parcel of
land containing by estimation 640 acres, Beginning at the center of two white oaks and a red oak Phillip Walston's comer in
Charles Barber's Line then along Walston's bounds to a black oak Jonathan Standly's comer then along Standley's bounds to
a gum Phillip Walston's comer then along his bounds to a white oak John Williams comer then along his line to a white oak
then So. 18 Wt. to the first station which said land was formerly granted by Patent bearing date the eleventh day of November
1719 also after my decease the bed and furniture whereon I now lie my chest and my trunk and a case of bottles to him to be
by him the said Ezekiel Williams to be possessed after my decease but it is to be observed that the land and stock of what
kind so ever to be now found, I give and dispose to he the said Ezekiel Williams to be by him possessed immediately and to
his discretion without any condition only he the said Ezekiel Williams paying its quitrents now due or to become due. In Witness
whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of February 1757
John Williams Seal
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence ofher Thomas
Whitmell, Priscilla (X) Vanpelt Nathaniel Coopermark
Bertie County July Court 1757.
The within Deed of Gift was in open Court duly proved by the
oath of Thomas Whitmell an evidence thereto, and in motion was ordered to be registered.
Test Benjamin Wynn Clerk
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
**********************************************************
1757: Duplin County, NC - JOHN WILLIAMS to SAMUEL SESSOMS,
1757
To all people to ___ these present shall come known yea that
I JOHN WILLIAMS of the Provence of North Carolina in Duplin County for and in consideration of the sum of fourty (40) pounds
proclamation money to me in hand paid before the making and delivery hand by SAMUEL SESSOMS of the provence and county above
said the receipts whereof and I do hereby acknowledge and myself this with fully satisfied contented paid and with every part
and parcel do exonerate do quit and discharge the said SAMUEL SESSOMS his heirs executors administrators or assigns forever
One certain m___ or tract of land situate lying and being in the aforesaid county of Duplin and on the East side of Black
River on the Beaver Dam Swamp Beginning at a Red Oak on the side of the swamp thence West 179 poles to apine thence W70 wt
179 poles to a pine thence S 20 WE 179 poles to a stake thence S 70 ET 179 poles to the beginning Containing two hundred (200)
acres as may appear by the Patent Bearing date the twenty sixth day of May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven 1757
which Patent was granted to FARQUARD CAMPBELL and consigned by deed from FARQUARD CAMPBELL to the aforesaid JOHN WILLIAMS
to have and to hold the said granted and bargained ____ with all the appenedents forclosures and compunction to the same belonging
____ to any made appenedents to him the said SAMUEL SESSOMS his heirs executors administrators or assigns forever to him and
them only proclamation binds and ____ forever.
And I the said JOHN WILLIAMS ____ ____ may him execute against
(unable to read last line of page.
info found at LDS LIBRARY FILM # 0553539 page 275 & 276)
Hard Copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
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1757: John Williams will was probated.
WILL OF JOHN WILLIAMS Bertie County March 13, 1756
In the name of God Amen: the Thirteenth Day of March 1756 I John
Williams of the County of Bertie Planter being Very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto
God: Therefore Calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed all men once to Dye do Make and ordain
this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of
God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in desent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors
nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching
Such worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me to this Life I give dismis and dispose of the in the same in
the following manner and form Impriovis
I give and bequeath to Anne my dearly beloved wife her Choice
of my Bed and one Rug and a pair of blankits and a pair of Sheets an six Cows & Calves and four Shears one ___ one two
year old one three year old & one four year old ___ Sows & pigs twelve burrows Six two year old and six one year old
four Cows and Lambs one iron pot & a frying pan two Puter dishes and one puter bason three puter plates and Six puter
spoons
Item I give to my well beloved son Theophilus Williams my Negro
fellow Jack only reserving his labour to my well beloved wife During her Widerhood then to him and his heirs for ever
Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Anne Herring my Negro
fellow primus only reserving his labour to my well beloved wife During her widerwhood
Item I give To my well beloved son Isaac Williams _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________
Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Sara Castelaw one Common
prayer Book
Item I give to my well Beloved Daughter Mary Herring one Common
prayer Book
Item I give to my well beloved Son Arthur Williams his heirs
or or asigns my maner plantation with all my other Lands joining there to him his heirs and or asigns only reserving the half
of it with timbers and all conveniences fencing & firewood to my well Beloved wife during her during her life and after
her deseas to him and his heirs
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife two horses
Item I give to my well beloved Son Arthur Williams one Negro
Wench Jene and all her increase only reserving the use of one Negro wench Named Grace for my well beloved wife During her
widerhood
Item I give to my son Arthur one Still and one large iron pot
Reserving the use of them for her own Nessary use during her widerhood then to my son Arthur, I give all my Books one Cass
and bottels and my My Grist
Item I give to my well beloved gran Son John Williams one iron
pot & one gist that was my fathers
Item I give to my well beloved Granchildren Farabe Williams Ezekell
Williams Jerusha Williams Barbera Williams twenty five pounds Virgene Currance to be equally divided among the four when they
reach the age of eighteen
Item I leave one tract of land Lying one the Round pecosen to
be Sold to the best advantage at the Discration of my Executors and the money to be Refundin to the Estate and after all my
debts being paid and all charges being and ___ ___
I leave all the rest of my household good monies and Chatels
to be Equilly Divided amongst my Children I likewise constitute make and order Arthur Williams and Theophilus Williams &
Anne Williams my wife my Sole Executors of this my last will and testament, all and Singular and doo here by utterly disallow
Revoke and Disannual all and every other former testaments Wills Legacess and Bequests and Executors by me in any wise before
Named willed and bequeathed ____ confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament in witness where of I have
hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Day and Year Above Written.
John Williams Signed Sealed published Pronounced &
Declared by the said John Williams as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers
William Byrd John Moore Thomas Castellaw Jurant
Bertie County __ October Court 1757
The before Written Will was Exibited __ by Arthur Williams
one of the Exor therefore and Proved by the oath of William Byrd one of the Suscribing Witness's hereto and at the same time
the same Exor Quallifyed according to Law which was ordered to be Certifye
Test Benj Wyns Clerk of Court
Bertie County January Court, 1758.
The above Written Will was duly proved in open Court by the
oath of Thomas Castellaw and of the Suscribing Witness's Thereto which was ordered to be __ ___.
Test Benj Wyns Clerk of Court State of North Carolina Superior
Court of Law and Equity District of Edenton November Term 1785
_____ on the Demise of } __________ George Williams William
Hinton
__________________unto Certify that The Will of John Williams
deceased grand-father of Geo. Williams ___ of the plantiff in this Suit which was brought up from the Secretary's Office by
Mr Willoughly Williams Deputy Secretary to this Court by a Writ of ____ ____ to be given in Evidence on the part of the Defendant
in this cause was at this Term by the __ of the said Court, Ordered to be filled with the other papers of the said Suit in
my office until a final determination of the Cause can be had
Test Blake Baker CSCLS
State of North Carolina Superior Court of Law and Equity District
of Edenton ______be Term 1786
These are to Certify that the Will of John Williams Sr. grand
father of the Tessor of theIla
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the
North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.
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1791: M857 1791 Noah HINTON to Noah THOMSON part of grant to
John WILLIAMs who deeded it to Thom CASTELLOW 1729 then to John CARR 1744, from CARR to Noah HINTON 1772 adj Runaroy Marsh,
VILLAGE POND, James BLOUNT former corner, John HINNARDs former line, Saml SMITH
WILLIAM WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1678, Isle of Wight, VA; d. Abt. 1708, Chowan County, NC; m. MARY MOORE, daughter
of GEORGE MOORE.
Will dated Dec 1704, NC names wife Mary and sons Samuel, John and Stephen.
William Williams inherited 200 acres
in 1692 adjacent Thomas Mandue from his father John Williams—John’s share of 400 acres purchased by him and his
brother Thomas Williams from George Pierce in 1681.
The location of the property (shown in the maps below) that William Williams inherited
was between the Corrowaugh Swamp and Kingsale Swamp (Shown in red oval highlighted areas in the map below), branches of the
Main Blackwater some ten miles south of the Lawne’s Creek community.
Further
clarifying the location are the patents of Henry Applewhaite and John Williams
(30 May 1678); John Moore, # 2 (23 April 1681, adjacent George Pierce and Philip
Raiford); Bridgman Joyner and William Mayo (16 April 1683, adjacent Kingsale,
the main Blackwater, Hodges Council, Thomas Mann, George Pierce, Henry Applewhaite, John
Williams, and Thomas Underwood).
Also, John Browne, brother-in-law
of William Williams and purported cousin
of both Williams’ wife and Dr. Samuel Browne (29 April 1692, south side of Kingsale. See Nugent, Vol. 2, pp. 184, 187, 205, 216, 254, 374; Vol. 3, pp. 4-5.
William Williams soon added to his land by becoming one of the early patentees in
the Nottoway Basin, west of the Main Blackwater. On 28 October 1702, he patented
there 600 acres; other patentees on the same day were James Bryan, Thomas Joyner (whose daughter married Thomas Williams,
brother of William Williams), and Thomas Mandue.
On
24 April 1703, Williams added 400 acres (ibid., 69). The given name of George’s
Moore’s daughter, not mentioned in his will, is clarified in a series of six conveyances between October 1702 and April
1704, three of which were to William Williams’ brothers John, Nicholas, and Richard.
See Isle of Wight Deed Book # 1, pp. 412-17. See the Williams Section,
# 1, a, c, I, and j.
The area first settled across the James River from Wiliamsburg is the area at the top of the above
map and lies in Surry county. The location of the current Littleton VA town is shown as a small red oval in the
left part of the map. This town is and has always been located in Surry County and is not the Little Town owned by the
Williams family.
Click on this link to open another page on this web site tracing the ownership and location of
Little Town: The Story of Littletown
The below map is a larger view of the darkened square in the map above. It is just
above and to the right of Franklin VA near the Blackwater River in what was called the Newport Parish.
The following three maps show the location of early landowners in the area where William
Williams lived along the Blackwater river in Isle of Wight.
The Seacock, aka Round Hill swamp, lies on the west side of the Blackwater river just above the Carrowaugh swamp which
lies on the east side of the Blackwater river.
The Beaverdam swamp lies to the east of the Blackwater River just above the Kingsale swamp and northeast of Franklin
VA.
The Kingsale samp lies to the east of Franklin VA and the Blackwater River.
1692: William inherited land from
his father, John Williams, 9 March 1692. The land was 200 acres in Newport Parish near meadows (or Mandews). [WILLS
AND ADMINISTRATION OF ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VIRGINIA (Compiled); Blanche A. Chapman; Family Line Publications, 1994. pp. 33-34.
(Includes Isle of Wight county Wills and Estates from 1647 to 1800.)]
1694: 9 April 1694, he received 2 cows as a gift from his mother, Anne Williams. [ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY,
VIRGINIA DEEDS, COURT ORDERS, AND GUARDIAN ACCOUNTS; William L. Hopkins; Gen-D-Dex, 1993, p. 47. (Isle of Wight County deeds
from 1647-1719, court Orders from 1693-1695, and guardian accounts from 1740-1767].
1702: October 28, 1702 he received a grant for 600 acres in
Isle of Wight County, VA,
1703: April 24, 1703 he received a grant for 400 acres in Isle
of Wight County, VA,.
1704: The Quit Rent list of 1704 William Williams ownes 1000 acres of land in Isle of Wight County.
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Between April 4, 1704 and April 20, 1704, he sold much of his land in Isle of Wight Co., VA in small
tracts to Thomas Kirby, John Barnes, John Williams, Nicholas Williams, Richard Williams and Thomas Boone.
1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 412-413
Know all men by these presents that whereas I the subscriber hereof William Williams of the Lower Parish
of ye Isle of Wight County having a patten granted formerly to ye Francis Richardson Esq by his Majesty ye Governor of Virginia
for 600 acres of Land granted by patton bearing date ye 20th day of October 1702 in
the year of our Sovereign Lady Anne by ye grace of God Queen of England Briton & Ireland Defender of ye Faith & lying
& being in ye abovesaid County of Isle of Wight on ye southside of Blackwater now know ye that I ye abovesaid Wm. Williams
with the consent of Mary his wife doth by these presents give grant devise & fully & absolutely convey sell over unto Thomas Kirby of the abovesaid County his heirs or assigns forever one part or parcell of ye patent land being by estimation about 250 acres so if more or less the said parcel of
land being deed to ye said Kirby by agreement in right of paying consideration a proportional fee or charge & expenses
in taking up the said land lying & bounding as followeth, beginning at ye mouth of ye said Wm.Williams spring branch where
it runs into Blackwater swamp up ye said Branch to ____ thence by a course of marked trees bounding southwestwardly to ye
head___ followeth first to a hickory thence to a pine in a pond then to a Red oak on ye Southside of the said pond thence
to a pine thence to Red Oak thence to a white oak thence to a Red oak thence to a pine by Boones branch thence to ye headland
and so along ye said land to a to a gum marked with three notches on a side a corner tree standing in the natural bounds so
by a lyne of marked trees bearing northwesterly to a live oak on ye River side of Blackwater Swamp so down Blackwater to ye
first station To Have and to Hold the aforesaid parcell or tract of land according to the aforesaid bounds with all &
singular its members & jurisdictions appertaining together thereunto belonging with all houses orchards buildings with
all woods waters & pastures foodings meadows swamps marsh or marsh grounds hereditaments appurtenances thereunto belonging
to the said ___ or tract or parcel of Land lands & premises or to any part or parcell belonging or in any ways appertaining
thereunto ye said Thomas Kirby his heirs or assigns to ye only proper use and behoof of the said Thomas Kirby his heirs &
assigns forever against the said Wm Williams his heirs Exe Adm & assigns all other person or persons whatsoever lawfully
claiming by from or under him from or any of them shall & forever will warrant defend by these presents and the ye said
Wm Williams doth for himself his heirs Exe Adm do covenant promise grant & agree to & with the said Thomas Kirby his
heirs & assigns & every of them by these presents from all & singular the aforesaid parcell of land according
to the aforesaid certified bounds with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging now to and for ever shall be stand &
continue unto ye said Thomas Kirby his heirs & assigns forever and that ye said Thomas Kirby his heirs & assigns to
go freely acquitted & exonerated & discharged and from time to time will & sufficiently kept harmless by the said
Wm Williams his heirs Exe Adm and from all & all manner troubles charges demands & encumbrances whatsoever of any
person or persons ____ from or under him ye said Wm Williams his heirs Exe Adm & assigns and that ye foresaid land and
premises with all its rights jurisdictions & appurtenances do & be forever hereafter shall go stand good and endure
to him the said Kirby his heirs & assigns forever In confirmation whereof do have hereunto set my hand & seal this
10th day of April in the year of our Lord God 1704
Signed Sealed & deliveredWilliam Williams Sig In the presence of us John WilliamsMary Williams
Sig Nicholas Williams John (B) Barnes his mark
Acknowledged in open Court held for ye Isle of Wight County ye 10th of April 1704 by Wm Williams
and Mary his wife to be their free & voluntarily act & deed to be recorded Dower acknowledged by the said Mary
at the B after examination of her free consent Test Charles ____ CkCt
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1704: Isle of Wight Deed Book 1 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 415
To all to whom this Deed Indented of Bargain & Sale shall come Know ye I William Williams ofIsle
of Wight County for in consideration ofye just quantity of five Thousand pounds of good sound merchantable Lot & cash
to me in hand paid or otherwise will and sufficiently secured to be paid by Nicholas Williams ofye same County by such I acknowledge
my self fully satisfied contented & paid Have granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed & confirmed and do by these
presents for me my heirs Exe Adm forever grant bargain sell alien enfeoff confirm unto
Nicholas Williams his heirs Exe Adm assigns forever a certain tract or parcell of land containing by estimation one hundred & ten acres more or less situate lying & being on ye Southside ofye
Blackwater Swamp beginning at a Gum at ye side ofye tree such is a comer tree of John Williams lyne & so running
up his Iyne to ye head line ofye Pattent & so running along ye said lyne to a meadow branch & so running down the
said Branch to a Black oak standing by ye Branch side & running down a lyne of marked trees to a Gum which stands by ye
run side which stands a comer tree ofye natural bounds ofye said pattent & so running the run to ye said beginning Gum
To Have and to Hold one hundred acres of land together with all houses & gardens, woods & underwoods, water, water
courses, easements, profits, commodities & appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or therewith commonly held occupied
& enjoyed to him the said Nicholas Williams & his heirs to ye only proper use & behoof of his ye said Nicholas
Williams his heirs & assigns forever and I ye said William Williams do hereby obligate myself my heirs Exe Adm to warrant
& defend this my sale of all & singular ye above cerited premises with the appurtenances to ye said Nicholas Williams
his heirs & assigns forever against me my heirs Exe Adm & assigns as also to acknowledge this present instrument to
be my will act & deed at ye next Court to be held for the Isle of Wight County aforesaid In witness whereof I have hereunto
put my hand & seal this Tenth day of April Anno Dom 1704 Signed Sealed & delivered In presence of us William
Willia Thos Kirby M seal Rich Williams Mary Willia
Acknowledged in Open Court for ye Isle of Wight County Ye 10th April 1704 by Wm Williams & Mary
his wife to be their free act & deed and the said Mary having been examined of her voluntary cnsent by the Court relinquishing
her right of Dower which is Ordered to be Recorded
Test Cha Chapman CICt
Hard Copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 p. 413-414 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 413-414
To all to whom this Deed of Bargain & sale shall come Know ye that I Wm. Williams of the Isle of
Wight County in consideration of ye just quantity of five thousand pounds of good sound merchantable lot & cash to me
in hand paid or other favorable & sufficiently served to be paid by John Barnes
of ye said County hereby acknowledge my self fully satisfied contented & paid have granted bargained sold enfeoffed &
confirmed and do by these presents for me my Heirs Exe Adm & assigns forever grant bargain sell alien Enfeoff & confirm
unto Jn Barnes his heirs & assigns a certain tract or parcell of Land containing by estimation one hundred acres to be more or less situate lying & being on ye south side of ye Blackwater Swamp beginning
on the upper side of ye Nottaway Swamp at a white oak ye stands by ye Run of ye said Swamp thence north eighty one degrees
___ one hundred forty eight pole to a white oak thence north twenty seven degrees ___ seventy pole thence along a lyne of
marked trees to a pine on the side of a Branch thence down the branch to a great pine thence to a marked gum in ye swamp aforesaid,
thence down ye various courses of ye said swamp to the first station. To Have and to Hold ye said hundred acres of land together
with all houses orchards gardens orchards woods underwoods water watercourses easements proffits commodities, & appurtenances
whatsoever thereunto belonging or therewith commonly held occupied & enjoyed to him the said John Barnes & his heirs
to ye only purpose & behoof of him the said John Barnes his Heirs & assigns forever and I the said William Williams
do hereby obligate my self my heirs Exe or Adm to warrant & defend this my sale of all & singular the before ___ premises
with the appurtenances to the said John Barnes his Heirs & assigns forever ____ my heirs & assigns or from any person
or persons ____ lawfully by from or under my heirs Exe Adm & assigns & also to acknowledge this present instrument
to be my will act & deed at ye next court to be held for ye Isle of Wight County aforesaid In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & seal this tenth day of April Anno Domi 1704
Signed Sealed & delivered In presence of Wm. Williams Seal John Williams Mary Williams Richard
Williams John Underwood
Acknowledged in open Court for ye Isle of Wight County Ye 10th April 1704 by Wm Williams & Mary
his wife said Mary of her free consent by the their act & Deed and the Relinquishing of her Dower which is ordered to
be Recorded Test Cha Chapman
Hard copy on File
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 416
To all to whom this Deed Indented of Bargain & sale shall come Know ye that I Wm. Williams of Isle
of Wight County for & in consideration of ye such quantity of five thousand dollars of good sound merchantable Tobacco
& cash to me in hand paid or otherwise will & sufficiently secured to be paid have granted by Richard Williams of the same County by which I acknowledge my self fully satisfied contented & paid have
granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed & confirmed and do by these presents for me my heirs Exe Adm forever, grant &
bargain sell alien enfeoff & confirm unto Richard Williams his Heirs, Exe, Adm & assigns a certain tract or parcel
of land containing by estimation one hundred & thirty acres more or less situated
lying & being on the south side of the Blackwater Swamp Beginning at a Hickory at the side of the swamp the run
by and ___ so running up ye run to the said Swamp to a Cypress in ye said Run of the swamp a corner tree so along a course
of marked trees to a lyne of ye pattent southwesterly so along the lyne according to pattent to the said Hickory To Have and
to Hold the said one hundred thirty acres of land together with all houses & orchards gardens woods underwoods ways watercourses
easements proffits commodities & appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or therewith commonly held occupied &
enjoyed to him the said Richard Williams & his heirs to the only proper use & behoof of him the said Richard Williams
his heirs & assigns forever and I the said William Williams do hereby ablidge myself my heirs Exe Adm to warrant &
defend this my sale of all & singu7lar the before recited presents with their appurtenances to the said Richard Williams
his heirs & assigns forever against me my heirs Exe Adm and assigns of from any person or persons claiming lawfully by
from or under me my heirs Exe Adm & assigns as also to acknowledge this present instrument be my will act & deed at
the next Court to be held for the Isle of Wight county aforesaid In Witness whereunto I set my hand & seal this tenth
day of April anno dom 1704
William Williams Signed sealed and delivered In the presence of usM seal Mary Williams
Acknowledged in open Court held for the Isle of Wight County the 10th day of April 1704 By William
Williams & Mary his wife to be their free & voluntary act & deed and the said Mary having been examined by the
Court of her free consent acknowledged her relinquishing of Dower in the said Land which was ordered to be Recorded
Test Cha Chapman ClC
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1705 p.414 Reel 2
To all to whom this Deed Indented of Bargain & Sale shall come Know ye I William Williams of Isle
of Wight County for & in consideration of ye just quantity of nine thousand pounds of good sound merchantable lot &
cash to me in hand paid or other wise will & Sufficiently secured by John Williams
of ye said County aforesaid acknowledged myself fully satisfied contented & paid have granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed
& confirmed & by these presents for me my heirs Exe Adm forever grant bargain sell warrant & confirm unto John
Williams his heirs Exe Adm & assigns a certain tract or parcell of land containing one
hundred & twenty five acres of land to be more or less situate lying & being on ye South side of Blackwater Swamp
beginning upon the upper side of Notaway Swamp at a marked tree of John Barnes being a Gum standing by ye River side
from thence up ye dividing lyne to a pine standing by the side of ye Branch from thence up ye said Branch to a pine tree standing
in ye Branch being a corner tree up to a lyne of marked trees to ye pattent lyne & so according to pattent to a marked
red oak being made a corner tree of ye dividing lyne between John Williams & Nic
Williams from thence down a line of marked trees to a gum standing in ye run of ye branch so down ye Branch to a gum
do down a lyne of marked trees to the gum standing in Notaway Swamp by ye run side being a corner tree from thence down ye
River to a Gum being a corner tree standing in ye side of ye River being a corner tree so between John Barnes & John Williams
To Have and to Hold ye said hundred & twenty five acres of Land together with all houses gardens orchards woods waters
watercourses easements profits commodities appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or therewith commonly held occupied
& enjoyed to him ye said John Williams & his heirs to ye only proper use & behoof of him the said John Williams
his heirs & assigns forever, and I the said William Williams doth hereby obligate my self my heirs Exe or Adm to warrant
& defend this my sale of all & singular ye before recited premises with their appurtenances to ye said John Williams
his heirs & assigns forever against me my heirs & assigns or from any person or persons enjoining lawfully by from
or under me my heirs Exe Adm & assigns & also to acknowledge this present instrument to be my will act & deed
at ye next court to be hold for the Isle of Wight County aforesaid In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal
this Tenth day of April Anno Dom 1704
Signed Sealed & delivered William Williams Seal In presence of us(M) John (B) Barnes Mary
Williams Seal his mark Richard Williams Nicholus Williams
Where in open Court held for ye Isle of Wight County ye 10 April 1704 by Wm Williams & Mary his
wife to be their free Act & Deed, and the said Mary having been examined of her voluntary consent by the relinquishing
her right of Dower which is Ordered to be Recorded . Test Cha Chapman ClCk
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1704 Reel 2 p. 417
This Indenture made the third day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred &
four and in the third year of the Reign of ye Sovereign Lady Anne by the Grace of God, Queen of England Scotland France &
Ireland Defender of the Faith & Between William Williams of the Isle of Wight County of ye one part and Thomas Boone of
the same County of the other part Witnesseth that for & in consideration of the sum of Six thousand pounds CoB in Cash
to him the said William Williams in hand at & before the sealing & delivery of these presents by the said Thomas Boone will & truly paid the receipt whereof and to the said William Williams doth hereby acknowledge
and himself thoroughly fully satisfied & paid and thereof and every part & parcel thereof doth clearly acquit exonerate
and discharge the said Thomas his heirs Exe Adm & assigns forever by these presents hath given granted bargained aliened
sold enfeoffed & confirmed and by these presents doth fully clearly & absolutely give grant bargain sell alien enfeoff
& confirm unto the said Thomas Boone his heirs & assigns forever a parcel or tract of Land containing by estimation
one hundred & fifty acres it being more or less situate lying & being in the
Lower parish of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia on the South side of the Blackwater Swamp it being part of a pattent
of Six hundred acres of land bearing date the 20th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred &
two granted unto the said William Williams of which part or parcell of land & conveyed by him the said William
Williams to him the said Thomas Boone is bounded as followeth, Viz Beginning at a Live Oak standing on the side of the Blackwater
swamp aforesaid it being a corner tree of Thomas Kirby land from thence along a lyne of marked trees parting this land &
Kirbys land to a gum a corner tree of the said Kirbys land standing in the broad lyne of the aforesaid pattent in a Branch
thence down the said branch on natural bounds to the main Run of the said Blackwater Swamp thence down the said Run of the
Blackwater Swamp to ye first mentioned live oak To Have & to Hold the foresaid parcell or tract of Land according to ye
foresaid bounds with all & singular its bounds members jurisdictions & appurtenances Together with all houses edifices
& buildings with all woods waters pastures foodings meadows swamps marsh or marsh grounds hereditaments & appurtenances
whatsoever to the said messuage or tract or parcel of land or lands & premises or to any perfect parcell of my belonging
or in any wise appertaining thereunto unto the said Thomas Boone his Heirs or to ye only proper use & behoof of the said
Thomas Boone his heirs & assigns forever against him the said William Williams his heirs Exe Adm & assigns and all
& every other person or persons whatsoever lawfully claiming by from or under him from or any of them shall & forever
will warrant & defend by these presents and that the said William Williams for himself his heirs Exe & Adm do covenant
promise grant & agree to and with the said Thomas Boone his heirs & assigns forever and that the said Thomas Boone
his heirs & assigns be freely acquitted exonerated & discharged & from time to time will & sufficiently kept
harmless by the said William Williams his heirs Exe Adm & from all & all manner of trouble charges demands & encumbrances
whatsoever of any person or persons lawfully claiming or to the law by from or under him the said William Williams his heirs (The
rest is missing need p. 418)
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
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1708: Although seriously ill in 1704, William Williams apparently recovered and returned to his seat
in Isle of Wight Co., VA, for on Feb. 6, 1708, again as William Williams of Isle of Wight Co., VA, he and his wife, Mary sold 70 acres of land lying on the southside of Blackwater Swamp, part of a patent of 400
acres granted on April 24, 1703. [ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, D.B. I, p. 83.]
1708: [North Carolina Historical page 94] William Williams, to
Thom. Ashley. 100 acres land; April 6, 1708. Test, Henry Lilse, Thomas Ward.]
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1711: WILL ABSTRACT: Secretary of State, NC Wills, 1663-1789, 09 Dec 1711 15 Apr 1712 Chowan County,
N.C: William Williams "of the County of Arbarmale in Chon Gentleman being very sick and week in body but of porfet mind and
memory" he made his will...... wife, Mary Williams, given 1/2 of husband's land where
he now lives....son, Samuel Williams 1/2 land "whereon I now live"...son, John
Williams 175 acres and plantation on southside of Black water commonly known as Litell town...son, Steven Williams
400 acres..each of my daughters, not named. Wife Mary sole Exectrix. Witnesses: Tredell Keefe, Luis Williams, Robert Lanier.
Clerk of the Court: Edward Bonwicke..(North Carolina Wills, 1663-1789, Vol. XXXIV, p. 82, Archives, Raleigh, NC.) It is not
known how many daughters he had.
************************************************
1718: William Willliams son John Williams sells Ralph Vickers of
Newport Parish the 200 acres in Newport Parish, Isle of Wight county VA that his father William Willilams inherited
from his father, John Williams, and where his father William Williams once lived.
Since William Williams' will was probated in Chowan County NC and he is referred
to as "of the County of Arbarmale in Chowan", most likely that was where he was living when he made his will in 1711.
He left his wife Mary Williams 1/2 of husband's land where he now lives and left the other half to his oldest son Samuel.
His son John Williams was left 175 acres and plantation on southside of Blackwater commonly known as Littletown.
Isle Of Wight Grant Book Vol 2 1715-1726 p. 283-284 Roll 73 Library
of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia [June 2004] 1718: This Indenture made this fourteenth Day of May one thousand seven hundred
and Eighteen and in ye fourth year of ye Reign of Our Sovereign Lord George by ye Grace of God of Great Briton France and
Ireland King Defender of ye faith & between John Williams of ye County of Albemarle in North Carolina of ye one part and
Ralph Vickers of Newport parish in ye County of Isle of Wight on ye other part
Witnesseth that ye said John Williams for & in consideration of ye sum of forty Barrels of Tarr to him in hand payed by
ye said Ralph Vickers before ye ensealing and delivery of these presents ye Receipt whereof he the said John Williams doth
hereby confess and acknowledge and ye said Ralph Vickers his heirs Exe and Agt thereof and of every part there of doth acquitt
Exonerate and Discharge by these presents Hath Granted Bargained Sold Enfoffed Released and Confirmed and in any by these
presents doth fully and absolutely grant bargain Sell enfooff Release and Confirm unto ye said Ralph Vickers his heirs and
assigns forever one certain tract Dividend or parcell of Land in his possible possession none being by force and virtue of
a certain indenture of Bargain and sale bearing date two days before ye date hereof and made between ye said John Williams
& ye said Ralph Vickers according to the Statute for transferring uses into possession which said land is situate lying and being in ye Isle of Wight County Relation being thereunto hath may more fully
and at large appear and bounded as followeth Viz, Beginning near ye plantation whereon William Williams did formerly dwell
on ye north end of that survey and so to include ye said plantation with two hundred acres of Land all lying to the North
end of ye pattent & here after named and being the full half of a patent of four hundred acres of Land granted to George
Pierce by Sir Henry Chickley Knt deputy Governor and Lord General of Virginia bearing Date of ye twenty third of April 1681
and himself ye said Pierce sold to John and Thomas Williams and record made October ye 10th 1681 and also ye Reversion
and Reversions Remained or and leases or rents and services thereof To Have and To Hold ye said land & premises with all
& singular ye appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto himself ye said Ralph Vickers his heirs
and assigns for ever again to him ye said John Williams his heirs and assigns and against all and every other person and persons
whatsoever shall and will ever ___ and forever defend by these presents and ye said John Williams for himself and his heirs
Exc & Adm doth covenant promise and grant to and with ye said Ralph Vickers his heirs and assigns and to and with every
of ye by these presents and he ye said John Williams now is and at ye time of ye ensealing and delivery hereof shall be lawfully
seized of and of ye lands and presents and every part thereof with ye appurtenances without any condition power of Revocation
or Limitation of any use or insofar alter change determine or make void ye same and hath good right full power and absolute
authority in ye Law to grant bargain sell and confirm ye same and every part thereof unto ye said Ralph Vickers and assigns
forever according to ye true intent and meaning of these presents and also ye said Land and premises and every part thereof
with ye appurtenances now is and so shall for ever hereafter remain continue and be unto ye said Ralph Vickers his heirs &
assigns free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated and discharged or otherwise upon every reasonable request
thereof to be made & sufficiently saved harmless by him ye said John Williams his heirs Exc and adm from all and all manner
of form and other gifts grants bargains sales Joynturs Divers use wills __ ____ ________ __and of and from all other estates
tyths Troubles Charges and encumberments whatsoever heretofore had and Commuted and or suffored by himself ye sd John Williams
his heirs or any other persons Whatsoever In witnesseth whereof ye said John Williams hath here put his hand and seal ye day
and date first above written. Signed sealed & delivered
John Williams In presents of his John x Powell Mark
In a Court held for Isle of Wight Wm Watkins County the 20th day
of May 1718 James Watkins John Williams came unto Court & presented & acknowledged this his deed to Ralph Vickers
& is admitted to Record JC Lightfoot CkCt
Hard copy on file
Isle Of Wight Grant Book Vol 2 1715-1726 p. 183-184 Roll 73
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at The Library
of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia [June 2004]
THOMAS WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1680, VA; d. Aft. 19 Mar 1761; m. SUSANNAH BLUNT, b. abt 1686 in Isle of Wight VA; d. 5 Mar 1727 in Isle of Wight
VA
Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Pages 80-81: SESSUMS BLAKE and MARY MARSHALL
to THOMAS WILLIAMS dated 14 Aug 1755 - 612 acres on the west side of Angelica Swamp adj. a mouth of Purcells Branch and JOHN
BARROWS, S: SESSUMS (+) BLAKE and MARY (+) MARSHALL, W: no witnesses
1753 Thomas Williams, son of John and Ann, or his son has land adjacent the 200 acres of land being sold which is located
on the north side of the Nottoway river adjacent Lightwood Swamp.
Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Pages 4-5: NATHANIEL DAVIS and wife SARAH
to JAMES JONES dated 8 Nov 1753 - 200 acres on the north side of Nottoway River adj. Lightwood Swamp, THOMAS WILLIAMS, THOMAS
WARREN’S orphans, and JOHN JORDAN (patent to sd. DAVIS on 3 Nov 1750), S: NATHANIEL (+) DAVIS and SARAH (“X”)
DAVIS, W: no witnesses
MARY WILLIAMS, b. Abt.
1676, Isle of Wight, VA
NICHOLAS WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1685, Isle of Wight, VA; d. 18 Aug 1749; m. ANNE LEWIS.
Note in his father's will that Nicholas is seven years old when his father dies about 1692.
Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia, Deed Book 1:
Anne Williams, widow of John Williams, by deed of gift has given to her loving children; to son
John Williams a chest; son Wm. Williams 2 cows; son Thomas Williams cattle; dau. Mary Williams, pewter, son Nicholas Williams
his father's musket--Nicholas is 7 years old to have it at 18. Son Richard
his father's sword at 18. Dau. Jane pewter when 18. To dau. Eliza. Wright, Mary and Jane Williams wearing apparel. 9 Apl 1694.
Wits.:John Crain [17C-615]
******************************************
In 1704 Nicholas' brother William sells his other brother John 125 acres on the south side of the Blackwater River joining
John, Nicholas, and John Barnes.
1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1705 Reel 2
To all to whom this Deed Indented of Bargain & Sale shall come Know ye I William Williams of Isle of Wight County for & in consideration of ye just quantity of nine thousand
pounds of good sound merchantable lot & cash to me in hand paid or other wise will & Sufficiently secured by John
Williams of ye said County aforesaid acknowledged myself fully satisfied contented & paid have granted bargained sold
aliened enfeoffed & confirmed & by these presents for me my heirs Exe Adm forever grant bargain sell warrant & confirm unto John Williams his heirs Exe
Adm & assigns a certain tract or parcell of land containing one hundred & twenty five acres of land to be more or
less situate lying & being on ye South side of Blackwater Swamp beginning
upon the upper side of Notaway Swamp at a marked tree of John Barnes being
a Gum standing by ye River side from thence up ye dividing lyne to a pine standing
by the side of ye Branch from thence up ye said Branch to a pine tree standing in ye Branch being a corner tree up to a lyne
of marked trees to ye pattent lyne & so according to pattent to a marked red oak being made a corner tree of ye dividing lyne between John Williams & Nic Williams from thence down a line of
marked trees to a gum standing in ye run of ye branch so down ye Branch to a gum do down a lyne of marked trees to the gum standing in Notaway Swamp by ye run side being a corner tree from thence down
ye River to a Gum being a corner tree standing in ye side of ye River being a corner
tree so between John Barnes & John Williams To Have and to Hold ye said
hundred & twenty five acres of Land together with all houses gardens orchards woods waters watercourses easements
profits commodities appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or therewith commonly held occupied & enjoyed to him
ye said John Williams & his heirs to ye only proper use & behoof of him the said John Williams his heirs & assigns
forever, and I the said William Williams doth hereby obligate my self my heirs Exe or Adm to warrant & defend this my
sale of all & singular ye before recited premises with their appurtenances to ye said John Williams his heirs & assigns
forever against me my heirs & assigns or from any person or persons enjoining lawfully by from or under me my heirs Exe
Adm & assigns & also to acknowledge this present instrument to be my will act & deed at ye next court to be hold
for the Isle of Wight County aforesaid In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this Tenth day of April Anno
Dom 1704
Signed Sealed & delivered William Williams In presence of us(M) Seal John (B) Barnes Mary
Williams his mark Richard Williams
Nicholus Williams Where in open Court held for ye Isle of Wight
County ye 10th April 1704 by Wm Williams & Mary his wife to be their free Act & Deed,
and the said Mary having been examined of her voluntary consent by the relinquishing her right of Dower which is
Ordered to be Recorded.
Test Cha Chapman ClCk
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in
Richmond, Virginia
******************************************
In 1725 Nicholas' brother John sells Nicholas 125 acres on the south side of the Blackwater River joining John,
Nicholas, and John Barnes.
1725: John Williams to Nicholas Williams IOW Co. 1725 Great Book Vol 2, P 715-716
p715 This Indenture made this twenty first day of October ye tenth year of ye Reign of our Sovereign
Lord George & in ye year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred & twenty five between John Williams of North Carolina of ye one part and Nicholas Williams
of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia of ye other part Witnesseth that ye said John Williams for & in consideration
of ye sum of 0ne schilling to him in hand paid by ye said Nicholas Williams
ye receipt whereof he Doth hereby acknowledged & himself to be there with fully satisfied contented & paid & by
these presents Doth acquit & Discharge the said Nicholas Williams his heirs & hath devised Bargained Lett leased and
to farm letter and by these presents doth devise bargain Lett lease & to farm Lett unto ye said Nicholas Williams his
heirs & assigns all that messuage plantation or parcel of situated lying & being in ye Isle of Wight County in Virginia
bounded as followeth, Viz, Beginning at a marked corner tree of John Barnes
being a Gum standing by ye Bun side of Nottaway Swamp thence up the Dividing
Line to a pine standing by ye side of a branch thence up the Branch to a pine tree standing in Ye said Branch being a Corner
tree so up a line of marked trees to ye patent Line & according to Pattent to a marked Red Oak being made a corner tree of the Dividing Line between John Williams & Nicholas Williams from thence down a line of
marked trees to Gum standing standing in the Run of a branch so down the branch to a Gum & down a line of marked trees
to Gum standing in Nottaway Swamp by the run side being a corner tree from thence down this Run run to a Gum being a Corner
Tree standing in the side of ye Run being a Corner tree between John Barnes and John
Williams by Estimation one hundred & twenty five acres being ye
same more or less which said Land being a part of a tract in a pattent Granted to
Wm Williams bearing date ye twenty forth day of April one thousand seven hundred & three & said land together
with all houses Orchards Gardens roadways waters water courses & all other profits & advantages to ye same belonging
or in any wise appertaining To Have & To Hold the said Devised premises & every part thereof unto ye said Nicholas
Williams his heirs & for and during the full term & time of three years fully to be completed & ended yielding
& paying for ye same yearly on ye tenth Day of December ye fee rent one ear of Indian Corn if ye same shall be Lawfully
Demanded unto Ye said John Williams his heirs & to ye intent & purpose that by virtue of these presents & of ye
Statue for Transferring Uses into possessions that ye said Nicholas Williams may be in actual & peaceable possession of
ye heretofore granted premises & hereby may be the better enabled to accept of a grant or Conveyance of ye Reversion &
Inheritance there of to him & his heirs for ever in Witness where of the said John Williams hath hereunto set his hand
& Seal ye Day & year above written.
John Williams Seal Signed, Sealed & Delivered in presence of us
*********************************************************
Robert Willkins At a Court held for Isle of Wight County the David Gray 29th day of October 1725
John Williams came his into Court presented & acknowledged this his Robert ® Hodges Deed unto Nicholas Williams
& admitted to record mark
Hard copy on file
Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia
*********************************************
In 1744 Nicholas and Anne William file a deed of gift to their children William, Nicholas, Jacob, Johah, Lazarus, Richard,
Benjamin, Patience, Sarah, and Mary.
Deed of Gift of Nicholas Wllliams and Anne, his wife, Rec. June 23,1744. [DEED Book 6, page 382,Isle
of Wight County, Virginia]
I, Nicholas Williams Senior and Ann. MY WIFE. send Greetings, etc of the County of Isle of WIght
and Parish Nottoway for the love and affectlon for our chlldren do give, grant and conform unto them .....
To my son, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, 30 pounds cash in lieu of his land and also one nego girl named Lucy
.....
To my son NICHOLAS WILLLAMS, the land and plantation whereon he now livith, containing 205 acres,
and a negro boy named Frank.....
I have given unto my son, JACOB WILLIAMS, THE PLANTATIONS AND LANDS WHEREON HE NOW LIVITH, CONTAINING
140 acres, and one negro girl, named Edy .....
To my son JONAH WILLIAMS. plantatIon and lands contalnlng 260 (? ) acres and a negro boy named Mingo
.....
To my son LAZARUS WILLIAMS, plantatIon and lands contaning one half that dlvldent lying in Brunswick
County and also a negro boy named Anthony ...
To my son RICHARD WILLIAMS, plantatlon and lands, It being the other one-half of that divident with
his brother, Lazarus, in the county of Brunswick, and a negro boy named Mingo (sic)......
After the death of my wife, Ann. and myself, the plantatlon whereon we now live to my son Benjamin
Williams, also a negro gIrl named Marther and a negro boy named Pompey ....
To my daughter PATIENCE WILLIAMs, a negro girl, Elizabeth ....
To my daughter SARAH WILLIAMS, negro glrl, Rachel ....
To my daughter MARY WILLIAMS. a negro girl ....
[I. of W. D. B. 6-38].
1957
Benjamin Williams, son of Nicholas and grandson of John and Ann Williams, witnesses a sale of 150 acres at the fork of
Black Creek and Blackwater Swamp adjacent Joshua Whitney also witnessed by John Joyner who we know lives just below this property.
This land is just across the Blackwater from Willliam Williams and above the Williams shown on the Southside of James River
map published in 1864 by the Chief Engineer's office, D.N.V.
Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Pages 197-199: JOHN JOYNER to THOMAS TURNER
SR of Isle of Wight County dated 8 Dec 1757 - 150 acres at the fork of Black Creek and Blackwater Swamp adj. JOSHUA WHITNEY,
S: JOHN (signed) JOYNER, W: BENJAMIN (signed) WILLIAMS, GILES (signed) JOYNER, and JOHN (sideways I) JOYNER
1958
Benjamin Williams, son of Nicholas and grandson of John and Ann, signed the fillowing deed as a witness. It is located
next to the above deed witnessed by Nicholas.
Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Pages 206-207: JOSEPH VICK and wife MARGARET
to MATTHEW VICK dated 6 Feb 1758 - 270 acres on the south side of Blackwater Swamp adj. the south side of Corowaugh Swamp
(patent on 16 Jun 1716 by WILLIAM CRUMPLER and sold to sd. JOSEPH in 1740), S: JOSEPH (O) VICK and MARGARET (+) VICK, W: RICHARD
(signed) KIRBY, WILLIAM (signed) CONNER, and BENJAMIN (signed) WILLIAMS
JANE WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1672, Isle of Wight, VA
CAPT. RICHARD WILLIAMS, b. Abt. 1688, Isle of Wight, VA; d. abt 1737, Isle of Wight, VA; m. SARAH ? abt 1710
b. Abt. 1688, New Kent. VA; d. Abt. 1750, Southampton County, VA. based
on husband's birth date.
In 1704 Richard's brother William sells him 130 acres of land on the south side of the Blackwater River. 1704: Isle of Wight County Deed Book 1 1688-1705 Reel 2 To
all to whom this Deed Indented of Bargain & sale shall come Know ye that I Wm Williams of Isle of Wight County for & in consideration of ye such quantity of five thousand dollars
of good sound merchantable Tobacco & cash to me in hand paid or otherwise will & sufficiently secured to be paid have
granted by Richard Williams of the same County by which I acknowledge my self fully satisfied contented & paid have granted
bargained sold aliened enfeoffed & confirmed and do by these presents for me my heirs Exe Adm forever grant & bargain
sell alien enfeoff & confirm unto Richard Williams his Heirs, Exe, Adm & assigns a certain tract or parcel of land containing by estimation
one hundred & thirty acres more or less situated lying &
being on the south side of the Blackwater Swamp Beginning at a Hickory
at the side of the swamp the run by and ___ so running up ye run to the said Swamp to a Cypress in ye said Run of the swamp
a corner tree so along a course of marked trees to a lyne of ye pattent southwesterly so along the lyne according to pattent
to the said Hickory To Have and to Hold the said one hundred thirty acres of land together with all houses & orchards
gardens woods underwoods ways watercourses easements proffits commodities & appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging
or therewith commonly held occupied & enjoyed to him the said Richard Williams & his heirs to the only proper use
& behoof of him the said Richard Williams his heirs & assigns forever and I the said William Williams do hereby ablidge
myself my heirs Exe Adm to warrant & defend this my sale of all & singu7lar the before recited presents with their
appurtenances to the said Richard Williams his heirs & assigns forever against me my heirs Exe Adm and assigns of from
any person or persons claiming lawfully by from or under me my heirs Exe Adm & assigns as also to acknowledge this present
instrument be my will act & deed at the next Court to be held for the Isle of Wight county aforesaid In Witness whereunto
I set my hand & seal this tenth day of April anno dom 1704 Signed sealed and
delivered William Williams seal In the presence of usM Mary Williams Acknowledged
in open Court held for the Isle of Wight County the 10th day of April 1704 By
William Williams & Mary his wife to be their free & voluntary act & deed and the said Mary having been examined
by the Court of her free consent acknowledged her relinquishing of Dower in the said Land which was ordered to be Recorded Test Cha Chapman ClCt Hard copy on file Transcribed by Jean Mayo Hirsch from documents located at the Library of Virginia Archives in Richmond,
Virginia The following was copied from the book Descendants of John Williams
of Isle of Wight Count, Virginia by William M. Mann, Jr., Christmas, 1961.
"Also, on April
10, 1704 he was one of the witnesses to a deed, William Williams and wife Mary to Richard Williams (q.v.) and it is unlikely
that he was younger than 15 or 16 years old at that time."
Besides being mentioned in the will of his father, John Williams, and the deed of gift made by his mother, Anne Williams shortly
before her marriage to Arnold Shewmake, the following records which have been abstracted have been found which pertain to
Richard Williams.
William Williams and wife Mary of Isle of Wight Co. Va. for 5,000 lbs. of tobacco
to Richard Williams 130 acres on the southside of Blackwater swamp (Isle of White Co., Va.:
Deed Book 1, p 416)
Richard Williams of
To Albridgton Jones for 25 lbs. 200 acres, part of
400 acres granted to Richard Williams, grandfather of said Richard Williams, and fall to him by decent, granted by
the Honorable Alexander Spotswood which patent bears date, Nov. 13, 1713 on the southside of Blackwater, land adjacent to
pocosin land formerly William Browns, not the aforesaid Jones; (Southampton Co., Va.: Deed Book 2, p. 63)
Richard Williams of Southampton Co., Va.
To William Westra for 13 lbs., 100 acres,
part of a tract containing 380 acres granted to Richard Williams, grandfather of the said Richard Williams by Honorable Robert
Carter, dated Oct. 1, 1729.
Aug. 14, 1760: Richard Williams
and wife Lydia and Sarah Daughtrey of one part to Francis Bracoy
of the same, all of Southampton Co., for 19 lbs. 75 acres on Blackwater, part
of a patent granted to William Williams by the Honorable Francis Nicholson on Oct. 28, 1702 adjacent Blackwater, Boone
Branch, Joseph Godwins land, Edward Cobb’s land, a line parting Francis Bracey and Joseph Dodwin. Wit: Hodges Council Junr., Benjamin Denson (Southampton Co., Va.: Deed Book 2, p. 355)
Richard Williams of Southampton Co., Va.
To Benjamin Barker of Nansemond ? acres of land, all that tract of
land on the south side of Blackwater by the name of Littletown, adjacent
Richard Williams’ mill, land being part of a grant to William Williams bearing date Oct. 28, 1702.
Wit: Hatthias Webb, Benjamin Applewhite, Nancy Dukes (Southampton Co., Va.: Deed Book 4, P. 264)
Richard Williams and wife Lydia of ? to Benjamin Barker of Nancemond for 130 lbs. land where the said Williams formerly lived, 190 acres, taken up by Richard Williams by a patent dated
Oct. 31, 1726, also my interest within bounds of a patent to William
Williams dated Oct. 28, 1702 and also my interest in 310 acres adjacent to the above. (Southampton
Co., Va. : Deed Book 4, p. 401)
It is seen from the above records that Richard
Williams, son of John and Anne Williams, owned considerable land in Isle of Wight, later Southampton
County, Va. And that this land descended to his grandson, Richard Williams, son of John Williams, who
married Lydia ? and who over a period
of about 16 years sold it. Richard Williams, son of John and Anne Williams was most unlike his grandson in that respect for
only one deed has so far been found showing him disposing of any land and an abstract of it follows: To all
Christian people to who this present writing shall know ye that I Capt. Richard Williams of Isle of Wight County for the good
will and natural affection that I bear to my four sons have after named Viz. Daniel, Elisha, George, and Joshua have given
and grated to each of them one acre of land being part of a patent containing one hundred and eighty acres of land which patent
is adjacent to the plantation whereon I now live, the said four acres I give to them Vis. One acre each in any part of the
said patent. August 21, 1736 (Isle of Wight Co., Va. : Deed Book 5, p. 6)
The
above deed besides showing the frugal nature of Richard Williams shows a man of some importance in his community fo here he
appears as “Capt. Richard Williams: which doubtlessly means that he was a captain in the militia of his county, a very
important position in that day.
Capt.
Richard Williams did not live long after making the above deed for on Nov. 8, 1737 he made his will, and it was probated soon
thereafter. An abstract of it follows:
Williams, Richard: leg. - Son John, land on which Arthur Edwards now lives; son Solomon, my land on which
John Row did live; son Mathew; daughter Mary; Wife Sarah; son Elisha
my land in Nansemond County, son Joshua land in Nansemond; son Daniel land in Nansemond; friend William Wiggins; to
my young children. Ex. Agn Daniel Williams.
Dated: Nov. 8, 1737 - Recorded Feb. 27, 1737. Wit: John Johnston, James
Gardner, Elisha Williams (Chapman; Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Vol. II, p. 39 - Will Book 4, p. 193)
Sarah
Williams, the wife of Richard Williams, survived her husband many years and when Southampton
County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight her
lands lay in the new county where her will is recorded. An abstract of it follows:
Williams, Sarah of Littletown. Leg. - grandson Richard son of my eldest son John Williams,
decd.; son Daniel; son Elisha; son Joshua; grandson Thomas son of Joshua Wiliams; son George; son Solomon; daughter Elisabeth
Daughtrey; daughter Mary Carr. Ex. Son Daniel Williams. Dated: March 24, 1749. Recorded: June 14, 1750. Wit: Joseph Carle(?), William Barcroft. (Chapman: Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight
County, Vol. I, p. 3 - Will Book 1, p. 12)
In
summary, a number of things can be stated concerning Richard Williams, son of John and Anne Williams. He was born about 1688 and in 1704 he was deeded his first tract of land, it being deeded to him by William
Williams who can be identified as his brother. He was still a minor at that
time and the consideration he used for the purchase of the land apparently came from the accumulation of this income from
his father’s estate. He was granted several tracts of land which came
to lie in Southampton County, Virginia after that county was
formed from Isle of Wight. He also owned land
in Nansemond County, Va. Besides being a person who apparently had a frugal nature he was also of some importance
in the community, having been a captain in the militia as proved by his being called “Capt. Richard Williams”
in the only deed found showing his disposing of any of his land. He died in
1727-38.
He
married about 1710, Sarah ?, whose family name is still unknown and who died in Southampton
County, V. in 1749-50.
The name of the community if not the name of his plantation was “Littletown”
as proved by the will of Sarah Williams, his widow, and a deed by their grandson, Richard Williams.
Click on this link to open another page on this web site tracing the ownership
and location of Little Town: The Story of Littletown
In the will of Richard
Williams no daughter Elizabeth is mentioned. However, she is mentioned in her
mother’s will as daughter, and in the will of her brother, Elisha Williams, she is called “sister”. Forthermore, in the will of Elizabeth (Williams) Daughtrey she mentions her “brother”
Elisha Wiliams. Her omission from the will of her father, Richard Williams,
means that she was married at the time of his death and probably had been provided for as was the custom at that time.
20 Feb 1755 - Southampton County Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753 to 1760, Page 63-64: RICHARD WILLIAMS
(son of John and Grandson of Richard Williams) to ALBRIGTON JONES dated 20 Feb 1755 200 acres on the south side of Blackwater Swamp and sd. JONES (part
of 400 acres granted RICHARD WILLIAMS, grandfather of sd. RICHARD on 13 Nov 1713), S: RICHARD (signed) WILLIAMS, W: no witnesses
9 Aug 1757 - Southampton County, Virginia Deed Book 2 - 1753
to 1760, Pages 180-181: GEORGE WILLIAMS (son of Richard and grandson of John and Ann Williams) to
JOHN ONEY dated 9 Aug 1757 - 100 acres on the west side of the Maherin River adj. EPAPHRODITUS WILLIAMS, LUCY CLIFTON, Rose
Path Branch, and Little Swamp (part of a patent to ROBERT BRYAN on 12 Jan 1747), S: GEORGE (+) WILLIAMS, W: THOMAS (signed)
KITCHEN and WILLIAM (signed) DRAKE
THEOPHILUS WILLIAMS,
b. Abt. 1691, Isle of Wight, VA; d. Abt. 1693, Isle of Wight, VA
|