Joseph WILLIAMS

Notes:

Name:
Joseph Williams and his father belonged to the same military company, the Fifth in the Eastern Society. In May, 1746, he was made Ensign, in May, 1754, Lieutenant, and in October, 1758, Captain. He became a wealthy merchant in Norwich and his name occurs in numerous land transfers there. One of the earlier records is curious and worth quoting entire:

"May 12, 1746. To Joseph Williams, son of Capt. John Williams, for L1600 bills of Public Credit, of ye old tenour, one certain messuage or farme, situate in the Southeast Society in Norwich, with dwelling house, one barn, one blacksmith shoop, one herdinge and fencing thereon, containing 155 acres more or less."

A later Norwich town record informas us that on oct. 3, 1771, Joseph Williams of Norwich for L932 lawful money conveyed to Jonathan Brewster, his son-in-law, a certain tract or parcel of land

"Lying and being in Norwich, with house, barn and grist mil, containing 160 Acres, beginning at Poquetannock brook or river."

Soon after this he surrendered his other interests in Norwich and removed into the Hampshire Grants, later the State of Vermont.....Joseph located in the township of Brattleboro, not far from the Connecticut River. Besides his wie, he probably took with him his six younger children, the youngest being not over four years of age. Out of a family of seventeen children only three sons carried down the Williams name: John settled in Wethersfield, Vermont; Joseph in Norwich, Conn.; and William Wheeler in the Western Reserve, where now lies the City of Cleveland, Ohio.

The great struggle for independence on the part of the Colonies had begun and it was to continue until five of the sons of Joseph Williams had taken part in it, John, Frederick, Joseph, Benjamin and Isaac; Frederick and Benjamin at the cost of their lives.

His gravestone is to be seen today in the old cemetery on the top of the hill north of Centerville where stood the first meetinghouse of Brattleboro.

Inscription on tombstone:

Here lyes the Body of
Capt Joseph Williams
formerly an eminent Mer-
chant in the town of Nor-
wich in the State of Connecticut
he departed this life the
19th day of January 1776
in the 53d year of
his Age
He was remarkable for hie piety
and as a professor of Jesus Christ.

Joseph married Eunice WHEELER on 20 Feb 1746 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA. Eunice (daughter of William WHEELER and Hannah GALLUP) was born on 03 Jul 1727 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 18 Oct 1804 in Poquonock, New London Co., Connecticut; was buried in Brewster Burial Ground, Poquetannock, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Hannah LATHROP on 4 Mar 1742 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA. Hannah (daughter of Col. Simon LATHROP and Martha LATHROP) was born in 1722 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 28 Sep 1744 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]