Joseph WILLIAMS

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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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of Joseph Williams and Mary Fuller

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Name:
...His interest in military affairs is shown in the two commissions he obtained from the State Assembly, in 1721 as Lieutenant, and in 1735 as Captain, in the 5th Company of te Eastern Society of Norwich, by which titles he is always referred to in town records and deeds thereafter. These were not as empty and complimentary as they too frequently have been in later days, and were the highest grades known to the colonists in times of peace. he was active not only in local affairs and in the school of the solider, but socially, religiously, and as a public-spirited citizen.

He was influential as few others have been, in reaching out for new fields in the opening up of trade, and in the bringing of fresh business to the port of Norwich, which was just beginning at that early epoch to give promise of its subsequent importance. he engaged in the business of building ships and trading in them to foreign parts. We read of vessels as early as 115, venturing in the trade with the Barbadoes, and, although we do not know the names of the merchants connected with the enterprise, we may be assured that John Williams was not behind in supporting it. We know that he owned two warehouses at the "Landing," besides a wharf. He developed the possibilities of the water-power at Poquetannock, where we learn of his having a sawmill, a gristmill and a fulling-mill. There was abundance of sheep in the neighborhood yielding wool in great plenty; and a fullin-mill, which, without doubt, included the entire manufacture of cloth as it was understood at that time, was a crying necessity.

The mill seat was bought 7 May, 1720, and the adjoining farm 26 Oc. 1723. Upon purchasing the latter he erected the dwelling house, which is still standing (1925) and has been an object of veneration for succeeding generations. it is situated at the bend of the road just before one enters the village of Poquetannock from the present city of Norwich, which is distant perhaps five miles by the rive route.....

John Williams must certainly have been a man of charitable impulses. the records of 1711 and again of 1715 make mention of his contributions to the building of the meeting-house in Norwich for which there was granted a piece of land in requital; and he is credited with having made a gift of the land at "Long Society," which includes the church site and the graveyard adjoining, where are buried the remains of its benefactor together with those of his wife and others of his family.....

That John Williams was a man of mark and one of te most prosperous in the colonies for his day and generation is a matter of record. In the diary of Joshua Hempstead, of New London, a most faithful record of current affairs, excelling the daily newspapers of the 18th century, is found this entry: "Jan. 12, 1741/2, Capt. John Williams died at Poquetannock, of pleurisy after seven days illness. he was a good Commonwealth's man, traded much by sea and land with good success for many years, and acquired wholly by his own industry a great estate. He was a very just dealer aged about 60 years."

His total estate was estimated at L21,727. Among the personal effects were five negroes valued at L600. Very few fortunes in the early days of the eighteenth century, particularly in the United Colonies, approached anything like this figure. The will provides for his son Joseph not yet of age, the only child surviving (and the only one to carry down the Williams name), his two sons-in-law, and his widow Mary, who was made executrix.

John married Mary KNOWLTON on 26 Jun 1706 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA. Mary was born on 29 Mar 1681 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts; died on 09 Mar 1749 in Poquetannock, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Daughter of Thomas Knowlton and Hannah Green

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Name:
He took the Colonial oath at Haverhill 28 Nov. 1677. His father conveyed to him property in Haverhill thus recorded 14 July, 1673:

" To my sonne Joseph Williams my now dwelling house, out housing, house lott, oarcheard and hopp years, ye are upon ye sd lott, together with eight commonages weh I have in ye sd towne of Haverhill, and also yt pcell of ox comon land wch was layd out to me beyond the fishing river towards the saw mill, and also my Duck meadow wch is bounded at ye south end with two oakes and at ye north end with a swamp."

This is evidently the same property which the father had willed to him in 1670.

Many years later "Joseph Williams of Norwich sold property in Haverhill inherited from his father."

After the birth of his youngest child in 1683 his name is found no more in the records of Haverhill. The next trace of him is gathered from the archives of Norwich, Conn. Here he settled on Poquetannock Cove, Brewster's Neck, on the extreme boundary line of the southern limits of old Norwich, east of The Thames, just within what was comprehended in the original Indian grant of the 'nine miles square tract."...

Every newcomer who succeeded in being publicly accepted obtained a grant of land comprising a building lot, pasture ground, and woodland sufficient for a family. So, in 1702, we learn that a vote was taken at a town meeting of Norwich, putting certain names on the Roll as an addition to its inhabitants, and in the number Joseph Williams was enteres as "a wholeshare man respecting lands. In 1703 he was a member of the first Congregational church of Norwich The Norwich town records mention many reaal-estate transactions of Joseph Williams, which show that he was a man in prosperous circumstances and that his business interests were in partnership with his son John. He as well as his son received lands in return for contributions to the meeting-house. A roll of landed proprietors is given in 1718, which mentions him; and the record of a deed bearing date of March, 1719, is in his name. In 1720, the year of his wife's death, he is referred to as deceased. He left but one son to carry down the Williams name.

Joseph married Mary FULLER on 18 Nov 1674 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of Samuel FULLER and Jane LOTHROP) was born in Scituate, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; was christened on 16 Jun 1644; died on 11 Nov 1720 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]