Henry Williams – A Revolutionary War Soldier?

Many researchers of my Henry Williams have indicated that he was a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, citing page 71 of William S. Powell’s book When the Past Refused to Die: A History of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1977  (Durham, NC: Moore Publishing Company, 1977) as their source. This is the only source I can find indicating that Henry Williams was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  I did not find a pension application for him or his widow or heirs in Heritage Quest’s Revolutionary War database.

Maybe Henry Williams was in the Caswell County militia and maybe he was active in that militia during the Regulator Movement (of which William S. Powell also wrote a book about – The regulators in North Carolina: a documentary history, 1759-1776).  However, I do not believe he saw duty during the Revolutionary War.  His brother, Colonel James Williams, was instrumental in the War.  He was living in the 96th District of South Carolina at the time.  In 1780, James Williams travelled to Caswell County, NC to visit his brother. It was there he wrote his will and transferred much of his property and possibly his slaves to his brother’s house for safe-keeping from the Tories. That Henry Williams was at home with his family, instead of away at war also indicates to me that he did not participate in the War.

After James’ death during the Battle of King’s Mountain in October 1780, Henry Williams, his brother and executor of his estate, reported an accounting of $25,000 that had been given to his brother, James Williams from the State of North Carolina to use to raise militia in Caswell County and surrounding counties to fight against the Tories. James’ son John Williams testified that this money was used to rally troops who were taken to King’s Mountain with him.  There is no mention of Henry Williams’ active participation in the rallying or marching of said troops. [Source: Graves, William T., James Williams: An American Patriot in the Carolina Backcountry, San Jose: Writers Club Press, 2002, p. 56]

The Author, William S. Powell, did not provide any sources or a bibliography to his book aforementioned. He did, however, note that all notes, chapter materials, and source material was given to the Gunn Memorial Library in Yanceyville, NC.  I therefore intend to visit this library and review his notes to see what source he used for his list of Caswell men who saw action in the Revolutionary War.

The Will of Daniel Williams, Granville Co., NC (1759)

Here is the will of Daniel Williams of Granville Co., NC. Daniel Williams was married to Ursula Henderson. They were the parents of my Henry Williams of Caswell Co., NC. I found two other Williams wills in Granville Co but I am not sure how they connect if at all to my Daniel Williams family. They are William Williams and Thomas Williams.

Williams, Daniel–wills to wife 3 negroes loaned to her for her lifetime, 12 cattle, one horse, feather bed and furniture, household goods, which I do not give away herafter, and at her death to be equally divided between my seven children: Merya Goodman, Henry Williams, John Williams, James Williams, Joseph Williams, Mary Mitchell, Daniel Williams; to my son-in-law Benjamin Goodman, 200 acres of landing being the land whereon he now lives at Capt. Mitchells line; to son John Williams, 350 acres which I purchased of Richard Bullock; to sons James and Joseph Williams, 800 acres of land in Halifax county, Virginia to be equally divided between them; to son Daniel Williams, 400 acres being land and plantation whereon I now live; to daughter Marya Goodman, for her lfietime, 3 negroes and, at her death, to go to her children; to son Henry Williams, 2 negroes and the use of a mullatto fellow to serve to age 21 years; to son John, 3 n3groes; to son James, 3 negroes; to daughter Mary Mitchell, 4 negroes; to son Daniel, 4 negroes; to my wife Ursula William, I lend for her lifetime 6 sheep, 12 hogs and, at her death, to be divided to my seven children; to my youngest children, James, Joseph, Mary Mitchell, and Daniel Williams, all rest of cattle, sheep, and hogs to divide between them; to son James, a horse and a feather bed and furniture; to son Joseph, a stallion, a feather bed and furniture; to daughter Mary Mitchell, a horse; to son Daniel Williams a horse and a mare, a feather bed and furniture; to son James Williams, land on Anderson swamp containing 400 acres; to son Joseph, land on Hico road and branches of Island creek—400 acres; my executors are to sell my crop of tobacco and pay my debts and to get 8000 ten penny nails and 8000 eight penny nails and give them to James and Joseph Williams and whereas Henry Williams and Marya Goodman have had pewter bought for them, it is my desire that John, James, Joseph, Mary Mitchell, and Daniel are to have pewter bought for them in equal amount by my executors and if any surplus from these sale, to be divided in eight parts for my wife and children; after wife’s death, all that is left to be divided to them.Exrs: my wife, Ursula Williams, John and James Williams

Wts: Luke Waldrup, William Sims

Source: Abstracts Of Granville County, NC, Unrecorded wills, 1746-1771, by Zae Gwynn

Page 64–Nov. 15, 1759–proved Dec. court 1759

The Will of William Williams, Granville Co., NC (1763)

Williams, William–wills to son Charles Williams 250 acres of land on south side of Tarr river, also my part of the wagon and the two horses belonging to the wagon, a feather bed and furniture; to son Stephen Williams, plantation whereon I now live containing the 143 acres on north side of Tarr river and a feather bed and furniture, a horse and my saddle; to daughter Lucy Pitman, wife of Samuel Pitman, 5 shillings; my wife Elizabeth to have use of plantation and dwelling house whereon I now live for as long as she is my widow or for life and at her death, the land to go to the aforesaid Stephen Williams; the movable property divided between Charles and Stephen Williams.

Exrs: my son Charles Williams and friend Francis Fowler

Wts: John Williams, John Morris

 

Source: Abstracts Of Granville County, NC, Unrecorded wills, 1746-1771, by Zae Gwynn

Page 66-April 3, 1763–proved Feb. 1765

 

 

Related posts:
Will of Daniel Williams, Granville Co., NC (1759)
Will of Thomas Williams, Granville Co., NC (1761)

The Will of Thomas Williams, Granville Co., NC (1761)

The Will of Thomas Williams, Granville Co., NC:

Wills to my wife and son Roger Williams, all estate with wife having use of same for the term of her widowhood or lifetime; to son Roger, a negro slave; to son Thomas, a negro slave and my mill and plantation ; to son William, a negro slave and upper part of my land divided between sons Thomas and William; to son Samuel, 2 negroes; I leave to wife and son Roger 100 pds. Virginia money to purchase 2 more negroes for her use during her widowhood and then, at her death, one of them to son Thomas and the other to son Roger Williams; to wife and son Roger all stock, household goods, etc., but if she remarry, then divided to my four children.

Exrs: my wife and my son Roger Williams

Wts: William Burrow, John Burch, Saml. Lancaster

 Source: Abstracts Of Granville County, NC, Unrecorded wills, 1746-1771, by Zae Gwynn

Page 65-Feb. 12, 1761–proved Aug. court 1761

 

 

Related posts:

Will of Daniel Williams, Granville Co., NC (1759)

Will of William Williams, Granville Co., NC (1763)

Follow Up on Brooks research

Ok, so this is proof of my digressions! I was working on the Brooks and Williams families before I went on vacation and since I got back I’ve opened a whole can of worms on the other side of my family! So now I have several working documents that I would like to get back to pertaining to my BROOKS line:

• Christopher BROOKS- I have updated my files with the information I got from the Kingston Parish Records of Gloucester Co., VA; including information on the FLIPPIN family.
• I have yet to review the pdf file on Jonathan BROOKS, the supposed progenitor of Christopher, via Thomas Brooks, that was sent to me by a Holderness family researcher, Kay Haden.
• I copied all the WILLIAMS family estate and will records from the archives and still have yet to review and transcribe them. - Update: Estate records of Elizabeth Williams (1) and (2) were transcribed and posted to the blog here
• I had some ongoing communication with fellow researchers of the Jeremiah Brooks family; Their Jeremiah Brooks settled in Person Co., NC. I learned some interesting things from these posts on the Brooks family ancestry.com board.

Brooks family references from Kingston Parish, Gloucester / Matthews Co., VA

Yesterday I emailed Kay Haden who posted a rootwebs family tree file that included information on the Brooks, Williams, and Holderness families. In her file, she lists Thomas and Mary Blacknall Brooks as the parents of Elizabeth (md. Holderness), George, Charles, and Christopher Brooks (md. Susannah Williams). In her email, she listed the Kingston Parish Registry of Gloucester (later Matthews Co.), VA as her source for the information on George and Christopher Brooks. I found copies of the registry online on ancestry.com. I was able to pull all of the references to the Brook(e)s families, as well I found the connection to the Flippin family.

There were 17 entries for Brook(e)s family members in the Kingston Parish Registry of Gloucester Co., VA (Kingston Parish became Mathews County, VA in 1791). Some of the entries indicate time of birth, marriage, death, and familial relationships. There are two page numbers listed at the end of each entry, the first is the page in Matheny’s book; the second page number is the page of the original vestry register.

Thomas Brooks & Mary Blacknall Family:

Thomas Brooks married Mrs. Mary Blacknall, Dec. 16, 1749, by Rev. Richard Locke. License. (3/217)

1. George Brookes, son of Thomas and Mary. Born May 8 and Baptized June 12, 1757. (32/14)

2. _______her Brookes, son of Thomas and Mary. Baptized February 1_, 1755. No page listed.

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George Brooks & Susannah Davis Family:

George Brooks married Susannah Davis, May 18, 1756. (3/221)

1. John Brooks, son of George and Susanna. Born May 8 and Baptized November 15, 1767. (32)

2. Joyce Keeble Brookes, daughter of George and Susanna. Born May 30 and Baptized June 30, 1762. (32/23)

3. Nancy Brookes, daughter of George and Susanna. Born January 20 and Baptized March 13, 1774. (32/156)

4. Susanna(h) Brookes, daughter of George and Susannah. Born April 21 and Baptized June 16, 1765. (32/28)

5. Thomas Brookes, son of George and Susanna. Born February 26, 1757. (32/14)

6. William Brookes, son of George and Susanna. Born October 12 and Baptized December 9, 1770. (32/38)

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Dorothy Brookes & Thomas Flippin Family

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Other miscellaneous Brook(e)s family entries:

Johannah Brookes married Henry Robinson, Nov. 7, 1765. License. (19/225)

Mary Brookes married Thomas Jones, May 12, 1763. License. (224)

Ann Brooks married Christopher Dawson, June 25, 1758. (6/222)

Ann Smith Brooks, daughter of Richard and ______. Born April __, 1770 and Baptized April 11, 1770. (32/37)

Joseph Brooks married Frances Murry Killigrew, Dec. 29, 1754. (3/220)

Source information: Kingston Parish, Virginia Register, 1749-1827 by Matheny, Emma R., comp. Richmond, VA: 1963. Source Location: Ancestry.com & Olivia Raney History Library, Wake Co., NC

Caswell County, NC Land Grants – WILLIAMS

Henry Williams
File no. 1127, 100 acres, Entry no. 1184, entered 1 Nov 1780; Grant no. 1086, issued 27 Nov 1793; Book 81, p. 258; Located on Nats fork of Country Line Creek.

File no. 435, 700 acres, Entry no. 728, entered 17 Mar 1779; Grant no. 596, issued 13 Oct 1783; Book 53, p. 21, Located on the waters of Stony Creek.

File no. 37, 127 acres, Entry no. 65, entered 9 June 1778; Grant no. 37, issued 3 Mar 1779; Book 35, p. 37; Located on the waters of Stony Creek.

File no. 66, 216 acres, Entry no. 252, entered 4 Sept 1778; Grant no. 66, issued 3 Mar 1779; Book 35, p. 66; Located on some sm branches of Shaws, Toms, and Stoney Creek.

John Williams
Five land grants entered between 1778-1780

Nathan Williams
File no. 1192, 90 acres, Entry no. 1434, entered -, Grant no. 1154, issued 18 Dec 1799; Book 105, p. 270; Located on the waters of S. Fork of County Line.

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Related Posts:

Land Grants for Caswell County, North Carolina BROOKS Families

Land Grants for Granville County, North Carolina Williams Families

Granville Co., NC Land Grants – WILLIAMS

Granville Co., NC Land grants from the State of NC, card catalog:

Daniel Williams
File no. 1036, 420 acres, Entry no. –, entered -; Grant no. 27, issued 4 Nov 1757; Book 14, p. 96; Located on Andrew’s Swamp.

File no. 1037, 292 acres, Entry no. -, entered -; Grant no. 26, issued 4 Nov 1757; Book 14, p. 97; Located on the East side of Andrew’s swamp.

John Williams, entered 1753
Nimrod Williams, entered 1760
Miles Williams, entered 1761
Samuel Williams, entered 1752
William Williams, entered 1762

The Parentage of Christopher William(s) Brooks, Part 2

With all the confusion about who Christopher William(s) Brooks’ father was, I started wondering what event occurred that first pointed me in the direction of Christopher Brooks Sr and Susannah Williams as Christopher William(s) Brooks’ parents. Here are some details:

Henry WILLIAMS mentioned daughter Susannah RICE in his will written 1785. By that time, Susannah was already remarried to William Higgason RICE. Their Caswell Co., NC marriage bond listed Wm H. Rice and Susannah BROOKS, married 20 Dec 1784. According to the Caswell Co., NC Guardian Accounts, William H. RICE was legal guardian of Christopher Williams BROOKS in 1797; Caswell Co., NC Record Book C, p. 262, October Court 1797: Christopher Williams Brooks orphan in acct. with William H. Rice guardian. Cash paid to George Somers, William Holderness; tax paid for 1795 and 96. (Katherine Kerr Kendall’s abstracts of Will Books, 1777-1814, p. 57).

Additionally, when Christopher Brooks Sr died in 1781, there were several court record entries for the administration of his estate:

• December court 1781 Susannah Brooks resigned her adminisration of estate of her husband (Christopher Brooks) to her father, Colonel Henry Williams. (Source: Historical Abstracts of the Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions Minutes of Caswell County, Kendall: p.7, Dec 1781)

• Adminstrators Bond in the amount of 500 pounds, dated 4 Dec 1781 signed by Henry Williams and Nath’l. Williams in presence of A. Murphey to bind Henry Williams as Administrator of Christopher Brooks, Deceased. Caswell County March Court 1782 – Inventory of estate of Christopher Brooks returned by Henry Williams, Administrator, and ordered to be recorded. Sold by David Shelton, Sheriff 24 Jan 1782. Buyers included Susannah Brookes, Henry Williams, William Holderness, Nath’l Williams, John Pane, Thos. Brookes.

Continue to Part 3

George Brooks, Supposed Father of Christopher Williams Brooks – Records Search Results

Many researchers believe George Brooks to be the father of Christopher William Brooks, b. 1781. A land grant was issued to George Brooks, Sgt by the state of NC for 1000 acres in Maury Co., TN for Revolutionary War Service. The land grant stated that the land was to be transferred to Christopher Brooks, “heir of George Brooks.” Because Christopher Brooks was still a minor, the land grant was then transferred to Henry Williams, whom I believe to be Christopher’s grandfather (assuming Christopher is son of Christopher Brooks Sr and Susannah Williams). After Henry Williams died, Elizabeth Williams, his wife and executrix of his estate, sold his interest in this land to Nathan Williams (probably son of Elizabeth and Henry Williams) in 1813.

Today, I searched for George Brooks in the records at the NC State Archives, 109 E. Jones Street, Raleigh, NC. My goal was to find some hint of relationship to other Brooks family members. Although I did not see mention of any family members, I did find the following records:

1. Caswell Co., NC List of Taxables for 1777, 1780, & 1784 , microfilm, Call No. 020.70001:

• 1777: Glouster District, George Brooks, 650 Acres, 7 wp, 0 bp – Where did this 650 acres come from? I did not see a land grant in Caswell, Orange, or Granville County, NC Land Grants.

• 1780: I only looked for Christopher Brooks. I don’t believe George Brooks was listed.
• To Do: Look up George Brooks in 1780 tax list
• 1784: No George Brooks

 

2. Caswell Co., NC Record of Wills, Volumes A, B, C, microfilm, Call No. 020.80001. These records were also abstracted by Katherine Kerr Kendall’s “Caswell County, NC Will Books, 1777 – 1814 & 1814 – 1843″ which can be searched on ancestry.com

• I don’t think I looked specifically for George Brooks here; if so, it was a younger George Brooks who is the son of Charles & Sally (Williams) Brooks
• I did not find an older George Brooks in the Will Book abstracts using Ancestry.com’s search function either

3. Caswell Co., NC Loose Papers of Estate Files, Call No. 020.508.xxx

• Although I did not review the specific folder on this trip, I am fairly certain there were no BROOKS estate folders at the Archives (I inquired in June 2005)

4. Caswell Co., NC Land grants from the State of NC, card catalog:

• George Brooks, File no. 444, 300 acres, Entry no. 622 entered 11 Jan 1779; Grant no. 605, issued 13 Oct 1783; Book 53, p. 25; Located on the Middle fork of the South Fork of Country Line Creek

5. Caswell Co., NC Index to Real Estate Conveyances, Grantors and Grantees, microfilm

• These records need to be searched again. The Grantors index was indecipherable because the pages copied were too light. Kendall’s Deed Abstracts 1777-1817 (at the Olivia Raney History Library) were reviewed in lieu of the index. See below

6. Caswell Co., NC Deed Abstracts 1777 – 1817 (Kendall)

• Deed book A, page 144, 1779: State of NC – No. 57, to Elisha Parks, 300 acres on both sides of middle fork of south fork of Country Line Cr adjacent claims of Samuel Kelly, William Gooch, George Brooks, John Anthony, Elijah Mason. 3 May 1779. chain carriers John Anthony, Ransom Atkinson. (Abstracts, p. 9) This 300 acres of land was then sold by Elisha Parks to Thomas Johnston of Culpepper Co (see below). [Note: this was probably taken in March; The date of May was probably a mistake by the abstractor. Subsequent deed information continues to be dated in March.] Source: Caswell Co., NC Deed Books, 1777-1817, Abstracts, Katherine Kerr Kendall, p.9
• Deed book A, page 175, 1779: State of NC No. 66 to Henry Williams, 216 acres on branches Shaws, Toms and Stoney Creeks adj William Brown, claims of Arthur Lovings, John Brothers. 3 Mar 1779. chain carriers Wm. Brown and Geo Brooks Jun. (Abstracts, p. 11)
• Deed book A, page 296, 1779: Elisha Parks of Caswell Co., NC to Thomas Johnston of Culpepper Co., VA for 1000 lbs, 300 acres on middle fork of Country line Creek adj claims of Samuel Kelly and William Gooch, John Anthony, George Brooks, claim of Elijah Mason, said land granted by NC to Parks 3 Mar 1779 adknowledged. (Abstracts, p. 18 )

 

 Related posts: Two George Brooks Men of Caswell Co., NC