Williams Family

This paper outlines the Williams family line, which started in America with William Williams, and follows down to Irena Williams who married James Holcomb, along with other close relatives of theirs.[1] Included are excerpts from family letters, 1815-1886. The originals are on microfilm (MS 1046) at the Kansas State Historical Society; typed copies are in the Popenoe family files.

1. William Williams, fourth child of John and Judythe Williams, was born at Great Yarmouth, Norfolkshire and baptized 2 Jun 1588 at St. Nicholas Church there. He married Christian (surname unk.) and had four children by her (who stayed in England); the year after she died in 1625 he married Alice (surname unk) and had two more children, Abraham and Thomas. In the 1630s he took his new family to Salem, MA. On July 18, 1637, the Town of Salem received William Williams as an inhabitant and granted him an acre of ground for a house lot and 10 acres for a great lot. In 1641 he moved to Watertown where he became a Proprietor in 1642.

2. Thomas Williams was born at Great Yarmouth about 1630 and died in 1673 on board a sloop in Boston when the tackling fell on him accidentally. He had moved from Watertown to Boston. He m1 ca 1654/5 Elizabeth Bliss who died in 1658 or 59 after giving him one girl. He then married Anne (surname unk) who bore six children, of whom two died young. After his death his widow petitioned for aid stating “Ye poore petitioner being left in her widowhood estate and condition with four children, being destitute of a livelihood and brought to great distress.”

3. Charles Williams, third child of Thomas and Anne, was born at Boston 20 Sep 1662 and died at Colchester, MA 17 Apr 1740. He was only seven when his father died, so was bound out to his uncle Abraham who mentioned in his will “a relative whom we brought up from a Child. He m1 at Marlborough, MA 11 Jan 1686, Elizabeth Weeks who died at Colchester, 13 Jan 1728. He m2 Priscilla Collins Quarterfield, a widow of Colchester. Charles and Elizabeth had nine children.[2] Charles and his father-in-law, William Weeks, helped in the second settlement of Worcester, MA. By 1691 he had removed to Hadley, MA where his first five children were born. He later moved to Colchester, CT where he was granted land in 1792 and lived the remainder of his life. He was a carpenter by trade. He is buried in the old burial ground near Bacon Academy.

4. William Williams, first child of Charles and Elizabeth, was born at Hadley, MA 1689 and died at Colchester, CT 27 Sep 1760. He was deeded land by his father 12 Oct 1713. In 1722 he was collector in Colchester. His will, probated 4 Jul 1774 at Colchester, mentioned sons Charles, William, Isaac and John; and John’s sons, John and David. He married at Colchester 21 Oct 1713, Dorothy Johnson, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Plymouth) Johnson of Marlborough. She died 4 Dec 1774, aged 94, which would indicate she was born about 1680. They had seven children.

5. John Williams, third child of William and Dorothy, was born at Colchester, CT 22 July 1718, and died there 17 Jun 1754. He married at Colchester, 25 Feb 1744, Abigail Crocker, who was born at Barnstable, MA, 25 Mar 1724 and died in 1777. She was the dau of James Crocker, a descendant of two Mayflower pilgrims,[3] and Alice Swift. They had five children: John, b 20 Apr 1745; David, b 19 Nov, 1747, Abigail, b 30 Sep 1749, Susannah, b 28 Sep 1751, and Ann, b 22 Mar 1753. After John’s death, Abigail m2 at East Haddam, CT, Enoch Arnold, by whom she had three more children. John, David and Abigail all moved to Richmond, MA where she married Josiah Dean and she died 12 Apr 1840. John and David will be followed in more detail below.

6. John Williams, b 20 Apr 1745 in Colchester, CT, d Richmond, MA 22 Oct 1828 age 83. Just before he died he got off his bed, went out the east door of the house, stood for some time looking about, went in, fell down, and in an hour breathed his last. He m 3 Mar in Colchester 1768 Dimmis Chamberlain, b ca 1741, d at Richmond 7 Dec 1813, age 72.[4] Children of John and Dimmis:

(1) Levi b at Richmond, MA 27 Jul 1767, and died there 11 Feb 1850. He was a farmer and lived all his life in the homestead of his father in Richmond. He m1 at Richmond 17 Nov 1802, Betsy Gates Dau of Major Samuel Gates and Elizabeth Miller. Betsy d 7 Apr 1805, age 28.[5], and Levi m2, 1 Apr 1824 at Canaan, NY, Asanath Olmstead, dau of Reuben Olmstead and Mary Ludlow of East Haddam.

b. Betsy, 20 May 1826 – 7 Sep 1828. She and the following were children of Asanath.

Letter from Irena, Berkshire, 29 Mar, 1835: Now I must enter on a subject relative to your Uncle Levy. I am told that he is an old bowed and broken down man. He has been under trials of a very severe kind. His son, Gates, so near and dear to us all has been of some trouble. In October 1833 he told his father he had a wish to go to the west and see the country and the improvements which had been making. He would travel on the canal. He started on the 11^th. Said he should be gone about four weeks. It appears had been to Buffalo and was on his return thirteen miles east of Rochester. He was found on the morning of the 29^th lying in the street, a corpse. His throat awfully lacerated and a number of gashes on his wrists and arms. Some think it the work of an incendiary and others that it must have been suicide…. Your uncle L has three small children, one but a few days old.

Letter from Irena, Hamburgh, 18 Aug, 1839: I understand your Uncle Levy’s wife has a young babe four months old. The father was seventy last July.

(2) Irena Williams b 9 Apr 1771[6], d 12 May 1851, Richland, Sangamon Co, IL, age 81. She m 1 Jan 1794 at Richmond, MA. James Holcomb of Freehold.[7] [8] (b 1763, Sheffield, MA, d of cancer in Richland, Oct. 1837, aged 74.) James enlisted at the age of 13, 4 Mar 1777 at Sheffield, Berkshire Co, MA as a waiter in the company of his uncle Michael Holcomb. Then he served 8 months as clerk in Stephen Pearl’s company under Col. John Fellows. He served two months as a fifer and if he had continued in that capacity four months longer he could have drawn a pension.[9] After James married Irena they lived at Oak Hill, near Durham, Greene County NY for several years but he failed to provide for her and she went home to her father. As will be seen from the letters, she moved around NY a good deal, living with her son Franklin and sometimes with her brother David. In 1844 she was in Hamburg, Sussex Co, NJ. Eventually she moved to IL to live with her son Alonzo. Children:

a. James Williams Holcomb, b 1796, d at Cincinnati, 22 Feb 1829, aged 32 years, 2 months.

b. Franklin Holcomb (died in CA, 7 July 1883;, aged 86 years, 22 days. He married Almira who d 9 May 1907 aged 89 years; 3 months, 11 days)

c. Alonzo Holcomb, b 20 Oct 1799 Berkshire Co, MA, d 27 Sep 1891, Topeka, KS. As a young man he moved to Greene Co, OH where at Xenia, 20 Apr 1824, he m Lucy Morgan, b 27 Feb 1800, d 10 July 1888 at Topeka, dau of Evan Morgan and Ann (Nancy) Popenoe. In 1830 they moved to Richland, Sangamon Co, IL where they spent most of their life, eventually retiring in KS. Children:

(3) Anna Williams, b 5 Jan 1773, m 16 Jan 1822, Canaan, NY, Jared Ransom of Warren, Herkimer Co, NY. He was a Methodist preacher. She died Apr 1855 (?).[10]

Letter from Irena to Alonzo and Lucy, Berkshire, 29 Mar 1835: Your uncles sustain themselves well in point of respectability as well as property. Very few who go before them. Your uncle David is judge of the court, you uncle Ransom something else as good, say pathmaster… I had a letter from Uncle John] the other day. He said he would like to fetch me to Richfield. I may go possible and shake the moths out of my goods and chattels and stay awhile with Aunt Anna. They are very well. Uncle Jared has had a healthy winter.

John E. Williams to Alonzo Holcomb, Warren 16 July 1856: Mrs. Ransom going to ride out. Got a new top to her waggon box, painted and varnished. It shines like a niggers heel. She has been complaining for a few days past, seems to feel the heat. Some time in April on going to bed caught her foot in her apron, fell and sprained her ankle. Kept her pretty much confined for 4 to 5 weeks…. We are old folks, she tallies 84, I, 75 in Sept.

(4) David Williams, b 3 May 1775.[11] d 1863 (?), age 88. He m1 1 Jul 1798 in Richmond Jerusha Pierson[12], b 11 Jan 1775 on Long Island and d 2 Apr 1807, dau of Zacharia Pierson and Sarah Sanford. David m2 25 Dec 1811, Samantha Collins, b 7 Sep 1794 North Guilford, CT, dau of Samuel Collins and Betsy Bishop. .[13] [14] David and his family lived in Chenango Valley, 3 miles from Owego, near Binghamton NY. He was a judge and Justice of the Peace in Berkshire, Tioga Co, NY from 1815-1822. He was judge of Tioga County 1823, resigning in 1826, and was county supervisor in 1827 and 1831. Child of David and Jerusha at Berkshire:.

a. Lucinda Williams, b 3 May 1805. She married at Berkshire, 22 July 1829, Alfred John Evans of Worcestershire, England, who was an importer and dealer in watches and jewelry in Binghamton. . In 1844 she moved to Richfield Springs, NY to keep a boarding house but soon gave it up. Children:

(ii) Olive Williams Evans, b 18 Sep 1832, m 15 Apr 1857 Gilbert Charleton Walker, a lawyer at Owego.

b. John Chamberlain Williams, son of David and Samantha, b 16 Mar 1818, Berkshire, Tioga Co, NY John m1 16 May 1838 (?) Emily Winship (d 1 Mar 1852) dau of Luke Bates Winship and Cynthia Ball; and m2, 30 Oct 1855, Susan Elizabeth Goodrich, b 19 Jan 1826 at Tioga, NY, dau of Erastus Goodrich and Hope Talcott.. . John inherited his father’s farm near Binghamton. Children of John and Emily:

c. George Williams, son of David and Samantha, b 21 Jan 1829 at Berkshire, d 1912. He m1 Louisa Janette Barnes, b 9 Jul 1830 at Whitney Point, NY, dau of Orange Barnes and Luciniana Fuller; m2 1874, Lucy Amelia Haskell, b 1842. He was a merchant and postmaster at Berkshire.

David Williams to Irena Holcomb, 28 Jan 1844: John has got a wife and one child, as you have heard. It is a fine healthy little boy, a little past three years old, named Ransom in memory and respect of our deceased brother whose memory will always be dear to me. John was married four years ago the eighth day of this month and since has lived in the family with us until last Nov. They moved into their own house which we have been building the last summer. It stands on the corner between my house and the schoolhouse. It is 40 feet by 24, two story, a back kitchen and woodhouse, painted inside and out and finished in good style from top to bottom of the cellar. John is a first rate good boy and as great a worker as you ever saw. I am well pleased this far with his wife….George is getting to be a stout boy, goes to school and is a good scholar and great reader.

Suinda [Lucinda] you know moved to Richfield Springs last summer to keep a boarding house in company with Joshua Whitney, but has given that up and Alfred is in New York looking for a chance to get into business. If he succeeds I suppose they will move there in the spring….Sarah, their oldest daughter, is in New York now going to school and lives at Mrs. Clark’s No 110, I believe, Fulton Street. We had a letter from Suinda lately informing us of the health of her family and that of all of our friends in that vicinity. She says Uncle John is there.

Irena Holcomb, Berkshire, 12 July 1846 to Alonzo: My nephew John C. Williams is one of the greatest workers in the world. I don’t think he can be beat. He is untiring like his mother. I consider him as being a respectable young man and I think that others consider him trustworthy. His father has built him an elegant house, five or six rods from his own. He has a pleasant wife, a son that’s nearly six and a daughter ten weeks.

George, our other son is young yet. We don’t know what he may be yet. His shanks are long and narrow. He is not eighteen yet. He would rather play on the flute and fiddle than work at the same price.

George Williams to Irena Williams, Berkshire, 22 Jan 1850: Dear Aunt. John is now in the store and sends his love. Father’s health and spirits are much better this winter than they have been. Our business in the store has increased a good deal this winter.

J [John E.?] Williams, March 1855 to Alonzo Holcomb: I mentioned of going to Berkshire and Binghamton in Oct. Spent 4 weeks with David. Then he came to Binghamton to keep Thanksgiving. He was taken unwell…went home with him. When he got well. He begins to show age. He will be 80 in May. John, his oldest son, carries on the farm for 400 acres and a first rate man. 36 years old with 2 boys and a girl. Ransom, the oldest, 14, and the girl spent the winter at Mr. Evanses going to school. Ransom a fine working boy—rather work than play or study. Stella rather play than either. David, the younger, full of the white horse. John lost his wife in March 1854. Evans wrote me that David had given John all of the old farm except the house and garden which is about 300 acres. Reserves the farm which your Uncle Ransom left of 130 acres which is to go to George. He is and has been say four years in the mercantile business in the Old Moors stand which stands on your Uncle R. farm. He got married 4 years this last Feby. No children yet. John bot a farm of 100 acres 5 miles up the river from ___. Pays $500. You aunt, David’s wife, wished me to say she was highly pleased with your letter….You no doubt have heard your mother say she was a worker. Can’t find time to write. A good woman. I spent my time very pleasantly. Everything for my comfort for 4 weeks. We went to Binghamton and in the Valley of the Chanango which is a beautiful valley where your Uncle lives from 3 miles north of him to O___ is a beautiful road and valley as I have ever traveled over. None of your prairies. Fine range of hills on each side with the O___ [Owego?] creek winding through it.

(5) Ransom Williams, b 9 Mar 1778 Richmond[15], d 16 Jun 1839. He married 13 Dec 01 Olive Collins who was b 29 Feb 1780.[16] Ransom moved to Berkshire, Tioga Co, NY before 1826 and was a pathmaster. “He left a fortune” but was childless; his farm eventually went to his nephew.

Irena Holcomb to Alonzo Holcomb, 18 Aug 1839: I had a letter from Uncle John the other day…. His letter brought also the very heavy tidings of the death of your Uncle Ransom Williams after one weak distressing sickness. Oh, he was a dear brother. He has left a handsome property to heirs. I know not who. I likewise had a letter from your Uncle David. He expresses his feelings in a very affecting manner on the late death of our much beloved brother. He is almost inconsolable. They had lived door neighbors since they commenced with families which was thirty nine years lacking one day. He departed the 16 of June.

Irena Holcomb to Alonzo Holcomb, 10 Mar 1846: Your uncle Ransom at his decease left a property of some value, but his widow very anxious to take charge of it with her nephew and adopted son. The result of it was at her decease it was found they had squandered nearly one thousand dollars which he left on interest, and accumulated debts sufficient to sweep the whole of a noble stock. What remains for his heirs is a farm of 130 or 140 acres which has not been disposed of yet. Uncle John says he will come this spring and assist in the settlement.

(7) Heman Williams, 9 Jan 1787, d 25 Sep 1816 in an accident in Berkshire, Tioga Co, NY. He left everything to his brother Levi.

John E. Williams to Irena and Ransom, Berkshire, 1 Oct 1815: …our brother Heman is no more….we buried him last Friday. His death was as sudden as the moment. On Wednesday last we were going to raise a bridge and among others was Heman. We raised the bridge to the last bent all safe, and had that up, and in putting in the first string piece the bent fell and killed instantly our brother….The bent was of white oak 14 inches square, the posts 12 feet long, the girt 15 feet long, all of which lay upon his breast….Probably every bone in his body was crushed….David and I were both present and both at the commencement of the fall in equal danger with him. But fortunately, none but the unfortunate Heman were injured….It will no doubt be gratifying tohear he was not in liquor. He was steady. His conduct has been good for him this summer. I believe for two months before his death he was scarcely intoxicated; worked for Mr. Moore and they tell me he did quite well. He had clothed himself decently. His common cloaths was sound and comfortable. So we find an end to our unfortunate brother; and happy I am that his death was among his friends who could drop over him a pitying tear and weep over his folly and his misfortune.

6a David Williams, son of John and Abigail Crocker Williams, b 19 Nov 1747, Cochester, CT, d 14 Mar 1835 Pittsfield, MA. m1 Lydia Fuller, dau of Elisha Fuller of Richmond, MA and Esther. Fuller’s will probated 4 Feb 1812, David Williams, admin. The heirs agreed to allow David $70 a year for 7 years to care for Elisha and Esther.[17] Esther’s will probated 7 Dec 1813, David Williams, admin. Lydia d 10 Mar 1828, Richmond, age 77.[18] David m2 Mrs.Clarice Driggs --- b ca 1769, d 3 May 1829, age 59.[19] She was the widow of Joshua Driggs. David m3 Mrs. Anna Meach who resided with her dau in Lee, MA, and who d before 1835. David d 14 Mar 1835 in Pittsfield, age 86.[20]. Adopted Denee who was baptized 14 Sep 1794.[21] David lived on a farm adjoining that of his brother John. He died while sitting at the dinner table in the presence of his nephew, Chester Patterson, and was buried at Richmond

Irena Holcomb, 29 Mar 1835: Your uncle David Williams departed this life two weeks since in a very sudden manner. He went to Pittsfield, drove his own wagon, sat to the dinner table and expired instantly. He was eighty eight years. Supposed to have had a fit.

Irena Holcomb to Alonzo Holcomb, Hamburg (Columbia Co) NY 17 May 1820: Franklin is gone to New York….I am here perfectly alone by night and by day….We are now about one mile from where I wrote last. We didn’t expect to remain only through the winter. I let my goods remain ready packed for another start. There is some economy in that you see. But he had concluded to stay a while longer….We live in a new unfinished house, in a pleasant neighborhood enough I suppose, for I have been here since the 12 of last September and don’t know a single individual except a family across the way. Frank has no business whatever. He had the offer of business at the Franklin furnace at five hundred but chose not to accept. He seems tranquil and happy enough, is always diligent when in my sight, has been studying surveying some the winter and reading the law, has considerable writing to attend to. He is under a Writ of Habeas corpus. That I suppose keeps him here.

I don’t mean to represent to you that I feel myself pleasantly situated, but I mean to make the best of it. Perhaps old time may make it all straight yet. We can’t tell what may come out of seeming evil. When worst comes to worst I have places of refuge. Your Uncle David is writing and urging me to come and spend the remainder of my days with him.

Lucy (Mrs. Alonzo) Holcomb to Irena, July 1831: Dear Mother, We are here [Sangamon Co, IL] and I feel it my duty as well as a pleasure to let you know something of our journey and situation here. We started on the third and got here on the seventeenth of September. Alonzo hired a man to bring our goods and he owns a first rate mare and little wagon which brought the family with as much comfort as any one could travel. We had very bad roads through Indiana but after we crossed the Wabash we had good roads and great prairies until we got here. I think we are tolerably well satisfied but I assure you I could not have said this a few months ago for I felt melancholy enough. Myron [her son] was taken sick on the road and after we got here he grow worse for several days and I really thought he would not live. I have never known before what it was to have a sick child without my mother to come and stay with me but now I was more than three hundred miles from her and I felt myself that far from every friend except my own family but I was much disappointed when I became acquainted with the neighbors and found them as kind as I could wish. We are now living with my uncle William Morgan, my father’s brother or rather in one room of his house. He has been like a father to us, appears to be much pleased with Alonzo and we meet with many more farmers from him which I could not have expected. Alonzo has bought a lease on uncle’s land six years due at the end of that time or before we hope to be able to purchase a farm of our own. This is something like the milk maid’s calculation but we will strive not to let the pail fall from our own hand. We shall get possession of our lease in March then expect we shall feel as though we had got home.

Alonzo intends to turn his attention to raising cattle. They are easy raised and bring in money readily. I shall be greatly pleased when I have ten or twelve cows to milk. If this ever comes to pass I think I shall have cheese and butter plenty. Alonzo once told me if I would make a cheese as good as his mother could he would give me fifteen dollars. I think possibly he may lose his money but I tell him I shall not let him be the judge for he is such a mother’s boy that no other one can do quite so well, but if I fail I shall send for you to learn me and you shall have the premium. I should be happy to have you with us if you could be satisfied. I think I could do as much and as long for you as any other child. I have no idea you would suffer where you are at. I have often thought you and myself could take comfort together. If you and Frank was here I think he would do well. A good tanner is needed. This I study much about and I really feel so anxious that I sometimes believe it will be brought about some day.

Our little girls learn very well. Irene spells in four syllables, Marinda a little in two letters. Myron is now two years old, talks every thing. They are now all three sitting on the floor with their plays as happy as the innocent can be. Irene has been much troubled about leaving her grandmother – often wants to go back to Ohio. She is like myself – the name of Ohio will ever sound sweet to me for there is my birthplace in two miles of where we moved from where I was born and I have reason to believe that I left some warm hearted friends and I know as good neighbors as any one need to desire. Since we left there one of my sisters has left time and all its concerns. When I parted with her I thought it was a long adieu, she was lingering in a consumption. Dear girl it appears but a few days back when her cheeks were as roses but disease had faded the rose and even taken her to the cold grave.

Since I commenced my letter we received yours of the16 October. Father Holcomb had it sent on to us from Ohio so you will see that he did not come to this country with us. I often think of him and wish to know how he enjoys himself. I think by this time he has found there’s none that would treat him better than Alonzo but if this was the case his great and independent spirit would not suffer him to confess it. I think he must want to see the children for I never saw any person appear to love children more than he did them. He has repeatedly expressed the greatest desire that you should see them and in fact if he had possessed means we would have been to New York long since. I must conclude or I shall not leave Alonzo so much as the hind part of my letter. Adieu dear Mother….

Alonzo, July 24: Dear Mother and Brother….I have never been so humbugged about in my life as this summer. I engaged in a school the first of April for six months and I also undertook to raise a little corn and oats & which together with a little fence making, hay making, gardening and the like has kept me more busy than I ever was or ever wish to be. I have a school of about 27 scholars at $5 per head for the term, the best school I have ever had. We had a very severe winter her for this country last winter. About the first week in February the snow fell three feet deep and lay for seven weeks during which time was steady and severe cold weather. Should another or two such winters happen here we shall be _____ thereof of a great many of our Tennesseans. Indeed there has a number left already on that account. Nine tenths of the people had to gather their corn to feed their stock in this snow. I myself helped to gather something like 12 acres in snow crotch deep. The spring has been uncommonly backward and cold. Most people had to replant twice and some three times and finished about the first of June. I planted on the 6 June, had the precaution to put in a handful and have corn now 5 feet high. The rapid growth of corn here would surprise you. I have 3 acres of my own and 4 acres that comes in by way of rent on 1/8 of 12 acres, 4 acres of oats ___, 5 acres of grass that will yield 2 ½ ton per acre, the ½ of which is my own. We have 5 head of cattle and $60 due me to be paid in cattle on the first day of December, and I expect as many from my school; 15 hogs, a noble dapple gray mare, no wagon, no sheep, more than 100 chickens. Look out, you have no acquaintance here to be informed of, I cannot moralize so I must brag. My excuse is Father did not move with us but we expect him to in September with Lucy’s father. He enjoys himself tolerably but at times he considers me as being as he calls it, too sovereign.

Alonzo to James Holcomb at Kirkwood PO, Warren Co, OH, 22 Apr 1834: I taught school nine months last season and raised 10 acres corn, 4 of oats, 1 ½ wheat, and mowed 6 of timothy; half the oats and corn are on hand yet and all of the wheat. Last season was remarkable for good crops of all descriptions. Rawley Morgan [Lucy’s brother] and I have bought Newhauses farm of 160 A for 800 dollars. Marshall and I. Morgan occupy the place. Rawley has also bought the carding machine at Sangamon Town, $400, and has moved to town and will set his fulling establishment in operation at the same place. We are happy to hear that your prospects are good tho the delay is truly vexationous. Lucy adds: Write to us as soon as your business is settled and if you are disappointed, never mind it. You are not the only one who has suffered wrong under the present administration.[22]

To Col. James Holcomb, Richland, Sangamon Co, IL from Jonathan Holcomb [his older brother] Lockland, Hamilton Co, OH 18 Sep 1835: When you wrote me last you thought best to have the Pekin [Warren Co, below Dayton] house attended to by some trusty hand or myself…property is risen fifty percent in Pekin and my stand is rent to a Mr. Rupert, a merchant from Virginia, at $12 per month….Mr. Gage thinks the property worth $1250….My little shop is in beautiful form where I am King, Emperor, soul manager and dealer.

Irena to Alonzo, Ellenville (Sullivan Co) NY, 26 Mar 1837: We are situated on the Sanberg Creek and on the Hudson and Delaware Canal, 28 miles from Kingston, 40 from Newburg. We are in Ellenville, Ulster Co, NY. Franklin has taken a lease for five years beginning 1835 of the Premises. There is a double saw mill, a machine shop with a machine for cutting window blinds and one for cutting barrel staves, two small dwelling houses for which he pays one hundred dollars quarterly. The lumber goes from the mill on the canal to Newburg and then down the North river…I came the first of July since which time Frank has been fourteen weeks in New York. We are four in family. I brought one of Alfred Loomis’s girls with me, and I have a gentleman boarder from New York. But I have no society whatever nor do I wish any here. I have nothing to look at, except the barren rocky mountains and sheets of water that are pouring and howling night and day.

Your uncle John passed here November 20 on his way to Florida for the winter…. He is in St. Augustine.

I dreamed last night that I saw you and your beard was about a week old and it looked like Olcott Chamberlins interspersed with blossoms.[23]

Alonzo to Irena, care of D. Williams, Esq. Berkshire, NY, 16 Jul 1837: It is with no small degree of pleasure that I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 21 March last in due season bringing the cordial news of health and prosperity. Tis true the separation of Mother and son for a period of more than seventeen years and between whom I have every reason to believe on every evidence to prove there existed the strongest affection of a mother, and you mother will not deny one the privilege of saying (whatever my conduct my prove to the contrary notwithstanding) that I have not been insensible to the duties of filial love and devotion.

We are all enjoying good health except father who has been afflicted with a cancer on his under lip for two years or more, and is fast hurrying from this existence. His underlip is mostly destroyed but the cancerous affliction seems mainly to exert itself on the glands of the jaw. There are now three sores, one under the chin, one at the angle of the jaw below the ear and another between them. It produces a smell almost insupportable….He is now confined pretty much to his bed though he is still able to walk outdoors. Lucy has had a severe trial having to dress his ulcers from two to four and five times a day for nearly or quite 18 months.

I am at work at the carpenters business this summer and have no crop save a few acres of spring wheat…. Well, I am putting up a house for one of my neighbors. I take the timber from the stump and work by the foot, square etc. In wet weather I have a shop to work in and make fancy bedsteads, washboards, grain cradles, mend old waggons, have made one throughout and many other things too tedious to mention…. Lucy is making cheese and will probably have two or three hundred with weight to spare. She has put up a fine bit of my butter for winter use. She purchased us a clock last winter and pays in the afore said articles, butter at 10 and cheese at 12 cents.

Irene and Marinda are spinning wool this week. They spin a bunch of rolls time about and finish a dozen a day. Our count is different from yours, a dozen is 12 cutts, a cutt is 100 threads and our reels two feet longer than yours. That is one third longer. A dozen is called a days work for a full hand. Lucy says she will make four pairs of twill blankets this season and will weave them herself.

Lucy takes snuff of late as well. I wish you would prevail upon her to quit it. Tho I chew tobacco and smoke sometimes, we’ll say nothing about it….

I received a letter from Uncle John 9 months ago. Says Franklin is worth 5 or 6 thousand dollars. Well done. Tell him, if he pleases to send a thousand if they don’t have Van Buren’s head on.

Irena to Alonzo, Berkshire,12 July 1846: You know how I am assisted at last through your Uncle David’s kindness…. Franklin has never written me a word since I have been here, but has sent me a newspaper almost every week, until within six or eight weeks past, and since then there is a paper or letter lodged in the Postoffice every few days from New York directed to Franklin Holcomb, Berkshire, to the care of D. Williams.

Irena, Hamburgh, New Jersey[24], to Alonzo, 26 Dec 1848: I now undertake rather a gloomy task that is addressing one who we know not whether is among the living. If among the living I must set you down as an undutiful son. This is now the fifth year since I have heard a year from you. I feel that all is not as it should be. Are you sick or otherwise unfortunate? Are you in Dudgeon? Else why am I denyed that greatest of all privileges, that of hearing from you?

I am here entirely alone but that is a thing of every days occurrence and has been for years, so of course, that’s not much. Salome[25] sent her eldest daughter to spend the last summer with me and go to school. She has been the greatest comfort of my life. She is not the most beautiful, but I think the most amiable child I ever saw. She is going in her twelfth year and perfectly correct in all her movements. She has two sisters. Her father and mother came at autumn to take her home. They are on the Susquehanna one hundred and twenty miles from this and in fine circumstances….

Franklin is off to NY for the winter as he says. I’m inclined to think him looking for a fortune where he lost….I assume you are aware that my little Franky has to take the benefit of the Insolvent Act. Yes, and rite glad to come off so. We have all had a finger in the muss.

[1] The background information is from George E. Williams, A Genealogy of Some of the Descendants of William Williams of Salem, Mass., PO Box 822, Bonita, CA, 1987, consulted at CT State Library.

[2] Much of the material regarding the descendants of Charles was taken by George E. Williams from a bound manuscript by D Williams Patterson, “Genealogy of the Descendants of Charles Williams of Colchester, Conn.”, in the Long Island [Brooklyn] Historical Society, 128 Pierpont Street, Brooklyn, NY.

[3] This is the line of descent from the Mayflower. John Howland 1602 – 1672 who arrived on the Mayflower, m Elizabeth Tilley 1607 – 1687, dau of John Tilley who also arrived on the Mayflower but died 1620. Their son John Howland, b 1626/7 in Plymouth, MA, m 1651 Mary Lee, dau of Robert and Mary Lee of Plymouth. Their dau Hannah Howland, b 15 May 1661 in Barnstable, MA, d 11 Feb 1710 in East Haddam, Middlesex, CT, m 20 May 1686 in Barnstable, Jonathan Crocker 15 Jul 1662 – 24 Aug 1746, son of John Crocker and Mary Bodfish. Their son James Crocker, b 3 Sep 1699 in Barnstable, d 7 Nov 1785 in Westchester, New London, CT, m 1 Nov 1721 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA, Alice Swift, dau of Jirah Swift and Abigail Gibbs.

[4] Richmond, MA Vital Records to 1850, Boston: NEHGS 1913: pp 81, 112. Dimmis was no doubt the granddaughter of Joseph Chamberlain who was the son of William and grandson of Henry Chamberlain, the immigrant ancestor, b in Hingham, County Norfolk, England ca 1595, arrived in Hingham, MA, 1638. This information is from Chamberlain Families of Early New England and of New York by Prentiss Glazier, 1973, in CT State Library and NEHGS. Joseph settled at Colchester about 1705 and had several sons, none of whom is listed as having a dau Dimmis. One son, Freedom, b ca 1705, had a son Green bp 1755, who married Dimmis Bigelow and had an unmarried dau named Dimmis. But the dates are too late for our Dimmis. Freedom also had daus Irena, who married Israel Loomis, and Alice who m Daniel Loomis, Jr. Loomises are mentioned in the letters herein. My guess is that Dimmis who married John Williams was the dau of Freedom Chamberlain and she named her first girl after her sister Irena. Another son of Joseph was William, whose son Nathaniel was the father of Emery Chamberlain, b 1790, who was reportedly the father of Sarah Chamberlain, said to be married to John Williams but he probably was of Williamstown, MA and not our John Williams. There is a lot of unpublished Chamberlain material at the NY Genealogical and Biographical Society and study of this may yield the father of Dimmis Chamberlain.

[5] Richmond, MA Vital Records, op cit.

[6] Ibid, p 49

[7] Ibid, p 80

[8] James Holcomb’s immigrant ancestor was Thomas Holcomb, who left England in 1630 on the ship “Mary and John”, arriving in Nantucket. The immigrants founded the town of Dorchester. In 1636, Thomas moved to Windsor, CT where he was a representative in the constitutional convention. His son, Nathaniel (1648-1740/1), m Mary Bliss, dau of one of the original founders of Hartford. Nathaniel, a farmer like his father, was representative from Simsbury and Windsor to the General Court of CT, 1703-6. The line continued through Jonathan Holcomb, b ca 1678, m Mary Hillyer at Simsbury, CT; and their son, Jonathan Holcomb, b 29 Feb 1732, d 9 May 1790 at Sheffield, MA, m at Granby, Abigail Hilyer.

[9] This account is from a letter from Cornelia Curry (his granddaughter) to C. H. Popenoe, 20 Jan 1914, copy in Popenoe family files. This has not been checked against the military records.

[10] 1850 Census, Herkimer Co, NY, Manheim Town, family #165 Anna Ransom, 93, b CT; Sarah Ransom 66, b NY. Just above them, family 164, are Riley Ransom 62, farmer $2400 all b NY, Polly Ransom 60, Esther Ransom 26 and Joanna Place 20. Also in Manheim: family 179: Riley G. Ransom 43, farmer $1500, b NY, Abigail Ransom 65 $4000, b CT; and family #180, Samuel A Ransom 38, $3000, Nancy Ransom 33, William P Ransom 10, Ellen Ransom 5, Sidney Ransom 3 Charlotte Ransom 3/12: family 189: George A Ransom 25, farmer, b NY, Amanda Ransom 24, and Ellen A Ransom 3; family 221: David Ransom 44, farmer $3225, b NY, Rebecca A Ransom 31, Hannah Ransom 12, Mary A Ransom 10, Lily A Ransom 8, Charles W Ransom 7/12.

[11] Ibid, p 48

[12] Ibid, p80

[13] DAR Application #106716, Vol 107, p 22

[14] 1850 Census, Tioga Co, Berkshire Town, p 300: David Williams 74, farmer, real estate val. $12,000 b MA; Samantha Williams, 56, b CT; George Williams, 21, student, b NY, Betsy Collins, 76, b CT.

[15] Richmond VR, p 49

[16] Shepard Collection, Pittsfield, MA Library. Shepard was a local genealogist who collected a great deal of data on local people on 3 x 5 cards.

[17] Do. This description of the will doesn’t make sense—need to look at will. George E. Williams says Fuller d at Richmond 10 Mar 1828, age 77.

[18] Richmond VR, p 112

[19] Richmond VR, p 112

[20] Ibid.

[21] Ibid, p 48.

[22] This probably refers to an unsuccessful attempt to get a Revolutionary War pension. In June 1835, James Holcomb at Springfield, Sangamon Co, IL received a letter from Robert Gorwin [perhaps his lawyer] in Lebanon, OH, which stated that his pension application had finally been rejected. A further letter to John W. Taylor from Rep. R. Johnson, House of Representatives, 1 Apr 1836, stated:

I have this morning received your favor and the papers relative to the character of our worthy fellow citizen James Holcomb. I think that congress may be induced to pass a law giving the pension if it was not so late in the session. I will do all I can, in the case. I will try at the Departments. If I fail, I will present it to Congress.

[23] According to Prentiss Glazier, Capt. Olcott Chamberlain, b about 1784, d at Richfield, Otsego Co, NY 24 Jul 1850, age 67, was the son of Freedom Chamberlain, Jr., grandson of Joseph Chamberlain of Colchester.

[24] The transcription says Hamburgh, NJ (which is in Sussex County near the Orange Co, NY border. She probably was in Hamburg, Greene Co, NY, along the Hudson, closer to her relatives.

[25] I don’t know who this is. Possibly a Holcomb.