GUIDE to the WILLIAMS FAMILY PAPERS Scope and Content Note
GUIDE TO THE WILLIAMS FAMILY PAPERS Scope and Content Note: The Williams Family Papers, which were received by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association from many sources over a long period of time, consist of four types of material: (1) approximately 3500 original manuscripts of the 18th and 19th centuries written by or addressed to various descendants of Robert Williams, "cordwayner" of Norwich, England, who came to this country in 1637 and settled in Roxbury, Mass.; (2) reproductions of similar manuscripts elsewhere in Deerfield or in other locations; (3) transcripts of Williams material; and (4) notes and correspondence of George Sheldon and others that relate to the Williams family. The numbers in superscript that follow many of the names in this guide are those assigned by George Sheldon in the Williams genealogy included in the second volume of his History of Deerfield, Massachusetts (1895). Biographical Notes and Description of Manuscripts: Thomas Williams15, a great-great grandson of Robert1, was born in 1736, studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Williams14 in Deerfield, and then settled in Roxbury, Mass. He married Abigail, daughter of Major Elijah Williams,12 in 1760. Thomas died in 1815, his widow in 1818. He is represented by an undated letter from his father-in-law, asking him to bring or arrange to have brought various items from Boston. [See box of reproductions for photocopy of his will, dated 1814.] Ebenezer Hinsdale Williams23, son of Thomas15 was born in 1761. He was a farmer who lived for many years at "Carter's Land." Later he bought several lots on the main village street and lived on Lot 42 from 1816 until his death in 1838.
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