| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Eighth Generation48. Judge Henry WILLIAMS Sr. was born on 8 August 1765 in East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.1,2 As per the records of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vital Records of Deerfield, Massachusetts to the Year 1850: Henry Williams was of New Bethleham, New York. In July 1779, at age 14, Henry enlisted in the Revolutionary War at East Haddam, Connecticut, in the Infantry as a substitute for one Jonathan Williams, serving one month under Captain Joseph Isham. In 1781, he joined the Artillery Company commanded by Captain John Durgay. In 1789, he was stationed at Stonington where he was assigned to guard a Brittish vessel lying at anchor. In 1797, Henry purchased land from George Scriba. He built a log cabin and settled at Cook's Crossing, now known as Harden Blvd. Camden, New York. While living at Camden, a severe wind and rainstorm broke over the locality, threatening to demolish everything in its course. The house was taken away partially, including the contents, frightening the occupants considerably. After the calm, kind neighbors took the family in and cared for them, helping to rebuild their home, including a new roof. In 1802, Henry sold out to Martin Cook and relocated to Franklin, Oswego County, New York, where he had a business interest at that time as a land agent. He also operated a lodge where travelers would stop for a night's stay. (Source: The Pioneer History of the Town of Camden, pages 103-104 and 277.) Henry was one of Franklin's first settlers on lot 189 (now the DeMassey farm-Stone Hill Road). He was prominant farmer, assessor in 1805, town clerk in 1806-1808, and supervisor from 1808-1810 and 1827-1830. He was made an Associate Judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1816-1818 and 1824-1826. He was appointed to the legislature in 1828. In 1833, after living in Franklin for thirty one years, he moved to Crawford County, Pennsylvania to be with his sons. Judge Henry was established throughout the area, being a gentleman very much respected by the community, an upright honest citizen, being freindly with his neighbors, especially Elder Truman Gillet, a clergyman and Deacon Abner Comstock. In his honor, the people renamed the city of Franklin to Williamstown, New York. In his will, Henry left each of his sons $5.00, except Anton to whom he left the family farm where he resided. He left two of his daughters a cow, and the third daughter got $2.00. Each were to get their inheritance one year after his death. He gave to his wife Electa his household furniture and all remaining residue and the remainder of his personal estate goods and all remaining monies after his debts were paid. Also during the remainder of her natural life to have one-third of the improvements of the farm willed to Anson, or the profits arising therefrom. The will was signed 3-6-1839 and is on file in Crawford County Courthouse, Espyville, Pennsylvania. From the Department of Veterans' Services: DOB 1765; DOD 5-11-1842. Buried in Espyville Cemetery, Section F, Grave 3. He was inducted into the U.S.Army 4-26-1813 and was honorably discharged 1-4-1815 as a private. He served with Captain Rodgers, Col R Hill Regiment PA. Transcribed document from the military pension papers of Henry Williams: State of New York) > SS Oswego County). On this 24 th day of September AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before Louswell(?) Johnson/Reynolds & Samuel Freeman Judges of the court of Common Please, now sitting, Henry Williams, a resident of Williamstown in the County Oswego and State of New York aged sixty-seven years on the fifth day of August last, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his math make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June seventh AD 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was born in the town of East Haddam County of Middlesex of Connecticut in the year of our Lord 1765 on the fifth day of August and that there is a record of his age in the Town Clerk's office in East Haddam. Aforesaid, that he was living when called into service in East Haddam; that in July 1779 and not far from the 20th, he hired as a substitute for one Jonathan Williams who was drafted to go to Stonington Connecticut, that he marched from East Haddam under Captain Joseph Isam (Isham) that the name of the first Lieutenant of said company was Adonijah Foot, the name of the Ensign was Wright, that the said Company and officers belonged to Colchester, Hartford County, of state last aforesaid in which Company the said Jonathan Williams belonged. Col. Ledgyards Regiment marched to Stonington was stationed there to guard the place, a Brittish vessel lying off at anchor there at the time; was there on duty one month and returned home. And that in the year 1781, in the month of November as he believes, at the time of the enemy with the traitor (?) General Arnold commited such horrid butchering at Fort Griswold the same night or rather in the morning of that night he enlisted in Captain Shapleys Company who was in the action at Fort Grizwold and was filling in for the said company (having lost the most of his men in that action, himself being body wounded) to go to New London, was satisfied by Sergeant Puntifs (?) next to New London very early in the morning after the said action and joined the said Company which was an artillery company; that in the aforesaid action the said Col. Lengyard (or Ledgeard) was killed with his own sword after he surrendered the Fort and his sword to the enemy and that Peter Richards there upon killed the officer who killed Ledqiark (?) and was then killed himself by another Brittish officer; these facts were stated so to him on his arrival there the morning afore mentioned. The enemy had taken to above shipping and were gone. That after the death of Col. Leagiork, Col. McCellen (McClellan) succeeded -------------command, and that in the spring following Captain Shapley died of his wound at his own hourse in New London, and that his Christian name was Adam. And that after his, the said Shaftley's death, one ------------ took command of the said Company and did command the same where be this deponant May in the year 1782 and that he served Dinmouthe (?) from the time of his last aforesaid enlistment till he was discharged and that he has not at any time had a written discharge; that the officer who killed Ledgread was buried on the spot in his military clothes and that afterwards he was disintered and that this deponent saw the coate that he was buried in; that he also saw Peter Richards above mentioned while he was laid out before his burial; that the whole time after Revolutionary War was seven months, that while he was serving as a substitute for the said Jonathan Williams he was fourteen years old on the fifth day of August 1879. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annunity except the fourth and declares that his name is not on any pension role of any agency of any state and that since the Revolutinary War he lived a short time in the same place above mentioned and afterward removed to Stephen town-Rensiler New York and from there he removed to Camden Oneida Co., New York, and from there to Williamstown where he now resides, where he has lived for thirty one years last. Past has been a Magistrate in said town and a Judge of the Court of Common Please of Oswego County and a supervisor for many years which office he now holds. That he is well-known in his present neighborhood and that he is particlarly acquainted with Elder Truman Gillet who is the nearest Clergyman to him and also Dea. Abner Comstock both of whom lives in the present neighborhood and who can testify to his character for truth and veracity and their belief of my service as a soldier of the Revolution and that he knows of no living witness to his service. Signature Henry Williams
The contact in Espyville, Pennsylvania was Jeannette <jlbrynd@nauticom.net> "Kathy: I'm leaving this morning for a vacation of two weeks; will be home on the 11th of March. So pleased to hear from you before I left. Edmond's stone is larger. Diane will get a picture of it; the depth of the present snow does not support a stroll in the cemetery. I did not send you all of the information that I have because I do not have the source; there is a note made by Mrs. Collins that Henry was a county judge and it looks to me as if she got that information from the veteran records. Florence will be back in Pennsylvania before April or you can contact the office of Veteran's affairs. Feel free to tell that office that I encouraged you to contact them because we have a common goal of accurate records and need all of the family help that we can get. How exciting that the town in New York is 200 years old and proud of it. Thank you for writing. Jeannette" .
Judge Henry WILLIAMS Sr. and Electa TAYLOR were married on 25 November 1787 in Deerfield, Franklin County, MA.1,2,3,4 Electa TAYLOR, daughter of Adonijah TAYLOR and Rachell SAWTELL, was born about 1767 in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.1,2 As per records of the New England Historic Genealogic Society-Vital Records of Deerfield, Massachusetts to the year 1850: Electa Taylor was in Whately, October 25, 1787. Electa could not write. She signed her name with a mark which was witnessed. Electa recieved Henry's military pension after he died. It began on 3-1843. She recieved $28.33 per year under Act of 3-3-1843. She was unable to go to court because of body infirmity (3-21-1844). This information is in the military records of Henry Williams..copies held by compiler: Katherine (Williams/Hedlund) Kruger She died in 1845 at the age of 78.2 Judge Henry WILLIAMS Sr. and Electa TAYLOR had the following children:
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