My surnames are: Williams, Wilson
Also interested in: Moorman and Robeson families
I am looking for any leads on the family of James A. Williams and
Elizabeth (Wilson) Williams. They are mentioned in several Franklin
County sources, but I haven't found any information on their parents.
Here are the details I have:
James A. Williams
---born: Feb. 3, 1825, in Indiana... possibly in Franklin county.
According to census, he thought his mother was born in Kenttucky, but
was "unaware" of his dad's birthplace.
---married: Elizabeth Wilson on March 7, 1848, in Franklin county. (I
have the marriage certificate). This may have been her 2nd marriage.
The obituary of one of their sons lists her name as Elizabeth Moorman
Wilson.
Elizabeth Wilson
---born: Beaver county, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1828. Moved to Indiana
when 12 years of age. When 16 years old (1844) she joined the United
Brethren church. Family stories indicate that she was of Scots-Irish
ancestry.
Census Records
The Williams family is in the 1850 Federal Census of Indiana. The record
is dated November 27, 1850, in Highland Township
section:
Person Age Birthplace
James Williams 24 Ind
Elizabeth 21 Pa
John 2 Ind
Jourdon Wilson 15 Pa
Michael Wilson 10 Pa
Susan Wilson 8 Pa
The Wilson children were apparently taken in by James & Elizabeth,
possibly due to death of her parents.
The family of James and Elizabeth Williams can be found in the 1860
Federal Census of Indiana. The record is dated June 7, 1860, with post
office listed as Blue Creek in Highland Township:
Person Age Birthplace
James Williams 34 Ind
Elizabeth 31 Pa
John 12 Ind
Nancy Ann 11 Ind
George W. 9 Ind
J. Richard 6 Ind
Abraham B. 5 Ind
William F. 3 Ind
Martha Jane 2 Ind
James is listed as a farmer in the Census, and a renter rather than
owner of his farm. The family lived in Highland Township (at least
between the years 1850-1860). This township is south of Brookville,
along the southern 4 miles of the county. In the Census, James is
recorded near the Robeson brothers, usually James Robeson. They were
probably neighbors for over 10 years.
Their son, William F. Williams, died in 1862 at age 5, probably in
Indiana. No record of his death, nor of a gravemarker, could be found
by an Indiana researcher who helped me search.
The family moved to Sigel, Shelby county, central Illinois, sometime
between 1863 and 1865. Two sons more were born there. Then they moved
to Woodson county, Kansas, in about 1870, where two more sons were born.