Help!
My ancestor is John WILLIAMS, b. 9 October 1752, married Mary Monkfield 29 September 1771
who died November 1780, he married Philadelphia Hosier 13 January 1782, immigrated to
Americas 1783, he died in North Carolina 1816.
I have excellent documentation of John from the time he immigrated to Americas from London
in 1783, but all of this is to find out why "London John" WILLIAMS really left
London, especially the story of the quarrel with his father and forbidding his children to
know their grandfather's name.
I have confined my search to London because of the family data, but through help from some
London barristers, I need to find a link to a William WILLIAMS family who lived at
Peniarthuchaf, Merioneth, Wales. That William had a son John who was registered to
practice law in London at Lincoln's Inn in February 1779. The property is a beautiful
Inn at
www.birdrock.co.uk that was owned by a Williams family, but I need to find out if
this John, son of William, is MY John.
There is a record of a William Williams of Llanfrothen, Merioneth, marrying
"Ann" on 16 February 1750, but that is the only record I can find that would
fit, since it was two years before my John was born.
Where can I look for records of son John's birth to William at Peniarth Uchaf? How
about marriage to Mary Monkfield in 1771? What parish is Llanfrothen or Peniarth Uchaf
(25 miles from Dolgellau)? As you can see, I am really ignorant about Wales. Perhaps one
of you can help my education.
If I can find that this John has the same birth date as my John, the family will celebrate
me all of my days as having solved the mystery of who London John' s father was!
Thanks.
Nancy Williams Chadwick
North Carolina, USA
Following is most of the information I have on John, much more than you want to know, I am
sure.
My ancestor, John Williams, immigrated to America in
1783. Our problem is that there was a rift between
him and his father and our tree can go no farther
back. Fortunately, I have great information about
John through research my grandparents did some years
ago. He was born October 9, 1752, lived at St Pancras
Parish, Queens Square, London. He was a barrister
and practiced law in London.
The father was said to have disowned John around the
time of his second marriage to Philadelphia Hosier
and the immigration. Family oral history says the
father was well-know and wealthy (doesn't everybody
have one of those?) I am hoping that since we have a
precise date of birth for John Williams that we could find a
baptism record. This could provide us with
his father's name.
What follows is the details that I have about John
and his family:
John's first marriage was to Mary Monkfield, September 29, 1771,
who
died November 1780 and was buried in St. Martin's
Burying Ground, Drury Lane, London. They had five
children, 2 of whom died. The others immigrated
with him to North Carolina and died there.
1. John Augustus, b. October 9, 1772, christened at
Clerkenwell, London
2. William Hugh, b. 1774 in London
3. Harriet Mary, b. May 30, 1775, christened
Clerkenwell October 1775
4. George Frederick, b. August 29, 1777, christened
St. Dunstans, Fleet Street, London, died December 2,
1779, buried at St. Martins, Drury Lane, London
5. George, b. April 24, 1780, christened at St.
Clements Danes Church, Strand, London, died August
23, 1780.
His second marriage was at St. George the Martyr in
Middlesex in 1782, to Philadelphia Hosier of that
Parish on January 13, 1782, Curate John Willis,
witnessed by Joseph Greenaway, John Winter. She
was said to be the niece of Sir Thomas Hosier,
celebrated English Admiral who died in 1727.
There was a child born to them Philadelphia Matilda,
October 28, 1782, who died August 6, 1783, and was
buried in Bermondsey Church yard, Southwark, London.