the Williams legacy

Journey with us into the rich tapestry of 'The Williams' family. Discover the compelling stories, historical connections, and the enduring spirit that defines this fascinating lineage within the broader Ancestors family history.

The Williams' Family Tree:

 For Christmas 2020, my daughter Laura, brought me a dna test kit, which I sent off in November 2020. Using ancestry.co.uk website, I have at the time of writing in July 2021, 12,689 matches, of which I have 294 close matches (4th Cousins or closer.) The only way you can see how you are related to one and other, is if the other person as put a tree on ancestry with matching people in my tree. So many people have no trees at all, other people have trees with very little information, that I can not possible find out how we are connected. Out of the 12,689 matches, I have only found a connection with about a 100.
 For instance, I known that a Christina Connelly is a cousin of mine, but have no idea which ancestors connect as. So from time to time I will pick a name from the dna matches, and see if I can found a connection.

 In February 2021, I picked out one Keith Jarman, and after doing research on the Jarman family, image my surprise when I come across a Joseph Williams who married Harriet Jarman on the 14th April 1852 at St Mary the Virgin, West Bergholt in Essex.
 In January 1852, Harriet gave birth to twin boys Joseph and George Jarman. Joseph was the 2x great grandfather of Keith, the connection being  3rd or half 3rd cousins, depending on who his 3x great grandfather was. I have no idea to the identity of Joseph and George’s father, if Joseph Williams was the father, why did Joseph and George go by the name of Jarman?

 In May 1855, Harriet gave birth to our 2x great uncle Alfred William. Alfred, Walter's brother a groom, married Elizabeth Preston of West Bergholt the daughter of William a sawyer, on the 31st July 1882 at St Andrew’s Church, Barnsbury, Islington, Middlesex in London. Alfred was also a Lance Corporal in the 45th Regiment Sherwood Foresters.

Marriage certificate for Alfred Williams 2x great granduncle.

Edith "EDIE" WILLIAMS GRANDMOTHER:

 Nan was born Edith Elizabeth Williams on the 26th of October 1896, at 12 Herries Street Queens Park in West London. The daughter of Walter Williams and Elizabeth Mary Clayden. In 1901, 4-year-old Edith is living with her mother and siblings at 128 Herries Street, with her mother a charwoman, her brother George a errand boy aged 17, and her 2-year-old sister Florence.

 In 1911, Edith aged 14, was a inmate (patient) of the Paddington Infirmary, at 285 Harrow Road, Paddington in London.

Baptist certificate for Nan.

1901 census: 128 Herries Street, The Williams living in the same house as the Reddel family cousins of the Williams.

1911 census:: Paddington Infirmary, 285 Harrow Road, Paddington. (St Mary's Hospital) Nan Edith Williams aged 14 third from bottom.

 Nan had four more children Elsie in 1927; Denis in 1928; Iris in 1931 and Jack in 1932. The family lived at Perrers Road, Hammersmith, in West London. Edith died on the 11th of May 1975, at Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham in London.

Great grandfather Walter williams:

 Walter Williams was born on the 4th February 1857, at West Bergholt, in Essex, to Joseph and Harriet. In the 1861 census the family are living at the Heath, West Bergholt near Lexden in Essex. Joseph is a 44-year-old cattle dealer, his wife Harriet aged 33, and children Joseph and George aged 9; Alfred aged 6 and Walter aged 4. In the 1871 census we have George Gladwell aged 46 a farm labourer, Harriet Gladwell aged 41, Joseph Williams 19; Alfred Williams 17, and Walter Williams aged 13.

Walter joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on the 12th November 1883 service number 1350: description 5ft 5 inches tall, 140 pounds, 36 inch chest, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
Home: 7th November 1883 - 1st September 1884.
Egypt 2nd September 1884 - 29th May 1886.
Gibraltar 30th May 1886 - 1st July 1891.
Transferred to the army reserve 8th July 1891, discharged 6th November 1895

Worked as a horse-keeper after leaving the army.

1871 Census; Cottage, West Bergholt, Essex.

George Gladwell Head 46 Farm Labourer, Suffolk.
Harriett Gladwell Wife 41 Fordham.
Joseph Williams Son 19 West Bergholt.
Alfred Williams Son 17 West Bergholt.
​Walter Williams Son 13 West Bergholt.

Walter's Army records:

 From September 1884 - July 1891, Walter was abroad with the army, he married Elizabeth Mary Clayden on the 4th January 1893 at the Chelsea Register Office, in same year March or April 1893, a daughter Jessie Emily was born, a son Walter Alfred was born in January 1895 both were born at 25 Herries Street in Queens Park, and both died in January 1896, burial 30th January 1896 at Hanwell Cemetery in West London.

Interments at Hanwell Cemetery January 1896: Jessie Emily and Alfred Walter Williams, Children of Walter and Elizabeth Williams.

 Walter and Elizabeth's last child was born on the 11th March 1899, at 25 Herries Street, Queens Park, in West London. our months later Walter was dead, dying on the 21st of June 1899, at St. Marys Hospital, in Paddington.

Cause of Death: Carcinoma of Caecum Asthenia.
Carcinoma = Cancer.
Caecum = Bowel Cancer
Asthenia = Loss of Strength.

Brought on after being kicked by a horse, the family believe.

Florence Williams second from bottom. Admission to Wilberforce Memorial School the 3rd September 1906, left 7th March 1913, aged 14.

2x GREAT GRANDFATHER  JOSEPH WILLIAMS:

 Joseph Williams was baptised on the 22nd February 1816, at West Bergholt, in Essex, the illegitimate son of Susannah Williams (his father’s surname was Cant). Joseph a cattle dealer and dealer in food, married Harriett Jarman on the 14th of April 1852 at St. Mary the Virgin, in West Bergholt. Harriett's surname had many different spellings Jarman, German ect.

He died before 1869, when his wife married George Gladwell on the 23rd October 1869 at West Bergholt.

1861 Census: West Bergholt, Essex.

Joseph Williams Head 44 Cattle Dealer, West Bergholt.
Harriett Williams Wife 33 Fordham.
Joseph & George Williams Sons 9 West Bergholt.
​Alfred Williams Son 6 West Bergholt.
​Walter Williams Son 4 West Bergholt.

3x great grandmother susannah williams;

 Susannah Williams was the illegitimate daughter of Elisabeth Williams, Susannah was baptised on the 20th May 1792 at West Bergholt, she had three illegitimate children by a man named Cant,  Joseph; George baptised the 24th May 1818, died in September 1818, burial 8th September 1818 at West Bergholt, and a daughter Sarah baptised the 15th October 1820 at West Bergholt. Susannah married Samuel Kettle a widower on the 19th September 1826 at St Mary the Virgin Church, in West Bergholt, a daughter Eliza Kettle was baptised the 17th June 1827 at West Bergholt. Susannah died in October 1832, burial 16th October 1832 at West Bergholt in Essex.

4x great grandmother Elisabeth Williams:

 Elisabeth Williams was born about 1761, she had at least one illegitimate child (Susannah) before she married Thomas Robinson the 10th November 1796 at West Bergholt, Elizabeth had a least one son with Thomas, John born in 1797. Elisabeth died in September 1818, burial 25th September 1818 at West Bergholt in Essex.