BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - SOUTH ANCESTORS WILLIAMS The following includes the first information I have come across concerning my 5G Grandparents 226-David WILLIAMS ( -1752) and 227-Elinor LEWIS ( -1752), parents of 4G Grandmother 113-Elizabeth WILLIAMS, wife of 112-Paul DOWLIN (1716-1801). (1885 Publications) The WILLIAMS farm of New Britain Township, Montgomery County, PA was originally part of a much larger patent of 4200 acres that made up a major section of southwestern New Britain. The WILLIAMS family owned their farm from 1722 to 1760. The WILLIAMS farm covered an area of 200 acres. “It extended from the Doylestown road northwest to the West branch of Neshaminy Creek, a distance of 268 perches, or five-sixths of a mile, and was 172 perches, or over a half mile in width. The county line is less than half a mile distant on the southwest. The present road from the county line to Doylestown appears to have been opened in the early part of 1731, though its site was doubtless used for travel a considerable time before that period. In 1731 the people of Montgomery Township petitioned to have the road extended from the county line to its present juncture with the Bethlehem turnpike.” “Fortunately, the old records give us a history of these lands from the beginning of the white settlement. Little however can be told concerning the successive owners except what is contained in the brief of title deeds, because personal or traditional knowledge of them has largely passed from the minds of men.” “The original great patent of 4200 acres held by Dennis ROCHFORD in Bucks and Montgomery counties, Penna., passed into the hands of four land speculators, Thomas SHUTE, Andrew HAMILTON, James STEELE, and George FITZWATER. It was Christmas day, 1720, that Thomas SHUTE, one of these Colonial magnates, conveyed to Abel MORGAN, the Welsh Baptist preacher, the amount of 270 acres. This was bounded by the present Doylestown and county line roads. Two years later , in 1722, James STEELE sold 212 acres more to Morgan, making a total of 482.” “It was in the same year, 1722, that Morgan sold 144 acres to a Welshman named David WILLIAMS, for the price of 60 Pounds – a sum that indicated that no improvements had been made on the land. WILLIAMS was therefore the original settler and the WILLIAMS family continued to hold the property thereafter for the next thirty-eight years. They were Baptists and probably adherents of Montgomery church, only a mile and a half distant.” “Here is the boundary of 1722: ‘Beginning at a black oak standing in Andrew HAMILTON’S line; then northwest 150 perches, by Abel MORGAN’S other land; then northwest by another course 118 perches, to a hickory standing by Neshaminy creek; thence northeast over Neshaminy, two times to the same side again to another hickory; thence southeast 239 perches by R. HAM’S and Andrew HAMILTON’S land, to a black oak; thence southeast by said HAMILTON’S land 111 perches, to place of beginning.’ This deed was witnessed by Peter CHAMBERLAIN and Benjamin GRIFFITH, afterwards pastor of Montgomery. “David WILLIAMS came here and built his humble dwelling as near a lasting spring of water as he could get it, and cleared some of the land surrounding the indispensable meadow that afforded winter hay for his cattle. His near neighbors were Douglas EVANS, Benjamin GRIFFITH, Daniel DAVIS, Owen THOMAS, Sr., and Thomas JOHN. In 1745 he made a further purchase of land of 56 acres, increasing the size of his plantation to 200 acres, which it long continued to remain. This annex was added to the northeast side, and was bought from Simon BUTLER, the famous justice, who gave law to the township for 40 years.” “After a life of thirty years spent here, David WILLIAMS grew old, and he died intestate about 1752. At the time of his death five children were mentioned, viz.: Isaac, Elizabeth, wife of Paul DOWLING, Enoch, Jane, and Margaret, wife of Edward WILLIAMS. The oldest son, Isaac, became the owner of the homestead, receiving in 1758 a quit claim from the others. In the year 1760, however, he sold out to a German, Abraham ORNDT, and removed to Philadelphia. This ended the WILLAMS ownership a century and a quarter ago.” *
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Elinor (LEWIS) WILLIAMS, David’s wife, became administrator of his estate but she died about three months later, before settling the estate. The men who were then appointed to evaluate the farm appeared in court to say it was impractical to divide the property, so it was adjudged to Isaac the oldest son. This record also lists the other siblings viz., Elizabeth, Enoch, Jane and Margaret. Elinor, unlike her husband, did leave a will. In it she names her brother, Thomas LEWIS, and J. EVANS to be guardians of her minor children. The Court made its final decree, 26 September 1752, and did appoint Thomas LEWIS and J. EVANS guardians of the youngest child, Margaret. SOURCE: Information from May 1885 newspaper article by Edward MATHEWS who, for about 25 years, wrote articles on the people of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, PA. Also, based on research by Cousin Dallas BRIGGS of Northglenn, CO. |