Descendants of Benajah Williams

These notes, which originally appeared nearly 17 years ago as a booklet, have since that time undergone only light revision, apart from the addition of extracts from Ontario civil vital records. They derive mostly from material gathered on the descendants of Benajah Williams’s third wife, Elizabeth Kennedy, intended for the projected but never-completed fourth edition of Cecelia and Roland Botting’s Descendants of John Kennedy of Sussex County, New Jersey. They are being made available in their present state to satisfy requests for copies of the booklet, of which only a small edition was produced. The compiler, while a Kennedy descendant, is only distantly related to Elizabeth Kennedy, and has no connection with the other wives of Benajah Williams. Thus, while improvements to these notes will be made as time permits, the pressures of other projects makes it presently impossible to accord them high priority.

Since the appearance of the booklet in 1992, new corrections have been received from Gloria Beek.

Preface (1992)

These notes originated in material gathered on the descendants of Benajah Williams’ third wife, Elizabeth Kennedy, which was to have been treated in the projected fourth edition of Cecelia and Roland Botting’s Descendants of John Kennedy of Sussex County, New Jersey. This arrangement failed on those authors’ deaths, so that the latest version of their work appeared in 1989; but in the course of this research considerable material was discovered relating to the descendants of Benajah Williams by his first two wives, which several persons have urged me to publish.

The progeny of the most prolific of Benajah Williams’s children, Lydia Williams, wife of James Leslie, is so extensive that it has had to be treated in a companion booklet, entitled The Descendants of James and Lydia (Williams) Leslie, of Erin Tp., Wellington Co., Ontario [presently out of print]. This has however proved to be a convenient division, as most of their family lived in another county from the one with which we are primarily concerned here.

The research presented in these notes was only begun in late September of 1991, leaving many sources still unexplored and much analysis to be accomplished [in order that they could be ready for submission to the Bottings]. I shall be grateful for notices of corrections or additions.

Acknowledgements

Mr. Albert H. Kennedy, of Coquitlam, B.C., sent a photocopy of the old Morris Kennedy family bible record. Mr. Joel A. Leslie, of Ingersoll, Ontario, provided a photocopy of the old Williams family bible record and a copy of his sister’s book, Historical Sketch of the Leslie Clan. Mr. William E. Britnell, of Mississauga, Ontario (not a descendant of the present family) provided a number of marriage and burial records from his extensive and invaluable collection of transcripts. Mr. J.K. Williams and his sister, Mrs. Helen E. (Williams) Jackson, of Weston, Ontario, read an earlier draft of this material and provided a variety of useful addenda. Miss Elva Pearen, of Acton, Ontario, forwarded through her nephew, Mr. C. Wayne Aitken, of the same place, a copy of a newspaper clipping relating to the Williams family. Mrs. Edna M. Phillips, of Burlington, a descendant of Morris Kennedy, kindly copied for us some Williams materials in the Georgetown Public Library. Mr. John Mark Rowe, of Glen Williams, the village historian, and Archives Officer of the Esquesing Historical Society, kindly shared his extensive research on the Williams family, the result of many years’ work. Mr. Glen Williams, of Gravenhurst, Ontario, provided data on his branch of the family.

Abbreviations of Frequently-Cited Sources

First Canadian Generation

1. Benajah Williams, of Esquesing Tp. (now in Halton County), Upper Canada, was b. 22 Aug. 1765 (WFB), perhaps in New York State, and d. 22 or 23 Nov. 1851, presumably in Esquesing Tp.^[1] He m. (1) by 1785, ________, who d. by 1791.^[2] He m. (2) in 1785-92, a second wife [perhaps Sarah Wilson or Wilton^[3]], alive in June 1796 but dead by 1806. He m. (3) [in 1804-06],^[4] Elizabeth Kennedy, b. 27 July 1788 in New Jersey (FB, WFB), who d. v.p. 26 Jan. 1842 (WFB, GWC), presumably in Esquesing Tp., eldest daughter of John Kennedy, Jr., of St. Ann’s, Gainsborough Tp., Lincoln Co., by the latter’s wife Charity (Wurts) Kennedy (DJK, p. 31).
    Nothing certain has been discovered concerning the origins of Benajah Williams, except that, as will be shown below, he came from the state of New York. It is perhaps only than a coincidence that a younger Benajah Williams is found at Merdon, Monroe Co., N.Y. in 1820.^[5]
    Respecting Benajah’s parentage there are two discrepant traditions. Ruggle (p. 2), following information which he received from the late Barbara (McLennan) Williams, states: “Benajah [Williams] … had been born in the colony of New York, whence [sic] his father Roger had emigrated from Wales.” But Mrs. Williams’ sister-in-law, Helen (Williams) Jackson, states in a letter to the present compiler of 5 Jan. 1992: “It is my impression that Benajah was the son of Charles, and Charles was the son of Roger who came from Wales to the U.S.A, but … this information is just a vague memory.” On the face of it the latter version seems more credible, as the name Roger is completely absent from the progeny of Benajah Williams, whereas the name Charles is well-represented. In any case, there is some faint evidence that Benajah Williams was indeed of Welsh origin.^[6]
    Ruggle (p. 2) makes a puzzling statement about Benajah’s marriages when he states, “His third wife, Elizabeth (1797-1851) bore some of his fifteen children,” and then attributes to her the children of Elizabeth Kennedy. These dates are chronologically impossible for the mother of a child born in 1806, and are closer to those of his own daughter, Elizabeth (Williams) Kennedy, than to those of his third wife. While it is of course possible that Benajah could have married a fourth time to a woman with such dates, there is no such person buried with him in Glen Williams Cemetery.
    According to the old Williams family bible record,^[7] Benajah Williams was in New York State when his eldest son Darius was born in 1785.^[8] More specifically, a death notice of Darius to be cited below states that he was born at “Nine Pardons, near Albany,” obviously meaning the Nine Partners patent (now called Washington Precinct) in Dutchess Co. The earliest contemporary record we have found of Benajah Williams is an abstract of his land petition, which is entered in the minutes of the Council at Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake), U.C., under date of 12 Aug. 1795:

This document would suggest that he came to Upper Canada about 1786. Thompson (Appendices, p. 71), having stated that Williams was of Welsh descent, continues: “Benajah Williams was a U.E. Loyalist, and when he abandoned his possessions in the United States located at Thorold, on the farm now known as the John Gordon property.” While Benajah Williams would not seem to fulfil the strictest definition of a Loyalist — the original Loyalist settlements were completed in 1784, when he was still in the U.S., and no suggestion has been found of his having performed military service which would have detained him there past the end of the Revolutionary War^[11] — yet his arrival was evidently before 9 November 1789, the absolute limit for qualification. The proclamation which established this final and rather generous limit set the minimum land award for Loyalists at 200 acres.^[12] That Benajah Williams was granted as much land as he was suggests that his claim to have arrived before this date was not challenged. After some delay, he eventually got parts of the lots he had requested in 1795, receiving patents for 100 acres in lot 113 of Thorold in 1801, and for a further 100 acres of lot 90 in 1803.^[13] He also managed to have his son John granted 220 acres in lots 201 and 202 in 1802.^[14]
In the meantime, Williams was trying to obtain further land in Townsend Tp., an effort which seems never to have been successful. In the minutes of the Council at Newark for 31 March 1797 we find him reporting a case of official misconduct:

The result of his information was that soon afterward, the minutes of 11 April 1797 resolved

Finally, the minutes of the Council at York of 4 July 1797, while not referring directly to the previous scandal, contain a lengthy “Report of persons recommended by Paul Averill … and other circumstances relative to the township of Townsend,”^[17] which seems to have been intended to address the resultant confusion. This concludes with a list of “persons [who] also applied to the office for permission to make actual settlement in this township, but having prior locations in the province, were informed the township would not be thrown open sooner that the first of July next and that no authority or security could be given them.” This list includes the name of “Benaiah Williams,” who had asked for lot 13, concession 8.^[18] No subsequent record of this matter has been found, and it seems unlikely that he was ever awarded land in Townsend.
    There is, therefore, no evidence that after his arrival in Canada he lived anywhere but in the Niagara area before 1803, when his land in Thorold is mentioned under his name in a letter relating to the construction of a highway.^[19] It was about this time that Benajah Williams married, as his third wife, Elizabeth Kennedy, who was nearly 33 years younger than himself. Their first child was born in Gainsborough Tp., Lincoln Co. in 1806, their second through fourth children in Stamford Tp. in the same county between 1809 and 1813, and their fifth through tenth in Gainsborough, again, between 1816 and 1824 (WFB). In 1816, when he was living on lot 8, concession 6 of Gainsborough, he voted for Robert Nelles in the latter’s contest with Cyrus Sumner for the representation of West Lincoln in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada (AF, 10:8). In 1822 he purchased the east half of lot 5, concession 1 of Erin Tp., Wellington Co. (where he probably never lived, and which he sold in 1835 to his daughter Lydia Williams Leslie).^[20] In 1825 he purchased from the devisees of the late James Muirhead of Niagara a whole lot in Esquesing Tp., Halton Co., which would become (with an adjacent lot in the ninth concession which he purchased from the crown in 1829) the site of the town of Williamsburg,^[21] afterward Glen Williams.^[22] Probably that year,^[23] he took his family there, with the exception of the sons of his first marriage (who were already settled in Thorold), of his daughter Elizabeth (of whom we shall speak directly), and possibly of his daughter Mary. There, in Esquesing, his youngest children David and Eva were born in 1827 and 1829.
    His was not the very first family to settle in the area, for they were preceded there in 1819 by his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Charles Kennedy, of Wildwood, slightly to the west,^[24] possibly by the latter’s brother Samuel, and certainly by Samuel’s parents-in-law the Stulls.^[25] But Benajah Williams’ land was not directly adjacent to theirs and he was very isolated. “When he and his family settled on the property there was not a clearing near him, nothing but a dense forest, and they in common with all the early pioneers suffered many privations … but still they kept up good hearts, and worked with a will and trusted in Providence.”^[26]
    As to why he chose such a desolate place to settle, it seems reasonable to assume that, having previously learned the miller’s trade, he was attracted by the “magnificent water privilege” which was “second to none on the River Credit.”^[27] There he “built the first sawmill, grist and carding mill in Esquesing.”^[28] This was at about the same time that his brother-in-law George Kennedy was building a sawmill and woollen mill at nearby Hungry Hollow (later to be renamed Georgetown). The Williams family retained most of their land into the 1840s and beyond, although in 1833 Benajah Williams did sell an acre and a half on the south side of the River Credit to Peter Fox, a tanner.^[29]
    In 1840 Benajah Williams “put his shaky signature to the deed” which sold for five shillings a piece of his land to the Glen Williams Episcopal Methodist Church, whose first minister was his brother-in-law Morris Kennedy.^[30]
    Benajah and Elizabeth Williams, who themselves deserve to be remembered for the founding of Glen Williams, had a number of descendants of note, at least in their own localities. Two (their son Charles Williams and his son Benajah Williams) were magistrates, two (their son Charles Williams and their great-grandson James Alfred Owens) were J.P.s, and another (their great-grandson Thomas Joel Leslie) was a township Reeve. For several generations their descendants were almost exclusively Methodists, with two (their son the Rev. David Williams, and the Rev. Dr. Charles W. Leslie) becoming ministers, and three (their daughter Lydia Williams Leslie and her children John Leslie and Elizabeth Leslie Snyder) being instrumental in the building of a church. Lydia Leslie is said to have planted the first apple orchard in Erin Tp., and in that township alone there were in 1967 at least five “century farms” owned by her descendants, which have been greatly improved over the years.^[31] Finally, it can be said without exaggeration that Benajah Williams and his Kennedy in-laws laid the foundations of the manufacturing industry in Esquesing township.

Second Canadian Generation

2. Joel Williams, of Esquesing Tp., Halton County, elder son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 30 March 1806 in Gainsborough Tp., Lincoln County (WFB), and d. 7 Feb. 1871 on his farm in Esquesing Tp. (GPL, JMR).^[98] He possibly m. (1) ________.^[99] He certainly m. (possibly for a second wife) before 1835, Adeline Bedford, b. ca. 1808, alive in 1881, believed to have been a sister of Elizabeth Bedford, wife of Joel Williams’s maternal uncle, George Kennedy, of Georgetown.^[100] The earliest record we have found of Joel Williams in adult life is his purchase from the Crown of lot 21, concession 11 of Esquesing, in 1833, when he is called a blacksmith in the deed.^[101] On 31 Aug. 1838 he purchased the west half of lot 21, concession 11 of Esquesing (JMR). The 1842 census lists “Joel and Isaac Williams, clothiers.”^[102] Isaac Williams was a witness to the deed of 1851 by which his brother Charles gave land for the creation of Glen Williams Cemetery, and calls himself a carpenter thereon. JMR says that Joel Williams was called a mechanic in 1856. In Tremaine’s map of 1857 Joel Williams is shown as the owner of lot 21, concession 11 of Esquesing. The 1861 census calls him a farmer and gives his religion as “Episcopal,” doubtless in this case an error for “Episcopal Methodist.”^[103] Living with him were a “Jaoel [sic] W. ….” and a “John ….” whose surnames are almost completely illegible but who must (as JMR points out) be his Sahli grandchildren. Joel Williams died before the taking of the 1871 census but appears in the death schedule (cited above) as a farmer and an Episcopal Methodist; the remainder of his family has not been located in that census. His widow appears in the 1881 census in the household of her daughter Mary (Williams) Walker. Children, so far as known:

3. Charles Williams, of Glen Williams, son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 15 Dec. 1811 in Stamford Tp., Lincoln Co.,^[155] and d. 1 Feb. 1889, aged 77 years (GWC and death notice). He was taken by his parents in 1824 to Williamsburg (later renamed Glen Williams) and inherited from his father 350 acres of land surrounding the town. In the 1830s he built the old red brick store in Glen Williams near the post office which was later owned by the Wheeler family.^[156] He m. 11 Sept. 1836 (GPL), Mary Jane Browne,^[157] b. ca. Aug. 1816 at Newton [in co. Armaugh], Ireland (GPL), d. 13 Dec. 1879, aged 63 years, 4 months (GWC). He was patented half of lot 25 in the ninth concession on 24 July 1841, and in the north half of lot 20 in the 10th concession in 1856.^[158] Some of this land had been his brother Jacob’s (Tremaine). By 1861 he held all of lots 21 in the 9th, 10th, and 11th concessions (totalling 600 acres), as well as the north half of 2 lot 21, concession 10 (100 acres), and the east half of lot 25, concession 9 and the west half of lot 25, concession 10, forming a lOO-acre farm (Map 61; cf. Tremaine). Charles Williams inherited the saw mill at Glen Williams built in 1825 by his father. In 1871 it employed five persons and was producing $6000 worth of lumber per year.^[159] He was still running it in 1877, when it was handling 14,000 feet of lumber a day.^[160] By 1877 he purchased from John Hunt a lath factory known as the Bobbin factory.^[161] On the death of his brother Jacob Williams in 1853, Charles Williams inherited or purchased the Glenwilliams Woollen Mills. In 1866 it was totally destroyed by fire.^[162] It was rebuilt in 1867 “of stone, on a much larger scale.^[163] It “was plagued by bad fortune, however, as the work progressed…. A number of people were raising some heavy timber to the upper portion of the factory, when the beam on which they were standing broke, and they were hurled down 30 feet to the cellar. Three men were killed, and many more were injured.” One of those killed was William Roden, the husband of Charles Kennedy’s niece Melissa T. Williams.^[164] In 1871 this factory employed 17 persons and was producing $14,000 a-year in “tweeds and blankets.”^[165] It was again destroyed by fire in 1875, when Charles’s son Benajah became the proprietor, and rebuilt it again.^[166]
    Finally, Charles Williams owned by the mid-1860s a flour mill, which in 1871 employed one person and was producing $2200 a-year worth of flour and feed.^[167] In 1878 he turned it over to his son Joseph.^[168]
    Charles Williams is listed in a directory of 1852 as a “miller and lumber merchant,”^[169] in one of 1857 as a “postmaster, mill owner, and woollen factor,”^[170] and in another of 1877 as a “P[rovincial] M[agistrate], J.P., Lumberman, etc.”^[171] He was made a magistrate in 1855, along with his uncle George Kennedy.^[172] In the 1861 census of Esquesing he is styled “Esq.” and no occupation is listed.^[173] In 1871 he is called a manufacturer.^[174] Both give his religion as Episcopal Methodist. By 1877 he had disposed of much of his land, selling the north half of lot 21, concession 9 to James Bradley, the east quarter of the north half of lot 21, concession 10 to A. Cook, and all of lot 21, concession 11 to James Owens (husband of Anna, daughter of Joel Williams) and James Clark.^[175] Charles Williams appears with the family of his daughter Lydia in the 1881 census, in which he is called a Postmaster and his religion given as Episcopal Methodist.^[176] An unidentified and undated newspaper clipping states that he owned a general store.^[177]
    An informative notice appeared in the local newspaper on our subject’s death in 1889:

Charles Williams Sr., son of Benajah Williams, was born in the township of Stamford, County of Welland, on the 15th. December, 1811. In 1824 he removed with his father to Glenwilliams where he resided until his death. The father purchased 400 acres of land where Glenwilliams now stands from a Mr. Muirhead of Niagara. The country, in this section, was then a dense forest, that required many a hard day’s work to bring it to its present state of prosperity. The water privileges on this land were scarcely surpassed in the province, and for many years well-known and prosperous manufacturing industries have been and are still carried on here. The deceased, after his father’s death, continued operations in the saw mill, grist mill and woollen mill, and after his retirement these were continued in operation by the sons of the deceased. The saw and grist mills are still controlled and run by Mr. Joseph Williams.
Charles Williams, Sr. had a family of six, four boys and two girls [not counting a daughter who died in infancy]. Five of these are still living, one a son of twenty-one having died almost immediately after finishing his course in medicine. The remaining children are Joseph of Glenwilliams; Benajah, of Kaukakee, Ill., Darius of Georgetown; Mrs. T. Board of Glenwilliams; and Mrs. Dr. Forster of Palmerston.
For some months the deceased had been ill and his death was not unexpected. On Friday evening he peacefully passed away in the blessed hope of eternal life. The funeral took place on Monday, when the remains were interred in the cemetery at Glenwilliams.^[178]

Ruggle, the village historian, describes Charles Williams as “the man who seemed at the centre of most of the endeavours of the fledgling community, and who was given the respectful title of Squire Williams.”^[179] He was one of the first trustees of the Episcopal Methodist Church, founded in 1840 (and whose first minister was his uncle, Morris Kennedy).^[180] On his father’s death in 1851, he donated a plot of land to the village of Glen Williams for use as an interdenominational burial ground.^[181] Many members of his family would be buried there. An autographed engraving of Charles Williams is given in ACH, p. 44, and an engraving of his house in ACH, p. 50.
Children (apart from any others who may have died in infancy):^[182]

Joseph of Glenwilliams; Benajah, of Kaukakee, Ill., Darius of Georgetown; Mrs. T. Board of Glenwilliams; and Mrs. Dr. Forster of Palmerston.

Elizabeth Williams, b. 6 July 1837 at Glen Williams, d. 17 Aug. 1913, aged over 76 years (death notice, cited below). She m. 26 July 1854 (ACW, BPL), Dr. Moffitt Forster, M.D., b. 3 April 1831 at Streetsville,^[183] d. 5 May 1925 at Toronto [at the age of over 94 years],^[184] son of James Forster (the elder), of Streetsville, Toronto Tp., Peel Co. (and afterward of Glen Williams) by the latter’s second wife, Elizabeth Moffitt,^[185] and an uncle of the eminent portrait-painter J.W.L. Forster.^[186]
    An informative death notice of Elizabeth (Williams) Forster reads as follows:
After many months of failing health Elizabeth Williams, wife of Dr. M. Forster, Toronto, fell asleep in the early hours on Sunday morning [17 August]. Her life was full of years of loving deeds and affectionate service. She was born at Glenwilliams, was daughter of the late Chas. Williams and had reached her seventy-seventh year. In her young womanhood she married Dr. Forster, who was also a native of the township, Norval being his birth place. She shared with attentive solicitude the strenuous and trying life of a country physician with more than wifely devotedness. Their most active years were spent at Thorndale, Acton and Palmerston. Upon retiring from business they removed to Toronto. Mrs. Forster was a devout and zealous member of the Methodist Church from her girlhood, a leading worker within the circle of its activities. Her sorrowing partner and five sons and daughters survive. James, Toronto; Dr. Fred J.R., Stratford; Mrs. Geo. F. Stewart, Belleville; Mrs. (Rev. Dr.) T. Albert Moore, Toronto, and Miss Elizabeth at home. All were at her bedside except Mrs. Moore, who with her husband leave England for home this week after their three months’ European tour.^[187]

    A brief memoir of her husband published in 1906,^[188] and his death notices, are the main sources for the following account of his life: He was born at or near Streetsville, and raised and educated there. He is said to have been a miller at Georgetown before attending medical school (JMR). He took a degree at the Medical Branch of Victoria College, known as the Ralph School, graduating in 1865,^[189] and commenced his practice in Erin Tp. later that year. About 1870 he removed to Thorndale, in West Nissouri Tp., Middlesex Co., “in which district he was a well-known figure for several years.”^[190] There he served a ten-year term as coroner of Middlesex County, and was local Superintendent of Schools for West Nissouri. He was also the second Master, in 1874, of Mount Olivet Lodge, No. 300, of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.^[191] In 1884 he went to Palmerston, in Minto Tp., Wellington Co., “and opened a drug store which he placed in charge of his son, James E. Forster, devoting his own time to his practice.”^[192] In 1894 he was appointed Coroner for Wellington Co., in 1894, which position he still retained in 1906. He was a member of the Methodist church, and “one of the leading citizens of Palmerston.”^[193] He retired about 1907 to Toronto, where he was an attendant at Wesley Church.
    Moffitt Forster’s family is enumerated in the 1871 census of West Nissouri Tp., Middlesex Co., in which he is called a medical doctor, his ethnicity given as English, and his family’s religion as Episcopal Methodist.^[194] He also appears in the 1891 census of Palmerston Village, which calls him a physician.^[195]
    Two children, Charles W. Forster and Millie M. Forster (the latter aged three months) are buried in the Williams plot in Glen Williams Cemetery.^[196] Children (aside from the two just named who died young):
1. James Edward Forster, b. probably in 1857 (aged 55 in 1912) at Glen Williams (per marriage record), alive in 1925. In his youth, as stated above, he managed his father’s pharmacy in Palmerston. He was still living unmarried with his parents in 1891, when the census calls him a druggist. He was living at Toronto in 1913 and 1925. He m. 2 Jan. 1912 at Toronto, according to Methodist rites,^[197] Violet Anne Irwine, b. 1869-70 (aged 42 in 1912) at Maple, York Co., daughter of Andrew Irwine, a merchant, by the latter’s wife Susan Logan (?). At the time of their marriage the groom was of Port Stanley, Elgin Co., and the bride of Toronto.
2. Mary J. Forster, b. ca. 1861, alive in 1925. She m. probably by 1891, George F. Stewart.^[198] She was living with her parents in 1871 but not in 1891. In 1906 her husband was “of the Deaf and Dumb Institute, Belleville.” (ACM) She was still living at Belleville in 1913 and 1925.
3. Lydia Elisabeth Forster, b. ca. 1863, alive in 1925. In 1891 she and her younger sister Anne are called clerks in a fancy-goods shop. She was still living (presumably unmarried) with her parents in 1906 (ACW) and on her mother’s death in 1913, and was living with her father at the time of his death in 1925.
4. Annie Laurie Forster, b. 14 Aug. 1865, d. 23 July 1950, and buried with her husband in Fairview Cemetery, Acton.^[199] She was still living with her parents in 1891, when she and her elder sister Lydia were clerks in a fancy-goods shop. She m. (as his second wife) 22 June 1897,^[200] The Very Rev. Thomas Albert Moore, D.D., S.T.D., LL.D., b. 29 June 1860 at Acton, d. 31 March 1940 at Toronto, and buried in Fairview Cemetery, Acton, son of Edward and Elizabeth (Hemstreet) Moore, of Acton, Esquesing Tp.^[201] (He had been previously married in 1884 to Mary Melissa Newton, 1861-1896, who was the mother of his three eldest children.^[202]) At the time of their marriage both parties were residing at Palmerston. Albert Moore was received on trial by the Methodist Church in 1880 and ordained in 1884. He was President of the Hamilton Conference from 1902 onward, Secretary of the General Conference of the Methodist Church from 1906 to 1922, Secretary of the Joint Committee on Church Union from 1914 to 1925, and Secretary of the General Council of the United Church of Canada from 1925 to 1936. He was thus the first general secretary of the new church, to the formation of which he had contributed substantially. He was elected Moderator thereof in 1932. After his retirement he returned to preaching.
  “During the critical and formative time just after Church Union, he did much to shape and fashion the whole legal and administrative structure of our church.” (Encyclopedia of World Methodism) “Moore’s managerial skills and evangelistic enthusiasm made him a leader in the fight for social improvement.” (Canadian Encyclopedia).
  Children:
  1. Norma Forster Moore, b. __ Jan 1900, d. [unmarried?] 1976, and buried with her parents in Fairview Cemetery, Acton; unmarried on her father’s death in 1940.
  2. Dorothy Grace Moore, b. __ July 1903, d. [unmarried?] 1976, and buried with her parents in Fairview Cemetery, Acton; unmarried on her father’s death in 1940.
5. Dr. Frederick Joseph Richardson Forster, b. probably in 1874 (aged 25 in 1900, 40 in 1915) at Thorndale, Nissouri Tp. (per marriage records), alive in 1925. He was still living with his parents in 1891, but by 1906 became “a specialist in diseases of eye, ear, nose, and throat, in Toronto” (ACW). At his mother’s death he was living at Stratford, Ontario, and was still there at his father’s death in 1925. He m. (1) 22 Aug. 1900 in Wentworth Co.,^[203] Rhoda Florella (?) Featherstone, b. 1873-74 (aged 26 in 1900) in Nelson Tp., d. by 1915, daughter of Joseph Featherstone and Matilda Stenabaugh. At the time of their marriage he was of Caistor Tp., and she of Acton. He m. (2) 22 June 1915 in Wellington Co., according to Methodist rites,^[204] Ina May Kelly, b. 1881-82 (aged 33 in 1915) at Guelph, daughter of Charles Wesley Kelly and Sanderson Belfy Kelly. At the time of the marriage he was a physician, of the City of Stratford, Perth Co., and his wife was of the City of Guelph, Wellington Co.
Sarah Williams, b. 30 Nov. 1838 in Esquesing Tp., d. 23 or 25 July 1839, aged 7 months, 24 days, and buried with her parents (GWC).
Lydia Williams, b. 26 Dec. 1840, d. 1 Oct. 1916 at Glen Williams,^[205] and buried with her second husband (BWC). She m. (1) 11 April 1859 in Halton Co. (CMRO Halton), Henry Webster, b. ca. 1832-33 in Ireland, d. 4 Nov. 1860, aged 26 years (GWC), son of Thomas and Mary W. Webster. Her first husband was of Glen Williams at the time of their marriage. After his death shortly thereafter she went back to live with her father, and is found with him in the censuses of 1861 and 1871. She m. (2) some time in 1871-76, Thomas Board, b. ca. Oct. 1852 in England of English parentage, d. 1 March 1906, aged 53 years, 5 months (GWC). She and her second husband appear in the 1881 census of Esquesing, in which he seems to be called a glove-maker, and their religion is given as Canadian Methodist.^[206] The 1891 census calls him a glove manufacturer and gives their religion as Methodist; at that time an Edward Board (aged 42) and an Eli Board (aged 35), “lodgers,” were living with them.^[207] Thomas Board was the owner of the Dominion Glove Works in Georgetown (JMR). After the death of Charles Williams in 1889, the Boards took up residence in his home (JMR). Children, so far as known:
(By first husband:)
1. Mary Jane Webster, b. ca. May 1860, d. 24 April 1861, aged 11 months, and buried with her father (GWC).
(By second husband:)
1. Vera Ellen Board,^[208] b. 15 April 1876, d. [unmarried] 15 Nov. 1950 (CWC).
2. Mary J. Board, b. 27 May 1878 (GPL), alive in 1891, of whom no further record has been found.
10Benajah Williams, b. 8 Sept. 1842 in Esquesing Tp.
11Joseph Williams, b. 16 March 1844 in Esquesing Tp.
Charles Williams, Jr., b. 20 Oct. 1845 at Glen Williams, d. v.p. and presumably unmarried 8 Oct. 1868, aged 23 years, and buried with his parents (GWC). He was living with his parents in 1861. This is pretty surely the Charles Williams, son of “Mr. Charles Williams [of] Glen Williams,” who was enrolled in 1863 in the strangely-named Eclectic Female Institute of Brampton, where in fact more than half the students were male.^[209] He was a medical student at the time of his death (JMR), and is alluded to in his father’s death notice as “a son of twenty-one … [who] died almost immediately after finishing his course in medicine.”
12Darius Williams, b. 5 Oct. 1847 at Glen Williams.

4. Jacob Williams, of Glen Williams, son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 21 March 1816 in Gainsborough Tp., Lincoln Co. (WFB), d. 12 July 1853 at Glen Williams (WFB, JMR), and was buried in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC).^[210] He m. by 1840, Frances Heustis Beek, b. ca. 1822 at Frederickton, New Brunswick, d. 13 Nov. 1887 at Glen Williams, aged 65 years, daughter of John Beek and Mary L. Heustis.^[211] Jacob Williams erected a woollen mill at Glen Williams in 1839.^[212] He was one of the first trustees of the Episcopal Methodist Church, founded in 1840 (and whose first minister was his uncle, Morris Kennedy).^[213] He was a witness to the deed of 1851 by which his brother Charles gave land for the creation of Glen Williams Cemetery. He is listed as a “woollen manufacturer” in a directory of 1852.^[214] He died the following year, and his death notices state that he was “survived by his wife, Fanny, and four children.” His land was left to his son Jacob, in care of his wife (JMR). On his death his mill was purchased by his brother Charles Williams.^[215] His widow “had a brick house built on Mountain Street, where she spent the rest of her days.” (JMR)
His widow appears in the 1861 census, in which her family’s religion is given as Wesleyan, and their home is described as a brick house of 1½ stories.^[216] In the 1871 census, in which her family’s religion is given as Wesleyan Methodist.^[217]
Children, so far as known:^[218]

Mary Williams, b. ca. July 1840, d. 19 Jan. 1843, aged 2 years, 6 months, and buried with her parents (GWC).
Melissa T./J. Williams, b. ca. 1841 in Halton Co., alive in 1861, but we have not found her in the 1881 census. She m. 26 July 1859 in Halton Co. (CMRO), William Roden, b. ca. 1835 in Ireland, killed in 1868 at Glen Williams in a fall, son of John and Margaret (____) Roden. At the time of their marriage both she and her husband were of Glen Williams. They were living with her mother in 1861. “He opened a grocery store in the village in 1865.^[219] After the woollen mill [belonging to his wife’s uncle Charles Williams] burnt in 1867, he was assisting to rebuild it in 1868, when he was killed in an accident.” (JMR) According to JMR, they had four children, but we do not know the names.
Catherine Williams, b. 1845 in Halton Co., d. 1923 (JMR). She was living unmarried with her mother in 1871.
Frances Elizabeth Williams, b. ca. 1848 in Halton Co., d. 4 Feb. 1861, aged 12 years, and buried with her parents (GWC).
Jacob Irvine Williams (only son), b. ca. 1852 in Halton Co., d. 30 Oct. 1879, aged 27 years, and buried with his parents (GWC), m. 1 Jan. 1873, by licence, in Halton Co.^[220] Susan Phoebe Forster, b. ca. 1855 in Ontario, presumably at or near Streetsville, d. 15 July 1919, aged 63 years, and buried beside her husband,^[221] daughter of John and ____ Forster, of Streetsville, Toronto Tp., Peel Co., and possibly later of Glen Williams, and sister of Elizabeth Forster, wife of Joseph Williams, below. The Tremaine map of 1857 still lists him as the owner of his father’s land in lot 21 of concession 9 and lot 21 of concession 10 of Esquesing, but this property was later purchased by his uncle, Charles Williams. Jacob Williams appears with his mother in the 1861 and 1871 censuses, in the latter of which he is called a wood-turner. Only known child:
1. John Irvine Williams, b. 1876 at Acton (per marriage record), d. 1953, and buried beside his father in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC). He m. 19 June 1906 in Esquesing Tp., Halton Co., according to Methodist rites,^[222] Mary Josephine Cleave, b. 1882 at Palermo (per marriage record), d. 1963 (GWC), daughter of William Cleave and Agnes Walker.^[223] At the time of their marriage, the record of which gives the full names of both sets of parents, the groom was a merchant, of Georgetown, and the bride was of Esquesing Tp.

5. Isaac Williams, of Glen Williams, son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 11 March 1820 in Gainsborough Tp., Lincoln Co. (WFB), d. 8 June 1911, aged 91 years, 3 months, and was buried in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC). He m. 6 Dec. 1842 (JMR), Sarah Marian Ackert, b. ca. 27 March 1824 in Ontario, possibly at Georgetown,^[224] d. 12 March 1897, aged 72 years, 11 months, 15 days, and buried with her (estranged) husband in Glen. Williams Cemetery (GWC). The earliest record we have found of Joel Williams in adult life is an entry in the 1842 census, which lists “Joel and Isaac Williams, clothiers.”^[225] JMR says that there is another record of 1842 calling him a tanner, and one of 1851 calling him a cabinet-maker. He and his wife were living at Georgetown in 1844, when their son George was born; at Glen Williams in 1848, when their son John was born, and in Guelph Tp., Wellington Co. in 1850, when their son Joseph was born. But Ruggle seems to place him in Georgetown later in the 1850s, for he says that he had been “in partnership with John Holt, making pumps and shingles, though they dissolved their partnership by mutual agreement in 1856. Isaac continued in woodworking and in the mid-sixties had a chair and cabinet factory. And he had the traditional side-line of making coffins.”^[226]
Isaac Williams and his wife appear in the 1871 census of Eramosa Tp., Wellington Co., in which he is called a farmer and their religion given as Episcopal Methodist.^[227] They may have returned to Glen Williams by 1875, when they buried their son Isaac there. Isaac Williams separated from his wife about 1877 (JMR). He is not found in the 1881 census of Esquesing, but she appears in the 1891 census, erroneously called a widow.^[228] A brief announcement of the proving of her will appeared in a local newspaper: “Sarah Maria Williams, of Glenwilliams, married woman, died on the 12th of March, 1897. James Wesley Williams, of Guelph, was granted the administration of the estate on 3rd of April. The estate consists of $145 personalty and $200.”^[229] At the time of his wife’s death in 1897, Isaac Williams described himself as a doctor, of Port Huron, Michigan (JMR).
Children, so far as known (IGI):

George Howard Williams, b. 7 Sept. 1844 at Georgetown, alive in 1881. He m. by 1870, Mary Ann Dalwin, alive in 1881. They are found in Holland Tp., Grey Co. North, in the 1881 census.^[230] Known issue:
1. James Wesley Williams, b. 4 Aug. 1870 in Eramosa Tp., Wellington Co., a student in 1881, still alive at his mother’s death in 1897. In the IGI there is a James Wesley Williams who m. Annie Frances Bourne and had a son Louis Howard Williams, b. 14 Aug. 1921 at Shenston, in the Rainy River District.
2. Sarah Maria Williams, b. 1871-72 (aged 9 in 1881); a student in 1881.
3. William John Williams, b. 1873-74 (aged 7 in 1881); a student in 1881.
4. George Lewis Williams, b. 1875-76 (aged 5 in 1881).
5. Albert E. Williams, b. 1878-79 (aged 2 in 1881).
John Henry Williams, b. 1848 at Glen Williams (per marriage record). He m. 16 July 1872 in Wellington Co.,^[231] Mary Ann Royce, b. 1853-54 (aged 18 in 1872) at Parkenham, Caledon Tp., daughter of William and Mary Ann (____) Royce. At the time of their marriage, the record of which gives the names of both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the groom was a pump-maker, of Eramosa Tp., and the bride was of Parkenham, Caledon Tp.; the witnesses were Peter Williams, of Eramosa, and Adeline Abbot, of Balinafad Tp.
Joseph Williams, b. 7 July 1850 in Guelph Tp., Wellington Co.
Peter Nelson Williams,^[232] b. ca. 1853, alive in 1871.
Isaac Albert Williams, b. 1856, d. 23 Jan. 1875, aged 18 years and 5 or 6 months, and buried with his parents (GWC).
Wesley Williams, b. ca. 1859, alive in 1871.

6. Israel Williams, of Middleton Tp., Norfolk Co., son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 9 July 1824 in Gainsborough Tp. (WFB), and was still alive in 1881. He m. by 1851, Eunice ____, b. ca. 1826 in Ontario, alive in 1871 but possibly d. by 1881. The 1861 census of Esquesing calls him a laborer and gives his religion as Wesleyan.^[233] They appear in the 1871 census of Middleton Tp., Norfolk Co., in which he is called a pump-maker, and his family’s religion given as Episcopal Methodist.^[234] In the 1881 census he is called a farmer; his marital status is given as “M” but there is no-one else in the household.^[235] Children, so far as known:

Elizabeth Williams, b. ca. 1851, living with her parents in 1861 but not in 1871. She m. 17 May 1869,^[236] the considerably older Stephen Nelson, b. 1835-36 (aged 33 in 1869) Canada, son of Robert and Melinda (____) Nelson. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, both parties were of Middleton Tp. However, by the taking of the 1881 census they had removed to Proton Tp., in Grey County; Stephen Nelson is called a farmer therein.^[237] Known issue:
1. Mary Eliza Nelson, b. 1869-70 (aged 11 in 1881) in Ontario.
2. Elsey Jane Nelson, b. 24 Aug. 1872 in Lincoln Co., alive in 1881.
3. Ellis Edwin Nelson, b. 9 Feb. 1883 in Grey Co.
Charles Williams, b. ca. 1854, living unmarried with his parents in 1871.
Anne Catharine Williams, b. 1855-56 (aged 28 in 1883) in Grimsby Tp., living with her parents in 1871 but not in 1881. She m. 5 Sept. 1883 at Harriston, Minto Tp., Wellington Co., according to Methodist rites,^[238] William James Hubbard, b. 1852-53 (aged 30 in 1883) in Cavan Tp., son of George and Elizabeth (____) Hubbard. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the bride was of Clifford Tp. and groom was a farmer, of Minto Tp. No issue found.
Jacob/Edwin Williams,^[239] b. ca. 1858, living with his parents in 1871.
Jane Williams, b. ca. 1864, alive in 1871.

7. The Rev. David Williams,^[240] son of Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Kennedy, was b. 24 Feb. 1827 in Esquesing Tp. (WFB), d. 15 Dec. 1902, aged over 75 years, and buried with many of his family Delhi Cemetery, Windham Tp., Norfolk Co., at a site marked by an impressive obelisk of red granite.^[241] He m. by 1853, Laura Ann Page,^[242] b. ca. 1831 in Ontario, d. 1 Jan. 1898 “in her 87th year,” and buried with her husband. David Williams followed in the footsteps of his maternal uncle, the Rev. Morris Kennedy, and in 1864 entered the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, which like the better-known Primitive Methodists was a rival to the official Wesleyan Methodist Church. The ministers of this church are not well documented, and it is not always known where he was stationed during this period (though some indication is garnered from the fact that he appears in the 1871 and 1881 censuses of Windham Tp., Norfolk Co.).^[243] In 1883 the Episcopals united with the Wesleyans, and only then did Williams join the mainstream church, newly renamed the Methodist Church of Canada. From 1884 to 1894 he was a superannuated minister in the Niagara Conference, stationed in Townsend Tp., Norfolk Co., and from 1895 to 1902 in the Hamilton Conference, stationed at Delhi, Middleton Tp., Norfolk Co. David Williams was the executor of his brother Charles’ will (JMR). Children, so far as known:

Benajah C. (usually known as B.C.) Williams, b. about 1853-54 (aged 21 in 1872, 52 in 1904) at Glen Williams (per record of second marriage), d. 30 May 1904, and buried with his parents in Delhi Cemetery, Windham Tp., Norfolk Co. He was living with his parents in 1871 but not in 1881. He m. (1) 26 Nov. 1872 in Wentworth Co.,^[244] Mary Elizabeth Ecker, b. 1848-49 (aged 23 in 1872), d. 16 (?) Aug. 1897, and buried with her husband, daughter of George Ecker and Sarah [Weaver?], and possibly a sister of the husband of his sister Laura, below. Mary is buried with her husband, but her dates cannot be read on the photograph of their tombstone available to us. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers (and misstates the name of the groom’s mother as Lucy), the groom was a farmer, of Binbrook Tp., and the bride was of Binbrook Tp.; the witnesses were Abram Ecker and Eliza Swayze, both of Binbrook. He m. (2) (as her second husband) 31 Aug. 1898 in Norfolk Co.,^[245] Mary Ann (Bush) Ecker, b. 1852-53 (aged 45 in 1898) in Binbrook Tp., daughter of John and Elizabeth (____) Bush. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the groom was a farmer, of Windham Tp., and the bride was of Charlotteville Tp.; both parties had been widowed. Known issue (all by first wife):^[246]
1. Sarah Olivia Williams, b. 11 Sept. 1873 in Norfolk Co., d. 13 May 1897, aged 23 years, and buried with her parents. She m. Erwin Wier.
2. Bertha Ellen Williams, b. 31 March 1876 in Windham Tp., d. 1958, and buried with her parents. She m. 12 May 1903 in Norfolk Co.,^[247] John W. Malcolm, b. 1875 in Windham Tp., d. 1952, and buried with his wife, son of John Malcom and Sarah Stirtzinger. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents (but erroneously calls the bride’s father Benjamin), both parties were residing in Windham Tp., and the groom was a farmer. No issue found.
3. George Leslie Williams, b. 8 March 1881 in Norfolk Co., d. 1917, and buried with his parents. He m. by 1908, Ida Mae Keller, b. 1876, d. 1957, and buried with her husband. Known issue:
  1. Charles J. Williams, b. 1908 (birth registration not found), d. 1914, and buried with his parents.
  2. Olivia Williams, b. 1911, d. 1914, and buried with her parents.
4. Charles Allen Williams, b. 17 March 1885 in Norfolk Co., d. (presumably unmarried) 16 Feb. 1905, aged 19 years, and buried with his parents.
5. (probably) Herbert E. Williams, b. 1890-91 (no birth registration found), d. 24 April 1901 “in his 11th year,” and whose name appears on the Williams obelisk in Delhi Cemetery between those of Sarah Olivia Williams and Charles Allen Williams.
Laura Henrietta Williams,^[248] b. ca. 1854 in Chinguacousy Tp., still living with her parents in 1871. She 14 Aug 1872 in Norfolk Co., by Episcopal Methodist rites, by licence,^[249] Daniel Ecker, b. 1845-46 (aged 26 in 1872) in Binbrook Tp., son of George Ecker and Sarah Weaver. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, the bride was of Windham Tp., and the groom a minister, of Brinbrook Tp.; the witnesses were Benajah Williams, of Windham, and Mary E. Ecker, of Binbrook. They are found at Brussels, Huron Centre, Ontario, in the 1881 census, which gives his occupation as minster and the family’s religion as Episcopal Methodist.^[250] Known issue:
1. Mabel L. Ecker, b. 1878-79 (aged 2 in 1881).
2. Effie Gertrude Ecker, b. 22 Jan. 1886 in Welland Co.
Isabel A. Williams, b. 1864, d. 19__.^[251] She was living unmarried with her parents in 1881. She m. Court Wardell, b. 1861, d. 1936, and they are buried together with her parents in Delhi Cemetery, Windham Tp., Norfolk Co.
Electa S. Williams, b. probably in 1867 in Glanford Tp., alive in 1891. She m. 18 Feb. 1891 in Windham Tp., Norfolk Co.,^[252] George A. Irwin, b. 1864-65 (aged 26 years in 1891) in Townsend Tp., son of George Irwin and Sarah Kitchen. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, the bride was of Windham Tp., and the groom was a farmer, residing in Townsend Tp.; the witnesses were David A. Williams, of Windham, and Ida Irwin, of Townsend. No issue found.
David Aaron P. Williams, b. 12 Nov. 1870 in Windham Tp., Norfolk Co., d. 1943, and buried with his parents. He m. 24 Aug 1892 in Windham Tp., Norfolk Co., according to Methodist rites,^[253] Letitia Beatrice Dennis, b. 1870 in Windham Tp., d. 1961, and buried with her husband, daughter of Giles Dennis and Sarah Brown. At the time of his marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, the groom was a farmer, of Windham, and the bride was also of Windham; the witnesses were Charles Wood and Rebecca Brown. Known issue:
1. Carrie Belle Williams, b. 8 June 1897 in Norfolk Co., d. 10 April 1898, and buried with her parents.
2. Alice Layelle (?) Williams, b. 7 Feb. 1900 in Oxford Co.
3. Clara Violet Williams, b. 3 June 1903 in Norfolk Co., d. (apparently unmarried) 1923, and buried with her parents.

Third Canadian Generation

8. Benajah Williams, of Chinguacousy Tp., Peel Co., son of Joel Williams and Adeline Bedford,^[254] was b. 29 Dec. 1832 in Esquesing Tp., and d. 2. Oct. 1906 (GWC). He was m. 31 Dec. 1858 [in Chinguacousy Tp., Peel Co.], by the Rev. Thomas Johnson, of Chinguacousy, Presbyterian minister,^[255] to his probable kinswoman, Catharine Wurts, b. 25 April 1836 in Chinguacousy Tp., d. 4 Feb. 1908 (GWC), daughter of Maurice and Phoebe (Warner) Wurts, of Chinguacousy Tp., Peel Co.^[256] At the time of their marriage he was of Esquesing and she of Chinguacousy; the witnesses were James Quennell and Louisa Mino, both of Chinguacousy Tp. Benajah Williams, who was something of a wanderer, appears as a laborer in the 1861 census of Esquesing Tp., in which his religion is given as “Episcopal,” doubtless in this case an error for “Episcopal Methodist.”^[257] He is next found in the 1871 census of Chinguacousy Tp., Peel Co., which calls him a farmer and an Episcopal Methodist.^[258] By 1877 he had purchased part of lot 32, concession 7 of Erin, near the village of Ballinafad, where he is listed in a directory of that year as a farmer.^[259] The 1881 census of Erin Tp. calls him a farmer and an Episcopal Methodist.^[260] In 1891 he was living in Esquesing Tp., Halton Co., when the census calls him a carpenter employing one person, and gives his family’s religion as Methodist.^[261] Children, so far as known.

“Lonzo” [Lorenzo?] Williams, b. ca. 1860, d. 1861-71.
Delilah Theresa Williams, b. probably in 1863 (aged 27 in 1890) in Chinguacousy Tp., living unmarried with her parents in 1881. She m. 15 Jan. 1890 at Georgetown, Halton Co.,^[262] James Elijah Mitchell, b. 1865-66 (aged 24 in 1890) in Maryborough Tp., Wellington Co., Ontario, son of Isaac and Bessie (____) Mitchell. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents (but misses the maiden surname of the groom’s mother), the bride was of Glen Williams, and the groom was a liveryman, of Georgetown; the witnesses were Franklin Edge, of Georgetown, and Eliza Williams, of Glen Williams. Known issue:
1. James Herbert Mitchell, b. 20 April 1891 in Halton Co.
2. Harry Cecil Mitchell, b. 9 Sept. 1893 in Halton Co.
Joel Williams, b. 6 July 1864, d. 5 Dec. 1942, and buried with his parents (GWC). He m. 15 June 1890 at Georgetown,^[263] Sarah Jane North, b. 25 Oct. 1863, d. 9 Aug. 1935, and buried with her husband (GWC), daughter of Cunningham North.^[264] This couple is treated in greater detail in our WURTS page. They were the grandparents of Glen Williams, of Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Maurice Williams, b. 4 July 1866, d. unmarried 4 June 1887, and buried with his parents (GWC).
Eliza Jane Williams, b. 22 April 1870 in Chinguacousy Tp.,^[265] living with her parents in 1881. She m. 30 Dec. 1890 at Georgetown, Halton Co.,^[266] John Franklin Edge, b. 1859-60 (aged 30 in 1890) in Nelson Tp., Halton Co., son of William Edge and Elmira Smith. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, the bride was of Glen Williams, and the groom was a laborer, of Georgetown; the witnesses were William Edge, of ____ (illegible), and Phoebe Williams, of Glen Williams. Known issue:
1. Eva Pearl Edge, b. 29 Feb. 1892 in Halton Co.
2. George Oscar Edge, b. 14 Oct. 1895 in Halton Co.
3. Edgar Alfred Worth Edge, b. 25 April 1898 in Halton Co.
4. Stanley Franklin Edge, b. 26 Feb. 1902 in Wentworth Co.
5. Irene Edge [twin to Kathleen], b. 16 Dec. 1906 in Wentworth Co.
6. Kathleen Edge [twin to Irene], b. 16 Dec. 1906 in Wentworth Co.
Lorenzo J. Williams, b. ca. 1872, living unmarried with his parents in 1891
Phoebe C. Williams, b. ca. 1875, living with his parents in 1891.
Allen Cooper Williams, b. ca. 1876 in Halton Co., living with his parents in 1881 but not in 1891. He m. 22 Feb. 1913 in Wentworth Co.,^[267] Ada Mary Ann Martin, b. 1880-81 (aged 32 in 1913) at Hamilton, daughter of Archibald Martin and Sarah Foyster. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, both parties were of the City of Hamilton, and the groom was a machinist; the witnesses were Ira E. Ross and Christine MacKenzie, both of Hamilton. No issue found.
Eleanor Melissa Williams, b. 1878, d. 1933, and buried beside her paternal grandparents in Glen Williams Cemetery. She was living with her parents at the taking of the 1891 census, but m. later that year, Reuben O. Evans. No birth registrations of a any children have been found.

9. Joel Williams, Jr., of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co., son of Joel Williams and Adeline Bedford, was b. ca. 1842-43, living 1881. He m. 14 June 1865 in Halton Co. (CMRO Halton), Frances Ann Harris, b. ca. 1843 in Ontario, living 1881, daughter of John and Catherine (____) Harris, of Esquesing Tp. She is called Harris in the marriage record but Harrison in the birth records of her sons John (1872) and James (1879). He appears with his parents in the 1861 census. His address at the time of his marriage in 1865 was Esquesing Tp. He has not been found in the 1871 census, but he is in that of 1881, which calls him a carpenter and gives his religion as Canadian Methodist.^[268] Children, so far as known:

Catherine Williams, b. ca. 1865, alive in 1881.
Minnie Williams, b. 1868-69 (aged 24 in 1893) at Glen Williams (per marriage record). She m. 4 May 1893 in Hamilton Tp., Wentworth Co., according to Methodist rites, by licence,^[269] Reginald Alfred Baker, b. 1870-71 (aged 22 in 1893) at Chatham, England, son of George and Jessie (____) Baker. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, both parties were of Hamilton, and the groom was a furnace boiler builder; the witnesses were John Williams and Lillie Baker, both of Hamilton. Only known child:
1. Reginald Bennett William Baker, b. 5 Aug. 1895 in Wentworth Co.
Leonard Joel Williams [male], b. ca. 1870 (aged 22 in 1892) at Milton. He was living with his parents in 1881. He m. 6 May 1892 in Hamilton Tp., Wentworth Co., by licence,^[270] Alice Martha Giles, b. 1871-72 (aged 20 in 1892) at Toronto, daughter of William P. and Sarah L. (____) Giles. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the groom was a builder and a Methodist, the bride was Episcopalian, and both parties were of Hamilton; the witness were William P. Giles and Sarah L. Giles, possibly the same as the bride’s parents. Only known child:
1. Harry Williams, b. 1 May 1892 in Wentworth Co.
John Evans Williams, b. 19 Feb. 1872 Georgetown, Halton Co., alive in 1881. He m. 28 April 1897 in Wentworth Co.,^[271] Elizabeth Anna Held, b. 1874-75 (aged 22 in 1897) in Rainham Tp., Haldimand Co., daughter of Jacob Henry Held and Katie ____. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, both parties were of Hamilton, and the groom was a carpenter. Known issue:
1. John Harry Joel Williams, b. 8 Dec. 1897 in Wentworth Co.
2. Austin Held Williams, b. 19 Feb. 1900 in Wentworth Co.
James Edward Bedford Williams, b. 5 May 1879 in Halton Co., alive in 1881.
(?) Morris Williams, killed 11 June 1887 in a railway accident. We have found neither a birth nor a death registration for him, and he does not seem to be listed anywhere in the 1881 census. The present Joel Williams seems to be the only man of the right age to be the father mentioned in a newspaper notice of the death: “On Saturday afternoon [11 June] Morris Williams, son of Joel Williams, Esq., of Glenwilliams, was accidentally killed on the N. & N.W. Ry. near Glenwilliams. So far as we can learn the particulars of the sad affair, the young man and several others who had been working for the Company in a gravel pit, were standing on a flat car, the train being in motion. Some of the number were indulging in a little sport among themselves, when Morris Williams, walking backwards, fell between the cars, and in a few seconds, the car wheels having passed over him, was lifeless.”^[272]

Woollen mill of Benajah Williams (1842-1898)

10. Benajah Williams, of Glen Williams, son of Charles Williams and Mary Jane Browne, was b. 8 Sept. 1842 in Esquesing Tp., d. 22 Aug. 1898 at Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. He was still living with his parents in 1861. He m. 16 March 1865, Margaret Morrison, b. ca. 1845 in Ireland, alive in 1881. About 1867 he took over the management of the Glenwilliams Woollen Mills, living in the manager’s house on Mountain Street.^[273] When they were destroyed for a second time by fire in 1875, his father turned the rights to the mills over to him.^[274] Benajah “by his energy and perseverance,” says a 1877 account, triumphed over “the most discouraging circumstances,” and rebuilt them. “The building is now a handsome structure, being 52 feet wide, 100 feet long and two and a-half stories high. The mill is now running at its fullest capacity and employs 50 to 60 hands regularly. He manufactures principally yarns and knit goods of every description — which have taken diplomas and prises wherever exhibited. The machinery is of the most modern invention, consisting of wool cards, spinning machines, twisters, knitting machines, &c…. The building is heated by steam [a precaution against fires], and it also has a complete system of water-works for quenching fires. The whole establishment was built at a cost of $32,000. The amount of business done is enormous. The mill uses daily 450 pounds of Canadian wool, making about 130,000 pounds a year, which manufactures nearly 100,000 pounds of yarn. These goods are obtaining a high reputation with the wholesale trade of the Dominion, and are fast taking the lead over all other Canadian goods of similar manufacture.”^[275]
    Ironically, later in the very year this account was published, it was reported that Benajah Williams “had failed and run away,” apparently, as Ruggle suggests, because of the expense and stress of having to rebuild the mill repeatedly. He declared bankruptcy (JMR), and in January 1878 the mill was advertised for sale in the Toronto Globe.^[276] According to JMR, Benajah’s father purchased the company back at 25 cents on the dollar. It was run thereafter by Benajah’s younger brother, Joseph, thus remaining a little longer in the possession of the family.^[277]
    In the 1871 census of Esquesing, Benajah Williams (whose first name appears as “Benjon”) is called a woollen manufacturer, and his religion given as Episcopal Methodist.^[278] By 1877 he was a magistrate for Halton County,^[279] like his father. The 1881 census calls him a manufacturer and a Canadian Methodist.^[280] He is described as of Kaukakee, Illinois, in his father’s 1889 death notice.
    There is an autographed engraved portrait of Benajah Williams in ACH, p. 44, and one of the mill on p. 17. Children, so far as known (all alive in 1881):^[281]

Clara Emma Williams, b. probably in 1865 (aged 20 in 1886) at Glen Williams. “She was a singing pupil of Harry Wheeler. In the Autumn of 1885, the ‘Prima Donna’ gave a recital to the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Georgetown, and Acton.” (JMR). She m. 20 March 1886 at Toronto, according to Methodist rites,^[282] John Shelter, b. 1857-58 (aged 28 in 1886) at Mount Forrest, Arthur Tp., Wellington Co., son of John and Ann (____) Shelter. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the bride was of Glen Williams, while the groom, a barrister, was of Toronto; the witnesses were M.S. Wallace and Aggie E. Moore, both of Toronto. No issue found.
Ellen (“Nelly”) Williams, b. ca. 1867.
Ada/Josephine Williams, b. in July 1870.
Margaret Williams, b. ca. 1872.

11. Joseph Williams, of Glen Williams, son of Charles Williams and Mary Jane Browne, was b. 16 March 1844 in Esquesing Tp., and d. 1920 (GWC). He m. 1 Jan. 1866 [?] (GPL),^[283] Elizabeth Mary Forster, b. 1849 in Ontario, presumably at or near Streetsville, d. 1922, and buried beside her husband (GWC), daughter of John and ____ Forster, of Streetsville, Toronto Tp., Peel Co., and possibly later of Glen Williams,^[284] and a sister of Susan Phoebe Foster, wife of Jacob Irvine Williams, below. In 1878 he purchased from his father the Glenwilliams Flour Mills, of which he had previously been the manager.^[285] A description of the mill published in the previous year states: “It contains three runs of stones, driven by water. The mill does a large custom business, and also grinds large quantities of flour for foreign markets. The mill is run night and day, and is capable of turning out 400 barrels of flour a week, using about 1,800 bushels of wheat per week, or 93,600 per year.”^[286] But Ruggle notes that its volume was less than a third of that ground nearby at Norval.^[287]
    Joseph Williams purchased the Glenwilliams Woollen Mills from his brother (or from his brother’s creditors) in 1878. Apparently it was later managed by his son-in-law, Harry Holdroyd, but by 1894 it was operated by the Sykes and Ainley Manufacturing Company.^[288] Joseph Williams “was forced to flee his creditors in 1886, but returned the same year to reopen the mills. After the flour mill was destroyed by fire in 1890, he refitted the saw mill as a woollen mill and installed hydro-electric generators, providing electricity to Glen Williams and Georgetown. He sold everything and left the village in 1898” (JMR).
    Joseph Williams was still living with his parents in 1861. He appears as the head of his own household in the 1871 census of Esquesing Tp., which calls him a miller and an Episcopal Methodist.^[289] He was himself the enumerator of District 3 of Esquesing for this census, the returns for which thus furnish an extensive specimen of his handwriting. In 1877 he is shown as the owner of the west half of 24, concession 11 of Esquesing.^[290] The 1881 census again calls him a miller and an Episcopal Methodist.^[291] The 1891 census calls him a woollen manufacturer and gives his family’s religion as Methodist.^[292] However, he is called a commercial traveller in the 1912 marriage record of his son Harry.
    Ruggle, the village historian, regards Joseph Williams as the social successor of his father at Glen Williams, and the “patriarch of the third generation.” An autographed engraving of him is given in ACH, p. 44, and an engraving of his flour and saw mill in ACH, p. 17.
    Children, so far as known:

Maria Williams, b. ca. Feb. 1867, d. 26 April 1868, aged 14 months, and buried with her parents (BWC).
Charles E. Williams, b. ca. 1869, living unmarried with his parents in 1891, when he was a manufacturer.
Evangeline Williams, b. in 1870 in Glen Williams,^[293] d. 1953, and buried beside her husband in Glen Williams Cemetery. She was living unmarried with her parents in 1891, when she was a music teacher. The following year she eloped to marry her husband, who was an Anglican. She m. 17 Oct. 1891,^[294] Harry Holdroyd, b. in Oct. 1864 at “Littletown” (an error for Liversedge?), Yorkshire, England, d. June 1949, and buried in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC), son of William Holdroyd, of Liversedge and Cleckheaton, Yorkshire, by the latter’s wife Ann Crossley.^[295] At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, both parties were of Glen Williams, and the groom was a manufacturer; the witnesses were E.J.C. and F.A. Norris, of Toronto. He may have briefly managed the Glenwilliams Flour Mills, which her father bought from his brother Benajah in 1878. Holdroyd later ran his own spinning business at Toronto.^[296] Children (order uncertain):
1. Norma Holdroyd,^[297] b. 1892, d. 1988, and buried beside her husband in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC). As Norma H. Holdroyd, of 154 Grenadier Road, she served as a witness at the 1912 marriage of her maternal uncle Harry Williams, below. She subsequently m. Dr. Joseph C. Copp, M.D., b. 1890, d. 1969, and buried in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC).
2. Charles Holdroyd, b. 27 May 1895, d. 23 Jan. 1902, and buried near his parents in Glen Williams Cemetery (GWC).
3. Gertrude Holdroyd, m. P.G Blake (JMR).
4. Edith Holdroyd, alive in 1992. She m. Samuel W. Mason. Her address in 1992 was Suite 429, “Glynwood,” Box 518, Thornhill, Ontario L3T 5W1.
5. Crossley Holdroyd.^[298]
John Millie Williams, b. ca. May 1873, d. 5 April 1874, aged 11 months, and buried with his parents (GWC).
Olive Gertrude Williams, b. ca. 1876. She was living with her parents in 1891. She m. 10 Feb. 1897, William H. Willson, son of J.G. Willson, of Georgetown. Her husband was, like his father, an undertaker in Georgetown.^[299] Children:^[300]
1. Harvey Willson.
2. Josephine Willson.
3. Charles Willson.
Josephine Louise Williams, b. ca. 1879, d. (unmarried) 7 Feb. 1904, aged 24 years, and buried with her parents (GWC). She was living with her parents in 1891.
Jessie Hazel Williams, b. ca. Jan. 1885, d. 17 Feb. 1886, aged 13 months, and buried with her parents (GWC).
Harry Benajah Williams,^[301] b. 4 Feb. 1887 at Glen Williams, d. 6 Jan. 1959, and buried beside his parents (GWC). He m. 14 Sept. 1912 at the home of the bride’s parents, 108 Albany Avenue, Toronto, apparently by a justice of the peace,^[302] Myra McLaren Hargreaves, b. 13 Sept. 1892 at Toronto, d. 5 Dec. 1971 (GWC), daughter of William Albert Hargreaves, wholesale druggist, by the latter’s wife Ida McLaren. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, both parties were of Toronto, the groom being of 390 Sunnyside Avenue; he was a Methodist but his wife an Anglican; the witnesses were Ralph Egerton Green, also of 390 Sunnyside Avenue, and Norma H. Holdroyd, of 154 Grenadier Road. Children:
1. Helen Elizabeth Williams, b. 10 July 1913, m. Willson Edwin Jackson, d. 17 Nov. 1983. She and her brother are living (1992) at Apt. 205, 25 Widdicombe Hill, Weston, Ontario M9R 1B1. Only child:
  1. Peter Kenneth Jackson, b. 24 June 1949, d. 12 May 1970.
2. J. Kenneth Williams, b. 9 May 1916 (GWC), living 1992. He m. Barbara I. McLennan, b. 14 Nov. 1915, d. 20 April 1986 (GWC). His wife was a genealogist, and one of the informants for Richard Ruggle’s Down in the Glen: Sketches from the History of Glen Williams. Only known child:
  1. Rod Williams, living at Ottawa in 1992.

12. Darius Williams, of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co., son of Charles Williams and Mary Jane Browne, was b. 5 Oct. 1847 at Glen Williams,^[303] and d. 20 Oct. 1931 at Toronto, of pyelonephritis, aged over 84 years,^[304] and buried with his wife in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto. He was living with his parents in 1861 and in 1871.^[305] He m. 8 Sept. 1873 in Peel Co.,^[306] his probable kinswoman, Phoebe Augusta Hutton, b. in 1851-52 (aged 29 in 1881, 65 in 1917) in Ontario, alive in 1881, daughter of James Patterson Hutton and Jemima Wurts. At the time of their marriage, the record of which names both sets of parents without however supplying the maiden surnames of the mothers, the groom was a farmer, of Esquesing Tp., and the bride was of Chinguacousy Tp.; the witnesses were E.N. Baker, of ____, and Letitia ____, of Hutton’s Mills. On 15 Jan. 1878 he purchased the east half of lot 25, concession 4, of Esquesing (JMR). He appears as a farmer in the 1881 census of Esquesing, in which his religion is given as Episcopal Methodist.^[307] By the time of his father’s death in 1889 he was living at Georgetown, and he is found there in the 1891 census, which calls him a woollen manufacturer and gives his family’s religion as Methodist.^[308] At the time of his death, the record of which supplies the names and birthplaces of both his parents, he was living at 550 Palmerston Boulevard, Toronto, which is also given as the address of the informant, J.B.F. Williams, his son. Children, so far as known (aside from two infants, Clarence and Florence, birth registations not found, who are buried in Glen Williams Cemetery):^[309]

Violet Alberta Williams, b. 15 May 1875 in Halton Co. She was living with her parents in 1891, but subsequently m. ____ Cumberland. She was living in Alberta in 1954 (JMR).
James Patterson Franklin (“Frank”) Williams, M.D., b. 12 March 1877 at Glen Williams, d. 7 Feb. 1954.^[310] He was living with her parents in 1891. He graduated from the School of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1900, and began practicing as a physician in Kent County.^[311] In 1919 they moved to the city of Toronto, and are listed as “Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Frank Williams, née Galbraith, [and son] Mr. Charles D. Galbraith Williams, 550 Palmerston Boulevard,” in a 1921 society directory.^[312] As J.P.F. Williams, of 550 Palmerston Boulevard, he served as the informant of his father’s death in 1931. He m. (1) 26 June 1901 at Dresden, Kent Co., Ontario, ^[313] Marie Belle Galbraith, b. 1875-76 (aged 25 in 1901) at Dresden, Ontario, alive in 1921, daughter of Daniel Galbraith and Lavina Decew. At the time of their marriage, the record of which supplies the full names of both sets of parents, both parties were of Dreden, Ontario; the witnesses were Harry Wallace, of Dresden, and Caroline Ryckman, of Hamilton. He m. (2) Ethel Eileen McClure, alive at her husband’s death in 1954. His death notice in the Toronto Globe and Mail reads, in part:
Associate coroner for many years, Dr. J.P. Frank Williams, who had practiced medicine for more than 50 years, died yesterday from a heart attack at his home, 99 Brentwood Rd., N., Kingsway Park. For 32 years, Dr. Williams maintained an office at the corner of Bloor and Palmerston Ave., and moved to the Kingsway four years ago. A former chairman of the Board of Education, he was a member of the board for seven years. Prominent in the Progressive Conservative Association, Dr. Williams was a candidate for Bellwoods Riding in the provincial elections of 1943 and 1945. He was a graduate in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1900 and first established a practice in Dresden. In 1919 he came to Toronto. He was a member of the Kingsway Kiwanis Club, the Humber Valley Progressive Conservative Association … [and numerous fraternal organizations]. He was was twice married. His first wife was Marie Belle Galbraith. He leaves his wife, the former Ethel Eileen McClure, and one son, C.D. Galbraith Williams, by the first marriage.
Only child:
1. Charles Daniel Galbraith Williams, b. 21 May 1905 in Kent County,^[314] alive at his father’s death in 1954.
Charles Lyle Williams, b. 28 March 1882, living with his parents in 1901.

Notes

1.	The family bible says “Sunday, November 23,” and 23 November was in fact a Sunday in 1851, but his tombstone says 22 November.
2.	In an earlier edition of these notes, it was suggested that as the first and second children of Benajah Williams, Darius (1785) and John (1792), were born so far apart, they were probably by different mothers. Although the Williams family bible is curiously silent on the subject, it has since been learnt that this hypothesis is strongly supported by various old papers in the possession of descendants; and so it is presented here as being the most reasonable possibility, although it is not a certainty.
3.	Yeager (p. 161) calls John, a son of the second marriage, “John Williams … son of Benajah Williams & Sarah Wilson (Wilton),” crediting the information to Mrs. Doris Tatro, of 3660 E. Cedar Lake Drive, Greenbush, Michigan. Mrs. Tatro was no longer there in February 1992, and considerable efforts by the present compiler to locate her have failed.
4.	The Williams family bible record (WFB) unfortunately does not give the date. The marriage of Elizabeth Kennedy to Benajah Williams, which was unknown at the time of the appearance of DJK III, was discovered by the present compiler in a rather late secondary source (CBR, p. 26) in May of 1991. It was subsequently confirmed in bible records; for the birth date given for Elizabeth Kennedy in the old Kennedy family bible turns out to be precisely the same as that for “Elisabeth Williams” in the old Williams family bible, so there can be no doubt that the two women are one and the same. Furthermore, the names Charles, George, Jacob, and David, all names of Elisabeth Kennedy’s brothers, appear in precisely the same order as the names of four of Elisabeth Williams’s sons.
5.	See the IGI entry for a son, also named Benajah.
6.	The descendants of Benajah Williams are often called English in census records, but in the 1881 Ontario census, which furnishes by far the best information regarding ethnicity, most of his patrilineal descendants who can be identified therein are called Welsh.
7.	The entries in this record up to 1842 are all written in one hand; and as the next entry, that of the death of Benajah Williams, is the first which is not, the most natural assumption is that he was the author. The record, which may have been copied from some earlier notes, was probably begun no earlier than 1823, for all the entries to that time are so uniform in style that they were probably completed in one sitting. The present compiler has not seen the title page of this bible; but the typography of the headings on the blank pages is obviously of the nineteenth century.
8.	In fact, the bible record does not state any of the relationships explicitly, but they can all be securely inferred from other sources. For example, the statement of Thompson (p. 71) that Darius was a son of Benajah Williams forbids the inference that he was, say, a younger brother. One entry which cannot be placed is that for a Lucy Ann Winne, born 24 May 1829, the only person of this surname mentioned in the recrod. Perhaps she was a daughter of Benajah Williams’s eldest daughter Mary, for whom no marriage record has been found.
9.	This was John Burch (ca. 1742-1797) (Reid, p. 41), previously a wealthy merchant at Albany, N.Y., and seemingly thus from the same area as Benajah Williams (AOR_2, pp. 999-1000 [where the text is not sufficiently distinguished from that of the preceding claim, and the entry is consequently missed in the index]; Paul J. Bunell, The New Loyalist Index, Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1989, unpaginated). It may thus be wondered whether the two men knew one another in New York. Before that, Burch may well have come from London, England, as a relative there was a beneficiary in his will (proved 1805). There is a good memoir of him by Ernest Green in Ontario Historical Society Papers and Records 25:286-288, and a short one in Ray Corry Bond, Peninsula Villages: The Story of Chippatta (n.d.), pp. 12-13, which provides many interesting details of his career which will not be repeated here. Burch was imprisoned for his Loyalist activities and sentenced to death, escaped from jail in 1778 and fled to the Niagara area, where he and his wife Martha appear in the earliest known census of 1 Dec. 1783 (E.A. Cruikshank, Records of Niagara, v. 1 [Niagara Historical Society Publications, no. 38], p. 69). There he acquired a superb piece of property on the Niagara River, at the north side of the delta of Chippewa Creek, on land later incorporated into Stamford Tp., Welland Co. (AOR 3, p. xcvii). He built a sawmill (ADR 18, p. 90), but in 1793 petitioned for permission to erect another “higher up the river on his own farm, being a more convenient place than his present mill stance.” (Ibid., p. 36; for further detail on this petition, which was refused, see the memoir of him by Ernest Green). In 1796 he subsequently built “a saw mill and grist mill on the west side of the River Saint Lawrence in the Township No. 2 [i.e. Stamford], Lot no. 174.” (“Statement of Mills in the District of Nassau,” 1792, in AOR 3, pp. 334-5, at p. 334). A vivid description of the surrounding scenery, first published in 1806, is reprinted in Cruikshank, Records of Niagara, vol. 43 [NHS Publications, no. 42], pp. 13-14. In 1789 Burch became a member of the Nassau Land Board, seated at Niagara (AOR 3, pp. 302, 132, 211, etc.), and thus a very influential man. In 1795 he was given land in concession 1 of Stamford, near that of Philip Bender, of whom below (AOR 3, p. 339; see also Taylor & Parnall, Mini-Atlas of Early Settlers in the District of Niagara, 1782-1876, published by the St. Catharines Historical Society). He d. 7 March 1797, and was buried first on his farm, then re-interred in Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls, with his wife Martha (Kamfoly-St. Angelo, Historic Drummond Hill Cemetery Transcriptions… [1985], pp. 50-1). His son, John Burch Jr. (1784-1822), a Land-Surveyor, of Stamford (Ontario Historical Society Papers and Records, 8:162), had been a Captain in the war of 1812, when John Bender fought under his command (Wheeler, p. 135). Burch married Bender’s sister Eleanor, and another sister, Mary, married Peter Buchner (Wheeler, pp. 172, 174; Yeager, p. 266), who was of the same family as the Buchners dealt with in the text below. The said Philip Bender was connected by marriage with John Wurts, grandfather of Catherine Wurts who appears in the text below, which is one of the reasons for suspecting that John Wurts was related to Charity Wurts, mother of Elizabeth (Kennedy) Williams. See the present compiler’s web page on the Wurts family.
10.	AOR_18, p. 130.
11.	Indeed, Benajah Williams is not mentioned in any of the standard works on Loyalists.
12.	See Loyalist Lineages of Canada, 1783-1983 by the Toronto Branch of the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (Agincourt, Ontario: Generation Press, 1984), pp. xviii-xix.
13.	Thompson, pp. 19, 20.
14.	Thompson, p. 20.
15.	AOR_19, p. 118.
16.	AOR_18, p. 130.
17.	AOR_20, pp. 9-15.
18.	AOR_20, p. 15. We may note that the list also includes a Samuel Williams, who had asked for lot 2, concession 14; but considering the commonness of the surname this may be merely a coincidence.
19.	Thompson, p. 122.
20.	CHET, p. 84; Houston, p. 105.
21.	Ruggle, p. 2; see also ACH, p. 63; and McDonald, p. 67. The erroneous statement in ACH, p. 56, that the place was founded by his son Charles, was unfortunately followed in the well-known reference work Places in Ontario, 3 vols. (Belleville, Ontario, 1981), II, pt. ii, p. 135.
22.	The name of the town was changed in 1846, and Glen Williams is now part of the Regional Municipality of Halton Hills. There is a good description of the place in Clarke, pp. 183-6, which is not however of much use from a genealogical point of view. The best history is doubtless Ruggle’s.
23.	The memoir of their son Charles in ACH (p. 63) states, “He removed to what is now called Glenwi11iams, in the year 1824 [sic].”
24.	Charles Kennedy, of whom more will be said below, was the younger brother of Elisabeth Kennedy. On the place-name see J. Mark Rowe, “The Little Known Village of Wildwood,” The Heritage Hearth: A Forum for Halton’s Heritage News, Fall/Winter 2002, p. 6; available online at http://www.halton.ca/Heritage/HeritageNews/BackIssues/02FW/ 02FWHearth.pdf.
25.	See the comments by the editors in BWC, p. 2, where the clearest statement on this subject is made. They do not however consider the claim in ACW, p. 40, that James Leslie (who married the Williams’ daughter Lydia) and his younger brother John were also there in 1819.
26.	ACH, p. 63.
27.	ACH, pp., 56, 63.
28.	ACW, p. 40; cf. Houston, p. 77.
29.	Ruggle, p. 2.
30.	Ruggle, p. 13.
31.	CHET, passim.
32.	According to his death notice in The Christian Guardian (Toronto) of 29 Aug. 1860, p. 138, repr. in Death Notices from The Christian Guardian, 1851-1860, by the Rev. Donald A. McKenzis (Lambertville, N.J.: Hunterdon House, 1984), p. 320. This notice is not well informed and was evidently written by someone not intimately acquainted with him. Its most indisputable error is in stating that he was “survived by his wife and a daughter,” whereas his son Daniel obviously outlived him; but it also gives his birthdate as 21 Oct. 1784, which disagrees with the usually reliable bible record, and it suggests that he came to Canada ca. 1790, which contradicts his father’s land application of 1795.
33.	We no source for this date but his death notice.
34.	Thompson, Appendices, p. 71, calls her “Rebecca Howe,” but we here fallow her husband’s death notice, which in this case seems more reliable. For if we note that Darius Williams’s brother John was married to Martha Buchner, a niece of Anna Buchner, wife of Daniel Howey of Crowland and Windham townships (Yeager, pp. 127, 137, 156), it is plausible that Darius could himself have been associated with the Howey family. Daniel Howey was a son of Robert Howey (d. 1804), of Gainsborough Tp., but the accounts of the latter’s family in Reid, p. 158, and in LLC, p. 324, do not list a daughter Rachel, nor is she mentioned in Robert’s will; so if she was of the same family she could probably only have been related to him collaterally.
35.	Thompson, p. 61.
36.	Thompson, pp. 62-3.
37.	Thompson, p. 63.
38.	Thompson, p. 64.
39.	1828 Census [of] We11and County (St. Catharines, Ontario: Ontario Genealogical Society, Niagara Peninsula Branch, 1985), p. 21.
40.	Wheeler, p. 129, n. 4.
41.	The information on him which follows is from Thompson, Appendices, p. 71, unless otherwise stated.
42.	This date, from Thompson, is confirmed by a notice published in the Christian Guardian (Toronto) of 20 Feb. 1833, and reprinted in William D. Reid, Marriage Notice of Ontario (Lambertville, N.J.: Hunterdon House, 1980), p. 60.
43.	See “The Snively Family,” in Durham, pp. 632-3, where however Benajah Williams is erroneously called Benjamin Williams.
44.	Thompson, Appendices, p. 71.
45.	Quoted in Thompson, Appendixes, p. 27.
46.	1871 census of Thorold Village, Thorold Tp., Welland Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9920), p. 64. This page is all but unreadable.
47.	His age seems to read “20” in the badly-damaged census of 1871; but this is far from certain.
48.	Her maiden surname is supplied by the 1878 marriage record of her daughter Mary Ann.
49.	1871 census of Thorold Tp., Welland Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9920), District 2, p. 29.
50.	Thompson, Appendices, p. 27.
51.	Lincoln County Surrogate Court wills, no. 2040 (not seen).
52.	Welland County marriage registrations, 1885, no. 11971.
53.	Welland County marriage registrations, 1878, no. 011361.
54.	Charles Julian, Genealogy of Catherine Dachsteder (1781-1856), posting to Dockstader Family Genealogy Forum dated 30 Nov. 2006, at http://genforum.genealogy.com/dockstader/messages/103.html.
55.	Welland County marriage registrations, 1885, no. 011961.
56.	Welland County marriage registrations, 1884, no. 012015.
57.	With his forename being so common, it at first seemed less certain than in the case of his brother Darius that all the references in Thorold Tp, records to men named John Williams in fact relate to the same person. Perhaps the most compelling piece of evidence that they do is that these two brothers are the only men named Williams in the 1828 census.
58.	the date of his birth has been calculated from the age at death given on his tombstone.
59.	Mabel Kamfoly-St. Angelo & Velma Sloggett-Rivard, Historical Drummond Hill Cemetery Transcriptions (with additional references) (Niagara Falls., Ontario: Mabel Kamfoly-St. Angelo, 1985), p. 156.
60.	Yeager, p. 161, states that this date appears on her tombstone, but what he really seems to mean is that it was calculated from her age at death, which was given exactly on the stone but is no longer readable.
61.	Tombstone, the remainder of the inscription of which is, as stated above, no longer legible. Her death notice confirms this age, stating that she died “in her 60th year,” i.e. between the ages of 59 and 60.
62.	Death notice, The Christian Guardian, 7 Dec. 1853, p. 34; reprinted in Death Notices from The Christian Guardian, 1851-1860, cited above, p. 321. This gives an age at death compatible with her age in the 1852 census.
63.	Kamfoly-St. Angelo & Sloggett-Rivard, Historical Drummond Hill Cemetery Transcriptions…, as cited above, p. 157.
64.	Yeager, pp. 127-31, 156-63. Of earlier accounts, that in E.A. Owen, Long Point: Pioneer Sketches of Long Point Settlement (Toronto, 1898), pp. 435-6, is better than the jejune treatment of this family in L.H. Tasker, The United Empire Loyalist Settlement at Long Point (Toronto, 1900), pp. 114-16.
65.	Thompson, p. 20.
66.	Thompson, pp. 60-1.
67.	Thompson, p. 64.
68.	1828 Census [of] Welland County, as cited above, p. 24.
69.	Thompson, Appendices, pp. 39, 40.
70.	1852 census of Thorold Tp. (as cited above), District 2, fos. 21 and 71.
71.	Transcript in Yeager. pp. 162-3. We have altered the punctuation slightly in a few places. The defects in the text, which I have emended with insertions in square brackets, may be the fault of the transcript rather than of the original.
72.	We follow here Yeager, p. 161, whose informants seem to have had access to some kind of bible record; note that this source does not assign John Williams a son David. By John Williams’s own statement quoted above, he had seven sons and three daughters alive at his wife’s death in 1853.
73.	No definite proof has been found that he was of the present Williams family, but his early appearance in Allansburgh is suggestive of such a connection.
74.	1852 census of Thorold Tp., Welland Co., PAC microfilm no. C-11757, District 2, fo. 47.
75.	Marriage notice in The Christian Guardian, 24 March 1847, reprinted in Thomas B. Wilson, Ontario Marriage Notices (Lambertville, N.J.: Hunterdon House, 1982), p. 155.
76.	George H. Cornish, Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada, vol. I (Toronto, 1881), p. 146.
77.	These are the forms in which Yeager gives then name.
78.	Yeager.
79.	City directories of 1891 to 1897 list an “E.H. Williams” as an employee of the the Northern Pacific Railway. In 1897 he was living at 207 Hargrave Street.
80.	Yeager.
81.	Yeager.
82.	Christian Guardian (Toronto), 3 Nov. 1852, transcribed in William D. Reid, Marriage Notices of Ontario, cited above, p. 373. The announcement calls Phoebe’s father John Williams “of the same place” as Adam Silverthorn of Stamford, but perhaps this is an error.
83.	Possibly Adam Silverthorn was of the Silverthorn family of Stamford treated in Reid, p. 289, and in the Atlas of the County of Peel (1877), p. 69. A number of persons of this name also appear in Yeager.
84.	There is some broken type in Yeagsr here; the year 1826 seems intended, which would in any case probably be erroneous.
85.	Yeager states, probably erroneously, that she was born in 1827.
86.	Yeager.
87.	Kamfoly-St. Angelo & Sloggett-Rivard, Historical Drummond Hill Cemetery Transcriptions, as cited above, p. 157. The editors note that the date of his death may have been re-carved. Yeager, who was relying on an earlier reading, gives the date as 1854.
88.	The bible entry says “Sam [sic] Upper Canada,” which in the context probably means “Stamford, Upper Canada.”
89.	DJK, p. 32.
90.	The date is given in her husband’s death notice, cited below, in which she is called “Elisabeth Williams of Gainsborough.” There can be no doubt that the Elizabeth Williams who married Charles Kennedy was Benajah Williams’s daughter, for he was at Gainsborough at this time, when there were no other persons of the name in the area, and the age at death given on her tombstone is compatible with a birthdate of 1796. This point is insisted upon, because no known contemporary source names her father, perhaps in order to obscure the fact that she married her step-uncle.
91.	Death notices in The Christian Guardian, 28 June 1854, p. 149, and 26 July 1854, p. 164; reprinted in Death Notices from the Christian Guardian, 1851-1860, cited above, p. 156.
92.	The two death notice cited above give the date as 11 June and 12 June respectively. A date of 17 June, followed by a question mark, is given in DJK, p. 32. The year is confirmed by the memoir of his nephew, Caleb Kennedy, in CBR. ACW, p. 67, misprints it as 1864.
93.	DJK, p. 32.
94.	Wentworth County death registrations, 1876, no. 015296, which however gives her place of birth as Ireland. Her death notice, from an unstated source, reprinted in LC, p. 34, gives the date as 1 Sept.
95.	LC, p. 34; Houston, pp. 103-5.
96.	WFB; ACH, p. 63.
97.	Some have read her name in the old Williams bible as Ezra, but the present compiler is convinced that the name is really Eva.
98.	The month and year only appear in PH, p. 61; and in the 1861 census of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-1030), Division 4, Schedule 2 (Deaths), p. 1.
99.	According to JMR he had a first wife, Eliza ____, b. 1806, d. 1832-4, who was the mother of his first three children. We have not personally seen evidence for her existence, and the fact remains that both Benajah Williams and Elizabeth Williams, two of his eldest children, are called children of Adeline Bedford in their marriage records.
100.	Information from J. Brian Gilchrist.
101.	Ruggle, p. 2.
102.	The entry gives the size of their family as “1” (!) and their religion as “Canadian Wesleyan Methodist.” This is from a fragment of the 1842 census of Esquesing Tp., Gore District, which was all that could be found at the time that it was microfilmed (PAC microfilm no, C-1345). According to Houston, p. 271, the remainder of the census was subsequently re≠discovered, but we have not seen it.
103.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., District 5, pp. 117 & 124. The first name is almost illegible, as the ink had faded very badly before the document was microfilmed. It is only by comparing incidences of the name Joel, which this enumerator writes as “Jaoel” a total of four times, that it is possible to infer his intention. However, the date and place of his birth and the names of his wife and children all satisfy what is known of Joel Williams, as is the fact that he is shown as the owner of all 200 acres of lot 21, concession 11.
104.	The placement of her in this family is based on chronological considerations and circumstantial evidences, her presence at the wedding of Elizabeth Willliams , and the fact that she named a daughter Adeline.
105.	Houston, p. 150, says that her husband purchased this land from her uncle, Charles Williams; but this would not appear to be the case.
106.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, p. 48; 1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-13258), Division 2, p. 72.
107.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 33.
108.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1882, no. 003990.
109.	GWC; Houston, p. 150.
110.	PH, p. 72; Houston.
111.	GWC; LC, p. 18; Houston, pp. 143, 147-8, 150.
112.	George Leslie was a son of John Leslie, a pioneer of Esquesing, and a brother of James Leslie, who married Lydia Williams below (Houston, pp. 103-7). Houston’s work is a very important source on the Leslies, but he seems to have overlooked the memoir of the youngest brother, John Jr., in ACH, p. 61.
113.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1890, no. 004722.
114.	GWC, Houston.
115.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 33.
116.	The age of death given for her on her tombstone would put her birth at about 12 March 1833, far too close to that of her older brother Benajah. To add to the confusion, her marriage record gives her age as 21 years, which would put her birth no later than 30 Jan. 1837.
117.	York County Marriage Register (1858-1869), vol. 1, p. 17, from an extract kindly provided by William Britnell.
118.	See Charles Ano, Sahli Family, at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gencea/Sahli/.
119.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9956), District 2, p. 53.
120.	Information on middle name from John Mark Rowe.
121.	Simcoe County marriage registrations, 1884, no. 010869.
122.	1901 census of Canada, Ontario, district no. 69 (City of Hamilton); subdistrict C-6 (Ward 3), p. 7. The entry reads: name relationship cond. age birthdate origin --------------------------------------------------- Joel W. Sahli head M 42 27 Feb. 1859 Swiss Mary Ann Sahli wife M 37 6 Oct. 1863 Irish Maud Sahli dau. S 11 10 Sept. 1889 Swiss Pansy Sahli dau. S 9 9 Nov. 1891 Swiss ..... B. Sahli son S 3 3 May 1897 Swiss ----- Entire family born in Ontario, and Baptist in religion
123.	Oxnard Courier (Oxnard, California), 14 April 1905, p. 6, col. 3.
124.	1910 U.S. Federal Census, California, Los Angeles Assembly District 71, Enumeration District: 140, sheets 3B & 4A; National Archives microfilm no. T624_81. The entry reads: name relationship age birthplace fa. b.p. mo. b.p. occupation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James S.* Meneffer head 53 Missouri U.S. Kentucky contractor (street work) Mary Miniffer** wife 43 Eng. Can. Eng. Can. Eng. Can. === (page-break) === Pansy Sahli step-dau. 18 Eng. Can. Eng. Can. Eng. Can. telephone operator Bruce Sahli step-son 13 Eng. Can. Eng. Can. Eng. Can. -- ----- * His middle initial is unclear. ** She is the mother of 6 children of whom 3 are now living
125.	For dates of birth, we have followed the children’s birth records in preference to the dates given in the 1901 census.
126.	Wentworth County birth registrations, 1888, no. 038633.
127.	Wentworth County birth registrations, 1889, no. 040685.
128.	Wentworth County birth registrations, 1891, no. 043984.
129.	Wentworth County birth registrations, 1897, unnumbered.
130.	California Death Index.
131.	1920 U.S. Federal Census, California, Los Angeles Assembly District 63, enumeration district 185, p. 15A; National Archives microfilm no. T625_107. The entry reads: name relationship age cond. birthpl. fa. b.p. mo. b.p. occupation -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce W. Sahli head 23 M Canada Canada Canada truck driver Vester Sahli wife 19 M Kansas Illinois Illinois ----
132.	California Death Index.
133.	California Death Index.
134.	Powell Tribune (Powell, Wyoming), 1 Oct. 2009.
135.	CMRO Halton, and duplicate entry in CMRO Peel, p. 32.
136.	Her age appears to be grossly understated in the 1881 census.
137.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1876, no. 003483.
138.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 5, p. 106.
139.	1881 census of Georgetown Village, p. 28.
140.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 81.
141.	1891 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 14.
142.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1900, unnumbered.
143.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1899, unnumbered.
144.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1909, no. 010918.
145.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1905, no. 009701.
146.	Houston, pp. 147-8, 151.
147.	Mary Jame McClure was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Ann (Smith) McClure. For information on this family see Halton-Peel Branch O.G.S Newsletter, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 4-5. For the ancestry of Elizabeth Ann Smith (1817-1901) see Ibid., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 11-12.
148.	Houston, p. 151.
149.	Houston, p. 155.
150.	Houston, pp. 155-6.
151.	Houston, p. 156.
152.	Houston, p. 156.
153.	Houston, p. 157.
154.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1916, no. 018611.
155.	WFB; ACH, p. 63.
156.	McDonald, p. 67.
157.	Her surname is given in Ruggle, p. 3.
158.	PH, pp. 67, 68. See Halton-Peel Newsletter, vol. 4, no. 5 (May 1979), p. 64.
159.	1871 census of Esquesing, Div. 4, schedule 6 (Industrial Establishments), p. 7.
160.	ACH, pp. 56, 70.
161.	ACH, p. 56. For some background information on this factory see Ruqgle, p. 5.
162.	Ruggle (p. 3), who cites contemporary evidence for the date, says that the fire started in Williams’ woods, and spread to the mill. ACH (p. 56) wrongly gives the year as 1867.
163.	ACH, p. 56; but for the year see Ruggle, p. 5.
164.	Ruggle, p. 5, citing The Halton Herald (Georgetown), 8 Oct. 1868, and later newspaper sources.
165.	1871 census of Esquesing, Division 4, schedule 6 (Industrial Establishments). p. 7.
166.	ACH, p. 56.
167.	1871 census of Esquesing, Division 4, schedule 6 (Industrial Establishments), p. 5.
168.	Ruggle, pp. 3, 4; and information from John Mark Rowe.
169.	Smith 2, p. 42.
170.	Love11.
171.	Patrons’ Directory in ACH, p. 70.
172.	Houston, p. 272; the post is also mentioned (without date) in ACH, p. 55.
173.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., District 5, pp. 123 and 124.
174.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, p. 38.
175.	ACH, p. 9.
176.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 39.
177.	Copy kindly supplied by Elva Pearen.
178.	Death notice, Georgetown Herald, reprinted Acton Free Press, 14 Feb 1889, p. 2, col. 4 (transcribed at http://news.halinet.on.ca/).
179.	Ruggle, p. 3.
180.	Ruggle, p. 13.
181.	GWC, p. 2.
182.	We follow the birthdates as listed on the GPL sheet.
183.	For the place of his birth see the death notice for him in the Toronto Globe, 6 May 1925, p. __ (from a clipping in the Metropolitan Toronto Library Biographical Scrapbooks, vol. 6, p. 705). This notice however makes an incredible blunder when it alleges that he was born in 1841 and died at the age of “84 years and one month.” This would make him three years younger than his wife and only sixteen years older than his eldest child. For the true date see the brief memoir of him in ACW, p. 28, which is corroborated by the ages reported for him in the 1871 and 1891 censuses.
184.	Death notice in the Globe, cited above; also death notice in the Christian Guardian, 3 June 1925 (which however makes the absurd claim that his wife was the daughter of a U.E.L.).
185.	James Forster (1790-1872) and his wife Elizabeth (1788/9-1847) are buried in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian churchyard (now Streetsville Memorial Park Cemetery). On this family the memoir of Moffitt Forster’s brother, Thomas Forster, in the Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, Ontario… (Toronto: J.H. Beers, 1907), pp. 298-9, which reads, in part: “James Forster, [a descendant] of the Forsters of Northumberland and the Carmichaels of Hindford [recte Hyndford] (Earldom), Scotland… came with his [second] wife, Elizabeth (Moffitt) Forster, from England in 1828, and settled in what is now the County of Peel, where he took up 350 acres of land and also carried on a milling business on quite an extensive scale. For a number of years he operated two sawmills and two flour-mills, but finally sold them and retired from business some time before his death, which occurred at Glen Williams in 1873. He was always in the forefront of every great moral movement of his time…. Their children numbered eight…: William, James, John, Betsey, Ann, Thomas, Hannah, and Dr. Moffitt, all now deceased except the last-named, who is a physician in Palmerston, Ont…. [The fifth child] Thomas Forster was born in Brampton, Cumberland, England, in 1825….” The third son, John, was the father of Elizabeth and Susan Williams, who were respectively the wives of Joseph Williams (son of Charles Williams) and of Jacob I. Williams (son of Jacob Williams).
186.	The relationship is mentioned in Moffit Forster’s death notice in the Christian Guardian.
187.	Acton Free Press, 21 Aug 1913, p. 2, col. 2 (transcribed at http://news.halinet.on.ca/).
188.	ACW, p. 28.
189.	As further confirmation of this point, his name appears in a list of graduates in Medicine of Victoria College printed in Cornish’s Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada, vol. I (Toronto, 1881), pp. 541-4, at p. 542, where it is misprinted as “Moffitt Foster.”
190.	The quotation is from his death notice.
191.	History of the County of Middlesex… (Toronto & London, 1889), p. 564.
192.	Memoir of 1906, as cited above.
193.	Memoir of 1906, cited above.
194.	1871 census of West Nissouri Tp., Middlesex Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9905), District 1, p. 6.
195.	1891 census of Palmerston Village, Wellington Co. (PAC microfilm no. T-6377), p. 31.
196.	GWC, p. 39.
197.	York County marriage registrations, 1912, no. 024367.
198.	He is called “T.F. Stewart” in her father’s death notice.
199.	We have received much help on her and her family from Charlotte Ann (Evans) Jack, Charlotte’s Webpage, at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rcjack/.
200.	Wellington County marriage registrations, 1897, no. 015365.
201.	Our major sources for him are Cornish, Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada, vol. I (Toronto, 1881), p. 651:; and vol. II (Toronto, 1903), p. 222; Who’s Who in Canada, 1928-29; the Canadian Who’s Who, 1938-39; The Encyclopedia of World Methodism, ed. Nolan B. Harmon, 2 vols. (United Methodist Publishing House, 1974), vol. 2, p. 1667; The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., vol. 3, p. 1387; and the clippings on him in the Metropolitan Toronto Biographical Scrapbooks, vol. 7, pp. 767-8.
202.	They were (in order?): Harry Newton Moore (1889-1937), a journalist, who d. ca. 1938 at Philadelphia; Albert Douglas Moore (d. in infancy), Eva Elisabeth Moore (alive in 1940), who m. Percy Robinson.
203.	Wentworth County marriage registrations, 1900, unnumbered.
204.	Wellington County marriage registrations, 1915, no. 017009 (? number very faint).
205.	Information on place from John Mark Rowe.
206.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 39. Their surname seems to read “Braid” therein.
207.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 28.
208.	She is called Helen in the 1881 census, but Vera in that of 1891.
209.	Eclectic Female Institute, Brampton, C.W., Established Sept. 1, 1861…, pamphlet (1863), p. 15.
210.	There are death notices for him in The Christian Guardian of 20 July 1853, p., 123, and 28 Sept. 1853, p. 163, which agree with the dates of birth and death given here; see the Rev. Donald A. McKenzie, More Notices from Methodist Papers, 1830-1857 (Lambertvi1le, N.J.: Hunterdon House, 1986), p. 389. The date of 1854 on his tombstone is wrong, as noted by Ruggle, p. 22, n. 8.
211.	GWC; information from John Mark Rowe and Gloria Beek (who corrects the usual identification of her as Francis Huestis), author of a Beek Family genealogy at http://kintrails.inkol.com/kintrails/BEEK/ghtindex.htm.
212.	ACH, p. 56; PO, II, 135.
213.	Ruggle, p. 13.
214.	Smith 2 (1852), p. 42.
215.	ACH, p. 56.
216.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 5, p. 119; this entry is almost illegible.
217.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, p. 39.
218.	It will be noticed that this list accounts for the four children who are said in his death notices to have survived him.
219.	Ruggle (p. 5) says, “Mr. Roden’s general store was in what had been an old hotel above the mill race.”
220.	PH, p. 51, where however his bride’s surname is misspelt.
221.	McDonald, p. 20; GWC.
222.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1901, no. 009661.
223.	See McDonald, pp. 36-38. Note, however, that the implication there in that the wives of the brothers Williams and James Cleave were granddaughters of “George Kennedy, the founder of Georgetown” is erroneous; they were daughters of Robert and Sarah (____) Walker, recent immigrants from Ireland, and their closest connection with the Kennedies was through their sister Margaret, who married a younger George Kennedy, son of Charles Kennedy (see DJK, p. 32).
224.	Information from John Mark Rowe.
225.	The entry gives the size of their family as “1” (!) and their religion as “Canadian Wesleyan Methodist.” This is from a fragment of the 1842 census of Esquesing Tp., Gore District (PAC microfilm no. C-13455).
226.	Ruggle, p. 15.
227.	1871 census of Eramosa Tp. (PAC microfilm no. 9947), Division 3, p. 34.
228.	1891 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 28.
229.	Acton Free Press, 15 Apr 1897, p. 3, col. 2 (transcribed at http://news.halinet.on.ca/).
230.	1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, District 156 (Grey North), Subdistrict C (Holland), Division 2, p. 63; PAC microfilm no. C-13262 [Family History Library microfilm no. 1,375,898]. The entry reads: name cond. gender ethn. age birthplace occ. ------------------------------------------------------------------- George H. Williams M Male Welsh 36 Ontario P... Ma... Mary Ann Williams M Female Irish 28 Ontario James Wesley Williams Male Welsh 11 Ontario School Sarah Maria Williams Female Welsh 9 Ontario School Wm. John Williams Male Welsh 7 Ontario School George Lewis Williams Male Welsh 5 Ontario Albert E. Williams Male Welsh 2 Ontario ==== Entire family’s religion Primitive Methodist
231.	Wellington County marriage registrations, 1872, unnumbered.
232.	Information as to middle name from John Mark Rowe.
233.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, p. 99.
234.	1871 census of Middleton Tp., Norfolk Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9908), District 1, p. 50.
235.	1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, District 158 (Norfolk North), Subdistrict D (Middleton), Division 2, p. 10; PAC micofilm no. C-13263 [Family History Library microfilm no. 1,375,899].
236.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, no. ________.
237.	District 155 (Grey East), Subdistrict G (Proton), Division 1, p. 20; PAC microfilm no. C-13261 [Family History Library microfilm no. 1,375,897].
238.	Wellington County marriage registrations, 1881, no. 017793.
239.	He is called Jacob in 1861, Edwin in 1871.
240.	We take this detail and our discussion of his career from the brief notes on him in George H. Cornish’s Cyclopaedia of Methodism in Canada, vol. II (1903), pp. 302, 304. The evidence that he was this man is provided by the mention of him in the death notice of his sister, Lydia (Williams) Leslie, reprinted in LC, p. 34. He should not be confused with other men named David Williams treated by Cornish, who says nothing regarding his education or training.
241.	For photographs of the tombstone see Sheila Hill and Janet Jones, Delhi Cemetery, Windham Twp., Norfolk County at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~clifford/NorfolkWindhamDelhi.htm. We are unable to identify with certainty “Herbert E. Williams, died Apr. 24 1901, in his 11th year.”
242.	Her full name is supplied by the marriage records of three of her children.
243.	1871 census of Windham Tp., Norfolk Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-9909), Division 4, p. 54; 1881 census of the same township (PAC microfilm no. C-13263), division 2, p. 60.
244.	Wentworth County marriage registrations, 1872, unnumbered.
245.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, 1898, unnumbered.
246.	Benajah Williams is actually called Benjamin Williams in all his children’s birth records except that of his daughter Sarah Olivia, in which he is simply called B.C. Williams.
247.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, 1903, no. 013718.
248.	Her middle name is taken from the 1886 birth record of her daughter Effie.
249.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, 1872, unnumbered.
250.	1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, District 174 (Huron Centre) Subdistrict H (Brussels), p. 15; PAC microfilm no. C-13273 [Family History Library microfilm no. 1,375,909]. The entry reads: name cond. gender ethn. age birthpl. cccupation ---------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Eckar M M Dutch 34 Ontario minister laurah H. Eckar M F Dutch 26 Ontario Mabel L. Eckar F Dutch 2 Ontario ==== Entire family's relgion Episcopal Methodist
251.	The date is given on her tombstone, but we cannot make out the last two digits in the photograph available to us.
252.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, 1891, no. 008095.
253.	Norfolk County marriage registrations, 1892, no. 00574.
254.	As he is explicitly called in his marriage record.
255.	York County Marriage Register (1858-1869). vol. 1, p. 17, from an extract kindly provided by William Britnell.
256.	See Reid, p. 331, and Wheeler, p. 158. Maurice’s father, John Wurts (1766-1855), who was of Thorold Tp., Welland Co., in 1801, and later of Markham Tp., York Co. (Wheeler, pp. 43, 44. 158), was almost certainly a close relative of Charity (Wurts) Kennedy, mother of Elizabeth (Kennedy) Williams.
257.	1861 census of Esquesing Tp., District 5, p. 115.
258.	1871 census of Chinguacousy Tp. (PAC microfilm no. 9956), Division 5, p. 45.
259.	Patrons’ Directory in ACH, p. 71. Potential confusion with his cousin Benajah Williams, son of Charles Williams, is fortunately obviated here by the fact that his “year of settlement” is given as 1832, which, as usual for these directories, should be read as “year of birth” for natives.
260.	1881 census of Erin Tp., Wellington Co. (PAC microfilm no. C-13258), Division 1, p. 44.
261.	1891 census of Esquesing Tp., Halton Co. (PAC microfilm no. T-6340), Division 3, p. 17.
262.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1890, no. 004670.
263.	Ontario Marriage Index.
264.	Cunningham North was of Irish ancestry, and was not of the same family as the Elizabeth North who married William Kennedy of Grimsby.
265.	Peel County birth registrations, no. 015331.
266.	Halton County marriage registrations, 1890, no. 004667.
267.	Wentworth County marriage registration, 1913, no. 018503.
268.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 1, p. 6.
269.	Wentworth County marriage registrations, 1893, no. 013341.
270.	Wentworth County marriage registrations, 1892, no. 013429.
271.	Wentworth County marriage registrations, 1897, unnumbered.
272.	Georgetown Herald, copied in Acton Free Press, 16 June 1887, p. 3, col. 2 (transcribed at http://news.halinet.on.ca/).
273.	This last detail is from John Mark Rowe.
274.	ACH, pp., 17, 56, 70.
275.	ACH, p. 56.
276.	Ruggle, p. 6.
277.	Ruggle, p. 6.
278.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, pp. 42-3.
279.	ACH, p. 55.
280.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 37.
281.	The data given for his three eldest children in the censuses of 1871 and 1881 is not consistent.
282.	City of Toronto marriage registrations, 1886, no. 13636.
283.	The GPL sheets seem to be highly reliable when they can be checked against other sources; but according to the published index to the Peel County Marriage Registers, this marriage took place in 1868.
284.	John Forster (b. ca. 1818), was an elder brother of Dr. Moffitt Forster, husband of Elizabeth Williams, above. He is found just east of Streetsville in the 1861 census of Toronto Tp. (C-1063, District 5, p. 100), which gives his wife’s name only as “Mrs. N. [?] Forster,” and lists eleven children. The following passage in McDonald, p. 20, relates to two of these, giving birthdates for them which agree closely enough with their ages in the census; “[The parents of] Benjamin James Forster (1839-1919) [cf. GWC, p. 143] … immigrated from England in 1828. The Forsters originally settled in Streetsville [in Toronto Township] and worked in local flour and lumber mills and the electrical plant…. Benjamin Forster moved to Gravenhurst… [then] relocated to New York for a short period of time before settling at Glen Williams, where his sister Susan Forster (1856-1919) had married Jacob Irvine Williams (1852-1879), a descendant of the founders of The Glen.”
285.	Ruggle, p. 4; and information from John Mark Rowe.
286.	ACH, p. 56.
287.	Ruggle, p. 4.
288.	Ruggle, p. 6.
289.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., District 4, p. 75.
290.	ACH, p. 9. The same source lists him in the Patrons’ Directory, p. 70, where his “date of settlement” is erroneously given as 1825.
291.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 39.
292.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 3, p. 23.
293.	Her birthdate is incorrectly given as 1890 in BWC (an error which may have resulted from a misreading of a worn stone); it is given correctly in Ruggle, p. 6.
294.	City of Toronto marriage registrations, 1892, no. 13957.
295.	for the identification of his mother see J. Holdroyd, Ann Crossley (b. abt. 1825-30 W Yorks), posting to the Crossley message board at Ancestry.com dated 31 Jan 2003, at http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.crossley/151/mb.ashx.
296.	Ruggle, p. 6.
297.	Most of this information is from John Mark Rowe.
298.	Information from Helen Jackson.
299.	Ruggle, p. 15.
300.	Information from Helen Jackson.
301.	He is erroneously called “Benjamin” in the 1891 census.
302.	City of Toronto marriage registrations, 1912, no. 028692.
303.	According to the family bible, which we prefer to the statement in his death that he was born 15 Oct. 1846 (less than a year after his older brother Charles).
304.	City of Toronto death registrations, 1931, no. 007248. An index to death notices in the Georgetown Herald shows notices for him published 21 Oct. 1931, p. 2, col. 3, and 28 Oct. 1931, p. 2, col. 3, but we have not seen the original records.
305.	1871 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 4, p. 38, in which his occupation is given as a sawyer, but in which he is by some amazing error called “Diana” and his sex given as female.
306.	Peel County marriage registrations, 1873, no. 008442.
307.	1881 census of Esquesing Tp., Division 2, p. 63.
308.	1871 census of Georgetown Village, Esquesing Tp., Halton Co. (PAC microfilm no, T-6340), pp. 5-6.
309.	GWC, p. 39, where however the father’s name is erroneously given as “Davies” Williams.
310.	Globe and Mail (Toronto), 8 Feb. 1954, p. 12, col. 3; there is a death notice for him in the Georgetown Herald, 10 Feb. 1954, p. 1, col. 2, which we have not seen.
311.	He is mentioned as the attending physician in birth records of 1905.
312.	Torontonian Society Blue Book and Club List, 1921, p. 173.
313.	Kent County marriage registrations, 1901, no. 009368.
314.	Kent County birth registrations, 1905, no. 021920.

THE DESCENDANTS OF
BENAJAH WILLIAMS

of New York State
and of Lincoln County and Esquesing Township, Upper Canada,
by his three wives

Explanatory Note (June 2008)

Preface (1992)

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations of Frequently-Cited Sources

First Canadian Generation

Second Canadian Generation

Third Canadian Generation

Notes

THE DESCENDANTS OF BENAJAH WILLIAMS

of New York State and of Lincoln County and Esquesing Township, Upper Canada, by his three wives

Explanatory Note (June 2008)

Preface (1992)

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations of Frequently-Cited Sources

First Canadian Generation

Second Canadian Generation

Third Canadian Generation

Notes

THE DESCENDANTS OF
BENAJAH WILLIAMS

of New York State
and of Lincoln County and Esquesing Township, Upper Canada,
by his three wives