Prudence (Williams) Coffin (1758 - 1845)

Born 18 Mar 1758 in New Garden MM, Guilford, Province of North Carolina [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1845 at about age 86 in Newport, Wayne, Indiana, United States of America [uncertain]

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Biography

(B) RICHARD WILLIAMS. 1st. The minute spread upon the record book of Fairfax (Virginia) Monthly Meeting, shows that he was the son of George Williams, the founder, and married Prudence Beales, loth Mo. nth, 1746, at Coldspring, or Monocacy Meeting in Maryland. On 7th Mo. 27th, 1746, appears the following entry : THE WILLIAMS FAMILY "Richard Williams having for a considerable time been under care and notice of Friends now requests to be received as a member in unity. The Meeting, therefore, after deliberate consideration, granted his request." On 7th Mo. 29th, 1746 : "Richard Williams and Prudence Beales appeared here and signified their intention of taking each other in marriage, it being the second time, and nothing appearing to obstruct their proceeding, they are left to their liberty to accomplish their marriage according to the good order used amongst Friends, and the Meeting appoints Henny Ballinger and Jonathan Williams to see it so accomplished and make report to next Monthly Meeting." On i2th Mo. 2Sth, 1746 : "The Friends appointed to attend the marriage of Richard Williams and Prudence Beales report that it was orderly accomplished." The next record states : "Joseph Wells requests a certificate for himself and wife to the Monthly Meeting of Carver's Creek, in North Carolina. Also request is made for certificate for Thomas Beales and wife and Richard Williams and wife to the above said Monthly Meeting." These certificate!; were approved and signed on 6th Mo. 26th, 1749, and Richard Williams and his brother-in-law Thomas Beales, a minister of the Society of Friends, and their wives, then moved to Guilford County, North Carolina.

A grandson of Prudence (Beales) Williams in his published "Reminiscences" wrote of her in 1S76. "My grandmother remained a widow for the rest of her life, and died respected by all who knew her. She was an Elder in the Religious Society of Friends for many years, and was highly esteemed. She was opposed to slavery and a friend of the oppressed." She was born 3rd Mo. ist, 1730 ; died 6th Mo. 26th, 1S15. Prudence Beales was the daughter of John Beales, of Bealesville, Maryland. John Beales, Sr., was a member of the Society of Friends who settled near Aston, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He married in 16S2, Mary, the daughter of William Clayton, Sr., and later moved to Nottingham, Penna., where he died in 1726. His children so far as definitely known, were John, Jr., William, Jacob, Mary and Patience. Prudence, daughter of John Beales of Nottingham and later of Bealesville, who married Richard Williams, isl, had 11 brother named Thoui.-is «iul probably one named I'.owatcr. It is certain that Prudence and Thomas Beales were children of John lieaics, but whether of the father or his son John, is not known, probably of the latter. Thomas Beales was a Minister of the Society of Friends and was the first white Bcttler in the State of Ohio, having gone there in 17M2 from North Carolina under the auspices of his Meeting to preach to the Indians.

William Clayton, father of Mary Clayton who married John Beales, Sr., arrived in the ship "Kent" from London in company with certain commissioners sent by the Proprietors of New Jersey, to purchase lands from the Indians, etc., in 167S. He purchased the share of Hans Oelson, one of the original graiitecs of W.arcus Hook, at:d settled at that place. He was an active and consistent Friend and also participated ill jioUticil nlT.iirs. He was a tucinbcr of Governor MarkUani's Council, an-1 and Iftter of Ihit of Die Proprietary, at tlie s.une time serving' -^s a Justice of Clicster County, Penna., presiding at the first court held in Pennsylvania under the Proprietary government. His son, William Clayton, Jr., became the purchaser and occupant ot" 100 acres, embracing the site of JIaylandsville, now included within the city of Philadelphia.

Name: Prudence Williams. ^[1]

Born 18 March 1758. Guilford County, North Carolina, United States of America. ^[1]

Died 2 June 1845. Wayne County, Indiana, United States of America. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Source: #S-375944723 Ancestry Record 60525 #118565160

• Genealogy of the Williams family : descendants of George Williams, by Williams, Richard Jordan, 1874- , Pages 11-12, https://archive.org/details/genealogyofwilli00will
• Source: S-375944723 U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Record Collection 60525