Theophilus Williams (1717 - abt. 1774)

Born 20 Feb 1717 in Plainfield, Windham, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1774 at about age 56 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

Perhaps he was the Theophilus born in 1716 in Windham Co, CT.
Plainfield, CT Vital Record show this child of Thomas Williams, Jr and Hannah (Douglas): Theofeles, s. Tho(ma)s & Han(n)ah, b. Jan. 20, 1716/17^[1]

Marriage record:
Theophilus of Providence, Ruth of Rehoboth (Mass).
Married by Rev. John Greenwood. Intentions 14 Mar 1752.
Married March 16, 1752 at Newman Congregational Church in Providence^[2]

Rhode Island - May 5, 1752 a list of men took the “oath or affirmation prescribed by the colony law against bribery and corruption. . . and were admited free and enable to give their votes to choose officers in their respective towns…” The list under Providence includes, Theophilus Williams ^[3]

His wife, Ruth, was from Massachusetts and it appears that they first lived in Providence, RI where he was from, then they moved back to Massachusetts about 1761.

children:^[4]

1. John WILLIAMS b: 13 MAY 1753 in Providence, Providence, RI
2. Thomas WILLIAMS b: 22 FEB 1755 in Providence, Providence, RI
3. William WILLIAMS b: 25 FEB 1758 in Providence, Providence, RI
4. Barzillai WILLIAMS b: 14 JUL 1760 in Providence, Providence, RI
5. Samuel WILLIAMS b: 8 MAR 1762 in Rehoboth, Bristol, MA

In 1757 Theophilus Williams was listed on the “Rateable Rolls” in Providence Co, RI. (Maybe this was for taxes.)

In 1757, during the French & Indian War Theophilus enlisted in the local militia to fight the French and Indians.^[5][6]

He passed away about 1774, age abt 28, Rehoboth, Bristol, Mass.

Sources

1. ↑ Plainfield, CT Vital Records. Also listed in a book "Connecticut Town Birth Records"
2. ↑ Church marriage record (listed under Brown)- http://dunhamwilcox.net/ri/newman_m1.htm
3. ↑ Rhode Island Colonial Records, p 39 -- https://books.google.com/books?id=omwlAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA39&lpg=PA39&dq=%22theophilus+williams%22+rhode+island&source=bl&ots=Wm7V_94C8P&sig=ACfU3U3bKQcKDbeUTUCpOgCRtnqJkLFIGw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjex9Gr9fPhAhUIPq0KHdr8DQo4ChDoATAAegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=%22theophilus%20williams%22%20rhode%20island&f=false
4. ↑ Carter, p.67
5. ↑ http://sites.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/article285.html
6. ↑ Page 434 -- https://books.google.com/books?id=fVb3g3friZIC&pg=PA434&lpg=PA434&dq=%22theophilus+williams%22+rhode+island&source=bl&ots=iw4FYErGqb&sig=ACfU3U1OXM51Y4GjAIV4RLnXEYp5lk7PsQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjex9Gr9fPhAhUIPq0KHdr8DQo4ChDoATACegQIBRAB#v=onepage&q=%22theophilus%20williams%22%20rhode%20island&f=false

See also:

• Marion Pearce Carter, The Ancestry and some of the Descendants of Theophilus Williams and his wife Ruth Brown of Providence, R.I., available on Family Search
• The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records (NEHGS, Boston, 2011) Vol. Plainfield, Page 146. Birth record.