Thomas Henry Williams Jr. (1847 - 1933)

Born 9 Feb 1847 in McNairy, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Rebecca Jane (Britton) Williams — married 30 May 1869 in McNairy, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Dec 1933 at age 86 in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katrina Miller [send private message]

(I guess I better write a biography and post sources about my maternal 3x's great-grandfather.)

Biography

Thomas was born on February 9, 1847, in McNairy County, Tennessee, USA to Thomas Henry Williams Sr. and Dorcus M. McAfee. According to Marilyn Hix Marks, "Thomas was a drummer boy during the Civil War. He started going blind around the age of fourteen."

The 1850 Census (see sources) gives proof of parents and siblings.

He married Miss Rebecca Jane Britton on May 30, 1869, in McNairy County, Tennessee, USA. He signed a marriage contract.^[1][2][3]

They had eleven children:

1.) Bedford - Twin of William - died as an infant.

2.) William Henry (1870-1952)^[4]

3.) Arch (1871-1938)^[5]

4.) Callie Dona (1873 - 1971)^[6]

5.) Nancy (1876 - abt. 1888)

6.) Mary Lee (1879 - 1972)^[7]

7.) Emma (1882 - 1972)^[8]

8.) Lillie M. (1885 - 1961)^[9]

9.) Cleve (1885 - 1949)^[10]

10.) John Arthur (1891 - 1972)^[11]

11. George H. (1892 - 1911)^[12]

The Brittons were a wealthy Southern family who lost everything after the Civil War. A descendant of Thomas and Rebecca, Jamie Kay Taylor, has written a well-researched book about the Williams and Britton Family. The book was written in the 1970s and features real stories from Thomas and Rebecca's children. Once it is scanned, and I have Mrs. Taylor's permission, the book will be uploaded to Family Search.

The Williams Family made their journey from Tennesse to Alcorn, Mississippi where their daughter, Nancy Williams died at the young age of about twelve. The story goes that the family was on the train platform, and a group of young men began to chase her, and she fell over and later died. Another story goes that she was accidentally struck by a wagon.

A few years later, the family settled in Collin County, Texas in the now extinct town of Mantua, The town was located in between Anna, and Van Alstyne, Texas and is currently home to the Mantua Housing Development. The family lived in a two-bedroom cabin, and according to Marilyn Hix Marks "They believed it to be a mansion."^[13] Their oldest daughter, Emma, lived with them because she was almost forty when she married.

Thomas Williams was believed to have bright red hair, and later in life became blind, and grew a third set of teeth. He was with his youngest son, George, when the boy died at home from sugar diabetes. During WWI, all of his sons used the excuse "blind father" on their draft cards. It didn't work.

Thomas and Rebecca's son, John Arthur Williams, had a young son named, John Arthur Jr. who also had bright red hair. So there is a possibility Thomas really did have red hair in his youth.

Thomas passed away on December 25, 1933, at his home in Mantua from pneumonia. His death certificate says "near Van Alstyne," and was signed by his son, Cleave Williams.^[14][15]

He was buried in the "McKinney Section" at the Van Alstyne Cemetery beside his wife, and son, George on the same day he died. Yoder Funeral Home took care of the burial, and Dr. Slaughter of Van Alstyne signed the death cert..^[16][17]The Swett Family, who were good friends to the Williams's are buried beside them.^[18] Later on, a grandson and his wife were buried in front of them.^[19]

The Williams and Britton Families have been well-researched by not just Jamie Taylor. There is an out-of-print book that was published in the 1800s about the Britton Family. Thomas only married once. Thomas and Rebecca's descendants are extremely proud of their ancestors.

"The Van Alstyne Leader" is full of articles about the Williams Family. The paper from 1898 - 2020 has been archived and is available for free here: https://vanalstyne.advantage-preservation.com/

Family Search

Family Search #9WL5-4WR

Census

1850^[20]

1860

1870^[21]

1880^[22]

1890 - destroyed

1900^[23]

1910^[24]

1920^[25]

1930

Sources

1. ↑ "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD7Q-8Q5 : 16 March 2020), Thomas H. Williams, 1869.
2. ↑ "Tennessee State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNDL-8FV : 4 December 2014), Thomas H (Unknown) Williams and Rebecca J Britton, 30 May 1869; from "Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2008); citing p. 324, McNairy, Tennessee, United States, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.
3. ↑ "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHM-67Q2 : 10 March 2021), Thomas H Williams and Rebecca J Britton, 30 May 1869; citing McNairy, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. , Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 983,068.
4. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3CY-19Q : 20 February 2021), Thomas Williams in entry for William Henry Williams, 20 May 1952; citing certificate number 22989, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,075,084.
5. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3MW-DW9 : 20 February 2021), Tom Williams in entry for Arch Williams, 29 Dec 1938; citing certificate number 55478, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,860.
6. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSYL-17S : 20 February 2021), Tom Williams in entry for Callie D Hulsey, 19 Nov 1971; citing certificate number 85346, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,503.
7. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3S5-6C3 : 20 February 2021), Thomas Williams in entry for Mary Lee Crocker, 13 Oct 1972; citing certificate number 74668, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,987.
8. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K368-CZK : 20 February 2021), Tom Williams in entry for Emma W Rockford, 01 Sep 1972; citing certificate number 65300, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,985.
9. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3H7-L4F : 20 February 2021), John Williams in entry for Lillie Fields, 06 May 1961; citing certificate number 26349, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,116,744.
10. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3SQ-GQF : 20 February 2021), Cleve Williams, 05 Dec 1949; citing certificate number 58780, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,548.
11. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K78K-Y5Q : 20 February 2021), Thomas Williams in entry for John Arthur Williams, 01 Mar 1972; citing certificate number 18425, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,223,719.
12. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3WV-NXP : 20 February 2021), T H Williams in entry for George Williams, 31 May 1911; citing certificate number 10931, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,050,486.
13. ↑ "Personal Conversation with Marilyn Marks on 8 August 2021.
14. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K34G-4FF : 20 February 2021), Thomas Henry Williams, 25 Dec 1933; citing certificate number 55341, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,115,946.
15. ↑ "Texas Death Index, 1903-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZN5-PGJ : 24 May 2014), Thomas Henry Williams, 25 Dec 1933; from "Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2006); citing certificate number 55341, Grayson, Texas, Texas Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Austin.
16. ↑ "BillionGraves Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRS-NH3W : 24 June 2015), THOMAS HENRY WILLIAMS, died 25 Dec 1933; citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson, Texas, United States.
17. ↑ http://usgenwebsites.org/TXGrayson/VACemetery/VA_2818.html
18. ↑ http://usgenwebsites.org/TXGrayson/VACemetery/VA_2517.html
19. ↑ http://usgenwebsites.org/TXGrayson/VACemetery/VA_1384.html
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD5-SM3 : 23 December 2020), Thomas Williams in household of Thomas Williams, McNairy, McNairy, Tennessee, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
21. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDDJ-J74 : 29 May 2021), Thomas H Williams in entry for Thos T Williams, 1870.
22. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD76-9RH : 20 February 2021), Thomas T Williams, District 10, Hardin, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district ED 49, sheet 102C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,260.
23. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3L3-LJY : accessed 8 August 2021), Thomas H Williams, Justice Precinct 3 (east & north part), Collin, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 12, sheet 13B, family 238, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,621.
24. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M29Q-Z2Z : accessed 8 August 2021), Thomas H William, Justice Precinct 4, Grayson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 98, sheet 2B, family 31, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1557; FHL microfilm 1,375,570.
25. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHYM-PXK : 3 February 2021), T H Williams in entry for Andrew Rockford, 1920.

• *Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, USA., Williams, Thomas Henry (1847-1933)

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 06 March 2019), memorial page for Thomas Henry Williams (9 Feb 1847–25 Dec 1933), Find A Grave Memorial no. 40252147, citing Van Alstyne Cemetery, Van Alstyne, Grayson County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by rhondajo (contributor 47044794) .