Williams Family History

Our family begins with the union of Father and Mother Williams. The identity of Father Williams is unknown at this time, however, Mother Williams name was Nancey, according to the book "The Maxwells of Greenville" by A. Charles Cannon. This book provides the Will of General Robert Anderson, in which he bequeaths "one Negro girl Hannah, the daughter of old Nancey" to his granddaughter Elizabeth Maxwell. Elizabeth Maxwell went onto marry Dr. Thomas Blackburn Williams of Greenville, SC.

Hannah is the daughter of Father and Mother Williams (Nancey). It is unknown at this time to whom she was united, however, to this union was born Thomas Butler Williams (Mounts). Butler and his mother (Hannah) were sold by their original slave master (Dr. Thomas Blackburn Williams) to a speculator. The speculator took them to Montgomery, AL, where Butler and his mother (Hannah) were separated. Butler was sold to Thomas Cofield, who subsequently gave him to his daughter (Mary Cofield) as a wedding present to Virgil Mounts. Butler remained Mary's slave until General Wilson's raid passed the plantation and Butler went off with him, enlisting in the Yankee army under the name Butler Mounts. After the Civil War, he changed his name back to Thomas Butler Williams.

In 1878, Butler joined in marriage to Rachel Harris, the daughter of Jupiter Harris or Jupiter Ullmer and Charlotte.

From their union, thirteen (13) children were born. There were seven (7) surviving children: Joseph, Cornelius Webb, Thomas Willie, Henrietta, Pinkie, Rachel, and Mary Harriette.

Joseph was the oldest of the seven. Not much is known about him except that he was married to "Biddy" and he lived and died in Chicago, IL. No children were born to this union.

Cornelius Webb was married to Georgiann Olds. They lived in Cincinnati, OH. From their union were born twelve (12) children, of which 9 survived: Eddie Sr., Charlie Joe, Cecil, Cornelius (Neal), Tildon, James, Irene, Ida Mae, and Corrine.

Thomas Willie was married three times before he passed. Him and his family lived in Birmingham, AL. The first two wives preceded him in death - Lillian Irene Ann Hunter and Donna Lockett. From the union with Lillian, were born five boys, of which three survived: Henry Robinson, Issac, and Thomas. From the union with Donna, were born four children: Lucy, Ella Rachel, Amos, and Obadiah. His third wife was Carrie Williams and there were no children born from their union.

Henrietta lived in Birmingham and was married to Armstead Rainey. From their union were born five children: John, Armstead Jr., Amos, James, and Julia.

Pinkie lived in Cincinnati and was married to Tom Glenn. There were no children from their union, although they did rear their nephew - Albert Charles Owens.

Rachel lived in Mobile, AL and was married to Oliver Owens. From their union were born five children: Henry, Joseph, Albert Charles, Emma Lee, and Elizabeth.

Mary Harriette lived in Dallas, AL and was married to John Chesnut. From their union were born five children: Mary Francis, Autherine, John Jr., Flora, and Cornelius.

Learn more! http://williams-olds.info/

"In the words of Thomas Butler Williams..."

From Deposition A. of Butler Williams alias Mounts, No. 1,006.549

I am near 70 years of age; my post-office address is Orville, Dallas Co., Alabama. I am a farmer and the Claimant for pension in this case. I was born in South Carolina in Lawrence district. I do not know the Co. It was near Clinton P.O. or town. My master then was "Tom" Williams, and as his slave, I was sold. Also my mother to a speculator and brought to Montgomery, Alabama where he sold me to Tom Cofield of Macon Co., Alabama. I was taken there by him and put to work on his farm. His daughter married Virgil Mounts and my master gave me to Mrs. Mounts, via. Mary Cofield Mounts and I remained her slave until Gen. Wilson raid passed through the plantation and I went off with him and passed through Columbus, Georgia and onto Macon, Georgia where I enlisted in Co.D 137 U.S.C.V.I. and served in said Co. and regt. as a private until its same year, viz. first year of freedom. I was never in the U.S. service before the above, or since. I enlisted and served under the name of Butler Mounts. No I did not know that the name was Butlam, instead of Butler. I noticed no distinction I was named Butler in childhood, and had three masters besides the speculator. Viz "Tom" Williams, "Tom" Cofield, and Virgil Mounts and as he was my last master that is the name surname, I gave at enlistments if they got my Christian name on the rolls Butlam it is wrong it should have been Butler. When I got my discharge, I immediately took the name of my first master viz. Williams and have not been going under any other name than Butler Williams. The reason I did not state in my first papers I had changed my name since service, from Mounts to Williams was because those who fixed up the papers said that the name I enlisted under was all the name required, I have marriage and transacted all business since M.O. under the name of Butler Williams. I have no middle name. My capt. was named Harrington. Lts. Smith both named Smith and Sergeant Edmond Williams (colored), Henry Lurn Lawn, Lawn, Ben Smother name first the other generals, Andrew Wood. Forget the name of others private John Johnson, Luke Johnson, Tab Johnson, Lum Johnson, Ivan Johnson, York Johnson, Chas Woods 1st, Charles Woods 2nd, Dick Woods, Galley Hall, Andrew Hall, John Dawson, Chris James, Riley Jones. That is all I recall now. I have heard you read the list, and remember all except James Muness. I tented with a Conrade, but I cannot recall his name just now. Our co. and regt. remained at Malonga during all its service. M.I. and M.O.

There, our Col. was Archie Young. Forget the major and Adj. name. Forget the surgeon's name. I had the measles and was in hospital not very long after M.I.

That was all the sickness I had. It was a tent hospital at our camp. I think the camp was just out of the edge of town to the east near a small river. I had no accident to happen to me or anything else that would identify me to my commorade. I was said to be 21 years old when I was sold in S.C. before the war began. But, I was a full-grown man for some years before that. I forget my height (he is 5'7" in shoes, by measurement N.W.H. Spec Ex.). I am full blood African. I had small scar from knife, would in small of back also on right side about six inches below arm pit. These scars are small. I had no marks to be seen when my clothes are on. I have not been to Macon Co. since I went away with the army. The close of the war, I have not seen a member of my Co. since M.O. but I have seen Edmond Ruffin who served in Co. K 137 U.S.C.I. I knew him in the regt. and have seen him several times since M.O. Saw him last March.

Those who knew me before and during service were Andrew Woods, Dick Woods, and both Charles (1st and 2nd) Woods, Lurn Johnson. They knew me in slavery. I have no picture of myself taken until recently. I lost my discharge first year after M.O. I came to Dallas Co., Ala immediately after discharge and have lived here ever since. I was afraid to go back to Macon County, Ala. I had been a servant to my master Virgil Mounts while he was in the C.S.A. I forget his Co. and regt. I was only back home two or three weeks where I went off with Gen. Wilson's army. I do not know anyone living who has known me ever since M.O.

The people who knew me are either dead, or moved away and I am too poor financially and too much crippled up from rheumatism to go away from home to where my commorades live to be identified. I am unable to furnish any better means of identification that I have heretofore. I had a full beard and a mustache in the army and a full suit of crimpy hair or wool. I have only employed only two attorneys viz. J.H. Vermilyn and Co., Washington D.C. and Milo B. Stenus and Co. of Washington D.C., but Mr. J.A. Vermilyer is now my attorney. I have not paid either of them anything. I have had Mr. Marshall and Mr. Ellis both of Orville to do my writing. I have paid them at the rate of $.50 a paper where the seal was needed, $.25 without the seal. I have no contract or agreement as to fee. I have been married twice. First wife died about 35 years ago and about 30 years ago, I married my present wife. Her maiden name Miss. Rachel Harris, license obtained at Selma, Ala. Record in office of probate judge that was her first marriage. We have three children under 16 years, viz. Pinkee, born Oct. 8, 1890, as shown by my Bible, Rachael born Dec. 31, 1893 (No record from memory), Mary born Dec. 1, 1896 (No record from memory). I fix the dates of the births of the two youngest by what my wife tells me. I have heard this read, understood the questions, and my answers have been correctly reported. I cannot write.

"In the Words of Rachel Williams..."

From Deposition of Rachel Williams, No. 866817

I farm on Mr. Ed. Lacey's Place.

I am the widow of Butler Williams who served as a soldier in the Yankee Army under the name of Butler Mounts and has applied for a pension before he died but the claim was never allowed.

I don't remember the company and regiment that he said he served in. I am claiming to be his widow. I have never drawn any pension neither did my late husband Butler Mounts or Williams ever draw a pension. I had only known Butler Williams since the summer before we were married on the 1st Sunday in January. I had not been married before I was married to Butler Williams - Yes sir I had one child named Abram that child was by Edmond Shorts - Abram and Edmond Shorts are both dead - Edmond Shorts was the husband of my sister Mima and they were living on Mr. Ben Wilson's place (plantation) and I was just a young girl living with them for I did not have a mother or father and when my sister was away from home Edmond took advantage of me. I never lived with Edmond Shorts as his wife he was my sisters husband and he continued to live with her until he died. I never had but one child before I married Butler Williams. My first child Abram wasn't a year old when I got married and he died soon after we were married. I don't know exactly when he died but it was about 2 or 3 o'clock Sunday morning and about the first or second of December four years ago last month.

My husband said that he was only married once before marrying me and that the first wife Minerva Bills, he said that she had been "ceased" going on three years when he commenced courting; he said that he had four children by her and that all of them excepting one "Jerry" had died before the wife died; that wife died down beyond Orville some where but I don't know where - Minerva has a sister down there some where but I don't know where. Old man Issac Hunter knew about her death and acted as a witness on that point but his son came here since Christmas and carried him off and I don't know where he is. My son can tell where she died, but I can't.

My husband's given name was Butler. His correct given name so he said was Thomas, but he was nicknamed Butler before he got grown and he was always called Butler. He had a son named Tom after him. I don't know who he belonged to during slavery time but I think their name was Mounts. He was in the army under that name and took the name of Williams after he came out of the army he told the other special examiner all about that but I don't remember how he said it was. My correct name when I was growing up was Rachel Harris and that was the name that I was married under, but I was also called by the name of Ullmer and Johnson. My father was Jupiter Harris, but he was also called Jupiter Ullmer and I was called by both of his names, Harris and Ullmer. He died when I was a child. My mother was Charlotte and her last husband was Johnson and I was called Johnson after them. She had married Johnson or Fisher after my father died, his given name was Richard Johnson and he was also called Richard Fisher in that way I was called those names Rachel Harris, Rachel Ullmer, Rachel Johnson, (Rachel Fisher), but I called myself Rachel Harris. I had 13 children by Butler Williams seven of whom are now living as follows: Joseph, Cornelius, Thomas, Henrietta, Pinkie, Rachel and Mary. Pinkie, Rachel, and Mary have no double names.