Richard Williams

  General Notes:

From "Records of the Dillingham & Williams Families, From 1640-1930," Compiled by Charles H. Lloyd, p.7.

Richard Williams, only son of Robert and Elizabeth Williams, the former from Wales (a Sea Captain) - the latter Lady Elizabeth Dearman, first cousin and maid-of-honor to Queen Anne of England, was born in Newborn, NC, the 28th day of the 10th month 1770 and died at Damascus, Ohio, the 3rd month, 10th day 1852.

********************** From "Records of the Dillingham & Williams Families, From 1640-1930," Compiled by Charles H. Lloyd, p.1.

Richard's nurse was a native African woman. She was stolen from her country by slave dealers. His first language was her dialect, and when he was an old man, he could repeat many words she taught him. She used to tell him the sad story of being snatched from her twin babies which she had left in the shade while she picked berries. She lived to a great age, and died in Ohio, where she had been brought with the family when they emigrated there.

At an early age, Richard was placed in another home and was seldom with his father's family, but was cared for at his father's expense. He well remembered a number of keepsakes, among them a piece of Queen Anne's coronation dress, which belonged to his mother. They were distributed among the children of the second family, and many of them no doubt are still in the possession of their descendants.

He spent some years at school at one of the best of that early date. But, when quite young, about the age of sixteen, he ran away and became a mariner, which vocation he followed, until he left North Carolina for Ohio in the year 1802. While on the sea he was Captain of a number of vessels that traded between Newfoundland and the West Indies. He had a remarkable memory, was bright, intelligent and always well posted in the affairs of his day. He was an interesting conversationalist; and it was especially interesting to hear him relate the many incidents that his tenacious memory stored of his seafaring life. He was kindly, social and benevolent; being generous to a fault. > Note: These facts came to the knowledge of Charles H. Lloyd through his >conversations in early life with Grandfather (Richard Williams) and Aunt Lydia Stanley, nee Williams, whom he was with frequently.

Richard Williams came from North Carolina in 1802 and settled near Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, from there he went to his new home near Masilan, Stark County, in the spring of 1812, arriving there the day that war was declared between England and the United States. Reinforcements for Hull's army passed is sight of his cabin, and after the treacherous surrender of the General and close of war, several of the straggling soldiers on their way home, tired, sick and hungry, called for rest and refreshments. The family heard the sound of the cannon in Perry's battle of Lake Erie, about seventy miles away. They thought at the time it was thunder, and wondered as there were no clouds to be seen.

Richard Williams, only son of Robert and Elizabeth Williams, the former from Wales (a Sea Captain) - the latter Lady Elizabeth Dearman, first cousin and Maid-of-Honor to Queen Anne of England, was born in Newborn, N.C. and died at Damascus, Ohio.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Moved: Moved to Ohio from North Carolina, 1802.

Richard married Sarah Stanton, daughter of Benjamin Stanton and Abigail Macy, on 6 Nov 1796 in Core Sound MM, North Carolina.¹ (Sarah Stanton was born on 12 Jan 1778 in Carteret, North Carolina, USA and died in Nov 1843 in Massillon, Stark, Ohio, USA.)

Richard next married Sarah Dew.