Family History - Person Sheet
Family History - Person Sheet
Notes for Lt. Col. William Williams
William Williams was an early settler of Union Township. He had, at the earliest tax record, which is undated, 50 acres of land, 3 cows, and cash of £0-10s-0p.2256 In 1773, the State of Pennsylvania granted him a patent for 64 acres of unoccupied land there.2257
It is most often though not universally accepted that the William Williams of Union is the same as the William Williams who was an officer in the Pennsylvania First Battalion.2258,2251,2255 John Trussell writes, “[Company C], commanded by Capt. William Williams. Thanks to the number of Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania, this was a fairly common name, and a number of men called William Williams lived in Philadelphia County on the eve of the American Revolution. Collateral evidence concerning their identities, however, makes it seem more likely that Captain Williams was the man of that name who owned land in Berks County in 1773.” I agree. One of the tax lists,2259 undated, notes that “William Williams has in his Tenure property of Reading Company, Land — 120 acres.”2255 There is no valuation of the land or further description of the property. The “Reading Company” appears to my eye to be a military company, of which he was major.
From around 1775, he was captain of the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion. In 1777, he was promoted to become major in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. He was in command of that Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Germantown on October 4 of that year. He was exchanged on April 20, 1778. (Some accounts said he escaped.) At that time, he became Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Pennsylvania regiment. He was paymaster of that regiment for a few months. He reportedly resigned from the army on April 27, 1780.2260
I have not been able to trace Wiiliam’s roots. There were a number of Williams families in the area, most of them Quakers. If William fought in the War, it is unlikely that he came from the Society of Friends.
It is most often though not universally accepted that the William Williams of Union is the same as the William Williams who was an officer in the Pennsylvania First Battalion.2258,2251,2255 John Trussell writes, “[Company C], commanded by Capt. William Williams. Thanks to the number of Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania, this was a fairly common name, and a number of men called William Williams lived in Philadelphia County on the eve of the American Revolution. Collateral evidence concerning their identities, however, makes it seem more likely that Captain Williams was the man of that name who owned land in Berks County in 1773.” I agree. One of the tax lists,2259 undated, notes that “William Williams has in his Tenure property of Reading Company, Land — 120 acres.”2255 There is no valuation of the land or further description of the property. The “Reading Company” appears to my eye to be a military company, of which he was major.
From around 1775, he was captain of the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion. In 1777, he was promoted to become major in the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment. He was in command of that Regiment at the Battle of Brandywine. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Germantown on October 4 of that year. He was exchanged on April 20, 1778. (Some accounts said he escaped.) At that time, he became Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Pennsylvania regiment. He was paymaster of that regiment for a few months. He reportedly resigned from the army on April 27, 1780.2260
I have not been able to trace Wiiliam’s roots. There were a number of Williams families in the area, most of them Quakers. If William fought in the War, it is unlikely that he came from the Society of Friends.