I have already shared the stories of several Matthias Williams, but I would like to share one more. His family is as much of a mystery as some of the earlier Williams people even though his children lived into the 1900s.
Matthias Williams was born 13 December 1803, probably Cumberland County, Virginia; died after 1880, probably Roane County, Tennessee and likely the “Mt. Williams” for whom Monroe Pickel made a coffin for county burial on 4 December 1884 in Roane County. Matthias married (1) Rebecca Davison, 21 November 1825, Roane County, Tennessee. She was born c1800-10; died 1840-1850. He married (2) Millie A.E. (Lizzie) Shackelford, 30 August 1855, also in Roane County. The 1860 census shows Matthias with Elizabeth, 19, born 1841, but also daughter Elizabeth, born c1846. Millie A.E. may be Millie A. Elizabeth. She was born c1833/5 in Tennessee and died after the 1900 census. At that time, she reported that she had given birth to 10 children and 8 were still living.
Matthias is found in Roane County in the 1860 census. Besides three children apparently from Matthias’ first marriage, there are two girls, ages 2 and 6 months. Matthias may have seen some type of Civil War service, as there is a marker for one Matthias Williams, Co. I, 1st TN Inf. at Cave Creek Cemetery, Roane County, Tennessee, where his daughter Debbie is buried. However, it is also possible that one of Matthias’s unidentified sons, born c1826 and c1830, was actually the soldier. Debbie and Matthias are the only Williamses with gravestones in Cave Creek Cemetery. Milly A.E. Williams is shown as the widow of Matthias Williams. Cert. #400695, May 12, App 379.709.
Children of Matthias and Rebecca:
Son, born c1826, probably Roane County; died after 1830.
Daughter, born c1828, probably Roane County; died after 1830.
Son, born c1830, Roane County; died after 1830.
Daughter, born c1835, probably Roane County; died after 1840.
Simeon, born c1842, probably Roane County; died after 1860.
Elizabeth E., born c1846 and died 4 November 1925, both in Roane County. She is buried at Lawnville Cemetery, Roane County. Elizabeth married Henry Burns, 5 March 1865, Roane County. He was born c1844, Tennessee and died after 1880, but predeceased her. His gravestone only notes that he served in Co. I, 1st TN Infantry. Her death is listed in Booth Funeral Home records, death certificate #364.
Children of Matthias and Millie:
Malinda J., born c1858, probably Roane County. She married Brookens C. Kelsey, about 5 August 1876 (license date), Roane County. However, no one filled in the marriage return for them or the marriage listed immediately below theirs. In 1880, B.C. Kelsey, doctor, & Annie R., 14, wife, but no children were living in Giles County, Tennessee. Did Malinda die? He was born c1854, Washington County, Tennessee; died 30 March 1903, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. B.C. married (3) Lula G. Davis, 1885, Tipton County, Tennessee. Lulu lived in Boston as late as 1922.
Mary A. (Polly Ann) Josephine, born 2 October 1858/59, Morgan County, Tennessee (6 months old in census), died 22 March 1923, Morgan County, Tennessee; married Henry Haggard, 25 July 1888, Loudon County, Tennessee. He was born c1844, Tennessee; died before 22 March 1923; buried at Oral Cemetery, Roane County, Tennessee.
Martha Emeline, born 4 July 1866; died 27 February 1939, both Roane County; married Henry Clay Gydes, who survived her. Her death certificate names her parents as Mathias Williams and Elizabeth Shakelford. One Henry Gaddes married M.J. McElroy, 15 April 1888, Roane County, Tennessee.
Delila Palestine (Tina), born September 1869, probably Roane County, Tennessee; died 18 January 1926, Loudon County, Tennessee; married James C. Mitchell, 1892. He was born 1842, Knox County, Tennessee; died 28 July 1911, Loudon County, Tennessee. Both are buried at Corinth Cemetery in Loudon County.
Hulda Deborah, born 10 August 1873, Roane County, Tennessee; died 9 May 1939, Monroe County, Tennessee; buried in West View Cemetery, Monroe County. She married William Harrison Price, c1892, probably in Tennessee. In 1920, Hulda is listed as widowed in Walker County, Georgia, but they may have divorced or at least separated. Harrison was born 12 July 1866, Loudon County, Tennessee; died 7 March 1940, Monroe County, Tennessee. Both are buried in West View Cemetery, but the two stones are very different styles. They lived in Whitley County, Kentucky in 1900 and 1910, having removed to KY between 1898-1900.
Sophia, born c1876, probably Roane County; died after 1880.
John F., born January 1880, Roane County, Tennessee (four months old in census shown as born in January); died after 4 June 1914; married Minnie Garrison, 3 June 1914, McMinn County, Tennessee. There are two Minnie Garrisons in McMinn County, both born about 1896. He could have married either one, but it appears that he may have died young or else they divorced soon. Neither John nor Minnie has been positively identified in 1920.
Deborah, born 2 January 1882/3, Roane County, Tennessee; died 11 April 1961, Loudon County, Tennessee. She is buried at Cave Creek Cemetery, like her father, per information from Hawkins Mortuary, in Loudon County. She married Asberry Price, 27 September 1900, in Roane County. He was born March 1881; died after the 1930 census, but before Deborah, who died on 11 April 1961, probably also in Loudon County, Tennessee.
Thirteen children and I had a devil of a time just identifying these kids as married adults. I know nothing about any of their children. There must be some descendants out there who can add to this information. Leave a comment, please!