Just when I think I have covered all of the fairly close distant cousins, e.g. children of the 2X great grandparents, I discover I’ve missed people here and there.

So it is with my husband’s Williams family. I’ve published a lot about the earliest lines and extended collateral lines, but neglected to write about John Christopher Williams’ many siblings, all children of William and Hepsabeth Williams, who last settled in Lafayette County, Arkansas in the 1840s.

Today begins a series of family sketches covering the lives of the children of William and Hepsabeth. beginning with Judith Woodward Williams. the eldest of thirteen children born to them, although only nine married and had families.

Judith Woodward Williams was born on 15 October 1829 in Marion County, Tennessee, where she spent her childhood years.

The Williams family left for Lafayette County, Arkansas sometime after the 1840 Tennessee census and August 1843, when William A. Williams posted bond to be appointed as a constable by the court.

Shortly after settling in their new home, Judith met Benjamin Powell, from Alabama, and they married on 31 December 1844 in Lafayette County, Arkansas. Benjamin was a young man of 21 years, but Judith was an even younger 15 year old teenager.

They settled in Hempstead County, next door to Lafayette County, and spent the rest of their lives there.

Ben fought in the Confederate Army and Judith applied for, and received, a Confederate pension in 1901.

Benjamin died on 13 March 1886 in Hempstead County. Judith survived him by more than a quarter century, passing away on 18 June 1912, also in Hempstead County.

They were buried in Mount Nebo Cemetery in Patmos, where many other family members were also laid to rest.

All events were in Hempstead County, unless otherwise noted.

Children: (Powell)

1. William Calvin, born c1847; died between 1860-1868; no further record
2. Mary Elizabeth, born 5 June 1848; died 30 January 1923; married Greenbury N. Kitchens, 7 May 1865
3. Rebecca Adelaide, born about 5 December 1850; died 11 March 1908; married Thomas Houston McClellan, 17 November 1870
4. Martha Ellen, born 24 December 1852; died 21 March 1931, Franklin County, Arkansas; married Henry McGraw O’Neal, 4 November 1868
5. James Anderson, born 23 June 1854; died 13 August 1939; married Martha Ann Martin, 21 December 1876
6. George Clinton, born 16 January 1859; died 3 July 1940; married Arrie V. Bailey, 11 December 1883, Lafayette County, Arkansas
7. Sophronia Virginia, born April 1861; died after 1900, possibly Smith County, Texas; married Joseph C. Murphy, 23 September 1880. He died before 1900, place unknown.
8. Eliza J., born c1862; died after 1880; no further record
9. William Franklin, born 10 August 1868; died 23 September 1944, Paris, Lamar, Texas; married Annie Louise Hatcher, 20 April 1890, Lafayette County, Arkansas

While most of the Powell children lived their lives close to their birthplaces, a couple of them were beginning to move away to Texas. We’ll see more of this with other children of William and Hepsabeth Williams, particularly to Tyler, Smith, Texas.