| Notes |
- Biographical Sketch of Granville WILLIAMS (1893); Chester County, PA
Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl-
vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley
and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila-
delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 444-6.
"GRANVILLE WILLIAMS, a worthy representative of one of the oldest Welsh
families of this county, and a well known farmer and highly respected
citizen, residing near Sugartown, is the third child and only son of
Nathan and Esther (Pratt) Williams, and a native of Chester county, having
been born in Willistown township, May 6, 1836. He was reared on his
father's farm in that township, and received his education at Prof.
Strode's boarding school and the school taught by Joseph Foulke, a minister
of the Society of Friends. On leaving school he engaged in farming, and
has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been
successful. He now owns a fine farm containing one hundred and thirty-one
acres of choice land, all well improved and in the best state of cultiva-
tion. His farm buildings are substantial and pleasantly situated. For a
number of years Mr. Williams served as a director of the Farmers' Market
Company, of Philadelphia. Politically he is a republican, and has served
as school director of his township. In religion he is a Quaker and a
member of the Goshen monthly meeting.
"On the 14th of February, 1861, Mr. Williams was wedded to Elizabeth S.
Worrall, a daughter of Sharpless and Abigail (Thatcher) Worrall, of Willis-
town township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams was born a family of
seven children: Elwood, born January 20, 1862, and died August 23, 1864;
Esther, born October 15, 1863, and died August 23, 1864; Abbie T., born
March 6, 1865, married Harry R. Sharpless, and resides in West Chester;
Lewis P., born November 11, 1867, and resides at Wyebrook, this State;
Nathan, born April 10, 1870; Emma G., born May 23, 1872; and Granville C.,
born October 19, 1876, the three latter living at home with their parents.
The family of which the subject of this sketch is a member, is of Welsh
descent, and traces its American ancestry back to Robert Williams, who
settled in this State prior to 1691, and came to what is now Goshen town-
ship, this county, about 1700, being, it is thought, the first settler
within the bounds of that township, where he took up a large tract of
land from the original Penn grant. At the home of Hugh Roberts, April 19,
1691, he married Gwen Cadwalader. In 1715 they removed to Uwchlan town-
ship, and in 1734 Robert Williams died, aged eighty-seven. His children,
so far as known, were Elizabeth, Ellis, Lewis, John, Ann, William, Grace,
Hannah, and Sarah. Ellis Williams (great-great-grandfather) was born in
East Goshen township, where he lived all his life. He married in 1712,
and died in 1756. His children were Robert, Esther, Mary, Thomas Garrett,
Ellis (2), and Isaac. In religion he was a Quaker, as was his father.
"The second Ellis Williams (great-grandfather) was also a native of East
Goshen township, and on February 1, 1748, married Lydia Haines, a daughter
of Isaac and Catharine Haines, of East Goshen, by whom he had six
children: Jesse, Ellis (3), Isaac, Nathan, Jane and Lydia.
"The third Ellis Williams (grandfather) was born in East Goshen township,
about 1765, and died in Willistown township, May 31, 1821, aged fifty-six
years. He was a farmer by occupation, and a life long member of the
Society of Friends. On November 19, 1789, he married Jane Garrett, a
daughter of Josiah and Mary (Yarnell) Garrett, by whom he had a family
of eight children: Lydia, born December 19, 1790, and died February 12,
1815; Mary, born September 9, 1792, and died March 31, 1810; Jesse, born
November 19, 1794, and died August 22, 1872; Ellis, born November 24,
1797, died December 28, 1874; Josiah, born July 4, 1800, died February
27, 1817; Jane, born December 24, 1802, died December 23, 1889; Nathan
(father), born December 11, 1804, died December 26, 1806; Garrett, born
December 26, 1806, died February 6, 1875; and George, born October 7,
1808, died July 17, 1811. The mother, Mrs. Jane Williams, passed to her
final rest July 8, 1839, aged 72 years.
"Nathan Williams (father) was born in Willistown township, as were all
his brothers and sisters, and after obtaining an education in the private
schools of his neighborhood, engaged in farming and followed that occupa-
tion all his life, in his native township. Politically he was a whig and
republican, and became prominent in his community. In religion he adhered
to the faith of his childhood and was a member of the Society of Friends
all his life, being connected with the Goshen meeting. On March 18, 1830,
he married Esther Pratt, a daughter of Joseph and Priscilla Pratt. To
their union was born a family of five children, one son and four daugh-
ters: Priscilla, born January 25, 1831, and died August 7, 1841; Emma,
born March 12, 1833, and still living; Granville, the subject of this
sketch; Henrietta, born October 4, 1838, died September 15, 1841, and
Sarah, born November 23, 1840, died September 2, 1841. The mother, Mrs.
Esther Williams, was born December 31, 1806, and passed away April 16,
1841, at the early age of thirty-five years. On November 17, 1847,
Nathan Williams remarried, wedding Susannah R. Smith, nee Russell, but
had no children by this second marriage."
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