 James Hollis WilliamsBorn Feb 2, 1797 at ,, Virginia, USA, died Aug 3, 1870 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 73 years, buried Aug 1870 at William's Cemetery In Rock Creek, Grayson County, Kentucky On Downs School SOURCE: Historical Sketches and Family Histories - Grayson County, Kentucky Author: The Grayson County Historical Society Pub: 2002 Page 281 "...James Hollis WILLIAMS, born 2 Feb 1797 in Virginia, married Sena (Senny) METZEL, born 1791-1792. James died 3 Aug 1870, and Senny died 18 Feb 1861. They are buried at Williams Grave Yard. Martin and Mary SKAGGS. He was born aobut 1788 in Virginia, and Mary was born about 1790 in Kentucky...." "The first record of James Hollis WILLIAMS in Grayson County is a copy of an 21 Apr 1825 deed to land on the Grindstone Fork of Rock Creek. He bought the land with 147 commonwealth papers (equal to about $73.50 in gold or silver). He was 27 years old and married to Sena METZEL, a daughter of Fredrick METZEL and Margaret CARISS or Mary BLACK. A neighbor was Jacob WILLIAMS, who died in 1858 and was 25 years older than James. Their relantionship is unknown, as is the name of James Hollis' father. Jacob's father is believed to be Thomas WILLIAMS, listed in various Kentucky and Virginia records. James Hollis and Sena had nine children: Eliza (unmarried); Jacob (Celia SKAGGS); Elizabeth Jane (james WITTEN); a twin Nancy (Owen WITTEN); a twin Mary (Polly) (Martin SKAGGS); Margaret Ann (Reason LAYMAN); John D. (Martha SKAGGS); and Lewis Hollis (Marietta SKAGGS). Since there is a short grave between Sena's and Eliza's at the Williams Grave Yard (off Downs School Road), it is believed their first child died as a baby. Either with his neighbor, Jacob, or his son, Jacob, James Hollis operated a community tannery near the point where Grindstone Creek flows into Rock Creek just upstream from Nolin River. James and his descendants would be mostly farmers, millers (both grist and saw) and blacksmiths. Many descendants have become accomplished carpenters. Whatever his descendants have done as work, each has brought a singular tenacity directed at doing a piece of work thoroughly and correctly. In many communities where they have lived, James' progeny have often been referred to as "that stubborn WILLIAMS!" Most have a sense of humor, albeit a dry one. Other early familes in Grayson County connected to the Williamses include SKAGGS, WATKINS, WITTEN, HORNBACK, GRAGSON, WILLIS, REED, PARIS, BELL, DOWNS and FULKERSON....." ********************************************************** Married ± 1817 at ,, Kentucky, USA (approximately 44 years married) to:  Sena MetzelBorn 1791 at , Nelson, Kentucky, USA, died Feb 18, 1861 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 69 or 70 years, buried Feb 1861 at William's Cemetery In Rock Creek, Grayson County, Kentucky On Downs School Children: 1. Jacob WilliamsBorn Apr 30, 1818 at Grindstone Fork, Rock Creek, Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died Aug 13, 1873 at Rock Creek, Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 55 years, buried Aug 1873 at Williams Graveyard, Downs School Rd In Rock Creek, Kentucky, USA. Occupation: 1870 at Farmer Per 1870 Grayson County, Kentucky Census.; SOURCE: Historical Sketches and Family Histories - Grayson County, Kentucky Author: The Grayson County Historical Society Pub: 2002 Page: 282 "The younger Jacob's widow, Celia SKAGGS, a grand-daughter of Hunter Henry SKAGGS, would donate two acres of her land in 1889 for Little Flock United Baptist Church and cemetery. The church remains at that location (now Missionary Baptist) eight miles east of Clarkson on Millerstown Road.... Since confusion remains about families of the older and younger Jacob WILLIAMS, it might be helpful to list Jacob (Jame's son) and Celia SKAGGS WILLIAMS' children. They are: Charles Hollis (Fanny Elizabeth REED); Washington (Alcey WATKINS); Penina (John H. ROBERTSON, Lewis HACKLEY); David (Virena WATKINS); James Martin (Adelia GRAGSON); John (Mary Ellen WOOLDRIGE); and Mary Sena (Sudie) (Isaac T. HORNBACK)...." ********************************************************** SOURCE: 1850 Census - ancestry.com Williams, Jacob State: Kentucky Year: 1850 County: Grayson Roll: M432_202 Township: Unknown Townships Page: 18 Image: 36 Line: 6 Image: 36 on ancestry.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WILLIAMS, Jacob, age 32, Male, Farmer, $300, Kentucky , Celia, age 32, Female, Kentucky , Charles H., age 11, Male, Kentucky , Washington, age 9, Male, Kentucky , Penina, age 7, Female, Kentucky , David, age 6, Male, Kentucky , James M., age 4, Male, Kentucky , Isham, age 2, Male, Kentucky , John, age 1/12, Male, Kentucky ********************************************************** 2. Elizabeth Jane WilliamsBorn May 14, 1820 at , Grayson, Kentucky, U.S.A., died Dec 8, 1859 at , Grayson, Kentucky, U.S.A., 39 years SOURCE: 1850 Census - Grayson County, Kentucky - Page 31, Line 34, Visit 414, Image 61 on ancestry.com (29 Aug 1850) WITTEN, James, 35, M, Farmer, $300, KY , Elizabeth J., 29, F, KY , John J., 13, M, KY , Margaret A., 11, F, KY , Hiram, 7, F, KY , Barton, 5, M, KY , Matilda, 3, F, KY , Thomas O., 9/12, M, KY ********************************************************* SOURCE: 1860 Census - Grayson Springs, Grayson, Kentucky - Page 16, Line 26, Visit 96, Image 11 on ancestry.com (22 Jun 1860) WHITTEN, James, 44, M, Farmer, $200, $1000, KY , Elizabeth J., 39, F, Housewife, KY , Hiram, 18, M, Farm Laborer, KY , Barton, 16, M, Farm Laborer, KY , Matilda J., 13, F, KY , Thomas H(?), 10, M, KY *********************************************************** 3. Mary E. WilliamsBorn Nov 22, 1823 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died May 8, 1898 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 74 years, buried May 1898 at William's Cemetery On Old Charley Hackley Farm Now Owned By Russell Hackley SOURCE: 1860 Census - Grayson Springs, Grayson, Kentucky - Page 19 (365), Line 18, Visit 115, Image 14 on ancestry.com (22 Jun 1860) SKAGGS, Martin B., 41, M, Farmer, $600, $1200, KY , Mary, 37, F, Housewife, KY , Mary, 17, F, KY , John M, 16, M, Farmer, KY , William H., 14, M, KY , Stephen ?, 12, M, KY , James A., 10, M, KY , Elizabeth A., 8, F, KY , Libia D., 5, F, KY , Miles H., 2, M, KY , Nancy ?, 4/12, F, KY ********************************************************* 4. John David WilliamsBorn Aug 21, 1828 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died Jun 17, 1903 at , Grayson, Kentucky, U.S.A., 74 years, buried Jun 1903 at Little Flock Church Cemetery, (8 Miles S.E. Of Clarkson, Hwy 224) Grayson C Household Record 1880 United States Census -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace J. D. WILLIAMS Self M Male W 51 KY Farmer VA KY M. E. WILLIAMS Wife M Female W 40 KY Keeps House KY KY D. W. WILLIAMS Son S Male W 21 KY Farmer KY KY E. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 20 KY Helps Keep House KY KY M. WILLIAMS Son S Male W 18 KY Helps Work Farm KY KY M. E. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 15 KY Helps Keep House KY KY M. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 12 KY Helps Keep House KY KY B. D. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 9 KY KY KY Boyd WILLIAMS Son S Male W 6 KY KY KY R. D. WILLIAMS Son S Male W 4 KY KY KY R. WILLIAMS Dau S Female W 11M KY KY KY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Census Place Rock Creek, Grayson, Kentucky Family History Library Film 1254416 NA Film Number T9-0416 Page Number 527C ********************************************************** 5. Lewis Hollis WilliamsBorn Jul 4, 1832 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died Oct 10, 1896 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 64 years, buried Oct 1896 at Little Flock Church Cemetery, (8 Miles S.E. Of Clarkson, Hwy 224) Grayson C SOURCE: Historical Sketches and Family Histories - Grayson County, Kentucky Author: The Grayson County Historical Society Pub: 2002 Page: 281 "...Dollie WILLIAMS, the only daughter of Lewis Hollis WILLIAMS and Marietta SKAGGS WILLIAMS, eloped iwth Frank WATKINS, one of the early Millerstown doctors. Reason LAYMAN, Dollie's uncle, said he was on his way to visit the family when it happened. He said he had never heard such carrying on: thought someone had died. He rushed into the house and found Lewis Hollis and Marietta distraught and screaming over an dover: "He's stolen our Dollie! Lord, Lord, LORD, he's stolen our Dollie!" ************************************************************ 6. Nancy WilliamsBorn ± 1823 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died Mar 14, 1904 at Higdon, Grayson, Kentucky, USA, approximately 81 years 7. Margaret Ann WilliamsBorn May 1, 1821 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, died Aug 19, 1909 at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA, 88 years, buried at , Grayson, Kentucky, USA SOURCE: 1850 Census - Grayson County, Kentucky - Page 38, Line 12, Visit 259, Image 38 on ancestry.com (16 August 1850) LAYMAN, Reason, 30, Male, Farmer, $300, Kentucky , Margaret A., 28, Female, Kentucky , James H., 7, Male, Kentucky , John M., 6, Male, Kentucky , Jacob W., 5, Male, Kentucky , Elizabeth J., 2, Female, Kentucky , William J., 8/12, Male, Kentucky ********************************************************** SOURCE: 1880 Census - familysearch.org Household Record 1880 United States Census -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace R. LAYMON Self M Male W 61 KY Farmer PA PA M. A. LAYMON Wife M Female W 59 KY Keeps House VA KY T. E. LAYMON Son S Male W 26 KY Farmer KY KY S. B. LAYMON Son S Male W 24 KY Farmer KY KY A. E. LAYMON Dau S Female W 24 KY Keeps House KY KY S. C. LAYMON Son S Male W 22 KY Farmer KY KY B. B. LAYMON Son S Male W 16 KY Helps Work Farm KY KY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Census Place Rock Creek, Grayson, Kentucky Family History Library Film 1254416 NA Film Number T9-0416 Page Number 526B ********************************************************** Ordinance Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0 North America -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret Ann Williams Female ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: 01 MAY 1821 Of, , Grayson, Kentucky Christening: Death: 19 AUG 1909 Burial: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: James Hollis Williams Mother: Sena Metzel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marriages: Spouse: Reason Thomas Layman Marriage: 1841 Of, , Grayson, Kentucky ********************************************************** Ordinance Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0 North America -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret Ann Williams Female ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: 01 MAY 1821 Of, , Grayson, Kentucky Christening: Death: 19 AUG 1909 Burial: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: James Hollis Williams Mother: Sena Metzel ********************************************************** | |||