James Bernard Williams

On this day, 1 August, in the year 1916, James Bernard Williams, my spouse’s 2nd great-grandfather, passed away.

Born on 20 May 1841, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, James Bernard Williams was the third known child of Philip Williams and Susannah Jane Record. The couple already had a son, Aaron W. Williams, who was born in 1838, and a daughter, Emily Williams, who was born in 1839.

Three years later, sister Nancy Susannah Williams was born on 26 January 1844, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

A year later, in 1845, brother George Record Williams was born in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Brother Meshech Edwin Williams was born on 6 February 1847, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

One year later, brother John Philip Williams was born on 16 January 1848, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 11 October 1850, the Williams Family was residing on their farm in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Living in the household were father Philip, mother Susannah, and children Aaron, Emily, James, Nancy, George, and John. Also living on the farm was Philip’s father, Joseph Williams, age 82, who was infirmed. Living at nearby farms were James Bernard Williams’ maternal uncle Ebenezer Record and his family and paternal uncle Joseph Williams, Jr. and his family.

Circa 1850, sometime after the 1850 U.S. Census was enumerated, brother William H. Williams was born in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Sister Margaret “Maggie” Ellen Williams was born in 1853, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Brother Aquilla Samuel Williams was born three years later in September 1856, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was the last of Philip and Susannah’s known children.

On 15 August 1860, the Williams Family had moved and was living on a farm in Huston Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Living in the household were father Philip, mother Susannah, and children Aaron, Emily, James, Nancy, George, John, William, Margaret, and Arabella (Aquilla). The farm was valued at $2,000, and the value of the family’s personal property was $350.

Then, on 5 July 1864, James Bernard Williams, age 23, married Hannah Larue Lewis in Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Hannah Larue Lewis, daughter of William Monroe Lewis and Susan Neal, was only 15 years old.

On 11 June 1865, James and Hannah welcomed their first child, daughter Olive C Williams was born in Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 10 December 1867, son Orvis Aaron Williams was born Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 28 June 1870, James and Hannah Williams and their children Olive and Orvis were living in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. James B. Williams was a laborer; Hannah was a housewife. The estimated value of their personal property was $300.

On 28 September 1876, their third child, William Lewis Williams (my spouse’s great-grandfather), was born in Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Sadly, on 16 June 1877, James Bernard Williams’ mother, Susannah Jane (Record) Williams, died at the age of 64 in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. She was buried in Williams Cemetery, located in Martha’s Furnace, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

A few months later, on 2 October 1877, James’ sister Emily (Williams) Young passed away. She was only 38 years old.

On 2 August 1879, another son, whom they named Ebenezer Records Williams, was born in Port Matilda, Centre County Pennsylvania.

On 3 June 1880, the Williams family—James, Hannah, Olive, Orvis, William, and Ebenezer—were living in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. James was now a farmer; Hannah was a still a homemaker.

Then, on 14 July 1882, James’ father, Philip Williams, died in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was 70 years old. He was buried next to Susannah in Williams Cemetery, Martha’s Furnace, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

One month later, on 4 August 1882, James and Hannah Williams welcomed son James L. Williams, to the family. Sadly, a month and a half later, on 14 September 1882, baby James died.

On 24 July 1884, son Charles Thomas Williams was born in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 28 October 1885, daughter Adah Bertha Williams was born in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 23 November 1886, daughter Nannie Williams was born in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. However, she died two months later on 22 January 1887.

On 12 January 1888, daughter Iva Williams was born. Again, the Williams’ family grieved the death of a child, when Iva died a month later on 22 February 1888.

On 16 April 1889, daughter Lizzie Williams was born to the couple. Lizzie lived only six months, dying on 26 October 1889, in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 21 May 1891, son LeRoy Williams was born; however, half a year later, LeRoy died on 10 November 1891.

Their final child, daughter Maggie Williams, was born circa 1892. Although she lived longer than some of her siblings, Maggie too died at a young age, circa 1895.

Sadness continued to plague the Williams family, when on 15 April 1895, James’ brother, Aaron W. Williams, died in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 6 June 1900, after 35 years of marriage, James and Hannah Williams were still residing on their farm in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Living with them were their children Ebenezer, Charles, and Adah. James’ youngest brother Aquila Williams lived with his family on the farm next door.

Eight years later, on 30 July 1908, James’ brother John Philip Williams passed away in Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

On 26 April 1910, James and Hannah Williams still resided on their farm in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. By then, all of their children were married and living elsewhere.

In 1913, brother George Record Williams died in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Then, on 1 August 1916, James Bernard, aged 71, passed away in Worth Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Port Matilda Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Port Matilda, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

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