Eight years ago,  in August of 2017, Ritchey and I visited Machpelah Cemetery in Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky.  It was a glorious day – blue skies made for gorgeous photos!  We were doing what we love – photographing cemeteries and geocaching!

I share with you today photos of the large stone of the Williams family. 

The two oldest names on the stone are Rawleigh Williams, March 20, 1754 – June 24, 1829, and his wife, Rebecca, October 24, 1759 – August 10, 1843.  Rawleigh Williams was a Private in the Revolutionary War in the Virginia Regiment led by Lieut. Col. Posey.

Their son, General Samuel L. Williams, October 27, 1781 – September 3, 1872, and his wife Fanny, January 12, 1797 – July 6, 1855, are on another side.  Samuel Williams was a Captain in the War of 1812, was taken prisoner at River Raisin, one of the few who made it home.

Another son, Col. John Williams, September 15, 1787 – January 15, 1855, is on a third side.

First, I share with you an indenture dated April 16, 1792, from Joel Higgins, of Fayette County, Virginia, and James Higgins, of Caroline County, Virginia, to Rawleigh Williams, of Fayette County, Virginia.  Now I’m sure most of you realized that Kentucky was still part of Virginia on this date and would not become an independent State until June first of 1792 – only about eight weeks away, but information must be correct!  For the sum of 25 pounds current money the Higgins’ sold one hundred acres of land, more or less, in Bourbon County, Virginia, on the ‘waters of Grassy Lick and Somerset Creek.’  The 100 acres was part of a 1,400 tract granted to James Higgins on settlement and preemption entries.  If you search a map for Grassy Lick you find it lies northwest of Mt. Sterling, in Montgomery County.  Clark County was formed from Bourbon in 1792, and Montgomery formed from Clark and Fayette in 1796.  The only reason this indenture is in the Montgomery County Deed Book is that it was brought to the Montgomery County Clerk’s Office March 26, 1816, to be on record.

This Indenture made the sixteenth day of April and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety two between Joel Higgins of the County of Fayette and State of Virginia, and James Higgins of the county of Caroline and state of aforesaid, of the one part, and Rawleigh Williams of the County of Fayette and state aforesaid, of the other part, Witnesseth that the said Joel Higgins and James Higgins for and in consideration of the sum of twenty five pounds current month hath bargained

sold and conveyed and by these presents do bargain, sell and convey unto the said Rawleigh Williams one certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Bourbon on the waters of Grassy Lick and Somerset Creek, containing by estimation one hundred acres be the same more or less, which tract is part of a tract of fourteen hundred acres granted to said James Higgins on settlement and preemption entries and bounded as followeth, to wit, beginning at the end of two hundred and fifty five and half poles of James Higgin’s fourth corner at two sugar trees, buckeye and mulberry, running thence south one hundred and twenty six and a half poles to three sugar trees.  Thence north one hundred and twenty six and a half poles to two buckeyes and a hickory.

Thence south eighty eight and a half degrees West one hundred and twenty six and a half poles to the beginning.  To have and to hold the said one hundred acres of land, with its appurtenances unto the said Rawleigh Williams, his heirs and assigns forever.  And the said Joel Higgins and James Higgins doth covenant and agree to and with the said Rawleigh Williams that they the said Joel Higgins and James Higgins and their heirs will warrant and forever defend the right of the above sold land and premises with the appurtenances against the claim or claims of them the said Joel Higgins and James Higgins their heirs or assigns and against the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever unto him the said Rawleigh Williams his heirs or assigns forever.  And this indenture further witnesseth that Drusilla, wife of the said Joel Higgins, and Nancy, wife of the said James Higgins, for the consideration above mentioned doth also make over

And relinquish their rights of dower in and to the said one hundred acres of land and premise.  In witness whereof they the said Joel Higgins and Drusilla his wife and James Higgins and Nancy his wife hath hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned.

Joel Higgins, Drusilla Higgins, James Higgins by William Higgins his attorney in fact, Nancy Higgins, their seals

Signed, sealed and acknowledged before us – William Rogers, William Triplett, Robert Sinclair

June Court Seventeen hundred and ninety two

This deed of bargain and sale from Joel and James Higgins and their said wives to Rawleigh Williams was acknowledged by said Joel and James Higgins and their said wives and ordered to be recorded.

Teste.  John Edwards, Clerk

Montgomery County Clerks Office March twenty sixth Eighteen hundred and sixteen

This Indenture of bargain and sale from Joel Higgins and Drusilla his wife and James Higgins and Nancy his wife, by William Higgins as attorney in fact for said James Higgins to Rawleigh Williams was this day produced to me and by virtue of the certificate of the Clerk of the Bourbon County Court thereto annexed the said is duly recorded.

Teste.  James Crawford, Deputy Clerk

The first tax records I found listed in Rawleigh Williams’ name were for 1800 – even though he purchased land in 1792, it must have been a few years before the family moved there.  His 100 acres of land were second rate, it shows the land was entered in the name of James Higgins, as well as surveyed and patented in Higgins’ name.

Rawleigh Williams died June 24, 1829.  His will was written about six weeks before his death.  His wife Rebecca is listed, as well as seven children – Samuel, John, Elizabeth, Nancy, Thadeus, Charles and Mary.  Two slaves, Charles and Silvey, are granted their freedom at the death of wife Rebecca, and the children must see them provided for during Charles and Silvey’s lifetimes.

Will of Rawleigh Williams

Montgomery County Wills 1828-1835, Pages 59-61

In the name of God, amen.

I, Rawleigh Williams, of Montgomery County and State of Kentucky, being weak in body, but of sound mind and disposing memory, do make, constitute and ordain this instrument of writing to be my last Will and Testament, revoking all others.

Item First.  It is my will and desire that my wife Rebecca Williams shall retain so much of my estate, real and personal, as she may think necessary for her maintenance during her natural life.

Second.  I have given to my son Samuel L. Montgomery the sum of eight hundred dollars, and my other children the sum specified and annexed to their respective names.  It is therefore my will and desire that they receive from the proceeds of my estate, each an amount sufficient to make them equal to him, viz., eight hundred dollars.

Third.  I have given to my son John Williams the sum of five hundred dollars.  I now bequeath to him the further sum of three hundred dollars, to make him equal to my son Samuel L. Williams.

Fourth.  I have given to my daughter Elizabeth Stuart three hundred dollars.  I now bequeath unto her the additional sum of five hundred dollars.

Fifth.  I have given to my daughter

Nancy Richardson the sum of three hundred dollars.  I now bequeath unto her the additional sum of five hundred dollars.

Sixth.  I have given to my son Thadeus Williams seven hundred dollars.  I now bequeath unto him the additional sum of one hundred dollars.

Seventh.  I have given to my son Charles E. Williams the sum of three hundred dollars.  I now bequeath unto him the additional sum of five hundred dollars.

Eighth.  As I have not heretofore given to my daughter Polly E. Higgins anything, I now bequeath unto her the sum of eight hundred dollars, to make her equal to the rest of my before named children.

It is further my will and desire that my two slaves, Charles and Silvey, shall be free at the death of my wife and that my children see them justly attended to and provided for during their life time. 

I do hereby constitute and appoint my four sons, Samuel L. Williams, John Williams, Thomas Williams and Charles E. Williams, to be my executors to this my last Will and Testament and manage my estate as they may think best, administering at all times abundantly to the necessity and comfort of my wife Rebecca Williams.  It is my further will and desire that my son Samuel L. Williams shall have the farm I now live on containing one hundred acres and deeds to me by William Roger, provided he pays over to the balance of my children the sum of seven hundred dollars, one half to be paid when he shall get possession of the same and the residue twelve months thereafter.

It is my further will and desire that after each of my before named children shall have received the several amounts as bequeathed that the residue of my estate (if any) shall be equally divided between my seven children S. L. Williams, John Williams, Thomas Williams, Charles E. Williams, Polly E. Higgins, Elizabeth Stuart and Nancy Richardson.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 3^rd day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.

R. Williams, his seal

Witnesses present – William Yeates, Yolley Mason, her mark, David Badger, Susan Yeates, John Williams, Sr.

State of Kentucky, Montgomery County – July Court 1829

This last will and testament of Rawleigh Williams, deceased, was this day produced in open Court proven by the oaths of David Badger and William Yeates, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, which is done.

Att.  M. Harrison, Clerk