Biographical Sketch of Granville WILLIAMS (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** 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."