The Williamson Family

Beverly M. Williamson
My 3rd Great-grandfather, 1813-1877

Beverly M. Williamson was born in Caroline County, Virginia on November 17, 1813. At some point he moved to Tennessee because he married Eleanora “Ellen” Harriet Dougan in Franklin County on 31 July 1838 when he was 25. By 1850 they were living in Madison County on the Haywood County border.

While Beverly Williamson’s parentage is not yet determined, it is interesting to look at people who could possibly be part of his family based on their location and ages. Could his parents have been Benjamin and Ann Frances Meaux Williamson who were in Caroline County, VA during the time Beverly was born? Was the executor, Samuel, his father and Benjamin his grandfather?

John Meaux’s estate account with Samuel T. Williamson executor of Benjamin T. Williams, decd., who was administrator of the estate of said James Meaux (1829 – 1844) shows that Benjamin T. Williamson’s wife was the only child of James Meaux, decd. On 31 Dec 1831, there is an entry for “amount allowed for the support of Mrs. Ann Williamson and the children this year.” In New Kent County at the house of Gen. William Chamberlake affidavits of Edward G. Mosby and Doctor George Williamson were taken n 3 Feb 1834. Aug Baily states that his brother handed him the notice.

James Meause…10 Nov 1822 Whole estate to daughter Ann Frances Maeause who is underage. If Ann Maeause should marry, the estate to go to William Meause and Granville Waddle except for a negro to go to nephew William H. Harris. Exors: Brother William Meause and John Glover. Wit: John B. Taliaferro (On March 10, 1823, Benjamin Williamson and his wife Ann Frances Williamson who was Ann Frances Meause, state in court that James Meause was of unsound mind when he made his will.

From the Caroline Co., VA Order Book 1732 – 1740 compiled by John Frederick Dorman, 1967

By reviewing the marriages of Williamsons in Franklin County, TN during approximately the same time period as Beverly and Ellen, a sibling or two could possibly be seen? It’s also possible that his father lived in the area and remarried at some point. Of course, without being able to find more info connecting them, it’s possible none of these are related at all.

• Alford Williamson to Nancy Pitcock, 9-23-1843
• Bike Lane Buy-In Day!
• Catherine Williamson to John Luck
• Elizabeth Williamson to George Swords
• James Williamson to Catherine J. Darrell, 12-23-1843
• James Williamson to Martha Jane Thomas, 6-6-1849
• Martha Ann Williamson to Wallace E. Walker
• Sarah N. Williamson to William Jett
• William Williamson to Nancy Buckhart, 5-15-1847

Beverly married Ellen in Franklin County on July 31, 1838 at the age of 25. Therefore, his entire family could have moved to Franklin County years earlier.

It’s worth noting that Franklin County, Tennessee is located in Middle Tennessee next to Coffee County and Grundy County. It is not the same place as Franklin, Tennessee which is located in Williamson County, Tennessee, making it a challenge when searching for a Williamson.

If Beverly’s family was in Franklin County in 1830 when the census for that year was taken, he would have been 17 and only one Williamson in the entire census included a family that had a son who was 17:

John Williamson’s family:

• Male 5 – 10
• 2 Males 10 – 15
• 2 Males 15 – 20 (one of these could possibly have been Beverly)
• Male 60 – 70
• Female 10 – 15
• 2 Female 15 – 20
• 1 Female 50 – 60
• 1 young male slave
• 11 people total

While Beverly M. Williamson’s ancestry can not currently proven, quite a bit about about him can be determined.

It is known that Beverly M. Williamson was born in Caroline City, Virginia on 17 Nov 1813. At some point he moved to Tennessee because he married Eleanora Harriet Dougan in Franklin County on 31 July 1838 when he was 25. By 1850 they were living in Madison County on the Haywood County border.

When they married, Eleanora’s father, Robert Dougan had recently died in Franklin County.

Robert Dougan Will

From the will of Robert Dougan of the county of Franklin, State of TN, signed 19 Feb 1837 and recorded 7 March 1837 which states in part, “I desire that my three unmarried daughters Margaret, Ruth Caroline and Eleanor H. Dougan each have a horse given them by my executors…”

From the indenture of the will of Robert Dougan This indenture made this ? day of ? 1841 between Elizabeth Dougan, widow of Robert Dougan, deceased and Beverly M. Williamson & Harriet Eleanor, his wife, William Conn and Hannah, his wife & Ruth Caroline Dougan of Franklin County, Tennessee & Littlepage Dougan, Robert T(?) Dougan, Margaret Dougan & William Grant and William Farris and Mary, his wife, of the Republic of Texas of the one part, and Francis Turner of the county of Franklin and State of TN on the other part.

Robert Dougan’s will provided by Amy Dougan Wakefield

According to the book “A Journey Into Yesteryears” by Martha Jones, Ellen’s father, Thomas Dougan brought his family from Wales or Ireland in the 1700s to Virginia. Their family also included a son Robert, who became a Methodist minister who married Elizabeth Scoby. Eleanora died October 15, 1860 at the age of 42.

Beverly Williamson was issued a land grant of several hundred acres of primarily uninhabited land by the U.S government in Madison County…On April 19, 1869, over seven acres of property were given by Williamson for the purpose of building the Providence Methodist Church and the cemetery…at his death, the land was divided between his five sons and his two daughters…before the property was given to the church, it was referred to as a burial ground with some graves dating back to the 1700s…each fall a man named Mr. Adams would come visit Williamson to trap animals for fur. One year he became sick and died. Williamson allowed him to be buried “on the hill” and that is how that area became an official cemetery.

By September of 1850 when the census was taken in district five of Madison County, TN, Beverly Williamson was 36 with real estate valued at $500. His wife’s name was listed as “Elander” and she was listed as 28 although she should have been listed as 32. Robert was 11, Mary A. was seven, Thomas was six, James was four and John was one.

The family lived next door to Ellen’s brother Robert Dougan and his wife Louise and their children.

On October 1859, their 10-year-old son, John, died.

When the next census was taken in July 15, 1860, the family was in District 7 of Madison County. Beverly was 46 and Ellen was listed as 42. Sadly, Ellen would be dead just three months later. They had eight children living at home when the census was taken. Robert was 21, Mary was 16, Thomas was 18, James was 12, Clark was 8, Caroline was 5, Beverly was 3 and Joseph was 2. The family had prospered significantly in the previous decade and had a value of $4,000 in real estate and $1,200 in personal property. All the children had attended school in the previous year.

The family lived two farms away from Alex Duckworth who would play a significant role in the Civil War just two years later. He would be a captain in The Western Rangers which was the nickname for Company “L” of First Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, organized April 15, 1862. It was made up mostly of men from Haywood County.

Ellen died on Oct. 15, 1860 after having nine children with Beverly. At the time of her death, her youngest son, Joe, my second great-grandfather, was just two years old. Young Joe was destined to experience a great deal of loss in his lifetime.

Beverly, who was 47 at the time, married Nancy, who was 35, only two months later on Dec. 13, 1860.

On April 19, 1869, over seven acres of land were given by Beverly for the purpose of building the Providence Methodist Church and cemetery. The church that was built was also used for a school.

Nancy, Beverly’s second wife, died Sept. 10, 1873 at the age of 48.

On January 10, 1874, Beverly married for the third time to Martha E. Neal.

Beverly died three years later on February 2, 1877 at the age of 63 and was buried along with his previous two wives at Providence Methodist Church Cemetery for which he had donated the land.

Image from Google Earth

“Providence Cemetery is an antebellum mixed-race cemetery on the south side of Lower Brownsville Road between Providence Road to the east and Crutchfield Road to the west, near the Haywood County line. It is associated with Providence United Methodist Church and dates to the 1820s or 1830s. White burials are on the western side of the cemetery. It is impossible to count the number of unmarked graves here, but probably there are hundreds. All fieldstone which would have marked burials in the cemeteries first decades have been removed leaving a large mostly open area in the center of the cemetery. One family has begun reusing this area. Also, all upright marble footstones with initials from the late 19th century/early 20th century have been removed. Some are still in the cemetery but none are in place. The white section of the cemetery was extended downslope to the south about 1950. There is a brick wall with two gates along the western side of the cemetery. It may date to the 1960s and seems to have allowed a two row extension of the cemetery to the west. The southern gate is positioned at a paved access drive between the older part of the cemetery and the southward extension of the 1950s. There is now an access drive from the northern gate but it seems to have been unplanned. Most likely the fence and gate limited access to one point. Equipment for preparing graves entered the gate and wove between markers as it moved across the cemetery. Many markers along this drive were broken. The greatest damage is to Jones family markers which probably extended across the area which became this makeshift drive. David Donahue recorded this cemetery over several days in February 2004 based on the earlier record by Helen Johnson. Helen Johnson recorded the white portion of Providence Cemetery circa 1995. Her record appears in Cemetery Records of Madison County, Tennessee, Volume II, The Northern Half of County.” Source: Tennessee Trails, Cemeteries of Madison County.

The children of Beverly and Ellen Dougan Williamson were:

Last	First	Born	Location Born	Died	Location Died	Spouse
Williamson	Robert Deward “Bob”	17 Apr 1839	Madison Co., TN	6 Oct 1903 Age: 64	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery	Callie Stanfield b. 14 Feb 1844 m. 19 Nov 1865 d. 23 Aug 1892 Age: 48 Buried: Providence MC Cemetery
From the States Graphic, Brownsville, Tenn. Friday, October 9, 1903 ESQ. BOB WILLIAMSON–a prominent member of the Madison County Court, and for thirty or forty years a faithful servant in the Methodist Church at Providence, died at his home near Catapla, Madison County, at an early hour Tuesday morning, after an illness of ten months. A true and tried soldier of war of 1861-65. His remains were laid to rest in the Providence graveyard to day at 10 a. m. after funeral services by J. C. W. Nunn of this place. ***  According to “Journey into Yesteryears” by Martha Jones, Bob and Callie had planned to marry before 1865 but the Civil War began and Bob wanted to serve. He and his best friend Billy Shaw left on September 20, 1861 for Trenton to join the Confederate Army. They fought side by side through the Carolinas and Virginia. In their last battle, Bob was wounded and fell at his friend’s side. He and Billy both felt that the end was near so Bob gave his friend Billy the ring he had in his pocket to give to Callie. After the war, Billy Shaw set out for home. When he arrived and went to give the ring to Callie, he was astonished to find that Bob had recovered and he and Callie were already married. Bob built a post office and a general store and served as postmaster. The store was built where the Poplar Corner Road runs into the Providence Road. The store was just to the right of where the Church of God now stands. Bob issued a deed of one acre of land to the Madison County Board of Education on April 28 1884 for the building of a school at Providence. The children of Bob and Callie were: Bessie Ethel, Ella, James Robert, Margaret, Sarah, Sadie A. and Julia B. Bessie married Lem Williams and her children were Pansy, Leslie, Margaret, Mildred, Ray, Glady and Harry. Zula married William Thomas Tippet and they had four daughters; Willie, Elinor Ruth, Callie and Elizabeth. Willie married Gilford Keltner, Elinor Ruth married Rock Byrum, Callie married Printice Keltner and Elizabeth married Russell Kirby. Ella, James and Margaret never married and Sarah died young.
Williamson	John	2 May 1849	Madison Co., TN	Oct 1859 Age: 10	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery
Why does John’s headstone read, “Son of B.M. and E.M. Williamson?” His mother was Eleandor or Eleanor “Ellen” Harriet Dougan Williamson. Why E.M?
Williamson	Mary A.	20 Jan 1842	Madison Co., TN	20 Jan 1876 Age: 34	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery	William Shelton
Mary’s headstone read, “Daughter of B.M. and E.A. Williamson?” Her mother was Eleandor or Eleanor “Ellen” Harriet Dougan Williamson. Why E.A now and E.M on John’s headstone?
Williamson	Thomas Page “Tom”	12 April 1845	Madison Co., TN	20 Dec 1918 Age: 73	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery	Lucy Jane Rowland b. 30 Aug 1851 d.11 Feb 1919 Age: 68 buried: Providence Methodist Cemetery
According to “A Journey into Yesteryears” by Martha Jones, Lucy was first married to a young man who left to fight in the Civil War. After the war ended, he did not come home so she assumed he was dead. After several years of marriage to Tom, Lucy’s first husband suddenly showed up ready to claim her as his wife. She stayed with Tom. They had six children; Earnest, Mays, John, twins George and Thomas and their only daughter, Emma.
Williamson	James	27 Dec 1846	Madison Co., TN	10 Oct 1869 Age: 23	Madison Co., TN Buried: Providence MC Cemetery
Williamson	Clark	1851	Madison Co., TN	1936 Age: 85	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery	Ann Coon b. 1844 d.1908 Age:64 Burried: Providence MC Cemetery
The children of Clark and Ann Coon Willamson were Brooks, Ross, and Sula “Dot.” Dot married Thomas Malcom Shaw and their children were Aline, Annie Kate, Buddy, Guy and twins, Brooks and Billy.
Williamson	Carline	1855	Madison Co., TN	George Campbell
The children of George and Carline Williamson Campbell were James, Willie, Tom, Ben and a daughter aemnd Lou. James was killed in a hunting accident. Willie and Lou never married. Tom married Betty Hight and Ben married Mary Mann and then Mary Acuff.
Williamson	Beverly “Bee”	29 Sept 1855	Madison Co., TN	28 Oct 1906 Age: 51	Madison Co., TN Burried: Providence MC Cemetery	Virginia Alice “Jinnie” Stanfield b.1885 m. 1 Mar 1890 d. 1945 Age: 60 Burried: Providence MC Cemetery
The children of Bee and Jinnie Stanfield Williamson were: Beverly Reynor, Mattie Lee, Robert Paschal, and John Stanfield. Beverly died at age nine and Robert died at age four. John married Robbie Dobbins and Mattie Lee married Albert Overton. The children of Albert and Mattie Lee Williamson Overton were Virginia Iona, Martha Lucille, Zita Bee, Albert Nolan, Dora Leoda and Frances Charlene. The children of John and Virginia Dobbins Williamson were Wilton, Gaylon, Melvin, Virginia, Ralph, Alton, Larry, Tony, Hall and Melba.
Williamson	Joseph “Joe”   My second great grandfather	1858	Madison Co., TN	22 Jan 1909 Age: 51	Madison Co., TN Burried Providence MC Cemetery	Mary Elizabeth Joyner b. 1862 m. 17 Jan 1882 d. 16 Jan 1898 Age: 36 Buried: Providence MC Cemetery