A few years ago, I took some photos of pages from my great-grandfather Will Williams’ Bible. I had completely forgotten about the photos, but I’ve been working on the Williams page of my website and I ran across them a few days ago. They are interesting enough as both historic artifacts and records of Williams genealogy, I thought I would share them.
 
 
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This page reads, “This is to certify that Willie Lafayette Williams and Janie Elizabeth Williamson were united by me in the bonds of Holy Matrimony at my residence on the 6 day of Feb in the year of our Lord 1910 in the presence of  ? (W.L.) Russell and ? B. Castellaw”

Sadly, Will Williams’ marriage to Janie Williamson would not be a long one. She died just four years later on Aug. 19 1914. Their second-born child, a daughter they named Ruth, died a few months later, in Oct. of that year. Their first-born son, my grandfather Bo Williams was just four years old.

 
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Jessie Lloyd Williams Born Nov 27 1910
Ruth Williams Born Aug 2 1914
Martha Ladonia Williams Born June 1 1916
Mary Elizabeth Williams Born Sep 4 1918
W.L. Williams Jr. Born Oct 28 1821
Douglass Maxwell Williams Born May 6 1920
Hardy Dempsey Williams Born Sep 15, 1929
Betty Iris Williams Born May 26, 1932
Billie Dean Williams Born June 13, 1935
Bobby Jean Williams Born June 13, 1935

Eva Iris Williams, born July 29 1896
William L. Williams born 2-13-88

 

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Willie Lafayette Williams and Eva Iris Overton were united by the bonds of matrimon at my residence on the 28 day of Feb in the year of our Lord 1915 in the pressence of Aulsey Byrum and Pearl Overton.
Signed Esq. T. J. Castellaw

(Note T. J. Castellaw was Thomas Jefferson Castellaw, my 2nd great-grandfather.)

 

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Will’s first wife Janie Elizabeth Williams Died Aug 19, 1914
Ruth Williams Died ____________, 1914
W.L. Williams Sr. Died Apr 1, 1962
W.L. Williams Jr. Died June 5, 1966
Will’s second wife Eva Iris Williams Died Sept 5, 1970
Martha Ledonia Williams Chandler Died Nov 1979
Mary Elizabeth Williams Hudgens 9-4-18 — 6-25-99
Billy Dean Williams 6-13-35 — 11-18-95
Jessie Lloyd Williams 11-25-10 — 5-27-2008

 
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Inserted in this Bible was the Tennessee Public Schools elementary diploma of my grandmother Elizabeth Williams. It was given to her at Holly Grove in Haywood County on 12 Apr 1929.

You can find more about the Williams family here, my other family lines at HaywoodCountyLine.com or read more blog posts about the history of West Tennessee on my blog page.

The Bible of Will Lafayette Williams