$   www.williams.gen.nz

The Early Family and Origins of

Thomas Williams of Gosport, & later of Nottingham
born 27 May 1753 at Gosport - d. 6 Jan. 1804 

Some of the persons whose names appear more than once on this page are colour coded to aid the reader.
ALL images on this page open in a separate window.  There is a search option at the bottom of this page.

Thomas is the forefather of many descendants world-wide, the majority (over 5000) hailing from New Zealand. However, virtually nothing is known to date of Thomas's forbears. These pages are presented here to give an accurate as possible account of the life of Thomas in the 18th Century for his descendants, and to attract attention from those who may be able to give information on his father (also a 'Thomas' - details here) and other forbears.

  Thomas Williams 1753-1804. Click for larger image
Thomas Williams
b. 1753 Gosport; d. 1804  
|
mMary Marsh
      b. 1756 Gosport; d. 1831
 
Mary W.
1784-1786
b. Gosport
(Thomas) Sydney Williams 1786-1869. Click for larger image
Thomas Sydney W.
1786-1869
b. Gosport
Lydia W.
1788-1859
b. Gosport
John Williams 1789-1855. Click for larger image
John W.
1789-1855
b. Gosport
Henry Williams 1792-1867. Click for larger image
Henry W.
1792-1867
b. Gosport
Joseph W.
1793-1799
b. Gosport
Mary Rebecca W.
1795-1858
b. Nottingham
Catherine W.
1797-1881
b. Nottingham
William Williams 1800-1878. Click for larger image
William W.
1800-1878
b. Nottingham

Of the above, Henry and William were missionaries to New Zealand, and there is a vast amount of information available on them and their descendants. Contact is welcomed from anyone who can add to the story of the early family, and contact from any descendants or relatives of Thomas Sydney Williams, Lydia, John, or Rebecca would be most welcome.

The first section below is a transcription of recently obtained letters that have been written by
Thomas. The next and largest work also includes several family tree connections, and is based around the quite extensive and in-depth history, 'The Williams Family in The 18th and 19th Centuries in the UK' compiled by Nevil Harvey-Williams. Then there are several very interesting autobiographies or memoirs of 2nd and 3rd generation descendants of Thomas.

 Thomas's Early Letters, begining 1794:
These are VERY IMPORTANT letters  -  they are first-hand vindication of Thomas's life, and the family situation in part of the 18th century. If a descendant, he is most likely your 4th, 5th or even 6th great grandfather!
  Origin of, and Notes on Transcription of Letters

1794 Letters 1, 2 & 3   Letters from
Thomas to his wife Mary at their home in Gosport.  They cover his arrival at Nottingham to establish a new home there, family, friends, and various connections to the British Navy.

1794 Letters 4, 5 & 6   Continuation of above sequence  -  includes letter to young son
Sydney.

1802 1 letter   The first four pages of a letter to Mary, now living at Nottingham.

1803 Sequence   Five letters, this time written to his wife who is now in Nottingham, while he is on a business trip.


HOSIERY History A brief history on Hosiery and Lacemaking in Nottingham relevant to Thomas's letters and the 18th & 19th Century Williams History below. (Thomas became a hosier).
The Williams Family in The 18th and 19th Centuries in the UK.
An in depth article in several parts compiled by Nevil Harvey-Williams from his own and other genealogical research undertaken to date into the family in the Nottingham and Gosport areas.
 

Part 1. Research Introduction, Preface, The Rev. Thomas, Thomas and Mary Williams of Gosport.

Part 2.
Thomas Williams at Nottingham, The Business and It's Collapse.

Part 3.
Mary Williams (nee Marsh) at Southwell, and the Williams Children.

Part 4. Appendices: Sources, Genealogical, Registry Extracts, and other.

TW & C
Thomas Williams and the Coldham Family

Abstracts of Letters Chosen to Augment the Story of
Mary and Catherine's Lives in Southwell.

Speculations on Origins Extracts of letters chosen to complement the Preface in Part 1 above, concerning the asserted family descent from Ednyfed Vychan

The Rev. Thomas Williams of Gosport Request for information regarding the Rev. Thomas Williams (1724/25 - 1770) of Gosport.

Autobiography:
  Edmund Sydney Williams 1817 - 1891     This makes very interesting reading , particularly forThomas Sydney Williams descendants, and covers his family while living in UK and at Altona and Hamburg in Germany.

'Early Memories And After' written by Fred W Williams (1854-1940) for his sons. Pertains to Paihia, Gisborne and Napier, N.Z. areas. FWW is the grandson of
William Williams and was founder of Williams & Kettle Stock & Station Agency, Mayor of Napier etc.
Trees:
  The Children and Grandchildren of Thomas Sydney Williams. Web pages giving spouses, dates and some information to help those interested, and includes the 'tooth' letters of Tom.

.pdf files compiled by Nevil Harvey-Williams, relevant to above. (Use back button to return to this page.) These next files use Adobe Acrobat Reader
Early Williams Tree Showing Thomas and Mary with Isger / Marsh connections, & children with spouse.

Coldham Tree of grandparents, parents and siblings of Marianne Williams (nee Coldham), wife of
Henry.

Nelson Showing grandparents, parents and connections of Jane Williams (nee Nelson), wife of
William.

Thomas Sydney Williams The descendants of
Thomas Sydney Williams

Names:
  Names of Ancestors List of earlier ancestors by surname given on this website, with tree or page references.

Names of Researchers A list of some of those involved with the Williams family research during the past century.

Other Websites:
  C.M.S. History Extracts pertaining to New Zealand from the 'History of The Church Missionary Society.' These few chapters give a good understanding of the enormity of the role that Henry and William Williams played in the shaping of New Zealand.

Waitangi.com New Zealand history, in which Henry and William are prominent, expressed from a more complete perspective than what is orthodox.

Williams Historic House A project is under way by the Henry and William Williams Memorial Museum Trust, to purchase the Retreat, built at Pakaraka, Northland for Henry Williams in about 1851/2.

Some Online Books:
  Through Ninety Years
1826-1916. Life and Work Among the Maoris in New Zealand. Notes of the Lives of
William and William Leonard Williams First and Third Bishops of Waiapu. By Frederic Wanklyn Williams

Christianity Among The New Zealanders Interesting reading, giving a good account of the Williams brothers involvement in early New Zealand. By
William Williams, D. C. L. Bishop of Waiapu.

 THIS SEARCH FUNCTION includes all this site except for the .pdf trees listed above.

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Would be keen for anyone to suggest any other book links, web links, autobiographies or articles for this website


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