| Notes |
- The eldest son of Stephen and Margaret (Cooke) Williams, of St. Nicholas Parish, Great Yarmouth, England. He was baptized 11 Dec 1608. In 1623, he left his father's house and went to Norwich where he was apprenticed to be a cordwainer. He embarked for Boston on 20 Jun 1637 on the ship "Rose" and after arrival in Roxbury became a freeman on 2 May 1638. From 1647-1653 he was one of the 5 selectmen there. In 1644 he became a member of the Ancient and Honorble Artillery Company. The homestead of Robert Williams (1644), in which five generations of the family lived and died, remained standing until 1794, upon the site now occupied by the large brick dwelling-house on Dearborn Street, near the school-house. He came from Norwich, England, "and is the common ancestor of the divines, civilians, and warriors of this name, who have honored the country of their birth." Among his distinguished descendants are Col. Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams College ; Rev. Elisha, president of Yale College ; William, Governor of Connecticut, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Col. Joseph, of Roxbury, and Rev. Eleazer, he " lost Bourbon." Robert was married to Elizabeth Stalham (1597-1674). They had 4 childen, their daughter Elizabeth (1620-62) married Richard
Cutter (1621-93).
The Williams families of America descend from more than a score of different ancestors. That several of them were related to Richard of Taunton seems certain, but the degree has not been traced in various instances. The immigrant ancestor of the following family was the progenitor of a race unusually prolific of divines, civilians and warriors of the name who have honored the country of their birth. The number and high character and strong influence of the ministers of the gospel of this family is remarkable. Among the distinguished men of the family have been the founder of Williams College, a bishop of the diocese of Connecticut, a president of Yale College, a chief justice, and many other learned and useful men.
(I) Robert Williams appears by name among the early members of the church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he became a freeman, May 2. 1638. The place of his birth and early life was for a long time a matter of conjecture: but in 1893, two hundred years after his death, there was found in Norwich, England, an indenture of apprenticeship of Nicholas, son of the late Stephen Williams, of Yarmouth, cordwainer (shoemaker), to Robert Williams, and another record stating that Robert was in 1635 warden of the guild of cordwainers and sealer of leather for the city of Norwich. Later was found in the register of the church of St. Nicholas at Great Yarmouth, a record of the marriage of Stephen Williams and Margaret Cooke, September 22, 1605. Also baptisms of the following named children: Robert, December 11, 1608, Nicholas, August 11, 1616: John, February 2, 1618; Frances, June 10, 1621. There was an elder sister Ann;
Robert was born in July, 1607; was baptized when eighteen months old in December, 1608; was married to Elizabeth Stalham probably before 1630. and had four children, two sons and two daughters, born to him in England, all of whom accompanied him to America.
In 1905 it was discovered that Elizabeth Stalham was baptized in 1595, which shows that she was nearly thirteen years older than her husband. "She was of a good family and had been delicately reared and when her husband desired to come to America, though a truly religious woman, she dreaded the undertaking and shrunk from the hardships to be encountered. While the subject was still under consideration she had a dream foreshadowing that if she went to America she would become the mother of a long line of worthy ministers of the gospel. The dream so impressed her that she cheerfully rose up and began to prepare to leave her home and kindred for the new and distant land." The dream was fulfilled, but not in the mother's day. for she died October 24, 1674, leaving no son in the christian ministry. Nine years afterward, her grandsons, John and William Williams, cousins, graduated from Harvard College, two of a class of three and the day of fulfillment began.
Robert Williams was much interested in education and made liberal arrangements to assist the free schools, was a subscriber to and for many years a trustee of the funds raised for their benefit, and was one of the most influential men in town affairs. He disposed of his property by will, which is still extant. The children of John and Elizabeth, so far as known, were: Samuel, Mary, a daughter, John, Isaac, Stephen, Thomas.
From:
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the ....Volume 4, pages 2081 - 2085
Edited by William Richard Cutter
Lewis historical publishing company, 1913
Robert Williams, known as “Robert Williams of Roxbury”, was the first of this line in America. He was the son of Stephen Williams of Great Yarmouth, County Norfolk; and the grandson of Robert Williams of West Somerton, of a sixteenth century family which reaches back to a considerable antiquity residing in that town.
Robert Williams of Roxbury was born in July, 1607; baptized at Great Yarmouth, Dec. 11, 1608; was a freeman of Norwich in 1630; and warden of his Guild in 1635. He was a cordwainer, or shoemaker, at the time when that term included the entire business, from the capitalist who supplied the place of manufacture to the cobbler who drove the pegs.
Before coming to America, Robert Williams married Elizabeth Stalham (or Stratton). She was a gentlewoman, unaccustomed to hardships, and demurred to the proposed emigration; but she was very devout. So when she had a vision which predicted that, if she went to America she would become the foremother of a long line of worthy ministers of the gospel, she hesitated no longer. Of course the prophecy could not be fulfilled in her day; but Robert Williams of Roxbury is the ancestor of many divines, civilians, and other worthies who have honored the county of their birth.
Robert Williams of Norwich emigrated to Massachusetts in 1637, coming in the “John and Dorothy”, of Ipswich, and arriving in Boston, June 20, 1637. (Another record says that he sailed from Great Yarmouth on the ship “Rose”, and landed in Boston in 1635.) He was freeman of Roxbury, Mass., in 1638; and member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1644. He was one of the substantial contributors to the first free school in America - a fact which should give great satisfaction to his descendants.
His wife Elizabeth died at Roxbury, July 8, 1674. His second wife was Martha Strong, who died Dec. 22, 1704. He died in 1693. His grave cannot be located in the Roxbury burying-ground, though those of his wife Elizabeth and his son Samuel are found.
PER: ANCESTRY.COM
NOTABLE DESCENDANTS:
WILLIAM WILLIAMS - SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT
NAPOLEON CONNECTION
GEN. McCLELLAND - CIVIL WAR ERA
ELI WHITNEY - INVENTOR OF THE COTTON GIN / PROGENITOR OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT- AUTHOR
PRINCESS DIANA - CONNECTIONS: THOSE WILLIAMS DESCENDED FROM SAMUEL & THEODA (PARKE) WILLIAMS AND ISSAC AND MARTHA (PARKE) WILLIAMS ARE COUSINS TO PRINCESS DIANA AND HER SONS. THEODA PARKE'S GRANDPARENTS, ROBERT & MARTHA (CHAPLIN) PARKE ARE DIRECT ANCESTORS OF PRINCESS DIANA
- Robert Williams, born in 1608 in Great Yarmouth, England, to Stephen and Margaret (Cooke) Williams, led a life that bridged the old world of England and the new world of America. Baptized on December 11, 1608, in St. Nicholas Parish, his early years were marked by a move to Norwich at the age of 15, where he apprenticed as a cordwainer, honing his skills in shoemaking.
In 1630, Robert became a freeman of Norwich, and by 1635, he had risen to the position of warden of his Guild. His life took a significant turn in 1637 when he decided to leave England. He boarded the ship "Rose" and arrived in Boston on June 20, 1637. This move to America marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
Once in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Robert quickly established himself as a respected member of the community. He became a freeman of Roxbury on May 2, 1638, and was actively involved in local governance, serving as a selectman from 1647 to 1653. He also joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1644, indicating his involvement in the local militia.
Robert's personal life was intertwined with Elizabeth Stalham, whom he had married in England. Elizabeth, who was older than Robert and came from a well-to-do family, initially hesitated to emigrate. However, according to family tradition, a dream predicting that she would be the mother of a line of ministers convinced her to join her husband in the New World. The couple had four children, including a daughter, Elizabeth, who later married Richard Cutter.
The Williams family home, built in 1644 in Roxbury, became a significant landmark, housing five generations of the family until its demolition in 1794. This homestead was a symbol of the family's stability and presence in the Roxbury community.
Robert was known for his support of education, contributing to the first free school in America. He believed in the importance of education for the community's future, a value that was reflected in his actions.
Robert Williams passed away in 1693, leaving behind a legacy of community involvement and commitment to education. His descendants included notable figures in American history, such as William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and others who made significant contributions in various fields. His life story, from his beginnings in England to his influential role in early American society, showcases the journey of an individual who sought new opportunities and contributed to the shaping of a new nation.
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Bef 1608 - 1693 (> 84 years)
Set As Default Person 
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