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.