HISTORY OF THE WILLIAMS NAME :

The origins of the ancient name WILLIAMS belong to that rich Celtic tradition that comes from Wales. This surname was derived from the personal name William. This was originally derived from the Old German names Willihelm and Willelm and the Norman form of the French name Guillaume.  Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, William was the most popular personal name in Britain until it was superseded by John.

The Welch WILLIAMS family claims descent from Brychan Brecheiniog who was Lord of Brecknock at the time of King Arthur. The first member of the Welch WILLIAMS family to adopt the surname was Sir Roger Williams of Llangibby Castle who was recorded c1500. Other significant branches of the family claimed Penrhyn Castle in Carnarvon, and Dandreath Castle in Merioneth, and the family held many castles throughout Wales and Cornwall. One of the most important members of the WILLIAMS family was Oliver Cromwell, whose great-grandfather changed his name from Williams to Cromwell during the reign of King Henry VIII.

A number of people bearing the name Williams immigrated to North America in the 1600s. Some of those who landed in Virginia were David Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Henry and Hugh Williams in 1623, and Edward Williams in 1624. Richard Williams landed in Maine in 1630.

Our Williams family including MAY of Cornwall, WALKER & MAY

Small numbers by a name refer to personal number in listing eg PAUL 2 WILLIAMS - see 2


 

GENERATION ONE :

1. ~ ~ ~ JOHN WILLIAMS married MARY JOBE on 14 April 1822 in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England. 

Children of JOHN WILLIAMS and MARY JOBE included:

   PAUL 2 WILLIAMS, born 1824 in Perranarworthal, Cornwall.

GENERATION TWO:

2. ~ ~ ~ PAUL WILLIAMS (JOHN) was born on 19 December 1824 in Perranarworthal, Cornwall, England and was a son of JOHN WILIAMS and MARY JOBE.   Paul married LAVINIA MAY on 30 November 1848 in St Ives, Cornwall.  Lavinia was born on 22 February 1829 and was the daughter of NICHOLAS MAY and JANE TRELEASE. 

Paul worked as a miner in Cornwall until, at the age of 30, he left England to seek a fortune on the Australia gold-fields. He stayed there for eight years, and returned to England in 1862.  He could not settle however and in 1864 he left again, this time for Auckland, New Zealand taking his family with him.  Paul and Lavinia with sons John Paul, Thomas and Charles arrived in New Zealand on 16 October 1864 aboard the ship "Eaglespeed".

Paul returned to Victoria, Australia in 1866 and from there went to South Australia in 1868 where he worked in the mines at Moonta. In 1871 after his return from Australia the family settled in Thames, New Zealand.

Paul died on 9 February 1891 in Thames. Lavinia died on 24 February 1898 in Thames. They were both buried at Shortland Cemetery, Thames (Public Plots 0991 & 0992)

   Refer to the family of MAY family of Cornwall for more information about Lavinia's family.

Children of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINIA MAY were:

   JOHN PAUL 3 WILLIAMS, 1849 in England.

   THOMAS 4 WILLIAMS, born 26 October 1852 in St Ives, Cornwall, England.

   CHARLES 5 WILLIAMS, born around 1855 in England.

   JANE 6  WILLIAMS, born around 1866. 

   ELLEN 7 WILLIAMS, born around 1869. 

   EMILY 8 WILLIAMS, born around 1871.

GENERATION THREE:

3. ~ ~ ~ JOHN PAUL WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL) was born in 1849 in England and was the eldest son of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINIA MAY.  John arrived in New Zealand aboard the ship “Eaglespeed” with his parents and brothers Thomas and Charles on 16 October 1864.  John married EMILY (surname unknown) 

John made an application on 7 March 1888 to the Lands & Deeds Office in Thames to purchase land.  In 1915 he was living in Kingsland, Auckland.  John died in 1918.

Children of JOHN and EMILY WILLIAMS were:

   LILLIAN WILLIAMS, born 1875.

   LAVINIA WILLIAMS, born 1877.

   ROSE WILLIAMS, born 1879.  Rose's married name was BULKIN.

   JANET WILLIAMS, born 1881.  Janet married WILLIAM GEORGE OFFER in 1905.

   JOHN WILLIAMS, born around 1883.  John was a Private with Auckland Regiment NZEF during World War One.  He died on 6 May 1915 and was buried at Alexandria Military & War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.  (Refer to my Roll of Honour for more information)

   JOSEPH CHARLES WILLIAMS, born 1888.

   PAUL WILLIAMS, born 1891.

   MABEL WILLIAMS, born 1896.

4. ~ ~ ~ THOMAS WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL) was born on 26 October 1852 in St Ives, Cornwall and was the son of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINA MAY.  Thomas arrived in New Zealand aboard the ship "Eaglespeed" with parents and brothers John Paul and Charles on 16 October 1864.  Thomas married ELLEN WALKER on 23 November 1878 and they lived in Auckland for a year after their marriage and later settled in Thames.   Ellen was born on 07 February 1857 in Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England and was the daughter of WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER and MARY SYBIL BRAITHWAITE. 

On 25 November 1878 Thomas applied to the Lands & Deeds Office in Thames to purchase land with his brother-in-law WILLIAM THOMAS WALKER.

Thomas died on 4 April 1930 in Thames.  Ellen died on 22 June 1939 also in Thames.  Thomas and Ellen were buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Public Plot 999A)

   Refer to the WALKER family for more information about Ellen's family.

Children of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER were:

   ELLEN LOUISA  9 WILLIAMS, born 5 May 1879 in Thames.

   THOMAS PERCY 10 WILLIAMS, born 11 May 1882 in Thames.

   MARY 11 WILLIAMS, born 05 August 1884, Thames.

   HARRY 12 WILLIAMS, born 01 December 1886 in the Kauaeranga Valley, Thames.

   RUBY MAY WILLIAMS, born 15 May 1889 in the Kauaeranga Valley, Thames. Ruby drowned in the Kauaeranga River on 8 December 1904 aged 15 years.  She was buried at Shortland Cemetery in Thames (Public Plot 0999)

   ETHEL VICTORIA 13 WILLIAMS, born 16 June 1897 in Thames.

   JANE (Tot) 14 WILLIAMS was born on 10 June 1894 in Thames.


Thomas, Harry, Ruby, Mary (sitting) and Ellen

Thomas & Ellen and family day of Ruby's funeral (on 8 Dec 1904)


Harry and siblings
L-R: Ethel, Harry, Mary, Percy, Jane (Tot) and Ellen (aka Lou) (sitting)

5. ~ ~ ~ CHARLES WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL) around 1855 in England and was the third son of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINA MAY.  Charles arrived in New Zealand on the ship  “Eaglespeed” on 16 October 1864 with his parents and brothers John Paul and Thomas.  Charles married Selina BILLING in 1880.

Children of CHARLES WILLIAMS and SELINA BILLING were:

   VIOLET WILLIAMS, born 1881.  Violet married HERBERT STRONG.

   RHODA WILLIAMS, born 1885.  Rhoda's married name was DARROW.

   JOSEPH CHARLES WILLIAMS, born 1888 and died 27 December 1968 in Auckland.

   FREDERICK WILLIAMS

   AL(F)RED WILLIAMS

   RITA WILLIAMS

6. ~ ~ ~ JANE WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL)  was born around 1866 was the eldest daughter of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINA MAY.  Jane married THOMAS KNEEBONE in 1883.

Children of JANE WILLIAMS and THOMAS KNEEBONE were:

~ CLARA KNEEBONE, born 1883.  Clara married WILLIAM EUSTACE WILLIAMS in 1908.

~ ETHEL KNEEBONE, born 1884, died as an infant.

~ LEONARD CHARLES KNEEBONE, born 1886.  Leonard married NELLIE BULL in 1925.

~ LAURA MAY KNEEBONE, born 1887.  Laura married JOSIAH JAMES SPARGO in 1911.

~ DORIS ELLEN KNEEBONE, born 1897; died 1918.

~ HAROLD RALPH KNEEBONE, born 1902.  Harold married MAVIS KERR in 1929.  Mavis died on 11 January 1968 in Whitianga, NZ.

~ WILLIAM CECIL KNEEBONE, born 1906; died 1906.

~ THOMAS KNEEBONE

7. ~ ~ ~ ELLEN WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL)  was born around 1870 and was the second daughter of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINA MAY.   Ellen married GEORGE WARNE in 1887.  George was born around 1863 and died on 18 February 1924 in Kingsland, Auckland.

Children of ELLEN WILLIAMS and GEORGE WARNE were:

~ GEORGE WARNE, born 1888.  George married HELEN MARGARET (NELLIE) DONNELLY in 1915.  George died on 16 October 1864 and was buried at Totara Cemetery in Thames.  Nellie died on 18 June 1976.

~ PAUL WARNE, born 1890.  Paul married ISABELLA ANN McCORMICK in 1915.

~ JOHN LEONARD WARNE, born 1891.  John married WILLIAMINA BUCHANAN in 1917.

~ WALTER GILBERT WARNE, born 1899.  Walter married LAURA AGNES GRAHAM in 1927.

8. ~ ~ ~ EMILY WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL)  was born around 1872 and was the third daughter of PAUL WILLIAMS and LAVINIA MAY.  Emily married ALBERT CHARLES HANLEN in 1890.

Children of EMILY WILLIAMS and ALBERT HANLEN were:

~ ELLA LAVINIA HANLEN, born 1891.  Ella married DAVID HENRY GRUBB. She died on 14 August 1970 in Thames, New Zealand. 

~ WILLIAM ALEXANDER HANLEN, born 1892.

~ VIOLET JANE HANLEN, born 1898.

~ MAVIS EDNA HANLEN, born 1907; died 1909.

~ ELVA MAY HANLEN, born 1911.

~ CHARLES HANLEN

~ IVY HANLEN

GENERATION THREE:

9. ~ ~ ~ ELLEN LOUISA WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born on 5 May 1879 in Thames and was the eldest daughter of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.   Ellen married ALBERT STANLEY (STAN) THORBURN in 1905.  Albert was born in 1881 and was the son of ANDREW THORBURN and CATHERINE ENRIGHT HANLEN who had married in 1881.

Ellen died on 18 August 1950 in Thames, NZ.  Albert (Stan) died on 28 April 1931. 

Children of ELLEN WILLIAMS and ALBERT THORBURN were:

~ ESMA KATHLEEN THORBURN, born 1908.  Esma married WALTER YORK.

~ TREVOR ANDREW THORBURN, born 17 March 1911; died in Auckland 03 October 2002.  Trevor married KATHLEEN EMILE CONSTANCE UNDERWOOD on 19 September 1936 and they had three children.

~ SYBIL THORBURN, who married LESLIE HANCOCK.

10. ~ ~ ~ THOMAS PERCY WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born on 11 May 1882 in Thames and baptized at Thames Methodist Church.   He was the eldest son of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.  Percy married ANNIE ELIZABETH (Nancy) McISAAC in 1930.  

Annie was born in 1884 and was the daughter of GEORGE WILLIAM WHITCOMBE and RUTH MOORE.  Annie had previously married WILLIAM FRANCIS McISAAC in 1902 and had three children.  William died in 1926 aged 44 years. 

Percy served in the Army during World War One and after the war ran the Post Office Hotel in Thames.  After 1950 Percy settled in Auckland and ran a boarding house in Nelson Street, Auckland.  Annie died on 19 March 1939 and Percy lived with his niece Sybil in his later years.  He died on 10 June 1964 at the Ranfurly War Veterans Home in Auckland.  Percy was buried at North Shore Memorial Park (Old Portion, Public Block 3 Plot 051) 

11. ~ ~ ~ MARY WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born on May 1879 in Thames and was the second daughter of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.  Mary married ALEXANDER (ALEC) BATEMAN.  Alec was born on 30 June 1884 was son of ROBERT LESSE BATEMAN and MARGARET HILL who had married in 1869.

Mary and Alec settled in Karaka Creek Road, Thames next-door to Mary's sister Ethel and her husband.   Alec was a Butcher as well as a Gold Star Fireman.  Mary died on 26 December 1972 in Thames.  Alec died on died 22 April 1968 in Thames.   Mary and Alec were both buried at Totara Cemetery in Thames (Public Plot A-0005)

Child of MARY WILLIAMS and ALEC BATEMAN was:

~ THOMAS LEA BATEMAN, born 11 August 1920 in Thames; died 27 April 2001.  Lea married HAZEL JOAN ROBINSON on 28 February 1956 at The Beach House, Waiomu, Thames Coast.   Lea was an Accountant and worked for the Thames Hospital Board.  Hazel died on 24 November 1999 at Tararu Home in Thames.  Lea and Hazel were both buried at Totara Cemetery in Thames (Public Plot E3-0027)

12. ~ ~ ~ HARRY WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born on 1 December 1886 at the Williams homestead in the Kauaeranga Valley, Thames.  Harry was the second son of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.  He attended Old Parawai School in 1892.

Harry was enrolled at the Thames School of Mines in 1906, and the Karangahake School of Mines in 1907.  In 1908 his occupation was recorded as an Assayer of Gold, and between 1910 and 1912 he worked at Talisman Consolidated Ltd in Karangahake.  Harry received his First-Class Engine-Driver's Certificate on 1 December 1911 and he worked as an Engineer and Engine Driver until 1950.  On 15 August 1912 he received his Winding-Engine Driver's Certificate allowing him to drive and have charge of any steam engine.

In 1913 Harry was living in Rongotea in the South Island of New Zealand and received his Electric Winding-Engine Driver's Certificate on 26 August that year.  Between 1914 and 1917 he was employed as a Winding-Engine Driver at Blackwater Mines Ltd in Waiuta, Reefton and attended Reefton School of Mines in 1915 coming first in NZ for Metallurgy that year.

Around 1919 Harry settled in Pukemiro, in the Waikato. He was awarded his Second-class Engineer Certificate for Non-steam Ships on 23 November 1920.

Harry married MARJORIE MAY on 17 April 1929 at St Marys Anglican Church, Raetihi after a long engagement of seven years.  Marjorie was born on 24 September 1902 in Raetihi and was the daughter of AUGUSTINE MAY and EMMA PICKFORD.  Harry's cousin Tommy Kneebone was his best man.  Marjorie's cousin Merle Harvey was bridesmaid and niece Gwen her flower girl.  Harry and Marjorie settled in Pukemiro after their marriage and raised four daughters (all still living) 

Around 1951 the family moved to Takanini in Auckland.  Harry played the accordion and trombone and in his later years enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and playing indoor bowls.

Harry died on 01 April 1970 in Papakura, Auckland.   Marjorie died on 1 September 1979 in Papatoetoe, Auckland.  They were both cremated and their ashes scattered together on 2 September 1989 at the site of the old Williams homestead in the Kauaeranga Valley, Thames.

   Refer to the MAY family for more information about Marjorie's family.


Harry & Marjorie's wedding portrait 1929
 


Harry & Marjorie and their three eldest daughters

 

13. ~ ~ ~ ETHEL VICTORIA WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born 16 June 1897 in Thames and was the third daughter of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.  Ethel married BERTRAND ALEXANDER STRANGE on 24 May 1922.  Bert was born around 1895 and worked for Coakley's Grocer Shop in Thames.  Ethel and Bert lived in Karaka Creek Road, Thames next-door to Mary and Alec.  Bert died on 16 November 1973 in Thames.  Ethel died on 16 November 1979 also in Thames.  They were both buried at Totara Cemetery in Thames  (Public Plot B7-0001)

Children of ETHEL WILLIAMS and BERTRAND STRANGE were:

~ DESMOND EARL STRANGE, who married MARY (surname unknown) Earl died on 18 November 1995 in Wellington and was buried at Akatarawa Cemetery in Wellington.

~ THOMAS ROY STRANGE, born 4 September 1930 in Thames.  Roy married THELMA (surname unknown)  He died on 1 December 2007 in Tokoroa, NZ and was buried at Putaruru Cemetery.

14. ~ ~ ~ JANE (Tot) WILLIAMS (JOHN > PAUL > THOMAS) was born on 10 June 1894 in Thames and was the forth daughter of THOMAS WILLIAMS and ELLEN WALKER.   Jane married WILLIAM JOSEPH WATERHOUSE in 1920.  Joe was born in 1889 in Ponsonby, Auckland and died 8 December 1992. 

Child of JANE WILLIAMS and WILLIAM WATERHOUSE was:

~ EDITH JOY WATERHOUSE, born 30 October 1922; died 8 December 1992 in Thames.  Edith married REX PERCIVAL INNIS.

Jane married (2) ARCHIBALD OTTO BATEMAN in 1927.  Archie was born on 5 February 1889 and worked as a Boiler man at Thames Hospital after their marriage.  Archie died on 1 May 1988 in Coromandel, Thames.  Jane died on 26 October 1983 in Thames.  Jane and Archie were both cremated and their ashes interred at Totara Cemetery in Thames.

Children of JANE WILLIAMS and ARCHIBALD BATEMAN were:

~ NORMAN NOAH BATEMAN

~ KENNETH RAYMOND BATEMAN, who died 30 July 1991.

Please note that in keeping to genealogy publishing protocol I have not included information about later generations including living persons. If you have a family connection please contact me for further information.

> Home ~ ~ ~ > May family of Cornwall (family of Lavinia May)

~ ~ ~ > Walker ~ ~ ~ > May (family of Marjorie May)

“ gather ye the fragments that remain that nothing be lost ”