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Rev John Williams

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Rev John Williams

Birth	:	10 Dec 1664 Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Death	:	12 Jun 1729 Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial	:	Burke Cemetery, Holder, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate	:	28.9699993, -82.4100037
Inscription	:	Here lyes ye Body of the Rev. Mr. John Williams The Beloved & Faithfull Pastor of this place: Who dyed on June ye 12th 1729 In the 65th Year of his age. Rev.14:13 Write Blessed are ye Dead, which die i
Description	:	Clergyman and author, was born in Roxbury, Mass., the fifth child and second son of Deacon Samuel and Theoda (Park) Williams and a grandson of Robert Williams who was admitted freeman of Roxbury in 1638. John was prepared in the Roxbury Latin School and graduated B.A. from Harvard College in 1683. For two years he taught school in Dorchester. He prophesied as a candidate in the frontier settlement of Deerfield and when some time later a church was gathered there, he was formally ordained its first pastor, Oct. 17, 1688. In the meantime, on July 21,... Read More	Clergyman and author, was born in Roxbury, Mass., the fifth child and second son of Deacon Samuel and Theoda (Park) Williams and a grandson of Robert Williams who was admitted freeman of Roxbury in 1638. John was prepared in the Roxbury Latin School and graduated B.A. from Harvard College in 1683. For two years he taught school in Dorchester. He prophesied as a candidate in the frontier settlement of Deerfield and when some time later a church was gathered there, he was formally ordained its first pastor, Oct. 17, 1688. In the meantime, on July 21, 1687, he had married Eunice, daughter of the Rev. Eleazar Mather of Northampton and grand-daughter of Richard Mather. Almost from the beginning of Williams' ministry, Deerfield was in peril of French and Indian attack. Like many of his colleagues, Williams believed the border wars to be occasioned by God's dissatisfaction with his spiritually apathetic people; nevertheless, he met danger courageously and exhorted his people to stand their ground. When Queen Anne's War began, he urged Governor Dudley to strengthen the Deerfield fortifications, but the warning was too late. Before daybreak, Feb 29, 1703/4, a party of French and Indians sacked the town, killed many inhabitants, including Williams' two youngest children, and carried the rest into captivity. Williams' wife, weakened by recent childbirth and unable to withstand the hardships, was murdered by the savages. Williams was well treated, although he was separated from his children and suffered exposure, hunger, and grief. The captives were detained at Fort Chambly, where the Indians, seconded by Jesuit priests, spared no effort to convert them to the Catholic faith. Williams counteracted their exertions among his fellows so effectively that the priests sent him to Chateauviche, where he remained more than two years. Finally Governor Dudley effected his release and Williams returned to Boston, Nov. 21, 1706. During the following winter he preached in churches of boston and vicinity and prepared, with Cotton Mather's help, "The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion" (1707), a book which won wide approval as a testimony of Congregational fortitude against "Popish Poisons." Despite continued Indian depredations and more lucrative offers, he returned to his post in January 1707, where "his Presence...conduced much to the rebuilding of the Place" On Sept. 16, 1707, he married Abigail (Allen) Bissell of Windsor, Conn. He served as chaplain in the expedition of 1711 against Port Royal and, with John Stoddard, as commissioner to Canada (1713-14) for the return of English prisoners; he regularly attended the yearly meetings of clergymen in Boston and in 1728 preached the convention sermon, Deploring the religious indifference of his age, he strove to restore the pristine spiritual enthusiasm of Massachusetts with sermons devoted to the principle "That it's a high Privilege to be descended from godly ancestors; and 'tis the important Duty of such...to exalt the God of their Fathers (A Serious Word To The Posterity of Holy Men, 1729, p.2), He died at Deerfield, survived by his second wife, their five children, and six children of his first marriage. Source: "Dictionary of American Biography" New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1937. vol. XX, p270.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev John Williams's memorial?
Rev John Williams's memorial is located at: Burke Cemetery, Holder, Citrus County, USA.
When did Rev John Williams death?
Rev John Williams death on 12 Jun 1729 in Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev John Williams's memorial?
Latitude: 28.9699993
Longitude: -82.4100037

Family Members:

Parent

Deacon Samuel Williams

(1632 - 1698)

Theoda Parke Peck

(1637 - 1718)

Spouse

Abigail Allyn Williams

(1672 - 1754)

Eunice Mather Williams

(1664 - 1704)

Siblings

Samuel Williams

(1656 - 1735)

Abigail Williams Porter

(1674 - 1765)

Parke Williams

(1676 - 1757)

Children

(1688 - 1742)

(1698 - 1704)

(1704 - 1704)

(1709 - 1714)

(1712 - 1771)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Burke Cemetery
Holder, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9699993, -82.4100037

2. Holder Cemetery
Holder, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9655991, -82.4189529

3. Nature Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Mem
Citrus Springs, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9751010, -82.4244630

4. Saint Paul Lutheran Memorial Garden
Beverly Hills, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9540876, -82.4412583

5. Number 32 Cemetery
Hernando, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9099691, -82.3773631

6. Fero Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Beverly Hills, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9207993, -82.4610977

7. Cedar Grove Cemetery
Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0097000, -82.3440960

8. Hernando Community Cemetery
Hernando, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9036522, -82.3788140

9. Hernando Cemetery
Hernando, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9001617, -82.3774185

10. Holy Faith Episcopal Church Memory Garden
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0509320, -82.4501090

11. Blue Run Cemetery
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0579426, -82.4357847

12. Dunnellon Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0519450, -82.4626490

13. Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church Columbarium
Lecanto, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.8920810, -82.4763060

14. Jester Family Cemetery
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0636330, -82.3652130

15. Dunnellon Community Cemetery
Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0612900, -82.4717000

16. Dunnellon Memorial Gardens
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0648030, -82.4696870

17. Van Ness Cemetery
Inverness, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.8707850, -82.3586800

18. Rockwell Cemetery
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0677240, -82.4710070

19. Living Water Wesleyan Church Memorial Garden
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0527220, -82.3052400

20. Episcopal Church of the Advent Memorial Garden
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.0542580, -82.3058370

21. Magnolia Cemetery
Lecanto, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.8525160, -82.4855340

22. Citronelle Baptist Church Cemetery
Citronelle, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.9789770, -82.5656500

23. Juliette Cemetery
Dunnellon, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 29.1054530, -82.4361060

24. John Joseph Pastuch Memorial Site
Lecanto, Citrus County, USA
Coordinate: 28.8540980, -82.4980350