Henry Philips Williams

Frances Brennan is the first wife of Henry Philips Williams.

The children of Henry Philips Williams and Frances
Brennan are:

Thomas Brennan Williams, died at 11 years old

Rowena Ewing Williams, married Charles Morris Day II and produced five children:

           Mary Frances

           Henry Philips

           Rowena "Tito"

           Charles Morris III

           Harry Williams Day (died as infant) (named after uncle)

Marguaretta or Gretta Kendall Williams (never married)

Harry Lee Williams, married Virginia "Vivy" Vance Nicholas and produced two children:

           Carter Virginia

           Rowena Hickman

Frances "Fannie" Victorine Williams (died as infant)

Frances Brennan Williams Boddie, the last child and daughter of Frances Brennan and Henry Philips Williams married Nicholas Van Boddie and later married Allan Sanford.

She is buried with him in Waco, TX along with her daughter Frances Van Boddie who married William Topping Merry.

Nicholas Van Boddie is the son of Willie Perry Boddie and Martha Rivers McNeill.

"Nannie" Martha Ann Haskins, whose picture is below, was the second wife of Henry Philips Williams.

Tennessee Stark Williamson was Nannie's mother: Her Grandfather was an aide to Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans.

Nannie's brother Ben was in Company A 14 Tennessee Infantry, 1st Sergeant and 2nd Lieutenant. He studied medicine but didn’t complete the course. He was a surgeon in the Forbes Bivouac. He never married. He served under Robert E. Lee in VA. He fought in the battle of Gettysburg and was captured and imprisoned on Johnson’s Island in Lake Erie for 18 months til the end of the war. His tombstone says he was a Confederate Vet 1st Lt. of Company A with the Tennesse Regiment + CSA

Nannie's brother Robert James Haskins fought in the battle of Ft. Donelson and he was captured and imprisoned in Ft. Dearborn, IL and died in prison.

Nannie is a distant relative of her husband Henry. Their relationship can be seen in the below partial family tree. She is a maternal great granddaughter of Benjamin Philips who is a brother of Joseph Philips, the maternal grandfather of Henry Philips Williams.

Portrait of Nannies mother, Tennessee Stark

Gerri Williams gave me the photo to the left of an older Nannie Haskins in 2013.

Gerri Williams was told that the family was very close and that Henry's second wife Nannie (Martha Ann Haskins) raised Frances' children as if they were her own!

Children of Henry Philips Williams by Martha Ann "Nannie" Haskins are listed below. Above is a "contract" Nannie had sons Ben and John sign one year.

Edward Haskins Williams married Berta "Bert" West and produced Henry Philips who died as an infant and Emily West. (his descendants live in Alabama)

Ben Philips Williams married Cora Blackwell and produced Eleanor Branch Williams. He then married Marion Bakerand produced Adrian, Nancy Haskins Baker, and Ron. (descendants live in MO)

John Frederick Williams (Gerri's husband's grandfather) married Anne Nottingham "Nan" McKown and produced Nick Van Boddie Williams, Henry Philips Williams and John Frederick Williams. The last two had no children.

Teressa "Tress" Stark Williams married Dr. Newman Ross Donnell and produced Jess Franklin Donnel, Newman "Ned" Ross Donnell, and Ben Philips Donnell.? (descendants in MO and Washington DC)

Robert James Williams married Orena Roselle "Rena" Dryer and produced Robert James II, diane, and Haskins. (Descendants in Birmingham, AL)

Lucille "Lucy" Stark Williams lived to 86 (never married)

Nannie married Henry in 1870 and they lived together at Greenleaf, near Guthrie, KY, until Henry died around 1900. Nannie then sold the farm and moved to Birmingham where several of her sons were working in the iron business. She lived in Birmingham until shortly before her death when she and her youngest daughter Lucy moved back to Clarksville.

Located in downtown Clarksville TN	Side with Nannie Haskins Williams
Side listing children	Side showing Henry Philips Williams

This picture was taken on Nicholas Boddie's porch, somewhere near Guthrie, KY with much of the family in the picture. He was the husband of the last child and daughter of Frances Brennan and Henry Philips Williams

Back row left to right:
Ben Philips Williams, John Frederick Williams, Rowena Ewing Williams Day, Charles Morris Day II, Harry lee Williams, Margaretta Kendal Williams, Nannie Haskins Williams, Frances Brennan Williams Boddie holding Frances Van Boddie (her daugher), Nicholas Van Rensselaer Boddie.

Second row left to right:
Tennessee Stark Williamson (mother of Nannie Haskins), Uncle Ben Jaskins, Rowena Williams Day (Titoo), Henry Philips Williams (Pawpaw) holding Charles Morris Day III.

Front row left to right:
Haskins Williams, Day Williams, Henry Philips Day, Teressa Stark Williams (but could be Bert West, wife of Haskins Williams), Robert James Williams (hands on knees), Lucy Stark Williams, Mary Frances Day

This information was obtained by Gerri Williams from Titoo via another relative.

Henry's daughter Gretta is not in the first picture. She is in this picture furnished by Gerri Williams on the exteme left with striped blouse. Above her is Bert West (wife of Haskins), Haskins is above Bert, then we think the smiling man (flirting with Gretta) might be Bert's brother. Next is Ben, then John Frederick with his hand over Robert's shoulder and the little girl may be Lucy.

This is a picture of Greanleaf, the home Henry Philips Williams in Guthrie, KY. I'm not sure when this picture was taken. That's Henry with the dog and his family is in the background. The Greanleaf farm today is about 400 acres. It was much larger when Henry lived there.

This picture of Greanleaf was taken by Gerri Williams in 2005. There are several large barns behind the house and a small log building to the west fo the house.

The main driveway to the house

A closer look at the log cabin

Close-up of log cabin

Another view from the raod

A closer look at the house

View east from the entrance

The small log cabin to the west of the house

Another shot of the house

A look back at the property from the east side

Home ** February 17, 1893

Mr. Will Williams
Osceola, Arkansas

Dear Will:

I have written today a letter to your cousin, Fred Williams, enclosing a copy made by myself of our family descent. I wrote to him as I do you because you represent the oldest male member of your father's family.

I hope you will appreciate the statement I send you and will take care of it for your children's sake, believing as I do that they will be proud to know that their Father's great-great-Grandfather was an honorable gentleman and a man of good education. I will give you on the other side our genealogical record.

Sometime about the year 1700 there came from Wales a man who was the father of your great-great-Grandfather. (This would be Elisha Williams' grandfather) don't know his name but he settled in Pennsylvania and his son William Williams, in course of time moved to Caldwell County, North Carolina where he married a Miss Thomas (The only Thomas in the family is Milbery Horn's mother, Mary Ruth Thomas who is married to William Horn). This was in or about 1742. Several children were born of this marriage, his son Elisha being the second child. Now this Elisha Williams was the father of your Grandpa Josiah Williams. He was married in 1772 (actually 1775) to Miss Josey and had three sons and one daughter.

Will Williams, born 1776 (father of cousin Jack);

Aunt Betsey born in 1778,

Elisha born in 1782

and your Grandpa born 1786.

The family moved to Tennessee in 1804 I think, and your Grandpa Josiah Williams married Margaretta Phillips in 1815 and had twelve children; James Williams, your father was one of the twelve.

Speaking of our family I should tell you that your great-Grandpa (Elisha Williams) was highly educated and of quite a literary turn. He was wealthy and gave all his children finished educations. Cousin Jack's father was a graduate of Harvard University, Massachusetts and your grand-uncle Elisha and your Grandpa were graduated from Chappel Hill College, North Carolina. Both read latin fluently and their handwrite was most excellent.

In mathematics he was superior to any of his boys. I have heard him say that his father was one of the best read men in North Carolina, and that his Grandfather was highly educated. Grandfather Phillips was a close personal friend of my Grandfather Williams and finally induced him to move out to Tennessee. He selling his real estate and giving part to his daughter Elizabeth who married a wealthy man in North Carolina named Thomas Alston (She first married a wealthy man named Joseph John Williams who died young). You may not know it but my Father and my Uncle (Jack's Father) married sisters, Sally and Margaretta Phillips, and through Grandfathers Williams and Phillips (Philips is spelled with one "L".) all the fine real estate near Nashville was inherited by Cousin Jack's father which is now known as the William's Estate.

I am getting along so, so, have a bad cold which keeps me always sniffling. Your cousin Rowena Day, has a son very, very ill with brain fever. He is nearly three years and am fearful will make a die of it. All the rest of us well.

I hope this fall to be with you again on that fishing excursion. Kindest regards to your wife and chicks.

H. P. Williams

** Guthrie, Kentucky

A WILLIAMS FAMILY HISTORY/THE FIRST GENERATIONS

Written by Henry Philips Williams, February 17, 1892, at ‘Greenleaf,’ his farm at Guthrie, Ky., about 15 miles north of the Tennessee border. Henry Williams was in his 64^th year when he wrote this account, and he lived for another 10 years. He died at Greenleaf on Feb. 22, 1902. These are his words:

“Since Cousin Jack’s death I feel sure that there is not a single member of the Williams connection that would be able to give the genealogical table that I furnish you, except myself. When I was in Arkansas last fall, I talked a good deal with Cousin Jack, and it was he who furnished me with most of the data I give you.

He told me his father had often talked with him about these things and you can rely upon same as being in the main correct. I wish every member of our family who bears the Williams name to know who their ancestors were, and I wish also the fact to be distinctly impressed that there is not a single family in America who can say, ‘My forefathers were better and more honest than yours.’ We have no record to show that any member of our large connection ever graced a jail, prison or penitentiary.”

“On the other hand, the old stock living at an early day were educated gentlemen of more than ordinary wealth and a certain degree of refinement and social surroundings. Your Great Grandfather, Elisha Williams, was highly educated himself, and insisted that his children should have every advantage extended to them in getting a collegiate education, which was something unusual at an early day.

He employed a private tutor for his boys, and when they were sufficiently advanced in their studies, he sent the oldest (Uncle William) to Harvard University, Mass., and your Grand Uncle Elisha and your Grand Pa to Chapel Hill, N.C. All three got their diplomas, and I know myself that your Grand Pa Williams could read Latin fluently and wrote a beautiful fluent hand.”

“Cousin Jack spoke of the old original stock as coming from Wales and settling first in Pennsylvania, and at least one branch of the family immigrating or moving to North Carolina. That branch from which we are sprung came some time in the early part of 1725, and settled in or near Edgecome, N.C.

Afterwards the head of the house, William Williams (my father’s grandfather) (Henry is likely confused with William Williams who is the brother of Elisha's daughter Betsy's first husband who build a luxury mansion named Montmorenci at Schocco Springs.) moved up to a place called Shoco or Shoeco, in Caldwell or Halifax, County, N.C., where he bought a large and fine property and lived the life of a country gentleman, having his farm on the river, his Negro quarters and his overseers. He had, I think, three sons and several daughters.

One of these sons was my grandfather, Elisha Williams, born in 1746, and afterwards owning the homestead, besides several farms in Franklin County, where I am told they kept Negro quarters managed by overseers (Elisha actually grew up in Scotland Neck and later moved to outside of Louisburg NC before moving to Nashville. His father is Joshua Williams).

He married a Miss Josey in 1774 (actually married in 1775) and his children were William, born 1776, Elizabeth, 1778, Elisha, 1782, and your grandpa, Josiah F. Williams, born 1786.”

“In 1808 (Henry said 1804 in the letter above and I believe that's correct.) or thereabouts the family moved to Tennessee, leaving their married daughter, Elizabeth Alston, in North Carolina, where her descendants are now living, her only daughter having married a man by the name of Williams (Actually, she had two boys and one daughter by her first husband Joseph John Williams. Their son Joseph John Williams is the father of Tom and Lucy mentioned below. He also had two other children, Mary and a son named Joseph John.).

They had two children, Tom Williams and Lucy Williams. Lucy was quite an heiress and married William Polk (President James K. Polk’s brother), while Tom and his children, when I last heard from them, were in fine circumstances.”

“Now my dear boy, after the family moved to Tennessee, you may be able to write out the remaining chapter.”

“Your Grandma (Margaret Philips) was born in 1799 on the place owned by her father, Jos. D. Philips, six miles from Hasville on the Dickenson Pike, and one of the finest places in Tennessee.

Josiah F. Williams was married in 1815, and in 1817 built the brick house which Jerry Baxter bought. It was one of the first brick houses built in the County of Davidson. I think your Pa was born about the time they moved into their new home, 1818.

Now I shall leave you to fill up the balance of this family record, which you can easily do, and which I wish you to do and greatly oblige.”

Haysboro

(Later called Haysville)

On the river bluff, a short distance east of Spring Hill Cemetery, David Hays established Fort Union in 1780. Haysboro is said to have been a rival of Nashborough at one time, but there is no record of its population, except in 1834, when it was "on the Lexington road, containing about half a dozen families." The change in the turnpike route in 1839 merely hastened the end of the little city, doomed from the first. There are few marks of its former glory, but they are worth the short walk necessary to see them. Col. Hays, founder of Haysboro, was a colleague of Robertson in the North Carolina Legislature of 1787, and was well worthy of a more permanent memorial as a public spirited citizen.