Summary
This Cornish tin and copper mining family can be traced back to the parish of Gwennap in the mid-1600s. By about 1700, some members of the family migrated to the neighbouring parish of Redruth, with a focus on the hamlet of North Country on the Treleigh Estate. Several branches of the family migrated to South Australia in the 1840s, and other branches migrated to the colonies of Victoria and Queensland. Other branches went to New Zealand and North America. The following table lists the principal locations and time periods.
| Location | Time Period |
| ENG CON Gwennap | 1600+ |
| ENG CON Redruth | 1700+ |
| ENG CON Gwinear | 1720+ |
| ENG CON Breage | 1835+ |
| AUS SA Kapunda | 1847+ |
| AUS VIC Bendigo | ca 1860-1871 |
| AUS VIC Castlemaine | ca 1871 |
| AUS QLD Mount Perry | 1871-1884 |
| AUS VIC Jung Jung | 1884-1886 |
| AUS QLD Bundaberg | ca 1886+ |
| AUS NSW Medlow Bath | ca 1902-1908 |
| AUS NSW Cessnock | 1908-1916 |
| AUS NSW Weston | 1916-2019 |
My Line of Descent
John WILLIAMS born ca 1635, bur 10 Dec 1687 Gwennap, mar 5 Feb 1661 Gwennap to Catherine GOLDSWORTHY born ca 1641, bur 7 May 1710 Gwennap (dau of Ralfe and Frances GOLDSWORTHY)
- John WILLIAMS bapt 4 Aug 1661 Gwennap (see below)
- unnamed daughter born 30 Jan 1662/63 Gwennap, bur 7 Feb 1662/63 Gwennap
- Richard WILLIAMS bapt 19 Jun 1664 Gwennap, bur 31 Dec 1723 Gwennap, mar 28 Sep 1687 Gwennap to Elizabeth BURLEY and had issue
- Margaret WILLIAMS bapt 9 Apr 1667 Gwennap
- Frances WILLIAMS bapt 18 Dec 1670 Gwennap
- Ralph WILLIAMS bapt 22 Feb 1673/74 Gwennap, bur 15 Apr 1674 Gwennap
- William WILLIAMS bapt 28 Mar 1675 Gwennap
- Alice WILLIAMS bapt 11 Aug 1678 Gwennap
- Rebecca WILLIAMS bapt 9 Jun 1679 Gwennap
- Collan WILLIAMS bapt 7 Apr 1683 Gwennap and had issue
John WILLIAMS bapt 4 Aug 1661 Gwenna,p mar 26 May 1683 Gwennap to Margery MICHELL born ca 1658, bur 22 Jan 1735/36 Gwennap (dau of Nicholas MICHELL and Jane KITTOWE)
- Jane WILLIAMS bapt 20 Oct 1683 Gwennap, mar 16 Oct 1703 Redruth to John TREVAILER and had issue
- Cipprian or Scipio WILLIAMS bapt 22 Feb 1684/85 (as Cipprian), bur 3 Feb 1738/39 Gwennap (as Sipio), mar 4 Dec 1715 Gwennap (as Scipio) to Joan SPARGO and had issue
- John WILLIAMS bapt 5 Nov 1687 Gwennap
- Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 8 Nov 1691 Gwennap (see below)
- Rebeckah WILLIAMS bapt 1 Jul 1694 Gwennap
Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 8 Nov 1691 Gwennap, mar 13 Sep 1719 Redruth to Rebecca TRAMPLEASURE born ca 1692 Redruth (dau of Francis TRAMPLEASURE and Barbara JOHN)
- Stephen WILLIAMS bapt 29 Jun 1720 Redruth, prob bur 18 May 1766 Redruth, mar 27 Jun 1738 Madron with Penzance to Grace PELLEW bur 8 Nov 1782 Redruth and had issue
- William WILLIAMS bapt 17 Jun 1722 Redruth, bur 11 Dec 1722 Redruth
- Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 3 Nov 1723 Redruth (see below)
- William WILLIAMS bapt 24 Jun 1726 Redruth, mar 19 Jun 1748 Redruth to Margery TREVAILER bapt 3 Jun 1722 Redruth (dau of John TREVAILER and Jane WILLIAMS above) and had issue
Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 3 Nov 1723 Redruth, mar 23 Feb 1744/45 Redruth to Alice MAY bapt 15 Dec 1722 Redruth (dau of Samuel MAY and Alice TERRILL - Alice TERRILL was a first cousin of John TERRILL who m 1722 Redruth to Elizabeth WILLIAMS dau of Richard WILLIAMS and Elizabeth BURLEY above)
- Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 1 Apr 1746 Redruth
- Samuel WILLIAMS bapt 2 Feb 1746/47 Redruth, bur 1 Dec 1748 Redruth
- John WILLIAMS bapt 10 Dec 1749 Redruth
- Mary WILLIAMS bapt 14 Mar 1751/52 Redruth
- Gertrude WILLIAMS bapt 18 Mary 1754 Redruth, bur 18 Mar 1832 Redruth, mar (1) 10 Jun 1784 Redruth to James BRAY and had issue, mar (2) 25 Sep 1793 Redruth to Thomas GROSE
- William WILLIAMS bapt 25 Aug 1759 Redruth (see below)
- Alice WILLIAMS bapt 2 Aug 1761 Redruth
- Grace WILLIAMS bapt 20 May 1764 Redruth, bur 19 May 1768 Redruth
William WILLIAMS bapt 25 Aug 1759 Redruth, bur 27 May 1828 Redruth, abode North Country, mar 4 Apr 1784 Redruth to Allarina FAULL b ca Apr 1761 Crowan, died 8 Jan 1840 North Country, Redruth (dau of William FAULL and Mary FAULL)
- Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 10 Aug 1784 Redruth (see below)
- William WILLIAMS bapt 28 May 1786 Redruth, died 7 Apr 1845 Redruth, abode North Country, mar 20 Nov 1820 Redruth to Mary PAULL bapt 7 Sep 1788 Redruth, bur 6 Mar 1848 Redruth, abode North Country (dau of Thomas PAULL and Mary TREGLOAN) and had issue
- Alice WILLIAMS bapt 13 Jul 1788 Redruth
- Grace WILLIAMS bapt 12 Apr 1791 Redruth, died 23 Mar 1860 Redruth, abode Union, mar 16 Feb 1818 Redruth to Thomas OATES bapt 6 Mar 1793 Gwennap, bur 12 Nov 1846 St Day, abode Carharrack (son of George OATES and Rebecca OATES) and had issue
- Samuel WILLIAMS bapt 25 Feb 1795 Redruth, died 11 Sep 1857 Reedy Creek, Palmer, South Australia, mar 9 May 1818 Redruth to Ann TREGLOWN bapt 26 Apr 1801 Redruth, died 20 Jul 1878 Kanmantoo, South Australia (dau of James TREGLOAN and Jane TRENWITH; James TREGLOAN was a brother of Mary PAULL nee TREGLOAN above) and had issue (Samuel WILLIAMS and family members emigrated 1847 per "Rajah" to South Australia)
- John WILLIAMS bapt 30 Apr 1797 Redruth, died 13 Feb 1850 Redruth, abode North Country, mar 18 Nov 1820 Redruth to Julian "Julia" TRESEDER bapt 12 Jul 1801 Redruth, died 24 Mar 1876 Redruth, abode North Country (dau of Peter TRESEDER and Julian NANCARROW) and had issue
- Mary WILLIAMS bapt 7 Jul 1799 Redruth
Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 10 Aug 1784 Redruth, died 21 Jan 1844 Redruth, abode Wheal Harmony, North Country, mar 4 Nov 1809 Redruth to Joanna MICHELL born 9 Nov 1791 St Agnes, died 12 Mar 1876 Kapunda, South Australia (dau of John MICHELL and Joanna CHENOWETH; Joanna and family members emigrated 1848 per "William Money" to South Australia)
- Thomas WILLIAMS bapt 18 Nov 1810 Redruth, died 31 Jan 1866 Avoca, Victoria, Australia, mar 22 Apr 1854 Melbourne, Victoria to Mary PEARCE bapt 25 Dec 1820 Redruth, died 11 Apr 1871 Avoca, Victoria (dau of William PEARCE and Ann NOBLE) and had issue; Mary mar (2) 30 Dec 1867 Avoca to Edmund VENNING 1827-1874
- Mary WILLIAMS bapt 4 Oct 1812 Redruth, died unm 1 Sep 1885 Kapunda, South Australia, and had issue
- Elizabeth WILLIAMS bapt 7 Aug 1814 Redruth, abode North Country, died 21 Feb 1898 Redruth, abode Trefusis Terrace, m 4 Jul 1839 Redruth to James REYNOLDS bapt 22 Aug 1813 Redruth, abode North Country, died 16 Apr 1864 Redruth, abode Wheal Harmony (son of John REYNOLDS and Martha TANK) and had issue
- John WILLIAMS bapt 6 Oct 1816 Redruth, abode North Country, died 29 Jan 1886 Kapunda, abode Franklin Street, mar 27 Aug 1842 Redruth to Honor CLARKE bapt 2 Sep 1821 Redruth, abode Camborne, died 13 Aug 1862 Kapunda (dau of Henry CLARKE and Mary THOMAS) and had issue (John and family emigrated 1854 per "Magdalena" to South Australia)
- William WILLIAMS bapt 4 Oct 1818 Redruth, abode Trefula, died 23 May 1867 Kapunda, mar 5 Aug 1841 Lifton, Devon to Elizabeth SMITH bapt 6 Apr 1823 Lifton, abode Tinhay, died 19 Jul 1898 Adelaide, South Australia (dau of Abraham SMITH and Ann HARRIS) and had issue
- Henry WILLIAMS bapt 4 Mar 1821 Redruth, abode Trefula, died 22 Oct 1899 Morgan, South Australia, mar 12 Nov 1847 Adelaide to Honour TRENWITH bapt 4 Jun 1826 Redruth, abode North Country, died 24 Nov 1882 Norwood, South Australia (dau of Capt Thomas TRENWITH and Honnor JOHNS) and had issue; the Captain's father, George, was a brother of Jane TRELGOAN nee TRENWITH above; Henry emigrated 1847 per "Rajah" to South Australia)
- Samuel WILLIAMS bapt 31 Aug 1823 Redruth, abode Trefula, died 10 Sep 1884 Wonna, South Australia, mar (1) ca Nov 1845 Redruth to Rebecca Orwell COCKING bapt 18 May 1828 Redruth, died 5 Aug 1865 Kapunda (dau of Francis COCKING and Mary ORWELL) and had issue, mar (2) 24 Dec 1867 Adelaide to Elizabeth PIKE born 18 Sep 1837 West Romsey, Hampshire, died 2 Mar 1924 Alberton, South Australia (dau of William PIKE and Rebecca Rose OLIVER) and had further issue
- James WILLIAMS bapt 11 Dec 1825 Redruth
- Rosa "Rosanna" WILLIAMS bapt 20 Jul 1828 Redruth, abode North Country, bur 5 Oct 1828 Redruth, abode North Country
- Charles Edwin WILLIAMS bapt 30 Aug 1830 Redruth, abode North Country (as Edwin), died 31 May 1913 Kapunda, abode Mildred Street, mar 19 Jun 1858 Kapunda to Catherine O'CONNOR or CONNOR born ca 1837, died 25 Mar 1894 Kapunda (dau of John O'CONNOR or CONNOR) and had issue
- Joseph WILLIAMS bapt 21 Apr 1833 Redruth, abode North Country, bur 28 Sep 1833 Redruth, abode North Country
- Joseph George WILLIAMS born 2 Dec 1836, bapt 15 Jan 1837 Redruth, abode North Country (see below)
Joseph George WILLIAMS born 2 Dec 1836, bapt 15 Jan 1837 Redruth, abode North Country, died 3 Sep 1920 North Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, abode Stewart Street, mar 29 Jul 1871 Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia to Mary Elizabeth PAULL born 20 Apr 1853 Illogan Downs, Cornwall, died 2 Jul 1943 Bundaberg (dau of James PAULL and Elizabeth THOMAS)
- Joseph George WILLIAMS born 10 Dec 1872 Mount Perry, Queensland, died 1 Jul 1932 Pennant Hills, New South Wales, mar 12 Sep 1900 Singleton, New South Wales to Mildred Grace Elizabeth ADAMS, born 8 Feb 1878 Singleton, died 28 May 1954 Mosman, New South Wales (dau of Henry ADAMS and Matilda Jane HAMMOND) and had issue
- Edith Johanna WILLIAMS born 16 Jul 1874 Mount Perry, died 16 Jun 1960 West Preston, Victoria, mar (1) 25 May 1905 East Melbourne to Henry George KENT born 1867 Breslau, Silesia, died 24 Nov 1927 Melbourne (son of Henry George KENT and Anna GEISBERG) and had issue, mar (2) 16 Nov 1940 South Northcote, Victoria to Richard BROOKS born ca 1870 Norfolk, England, died 25 Sep 1954 Melbourne (son of Charles BROOKS and Mary Ann HOPE)
- Lilly Jane WILLIAMS born 9 Aug 1876 Mount Perry, died 1 Jul 1949 Bundaberg, mar 25 Jan 1905 Bundaberg to George Herbert SKILLINGTON born 15 Apr 1874 Pateley Bridge, North Riding Yorkshire, died 15 May 1959 Bundaberg (son of Thomas SKILLINGTON and Jane Elizabeth MILNER) and had issue
- Albert Henry WILLIAMS born 26 Apr 1879 Mount Perry (see below)
- Margaret Ethel Mary WILLIAMS born 29 May 1881 Mount Perry, died unm 15 Oct 1920 Bundaberg, no issue
- James Charles WILLIAMS born 19 Jul 1883 Mount Perry, died 26 Apr 1958 Wondai, Queensland, mar 2 Oct 1906 North Bundaberg to Isabel Prissie ROWE born 15 Jul 1883 Bundaberg, died 6 Dec 1948 Mackay, Queensland (dau of Samuel O'Neill ROWE and Eliza CHURCH) and had issue
- Elizabeth Agnes WILLIAMS born 20 Aug 1885 Jung Jung, Victoria, died 24 Sep 1952 Brisbane, Queensland, mar 5 Jan 1911 Bundaberg to John Frederick FOSTER born 20 May 1887 Bundaberg, died 7 Aug 1956 Cheltenham, Victoria (son of George William FOSTER and Elizabeth Agnes Margaret WINSTON) and had issue
- Samuel WILLIAMS born 23 Mar 1888 North Bundaberg, died 21 Dec 1975 Brisbane, mar 5 Jun 1923 Gordonvale, Queensland to Amelia Maud RICE nee TURNER alias ALLEN born 27 Jul 1895 Avondale, Queensland, died 20 Oct 1958 Bundaberg (dau of Annie Margaret TURNER later ALLEN) no issue; Amelia had issue to her first husband; Samuel had a daughter born out of wedlock to another woman before he married Amelia
- Frederick Thomas WILLIAMS (twin) born 9 Jun 1892 North Bundaberg, died 26 Jun 1951 Bundaberg, mar 2 Aug 1926 Bundaberg to Violet Gertrude Louise HARRIS born 31 Dec 1897 Bundaberg, died 6 Jun 1968 Bundaberg (dau of William James HARRIS and Mary Ann KING) no issue; Violet had a daughter out of wedlock before she married Frederick; Frederick had a son born out of wedlock to another woman; Violet mar (2) ca 1967 to Sydney Alexander Irvine Roy DOBLO 1899-1985
- Grace Maud WILLIAMS (twin) born 9 Jun 1892 1892 North Bundaberg, died 11 Feb 1949 Echuca, Victoria, mar 20 Jun 1917 Bundaberg to Rupert John SALMON born 8 Apr 1889 Walhalla, Victoria, died 29 Dec 1972 Melbourne (son of Henry SALMON and Elizabeth COLEGATE) and had issue
Albert Henry WILLIAMS born 26 Apr 1879 Mount Perry, died 27 Jun 1948 Weston, New South Wales, mar 26 Jul 1916 Kurri Kurri, New South Wales to Eveline ROBERTS born 17 Jul 1894 Hamilton, New South Wales, died 23 Feb 1968 Kurri Kurri (dau of Robert ROBERTS and Harriet ROUSE)
- Phyllis Mary WILLIAMS born 18 Apr 1917 Weston, died 23 May 2009 Maitland, New South Wales, mar 22 Apr 1935 Kurri Kurri to Arthur William MEADOWS born 2 Aug 1911 Stoke Newington, London, died 21 Apr 1986 Kurri Kurri (son of Thomas George MEADOWS and Louisa May ROBERTS alias EVANS) and had issue
- Evelyne Joan WILLIAMS born 6 Apr 1920 Weston, died 26 Oct 1961 Weston, mar 15 Nov 1941 Weston to Ellis OLIVER born 18 Nov 1919 Weston, died 6 May 1993 Forster, New South Wales (son of Ralph OLIVER and Isabella BARNFATHER) and had issue
- Albert James WILLIAMS born 27 Jul 1930 Weston, died 26 Apr 2001 Bedford Park, South Australia, mar 26 Sep 1959 Abermain, New South Wales to Agnes Madaleine JAMES born 2 Oct 1932 Abermain, died 22 May 2019 Kurri Kurri (dau of Charles Alfred JAMES and Agnes Madeline JAMES) and had issue
DNA Evidence
Autosomal DNA matches confirm the line back to William WILLIAMS and Allarina FAULL, who married in 1784 at Redruth, Cornwall. Big Y-700 DNA matches confirm the line back further to John WILLIAMS and Catherine GOLDSWORTHY, who married in 1661 at Gwennap. Surprisingly, the WILLIAMS Y-DNA is not Celtic, as might be expected for a Cornish family, but is Germanic. Here is a selection of SNPs (dated mutations) from the Y-DNA results:
- R-FT204018 - William WILLIAMS 1759-1828 to present day
- R-FT70006 - John WILLIAMS m 1661; this haplogroup dates to ca 1450 CE
- R-DF98 - The Royal Haplogroup dates to ca 1950 BCE
- R-U106 - The Anglo-Saxon Haplogroup dates to ca 2900 BCE
- R-M269 - associated with massive migration from the steppe during the Early Bronze Age, the source of Indo-European languages, and the Yamnaya culture, dates to ca 4350 BCE
The following images illustrate the Y-DNA results (click to zoom in).
