Posted on: Austin Co. Tx Bios Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tx/AustinBios/23 Surname: Bell, Gardner, Grimes, Maxwell, Stephenson, Williamson ------------------------- THOMAS MAXWELL & CLARKIA WILLIAMSON by Betty Meischen According to Merv Rowan, "The Maxwells were border lords of the West March in Scotland. It was a very powerful family, well-known in history. They earned several titles and offices such as Earl of Nithsdale, Earl of Morton, Earl of Dirleton, Lords Maxwell, Carlyle, Herries, etc. They held five baronetcies. Numerous castles and estates have been in the Maxwell family over many years such as Caerlaverock, Threave, Annan Tower, Lochmaben, Terregles, Kirkconnell, Myretown, Stainley, Dargavel. Several books have been written about the Maxwells." The parents of Melissa Jane Maxwell, wife of James B. Stephenson, were Thomas and Clarkey Williamson Maxwell. Thomas Maxwell was born in Virginia on January 29, 1784 and died 15 Mar 1851. Thomas Maxwell married Clarkia (Clarkey) Williamson in Green County Kentucky on 3 Feb 1809. Clarkia who was born 4 Dec 1777 and died 27 July 1849 in Austin County TX was the daughter of William and Barbara Williamson. Another source lists Clarkia Williamson as born 1790. Thomas and Clarkia lived in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois before coming to Texas. They moved to Crawford Co. Indiana with the Robertsons, McMurtrys, Bells and Mckees. William Maxwell who married Civility Honor Ann Grace Stephenson, sister of James Bell Stephenson, on May 22, 1842 in Austin County, TX and Melissa Maxwell Stephenson wife of James Bell Stephenson were born in Indiana and Illinois. According to one source,a Thomas Maxwell arrived in Texas in 1835. His character certificate issued at San Augustine, Texas on March 28, 1835 is the oldest document known to relate to him: "I certify that Thomas Maxwell, a native of Tennessee of the United States is a man of family consisting of six persons and a man of good moral habits industrious and a good citizen and friendly to the laws and religion of the country. Given at the instance of the party interested. R.C. McDaniel, Justice." However, mention is made that he was a "native of Tennessee and this does not fit with the Thomas Maxwell who was listed on the 1850 TX census as being born in Virginia. Another of Thomas Maxwell's daughters that came with him to Texas, Amanda, married John Hutchins of Austin County, February 13, 1845. According to records, there was a soldier by the name of Thomas Maxwell in the Army of the Republic of Texas who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto. His name appears in Dixon and Kemp's Heroes of San Jacinto and on the memorial tablet of Texas soldiers at the San Jacinto Battleground. His discharge paper is on file at the Texas State Archives in Austin: "This is to certify that Thomas Maxwell joined by volunteer company on the 15th of March last since which time he has discharged his duty honorably to himself and to his country and is this day honorably discharged"--Wm Kimbro, Capt. Approved: Thomas J. Rusk. The discharge paper Thomas Maxwell presented at the Auditor's office in Houston on June 12, 1838: This day came Thomas Maxwell and says the annexed instrument is just, true, and original, and the only one he has offered for liquidation: that he owes the government nothing on his own account, or on account of any other person, except he owes thirteen dollars for property purchased at the San Jacinto Battle. Because of his service, Maxwell was entitled to a grant of land but apparently he never took up his claim. The records of Austin County show that the only land Thomas Maxwell owned was 404 acres which he purchased June 23, 1843 from John L. Marshall. This tract began at the SE corner of the James Bell survey and also the NW corner of the Cummings Mill tract. Witnessed by Frederick Ernst. He sold this land on 1-29-1850. Austin County Deed Records reveal that Maxwell applied for 140 acres of land and stated that he was in the Republic of Texas prior to Jan 1, 1842. Henry Shiflett relates that Thomas and Clarkia moved from Crawford Co Indiana to Sangamon County Illinois where they lived between 1822-24 and then on to Knox Co. circa 1829-1830. All the known children up until 1833 were born there. Thomas and Clarkia were among the first settlers in Knox County. They lived next door to James Maxwell and John McMurty. Thomas Jr. lived nearby. While James Maxwell was a stauch supporter of the Confederacy, his four sons fought for the Union in the Civil War. It is uncertain exactly when the Maxwells moved to Texas but Shifflett says that in the mid-1830’s they were near Washington on the Brazos near Center Hill Texas. Waller County Texas History book states that Thomas and Clarkia are buried in the Kirby Chapel Cemetery of Waller County where many other members of the Smith and Stephenson families are buried. The 1850 Census of Grimes County TX lists Thomas Maxwell, 66 VA as living in the household of his son-in-law and daughter, James Bell Stephenson, 30 and Melissa Maxwell Stephenson, 26. The Maxwell line continued on through his son William Maxwell whose family lived in northern Waller County. In the 1860 Austin County Census, William Maxwell is listed as being age 40 from Illinois and a farmer, $11,500. William Maxwell was also one of those appointed by the Texas Legislature in 1873 to found Waller County and also became one of its first commissioners along with his brother-in-law James Bell Stephenson. William died in 1889 and his wife Civility in 1899. William Maxwell 's son, Francis Marion Maxwell, born July 29, 1844 died in November 1932. Through him the Waller County line of Maxwells continued. All of the Maxwell family are buried in the Maxwell plot in the Kirby Chapel Cemetery in northern Waller County. This information is taken from A History of Waller County, Texas published by the Waller County Historical Survey Committee in 1973. CHILDREN OF THOMAS MAXWELL James Maxwell b. 9 Apr 1810 Green Co KY- d. 29 Sep 1895 Hampton Rock Island Co IL married Elizabeth Latimore in 1829 in Sangamon Co. Il. Elizabeth (8 Nov 1812-27 Jan 1891) was the daughter of Richard Larimore and Mary Benningfield.. 1840 Census shows James Maxwell sr in Rio TWP Knox Co. Il. Orbituary from Port Byron Globe, October 2, 1895 James Maxwell was born in Indiana April 9, 1810 and died at the home of his son Richard Maxwell in Hampton IL Sep 29, 1895 age 85 years 5 months and 26 days. Mr. Maxwell moved with his parents to KY in 1819 and from KY to Sangamon Co Il in 1822 and to Knox County in 1837. For the past twenty years he has been making his home among his children. He married Miss Elizabeth Larimore in about 1830 to which union was born sixteen children ..." children named "He served in the Black Hawk War under Captain McMurty and has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1878...Interment ...Knox County at North Henderson" notes of Jim Sanderlin. Other notes reference a monument in the Henderson Cemetery in Illinois to Thomas Maxwell for his service in the Blackhawk Indian War, however, this memorial is thought to refer to Thomas Jr. the son. According to Don Maxwell, both Thomas and his son Thomas fought in the Black Hawk War in 1831-32. Thomas Jr. is buried in the Henderson Il cemetery Mary (Polly) Maxwell b. 26 May 1813 -d. 21 May 1840 Knox Co IL married Daniel Robertson 1830 Knox County IL Thomas Maxwell, Jr. b. 8 Mar 1815 KY dk 8 May 1890 Knox Co. IL married Rhoda Hodges 1836 Henry Maxwell b. 25 Oct 1816 Crawford Co. IN d. 19 Oct 1896 Knoxville, Knox Co. IL married Sarah Hodges 1839 Reuben Maxwell b. 17 Oct 1818 Crawford Co. IN-d. 16 April 1885 Knox Co. IL married Elizabeth Poplett 21 April 1863. Elizabeth b. 1820 d. 16 Jul 1904 Knox Co IL William Maxwell b. 1819 Crawford Co IN-d. 16 April 1885 Waller Co. TX married Civility Honor Grace Stephenson May 22, 1842 Austin County, TX. Civility was the daughter of James and Amelia Bell Stephenson who came to Texas in 1826 from Florida. Civility was b. 30 Dec 1822 Ga and died 1899 Waller County TX. Both are buried in the Kirby Chapel Cemetery, Waller Co TX Lucy Ann Maxwell b. after 1820 -d. before 1850 Knox Co IL, married Hiram Melton 3 Sep 1840 Knox Co IL Melissa J. Maxwell b. 14 Oct 1826 Sangamon Co.IL-d. 31 May 1866 Austin County, TX married James Bell Stephenson March 24, 1843 Austin County, TX. James Bell was the son of James and Amelia Bell Stephenson who came to Texas from Florida in 1826. He was born in GA or Fl 13 Oct 1820 and died 28 Sep 1905. Both are buried in Grimes County TX in family pla on land originally owned by James & Amelia Stephenson. Amanda Maxwell b. abt 1833 Knox Co Il-d. aft 1880 Bellville, Austin Co. TX married on February 12, 1845 Austin County, TX John Hutchins b. Georgia, children: Melissa, Thomas, Frances, Mary, Sarah, James, John Jacob Maxwell b. abt 1831 Knox Co IL-d. 1895 TX Three other children that died young. **Many of these names, dates and places contributed by Ann Maxwell of Canyon Lake, TX In searching for the lineage of Clarkia Williamson I came across the following message: "In going over my Irish records I found Sarah CLARK, born abt 1678, of Ballyruff, Ireland. She was a grand-daughter of William (the Quaker) CLARK of Grange and daughter of John CLARK and Anne HORSEMAN of Ballyruff, Coleraine. According to an old CLARK Genealogy, she married WILLIAMSON of County Antrim. .**Posted by: Carol McCloud Date: May 11, 2000 **In Reply to: WILLIAMSON & QUAKER RECORDS by Bobbie W'mson-Dabbs Ledbetter Thomas,Clarkia,& Mary WILLIAMSON--NC>KY Posted by: Cindy Fregoe Date: February 23, 2000 I am looking for any other descendants of these three WILLIAMSONs. Thomas(b 1788) married Elizabeth "Betsy" JUDD 7 May 1809 Green Co,KY, Clarkia(b 1777) married Thomas MAXWELL in 1803 Green Co,KY, & Mary(b1800) married John McMURTRY in 1819 in IN.Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you **Clarkia and Mary Williamson Posted by: Jim Sanderlin Date: March 29, 1999 at 14:14:33 Looking for info on two sisters: Clarkia Williams, born ca 1780, and Mary Williamson, born ca 1800. Clarkia married Thomas Maxwell in 1803 in Green County, Kentucky. Mary married John McMurtry in 1819 in Crawford County, Indiana. They all moved to Sangamon County, IL, ca 1822 and then to Knox County, Il, in 1830. Maxwell children were Reuben, William, Henry, James, Polly, and Thomas. McMurtry children were Louisa, Harriet, Sarah, Polly, Martha, and Louisa. **Re: WILLIAMSON & QUAKER RECORDS Posted by: Jeni Date: February 14, 2000 at In Reply to: WILLIAMSON & QUAKER RECORDS by Bobbie W'mson-Dabbs Ledbetter Alexander Musgrove married Mary Morris - 1814, Orange Co., VA. My family names include Morris, Howell, Posey, Musgrove, Pierce, Blackwell, Ferguson, Craddock, Hancock, Adams, Clark, Collier, Randolph, Eppes, Isham, Banks, Barksdale, etc. The LDS libraries, at least the one here in Richmond, has a substantial set of records that reflect the families that were from Ireland and England who were refugees from the Jacobite rebellion. Most were also aligned with the shipping trade and prospered with both the sugar trade and tobacco trades in the 1600-1700's. They had land in several places at the same time and this makes research confusing, as well as multiple marriages, usually to related lines, and also very large families. I can only say that Quaker was a very convenient religion! The Williamsons were another line related to these, and mine as well. Jeni **Posted by: Bobbie W'mson-Dabbs Ledbetter Date: July 22, 1999 at 14:22:27 Does anyone have any information concerning the Williamsons and their relationship to the Quakers? I do apologize for the length of this entry, but, without copying it, I could not get my point across. I believe my Williamson family, and a great many more, could be from the Williamsons who lived in old Rappahannock, Essex and Richmond Co., Va., in the Colonial days. Also, I believe, if you will read the following, you will find a number of family names that are familiar with the Williamsons in the early days. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything else anywhere that would tell anything about when the Quaker movement from Ireland moved to America. I have copied some information which follows that I found in a book entitled: IRISH AND SCOTCH-IRISH ANCESTRAL RESEARCH "QUAKER RECORDS" "Chapter VII" Starts on Page 412, but my interest is on P. 413. "William Edmundson, founder of the first Friends Meeting in Ireland and one of the most consistent leaders in spreading the faith throughout the country, was born in 1627 at Little MusgroveWestmoreland, England. He was persuaded to the Quaker faith in 1651, through the influence of James Naylor, a disciple of George Fox, after having served in Cromwell's army in Scotland. he followed his brother, John Edmundson, to Ireland in 1653, and settled as a shopkeeper at Antrim. In 1654, he removed to Lurgan, County Armagh, and established the first settled Quaker Meeting, attended by Richard and Anthony Jackson, John Thompson, Richard Fayle, John Edmundson and William Moon. These men and their families removed with William Edmundson to County Cavan, where they all took up land, in 1655. They were joined by other Friends in 1656, namely John Pim, Robert Wardell, William Neale, William Parker, Thomas Lun, Thomas Morris, John Chandley, John Savage, Isabel Acton, and many more. During the period of Commonwealth and the Protectorate, the Quaker faith spread rapidly throughout Ulster, Leinster and Munster. Between 1655 and 1660 the following Ulster Meetings were established: In 1655, at Grange, below Antrim, a Meeting was formed in the home of Gabriel Clark and wife. Archibald Scott opened his house at Toberhead, County Londonderry, for a Meeting. A group consisting of WILLIAM WILLIAMSON , SENIOR and JUNIOR, JOHN WILLIAMSON (Capitalization by me.), Mathew Horner, William Brownlow, Francis and Lawrence Hobson, and Margery Atkinson, formed a Meeting at the home of the latter, near Kilmore, County Tyrone. In 1656, at Belturbet, County Cavan, Robert Wardell and his father, William Parker and wife, and William Morris formed a Meeting. In 1658-1659, a new Meeting at Lisnegarvey (later Lisburn), was formed by George Gregson who built a Meeting-house, and Francis Robson, Roger Webb, Peter Ross, Robert Hoope, and several others. In 1659, a Meeting was established at Lurgan, and in that year William Edmundson with his followers, all removed from County Cavan to settle in and around Mountmelick, in Queen's County. In 1660, a (P. 414) Meeting was established at Charlemont, under the leadership of Robert Turner. Others formed later in Ulster were: Ballynalargey, removed to Balenderry, 1662/3; one near Carrickfergus at this time which was dropped; Coleraine, and Ballynacree near Bllymoney, 1673; Hillsborough, 1682; Coot-hill, 1692; Dunclaudy, at the house of William Henderson in 1692, continued at the widow'suntil 1739; Moyallon, by reason of increase of Lurgan meeting; Ballyhaise, 1695; Letterkenny,1699; Grange, new Meeting-house built by Walter Clark in 1704. Other new Meeting-houses in Ulster were: Antrim, 1707; Balenderry, 1714; one near Rathfryland, County Down, 1722; Castle-sane, County Monaghan, 1723; Newtown, County Down, 1726, at the house of James Bradshaw; Hillsborough, 1748. Etc., etc., etc. " I am sorry this is so long, but there are a number of people that were connected to the Williamsons in the Colonial days of the American counties mentioned above. There was an Edmondson who married a Mary Williamson, sister to William and an Edward Williamson, and a James Webb who also married a Mary Webb, who was the sister to the same Williamsons. (I have the proof for the James Webb and Mary Williamson in old wills that I own.) I believe an Atkinson married into the Williamson family. Also, a HOBSON owned land next to my WILLIAM WILLIAMSON on Bear Creek (Will dated Oct. 1767), which was close to the Neuse River in old Johnston County, which now separates Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Cos. of North Carolina. If I could connect these people, I believe it would go a long way in unraveling the tangled web of Williamsons in North Carolina. I can't seem to find anything in any Quaker web pages that refer to any of these people that I have mentioned. Would anyone have any data on these people? Thanks for taking the time to read all of this information. Bobbie Williamson-Dabbs Ledbetter blsl@ij.net I am sorry this is so long, but there are a number of people that were connected to the Williamsons in the Colonial days of the American counties mentioned above. There was an Edmondson who married a Mary Williamson, sister to William and an Edward Williamson, and a James Webb who also married a Mary Webb, who was the sister to the same Williamsons. (I have the proof for the James Webb and Mary Williamson in old wills that I own.) I believe an Atkinson married into the Williamson family. Also, a HOBSON owned land next to my WILLIAM WILLIAMSON on Bear Creek (Will dated Oct. 1767), which was close to the Neuse River in old Johnston County, which now separates Wayne, Lenoir and Greene Cos. of North Carolina. If I could connect these people, I believe it would go a long way in unraveling the tangled web of Williamsons in North Carolina. I can't seem to find anything in any Quaker web pages that refer to any of these people that I have mentioned. Would anyone have any data on these people? Thanks for taking the time to read all of this information. Bobbie Williamson-Dabbs Ledbetter blsl@ij.net