BALLARD PRESTON WILLIAMS b. 1873 Mason Co., WV married SARAH BELLE CASTO b. 1873 Mason Co., WV and d. 1963. Source: LDS Ancestral File We`re hoping to get details on this marriage and the family. Id you`ve something to add to this post, please tell our CASTO list any time you can. Thanks, Colleen Colleen Kitch GuyCol@webtv.net

I would like info on a WILLIAMS married to a BOWNE thanks audrey Bowne Seattle gregbowne@earthlink.net

E.W., thank you for a very complete and informative piece. May I add that there is a still fairly new RootsWeb list for lookups in city directories? You can subscribe via City-Directories-L-request@rootsweb.com or City-Directories-D-request@rootsweb.com. Kurt Pickering La Vergne, TN _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Hi List, I've just joined your list in hopes that someone out there can help me with a big problem. I have 2 girls, Maria (or Mariah)Piscilla Williams and her sistor Harriet Malvina Williams, both were born in Bastrop Co., TX. Maria, b. 17 Oct. 1838, married George King Perkins 17 Aug 1854 in Sequin, Guadalupe Co., TX and died in 12 Aug 1903 in Divine, Medina Co., TX. Harriet b. abt 1842, m. John M. Perkins (brother of Geo. K.) 5 Aug 1857 in Sequin, Gaudalupe Co., TX and died in 1895 in Medina Co., TX. The biggest problem is that I can't find this family in the 1850 census. Harriet Malvina is in the 1850 census in the household of Jessee Halderman, 48, farmer, b. in KY and his wife Harriet, 31 b. in KY. In 1880 census both girls give the birth place of their father as SC and mother as TN. I also have another family of Williams, perhaps they are connected, I don't know. Allison Williams, b. abt 1801 in SC and his wife, Sarah, b. abt 1811 in TN. Sarah died leaving a will that was filed in Comal Co., TX on 27 Jan 1866. George Perkins was administrator and John M. Perkins was surety. Further more George and Maria named one of their sons Allison S. Thanks for reading this rather lengthy query!

4/18/02 I have a mystery and I am hoping there are some new subscribers who may recognize these names. My gggrandmother was named possibly RUTH or RUTH HANNAH WILLIAMS or RUTH HANNA or even another form of RUTH HANNAH, perhaps. She was b 1826 in NJ, but I do not know her parents' names. Her 1st child, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER was b 19 Dec 1846 in LONDON MILLS, FULTON CO, IL. And, as far as I know, she was not married at the time. She did marry ROBERT C BENSON 30 Dec 1851, probably in IL and more than likely in Fulton Co or Knox Co. She passed away in 1909 in IOWA. Does any of this info match any info that someone out there has? I am really at a standstill on this. Be glad to share info w/anyone. TIA, Nancy/IL

All researchers (genealogical and otherwise) should know of the existence of city directories (not telephone directories) of large and medium cities. These are even better--when you can find them--in many cases--than the censuses, as the listing frequently gives the address and name of the employer of the listed person (no age or birthplace). And you will learn a lot about the economics of that place! Some of these directories were published VERY early (as in Lexington, KY) and continued until at least the mid-1950s, and perhaps later for smaller places. Do NOT confuse these directories with telephone directories. Until about the 1940s or so, most people did NOT have telephones unless they were needed for business, etc. Let's explore: One subscriber on the Williams list is looking for a rather recently-deceased person in Pittsburgh, PA. I am fairly SURE that there a series of city directories for Pittsburgh, as I helped a Canadian resident locate her grandmother and parents in a Pittsburgh directory (widow of a glass manufacturer). I found these directories were generally published every two years--R. L. Polk was the usual publisher, it seems. (And directories for counties are excellent for doing English research, although only tradespeople and the gentry are listed.) The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has a number of these US city directories on film and/or fiche, so I would suggest you access the catalog at www.familysearch.org. However, there are not as many as may be wished--as they are rather expensive to purchase, I am told. Type in your locality (place) in the FHL Catalog and as you scroll down the alphabetically arranged topics, look for the word Directories. See if there is a film or a fiche which may be borrowed through your nearby LDS FHC. I know from experience that Salt Lake City does not have many of these, but your nearby large City library may have them, as well may some University libraries. The Los Angeles City Public Library [www.lapl.org] has a large number of these--but they do NOT do research for you. If you cannot find these directories near you or at the FHL in SLC, e-mail me privately, and I will furnish you the name of a geneal. society in so. Calif which MAY do your research--for a fee, of course!!!! (Do you know how much parking costs in downtown Los Angeles--almost as much as airfare to SLC?) Even counties had some of these directories in the 1920s and 1930s--I discovered my in-laws and their parents in a small town because of these county directories. The larger cities in the same county may have had a separate directory from the county directory. While researching in a distant State, I prowled through the city directories in the public library. I found in the back part of the directory (the later ones at least), there was a reverse directory. That is, there was an address list (not a person list, as in the front part of the directory) By looking up a rather unusual surname, I found an address for a 'usual suspect' in the front part of the directory. In the reverse directory at the back, which was arranged by the address (not the name), were some other names of others in the household--his widowed but unemployed mother--who was just the person for whom I was searching--as her deceased husband was my GGmos brother. It even indicated she was widowed. While attending recently a lecture on the 1930 census, I learned that only the Southern States have a Soundex index, and so ALL of us who search the 1930 census with localities outside the South are going to have to learn to use City Directories to at least study the ward maps which most of them contain. Find the book The Source (either edition) and any other "how-to" book on genealogy and see what is listed in the index or the Table of Contents for Directories or City Directories. Once you learn how to use these, you will begin relying on them to find your city folks--and their employers--and so on! And be sure to read the ads--you will learn a lot about that place in that time period. This is a case where you have to teach yourself--by picking up a city directory (which the Library generally calls a hard copy)--or by studying the film/fiche. Good luck to all you who are lucky enough to find a City Directory--listed under Directories in FHLC. E.W.Wallace

Hello Bob Trapp Per your message inquiring about Pidgeon or Pigeon Roost Tennessee here is what I found out. Pidgeon Roost had a post office from 1827 to 1832. It was moved to a commuity called Mt Vista apparently in 1832. It is my understanding that these two locations would have been in what is now Henry County Tennessee which is on the Northern border of Tennessee and Kentucky. I think, but am not sure, that the County seat for Henry County may be Paris, TN. Hope this is of help to you. Ed Pigeon Forge, TN

Brenda Tried to send this to your e-mail address but for some reason message would not go through. Appreciate the time and effort you put forth in looking for my relatives. I realize I didn't give you much to work with. First I don't know very much. Other than what was in my e-mail I can add that the Ella Williams you referenced could not be my grandmother as her birth date corresponds to my adoptive mothers (Cora Edith Williams) birth year. Cora was born May 27, 1895, in Illinois. She died in September 1936 in Troy, Ohio where we lived at that time. My grandmother was probably born late 1870s or early 1880s. Herschel Williams I know even less about. He and Cora were brother and sister but which one was older or younger than the other I don't know. I do know that Herschel was alive in 1936 and 1937 or 1938. He was a shady character having made a fortune during prohibition but continued his illegal activities that eventually put him in prison for a while. I met a fellow who lived here in Pigeon Forge a couple of years ago who was from Anderson, Indiana and he was the one that told me his uncle knew Herschel and thought that he was involved with those rest home enterprizes. He moved and I can't find him. Incidentally, you can tell by the age of my adoptive mother that I am not a teenager. Will be 74 in May. Both of my adoptive parents have been dead for many years. Neither parent ever told me I was adopted and by the time I found out I was all my relatives had passed away. Again thank you for your help. If I can be of any help to you let me know. Ed Pigeon Forge, TN

Hi everyone. I am researching the family of Edward Williams and Agnes Taylor who married in Liverpool in 1830. They had the following children Alice, Mary, Hannah and Edward, 1836, my Gt. grandfather, all baptised at Great Sankey near Warrington Lancashire UK. Edward junior married Ellen Parry the daughter of Thomas and Catherine Parry nee Jones both of whom were born in Anglesey Wales. Edward and Ellen had four children. Hugh, Edward, Ann ( my grandmother ) and John and lived in Widnes Lancashire. Edward was a boatman as was his father. Any connections out there? Regards Barbara.

I am looking for Faith Williams and her brother Jehiel Williams who lived in Lebanon, CT or NY. Faith died 11/2/1842 and was born 1754-1764. Faith married Dyer Sprague and moved to Washington, MA. Can anyone help me find her parents?

Searching for information on Norma Williams who, according to the 1920 census, lived with her aunt Mary Martin in Carnegie, PA. I believe her father's name was Charles. Carol Pittsburgh

Looking for information on Charles Williams. I believe his middle name was Martin. He had family in Pittsburgh in the early 1900s. We aren't sure if he lived here or in Ohio. I also believe he had a daughter named Norma, who in 1920 resided with Mary Martin in Carnegie, PA. Thank you. Carol Harris Pittsburgh

I am searching for information on James Williams and his wife, Elizabeth (believed to be Glover) and also James' son, Thomas P. Williams. James was born around 1805. Thomas was born 1838-39 in Russell County, KY, and married Helen C. Sharp. Thomas Williams applied for a pension in Macon County, MO, for service in the Civil War in the 5th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers. His death certificate shows his date of death October 5, 1915, his father as James Williams and his mother as Betsy Unknown. These people moved from Kentucky to Missouri sometime after the 1860 Russell County, KY census. Does anyone have any information on them? Alene Bradshaw

Are there no researchers in the Anderson area looking for missing ancestors or descendants. I am aware that I am looking for a needle in the haystack since I don't have to much information to work with. I' m looking for my grandmother Ella Russell Williams and uncle Herschel Williams. I know my grandmother was in Anderson in 1941. I believe that my uncle Herschel may have been associated with a rest home or some type senior citizen facility I really need help. I'm hung up and have been for a long time. So please if someone can help me I sure would appreciate it. Ed Pigeon Forge, TN

Try this--and have fun! www.google.com Type in quotation marks "Welsh Neck" Up will come several links to the Welsh Neck Baptist Church in SC - begin. ca 1738 (pretty early!) The confusing thing about SC research--besides lack of records, which they blame on 1) Cornwallis and then 2) Sherman, is that the names of the jurisdictions changed all the time. A lot of the stuff I have accumulated in over 25 years of gathering information on how to do geneal. research is now on the web. You might find some guides to SC research there, particularly on the LDS website: www.familysearch.org Anyway, try this title (of a pamphlet) with google.com and see if there is anything on the web. "The formation of counties in South Carolina" This is the name of a pamphlet I bought ca 1994 from the SC Dept of Archives & History in Columbia. It is full of maps to help you get a handle on what existed (jurisdictions) at various times. If you have any idea that your man was in SC, then you want to get a guide to direct you to what is available in SC for the time period in which you are interested. But if you think your man was in Georgia before going to Florida (which belonged to Spain for a LONG time), then it MAY be easier to search in Georgia (no guarantees!) Again, you might want to enlist the help of your public librarian to find a book (we hope) on the migration of the Welsh to these shores. If you are near a community college, you might have better luck in that library (or in a University library). Williams researchers should tune in here and help you--especially us Williamses who have Southern roots. E.W.Wallace

LLewellen (and variant spellings) almost certainly indicate your Williams was probably directly from Wales. It might be well to try to find a book pertaining to Welsh emigration to this country--even master's theses. Your man may NOT have been of Virginia origin. For instance. there is an area in South Carolina called Welsh Neck. A goodly number went to Pennsylvania, of course, but PA to FL is a long hike!!! At the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, on the British floor, there is a professional associated with the library named Darris Williams (that surname again!). It may be worthwhile placing a telephone call to learn when he may be on duty at the library and then call back when he is there. He is one of two Welsh specialists at the Library. He may be able to give you some pointers as to migration patterns for Welsh people, many of whom were non-conformists (not Church of England) and hence would not fit in nicely in colonial Virginia! Some of us Williams descendants make the error of thinking all Williamses came from Wales--it's a good bet, but unless one can substantiate that fact, I think it is useless to spin our wheels. However, your man's first name is almost a dead giveway as to his origins. Incidentally, my Welsh friend/genealogist tells me that a lot of Welsh names begin with ap [surname], ap meaning son of ... Once in a while, in very early Virginia records, particularly Northern Neck, I have seen such a name. So--look under the a's when scanning an index!!! Happy hunting! E.W.Wallace

I am looking for info on: WILLIAMS, Lewelling aka Lew, Lewellen/Lewellan. b? VA d 1836 in FL Indian War. Married ? Children born in Florida: Nancy b FL d 1872 FL(married James Pendarvis b? d 1867 FL), Mary(married Blanton & Exley), William Sav Williams, Minerva? Lewelling aka Lew, Lewellen/Lewellan was first name used on his records for "Territory of Florida" and Alachua County, FL. Any help would be great. Thank you. Pat kendrick_@webtv.com

Frederick Williams, born 1764 (SC) had 4 sons. Would anyone know if these sons had a son named Jessee, born approx 1816 in Orangeburg district? Thanks for any help. Bonnie

> Association, which has a website at http://www.rogerwilliams.org. > A four or five descendants chart was to be put there soon, but the last time > I checked it wasn't up yet. But keep checking becuase it shouldn't be much > longer.

Does anyone know if there are any websites that deal with the descendants of Roger Williams of Rhode Island? I would like to find some books that would cover at least five generations if not more. Any help most appreciated. Bob Trapp 5th Gr grandson of Asenath Williams and her husband Oliver Woodcock.