Robert Henry Williams1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 485, (1832 - 1906)
FatherWilliam Williams4 ( - abt Dec 1836)
MotherMary Hatcher4 (abt 1810 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 14 Jan 1832, Robertson Co., Tennessee5,6,7
Marriage: 4 Apr 1854, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, Arabella Norfleet (4 Feb 1836 - 24 Jan 1865)8,9
Marriage: 3 Mar 1868, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, Virginia D. Cobb (20 Jun 1847 - 11 Nov 1921)10,11
Death: 9 Jun 1906, South Main St., Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania12,13
Burial: 11 Jun 1906, Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania14,3
ChartsDescendants of Gideon Cobb

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Robert Henry Williams was born on 14 Jan 1832 in Robertson Co., Tennessee.5,6,7
     His father died about Dec 1836, when Robert was about four years old.15
     He has not been found in the 1850 census, when he would have been 18. He was not with his mother, who had re-married by then, nor with anyone else.16
     Robert married first Arabella Norfleet, daughter of Starkie S. Norfleet and Nancy W. Parker, on 4 Apr 1854 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.8,9 Robert and Arabella Norfleet appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 18 Jun 1860, reporting real estate valued at $10,000 and personal estate of $9,000. Their children Starkey, Eva and Thomas were listed as living with them, as were three clerks, Thomas Finley, age 21, J. S. Pendergrass, age 23, and T. S. Waters, age 25. There were also seven slaves, five males and two females, housed in two slave houses.17,18
     His wife died on 24 Jan 1865.19,20
     Robert married second Virginia D. Cobb, daughter of Dr. Joshua Cobb and Marina Turner Bryan, on 3 Mar 1868 in Montgomery Co., Tennessee.10,11
     Robert and Virginia lived in Dickson Co. for a time after their marriage before moving back to Clarksville. They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of White Bluff, Dickson Co., Tennessee, enumerated 18 Aug 1870, reporting real estate valued at $20,000 and personal estate of $8,000. Their children Edwin and Lillian were listed as living with them, as were his children by his previous marriage, Starkey, Eva, Thomas and Robert, as was T. A. Turner, age 30, a farm worker.21
     Robert ran for Montgomery Co. County Court Clerk in the 1 Aug 1878 election in a field of four candidates. He was defeated, winning only 373 of 4,865 votes cast.22
     Robert and Virginia returned to Montgomery Co. before 1880. They appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Montgomery Co., Tennessee, enumerated 14 Jun 1880. Their children Edwin and Lillian were listed as living with them, as was Buter T. Peagram, a 39-year-old female boarder.23
     He was a prosperous farmer, then became a real estate agent in Clarksville by 1880.24,25,26,27
     Robert was elected as City Marshall of Clarksville on 5 Jun 1882, to fill the unexpired term of the late R. B. Walthal. He was selected by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen over four other candidates. The position was described as the most responsible and best paying office in the city.28,29
     Robert and Virginia and their two daughters moved to Montrose, Pennsylvania, about 1898, about the same time her sister Sallie and her son did. Their sister Marina and her husband had been living there since their marriage.30,31
     Robert and Virginia appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania, on Maple St., enumerated 16 Jun 1900, reporting they were renting their home. Their children Lillian and Anna were listed as living with them, Her sister, Sallie West Cobb, was listed as living in the same building.2
     Robert also appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Manhattan, New York Co., New York, in the household of Edwin Cobb Williams, his son, as was his daughter Anna. He was apparently spending a substantial amount of time in Manhattan, and she was attending school there.32
     Robert and his sister-in-law Sallie West Cobb were both listed as landlords in the 1900 census in Pennsylvania. Since their families shared the same home, we might suspect they were in business together. However the extent of his involvement is questionable, as he was also listed as living with his son in Manhattan, where his occupation was shown as retired.2,33,34
     Robert died on 9 Jun 1906 at his home on South Main St., Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania, at age 74.12,13 He was buried on 11 Jun 1906 in Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania, next to his wife.14,3

Children:
     Children with Arabella Norfleet:

  • Starkey Norfleet Williams35,36 (1855 - 1875)
  • Eva Henry Williams37,35,38 (abt 1857 - 6 Jan 1911)
  • Thomas McCulloch Williams39,35,36 (abt Jan 1860 - 24 Oct 1908)
  • Robert Mosley Williams40,36 (1865 - 1910)

Children:
     Children with Virginia D. Cobb:

Citations

  1. [S9992] Robert Henry Williams obituary, The Montrose Democrat.
  2. [S969] Robert H. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania.
  3. [S3295] Robert H. Williams tombstone, Montrose Cemetery.
  4. [S5372] Robert H. Williams, Certificate of Death.
  5. [S3329] R. H. Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows age 28 and state.
  6. [S969] Robert H. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania, shows month, year, age 68, and state.
  7. [S9992] Robert Henry Williams obituary, The Montrose Democrat, shows date, county, cand state.
  8. [S3327] Robert Williams and Arabella Norfleet, marriage register, shows date.
  9. [S3329] R. H. Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  10. [S2983] "Tennessee Marriages, 1796-1950," FamilySearch.org, record for R. H. Williams and Jennie D. Cobb, citing FHL #321021, shows date, county, and state.
  11. [S969] Robert H. Williams household, 1900 U.S. Census, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania, shows married, 32 years.
  12. [S9992] Robert Henry Williams obituary, The Montrose Democrat, shows date, at his home, street, and town.
  13. [S5372] Robert H. Williams, Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and state.
  14. [S5372] Robert H. Williams, Certificate of Death, shows date, and city.
  15. [S8704] Will Books, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, G:490-1, bond of Mary Williiams, administrator for William H. Williiams,.
  16. [S9996] James M. Wilson household, 1850 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows his mother with her new husband, James M. Wilson, and their two children.
  17. [S3329] R. H. Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  18. [S3330] R. H. Williams, owner, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, slave schedule.
  19. [S3328] Montgomery County Historical Society, Montgomery County, Tennessee Family History, pg 269.
  20. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, "Riverview Cemetery," shows date as "Jan.24, ????"
  21. [S3332] R. H. Williams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dickson Co., Tennessee.
  22. [S9995] "The Result," Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, 3 Aug 1878.
  23. [S2527] R. H. Williams household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee.
  24. [S3329] R. H. Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as farmer.
  25. [S3332] R. H. Williams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dickson Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as farmer.
  26. [S2527] R. H. Williams household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as real estate agent.
  27. [S3324] "Clarksville, Tennessee City Directory, 1895," Ancestry.com, record for R. H. Williams, shows occupation as real estate agt.
  28. [S9994] "Municipal Matters," Clarksville Weekly Chronicle, 10 Jun 1882.
  29. [S645] Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, pg 268, shows he was city marshall.
  30. [S3324] "Clarksville, Tennessee City Directory, 1895," Ancestry.com, record for R. H. Williams, shows him and wife Jennie G in Clarksville.
  31. [S10016] Jennie Williams obituary, Montrose Democrat, shows she and family moved from Tennessee 23 years before.
  32. [S3326] William H. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, New York Co., New York.
  33. [S1639] Sallie Stewart household, 1900 U.S. Census, Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania.
  34. [S3326] William H. Cobb household, 1900 U.S. Census, New York Co., New York, shows him as retired.
  35. [S3329] R. H. Williams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montgomery Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  36. [S3332] R. H. Williams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dickson Co., Tennessee, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  37. [S3331] "New York Marriages, 1686-1980," FamilySearch.org, citing FHL #1570331.
  38. [S7616] "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," FamilySearch.org, record for Eva W. Howard, citing cert. no. 824.
  39. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, "Men Folk 201-400," citing Daily Leaf Chronicle.
  40. [S944] Davis, Folk Finders, "Riverview Cemetery."
  41. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Lillian Williams Sprout, shows father's surname as Williams.
  42. [S3331] "New York Marriages, 1686-1980," FamilySearch.org, record for Edward Valentine Goerz and Anna Maria Williams, citing FHL#1556932.