Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-04-22
CAPT. HENRY VILLLIMS.
BY CALAMUs.

~ We promised to give short histo
- lcal sketch of the gentleman who.
W name heads this article-one of IL
y old patriarchs and Revolutionary HI
- roes of the Emmitsburg District, who's
p eminent worth, heroic struggles an
# patriotic sacrifices endeared him t
! the people among whom he resided.
a Henry Williams was the son {
y John and Mary Williams, who emi
q grated from Chester county, Pennsy]
T. vanla, to this county and State, the
h called the "backwoods parts of Amer
: lea, about the year 1858, and settle,
in the valley Of Flat Run, below En-
mltsburS, about the time the British
Government, then at war with France
was planning expeditions agains
Nova Scotia, Fort Niagara, Crow
Point and Fort Du Quesne, and fiv,
years after Frederick county was or
ganizad.
His parents came from the land oil
William Penn when he was only one
or two years old, when Mr.. William
Patterson, his old friend and neigh
Dor, who knew him WE'LL was quite a
youth. His parents settled in the
Monocacy aad Tom creek valley CO.
temporary with the Reds, Marshalls.
Hughes, Cochrans, Shields, Annans,
Carrcks, Bayarls, Pattcrsons, Mobiles,
porters, Coopcrs, McI<rsSonS and Nc
Mars, &c. who We're among the early
em1grants from Pennsylvania. They
were of Srotch-Irish descent.
Capt Williams first wife was a Miss
Mcdonald, and his second wife was Il
Mrs. Cooper (whoSc maiden name
WAS Wlthcrow) BY his second wife
he had several children, one Of whom
still survives; and is now President of
the Frederick County National Bank
Mr. VIM. Patterson, one of Capt. vii
Hams earliest and warmcsl friends
used to relate that Mrs. Williams (his
first wife,, often came to an old grave
yard in one Of our Pennsylvania fields !
to visit the graves Of her parents
and strcw flowers over their moudor-
ing ashes. 1t was the oldest grave
yard in the settlement of Adams
county, or in this section of country,
except the Elders of Frederick coun-
tv, Md. She was woman Of earnest
religious convictions, frugal and indus.
;rIous in her habits Of mild and be-
n"volont disposition, and greatly be
loved BY her friends and neighhors
md co-rrhgionistS. When she died
She was Inferred in the same cemetery.
As "" have stated before. in l7715,
ipon the breaking ont of The Rcyolu-
loNary War, capt. Williams. then
lU!t" Young man, was fired with q
'atrlotic spirit, anl was el"e,ol "a
lieut.. of capt. Vim. Biair's company.
Who marched to the front at the ear
lest Roll Call from this county and
state. This company was in he Reg ,
men, commanded by Cob. John Eager
Toward When Capt. Blair fell NOR,
ally wounded 1t Brooklyn Heights .
n Long Island, Capt. Williams took
barge Of the "tiamn Cock company t
list Lieut.. llockrrSmith Welding the
aIm TO lleut. Williams, on account !
I his great popularity with the non
commissioned officers and priyatcs of t
is company. He at once took charge =.
t the "brarc boys from Tom : creek
MT led them to many a gallant charge :,
1 doubtful struggles and then to a G.
rowuing victory at Yorktown. where p
ord CORVALLIS gave ny the ghost, {
nd Great Britain gracefully welded =
} Il destiny which She could not pre- \
ont. |
Capt. Williams was member Of the y
'asonic Order, and at an early lav 81
the Revolutionary era cnjovrd the -
lend hip Of Washington and Lafav- y
tc. An aneolote Of these old off IL,
re may be worth repeating. and to' a.
II knowledge has never before found oI
) way into print. when Gen. La f
vctte was in this country in 1924
5, the 50 'iety of Cincinnati in Bal W
more gave him a dinner: and il was -,
freed that each one would. in turn II
late something Of pcrSolaI nature. IN
hen it came t, the turn of General j.,
lafayette. upon the suggestion Of Col. ~
I'm Eager Howard, the anoc,otp m
HIGH he told was happily :lIustra- IA
20 Of ~, ,,,,,,,,,... &C ,.,,.;.,.,. ~