1. WILLIAM-

William was at Oyster River, NH before 1646. He had a grant of 20 acres 24 Aug. 1651 bounded by John Bickford and Ambrose Gibbons "from William Williams his house to the next creek westward and from his house to the eastward eight rods."(14) William was made a freeman in 1655.

"August the 21^st 1655...the grand Jury Do present philip Chesly for Disorderly living with his wiffe in Calling god to witnes that he would never have any more sosiety with hir with many other vowes: witness william Roberts & william williams... william williams atendance 2 days 00-04-0".(16)

William appears in the rate list for the first time in 1657.(12)

"May 7^th 1657

A Jurie beinge sworne to inquire into the death of Robert Champion... william williams... wee the aforesaid Jurie finde that Robert Champion was drowned by accidente.

A Jurie beinge sworne to inquire into the death of George Branson & apoynted to veiw his corps, whoe died... william williams... wee the aforesaid Jurie havinge searched the bodie of George Branson doe finde by the testimonie of John Alt that Branson went well out of his house, and hee went after him, & found branson liinge one the grounde and crying the bull had dilled mee: with one wounde up towards his shoulders, and another athawrt the small of his backe; w^th his members brooke all w^ch wee aprehend was the cause of his death: Edward Shaw wittnessinge the same w^th John Alt:

"The depostition of ffreeborne Balch aged 23 years

This deponent saith that hee beinge att oyster river to see some masts to bee turned into the water, that Henrie Thorner orderinge the workemen what to doe: & they accordinge to his word turninge the formost mast w^ch lay before the other mast, the formost mast beinge removed & hee beinge upon the other mast, they turninge after cast him off, & run upon him, & soe brused him w^ch was the cause of his death & further saith not...

"wee whose names are under written beinge cald togeather & pannild a Jury by Phillop Chesley Constable of Dovor to vew & take notis of y^e soden death of Thomas Canyda, doe fine & declare as ffolloweth

That y^e sayd Thomas Canyda accordinge to our understandinges was killd by a tree neare to y^e house of Thomas Humfres, y^e tree beinge found uppon him, & was forced to be cutt before he could be got from under it, & this we judge was y^e cause of his death witnes our handes 26:10:60 [26 Dec. 1660]... willm willyams".(27)

He was chosen constable between 1657 & 1663, however: "At a Court held at Dover the 30^th of June 1657... william williams chosen constable for oyster river hee refusinge the office is fined 40s by the courte".(18)

On 6 Apr. 1659 John Goddard sold to William Williams Sr., 40 acres on the south side of Oyster River "butting upon a creek commonly called Stimpsons Creek, which was John Pillions with ye necke of land w^ch lyes betweene Stoney Brooke & the Meeting house Lott." William and Agnes sold this lot on 18 June 1674 to Joseph Field.(13)

"Oyster River provition Rate maed the 22:9::59... William Williams, sin 1-5-8 Rate 2-11-4."(2)

William had a grant of five acres in 1660 and one of 100 acres in 1662.(3)

At the October court 1659 William Williams Sen was one of the people convicted for not "going to meeting".(28) Also in 1660 he was fined for being absent from meeting perhaps because he was attending the Quaker meetings.(4)

"We whose names are hereunder written being chosen by the Town of Dover are appointed by their order to hear and determine all such differences as appear betwixt the inhabitants of the two thirds of the Town of Dover and the one third of the town in Oyster River, do conclude at present as followeth, that is to say:

1ly. That from the first of April 1657 and so forward from year to year it is hereby mutually agreed upon that the neighborhood of Oyster River shall enjoy full right and interest of twenty pounds out of the rents of the town to be from Lamperill River grant rent performed, as also two penny rate rising from within themselves, both which twenty pounds and two penny rate is for the supply of the ministry within themselves and to be ordered by themselves for the end expressed.

2ly. It is agreed and determined that the said neighborhood shall have liberty from time to time to make choice of a minstrey for their accommodation, provided that they have the approbation of the said town or any three adjacent Elders.

3ly. That in case the neighborhood of Oyster River shall be without a ministrey above four months they shall return the twenty pounds abovesaid unto the common treasury with proportionable contribution, they of Dover doing the like to them in proportion in the like case, and this mutually to be done so long as there is defects of either side.

4ly. It is ordered for the minstrey of Dover Neck there is set apart fifty five pounds of town rents with the two-penny rate upon all the inhabitants, except Oyster River is set apart for the minstrey thtere, and in case this do not make up the salary, then to be made up by a rate upon the said inhabitants, Bloody Point excepted only paying the two penny rate.

6ly. It is agreed that the house of Mr. Valentine Hill which is his now dwelling house at Rocky Point shall be within the line of division to Oyster River.

Witness our hands this 17th of July 1660.

Valentine Hill, Richard Waldron
William Wentworth, Ralph Hall
Richard Otis, William Furber
John Davis, Robert Burnham
William Williams, William Roberts".(29)

"Oyster River 3d Raet. 4:9 mo. in ye yeir 61... William Willyams sinyer 2-2-0 Rate 1-5-8."(5)

y^e Complaint of william williams of Oyster River seanior given into ye grand Jury upon Oath to send attach^t to bring you to next court protsmoth".(21)

"Ann pitman being Som'oned to this Court to answ^r to her p^rsentm^t for makeing or endeavouring to make disturbance & difference in wm williams his famyly, her husband appearing before this Court to answer confest the same in her behalfe This Court senence her to pay a fine of 5s & to pay the Constable Tho Nock 2s for som'ons him & 3s for som'ons of 3 witnesses & fees Court 2s 6d w^ch he wm pitman engaged to pay"(22)

"Provition Rate made the 19th of the 9th month (1662) apon the inhabitants in Oyster River at a penny apon the pound... William Wilyams sinyer 0-13-4."(6)

"W^m Williams sen^r of Oyster River p^rsented for not coming to meeting for severall mo The Court finds 8 dayes: & sentence him to pay fortie shillings fine & ffees of Court 30s.

Ann y^e wife of patrick Denmark for fighting & Scuffling with phillip chesley two severall times owned & proved: sentence of Court is to be whiped to the number of 5 stripes or pay a fine of 10s & fees 2s 6d

This Court being informed by the Constable of oister River that William pitman was distempered with drinke & for abusing patrick Denmarkes wife & causing strife proved Sentence to pay a fine of 8s 4d & fees 2s 6d

phillip Chesley being bound in a bond of 20^l at the Last court held at protsmo & to appear at this Court to take of his bond of 20^l in Keeping the peace, between w^ch two sayd Courts this Court being informed that s^d chesly hath been fighting & Scuffelling with patrick Denmarkes wife This Court Judg him to have broken his bond & it further appearing by sufficient proof that s^d Chesley hath broken the Law by swearing and Cursing severall times sentence him to pay a fine of 20s & fees 30s & forthe with to pay 50s of y^e forfiture of his bond, & the rest respetted untill next Court held at portsmo...

"Oyster River Provetion Rate made throwe the hole towneship ye 7th 10th month 1663... William willyams siney 0-12-1."(7)

In 1665 William was granted another 20 acres of land: "to be joined to his house loot bounded twelve pooll by the water side next to the meeting house and the rest adjoining to his former loot backwards."(14)

Ann the wife of patrick Denmarke, and Ann the wife of Wm pitman for fighting & scuffline & Raling on against another being owned them are sentenced to set in the stockes one houre both of them with a paper pined on their brests with their faults written therein in Capitall Letters on sum publique day, Capt Walden to se the execution of this sentence performed & pay fees court 2s 6d apeece

"A Provetion Rate maed the 2d 10th mo. 1666 for Mr. Raynes at a penny in the pound throwe the hole towneship... Oyster River... William willyams sinyer 0-12-4."(8)

In 1667 Naomi Hull was in court for a misdemeanor. She was sheltered in the time of her sore distress by William Williams, who was next neighbor to Rev. Joseph Hull when he was minister at Oyster River a few years prior. On 17 Sept. 1668 it was ordered at the Dover Town Meeting that the "Constable take William Williams sinyer by way of distress the som of nineteen shillings for a fine for a Breach of Town order for entertaining Naomi hull."(9)

In 1669 John Bickford deposed that "about four and twenty years agoe or there about naomy hulls father and mother they went for England: and left theyer Children to the wid wilderness: and Left them very young and wear not tutred as they ought to have been.(10)

John Church of Dover was granted 60 acres on condition that he take Naomi's child and keep her until she reached age 20. Peter Coffin had a grant "in consideration of what charge I have been out unto John Church concerning the child of Naomi Hull, as by the record bearing date y^e fifth of March in y^e year 1667".(11)

L^t peter Coffin assign to Wm Wms sen^r p^l ag^t Steven Jones & Jos: ffeild def^te in an acc'on of debt due by bill to y^e vallue of 50 pownds with due damages."(25)

"At a Countie Court held in portsmo y^e 27^th of June 1676...

The Comisson^rs of Dover & portsmo in march Last [see NHSP p. 417] having Granted Administrac'on to y^e estate of Wm Roberts deceased unto Wm ffollett Wm Williams Sen^r Wm Williams Jun^r James Bunker & Richard Oates, all w^ch persons refusing to accept save only Ric: Oates, wherefore This Court grants administrac'on on to y^e s^d roberts his estate unto y^e s^d Rich: Oates alone & binds him in a bond of 200^l ster^l..."(26) One has to wonder why the Williams and James Bunker refused to serve as administrators.

Later in life William went to live with Samuel Hill and Elizabeth. On 23 Mar. 1686 William and Mary, and Samuel and Elizabeth Hill sold to Stephen Jenkins of Kittery land "on which the aforesaid William Williams now liveth, containing fforty acres as it is bounded between the lands called Roberts his Land on the North west and the High way or the Ministers Lot on the South east, and butting upon Oyster River."(15) William's home was near the river bank, 20 rods west of the parsonage lot. The cellar hole was destroyed later by the building of the brickyard there.

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