A Baker’s Dozen (Thirteen Children)
Sarah
and William were far more fortunate in rearing healthy children than most
families who lived before the age of modern medicine. Disease, accidents,
infection, lack of medical care and even poor nutrition left more than one
empty chair at the table of nearly every family at the turn of the nineteenth
century. Against those odds, the McWilliams raised thirteen children who lived
to adulthood.
Sarah
and William were undoubtedly devoted and caring parents who sacrificed the time
and energy necessary to nurture their large family. Sarah dedicated twenty-six
years of her life to childbearing, welcoming a new infant every two or three
years between 1771 and 1797. She must have worked from sunrise to sunset to
provide food and clothing for her growing brood.
Details
about the lives of some of their children have proven to be elusive. The
following information about their offspring is as accurate as possible based on
limited documentation.[i]
 |
| Hannah McWilliams Black Headstone |
Hannah – born October 3, 1771; died July 12, 1847.
Hannah married John Black and resided in Derry Township, Montour County, PA. Hannah
had at least one son, William Renolds, who was named in her father’s will.
Hannah was buried in Chillisquaque Cemetery. Her tombstone was inscribed “IN
MEMORY OF HANNAH BLACK, Wife of John Black who died July 12th, 1847.
aged 76 years 10 mo. & 6 d.”
James – born September 27, 1773; death date
unknown. James was one of the executors of his father’s estate. Neither a wife nor
children were located.
Thomas McWilliams Headstone
Thomas – born January 30, 1775; died January 20,
1833, just a few days before his 58th birthday. Thomas joined James
as an executor of William’s estate. Thomas married Elizabeth Davis, the
daughter of one of the McWilliams’ neighbors. They raised a large family, but
the number of children was not determined. Thomas and Elizabeth were also
buried in Chillisquaque Cemetery. His headstone was inscribed, “THOMAS
McWILLIAMS DIED Jan. 20, 1833 AGED 57 yr. 11 mo. & 20 d.”
Mary Agnes – born October 3, 1777; died about 1821. Mary
wed Benjamin Crusen, who was related to her brother John McWilliams’ wife, Mariah.
Mary may have had a daughter named Jane, and her father mentioned “her
children” in his will. Her burial place was not located.
Eleanor McWilliams Scout
Eleanor- born February 3, 1780; died January 1, 1861,
at age 80. Eleanor married John Scout and had three daughters. She raised her
daughters alone after her husband died in 1826 when her girls were ages 8, 5
and 4. Her tombstone in Oak Grove United Methodist Cemetery in Paxinos, PA, was
inscribed, “Our Mother Eleanor Wife of John Scout b. 1780 d. 1/9/1861.”
William McWilliams Jr. Headstone
William Jr. – born April 21, 1782; died November 21,
1853. William married Eleanor M. Cemore (or Cemunn). They raised a large family
in nearby Delaware Township. William, Eleanor and some of their children are
buried in Warrior Run Church Cemetery. The inscription on William’s monument is
faded but appears to read, “In memory of WILLIAM McWILLIAMS, who departed this
life Nov. 21, 1853. He was 72 years of his age.”
John McWilliams Headstone
John – born June 28, 1784; died July 30, 1849.
John married Mariah Cruiser. He had a family of eight children. He, Mariah and
several of their children were buried in Chillisquaque Cemetery. His headstone was
inscribed “IN Memory of JOHN McWILLIAMS who was born June 28, 1784. Died July
30, 1849. Aged 65 Years 1 Month & 2 Days.” (John is my third
great-grandfather.)
Samuel B. McWilliams Headstone
Samuel B. – born August 13, 1786; died July 19, 1867, less than a month before his 81st birthday. Samuel married Margaret Hershberger. They had at least twelve children. Samuel left Pennsylvania around 1815 and settled in Ohio. He and Margaret were buried in the Old Burying Ground Cemetery in Greenfield, Highland County, OH. His tombstone reads, “SAM McWILLIAMS Born in Northumberland Co. Pa. Aug. 13, 1786, DIED July 19, 1867, aged 80 yrs 11 mos. 6 ds.”
Phillip McWilliams
Phillip McWilliams Headstone
Phillip – born October 21, 1788; died November 25,
1875, at age 87. Like his brother Samuel, he went to Ohio in 1815. Apparently,
Phillip was well-educated, as he was employed as a school teacher in both
Pennsylvania and Ohio before becoming a full-time farmer. He married Eleanor
Murray Collier on July 6, 1815 in Ohio. They had twelve children. Phillip was a
founding member of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenfield and served 53
years as a ruling elder in the congregation.[ii] He,
Eleanor and several of their children were buried in the Old Burying Ground in
Greenfield, Highland County, OH. His gravestone was inscribed, “McWILLIAMS
PHILLIP McWILLIAMS Oct. 21, 1788 Nov. 25, 1875 Son of William & Sarah BORN
IN NORTHUMBERLAND CO. PA.” He was the only child whose photograph has been
found.
David McWilliams Headstone
David – born January 19, 1791; died July 2, 1856.
David married Jane Craig (sister of Margaret who married Robert.) They settled in nearby Elysburg. He, Jane and several
of their nine children were buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Elysburg,
Northumberland County, PA. His extremely weathered tombstone appears to read,
“DAVID McWILLIAMS Born Northumberland Pa. Jan. 19, 1791 Died July 2, 1856 Aged
65 Years 6 months (illegible)”
Robert N. McWilliams Headstone
Robert N. (may have been “N” for Nichol) – born
February 3, 1793; died September 27, 1857, at age 64. Robert married Margaret
Craig (sister of Jane who married David) and settled in Elysburg. He, Margaret and some of their six children were
buried in Pine Hill Cemetery in Elysburg, Northumberland County, PA. The
tombstone he shares with his wife and daughter was engraved, “McWILLIAMS ROBERT
N. 1793—1857”
Sarah Johnston McWilliams Shipman Headstone
Sarah Johnston – born March 25, 1795; died September 10,
1868. Sarah married Jacob Shipman. She spent her entire life in Northumberland
County and was buried in Oak Grove United Methodist Cemetery in Paxinos, PA. She
had at least one child and several step-children. The writing on her headstone was
difficult to decipher, but appeared to say, “SARAH J. SHIPMAN died September
10, 1868 AGED 76 years, 6 mo. & 15 d.” An additional sentence is partially
buried from settling of the stone and is unreadable.
Joseph Watt – born June 17, 1797; died about 1855 in
Marion County, IA. Joseph followed two of his older brothers to Ohio and married
Jane Elwood in Highland County on August 16, 1825. After spending many years in
Ohio, he moved his family to the Iowa frontier in Marion County by 1847. He and
Jane were the parents of nine children. His grave was not located.
[i] Headstone photographs, dates of birth and death;
accessed at www.findagrave.com and Floyd, J.L. & Co., Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County
Pennsylvania, Chicago, IL, J.L. Floyd & Co., 1911, p. 224, William
McWilliams; accessed https://archive.org
[ii]
Collier, Rutherford, Newspaper Clipping found in a private Collier Journal
1899, owned by Alan Collier Todd, location unknown; accessed www.ancestry.com
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