WILLIAMSON

Reverend Joseph Williamson

Reverend Joseph Williamson  of Bridekirk[i] had three (3) children:

1.       Sir Joseph Williamson , Knight [ii], son of Reverend Joseph Williamson  of Bridekirk; m. Catherine O'Brien Stuart [iii]
2.       Sir John Williamson , Knight ??? [iv], b. 1630.  Sir John purchased the estate of the Duke of Richmond in Kent County, England.  The county seat was named Cobham Hall. 
3.       Possibly Thomas Williamson [v]

Sir Joseph Williamson , Knight

1.  Sir Joseph Williamson , Knight [vi], son of Reverend Joseph Williamson  of Bridekirk, m. Catherine O'Brien Stuart [vii].  No issue by his marriage, he did however have a child by a mistress.

Sir Joseph's biography in the authoritative Dictionary of National Biography states flatly that Sir Joseph  had no children with his wife Catherine O'Brien Stuart .  Indeed he did have a child earlier with his mistress and left considerable property to that son[viii].

Correction:  Joseph purchased the estate of the Duke of Richmond in Kent County, England. I am quite positive about that from having visited Cobham in Kent . 

In addition the nearby town is the location of the Sir Joseph Williamson  Mathematical School, which he endowed[ix].

Sir Joseph Williamson  & his mistress had a (1) son:

·         Mr. Williams on – he was left considerable property by Sir Joseph.

Thomas Williamson

3.  Thomas Williamson , possible son of Reverend Joseph Williamson  of Bridekirk.

Thomas Williamson  had a (1) son:

 3.1.  John Williamson [x], b. 1687, England ; d. 1757.

John Williamson

3.1.  John Williamson , possible great grandson of Reverend Joseph Williamson  of Bridekirk[xi], b. 1687, England; d. 1757; m. Rebecca Chamberlayne  of New Kent Co., VA. 

Upon coming to Virginia , John Williamson  settled opposite of Jamestown .  He named his place Cobham Hall.  He was a great influence in the country.  He was in Henrico, Lunenburg and had descendants in Brunswick County as well.  On 17 Jun 1735 he is shown as a vestryman of Curles Church .  He was an educated man.  He was a surveyor.

According to William Landram Williamson [xii]:  I have a new idea that I should pass along to you.  Actually, if I had to choose, I would still opt for the idea that the first  American -- John , 1687 -1757 -- derived from a collateral relative of  Sir Joseph .  But it just occurred to me yesterday that it is conceivable that John was in fact a son of Sir Joseph.  That scenario would be that Sir Joseph sired a son with, say, some servant girl and then it was decided to get this embarrassing young man out of sight by sending him off to the New World with a sufficient stake to let him set himself up as a landowner.  But -- again -- I don't really take that one on as very likely, just conceivably true.  Actually I do not see much hope of ever finding out for sure.  (In a way it hardly matters much anyway) [xiii].

John  & Rebecca (Chamberlayne) Williamson  had children:

3.1.1.         Thomas Williamson , b. 1718; d. 1757
3.1.2.         Robert Williamson , possible, d. 15 Apr 1726

The Williamson’s of Virginia are descendants of John.

Robert Williamson

3.1.2.  Robert Williamson , is the ancestor of this branch of the family, possible son of John & Rebecca (Chamberlayne) Williamson, d. 15 Apr & was buried 22 Apr 1726, Middlesex County, Virginia; m. 27 Feb 1681/2, Middlesex County, Virginia to Katherine Lewis , d. 22 Apr & was buried 23 Apr 1726, Middlesex County, Virginia.

Robert  & Katherine (Lewis) Williamson  had (7) seven children:

3.1.2.1.    Ffrances Williamson , borne the 21st of Decemb 1682; m. Thomas Stapleton .  
3.1.2.2.    Katherine Williamson , baptz 6th Sept 1685; m. Henery ffollowell, 4 Sept 1711.
3.1.2.3.    Martha Williamson , b. c. 1688.
3.1.2.4.    John Williamson , baptz 30th of August 1691.
3.1.2.5.    Robert Williamson , borne 19th of Janry & Baptz 23rd of ffebr 1695/6; m. prior 1724 to Elizabeth Unknown .
3.1.2.6.    Margaret Williamson , baptz 5 Augt 1694; m. Thomas Stapleton  Augst ye 7, 1718.
3.1.2.7.    Benjamin Williamson , born Aprinl ye 21st & baptz July ye 1st 1704.

Robert Williamson

3.1.2.5.  Robert Williamson , borne 19th of Janry & Baptz 23rd of ffebr 1695/6; m. prior 1724 to Elizabeth Unknown . 

Robert & Elizabeth (Unknown) Williamson  had (2) two children:

3.1.2.5.1.     Elizabeth Williamson , b. Apr ye 6th baptized May 31, 1724.
3.1.2.5.2.     Robert Williamson , b. 17 Nov 1727.

Margaret Williamson

3.1.2.6.  Margaret Williamson , baptz 5 Augt 1694; m. Thomas Stapleton   Augst ye 7, 1718.

Thomas  & Margaret (Williamson) Stapleton  had (1) one known child:

3.1.2.6.1.           Thomas Stapleton  

[i] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu
[ii] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu  states “Sir Joseph's biography in the authoritative Dictionary of National Biography states flatly that Sir Joseph had no children with his wife Catherine O'Brien Stuart .  Indeed he did have a child earlier with his mistress and left considerable property to that son”.
[iii] William Landram Williamson  citing Sir Joseph's biography in the authoritative Dictionary of National Biography
[iv - v] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu
[vi] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu  states “Sir Joseph's biography in the authoritative Dictionary of National Biography states flatly that Sir Joseph had no children with his wife Catherine O'Brien Stuart .  Indeed he did have a child earlier with his mistress and left considerable property to that son”.
[vii] William Landram Williamson  citing Sir Joseph's biography in the authoritative Dictionary of National Biography
[viii - ix] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu
[x - xi] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu - So far, my best hypothesis is that John Williamson 's father might have been named Thomas (based on the fact that the two names were used alternately for several subsequent generations).
[xii - xiii] William Landram Williamson   wlwillia@facstaff.wisc.edu