Misc. Notes
This is from a typewritten history of the Williams family that Luella Thompson located.
The descendants believe that the forefathers of the Williams family originally emigrated from England to the United States.
The grand patriarch of the Williams family, Milo F. Williams, was born in Bristol, Vermont on August 27, 1842 and he was the son of Jesse Williams (born about 1804 in Vermont, his occupation was a “bloomer” in the ore mines) and Amanda Pitts Williams (born about 1808 in Vermont. They were married October 2, 1825 in the Town of Tunbridge, Vermont.)
The name of Milo’s first wife is unknown. They had one daughter, Alice M. Williams, and the mother died at childbirth on October 26, 1861.
On May 12, 1866 Milo married a second wife, Paulina C. Burt, who was born April 16, 1847 in Schuyler Falls, New York (on the Salmon River between Peru and Plattsburgh). She was the daughter of Charles Burt (born about 1820 in New York State, a lawyer) and Lucina Roberts Burt (born about 1820 in New York State). At the time of Paulina’s marriage to Milo, her home was on top of a large hill, called Burnt Hill, between Peasleeville and Saranac Hollow.
Milo worked in the ore mines in Jay, New York, as a “hammersman” and “bloomer” to make the ore into wrought iron for the salary of 80 cents a day. He was of slender build, had a red receding hairline, and a fashionable red beard. Milo and Paulina lived on a farm in Jay, New York where several of their children were born. The Williams family moved from Jay, N.Y. to Victory Mills, N.Y. In 1890 so that the older children could work in the cotton mill there. Milo Williams and Jasper Fletcher operated a 5 & 10 cent store in Schuylerville, N.Y. For a short time. Milo worked as a traveling agent around the surrounding territory with a horse and a buggy with a fringe-on-top and he sold Roger’s silverware, rugs, clocks and other household items.
In about 1897 the Williams family moved to Saratoga Springs, New York and lived at 223 Caroline Street, 206 Circular Street, and in the rear of 241 Lake Avenue (between Warren Street and East Avenue -- the third house from East Avenue on the north side of Lake Avenue.) It was at the 241 Lake Avenue home that Milo became ill, and on May 15, 1907, he was admitted to the Utica State Hospital in Utica, New York, where he died on July 9, 1907. The chief cause of death was acute enteritis (which is inflammation of the intestines) for three days, and the contributory cause was senile dementia. The funeral was held at Martin’s Funeral Home, 16 Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York. The remains were taken to Jay, New York for internment in Central Cemetery.
After a daughter, Minnie Williams Fletcher, died in Lake Placid, N.Y. in 1914, Paulina took care of the three Fletcher children as long as she was able. Paulina suffered several slight strokes, recovered from them, and was dressing to go to church when she fell to the floor and died on May 6, 1917 at the age of 70 at the home of a daughter, Nellie Williams White, in Lake Placid, New York. The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage, and the contributory cause of death waws arteriosclerosis. Milo and Paulina are buried in Central Cemetery in Jay, New York. They had 8 daughters and 4 sons:
1. Alice M. (Allie) born October 26, 1861
2. Merritt H. (Mate) born August 6, 1867
3. Eunice J. Born September 17, 1868
4. Martha A. (Mattie, a twin) born February 6, 1872
5. Minerva L. (Minnie, a twin) born February 6, 1872
6. Nellie Estelle born March 12, 1874
7. Willard B. Born March 16, 1876
8. Charlotte May (Lottie) born February 16, 1878
9. Flora E. (Flo) born June 26, 1880
10. Alfred M. Born April 20, 1882
11. Grace P. Born March 15, 1885
12. Jesse Clifford born June 17, 1891
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In 1870, Milo Williams was living in Jay, NY, “works in Forge,” with “Polina,” “Allice,” Mary and Eunice. He had a personal estate worth $200, and said he had been born in New York (I doubt that). He was 28 years old; Paulina was 22, Alice 8, Mary 2, Eunice 1.
29 It is unclear to me whether Mary is a separate female child (listed in 1870 census), or a confusion with Merritt, who would be the right age but appears to be male; right now I’m assuming confusion.
In 1880, Milo Williams was living in the Village of Lower Jay with Paulina, Alice, Meritt [sic], Eunice, Mattie, Minnie, Nellie, Wilard [sic], Hattie, and parents Jesse and Amanda Williams. He was now listed as a farmer. He listed his place of birth as Vermont, his wife and children were all listed as being from New York. Jesse and Amanda were from Vermont.
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