Individual Details
Joseph Absolum Williamson
(Abt, 1808 - November 21, 1886)
1850 Newton County, Mississippi census, Dwelling/family #353/353: Absalom WILLIAMSON, 42, m, farmer, 200, SC, cannot read or write; Theresa WILLIAMSON, 42, SC; Joseph WILLIAMSON, 23, m, w, SC, blind, cannot read or write; Henry WILLIAMSON, 21, m, w, SC; William WILLIAMSON, 13, m, Ala; Jane WILLIAMSON, 16, f, w, SC; John WILLIAMSON, 9, m, Ala; Caroline WILLIAMSON, 11, f, w, Ala; Charles WILLIAMSON, 7, m, Geo; Gaberiel WILLIAMSON, 1, m, Miss; Elizabeth WILLIAMSON, 4, f, Miss; Theresa WILLIAMSON, 4/12, f, Miss.
"I was with Cousin Joseph Berry Williamson yesterday from about 10:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. This man is a good man, a good citizen, one who has worked very hard and reared a good civic respectable family. Coz is about 88 years old and does not give too much information on family; he does not recollect or else never know too much about family history. Absolum Williamson, died in about 1883 in Texas, at about 80 years of age. He was born in Lexington County, South Carolina, between 1800 and 1804. He was about 6'0" to 6'2" height, weighed about 200 pounds and was of a friendly, gentle and kind disposition, says he was a civilized gentleman. His wife, Thursa Ann Martin Williamson, died about 1880 and was buried in Liberty Cemetery at Liberty Church, Newton County, Mississippi. She was a small woman, born in Georgia and Coz recollects her brother Nick visiting with them about 80 years ago. She was a real fine lady. Katie Williamson, sister of Absolum born about 1810, Lexington County, South Carolina, wed Ike Chaney. Gabrel Martin Williamson, youngest son of Absolum and Teresa, and father of Joseph Berry Williamson, other in order of age include: James Dudley Williamson, Julie Williamson (Smith), Harrett Williamson (Estes), Joseph Berry Williamson, Laura Williamson (Scott), Armetta Williamson (Strahan), Marvin Martin Williamson, and William David Williamson. Absolum and Thursa Ann, sons, daughters, he recollects: William Williamson, John Williamson, Charles Williamson (my grandfather), Gabrel Williamson, Jane Williamson (McMullan), Caroline Williamson (Drew), Katie Katherene Williamson (Chaney). This writer recollects Charles Cagle Williamson, died at about 72 years, blind right eye casualty of Civil War, a good and gentle man, very intelligent, social, of small statute. Gabrel, a large man and high temper." (William A. Williamson from an interview with Joseph Berry Williamson, written November 29, 1963.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: It appears that Katie Williamson may be duplicated in the two generations, as both married a Chaney; and there is not a daughter of Absolum Williamson, named Katie or Katherene or Lena shown in any of the census records.)
"C. or J. Absolum Williamson was probably born at, or near, Williamson Bridge, south of Lexington, South Carolina. Daddy always insisted that his Great Grandfather was named Columbus Absolum Williamson. Others think his name was J. Absolum Williamson. His parents probably came from North Carolina. They settled at William Bridge, south of Lexington, South Carolina. At Williamson Bridge there was a water powered millery where grain was processed, etc. It is probable Absolum had large holdings in the tobacco industry at one time. He traded part of these holdings for oxen, horses, cattle, wagons, etc.; the remainder was either outright stolen or lost by manipulation. Uncle Tom Williamson was the last person to seek legal relief in this matter, that I know of. Absolum was in all likelihood of Dutch or Dutch-German nationality. We feel his father's name was Charles Williamson, born about 1780 to 1785. Absolum was born about 1809 and died about 1883 in San Saba County, Texas, or on the Rio Grande near San Antonio, we think. Absolum left South Carolina headed west by was of LaGrange, Georgia where he married Thurssay (Teresa) Ann Martin. She had one brother, Nicholis Martin. Nicholis was at one time campaign manager for a candidate seeking the presidency of the United States, I am told. Some 100 years ago he visited Absolum and Teresa at their home between Duffee and Little Rock, Mississippi. Absolum and Teresa had 12 or more children. One of the children was retarded, probaly a high Mongoloid." (William A. Williamson, Greenville, Mississippi, 30 December 1978.)
"(J.) Absalom Williamson was born in 1808 at Williamson Mills, located in Lexington County, South Carolina, approximately 8 miles north of the junction of Cedar Creek and the North Fork of the Edisto River. Absalom, at age 18 made his way to perhaps visit relatives at the settlement of Williamson, Georgia, located 12 miles west of Griffin, Pike County, Georgia and 28 miles east of Lutherville, Meriwether County, Georgia, which at that time was Indian Territory. Absalom married Thurssay Ann Martin, daughter of, I believe, William D. Martin. (Another account from Bobby Crocker gives the marriage place for Joseph Absalom Williamson and Thursay Ann Martin at Luthersville, which is in Meriwether County, Georgia.) Absalom and his bride returned to Williamson Mills, South Carolina. Absalom and family then moved to Lutherville, Georgia for a short period where Charles was born in 1843. Absalom and family then moved to Newton County, Mississippi, where Elizabeth, Gaberel and Thurssay (Theresa) were born. Absalom departed from Newton County, Mississippi to visit relatives in Texas, never to return. It is believed he died in San Saba County, Texas." (Bobby D. Crocker, 324 Woodrun Drive, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157-2503; tele: 601-856-2767, 1995. 1999 email: bdcrocker@aol.com>.)
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Much of the information about the descendants of Absolum Williamson was sent by William A. Williamson. Some additional information is from Bobby Crocker. Some lists of children of Absolum Williamson, from William A. Williamson, show a Lena and some show a Katie Katherene. Neither are on the 1850 census. It appears that there was no child of Absolum named Lena or Katie, but this person was confused with Absolum's sister, Katie.)
"Through family history, it is said Joseph Absalum Williamson departed Newton County, Mississippi in the late 1880's to visit relatives who did live in San Saba County, Texas and the San Antonio area, where he died. However Joseph had younger sister Harriett (Shannon) Williamson Houston, who lived in Independence County, Arkansas at that time. He may have made stop to visit Harriett and died in Arkansas. At this time I have not been successful in locating his burial site. Joseph Absalum and his brother David C. Williamson, were administrators of the estate of their father Charles Williamson who died November 10, 1842." (Bobby Crocker.)
"I was with Cousin Joseph Berry Williamson yesterday from about 10:30 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. This man is a good man, a good citizen, one who has worked very hard and reared a good civic respectable family. Coz is about 88 years old and does not give too much information on family; he does not recollect or else never know too much about family history. Absolum Williamson, died in about 1883 in Texas, at about 80 years of age. He was born in Lexington County, South Carolina, between 1800 and 1804. He was about 6'0" to 6'2" height, weighed about 200 pounds and was of a friendly, gentle and kind disposition, says he was a civilized gentleman. His wife, Thursa Ann Martin Williamson, died about 1880 and was buried in Liberty Cemetery at Liberty Church, Newton County, Mississippi. She was a small woman, born in Georgia and Coz recollects her brother Nick visiting with them about 80 years ago. She was a real fine lady. Katie Williamson, sister of Absolum born about 1810, Lexington County, South Carolina, wed Ike Chaney. Gabrel Martin Williamson, youngest son of Absolum and Teresa, and father of Joseph Berry Williamson, other in order of age include: James Dudley Williamson, Julie Williamson (Smith), Harrett Williamson (Estes), Joseph Berry Williamson, Laura Williamson (Scott), Armetta Williamson (Strahan), Marvin Martin Williamson, and William David Williamson. Absolum and Thursa Ann, sons, daughters, he recollects: William Williamson, John Williamson, Charles Williamson (my grandfather), Gabrel Williamson, Jane Williamson (McMullan), Caroline Williamson (Drew), Katie Katherene Williamson (Chaney). This writer recollects Charles Cagle Williamson, died at about 72 years, blind right eye casualty of Civil War, a good and gentle man, very intelligent, social, of small statute. Gabrel, a large man and high temper." (William A. Williamson from an interview with Joseph Berry Williamson, written November 29, 1963.) (NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: It appears that Katie Williamson may be duplicated in the two generations, as both married a Chaney; and there is not a daughter of Absolum Williamson, named Katie or Katherene or Lena shown in any of the census records.)
"C. or J. Absolum Williamson was probably born at, or near, Williamson Bridge, south of Lexington, South Carolina. Daddy always insisted that his Great Grandfather was named Columbus Absolum Williamson. Others think his name was J. Absolum Williamson. His parents probably came from North Carolina. They settled at William Bridge, south of Lexington, South Carolina. At Williamson Bridge there was a water powered millery where grain was processed, etc. It is probable Absolum had large holdings in the tobacco industry at one time. He traded part of these holdings for oxen, horses, cattle, wagons, etc.; the remainder was either outright stolen or lost by manipulation. Uncle Tom Williamson was the last person to seek legal relief in this matter, that I know of. Absolum was in all likelihood of Dutch or Dutch-German nationality. We feel his father's name was Charles Williamson, born about 1780 to 1785. Absolum was born about 1809 and died about 1883 in San Saba County, Texas, or on the Rio Grande near San Antonio, we think. Absolum left South Carolina headed west by was of LaGrange, Georgia where he married Thurssay (Teresa) Ann Martin. She had one brother, Nicholis Martin. Nicholis was at one time campaign manager for a candidate seeking the presidency of the United States, I am told. Some 100 years ago he visited Absolum and Teresa at their home between Duffee and Little Rock, Mississippi. Absolum and Teresa had 12 or more children. One of the children was retarded, probaly a high Mongoloid." (William A. Williamson, Greenville, Mississippi, 30 December 1978.)
"(J.) Absalom Williamson was born in 1808 at Williamson Mills, located in Lexington County, South Carolina, approximately 8 miles north of the junction of Cedar Creek and the North Fork of the Edisto River. Absalom, at age 18 made his way to perhaps visit relatives at the settlement of Williamson, Georgia, located 12 miles west of Griffin, Pike County, Georgia and 28 miles east of Lutherville, Meriwether County, Georgia, which at that time was Indian Territory. Absalom married Thurssay Ann Martin, daughter of, I believe, William D. Martin. (Another account from Bobby Crocker gives the marriage place for Joseph Absalom Williamson and Thursay Ann Martin at Luthersville, which is in Meriwether County, Georgia.) Absalom and his bride returned to Williamson Mills, South Carolina. Absalom and family then moved to Lutherville, Georgia for a short period where Charles was born in 1843. Absalom and family then moved to Newton County, Mississippi, where Elizabeth, Gaberel and Thurssay (Theresa) were born. Absalom departed from Newton County, Mississippi to visit relatives in Texas, never to return. It is believed he died in San Saba County, Texas." (Bobby D. Crocker, 324 Woodrun Drive, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157-2503; tele: 601-856-2767, 1995. 1999 email: bdcrocker@aol.com>.)
(NOTE FROM RALPH TERRY: Much of the information about the descendants of Absolum Williamson was sent by William A. Williamson. Some additional information is from Bobby Crocker. Some lists of children of Absolum Williamson, from William A. Williamson, show a Lena and some show a Katie Katherene. Neither are on the 1850 census. It appears that there was no child of Absolum named Lena or Katie, but this person was confused with Absolum's sister, Katie.)
"Through family history, it is said Joseph Absalum Williamson departed Newton County, Mississippi in the late 1880's to visit relatives who did live in San Saba County, Texas and the San Antonio area, where he died. However Joseph had younger sister Harriett (Shannon) Williamson Houston, who lived in Independence County, Arkansas at that time. He may have made stop to visit Harriett and died in Arkansas. At this time I have not been successful in locating his burial site. Joseph Absalum and his brother David C. Williamson, were administrators of the estate of their father Charles Williamson who died November 10, 1842." (Bobby Crocker.)
Events
| Birth | Abt, 1808 | Williamson Bridge, Lexington County, South Carolina | |||
| Marriage | November 16, 1827 | LaGrange, Troup County, Georgia - Thirsa "Teresa" Ann Martin | |||
| Death | November 21, 1886 | possibly San Saba County, Texas |
Families
| Spouse | Thirsa "Teresa" Ann Martin (1808 - 1887) |
| Child | Joseph Williamson (1828 - ) |
| Child | Henry Williamson (1829 - ) |
| Child | Martha "Mary" Jane Williamson (1834 - 1922) |
| Child | William Williamson (1837 - ) |
| Child | Harriet Caroline Williamson (1838 - 1922) |
| Child | John Williamson (1841 - 1863) |
| Child | Charles Cagle Williamson (1842 - 1917) |
| Child | Elizabeth "Lizzie" Williamson (1846 - ) |
| Child | Gabriel Martin Williamson (1847 - 1925) |
| Child | Thirsa "Thurssay" "Sally" Williamson (1850 - ) |
| Child | Albert Dardenell "Uncle Durd" Williamson (1852 - ) |
| Father | Charles D. Williamson (1783 - 1842) |
| Mother | Mary Hoover (1794 - 1842) |
| Sibling | Catherine "Katie" Anne Williamson (1810 - 1892) |
| Sibling | Mary M. Williamson (1812 - ) |
| Sibling | Jerucia Francis Williamson (1814 - 1866) |
| Sibling | Margaret Williamson (1816 - 1895) |
| Sibling | William C. Williamson (1818 - ) |
| Sibling | David C. Williamson (1820 - 1870) |
| Sibling | M. T. Williamson (1822 - ) |
| Sibling | John Thomas Williamson (1824 - 1870) |
| Sibling | Augustus Williamson (1826 - ) |
| Sibling | Charles Floyd Williamson (1829 - ) |
| Sibling | Caroline Williamson (1830 - ) |
| Sibling | Harriet L. "Shannon" Williamson (1833 - 1898) |
| Sibling | Rachel Ruth Williamson (1836 - ) |