Genealogy Of Thomas Spencer Williams

John H. Williams
Father Of Thomas Spencer Williams

Birth: 1799, South Carolina
Marriage: To Mary Dunigan in 1825, Sumner County, Tennessee

Wife: Mary “Polly” Dunigan
Birth: 1806, Kentucky (Editor’s Note: The 1850 census has
her birth place as South Carolina)

1860 Obion Co, TN Census Dist 6
1865 J. H. Williams, 53, m, farmer, rv 400, pv 800, sc; M., 54, f, ky; J. S., 21,
m, farmer, tn; S. J., 17, f, tn; J. S., 14, m, tn; T. ., 12, f, tn; S. D. Wilson, 25, m,
farmer, rv 12,000, pv 3000, tn; S. F. (Wilson), 25, f, tn
1870 Obion Co, TN Census Dist 6 Files 114b & 115a

Marriage: Mary Dunigan b: 1806 in Kentucky (Editor’s Note: The 1850
Census has her birth place as South Carolina. The Obion County History,
Volume Two, gives her name as Mary (Dolly) Dunigan.). Married: 1825 in
Sumner Co, Tennessee.)

Children of John H. Williams and Mary “Polly” Dunigan:
1. Thomas Spencer Williams (Birth: 29 MAY 1826 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
2. Rebecca Williams (Birth:: 1838 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
3. John Sumner Williams (Birth: 1840 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
4. Sarah Jane Williams (Birth: 1842 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
5. Joel Seary Williams (Birth: 1844 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
6. Tennessee Anne Williams (Birth: 1846 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)

Note of Bertha “Bee” Smith: I believe that one of Thomas Spencer William’s
sisters, or someone in this line, is married to a M. Featherstone.

Below find Amanda Henrietta Williams. She was the wife of Luke Lee
Smith, Jr. and the mother of John D. Smith. Her father was Thomas
“Fighting Tom” Spencer Williams.

Thomas Spencer Williams
Known As "Fighting Tom" Williams

Son of John H. Williams

Birth: 29 MAY 1826, Sumner County, Tennessee
Death: 15 AUG 1900, Old City Cemetery, Columbus, Texas. He was
              living with son Henry Swan Williams, Mayor of Columbus, Texas
Marriage #1: To Mary Elizabeth Frazor, 16 OCT 1846, Sumner, Tennessee

Wife: Mary Elizabeth Frazor
Birth: 1824, Sumner County, Tennessee
Died: 28 JUL 1868

          Father of Mary Elizabeth Frazor: Thomas H. Frazor (B:1797)
                    Father of Thomas Frazor: William Frazor
                    Mother of Thomas Frazor: Jenny Hambleton (+)
          Mother of Mary Elizabeth Frazor: Isabella Ibby Kirkpatrick
                    Birth: 26 MAR 1804
                    Death: Unknown Death Date
                    Marriage of Isabella Ibby Kirkpatrick to Thomas H. Frazor: 1820
                    Father of Isabella Kirkpatrick:
                              James D. Kirkpatrick: 17 JUL 1768 to 24 NOV 1853 (+)
                    Mother of Isabella Kirkpatrick:
                              Mary Stuart: 11 NOV 1773 to 22 OCT 1852

          (+) According to Bertha “Bee” Smith, may have Indian heritage

          Click here to view more information on Mary Elizabeth
          Frazor: Mary Elizabeth Frazor

Children of Thomas Spencer and Mary Elizabeth Frazor:
1. Mary Ann Williams (Birth: 15 JUL 1847 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
          Marriage: to Elisha Walker
2. Margaret Jane Williams (Birth: 1849 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
3. John Thomas Williams (Birth: 1850 in Sumner Co, Tennessee)
4. Henry Swan Williams (Birth: 1854 in Tennessee. d: 1937 Dallas, Texas)
5. Amanda Henrietta Williams (Birth: 19 JAN 1856 in Tennessee)
6. Has No Children William Sumner Williams (Birth: 1858 in Tennessee)
7. Has No Children Joel D. Williams (Birth: 1860 in Tennessee)

Amanda was first married to Luke Lee Smith, Jr. about 1877 and many years
after he died, when she was in her seventies, she married the father of one of
her daughters-in-laws, Thomas Napoleon London. The daughter-in-law was
Myrtle Della London, wife of son, Elmer B. Smith.

Amanda was mother of: Margaret “Maggie” Smith/Davis/Lawrence, Walter
Lee Smith, Effie May Smith/Jamerson/Pearson, John D. Smith, Thomas Rogers
Smith, Mattie Lee Smith/Brooks, Clarence Smith, Elmer B. Smith and Henry
Smith.

Marriage #2: Margaret Unknown Last Name (Birth: About 1835 in North Carolina)

Marriage #3: Sallie E. Gammons

THOMAS SPENCER WILLIAMS
IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR OF 1846:

Private Thomas Spencer Williams was a veteran of the Mexican-American War Of 1846. He served from 4 JUN 1846 to 30 AUG 1846, a five month period, with Company D, the 2nd Regiment of Tennesse Infantry. He was 20 years old. He had signed up for a 12 month enlistment, but was discharged for a disability on orders of the Surgeon, Colonel Haskill. He was discharged at Camp Belnap, located across the Rio Grande River, opposite Burita, Mexico.

CIVIL WAR RECORD OF THOMAS SPENCER WILLIAMS:

Before Tennessee seceded from the Unionon May 1, 1861, Thomas S. Williams joined the 136th Regiment of Tennessee Militia and was elected Captain. Once Tennessee seceded form the United States, he joined the regular Confederate army in December, 1861. He enlisted in Company H, the “Obion Avalanche”, 9th Tennessee Infantry Regiment and was detailed Orderly Sergeant. The rank of Orderly Sergeant was higher than the rank of Sergeant. An Orderly Sergeant would be equivalent to today’s Master Sergeant or First Sergeant. As the top Sergeant of Company H, it was Orderly Sergeant Thomas Spencer William’s job to call the company to order for muster and to drill them. It is my believe that Thomas Spencer Williams was made Orderly Sergeant for two reasons: (1) He had served one year in the Mexican-American War of 1846 at age twenty, and so would have intimate knowledge of how to drill troops for battle. (2) He had previously been elected

Captain in the 136th Regiment of Tennessee Militia.

Company “H” , Ninth Regiment assembled in July 1861 at a Camp of Instruction in Union City, Tennessee. After undergoing training at the Camp Of Instruction, the 9th Regiment removed to Camp Blythe, New Madrid, Missouri. Later moving to Columbus, Kentucky the Regiment went into winter quarters. The Regiment subsequently changed locale to Corinth, Mississippi in March 1862 where it was placed on post duty at Bethel Station, Tennessee until April 4, 1862. On April 6th and April 7th, 1862 the 9th Regiment fought bravely at the Battle of Shiloh under the leadership of Colonel George Maney, who commended the regiment for its gallantry in action. Colonel Maney stated that their action that day won him his promotion to General. Casualities at Shiloh was 60 men. Orderly Sergeant Thomas Spencer Williams was released in July 1862 for being 35 years old, so he was present at the decisive Battle Of Shiloh, together with my great-great grandfather Captain David Washington Self. After Sergeant Williams left the regiment, it subsequently was involved in: (1) the invasion of Kentucky, (2) the Battle of Perryville, (3) the Battle of Murfreesboro, (4) the fighting around Chattanooga and Atlanta, (5) returned to Tennessee and the moved to North Carolina. From a starting size of 838 men in July 1861, the 9th Tennessee Infantry Regiment dwindled to 40 men who surrendered and were paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina on May 1, 1865.

ORDERLY SERGEANT

The Orderly Sergeant of Civil War was what later was called the First Sergeant. The ranking staff NCO worked for, and answered to, the captain only. He carried out all details desired by the captain that pertained to the company, not an individual segment of it. He assisted the captain in the supervision of the company's operations and was responsible for the administration work of the unit. He prepared reports, called roll, maintained the fatigue and duty rosters, and made recommendations on personnel actions. He also assigned, assisted, supervised, and checked the various details such as: posting guards, equipment repair, stable call, and horse grooming. He was the overseer of training and discipline, and instructed the sergeants on their NCO duties. During battle he had no combat station, but stayed near the captain and carried out any orders issued him. If the unit happened to be short an officer due to leave, sickness, or death, the first sergeant took up the duties of the that officer by direction of the captain. He remained assigned until a replacement was transferred in, or more often, he was elected and/or permanently promoted the junior lieutenant.