This information is being kindly added by Member : Pennewslet43
Her line is with Martha Williams from Thomas Williams marriage to Victoria Cooper which there is documented evidence, unfortnately no proof has been found regarding his marriage to Mary Defience Burton, but that is not to say they were not a couple, they would most likely back then have married by Gypsy rites ,which does not need to be done in a Church...this has to be explained as the dates of death would confuse people

Thomas Williams died 1895
Victoria Cooper/Williams died 1896
Mary Burton/Williams died 1898

Information regards Family from Pennewslet43
Little is known to me or any other researchers about the circumstances regarding the seperation and finally the breakdown of the marriage regards Thomas Williams & Mary Defience Burton
It is not needed, they were together as a couple at some point.. but only to explain that if we did not say it would not be fair when you try and do a Family history.
However he continued his travels and horse buying trips and on one such trip, met up with the Somerville (Massachusetts) Cooper's. The result ended with the union of Prince Thomas and Victoria Cooper.
A marriage took place in Raleigh, North. Carolina on May 12. 1855. By this time, Mary Burton was already living in Toledo, Ohio, presumably with the Broadways.
There is no intention of trying to confuse or be dispectful..


Further information has been given by
JEEP2x2 another member also related to the families
Mary Burton lived at 219 Field Avenue just around the corner from 212 Linden Place, Toledo Ohio.
She owned her own home. Matilda Nee Williams and John Broadway lived at 212 Linden Place.

*******************************

Prince Thomas Williams b. 1832 Tavistock ? Devonshire England.
Married young in England :
Mary Defience Burton b. 1829 Yelle Somerset England.
They arrived in America between 1852 - 1853 with two children:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Queen of a band of gypsies dies in camp in Delaware

4 January, 1898 -
Mrs *Thomas (Mary) Williams, aged 65 years, Queen of a troop of traveling gypsies, died at their camp near Elden Saturday morning, after being ill for some time with stomach trouble, says the Delaware Herald. Mrs Williams was a very intelligent woman and was Queen of the tribe to which this band belongs. This is the band of gypsies that were camped near Stratford, last summer. They moved from Stratford to Berkshire, and later went to Elden, where they are spending the winter. Some of the members of the camp were in the city Sunday, looking for a casket, but could not find anything fine enough to suit them, so they went to Columbus where they will purchase the finast casket the market affords. It must be copper lined and of the finest material. The remains will be shipped to Toledo where they will be placed in a vault until spring. The members of this camp are nice, intelligent people and are splendidly equipped.
*The actual newspaper article identified Mary as Mrs William Williams, which is incorrect and is verified by the day and year of death.*
There is no doubt that this is Mary Defience Burton Williams, first wife of Thomas.


From the Marion (Ohio) Daily Star: 14 February, 1898

A Splendid Outfit

A splendid outfit owned by a camp of gypsies who struck town today. About the best looking and most prosperous appearing crowd of gypsies that ever visited this city went through town this morning.
They are on their way north having been located between Delaware and Columbus, where they have been spending the winter.
There is altogether in the crowd about 40 people, they have 20 wagons and 40 horses.
John Broadway is the leader of the company and is its oldest member.
He owns nearly the entire outfit.
His two brother-in-law, William Williams and John Williams, also have a financial interest in the affairs of the travelers.
The members of the group are all related by the ties of consanguinity.
They trade horses, buy and sell, and deal in various ways, thereby obtaining a very good living.
A star reporter drove up to their camp 3 1/2 miles north of this city this afternoon,and found that they are a very nice set of people.
The men are all gentlemanly in demeanor and much unlike the average run of gypsies.
They showed the interior of one of their wagons which are built for comfort and convience.
These wagons have a bed built in the rear end.
The beds are all furnished with springs and mattresses and the occupants endure very few hardships in the way of living.
This was washday at the camp.
The travelers carry regular cookstoves with them.
The wagons are made for their special use by a Toledo (Ohio) wagon firm.
This is the same band that lost their Queen by death while in camp in Delaware County, a few months ago.
This was Mr. Broadway's mother-in-law and her remains were shipped to Toledo, where they are now in a vault at the cemetery, awaiting their arrival,to have them buried.
They expect to be in Toledo in a couple of weeks.
The death of Mary Williams, their Queen, leaves her daughter, Mrs Broadway, with that distinction.
The leader of the band John Broadway, came to this country from England and has been traveling for the past thirty years. He is reported to have considerable property in Toledo.

As these reports confirm, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Burton Williams became Queen on the death of her mother.

(1) Matilda Williams/Broadway b. 06 May, 1849 Devonshire England
Died. 29 October, 1935 at Toledo, Ohio -aged 85
On her death register she is widowed -living at 212 Linden place Toledo Lucas Ohio
Her parents : Thomas Williams & Mary Defiance Burton

Matilda Williams became the wife of John Broadway, born in England , who also came to America.
Where he operated a large stable in Toledo. His band travelled the country for some thirty years.
He was also reported to have owned considerable property in Toledo.
John Broadway is buried in Woodlawn Cenetery in Toledo.


The children of John Broadway and Matilda Williams are:
Thomas Broadway, .........b. 10 August, 1867
Perstella Broadway,...... b. 1870
John Broadway,........... b. August 1870
Charles Broadway, ........b. 28 October, 1873
William Broadway, ........b. 28 March, 1875
Edward Broadway, .........b. 28 February 1880
James Broadway,.......... b. 1881
Samuel Broadway, .........b. 28 November, 1881
Emma Broadway,........... b. 22 July, 1882


Samuel Broadway .....b 28 Nov 1887 Md -died 7th Feb 1929 Ashland, Ohio -aged 52
Address: 216 East 4th
Occupation : Stock Buyer live Stock
Married : Louisa Broadway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2) William Williams b. 18 July, 1850 - d. 24 February 1929 at Toledo, Ohio.
Son of Thomas Wiliams & Mary Defiance Burton
Married Mary Cooper -parents Francis Scamp & Elisha Cooper

The children of William Williams and Mary Cooper are:
Emma Williams, b. 23 May, 1875
William Williams, b. 1883
+
Emma Willliams married Edward Broadway son of John Broadway & Matilda Williams
They were 1st cousins
When she died in 1934 of Diabetis , she was living 211 Courtland Avenue Toledo Lucas Ohio-
buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Toledo Ohio.

Their daughter Daisy b 1898 Ohio married Robert Dickson b 1895 Ohio
26th Oct 1916 Monroe Michigan
parents : Edward Broadway & Emma Williams
Robert Dickson & E Stephenson
witness : Pearl Dickson

Their daughter Louisa b 4th May 1907 Toledo Ohio married Ottowa Lovell b 4th July 1906 Lewistown Pennsylvania
In Henry Inidana
Parents : Edward Broadway & Emma Williams
Wester Lovell & Mary Smith

Their Son John b 1900 Medina Ohio -died 15th June 1934

Their daughter Hazel b 1902 Medina Ohio -died 1930 Toledo Ohio

Their son Edward b 1908 Toledo Ohio -died 1910 Toledo Ohio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(3) John W. Williams ? b. 1856 in Virginia d. 20 April, 1927, in Newark, New Jersey. I have no documented proof that John W. Williams is the son of Thomas. He was born after the marriage of Prince Thomas to Victoria Cooper. This marriage took place 12 May, 1855 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
John W. Williams married Louisa ? and had the following children:
Richard Williams, b. 1891
Edward Williams, b.
Samuel Williams, b.
Thomas Williams, b.
Jetty Williams, b.
Elizabeth Williams, b.

The following was taken from the Toledo (Ohio) Blade: HORSE BUYER DIES - 25, April, 1927.
Services for John Williams were held at the home of his brother here:
Services were to be held late Monday for John Williams, 71, pioneer Toledo horse dealer, at the home of his brother, 212 Linden St. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery. Mr. Williams was born in Virginia, but has been known for years in Toledo and Ohio. He served the United States in horse buying and was employed in similar work by Toledo firms. Surviving are his brother William. his sister, Mrs John Broadway; four sons, Richard, Edward, Samuel and Thomas, and two daughters, Mrs Jetty Harrison and Mrs Elizabeth Jeffrie.


***********************
This is Pennewslet43 family line via the daughter Martha Williams ,who first married Richard Wells son of Robert Wells & Amelia, also a English family From Dorset : horsedealer/trader who came to America:

The following article was carried in the Hartford Daily Times, on May 28, 1896:


SAD DEATH OF MRS VICTORIA WILLIAMS
Run over by train on New England road

As Conductor Patrick Boughrey was passing the Prospect street crossing about 3:45 o'clock yesterday morning on the yard switcher, he saw the remains of a woman on the track. The body was about fifteen feet east of the crossing near what is known as the McAlton place, and was in a horrible condition. The arms and legs were broken and torn and the whole body gave evidence of having been dragged some distance under the train, and the track was covered with blood, clothing and bits of flesh. The face was comparatively whole and the body was recognized as that of Mrs Victoria Williams, wife of the late "Prince" Williams. A man was left with the remains until Dr. E. H. Griswold, who is medical examiner for this town, was summoned by Night Yard master Harrington. Shortly before the death of the prince in March, 1895, Mrs Williams received a fall which injured the back of her head and after the death of her husband, to whom she was very much attached, she was stricken with nervous prostration and during the last winter she had been demented at times refusing to take her food, so it became necessary for her physician to forcibly administer it. She became gradually worse and the disease developed into acute melancholia. At times she would become better, but again lapse into spells when she would be extremely despondent. The family were advised to have her taken to the retreat, but desired to keep her and she was faithfully watched and cared for by her children.
On Tuesday night she was put to bed as usual and at about 11 o'clock it was discovered that she was missing. The alarm was spread and a searching party from her home, the old Farmer's Hotel, on Hartford avenue, started out to look for the woman. The town was searched from Windsor to Glastonbury and as far as Manchester, but no trace was found of Mrs Williams, until about 4 o'clock yesterday morning, when one of her sons, who was searching on the meadow bank, was informed of her horrible death. It is impossible to say just what time the woman was killed, but the body would indicate that it had been lying dead for some time before it was discovered and possibly more than one train passed over it.
Mrs Williams was born in Somerset, England, in 1838, and came to this country in early childhood. She met Mr. Williams in Raleigh, NC, and they were married on May 12, 1855. During their married life Mr. Williams was engaged in the horse business and has carried on his business in nearly all of the states east of the Mississippi. Mrs Williams was known as the "Gypsie Queen" but they did not like the title as they came from England and have nothing but English blood in their veins.
Fourteen children were born to them, of which eight are living. Martha, William, Richard, Amelia, Belcher, Noah, Elizabeth and Theresa. The family do not believe that their mother committed suicide, but think that after she escaped from her room she wandered about the street and passed directly in front of the train in her demented state and did not realize her danger. The remains were removed by Dr. Griswold's orders to Hartford, by undertaker Hills and will be brought to her recent home for the funeral. The funeral will take place from her late residence on Hartford avenue, Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The services will be conducted by the Rev. John McVey, of the Burnside Methodist church. Interment will be in the family lot at Center Cemetery. The family are Methodists and the "Princes" funeral was conducted by Rev. McVey. Her brothers in Somerville and Brookline Mass. are expected, as are other relatives from Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Burial May 29, 1896
Center Cemetery, East Hartford, Connecticut
Father: Esaw COOPER b: WFT Est. 1787-1816 in England
Mother: Martha COOPER b: WFT Est. 1796-1819 in England

In England Baptisms records I have siblings etc :
Rhoda Cooper christened 1821 Christchurch Hampshire
Esau & Martha Cooper
Henry Cooper christened 1824 Romsey Hampshire
Esau & Martha Cooper
Richard Cooper christened 1st Feb 1829 Horningsham Wiltshire
Esau & Martha Cooper
Victoria Cooper christened 25th April 1838 St Denys Warminster
Wiltshire - Esau & Martha* Mary * Cooper

**************************************
George Washington WILLIAMS b: 1859-Death: 1891 in Center Cemetery, East Hartford, Connecticut

1891 February 3rd USA HARTFORD CONNECTICUT (Newspaper Article )
Washington Williams son of “ King” Williams the Gypsy of New Haven died Sunday in his little shanty in this city.
Death was caused by Erysipeins In accordance with the request of “ WASH” the funeral today was a big one and was attended by gypsies from many neighbouring states and by many local horsemen. An elegant coffin was procured from New York and four black horses drew the hearse to the burial lot in East Hartford “ WASH” leaves a wife and 2 children who live near Boston. To his wife he leaves at least $ 6.000 in cash

More regarding George "Wash" Williams.
George W. Williams was born while the caravan was enroute to the south. His death certificate states "Tennessee" and this can be accepted by the following newspaper item.
1859 - Washington DC area newspaper - A baby boy was born yesterday to a gang of Welsh gypsies. They gave him the name, George Washington Williams.
Wash was a traveler and horse trader in his own right. He was honest and would not use trickery in his dealings. He frequently visited areas of Connecticut and other New England states trading horses and wagons. While news reports of his death identify his wife as a "Stanley", she was indeed Patience Cooper.
Wash died in Hartford at age 32, in the winter of 1891. His funeral procession was said to have snarled traffic in East Hartford for over an hour. He was the father of two children. A son, Thomas and a daughter Daisy. Both were under five years of age at the time of his death.
George Washington Williams is buried in the family lot at Center Cemetery in East Hartford, Connecticut







In 1880 Census :Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts * Gypsies camped out in woods
Asa Cooper........... 69 b 1811 England Travelling/Trading horses
Ann .....................54 b 1826 England
Sophia ..................34 b 1846 England single
Cornelius ...............26 b 1854 England married
Caroline................ 20 b 1860 England single
William .................16 b 1864 England single
Charlotte ...............22 b 1858 Michigan daughter in law/single
Samuel ...................1 b 1879 Massachusetts
+
Martha Wells ............23 b 1857 Michigan Widowed /wife of Richard Wells -basket maker
William ..................4 b 1876 Massachusetts son
Emily ....................2 b 1878 Massachusetts daughter
+
Richard Williams ........18 b 1862 Canada Martha's brother
Emma ....................12 b 1868 Connecticut Martha's sister
+
Esau Cooper .............44 b 1836 England
Theresa .................39 b 1841 England
Samuel ..................18 b 1862 Canada
Patience .............16 b 1864 Canada
Nelson ..................10 b 1870 Massachusetts
Caroline................. 2 b 1878 Massachusetts
Charles .............10mths b 1879 Massachusetts
Phebe Hicks ..............4 b 1876 Canada says daughter of above

To further confirm this :
In 1900 Census Somerville city, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Esau aged 68
Theresa Cooper aged 60
with their daughter Carrie* Caroline* aged 22
has travelling with them grandaughter Daisy b 1877 Massachusetts -aged 14 -
Was G W Williams & Patience child: using surname Cooper

***********************

WILLIAM IRELAND KNAPP wrote a letter to the GLS
Yale Universcity,
New Haven, Conn., Sept. 8th, 1888.

Dear Sir,
You are very kind to think of me in the matter of the ' Gypsy Lore Society.' I have long been trying to get some information about it and the mode of addressing its Secretary.

I take the liberty of sending you a local episode with a Gypsy, apropos of a lecture I delivered last spring before the Scientific School of Yale Universcity
I thought you might want to archive all Egyptiana.

We have a branch of the Williams family in permanent session in our environs.
One day the Queen, Mrs. Victoria (Cooper) Williams, alighted on the curb stone opposite our home, and I went out and called her in deep ^Egyptian : ' Av akai, miri dai, kamav te rakerava Romanis tusa.' She came across the street radiant
with smiles, nodding and smirking, while she remarked : ' I s'pouse ya want me ta come over.'
We enjoyed a long and interesting interview in the library, where I showed her my Romany collection from 1597 down to the present, but nothing pleased her so much as the picture of Queen Esther Blyth of Yetholm as found
in ' Once a Week,' April 1862, and Mr. Leland's illustrations in the Century.

Anticipating much profit & entertainment from your publications,
I am, dear Sir,
yours very sincerely, W. I. Kxapp.

The ' local episode ' referred to was chronicled in cuttings from New Haven newspapers of 21-23 March 1888, which accompanied the letter.
The first of these reported a lecture by Professor Knapp on ' The Gypsies,' delivered the night before.
The second contained a letter from an English Gypsy of fairly good education, Sidney Gray, taking exception to some of the statements in the lecture. And in the third the professor replied to these criticisms, in a very friendly and good-natured tone, winding up with an invitation to the Gypsy to call at the professor's house, and share a ' puro koshto Romano habben, with mol or levina, as you prefer.' That this resulted in a cordial relationship between the two men.


-----------------------------------------
March 5, 1895 Thomas Williams Obituary
East Hartford, Connecticut Death of Prince Williams, the Gypsy Horse Trader

The death of Thomas Williams, known near and far as "Prince of the Gypsies" occurred at his home on State Avenue, last evening, at 7:30 O ' clock, the cause of death being a complication of heart and kidney trouble. Prince Williams, as he was known everywhere, was 65 years of age and the father of twelve children, six boys and six girls, and although he was generally supposed to be of Romany descent, he was the son of William Williams, of Devonshire, England, and was born in the latter place.
He came to America forty-five years ago, with a wife and two children, and located in New Haven, where he was engaged in the horse business, coming to East Hartford thirty years later as a permanent resident, but always travelling about during the summer months.
During the Civil War, he was stationed at Buffalo, New York, where he bought horses for the government. While so employed, he bought a residence in Canada and established a temporary home there for his family, and in company with his brother, who is now located in Bridgeport, Connecticut., established a sale stable in Montreal, Canada.
During the first ten years of his American citizenship, Mr. Williams spent the most of his time travelling through the Southern states, where he became well-known among horse men and plantation owners.
He was a veterinary surgeon of the school of keen observation, practice, and adaptability and was recognized as the highest authority upon the qualities, breeding, and consequent value of a horse.
In his dealings he was always known to be true to his word, and honourable in his business transactions, and he established the enviable reputation of truth and square dealings wherever he was known.
In later years, he has travelled a great deal for pleasure, and having accumulated a fortune , which is variously estimated at from $40.000 to $150.000. He has gone about in magnificent style, his train of wagons being gorgeously decorated, within and without; but even before he became known as "rich Prince Williams, " his outfit was always lavish and of the most convenient type.
He was never known to get into any trouble of any kind, always enforcing the rule of temperance within his own household, and always loud in his disapproval of temperance everywhere.
He was generous to the poor, sometimes to excess, and is said never to have refused a poor man aid. For all of his mobility of nature, he was yet a home man thoroughly and distinctly, and his teachings within his own household were always of Christian principles.
Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been completed, owing to the absence of several relatives. The funeral sermon will however, be preached by the Rev. John McVey of the Burnside Methodist church, to which denomination Mr. Williams inclined. The burial will be in Center Cemetery, and the hearse will be drawn by four of his own black horses, befitting the funeral of the prince of American horse traders.
The three sons, Richard, Belcher, and Noah, will conduct the business left by the father, and they say that the noble reputation of the parent shall not be tainted by the dishonourable dealings of the sons.
Source: The Hartford Daily Times, Wednesday, March 6, 1895

*************************************************************

PRINCE THOMAS WILLIAMS : 2nd marriage :
Prince Thomas Williams & Victoria Cooper (children of) Prince Thomas Williams wed Victoria Cooper, of the Somerville, Massachusetts Coopers, on May 12, 1855, in Raleigh, North Carolina, while on a horse & mule buying trip. Together they had the following children:

Martha Williams: b. July 1858 at Pittsburg, PA. d. April, 1932 Hoosick Falls, New York. Burial: Buckland Cemetery Manchester, Connecticut,
m. 1st Richard Wells (son of Robert & Amelia Wells) b. Feb 17,1854 Liverpool, England d. Feb 18, 1878 buried Brandywine Cemetery, Wilmington, Del
.
Children: William Wells b. 1876 in Tennessee d. 06 June, 1952 at Castleton, Vermont. m. Mazella (Mizzler) Wells, (dau of Leonard Wells and Elizabeth Cooper Wells.) Burial: Buckland Cemetery, Manchester, Connecticut
Children of William Wells & Mazella Wells: Samuel Wells, b. 1902 - Richard Wells, b. 1904 - Daisy Wells, b. 1911 - Jack Wells, b. 1915 - Beatrice Wells, b. 1917

Amelia (Emily) Wells b. 01, March 1878, at Somerville, Massachusetts d. 25 September, 1969 at Enfield, Connecticut. m. Nathan Button. d. Children of Amelia Wells & Nathan Button: Wallace Button b. 1900, Connecticut. m. Margaret Williams d. Castleton, Vermont 21 May, 1963 - Martha Button b. 1902, Connecticut d. 27 November, 1991 at Enfield, Connecticut. - Victoria Button b. 1906, Enfield, Connecticut d. 12 April, 1989 at Hartford, Connecticut.

Amelia Wells Button remarries to Napolion Paul on November 23, 1923 - marriage does not last.

Richard Wells died Feb 17, 1878. Circumstances unknown

Martha Williams Wells remarries to Frederick Lambert. b. 1856 in Port Henry, New York d. Hartford Connecticut, 23 December 1935

The Children of Martha Williams Lambert and Frederick Lambert are:

Samuel Lambert b. 1883 Lowell, Massachusetts d. Hartford, Connecticut d. 15 August, 1920 at Hartford, Connecticut. m. Pachence Wells, dau of Leonard Wells and Elizabeth Cooper Wells. Burial: Center Cemetery, Hartford Connecticut.
Their children: Samuel Lambert b. 1905 - Victoria Lambert b. 1907 - Elizabeth Lambert b. 1908 - Leonard Lambert b. 1914
Victoria Lambert b. 1887 d. 02 April, 1965 m. Thomas Squires, son of William and Emma Williams Squires.
Their children: Daisy Squires, b. 1904 at Dalton, Massachusetts, d. 06 December, 1993 m. Harry Bjorkland
Noah W. Squires, b. 1907 d. 1961 in Massachusetts. m. Katherine P Rossano - John Squires, b. 1909 at Hartford, Connecticut d. 01 April, 1969 in New York. - Charlotte Squires, b. 1911 d. 1950 in New York. m. Jocco Stanley. - Lillian N. Squires, b. 16 April, 1917 at Hartford, Connecticut. d. 06 October 1956 at Kingston, New York. m. William H. Squires. - Mary Squires, b. 05 May 1923. m. Norman Trahan.
Richard Lambert b. 01 January, 1893 at East Hartford Connecticut d. 21 July, 1949 at Concord, New Hampshire m. Ruth Nichols, dau. of Benjamin Nichols and Rose Best.
Their children: Carol A. Lambert b. May 1940 - d. May 1940 at Concord, New Hampshire - Ruth Martha Lambert b. 11 September, 1943 at Concord, New Hampshire m. Paul A Speed son of Paul Speed and Helen Larlee. - Victoria L. Lambert b. 25 August 1945 at Concord New Hampshire m. Oliver Northcott.
John C. Lambert b. 1896 d. 06 December, 1963. m. Charlotte LeCourt, d. 1944. Their Child: George Lambert b. 22 February, 1917. m. Carrie D. Cooper.
Lillian T. Lambert b. 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts. m. Leonard Williams. d. 27 June 1955 in Hartford Connecticut. Their children: Richard Williams, b. 02 April, 1925. - Carrie Williams, b. 06 January 1927 at Hartford, Connecticut. m. Elmer Shultz. - Frederick Williams b. 1932 d. 08 October 1967 in Castleton Vermont. Burial: Buckland Cemetery, Manchester Connecticut. - Margaret Williams b. ? m. Wallace Button. d. 2001 - Haddon Williams b. ? m. James Stanley. - Edward T. Williams, b. ? d. October 1969. Burial: Buckland Cemetery, Manchester Connecticut. Lillian and Leonard are both buried at Buckland Cenetery in Manchester Connecticut.
James Lambert b. 03 April 1905 in East Hartford Connecticut d. 05 December 1925 in Troy New York.
Burial: Buckland Cemetery, Manchester Connecticut


Martha Williams Lambert died on April 24, 1932 at Hoosick Falls New York, while preparing dinner for her family

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Richard Williams - b. 03 August, 1863 at Cattaraugus, New York - d. 23 January, 1927 in Hartford, Connecticut. ~ Dealer in Horses for forty-five years dies at age of 63 Richard Williams, a local horse dealer here for forty-five years died yesterday at his home, No. 43 Belden street. He was sixty-five years old. With his brother Belcher Williams, he established the firm of Williams Brothers, in 1895, following the death of his father, who had been a horse dealer in the vacinity for more than thirty years. A few years later the company's stables were moved to Allyn street, Hartford, and later to its present location on High street. Before coming to Hartford, Mr Williams had been in the same business in New Haven. He was well known throughtout the state as a horse dealer.
Mr Williams was born in Cattaraugus, New York, August 3, 1863, the son of Thomas and Victoria Cooper Williams. Besides his wife Charlotte Wells Williams, he leaves four sons, Thomas Williams, Leonard Williams, Noah and George Williams; one brother, Belcher Williams; two half brothers, William Williams and John Williams, both of Toledo, Ohio. Two sisters, Martha Lambert, of Albany, New York and Bessie Stanley, of Providence, Rhode Island, and a half sister, Mrs Celia Broadway, of Toledo. Funeral to be held Wednesday, arrangements are incomplete.

Belcher WILLIAMS b: 1871 in Newburg, New York- Death: 17 APR 1932 in Hartford, Connecticut
Belcher Williams Obituary
Hartford Courant, April 18, 1932 ( Newspaper Article)
Belcher Williams, born Newburg, NY, son of Thomas Williams & Victoria Cooper
Williams and head of Williams Brothers, died April 17, age 61 years. He leaves his wife, Mrs Sophie Cooper Williams
and 2 daughters, Mrs Noah Squires and Miss Victoria Williams of Hartford.

Belcher Williams, Jr. - Belcher Williams, Jr. of 228 High street, died Wednesday morning at home after a long illness. He was the son of Belcher and Sophie Cooper Williams and was 30 years old. He was associated in business with his father, a horse dealer. Besides his parents in Hartford, he leaves a wife, Mrs Sophia Williams; two sisters, Miss Victoria Williams, of Hartford and Mrs Noah Squires of Windsor. The funeral will be held Friday at 2 o'clock from his home. Burial will be in Center Cemetery.
Source: Hartford Courant 04 Feb. 1932

Belcher Williams Sr., appears to have died several weeks after the death of his son Belcher, Jr., his sister, Martha Williams Lambert also died in this same month and year.
He married Sophia Cooper

*******************************************


1900 APRIL 8th AN OLD COACH HOUSE BURNED




One of the old landmarks of this part of the state was destroyed by fire Thursday the Farmer's Hotel of East Hartford (Formerly known as Tripp's Hotel) which was one of the stage coach houses on the line between Boston and New York and much patronized before the days of rail roads. It had been owned for some time by the WILIIAMS brothers – RICHARD NOAH & BELCHER – sons of PRINCE WILLIAMS

the head of the Gypsy tribe in this section of New England. Immense stables had been erected upon the premises and the brothers carried on an extensive traffic in horses, besides making the place the winter headquarters of the various bands of Gypsies that camp out in wagons all about this section. The loss was some $15.000 and the brothers are much discouraged as there was but little insurance, one of them remarked with true Gypsy fatalism that he wished he was dead, the loss so overcame him. Noah Williams died in Derry, New Hampshire Monday night of Bright's Disease. He was the son of Thomas Williams and was one of the three Williams Brothers of this town, horse dealers. Mr. Williams had been in poor health for some time and about ten days ago left the family camp on Albany avenue, near the Wadsworth Hotel and went to Boston, where special advice was sought as to his ailment and he was sent to the mountains where he died. His wife, (Theresa Daisy Cooper) two brothers, Richard and Belcher Williams and his brother-in-law William Squires of this place, were summonded to his bedside. Mr. Squires returned with his body Tuesday evening and it was in charge by Hills & Marchant. Thomas Williams, the head of the family, died in this town in 1895 and was buried in the Center Cemetery, a handsome monument marking his grave. An older brother George Washington Williams died at the corner of Westland street and Windsor avenue, Hartford in 1891 and their mother was killed on the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven & Hartford road in 1896. The family has made its headquarters in town for some years and twice its large sales stables have been destroyed by fire, the last time in June of this year. Since then the family has been in camp on Albany avenue. Noah Williams leaves a wife, two children Victoria Ruth and John "Bowdie" Williams, the elder being four years old. Besides his two brothers Richard and Belcher, he leaves five sisters, Martha, wife of Frederick Lambert, of Lowell, Massachusetts; Elizabeth, wife of William Stanley, of Fall River, Massachusetts: Ruth, wife of Charles Cooper, of Somerville, Massachusetts: Emma, wife of William Squires, of East Hartford, and Theresa, wife of Richard Cooper, of East Somerville, Massachusetts. The body was placed in a casket Wednesday morning and taken to the camp on Albany avenue, from which place the funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock, all of his friends being invited, with burial in Center Cemetery. Source: The Weekly Gazette (Hartford, Conn.) 22 Aug. 1902
The funeral of Noah Williams, son of the late Prince Williams, and a member of the firm of horse dealers, was conducted at the camp on Albany avenue, Hartford, at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. The remains reposed in a handsome oak casket, in a large tent in the center of the camp. Rev. John McVey of Pheonix, Rhode Island, formerly pastor of the Methodist church in Burnside, officiated. Mrs F. C. Gould and Miss Winnie Merrill sang three selections at the camp and one at the grave. There were many floral tributes. The bearers were Nailor Harrison, William Stanley, Jonah Hicks, Albert G. Perkins, John Cooper and Val Stanley. Burial was in the family lot in the Center Cemetery


1902 : Williams Bros. second devastating fire: 1905 : Williams Brothers the proprietors of the sales stables at No. 144 Allyn street, began today the erection of an immense new stable. It will be located on newly acquired land directly in back of their present building. It will have a capacity for 200 horses and will be the largest place of its kind between Chicago and Boston, the Williamses say. It will be used for the sales business only and not for a general livery. In the front of the new building will be a sales room fifty feet square, for the auction of horses. A gallery will run around the room for the use of women and other spectators.
Source: Hartford (Connecticut) Daily Courant Aug. 8, 1905

Elizabeth Bessie Williams - Daughter of Thomas and Victoria, was born in New York in 1866. She married William Stanley, (b. 1861, in Canada) the son of Benjamin Skinner Stanley and Mary Hicks. The Stanley family operated a large horse stable business at 62 Smithfield avenue in Providence, RI. William died on 13 Mar. 1925. Elizabeth died 25 Mar. 1933. Both are buried at North Burial Grounds in Providence.
Their Children: Levi, b. 23 Oct. 1885, Somerset, Mass. - d. 03 Sept. 1915 -- Thomas, b. 1896, Preston, Conn - d. 15, Oct. 1960 -- m. Amy Cooper -- George Washington, b. ? - d. ? m. Betsy ? -- LeGrand Cannon, b. ? - d. ? m. Sophie Cooper -- Macey, b. ? d. ? m. Noah Williams -- Ida Louise, b. 1894 - d. 11 Nov. 1923 m. William Stanley -- Delia Tara, b. 24 Dec. 1889 Somerset, Mass. - d. 04 May 1924 m. ? Jefsen -- Burty, b. 08 Mar. 1877, Somerset, Mass. - d. 08 Mar 1885
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia "Emma" Williams - Daughter of Thomas and Victoria, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, 25 August 1868. Emma, married William Squires. William Squires along with his two brothers ran a horse sales business in the Hartford area. The following clipping appeared in a local area newspaper, the New Haven Register dated 01 September 1885:

Wallingford, Conn. - Sept 1, - There was great excitement yesterday afternoon in the camp of the gypsies, pitched just north of the culvert in Yalesville, upon the discovery of the absence of Prince Williams 16 year old daughter, who had not returned to the camp at the expected hour. She is supposed to have eloped with a youth from the Elm City, who is remembered to have repeatedly cross the gypsies hand with gold, and received in return, verbal visions of mountains of gold to be enjoyed with a black-eyed fairy of browned cheeks and flaxened hair. She is one of sixteen who have come to bless the camp of the gypsies. The youth, who charmed the heart of the gypsy maiden is described as a tall, dark eyed young man of twenty-five, who had been repeatedly seen about the gypsy camp but never had excited the suspion of the father and mother and numerous sisters and brothers who spend the summer wandering through the country, telling fortunes and selling horses. Prince Williams, so called because he is a veritable Prince among the gypsies, was born in England, where his father and grandfather, were recognized heads of the wandering bands. His headquarters are in Boston. He owns a large and well stocked livery stable, spending his winters to attend to it, and in the summer, leaving it in charge of his sons, while accompanied by several colored grooms for the twenty to forty horses that always go with him when he travels the country with his wife, daughters and daughter-in-law and a numerous flock of children and grandchildren, who thus get a sniff of fresh air and are taught their vocation. Williams is a man of massive frame, browned and ruddy, of about fifty, and reported to be enourmasly rich, with large and costly farms in East Hartford, this state, in Massachusetts and in Canada, and a profitable livery stable in Boston. He is known to be a horse trader of such shredness that none of the "professional horseabouts" ever felt anxious to tackle him in a second trade. His wife, a skilled teller of absurdities, or so called fortunes, has long straight hair black as night, brown cunning eyes, and a true gypsy bearing set off by a bright colored hankerchief, and a tawdr covering of some sort over her head. She is the purchasing agent for the camp and may a sharp bargain she has driven with our local merchants, whose fortunes she has told over and over. The magnificent wagon with the outside covering of glass and gilt, was fitted up inside for sleeping purposes and furnished with lace and linen of a costly character, answer for the use of the Prince and his spouse. It cost over a thousand dollars. Detectives have been engaged to look for the eloping maiden, and every effort will be nade to find her stopping place. To marry outside of the fold of the gypsies is regarded with horror and punished by complete ostracian. Emma Williams married William Squires and they had the following children: Thomas Squires, b. New Haven, Conn. 05 Dec. 1886 - d. 18 June 1954 m. Victoria Lambert. Richard Squires, b. 1888 - d. 1955 m. 1st. Mazzle Cooper (dau. Elish & Mary Jane Riley Cooper) m. 2nd ? m. 3rd Carrie Cooper -- Belcher Squires, b. 15 Oct. 1890 - d. 22 July 1948 -- Charlotte Squires, b. 1892 - d. 1972 m. Edward Cooper ( son of Elisha and Mary Riley Cooper) -- Noah Squires, b. 17 June 1899 - d. 14 Dec. 1946 m. Bessie Williams b. 1898. Emma Williams Squires died at the home of her son, Richard in Greenfield, Massachusett, on October 12, 1943. Burial at Palisado cemetery, Winsor, Connecticut
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruth Williams was born in Syracuse, New York in 1874. She married Charles Cooper, son of the Boston Coopers. The children of Ruth Williams and Charles Cooper are: Carrie Cooper, - David Cooper, Nelson Cooper, - Victoria Cooper, b. 1911, - Thomas Cooper, b. 1914, - Bessie Cooper, b. 1920, - Amy Cooper and one other child

Mrs Ruth Williams Cooper of 73 Fairmont street, died at her home Wednesday morning, June 23, 1954 . She was the widow of Charles Cooper. She was born in Sayracuse, New York, daughter of the late Thomas and Victoria Cooper Williams. She leaves eight children, 25 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The funeral will be held Friday at 2pm, from the Thomas F. Farley Funeral Home, 96 Webster street, with burial in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor. Source: Hartford Courant, Thursday, June 24, 1954
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lillian Theresa Williams was born at Yalesville, Connecticut in 1876. She married Richard Cooper, b. 1868 at Somerville, Massachusetts, son of Samuel and Theresa Cooper of Somerville. Mr. Cooper operated a sales stable in East Hartford. He died in 1917 Lillian and Richard Cooper had the following children. Noah Cooper, b. 1901 d. 28 Dec. 1973 -- John Cooper, b. 1903 -- Asa Cooper, b. 1907 m. Ann ? -- William E. Cooper, b. 1912 - d. 18 Oct. 1988 m. Bessie ? -- Thomas B Cooper, b. 25 Aug. 1913 - d. 05 May 1980 -- Belcher Cooper, b. 05 Jan. 1915 d. 03 Nov. 1985 m. Jean M. Dube Leonard Cooper, b. 1917 d. 1976

Mrs Theresa Cooper, 58, widow of Richard Cooper, of 6 Green street died Thursday night at St. Francis Hospital. She was a native of Yalesville. She leaves a sister, Ruth Cooper of Hartford; seven sons, John Cooper of Lebanon, PA: Noah Cooper, of Bridgewater, Mass.: Esau Cooper, William Cooper, Belcher Cooper and Leonard Cooper of Hartford. Thomas Cooper, of Bloomfield, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral to be held Sunday at 2:30pm at the funeral home of Morrison W. Johnson, Inc., Albany avenue. Burial to be Center cemetery, East Hartford. Source: Hartford Courant, Saturday, January 1, 1944
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morris Williams was the youngest son of Thomas and Victoria. Morris was born in Canada, in 1881. He had long been a mystery as his life was but a few short years. Morris died while the caravan was camped in Norwich, Connecticut on August 15, 1886. The death certificate reads cause of death: Acute Indigestion. The following little item appeared in the newspaper shortly afterward.

Princes Wiliams and his gypsies have recently been in camp at Norwich town. Several of the party have been ill, including Prince Williams two youngest children and Sunday a boy age five died. The others will probably recover. The remains of the boy have been brought back here for burial. Physicians are under the opinion that the sickness was caused from eating unwholesome vegetables and fruit.