• RUFUS WILLIAMS
1750-1805
Lived in Groton, Conn. and Huntington, Vt.95

• “Chotty’s” notes indicate no proof of the parentage of Paul, Rufus and Prudence.1565, p 2

• In Abby Hemenway’s Vermont Historical Gazetteer, there is an excerpt on the history of Huntington, Chittenden county, with the following quotations:
“...settlements were begun about 1788...John Thomas and Rufus Williams,...made each their pitch on the east Hill — the one north and the other east of John Martin, and both adjoining his.”1564, p 814
“...Rufus Williams was the first tailor who cut and made men’s clothes.”1564, p 818
“In January, 1805 [sic], Rufus Williams (spoken of before as one of the first settlers) was instantly killed by the fall of a tree blown down upon him in a high wind, as he went out to fodder his cattle.”1564, p 821

• “[These settlers in the town of Huntington about 1789], were closely followed by Thomas and Rufus Williams, who each pitched next to John Martin on East Hill, the one north and the other east of him.”1541, p 616

• 1789 About this time Thomas and Rufus Williams settled on East Hill; Abel Turner, John Fitch, and Samuel Fargo in the Buel’s Gore section of town; and Stephen Squires in Sherman Hollow.1567

• Know all Men by these Presents –
That I, Jonathan Spafford, of Williston, Chittenden County and State of Vermont.
For the Consideration of Thirty pounds — Money Paid to my full Satisfaction by Rufus Williams of Huntington in Chittenden County and State of Vermont, have and hereby do fully give Grant, Sell and Confirm unto the said Rufus Williams, his Heirs and Assigns forever, a certain Piece of Land in Huntington as Described as Follows:
Lot No. 35 Surveyd to Silas (Nogges?) Containing one Hundred acres of Land, for [First Heirs P?] reference being had to the Survey Bill of said Lot.
To have and to hold Said Granted Premises, with all the Privileges and Appurtenances thereof, to the said Rufus Williams, his Heirs and Assigns, to his and their own issue and behalf forever, and I, the said Jonathan Spafford, for myself and Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, do covenant with the said Rufus that until the [Ensealing?] these Presents, I am the Sole owner of the Premises and that they are free from every Incumbrance, and I hereby Engage to Warrant and Defend the Same against all Lawful Claims whatever.
In Witness whereof I here unto set my Hand and Seal this 20th Day of January 1796.
/s/ Jonathan Spafford
Ebenz Ambler, Town Clerk1568

• Rufus Williams Estate Papers:
STATE OF VERMONT
CHITTENDEN DISTRICT
TO: Jehiel Johns, Sylvester Russel, Esq., & Elias Farr, all of Huntington in the District aforesaid... GREETING.
YOU are hereby appointed and impowered to take an Inventory of all the Estate both real and personal, whereof Rufus Williams, late of Huntington, in the County of Chittenden died seized, in the District aforesaid, to be shewn unto you by Jacob Williams who is appointed Administrator to the said deceased, and truly and justly to appraise the same, according to the present value thereof in money, according to your best judgement upon Oath, and return the same under your hand into the Registry of the Court of Probate, for the District aforesaid, on or before the first Tuesday of July next, together with this Warrant, and likewise to deliver a copy of the Inventory to said Administrator.
Given under my hand, at Williston, this 3rd day of April in the year of our Lord 1804.
[signed] Solomon Miller, Judge Probate1569

• April 3rd 1804 Issued Letters of Administration on said Estate to Jacob Williams (the widow & eldest son having declined accepting in writing) who is to return Inventory by 1st Tuesday of May next & Complete Settlement by 1st Tuesday of May 1805 — took Administrative Bond with Jabez Fargo as Twenty Dollars $20.00. — Appointed Jehiel Johns & Sylvester Russel & Elias Farr Appraisers.1566, p 2
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July 3rd 1804 At this Court Rec the Appraisers Warrants together with an Inventory to the Amt. of $795.20.
On Application Jacob Williams Adm. of said Estate, Issue the following Order to notify Creditors to bring in Claims, etc.
State of Vermont
Chittenden Probate District
Be it remembered that at a Probate Court hold on at Williston in said District on the first Tuesday of July 1804 (being the third day) before the Hon. S__?__ Miller Esq., Judge of said Court:
On application of Jacob Williams of Huntington in said District, Adm. of the Estate of Rufus Williams, late of Huntington __?__ Deceased:
It is Ordered & decreed that unless the Creditors to the Estate of said deceased shall within Five Months from this day exhibit their Claims to said Administrator for settlement, They be forever Barred. And that said Creditors be informed of this Order & decree by a Publication Posted up in the most Published place in Huntington & in Richmond both in the County of Chittenden as soon as may be, at the end of which time You are to make return ___?___ to this Court.1566, p 3
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July 3rd 1804 Rec. the Inventory of said Estate to the Amt $795.20.1566, p 4
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• To the Honorable the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont now sitting at Burlington within and for the County of Chittenden –
The Petition of Jacob Williams of Huntington in said County humbly sheweth, that Rufus Williams late of Huntington aforesaid, died seized and possessed of one hundred acres of land in the town of Huntington afsd [aforesaid?] being Lot No. 35 in the first Division of the right of Benjamin Cornell an original proprietor in said Town, leaving minor heirs, to wit, Elisha Williams, Phebe Williams, and Harry Williams, and that your petitioner is the Guardian to said minor heirs duly appointed by the Honorable Solomon Miller, Esq., Judge of Probate for the district of Chittenden. Your Petitioner further sheweth that it would advance the interests of said minor heirs to sell, dispose of and deed said Land. Therefore prays this Honorable Court for an order impowering him the said Jacob Williams to sell, dispose of and deed the same; and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.
Burlington, January 13, 1807. Jacob Williams
State of Vermont
Probate District of Chittenden, January 14th, 1807, I hereby certify that I believe it for the benefit of said heirs that the land mentioned in above petition be sold.
Solo. Miller, Judge Probate1570

• “...all right and title which I the said Jacob Williams have in and to the following land in the town of Huntington to wit. Being all the Right which I hold by heirship in the estate of Eunice Williams, late of Huntington deceased.”
Source: Excerpt from land transfer deed, dated 26 Jan 1837, signed by Jacob Williams. Provides solid evidence that Eunice was Rufus’ widow. SL film #28333, Huntington Deeds, vol. 7, page 406. Pasadena FHL, August 1991.

• Know all Men by these presents, that I, John Butler, of the Town of Huntington, County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, do for the Consideration of six hundred and fifty dollars to me in hand paid by Jacob Williams, Administrator of the Estate of Rufus Williams, deceased, of the town, county, and state aforesaid, the receipt I do hereby acknowledge for which I have given, granted, bargained, sold, and by these presents, do give, grant, bargain, sell, [unknown] convey and confirm unto him this said Jacob Williams, Administrator of the Estate of Rufus Williams, deceased, who was Impowered by the Decree of the Probate Judge to act wholly for the heirs of said Rufus Williams, deceased, a certain tract or parcel of land, lying and being in the Town of Huntington, County of Chittenden, State of Vermont.
Berthed and bounded as follows: Beginning at a stake and stones, being the NorthEasterly corner of John Thomas’ land, thence S 28° to 160 rods to a beach tree being the Southeasterly corner of John Martin’s land, thence S 62° & 100 rods to a stake and stones, thence N 28° & 160 rods to a stake and stones, thence a straight line to the first named bound, and containing 100 acres of land and [blank] to the original right of Benjamin Cornell.
To have and to hold the same with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof unto made him the said Jacob Williams, Administrator of Rufus Williams, deceased, to him his heirs and assigns forever. And do hereby covenant to and with the said Jacob Williams, his heirs, estate administrators and assigns that the premises are free and clear of all encumbrances, and that I will warrant and defend the same against all demands whatever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of May, 1807.
Provided nevertheless that if the said John Butler doth well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto Jacob Williams or his Assigns five Custom Notes of hand bearing date the 23rd February 1807, in Consequence of the Bargain Contract and Sale of the premises to be understood [?] his Interest took its rise from this date the 23rd February the principal Notes are five One Hundred and Twenty Dollars each payable in Meat Cattle at the House of Elijah Peaks in Hinesburg on the 4th day of October, the first Note payable 1807, and so on the 4th day of Oct. 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811 together with five Interest Notes bearing the same date namely the 23 February and are correspondingly agreeable to the foregoing dates, one of thirty-six dollars, one of twenty-eight dollars and eighty cents, and one of twenty-one dollars and sixty cents, one of fourteen dollars and forty cents, and one of seven dollars and twenty cents, and furthermore, in case of my failure in any payment, at any period of time, he the said Jacob Williams shall have full right to reenter the premises and use, occupy, and possess, and enjoy the same but in case the payments are duly made at their respective dates, then this Instrument is null and void. Otherwise in full force and Virtue in the Law.
/s/ John Butler
In presence of
Jabez Fargo
Samuel Loomer
State of Vermont
Chittenden July 9th day 1807
Personally appeared John Butler signer and sealer of the foregoing Instrument and Acknowledge the same to be his free act and deed before me.
Ebenezer Ambler
Justice Peace
Received this Deed for Record, 5th September 1807, and recorded the same.
Wm. Hills
Town Clerk1571

• 1790 Census: New Huntington, Chittenden, Vermont. 1 male over 16; 3 males under 16; 2 females.1548
• 1800 Census: Huntington, Chittenden, Vermont. 1 male >45; 2 males 16-26; 3 males 10-16; 4 males <10; 1 female 26-45; 1 female 10-16; 2 females <10.1549

• A database in Ancestry.com for Connecticut Revolutionary War Lists, 1775-83, lists a Rufus Williams from a pay abstract who marched with Captain John Morgan’s Company in Col. Oliver Smith’s Eighth Regiment upon the alarm of the invasion of New London on September 6, 1781. This could be our Rufus Williams.1572

• Huntington is a mountainous town of irregular outline in the extreme southeastern part of the county [Chittenden], and is bounded north by Richmond and Bolton, east by Duxbury and Fayston, in Washington county, south by Buel’s Gore and by Starksboro, in Addison county, and west by Starksboro and Hinesburg. The town was chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth to the following grantees on the 7th of June, 1763 [list follows]. The township was originally called New Huntington.1541, p 613