General Notes

SOURCE:  Historical Sketches and Family Histories - Grayson County, Kentucky
        Author:  The Grayson County Historical Society   Pub: 2002   Page 281

"...James Hollis WILLIAMS, born 2 Feb 1797 in Virginia, married Sena (Senny) METZEL, born 1791-1792.  James died 3 Aug 1870, and Senny died 18 Feb 1861.  They are buried at Williams Grave Yard. 

Martin and Mary SKAGGS.  He was born aobut 1788 in Virginia, and Mary was born about 1790 in Kentucky...."

"The first record of James Hollis WILLIAMS in Grayson County is a copy of an 21 Apr 1825 deed to land on the Grindstone Fork of Rock Creek.  He bought the land with 147 commonwealth papers (equal to about $73.50 in gold or silver).  He was 27 years old and married to Sena METZEL, a daughter of Fredrick METZEL and Margaret CARISS or Mary BLACK.

A neighbor was Jacob WILLIAMS, who died in 1858 and was 25 years older than James.  Their relantionship is unknown, as is the name of James Hollis' father.  Jacob's father is believed to be Thomas WILLIAMS, listed in various Kentucky and Virginia records.

James Hollis and Sena had nine children:  Eliza (unmarried);  Jacob (Celia SKAGGS);  Elizabeth Jane (james WITTEN);  a twin Nancy (Owen WITTEN);  a twin Mary (Polly)  (Martin SKAGGS);  Margaret Ann (Reason LAYMAN);  John D. (Martha SKAGGS);  and Lewis Hollis (Marietta SKAGGS).

Since there is a short grave between Sena's and Eliza's at the Williams Grave Yard (off Downs School Road), it is believed their first child died as a baby.

Either with his neighbor, Jacob, or his son, Jacob, James Hollis operated a community tannery near the point where Grindstone Creek flows into Rock Creek just upstream from Nolin River.

James and his descendants would be mostly farmers, millers (both grist and saw) and blacksmiths.  Many descendants have become accomplished carpenters.

Whatever his descendants have done as work, each has brought a singular tenacity directed at doing a piece of work thoroughly and correctly.  In many communities where they have lived, James' progeny have often been referred to as "that stubborn WILLIAMS!"  Most have a sense of humor, albeit a dry one.

Other early familes in Grayson County connected to the Williamses include SKAGGS, WATKINS, WITTEN, HORNBACK, GRAGSON, WILLIS, REED, PARIS, BELL, DOWNS and FULKERSON....."
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