Churchill/Williams

We returned to Rhode Island after our week in Tompkins County and was reminded of the Strong connections. Reuben's grandson, Philip, my g grandfather, moved with his family to Ontario Canada where he grew up and met Mary Amelia Churchill, whom he married. Mary Amelia's father had also moved to the area through New York and had served in the National Guard. His father was Pardon Churchill who was born in Mansfield, Mass., or near there. In the year 1816 he made a journey into the forest lands of the Susquehanna County, Pa., purchased a tract of woodland, made a small clearing, and built a house. Returning home, he made preparations for removal and in the winter of 1817-18, having constructed a cloth-covered house or tent upon an ox-sled, and packing their supplies and necessary furnishings, and accompanied by his young wife and infant son, Asa, with John and Bathsheba Williams, his wife's mother [believe it should be brother, John Jay Williams] and sister, he set out for the new home. They were fourteen days on the journey to the wilderness, in the town of Herrick, where his farm was located. He died about 1825, leaving a widow and one son. He married in Scituate, R.I, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, daughter of Squire and Anna Williams, the father being a descendant of Roger Williams, the pioneer settler of Providence, R.I. Squire Williams was in the fifth generation from Roger, and was born in Scituate, R.I., May 20, 1753, son of Benoni and Abigail (Smith) Williams. Abigail remarried after Pardon's death and moved to Leon, Cattaraugus Co, NY, not far from Ontario.