John Benjamin Williams
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John Benjamin Williams was born [[June 12]], [[1817]] in [[Venice, New York|Venice]], [[New York]], a small town located in [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]], which lies in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Very little is known about his early life. | John Benjamin Williams was born [[June 12]], [[1817]] in [[Venice, New York|Venice]], [[New York]], a small town located in [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga County]], which lies in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Very little is known about his early life. | ||
- | In September 1938, John married [[Clarissa Harding]] and they settled in [[ | + | In September 1938, John married [[Clarissa Harding]] and they settled in [[Venice, New York|Venice]], about mile away from his brothers. In 1840 John and Clarissa had their first child, a boy they named [[James Return Williams|James Return]]. A girl was added to the family in April 1842 with the birth of [[Susan Clarissa Williams|Susan Clarissa]] but the joy was short-lived as John's [[John Andrew Williams|father]] died the same month after a long illness. |
It was about this time that John and Clarissa and John's sister [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]] became aware of the teachings of Mormon preachers in the area, and John and Clarissa were baptized into the Mormon faith on [[July 4]], [[1842]]. Soon after joining the Mormons, they began to lay in supplies and made plans to move to [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]], [[Illinois]]. They were unable to sell their property in [[Venice, New York|Venice]], so a few months after the birth of their third child, [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm|Bateman Haight]], they abandoned their farm, horses, cattle, and sheep, and left for [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]] with John's sister [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]]. John's brothers Daniel and Martin delivered a load of freight and [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]] to the Erie Canal, while John and Clarissa followed behind in a buggy. | It was about this time that John and Clarissa and John's sister [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]] became aware of the teachings of Mormon preachers in the area, and John and Clarissa were baptized into the Mormon faith on [[July 4]], [[1842]]. Soon after joining the Mormons, they began to lay in supplies and made plans to move to [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]], [[Illinois]]. They were unable to sell their property in [[Venice, New York|Venice]], so a few months after the birth of their third child, [[Bateman Haight Wilhelm|Bateman Haight]], they abandoned their farm, horses, cattle, and sheep, and left for [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]] with John's sister [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]]. John's brothers Daniel and Martin delivered a load of freight and [[Sarah Williams|Sarah]] to the Erie Canal, while John and Clarissa followed behind in a buggy. |