Eliezer Williams
Encyclopedia
Rev. Eliezer Williams (baptised 4 October 1754 – 20 January 1820) was a Welsh
clergyman and genealogist, who served the Earl of Galloway
as a family tutor and genealogical researcher.
Williams was born in Pibwr-lwyd, Llangynnwr, Carmarthenshire
, Wales
to a Methodist minister and his wife. He was educated at Carmarthen grammar school and Jesus College, Oxford
(matriculated
1775, BA
1778, MA 1781). He was ordained deacon in 1777 and priest in 1778. He was a curate of Trelech
, Carmarthenshire before becoming curate of Tetsworth
, Oxfordshire
. Williams became second master at the grammar school in Wallingford, Berkshire) and curate of the nearby village of Acton. Then, in 1780, he was made chaplain of under the command of Keith Stewart
(son of the Earl of Galloway
). He also tutored Lord Garlies, Stewart's nephew, who was a midshipman.
After a few years, the Earl of Galloway asked Williams to become the family tutor. He also assisted with research into the Galloway ancestry, helping to establish the Scottish Earl's claim to the English peerage. A Genealogical Account of Lord Galloway's Family was published in 1794.
In 1784, he was appointed vicar of Cynwyl Gaeo
with Llansawel
, Carmarthenshire. In 1799, he became curate of Chadwell St Mary
, Essex
and was also chaplain at Tilbury Fort
. In 1809, while serving in Chadwell, he gave evidence in the case of White v Driver
in which Elizabeth Manning's will was disputed on the grounds of insanity.
His final appointment was as vicar of Lampeter
in Ceredigion
, where he ran a grammar school for 14 years. He died in Lampeter in 1820 and was buried there.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
clergyman and genealogist, who served the Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton ....
as a family tutor and genealogical researcher.
Life
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
to a Methodist minister and his wife. He was educated at Carmarthen grammar school and Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
(matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
1775, BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1778, MA 1781). He was ordained deacon in 1777 and priest in 1778. He was a curate of Trelech
Trelech
Trelech is a village in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.Modern Trelech has one pub and a shop and Post Office which is now closed, based on its very rural and lightly populated status....
, Carmarthenshire before becoming curate of Tetsworth
Tetsworth
Tetsworth is a village and civil parish about south of Thame in Oxfordshire.-Manor:At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Tetsworth did not exist as a separate manor. In the 12th century, benefactors gave land in the area to the Cistercian Thame Abbey and these lands were brought together as an...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. Williams became second master at the grammar school in Wallingford, Berkshire) and curate of the nearby village of Acton. Then, in 1780, he was made chaplain of under the command of Keith Stewart
Keith Stewart
Keith Stewart of Glasserton was a ScottishAdmiral and MP in the British Parliament. He was the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway.-Naval career:...
(son of the Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton ....
). He also tutored Lord Garlies, Stewart's nephew, who was a midshipman.
After a few years, the Earl of Galloway asked Williams to become the family tutor. He also assisted with research into the Galloway ancestry, helping to establish the Scottish Earl's claim to the English peerage. A Genealogical Account of Lord Galloway's Family was published in 1794.
In 1784, he was appointed vicar of Cynwyl Gaeo
Cynwyl Gaeo
Cynwyl Gaeo is a parish and community located in Carmarthenshire, Wales....
with Llansawel
Llansawel
Llansawel is a community located in Carmarthenshire, West Wales....
, Carmarthenshire. In 1799, he became curate of Chadwell St Mary
Chadwell St Mary
Chadwell-St-Mary is a dispersed settlement in the unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex, England. It is one of the traditional parishes in Thurrock and former civil parish. It is a few miles east of the town of Grays and is located north of the modern town of Tilbury which was part of the parish...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and was also chaplain at Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort is on the north, Essex, bank of the River Thames in England and was built to defend London from attack from the sea, particularly during the Spanish Armada and the Anglo-Dutch Wars...
. In 1809, while serving in Chadwell, he gave evidence in the case of White v Driver
White v Driver
White v Driver was a case decided in 1809 concerning a challenge to a will on the grounds of insanity. It laid down that if there was a previous history of insanity, the burden of proof lies in proving the sanity of the testator when making the will...
in which Elizabeth Manning's will was disputed on the grounds of insanity.
His final appointment was as vicar of Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
in Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, where he ran a grammar school for 14 years. He died in Lampeter in 1820 and was buried there.