David Richard Williams was the son of David Williams and Mary Richards Williams.
The family was from Antiglobe, Gramoganshire, Wales in 1822. David Richard Williams was 6 weeks old when he arrived in Pittsburgh, PA. He may have been born aboard ship enroute. He had dark hair, dark complexion, grey eyes, and he was 5’6” in height. Mary Richard Williams died aboard ship enroute to America and was buried at sea. The siblings of David Richard Williams were: Mary, John, and Margaret. David Richard Williams married Arabella Foreman on January 1, 1847 in Pittsburgh, PA.
David Richard Williams enlisted in the Union Army on December 11, 1861 in St. Louis, MO in the Civil War. He fought the Indians at Fort Defiance in Company A, Merrill’s Horse Calvary. Muster records cover December 11, 1861 through October 1864. Then Sergeant David Richard Williams was transferred to Company I, 4th Regiment, Veteran’s Reserve Corp and discharged. September was to be his mustered-out date.
The children of David Richard Williams and Arabella Foreman Williams were:
- Caroline “Carrie” L. Williams (who died in youth)
- Emma Ann Williams (born Shaler Township, Allegheny County, PA)
- Arabella Williams (born PA), Birdie MaeWilliams (born Pittsburgh, PA)
- Perry Hazard Williams (born St. Louis, MO), Margaret Richard Williams (born St. Louis, MO)
- David Richard Williams, Jr. (born St. Louis, MO).
- They had two children who died in infancy.
David Richard Williams signed away his property in Allegheny County, PA, in payment for a bond he had signed for a friend who defaulted as County Tax Assessor. The property was never recovered by the heirs.
1850 census, Shaler, Allegheny, PA (143/151): David Richard Williams (26) Boiler, b. Wales; Arrabella Foreman Williams (24) b. NY; Caroline L. Williams (3) b. PA; Emma Ann Williams (9/12) b. PA.
1858, July 27, St. Louis, MO, David Richard Williams, naturalization as a citizen of United States at the Law County Court.
1860 census, St. Louis, MO (798/2005): David Richard Williams (34) a puddler who forged steel, b. England (Wales); Arabella Foreman Williams (27, b. PA); Caroline L. Williams (12, b. Ohio); Emma Ann Williams (10, b. PA); Arabella Williams (3, b. PA).
1880 census, Memphis, Shelby County, TN, District 15, E.D. 130, town of Chelsea:
- David Richard Williams (53, b. 1827 in Wales) a puddler, parents b. Wales
- Arabella Foreman Williams (52, born NY) parents b. PA
- Arabella Williams (19, born PA) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
- Perry Hazard Williams (17, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
- David Richard Williams, Jr. (14, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales
- Margaret “Maggie” Richard Williams (11, born MO) mother b. NY, father b. Wales.
Sergeant David Richard Williams died November 6, 1880 in Memphis, Shelby, TN and is buried in Memphis National Cemetery, grave 13977.
Arabella Foreman Williams died March 21, 1897, age 75, in Memphis and she is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery-Midtown, Memphis, Shelby, TN.
Letter from D. R. Williams: Fort Defiance, March 17. 1861
My Dear Daughters
I now address a few lines according to promises when I left home as you are aware it was on the 24th of November last that I left St. Louis in the Gray’s Company A, First Regiment on the Southwest Expedition marched to Camp Boon at this place (which is 5 miles from the Kansas border and 300 miles from St. Louis) the Brigade received orders to return home and four companys were raised, one of Artillery and three of Calvary to protect the Border. I joined the Artillery Capt. Jackson and served in this company until the 14th of Jan when on being Elected 2nd Lieutenant of the 3rd Company of Cavalry I was transferd to said Company and ordered to take post on the line dividing this State and the Now State of Kansass the Company is Comanded by Capt. Stapels and we have erected a baracade and named it Fort Defiance. We are now nearly through with the work which was much retarded by bad wether and the fatigue of Scouting along the Line every night-some times riding Thirty and forty miles between dark and daylight and then go to work on the fortifications so you see that the life of a Soldier is not all play and you can also imagin how very much time I have had to write to Mother and you after two months of such work.
I hope that you both and Birdey have been good girls and Perry has been a good Boy since I Left Home that you have been to school and improved as fast as the circumstances under which you were placed this winter would permit.
The Indians have not comenced to come to this post to trade yet and as we are prohibited to go to Kansass to trade with them I have been unable to buy Mocisens for you yet but I am informed by the residents heare that there will be plenty of them coming to sell their firs between this and the first of April next so I wish you to write as soon as you receive this and let me know how many inches long your feet is also your Mothers and Birdeys and I will try and get them to fit as I am afraid that I cannot do so without the measure.
Tell your Mother that I wrote to her and Mr. Robinson on the 15th inst and I wish them to answer immediately.
To Miss Caroline P and Miss Emma A from their father. D R. Williams
submitted by Peggy Rhinerson
