The Williams family make their first appearance in November of 1880 with the death of the miner William Williams (1850-1880). Newspaper coverage of this event put his origins in New Harbour, Trinity Bay.

References to Moses and Robert Williams I’ve found start in 1888 and 1889 respectfully. Genealogically, we know the most about Robert as he and his wife Esther Sarah have two daughters while living in town. You’ll find them named in the source list at the bottom if you’re working on this family. Jump to there and you will find the few facts I’ve collected so far.

If you’re interested I can suggest a likely narrative, however. What follows is guess work but guess work informed by deduction and by applying the patterns I’ve seen in other Newfoundland born miners arriving around this time.

The opening years of the 1880s witnessed an influx of Newfoundland born miners as the founding Germans departed and new ownership acquired the mining company.

Oftentimes a group of brothers would arrive together by way of their own schooner. In the Williams case we have some evidence of this with Robert’s job listed as seaman in 1895. This switch from mining into fishing is a trend evidenced by job titles recorded by McAlpine’s in 1894. Put simply; more people are found listed as fishermen when mining production is slow and many of these were previously referred to as miners or labourers.

The families with schooners within this group of occasionally-unemployed miners often stuck around longer waiting to see if the mining work would return as they could support themselves fishing in the interim. On the other hand, the miners composed of single men stayed in boarding houses and had less social, economic, and skill-based resources to fall back on. They thereby left town more readily when mining work was unavailable.

If you’re working on the Williams family tree I hopefully gave you some new ideas. If you know more than I do, as always, please reach out and let me know.

Sources:

1880, Nov 19 – William Williams killed in mining accident when he fell down a 330 foot shaft. He was from New Harbour, Trinity Bay and 30 years old (ET/CH/TS). Brought to St. John’s on the Hercules (ET)

1888, March – Moses Williams in court (Wells)

1889, Sept 14 – Robert Williams witnessed [[Rideout]]/[[Chant]] wedding.

1889, Oct – Moses Williams signed the petition against timber grants.

1892, July 11 – Louisa Williams born to Robert and Esther Sarah. He was a labourer.

1893 – Robert Williams living at Little Bay Harbour, Little Bay (Voter’s list)

1894 – Robert Williams fisherman at Little Bay Harbour (McAlpine’s)

1895, April 4 – Barbara Williams born to Robert and Sarah. They were [[Church of England]]. He was a seaman.