24 June, 2026
Williamson: The American Civil War
There is a family story (see comment on another post) about George Henry Williamson (b ~1845) having fought on possibly the Confederate side in the American Civil War [1861–1865]. It is believed he ran off as a very young man to America to fight. If true, we might guess that he was drawn into this escapade with his cousin Thomas, although given Thomas was born in New Jersey it is possibly surprising that they fought on the Confederate side.
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20 June, 2026
William Blizard Williamson, Drink and Temperance
William Blizard Williamson seems to have been man who “made good”. He started as a tin man (the 1841 Census for Kingston upon Thames in England has him listed as “I tinman”, where the “I” could stand for “independent” of “Itinerant” – or both).
A search of Newspapers and stories handed down through the family, suggest that alcohol may have been an issue.
(more…)9 June, 2026
Williamson Antecedents in England
This post traces my line back through my mother’s adoptive maternal line, specifically her maternal grandfather’s surname line, the Williamsons.
It was written to try and bring some order to a variety of posts concerning the Williamsons. I am organising them into two categories: purely genealogical (i.e. relationships etc.) such as this post and “stories” related to one or more Williamsons.
First I need to establish my oldest proven Williamson ancestor, stepping back a generation at a time. This post covers the ancestry in England and a later post the ancestry in Ireland.
(more…)27 December, 2022
15 September, 2021
Williamson: Current Research
Currently a number of events have brought my focus back to the Williamson Family – my maternal grandmother’s family (through my mother’s adoption).
The purpose of this post is to summarise the current areas of research and what is being done (September 2021) in order to help others and via search engines to catch the attention of people currently unknown to me who may be researching the same family.
Currently we know of the Williamsons in Cork in the first half of the 19th Century, later emerging in Worcester in England in the 1861 Census. That same census indicates that there was a branch of the family in New Jersey United States.
(more…)7 September, 2021
The Blizard Name
My mother’s adoptive mother’s paternal grandfather (my Grandmother’s Grandfather) was William Blizard Williamson (born Cork, Ireland 1811, died Worcester, England 1878). He had two sons: William Blizard Williamson (the younger) and George Henry Williamson – my grandmother’s father.
I have written previously about them. This post ponders the origin of the Blizard name in our family tree and whether knowing that helps identify further ancestors or the geographical origin of the Williamsons. (There is a rumour that they may have originated in England and another that they originated in Londonderry.)
This post summarises what I know about the name (not much) and what I would like to know. It is a work-in-progress both in terms of research and content editing. Suggestions are very welcome!
This post also details the genealogy of Sir William Blizard (1743-1835), a surgeon and founder of the first medical school attached to a hospital, The London Hospital. It may be that William Blizard Williamson was named after this famous person, but if anyone reading this identifies a genealogical link between the two of them … .
On the other hand, perhaps he was born during a blizzard?
(more…)11 November, 2018
On this day 100 years ago: Armistice
One hundred years on it is hard to imagine the impact of the Armistice. I was too young to discuss it with any of my relatives who survived the war. I imagine amidst the celebrations there would have been a sad reckoning.
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1 April, 2018
Williamson Antecedents in Ireland
This post was formerly titled William Blizard Williamson “of Cork” and was significantly editted in 2026.
One of my brick walls has been William Blizard Williamson, his family and their ancestry;
- His wife Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) and,
- His sons William Blizard and George Henry.
The younger son, George Henry was the father of Elizabeth Ann Willett who with her husband Everard William Willett adopted my mother, which makes William Blizard Williamson (senior) my Great Great Grandfather (by adoption).
Another post, Williamson Antecedents in England, now details the above genealogy. This post now deals with ancestry in Ireland.
This posts summarises what is and is not known about this family and what can be done to break down this brick wall. Essentially we know little about their Irish life or of their ancestors in Ireland.
(more…)16 December, 2016
Will: Samuel Williamson of Cork
Below is my attempt at transcribing the will of Samuel Williamson of Cork (1808-1872) as found in the Original Will Registers 1858-1920 on Find My Past
It is a key document for working out the family tree of the Williamsons of Cork.
13 December, 2016
Obituary: William Blizard Williamson (the elder) of Worcester
The following is a transcript of the obituary (and associated reports) for William Blizard Williamson (the elder) of Worcester. He was (via the adoption of my mother) my Great Great Grandfather and lived from about 1811/12 until 15 September 1878.
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