The Williams Family
Henry Williams
Henry Williams 1792-1867 married Marianne Coldham 1793-1879
The Rev Henry Williams
1792 - 1867
Initially a Naval Officer.
Arrived in New Zealand in 1823.
Leader of the (Anglican) CMS Mission in the Bay of Islands. Became Archdeacon of Waimate in 1844. Active as a peacemaker between hostile tribes. Instrumental in negotiations on the Treaty of Waitangi.
Marianne Williams née Coldham
1793 - 1879
Married Henry in 1818. Came to New Zealand with him and three small children in 1823.
Missionary, teacher and midwife. Promoted education for Maori women and girls. Noted also for her lively writing in letters and journals.
Children
Marianne Williams
Edward Marsh 1818-1909 m. Jane Davis
Marianne 1820-1919 m. Christopher Pearson Davies
Samuel 1822-1907 m. Mary Williams (daughter of Jane & William)
Henry 1823-1907 m. Jane Elizabeth Williams (daughter of Jane & William)
Thomas Coldham 1825-1912 m. Annie Beetham
John William 1827-1904 m. Sarah Busby
Sarah 1829-1866 m. Thomas Biddulph Hutton
Catherine 1832-1916 m. Octavius Hadfield
Caroline Elizabeth 1832-1916 m. Samuel Blomfield Ludbrook
Lydia Jane 1834-1891 m. Hugh Francis Carleton
Joseph Marsden 1837-1892
William Williams
William Williams 1800-1878 married Jane Nelson 1801-1896
The Rev William Williams
1800-1878
Completed a surgeon’s apprenticeship then a B.A. in classics at Oxford. Came to New Zealand in 1826. Missionary, teacher and linguist. Consecrated first bishop of Waiapu in 1859. Key translator of the Bible and prayer book into Maori. Wrote a comprehensive dictionary of classical Maori, first published in 1844.
Jane Williams née Nelson
1801 - 1896
Married William Williams in 1825. Came with him to New Zealand in 1826. Missionary and teacher. Like Marianne, promoted education for Maori girls.
Children
Mary 1826-1900 m. Samuel Williams (son of Henry & Marianne)
Jane Elizabeth 1827-1902 m. Henry Williams (son of Henry & Marianne)
Jane Williams
William Leonard 1829-1916 m. Sarah Wanklyn
Thomas Sydney 1831-1847
James Nelson 1827-1915 m. Mary Beetham
Anna Maria 1839-1929
Lydia Catherine (Kate) 1841-1931
Marianne 1843-1932
Emma Caroline 1846-1924 m. William Nelson
The two families had a total of 94 grandchildren.
Descendants of the two families now number several thousand, scattered throughout New Zealand and overseas. Details about these descendants can be found in “Faith and Farming, Te Huarahi Ki Te Ora, The Legacy of Henry Williams and William Williams” published by Evagean Publishing in 1991 and revised in 1998 on the occasion on the most recent Williams family reunion which commemorated the 175th arrival of Henry and Marianne Williams in New Zealand.