Charles Williams (THE INVENTOR) (28 Jul 1773 - 24 January 1817)
Charles Williams was born on 28 July 1773 in College Hill Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England to parents Charles and Mary Williams. This street still exists today.
Shrewsbury was an industrial epicentre of England at the time.
We believe at some point between 1773 and 1792, Charles left Shropshire and travelled to London.
Charles Williams marries Martha Webb on 15 November 1792 at Saint Marys, Lambeth, Surrey, England. Charles was 28.
Charles and Martha had 3 children that we know of.
1. Mary Davis (nee Williams). Born at Green Court (became Green Walk around 1825) on 2 July 1793, christened 5 Aug 1793 at Christ Church, Southwark, Surrey, London, England. She died at Moore Farm, Reedbeds, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia on 3 April 1846.
2. Charles Williams (born 18 July 1796, christened Sep 1796 at Saint Margaret's, Westminster, London, England. He died at Sibbertoft, England on 18 June 1866.
3. Harriot Davis (nee Williams) born around 1801. There has been a lot of speculation that Harriot wasn’t the sister of Mary but I am pretty sure she was.
The 1798 Land Tax Redemption list has the Williams family at Green Court owning their house and paying 3 pounds a year in tax. There is an empty house on one side and ground on the other side owned by Mr Loaf.
Charles Williams, Martha's son is studying at "The Ciceronian Academy" under Dr. Duncan at Pimlico. It was an educational establishment for young gentlemen. Dr. Duncan lived in Palace Street, Pimlico and was the late minister of the Scots Church, Peter Street, Golden Square. He died around 1814.
Charles Williams and his family are residing at 3 Cane Place, Gravel Lane, Southwark, London, England (this was at the south end of Gravel Lane and the east end of Bennett's Row off Blackfriars Road) on 5 January 1810 when he writes to the Society of Arts.
He was granted a patent by them on 2 August 1810 for a machine for grinding or cutting Malt, splitting Beans, and any other kind of grain, and various other articles. He is listed as a millwright. In 1813, no London millwright earned less than seven shillings a day - equivalent to 42 shillings for the normal six day week.
In 1811, still residing at Gravel Lane, Charles wins twenty guineas from the Royal Society of Arts for the invention of the method of boring the conical part of brass cocks.
In 1812, the Reverend Rowland Hill, whose large octagon chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion used to be a well-known place in Christchurch parish, opened almshouses in Gravel Lane for 24 poor widows belonging to the congregation. Could this be why they moved?
In 1814 he receives a prize of twenty guineas and a silver medal from the Society of Arts for inventing a portable corn mill for family use. He was listed at that time as being located at 20 Hatfield Street (runs parallel to Blackfriars Road), Southwark, London, England.
He was a foreman of a factory. He was also an engineer, of much inventiveness of genius, who devised several machines which were greatly valued in the mechanical work.
In 1816 on the Land Tax Records, show "Williams house and land" next to Thomas Huntingdon at Hatfield Place. Down the road is a Mary Webb.
Charles Williams died on 24 January 1817. He is buried at St Thomas, Southwark, England.
Between 1817 and 1824 Mary Williams is listed as tenanted to a house on Hatfield Place owned by Richard Solly. The house is next to Robert Wilson. Down the road is a Mary Webb.
His daughter Mary married Abraham Hopkins Davis in 1818.
Shrewsbury was an industrial epicentre of England at the time.
We believe at some point between 1773 and 1792, Charles left Shropshire and travelled to London.
Charles Williams marries Martha Webb on 15 November 1792 at Saint Marys, Lambeth, Surrey, England. Charles was 28.
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| Charles Williams and Martha Webb Marriage |
Charles and Martha had 3 children that we know of.
1. Mary Davis (nee Williams). Born at Green Court (became Green Walk around 1825) on 2 July 1793, christened 5 Aug 1793 at Christ Church, Southwark, Surrey, London, England. She died at Moore Farm, Reedbeds, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia on 3 April 1846.
2. Charles Williams (born 18 July 1796, christened Sep 1796 at Saint Margaret's, Westminster, London, England. He died at Sibbertoft, England on 18 June 1866.
3. Harriot Davis (nee Williams) born around 1801. There has been a lot of speculation that Harriot wasn’t the sister of Mary but I am pretty sure she was.
The 1798 Land Tax Redemption list has the Williams family at Green Court owning their house and paying 3 pounds a year in tax. There is an empty house on one side and ground on the other side owned by Mr Loaf.
Charles Williams, Martha's son is studying at "The Ciceronian Academy" under Dr. Duncan at Pimlico. It was an educational establishment for young gentlemen. Dr. Duncan lived in Palace Street, Pimlico and was the late minister of the Scots Church, Peter Street, Golden Square. He died around 1814.
Charles Williams and his family are residing at 3 Cane Place, Gravel Lane, Southwark, London, England (this was at the south end of Gravel Lane and the east end of Bennett's Row off Blackfriars Road) on 5 January 1810 when he writes to the Society of Arts.
He was granted a patent by them on 2 August 1810 for a machine for grinding or cutting Malt, splitting Beans, and any other kind of grain, and various other articles. He is listed as a millwright. In 1813, no London millwright earned less than seven shillings a day - equivalent to 42 shillings for the normal six day week.
In 1811, still residing at Gravel Lane, Charles wins twenty guineas from the Royal Society of Arts for the invention of the method of boring the conical part of brass cocks.
In 1812, the Reverend Rowland Hill, whose large octagon chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion used to be a well-known place in Christchurch parish, opened almshouses in Gravel Lane for 24 poor widows belonging to the congregation. Could this be why they moved?
In 1814 he receives a prize of twenty guineas and a silver medal from the Society of Arts for inventing a portable corn mill for family use. He was listed at that time as being located at 20 Hatfield Street (runs parallel to Blackfriars Road), Southwark, London, England.
He was a foreman of a factory. He was also an engineer, of much inventiveness of genius, who devised several machines which were greatly valued in the mechanical work.
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| Charles William invention of portable corn mill |
In 1816 on the Land Tax Records, show "Williams house and land" next to Thomas Huntingdon at Hatfield Place. Down the road is a Mary Webb.
Charles Williams died on 24 January 1817. He is buried at St Thomas, Southwark, England.
Between 1817 and 1824 Mary Williams is listed as tenanted to a house on Hatfield Place owned by Richard Solly. The house is next to Robert Wilson. Down the road is a Mary Webb.
His daughter Mary married Abraham Hopkins Davis in 1818.
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