William Hansard was probably born in Chesterfield Co.,Va. in 1763. He was one of three known children of John and Ann Hansard of Bedford Co.,Va. William's early years were spent in the Bedford and Amherst Co. area. During the Revolution, he enlisted in Amherst Co.'s local militia as a private in the spring of 1781. He was under the command of Capt. John Cottrell and helped guard the "tories" who were imprisoned in the town of New London (Bedford Co.) for conspiracy. William married Martha Christian in 1792, a daughter of Amherst Co. planter/farmer Robert and Mary Christian. Martha's gt-gt grandfather, Thomas Christian,Sr. purchased land in Charles City Co.,Va in 1657. William and Martha Hansard left Amherst Co. about 1806 and headed to Knox Co.,TN and settled along the waters of Bull Run Creek. They both died in the 1840's and are buried in the cemetery near Hansard's Chapel. William and Martha had nine children and left many descendants throughout the country.
He was married to MARTHA CHRISTIAN (daughter of ROBERT (JR.) CHRISTIAN and MARY UNKNOWN) on 24 Nov 1792 in Lexington Parish, Amherst County, Virginia. MARTHA CHRISTIAN was born in 1775 in Tye/Buffallo Ck?, Amherst County, Virginia. She died on 26 Jun 1841 in Bull Run Creek, Knox County, Tennessee. She was buried on 27 Jun 1841 in Hansard Cemetery, HiWay 33, Union, Tennessee. WILLIAM HANSARD and MARTHA CHRISTIAN had the following children: +2 i. JOHN HANSARD. <d116.html> +3 ii. Lucy HANSARD. <d450.html> +4 iii. Mary C. "Polly" HANSARD. <d451.html> +5 iv. Martha Jane HANSARD. <d452.html> +6 v. William Christian HANSARD. <d453.html> +7 vi. Robert Christian HANSARD. <d454.html> +8 vii. Samuel H. HANSARD. <d455.html> +9 viii. Archibald G. HANSARD. <d456.html> +10 ix. Abner Christian HANSARD. <d457.html>
A tailor by trade. He came as a passenger on the Good Ship Cecelia captained by Lord Baltimore. Settled in All Hollows Prish, Ann Arundel, MD
William Thames and his wife Deborah Newberry were 2nd cousins.
William inherited half of the estate of his father in his noncupative will of January 10, 1813. He sold this inherited land to his brother David Thames before going to Mississippi. Cumberland Co. Deed Book 28, page 363, recorded 1816.71 acres "Neck Road."
Her family resided in South Carolina, perhaps in Newberry County in the northern portion of the state. The County seat is also Newberry. Her family may have moved there from Virginia, or they may have settled there upon arrival in America. She and William Thames (pronounced "Tims" like the Thames River in England) probably married in South Carolina. The Thames seem to have finally settled in Brookhaven, Mississippi or near there. Following the death of Deborah Ann, daughter Martha Ann postponed her own wedding to Harvey Mobley to keep house for her father and the other children.
Pastor of the Cape Fear Baptist Church when it joined the Nuese Association in 1796.
The Reverend William Thames was an active member of the North Carolina Militia, Wilmington NC District during the American Revolution. The following pay voucher No.2368 proves this.
No. 2368. State of North Carolina 20th March 1782
As an order of the District of Wilmington
This is to Dertify that William Thims is allowed the sum of five pounds Three Shillings and Six pence Specie for his services in the Millitia as Witnessed on Pay-Roll No. 1114 Wilkson Lewis Holmes. Clk Tho Routledges.When the Reverend William Thames died, he had an abundance of "Worldly Goods." Personal items, livestock, food and horse were sold to relatives. Real estate property was divided between his two youngest sons William and James as per his will.