The Silver Thread That Binds…: Family History, Memories & Recipes of the Walker & Ida Williams Lineage

By Hope Castellaw

In the late 1700s brothers Stephen and John Jones, traveled from Virginia to a flat meadow just across a creek, today known as Dunns Creek; built a log cabin for their families. A band of renegade Cherokee attacked the cabin; massacred members of this family. From the front porch of the home Walker Williams built in 1903 for his bride, Ida, you can look across the creek and see their burial mounds. As you read do not miss the recipes; many of the submissions were given by our aunts and uncles almost 20 years ago. Williams Gatherings were always a treat good food and F U N! We, cousins, continue to meet at least once a year to continue this tradition, share memories, and YES.. EAT!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493121090

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Expression Of Appreciation

Hills Of Destiny

Book Dedication

Jones Cove

Williams Family Tree

The Silver Thread That Binds . . .

In Memory Of Grace Cleo And Dicie Mabel Williams

First Proffitt To Come To New World

Will Of Carroll Williams

Will Of Joab Rolen

Memories Of Walker And Ida Proffitt Williams’ Grandchildren

Pappy, My Grandfather

My Fondest Memories

Memory Of Pappy

Memories Of The House

Favorite Memory Of Pappy

Memories Of Pappy And Mammy’s House

Memories Of Pappy And His House

Precious Memories Of Pappy And Katie

Cherished Memories

From The Eyes Of A Child, My Memories Of 688 Mc Donough Blvd.

Favorite Memory Of Pappy

Memories Of Growin’up – Belonging In The Williams Family

Reflections Of Cousins Passed On…………..

Short Family Stories And Items Of Interest…..

Tennessee ‘Sayings’ And Words Of Wisdom………..

Appetizers

Breads And Rolls

Soups & Salads

Sauces/ Salad Dressings/Pickles

Main Dishes

Vegetables & Side Dishes

Desserts & Candies

50 Amazingly Helpful Time-Tested Tips For The Kitchen

Measurements & Equivalents

In The Words Of Nancy… That’s All Folks!

EXPRESSION OF

APPRECIATION

This book is compiled of favorite stories and recipes of the family and friends of the Walker W. and Ida Proffitt Williams Family. Family roots going back to Jones Cove, Sevier County, East Tennessee, the Foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. To all who have contributed so generously of time and talent, to make this book a reality, our sincere thanks.

In addition to the fun of sharing with each other our family history, memories and favorite recipes, we hope this book will be an informal rosier to relatives and friends – old and new – and as we thumb through its pages we shall find many happy memories in the names contained herein.

The response for recipes was overwhelming – some are missing because of duplication. We are most grateful for your cooperation, and for your faith in us. We hope you will enjoy the stories, information, memories and recipes

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HILLS OF DESTINY

In memory of Walker W. and Ida Proffitt Williams

My ears hear an echo beckoning to me from the streams, hills and hallows of east Tennessee. Echoes of the past; stories longing to be told of our ancestor’s plight; long ago in Jones Cove. They came from across the wide waters to settle in these hills of destiny; passing through Virginia and Carolina seeking land and liberty.

Finding rich fertile hollows never turned by a plow – visioned room enough for their ‘lit’luns, chickens, pigs and a cow. Their eyes beheld lush green forest of tall trees reaching toward the sky; enough timber for cabins, barns, churches and a ‘sweet-by-and by’.

My ears hear an echo whispering to me from the early settlers of Sevier County, Tennessee. These hills would not yield for free, belonging first to the Red Man – The Proud Cherokee. These landless wanderers were drawn to this beautiful, but mystical land – bound to stake their very lives in securing freedom from the Brawny British Hand.

Our ancestors experienced achievement through hard work and distress, shed many a tear of sorrow before finding peace and happiness. As stories unfold of the land they were destined to tend, my heart beats fast with pride, felt deeply for our Tennessee kin.

By: Hope Bartlett Castellaw

Daughter of Reecie Williams Bartlett

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BOOK DEDICATION

This Williams Family Book, The Silver Thread That Binds . . ., is dedicated in loving memory to Nancy Juanita Williams Brigman. Nancy was the grand-daughter of Walker (Pappy) and Ida (Mammy). She was the daughter of their oldest son, Hal Williams. Nancy grew up around her many, many cousins and beloved aunts and uncles in Atlanta, GA. Her family was her world. She was full of stories from her childhood about family life and her love of Jones Cove, TN. Nancy grew up and married her high school sweetheart Greg Brigman and became the loving mother of Natalie Kate Brigman in 1988. She was integral in the early years of Cousins Day, in the 1980’s at the home of Ennis and Hope Castellaw. Even after moving away from Atlanta, Nancy always made the special effort to be back in town for the annual event. Nancy was the brain child behind the idea of putting together a family cookbook back in 1989. She helped to organize and type all the recipes into the book for printing.

As Hope and Deborah were re-typing the recipes and stories contributed by the family, Nancy’s name is woven all throughout the book in the recipes she contributed and in the stories she shared. Nancy was born on September 23, 1951 and passed away on May 8, 2012. Cousins Day in 2012, we all had a very special time of remembrance for Nancy. Hope had gathered numerous one-word descriptions of Nancy. They were each tied to a balloon. The children present read off the words describing our sweet sister, cousin, and aunt and the balloons were released into the sky. We all sang "You are my Sunshine" and smiled through our tears as we thought of what a lasting impression she had and will continue to have on us all.

We, the Williams Family, would like to dedicate this book as a living memorial to our irreplaceable Nancy. May we all be inspired by her true and noble love for all with whom she came in contact. She is greatly missed by all!

Lovingly Written by Melinda Williams Sweatman

Daughter of Jimmy Hal Williams, Niece of Nancy

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JONES COVE

In the late 1700’s brothers Stephen and John Jones and their families, traveled from Virginia to a flat meadow just across a Creek, today known as Dunn’s Creek; built a log cabin for their families. A band of renegade Cherokee attacked the cabin and massacred several members of this family. From the front porch of the home Walker built in 1903 for him and Ida as they began their life together, you can look across the road from the edge of Dunn’s creek and see their burial mounds. Recently a fence was placed around the graves with a marker signifying the importance of this area. Bobby Ferrell Rolen, Oscar Williams, Sam Huff and Kenneth Williams were among those that helped erect this memorial.

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A female survivor from the family massacre later married William Henry, who is thought to be a cousin of Patrick Henry; William served twice in the American Revolutionary War. Both she and William are buried in a large cemetery off Henry Town Rd.

Jones Cove, situated between the beautiful Smoky Mountains, English Mountain and Webb Mountain, was settled in the late 1780’s by Anglo-Saxon folks who migrated west across the Allegheny and Appalachian Mountains. This early Scotch-Irish wanderer’s temporarily living in Virginia discovered a passageway across these mountains into the rich Jones Cove Valley. Many large property owners obtained land by fighting in the Revolution War against Britain, enabling America to become a free country. Depending on their rank, some were awarded as many as 2,000 acres. The large landowners owned slaves.

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Carroll and Sally Henry Williams(Walker’s Parents)

Jones Cove had its own Post Office. Carroll Williams, our great-grand-father, served as postmaster just before rural delivery was established in 1907.

History of this Cove would not be complete without mentioning New Salem Baptist Church. The New Salem Baptist Church, with 51 members was organized March 25, 1845 in an old log school house. The church was referred to as ‘an arm’ of Richardson Cove Baptist Church. It was at this meeting the church was named ‘New Salem’. For 16 years, the church held regular service until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 when meetings were discontinued until after the war.

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New Salem accepted black slave members. Names of three were Jack, Charity and Hannah. After the close of the war, they were quite old and requested to remain with their master, Uncle Jobie Rolen. They lived in his home until death and were buried in Jones Cove.

Walker, our grandfather, helped build a new building for the New Salem Church. The building was dedicated May 1914. The building debt was paid in full with a balance of $33 left in the treasury. Carrie Williams’ five year old twins, Nola and Vola, asked their father to take them around the community to raise money to buy a clock for the new sanctuary. The money was raised; a magnificent clock was purchased and presented to the church, where it remains today.

On April 19, 1922, a violent storm destroyed the church. As the storm raged, Walker and Ida’s house was very near. With Nellie, age 1, in her arms, Katie age 11, Sammie, age 8, Hal, age 5, and Carroll Ruth, age 3, all huddled around Mammy. Ida grabbed Walker and asked if the end of the world was near.

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Hope’s 4 daughters, Melinda, Melanie, Marcia and Misty on porch of church (1978)

Miraculously, their home was unharmed. The church was soon re-built back away from the creek to its present location. Walker’s brother, Joseph Williams and Carrie Colliur were the first couple to marry in the new building.

Fall school days were interrupted by great revival meetings lasting all day for a full week or so. Afternoon meetings would go into the night. Just as the urgency for gathering crops, the preachers spoke of the urgent need of willing workers to spread the gospel to harvest the lost among their family, neighbors and friends. Records show at one revival over 60 people were saved and 30 additional members added to the church. It began on January 13, 1912 and two weeks later, on January 28, ice was broken in the creek at the baptizing hole; a majority of newly saved were baptized.

As New Salem has done for over one hundred and sixty-five years. It is determined to continue its important mission as the focal point of this beloved Jones Cove Community through Christian fellowship. This church has been, is now and will continue to be a testament of Jesus Christ to everyone. Today it is still standing as a lighthouse in the Jones Cove area and with God’s guidance may it ever be a beacon drawing people to worship God and fellowship together.

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Walker is the teacher in the far right, Ida is on 3rd row toward middle.

Schools in this area of east Tennessee were very sparse as settlers were busy trying to feed their families by farming, hunting and fighting off Indians. Fortunately our ancestors saw the need of education. The first Jones Cove School was in a log house near Dave Rolen’s home on a ridge known as, School House Ridge. This school taught each grade to about 30 students. Walker (Pappy) was the teacher, later becoming the superintendant. Walker, as a young teacher, taught a beautiful 16 year old female student by the name