John Green Williams


John Green Williams was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the father of the missionary Episcopal Bishop for China and Japan, Channing Moore Williams.

Early and family life

Born near Culpeper, Virginia to William Clayton Williams and Alice Grymes Burwell, Williams had several brothers and sisters.
He married Mary Ann Cringan on February 28, 1821 in Richmond, Virginia, and was active in the Episcopal Church as well as the Common Hall. In 1830, the Williams family included six children and two slaves. Their children included the future Rev. William Clayton Williams, Rt. Rev. Channing Moore Williams, attorney John Green Williams, Jr., Robert Findlater Williams, Alice Burwell Williams and Mary Ogilvie Williams.

Career

Williams was admitted to the Virginia bar around 1820. He practiced law in Richmond and the surrounding Henrico County, Virginia. Williams became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1829, and served one term as representative from Henrico County alongside Jacqueline B. Harvie. He succeeded multi-term Democrat Edward C. Mayo. Although again elected in 1831 and 1832, Williams was declared ineligible and not allowed to assume his seat in either year. Both times he was replaced by Robert A. Mayo, who a decade later became one of the founders of the Richmond and Henrico County Society for the Protection of Slave Property.

Death and legacy

Williams died on December 15, 1833 in Charleston, South Carolina en route to St. Augustine, Florida at just 37 years of age, leaving his widow to care for their six young children. His remains were returned to Richmond and interred in the newly established Hollywood cemetery. A nephew of the same name, John Green Williams, became a Confederate soldier and courier for Gen. Jubal Early, and after the American Civil War, Commonwealth's Attorney for Orange County.