Third Generation

11. John William Williamson^28,29 was born on 2 April 1878 in Roane County, Tennessee.^29,30 His death certificate gives a birth date of 1877.

He appeared in the census in 1880 in Roane County, Tennessee. John 3 w m TN NC NC.

He appeared in the census in 1900 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Dist. 9, Loudon County, Tennessee, 6 Jun 1900; p.84b, dwelling number 128, family number 124; Williamson John 22 head m m w Apr 1878 carpenter, car shop TN TN TN; Mahala 26 wife f m2 w Sep 1873 TN TN TN 1 child, 1 living; Lola 1/12 dau f s w May 1900 TN TN TN; Green L. Chas. 10 Sson m s w Feb 1890 TN TN TN; Williamson Manda 20 sis f m w Jun 1879 TN TN TN.

John appeared in the census in 1910 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Dist. 2, Loudon County, Tennessee, 10 May 1910; p.158a, Broadway, dwelling number 388, family number 407; Williamson J. W. 32 head m m1-12 w laborer, car factory TN TN TN; Mary J. 30 wife f m1-12 w TN TN TN ? children, 3 living; Lola E. 10 dau f s w TN TN TN; Nora L. 6 dau f s w TN TN TN; Willie R. 2 son m s w TN TN TN.

He registered for the draft in Loudon County, Tennessee on 12 September 1918.²⁹

1. Name - John William Williamson 2. Address - Lenoir City, Tenn
3. Age - 41
4. Born - Apr 2 1878
5. Race - white
10. Citizenship - native born
16. Occupation - machinist
17. Employer - Lenoir Car Works
18. Employer address - Lenoir City, tenn
19. Nearest relative - Mrs. J. W. Williamson 20. Relative address - Lenoir City, Tenn
(signed) John William Williamson 22. Height - medium
25. Build - medium
27. Eyes - blue
28. Hair - dark
29. Disability - no
30. Registrar - J. P. Campbell, Sept. 12, 1918, Loudon County, Tennessee

He appeared in the census in 1920 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee, 13 Jan 1920; p.212a, 716 Broadway, dwelling number 584, family number 619; Williamson John W. 42 head m m w mechanic, car works TN NC NC; Mahala 43 wife f m w TN TN TN; Lola 19 dau f s w pairer, hosiery mill TN TN TN; Nora 16 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school; Willie 12 dau m s w TN TN TN attended school; Lela 8 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school.

John died on 26 May 1927 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.³⁰
Death certificate #10813:
1. Place of death - Loudon County, Dist. 2, Lenoir City
2. Name - John W. Williamson
3. Sex - Male
4. Race - white
5. Status - married
6. Born - Apr 2, 1877
7. Age - 50 yrs, 1 mos., 24 ds.
8. Occupation - Machinist, R.R. Shops
9. Birthplace - Tenn
10. Father - A.L. Williamson
11. Father born - N.C.
12. Mother - Margaret Englant
13. Mother born - N.C.
14. Informant - Mrs. Mahala Williamson, Lenoir City, Tenn.
15. Filed - 5/26, 1927, J.B. Porter
16. Died - May 26, 1927
19. Buried - City Cemetery, May 27, 1927
20. Undertaker - Sterchi Bros. & Thomas, Lenoir City, Tenn

The informant was his wife, Mary Mahala Jane (Haley) Bray.

He was buried on 27 May 1927 in Lenoir City Cemetery, Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.³⁰ Tombstone: John W. Williamson Apr 2 1885 May 25 1927.

He was called Poppa by his grandchildren.

John William Williamson and Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray were married on 25 December 1898 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.³¹ J. W. Williams to Jane Bray, 25 Dec 1898, by Rev. J. E. Spring. John's surname was spelled incorrectly in courhouse records, but his wife's surname was spelled correctly and the marriage date matches family records.

Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray^{28,32,33,34,35} was born on 10 September 1871 in Anderson County, Tennessee.^35,36 There are different family records with different birth dates, one with a birth date of 1872 and one with a birth date 1876. Either date is possible, but the former seems more credible because her first son was born in 1898. But the most credible family records give a birth date of 1871. In once case, the 1 has a dot after it which makes it look like a little bit like a 6. It seems likely that the 1876 record was copied from the record which says 1871, and somebody misinterpreted the 1 as a 6. One of the family records lists the name as Mary Mahala. Also, it is sometimes spelled as Mahalia. Her death certificate lists a birth date of 1870, but I believe the 1871 date is the one which is most likely to be correct because it's the most consistent with the 1880 census. (RGB)

She appeared in the census in 1880 in Anderson County, Tennessee. Mahala 8 dau f s w TN TN TN.

She appeared in the census in 1900 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Mahala 26 wife f m2 w Sep 1873 TN TN TN 1 child, 1 living. At the time of the 1900 census, she had actually borne three children of whom two were still living. I do not know why only one child was indicated in the census. (RGB)

Mary appeared in the census in 1910 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Mary J. 30 wife f m1-12 w TN TN TN ? children, 3 living.

She appeared in the census in 1920 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Mahala 43 wife f m w TN TN TN.

She appeared in the census in 1930 in Knox County, Tennessee. Ward 23, Dist. 8, Knoxville City, Knox County, Tennessee, 10 Apr 1930; p.12a, 1132 Morris Ave., dwelling number 226, family number 228; Williamson Mary 53 head f w w TN TN TN; Nora 24 dau f s w pairer hosiery mill TN TN TN; William R. 21 son m m@21 w clerk grocery store TN TN TN; Florine 21 dauL f m@21 w TN TN TN.

Mary died on 31 May 1950 in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.^35,36

Death Certificate
1. Name - Mahala Bray Williamson
2. Date of death - May 31, 1950
3. Color or race - white
4. Sex - female
5. Single, married, widowed, divorced - widowed
6. Date of birth Sept. 10 1870
7. Age (in years last birthday) 79
8. Place of death A. County - Knox B. Civil District C. Knoxville D. Length of stay in this place E. Name of hospital or institution (if not Hospital or Institution, City Street Address and Location) - 129 W. Atlantic Ave.
9. Usual residence of deceased A. State - Tenn. B. County - Knox C. Civil District D. City or Town - Knoxville E. Street address 129 W. Atlantic Ave.
10a. Usual occupation - Housework
10b. Kind of business or industry - at home
12. Was deceased ever in U.S. armed forces? Specify yes, no, unknown - no
13. Birthplace - Tenn.
14. Citizen of what country? - U.S.
15. Father's name - Joseph Bray
16. Mother's maiden name - Salina Moore
17. Informant - W.R. Williamson, Knoxville, Tenn.
22. I hereby certify that the deceased died on the date and from the cause stated above C. E. Irwin, M.D., Knoxville, Tenn. 6 June 1950
23a. Burial, cremation, removal (specify) - Burial
23b. Date of burial, cremation, or removal - June 2, 1950
23c. Name of cemetery or crematory - Lenoir City
23d. Location - Lenoir City, Tenn.
24. Funeral Director - Rose Funeral Home, Knoxville, Tenn.
25. Registration Dist. no - 24701
26. Date signed by Local Reg. - June 7, 1950
27. Registrar's signature - Mary Chambers
The informant W.R. Williamson was her son Willie Ragin Williamson.

Obituary, Knoxville Journal, 1 Jun 1950, p.28.
Williamson, Mrs. Mahala (J. W.) age 76, passed away at her home, 129 West Atlantic Avenue, at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. She was a member of West View Methodist Church. Survivors: daughters: Mrs. E. L. Peters, Corryton, Miss Nora Williamson, Mrs. James A. Underwood, both of Knoxville, sons, W. R. Williamson, Knoxville and C. L. Bray, Philadelphia, Tenn. brothers, W. W., Ed and George Bray, all of Knoxville, and Henry Bray of California. 1 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Funeral 2 p.m. Friday at West View Methodist Church, Rev. N. A. Nichols officiating. Interment in Lenoir City. The body will line in state at the church one hour before services. The body is at the home of a daughter, Mrs. James A. Underwood, 129 West Atlantic Avenue. Rose in charge.

She was buried on 2 June 1950 in Lenoir City Cemetery, Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.^35,36

She was called Nother Mama by her grandchildren, because she was their 'nother Mama (another Mama).

John William Williamson and Mary Mahala Jane (Mahala or Haley) Bray had the following children:

30
i.
Laura May Williamson²⁸ was born on 29 May 1899 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.
She died on 12 July 1899 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.
+31
ii.
Lola Ethel Williamson.
32
iii.
Nora Lee Williamson^28,36 was born on 30 April 1904 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.
She appeared in the census in 1910 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Nora L. 6 dau f s w TN TN TN.
She appeared in the census in 1920 in Loudon County, Tennessee. Age 16, in school, can read/write.
Nora appeared in the census in 1920 in Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee. Nora 16 dau f s w TN TN TN attended school.
She appeared in the census in 1930 in Knox County, Tennessee. Nora 24 dau f s w pairer hosiery mill TN TN TN. She died in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.
Nora was buried in Lenoir City Cemetery, Lenoir City, Loudon County, Tennessee.
Nora never married.
+33
iv.
Willie Ragin (Bill) Williamson.
+34
v.
Lela Mae Williamson.