Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/404

 logical Account of Lord Galloway's Family,’ and this was followed by three other works, entitled ‘View of the Evidence for Lord Galloway,’ ‘Notes on the State of Evidence respecting the Stewarts of Castlemilk,’ and ‘A Counter Statement of Proofs.’

On the death of his patron in 1799 Williams removed to Chadwell St. Mary's, Essex, of which parish he became the curate; and in addition he held the appointment of chaplain to the garrison of Tilbury fort. Soon afterwards he published anonymously ‘Nautical Odes, or Poetical Sketches, designed to commemorate the Achievements of the British Navy,’ London, 1801, 4to (cf. Anti-Jacobin Review, 1801, ix. 169). On 14 July 1805 he was inducted to the vicarage of Lampeter, Cardiganshire. There he opened a grammar school, whence young men were admitted to holy orders. After superintending this seminary with great success for nearly fourteen years, he died on 20 Jan. 1820.

He married, first, in 1792, Ann Adelaide Grebert (d. 1796), a native of Nancy in Lorraine; secondly, in 1796, Jane Amelia Nugent, daughter of St. George Armstrong of Annaduff, near Drumsna, co. Leitrim (she died on 25 Dec. 1811).

His ‘English Works’ were published in London, 1840, 8vo, with a memoir by his son, St. George Armstrong Williams. These works comprise: 1. ‘Hints to Females in High Life,’ an unfinished poem. 2. ‘An Historical Essay on the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Celtic Tribes, particularly their Marriage Ceremonies.’ 3. ‘An Historical Essay on the Taste, Talents, and Literary Acquisitions of the Druids and the Ancient Celtic Bards.’ 4. ‘Historical Anecdotes relative to the Energy, Beauty, and Melody of the Welsh Language and its Affinity to the Oriental Languages and those of the South of Europe.’ 5. ‘An Inquiry into the Situation of the Gold Mines of the Ancient Britons.’ 6. ‘History of the Britons.’ 7. ‘Account of a Visit to the North of Ireland in 1787.’ 8. ‘Prologues and Epilogues.’

[Memoir by his son; Rowlands's Cambrian Bibliography, p. 515.] 

WILLIAMS, FREDERICK SMEETON (1829–1886), congregational divine, born at Newark in 1829, was the second son of Charles Williams. His mother's maiden name was Smeeton.

His father, (1796–1866), congregational divine, born in London on 18 July 1796, was the son of a foreman in an engine factory. After working in his father's factory he entered the establishment of a bookseller in Piccadilly named Sharpe, and soon became principal manager. Resolving to enter the ministry, he studied at Rothwell and at Hoxton Academy, and accepted a call to Newark-upon-Trent, whence in 1833 he removed to Salisbury to minister to the congregation in Endless Street. In 1835 he went to London, and was for twelve years editor to the Religious Tract Society. Besides editing many of the society's periodicals, such as the ‘Visitor’ and the ‘Christian Spectator,’ he wrote seventy-five distinct publications for the society during his term of office. Some of them became popular, but as they were published anonymously many cannot be identified. In 1850 Williams removed to St. John's Wood, and subsequently became pastor at Sibbertoft in Northamptonshire, where he died on 16 June 1866. Among his publications were: 1. ‘The Seven Ages of England, or its Advancement in Art, Literature, and Science,’ London, 1836, 8vo. 2. ‘Curiosities of Animal Life,’ London, 1848, 16mo. 3. ‘George Mogridge: his Life, Character, and Writings,’ London, 1856, 8vo. 4. ‘Dogs and their Ways,’ London, 1863, 8vo. 5. ‘The First Week of Time; or Scripture in Harmony with Science,’ London, 1863, 8vo (Congregational Year Book, 1867, p. 326).

The son, Frederick Smeeton, was educated at University College, London, and entered New College, St. John's Wood, in 1850, as a student for the ministry. In 1857 he became pastor of the newly formed congregation at Claughton, near Birkenhead, but, resigning the charge some years later, he resided for a time with his father at Sibbertoft. Upon the formation of the Congregational Institute in 1861 Williams became tutor in conjunction with the principal, the Rev. John Brown Paton, and remained in that position until his death. He died at Nottingham on 26 Oct. 1886, and was buried in the church cemetery on 30 Oct. He left a widow and eight children.

Williams was widely known as a writer on English railways. In 1852 he published his most important work, ‘Our Iron Roads: their History, Construction, and Social Influences’ (London, 8vo), which reached a seventh edition in 1888. In 1876 appeared ‘The Midland Railway: its Rise and Progress’ (London, 8vo), which attained a fifth edition in 1888. He was also the author of several religious pamphlets and of ‘The Wonders of the Heavens,’ London, 1852, 12mo; new edit. 1860.

[Nottingham Daily Express, 28 Oct., 1 Nov. 1886; Congregational Year Book, 1887, p. 250; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.] 