I’m delighted to announce that my article “Unearthing the Migration of Benjamin Williams from North Carolina to Kentucky” has been published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 114, No. 2 (June 2026).

The article traces Benjamin Williams (died 1817 in Barren County, Kentucky) from his North Carolina origins through his migration to Kentucky — revealing the cluster of families who made that journey together from Rutherford County, North Carolina.

This research has a companion piece in The Record Lady Files. Ben C. Williams, Benjamin’s great-grandson, gave a Works Progress Administration interview in 1937 — a rare first-hand family perspective on the Williams family’s westward migration. Members can access that analysis here: The Record Lady Files

The NGS Quarterly is available to NGS members at ngsgenealogy.org.

This article is part of an ongoing Williams family research project spanning four generations and nearly 120 years. Earlier research on the Williams family includes:

Together these articles trace the Williams family from Benjamin’s death in Kentucky in 1817 through his great-grandson Ben C.’s WPA interview in 1937.


FEATURED IMAGE: CoPilot AI, illustration, 2026.

Share This
Avatar

About Author

Vanessa Wood is a genealogical researcher and writer. She enjoys researching families from the southern United States. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogist (APG), National Genealogical Society, and Tennessee Genealogical Society. Vanessa is the author of the book Pryor Wives: Stories of Family, Fortune, and Fiasco. Her books are available on Amazon.com. She can be contacted via email.

You might also enjoy: