Martha Jane Williams 1826-1899 (111011)

The Bullpasture River in Preston County, West Virginia

Martha Jane Williams was born about 1826 in Bath County, Virginia to Thomas Williams and Matha (Davis) Williams. Their homestead was adjacent to the verdant Bullpasture River. Martha was part of a large, thriving family, the eighth of nine children. 

In 1840, when Martha was fourteen years old, her father wrote out his Will, naming her and listing as her legacy a two year old heifer calf. She was directed to give the firstborn heifer of that calf to her younger sister, Sally. Just two years later, Martha married William Rough, a son of one of their neighboring families, and a younger brother to her sister's Mary's husband, George Rough.

The marriage record confirms her maiden name. Martha Jane Williams married William Rough in Bath County VA:

Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850

about Martha Jane Williams

Groom Name:	William Rough
Bride Name:	Martha Jane Williams
Marriage Date:	12 Jan 1842
County:	Bath
State:	Virginia

The name Rough was how the name was often rendered by the clerks of Bath County on the Census and tax lists. German church records render the name Rausch. That would have been the original pronunciation. It would be pronounced Row, to rhyme with Cow, and with a soft CH pronounced at the back of the throat in the German manner. The Scottish clerks in Bath County rendered it Rough to rhyme with Plough, which they probably also pronounced with a soft CH style ending. Later clerks rendered the name Rowk. Eventually, they moved to West Virginia where they were surrounded by English neighbors. In order to fit in better, they dropped the final Germanic ending, and rendered it Rowe or Row. It would still have been pronounced to rhyme with Cow or How, not with Mow or Tow.

Highland County formed in 1847 from the part of Bath County in which Martha and her family lived. Martha can be found with her family in Highland County, Virginia in the 1860 Census. 

"Martha J. Rowk" with her family in Highland County, Virginia for the 1860 Census.

They moved to Preston County VA (later WV) in 1861, at the time that the Civil War began.

In the 1870 Census, they can be found in Preston County, West Virginia. 

"Martha J. Row" with her family in Preston County, West Virginia for the 1870 Census.

Martha and family were still in Preston County for the 1880 Census. 

"Martha J. Rowe" with family in Preston County, Virginia for the 1880 Census.

Martha passed away in 1899, at the age of 73, and is buried with her husband in Orr Cemetery in Preston County, West Virginia.