A veteran of the War of 1812, Stephen Williams left his native North Carolina and followed the path of a major migration movement to Georgia and Alabama before coming to Texas in 1832. In 1843 he received a Texas land grant in Washington County, where he established himself as a prominent landowner and ardent member of the Baptist Church. He is best remembered for his role in the early development of the Baptist faith in Texas as a founding member of the Texas Baptist Education Society. The first officers of the Society were R.E.B. Baylor, president; S.P. Andrews, secretary; and J.L. Farquhar, treasurer. The Board of Managers were Elders H. Garrett, N.T. Byers, Richard Ellis, Z.N. Morrell and Brother Stephen Williams. The Society petitioned the Texas Congress for a charter to build a Baptist University. The charter was granted February 1, 1845 and the name chosen for the new university was Baylor University.

Stephen Williams born 1786 In Granville Co, NC, and died July 2, 1846 in Winchester, Fayette Co, TX. He is buried in Williams Cemetary, Winchester, Fayette Co, TX. He was the son of Ralph Williams Jr. and Ann Potter Walker. He married Jean Black Nov 16, 1810 in Wilkes Co, GA. Jean Black was the daughter of John Black and Ann Bullock. She was born 1790 in Wilkes Co, GA and died 1836 in Clarke Co, AL. Stephen then married Priscilla Reeves Ezell, Oct 2, 1837 in Clark Co, GA. Moved to Washington Co, TX abt. 1832.

Stephen married Jean (Jane) Black in Wilkes Co, Ga., Nov 26, 1810. They moved to Clark Co, Al. area by 1813. The 1830 census of Clark Co, Al. still places them in Alabama. By 1832 they moved to Washington Co, Tx. After Jean Black died in 1839, he sold his lands in Alabama and moved to Texas to stay.