The Williams family reunion of 150 people almost doubles the small town of Belfry

BELFRY — The nearly 150-member Williams family reunion was held Saturday and Sunday at the Belfry, nearly doubling the area’s population over the weekend.

“I would walk here from Idaho if I had to, to be here,” said Ronald Williams, who is one of four remaining members of what the family calls “The Original 12” — siblings of some of Montana’s first Williams. .

The family of about 500 extended living members has a well-documented history dating back to 1645, according to family genealogy expert Olinda Jones-Nottingham.

“Sometimes I have to explain to them, ‘This is how you all fit in,'” said Jones-Nottingham, who has written an instruction manual on how to trace and document family lineage.

On Saturday, Doug Toland met Lorena Williams, his sister, for the first time after discovering he was related to Williams through a DNA test.

“From here, there are a lot of unanswered questions,” Toland said, “Some highs and lows. I think the bottom line would be, “why did it take so long (to learn),” right?”