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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Williamson Family of Stony Brook Miscellaneous Papers
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Williamson family | |
| Title | Williamson Family of Stony Brook Miscellaneous Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1820-1920(Bulk 1820-1904) | |
| Abstract: | The papers are miscellaneous in nature, and for the most part consist of bills or receipts. Most of the other documents are letters with an occasional insurance policy, agreement or the like. No one special theme or subject appears to run through the documents. It is to be noted, however, that several items make mention of horses and it is likely that William S. or Jediah Williamson or both were horse breeders if not by full-time profession, at least as an avocation. An 1893 letterhead found in this collection reads -Locust Grove Farm, J. Williamson, Proprietor, while an 1880 agreement, also found herein, makes mention of an oil and fish scrap business in which Jediah Williamson was involved. | |
| Extent: | 1 box, .5 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | W-7 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
Background information on the Williamson Family of Stony Brook has been hard to trace. It would seem that the papers are actually and primarily those of two different individuals representing at least two different generations, perhaps three. Though a number of other names appear, the most prominent are William S. Williamson, and Jediah Williamson. William S. Williamson was the half brother of John Mowbray Williamson. Documents bearing the first name are dated in the 1820s, 1830s, 1840s, 1850s and 1860s. Documents bearing the name of Jediah Williamson are dated in the 1870s, 1880s, 1890s, and 1900s. In all probability Jediah Williamson was a son of William S. Williamson. We point out here that a few documents in the 1830s are also written with the name of Jediah Williamson, but this person died during that same decade and therefore, is not to be confused with the other individual.
Occasionally one finds a few documents with perhaps one or two other Williamson names, such as, Charles J. Williamson.
Besides the Williamson name, there are some other documents bearing two or three different names. The most common of these is that of Smith, and it is quite possible that there was some kind of family relationship. It is also possible and likely other documents passed through the Williamson hands because of business matters.
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Scope and Content Note
The papers are miscellaneous in nature, and for the most part consist of bills or receipts. Most of the other documents are letters with an occasional insurance policy, agreement or the like. No one special theme or subject appears to run through the documents. It is to be noted, however, that several items make mention of horses and it is likely that William S. or Jediah Williamson or both were horse breeders if not by full-time profession, at least as an avocation. An 1893 letterhead found in this collection reads -Locust Grove Farm, J. Williamson, Proprietor, while an 1880 agreement, also found herein, makes mention of an oil and fish scrap business in which Jediah Williamson was involved.
This collection consists of both loose documents and several bound volumes. The bound volumes consist primarily of nine small notebook volumes. These are dated mainly in the 1880s, with a few earlier or later. For the most part, there are no entries in them, and the relatively few which do occur are apparently notations regarding some financial transactions. With one exception, these are printed in "diary" format with name of months and days, and information on weights and measurements, distances between cities, and the like. No ownership mark is found on any of them, except the one in non-print format. This bears the name of C. J. Williamson.
The loose documents date from the 1820s to the very early 1900s. They have been arranged in chronological order by decades.
1820s ca. 7 items
1830s ca. 23 items
1840s ca. 10 items
1850s ca. 14 items (most of these items are letters to Mr. Williamson from his nephew, George Hawkins).
1860s ca. 37 items (contains a very lengthy twelve page pencil written letter ad dressed to "Dear Parents" and signed "Jed Williamson". Describes his work on board a ship).
1870s ca. 88 items (included is a copy of a will of Nancy Smith dated 1871 and also several bills involving the Smith family).
1880s ca, 39 items (includes agreement involving Jediah Williamson of Stony Brook, Jonas Smith of Stony Brook and Samuel Sleight of Town of East Hampton involving their business of the manufacture and sale of oil and fish scrap located at the Promised Land in the Town of Easthampton. Dated Apr 1, 1880, said they were in business since June 30, 1879. Also the Pedigree of the horse, "Nettie S.")
1890s ca. 44 items (includes two insurance policies. A letterhead here reads -Locust Grove Farm, J. Williamson, Proprietor, Stony Brook, Long Island. The letter is signed J.W., is dated Sept 20, 1893 and is addressed to Mr. J.B. Perkins. It pertains to horses, and perhaps either was never sent or somehow, Williamson got it back. At least one other letter pertains to horses, and it is obvious he was involved as a horse breeder).
1900s ca. 9 items 1900-1904 with one piece of scrap paper which may be dated 1920. One item is a 1900 Republican Canvass Book for Election District No. l for the Town of Brookhaven.
Undated ca. 36 items aside from three or four letters, this is a real miscellaneous file consisting of some blotters, envelopes and scraps of papers. There is also what appears to be a chart for a horse's pedigree, and a printed legal document regarding some controversy over the last will and testament of Nancy Smith.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Williamson Family of Stony Brook Miscellaneous Papers, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Family Names:
- Williamson family
Subject Places:
- Stony Brook (N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
