ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Title John M. Williamson Collection
Collection Number SC 303
OCLC Number 122629050
Creator John M. Williamson, 1787-1878 Williamson family
Provenance The collection was donated by Cornell Jaray in 1981. Its provenance before coming
into Jaray's possession is not known. A second accession of correspondence was purchased
in 2004 from Ms. Shirley Bennett (Box 5).
Extent,Scope, and Content Note The papers of John M. Williamson (1787-1878) of Stony Brook, New York reflect his
business, professional and political activities. Also included in the collection are
letters and documents relating to other members of John Williamson's immediate family,
specifically Seth Williamson (John's brother), William S. Williamson (John's half-brother),
and Anne Williamson Davis (John's niece). In addition to the approximately sixty family
letters, there is extensive business correspondence, most of it addressed to John
M. Williamson, correspondence and documents related to John M. Williamson's law practice,
records on the settlement of several estates, letters and documents related to John
M. Williamson's political career, and hundreds of receipts relating to various legal,
business and personal matters.
The material is almost entirely handwritten and comprises 1.8 cubic feet and 3,000
separate items. Most of the documents date from the 1830s-1850s; the date span is
from the 1770s through the 1870s. Of particular interest is the insight provided into
daily life on Long Island in the mid-19th century. Also, the inventories included
in the estate files and the various financial records provide data on financial matters
of the day, especially the type, extent and nature of personal property held by Long
Islanders. The law office files, although very incomplete and containing many draft
documents, reveal the method and type of legal work undertaken by 19th century Long
Island lawyers. The personal correspondence provides intimate and sometimes touching
accounts of family activities. Besides births, deaths and marriages, accounts of journeys
to other parts of Long Island and New York City are included. Although incomplete,
the files on the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County offer an interesting view of
the local political scene.
Other substantial collections of Williamson family materials are housed at the Suffolk
County Historical Society Library at Riverhead, the Smithtown Library, and The Long
Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages in Stony Brook.
Arrangement and Processing Note Processed and described by John B. Smith, January 1983. Finding aid updated by Kristen J. Nyitray in January 2008 and April 2019. Last updated in April 2020.
Series 1: Family Correspondence 1813-1869 Arranged alphabetically by writer with a category for mementos, and a few single letters
at the end. Also a category for military correspondence. Personal letters from one member of the Williamson family to another.
Series 2: Business, Legal and Political Correspondence ca. 1820-1860 Arranged alphabetically by writer. Letters mostly addressed to John M. Williamson, but to other family members as well,
dealing with a wide variety of subjects including: governmental matters, financial
matters, contracts, wills, etc.
Series 3: Estates and Guardianships ca. 1813-1857 Arranged alphabetically by the name of the estate or guardianship. Inventories, judicial petitions, receipts, wills, affidavits, letters, etc., dealing
with the administration and settlement of estates and guardianships.
Series 4: Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County ca. 1834-1865 Arranged in original order as packeted. Records of Brookhaven Board of Supervisors and Commissioner of Highways; Statements
on inspection of "common" schools; Rosters of workers on the highways. Also some material
on Brookhaven and Suffolk County elections, including election tickets, tallies and
reports of the County Commissioners.
Series 5: The Law Practice of John M. Williamson ca. 1834-1877 Arranged in original order as packeted with categories for correspondence, legal documents,
financial records and property boundary sketches added. Contains many draft documents and various other records related to John M. Williamson's
law practice.
Series 6: John M. Williamson's Service in the New York State Assembly and as Suffolk
County Judge. ca. 1835-1857 Arranged by subject. Contains a few documents, mostly in draft form, concerning John M. Williamson's work
in the Assembly and on the bench. Some correspondence also is included.
Series 7: Financial Records ca. 1779-1867 Arranged in random order. Consists of two account books. The first is William S. Williamson's, covering the
period 1857-1867, which contains many entries recording services rendered. The second,
of one of the younger Jedidiahs, contains only a few entries for 1887. The remainder
of this series consists of about 50 receipts for goods and services.
Language English
Restrictions on Access The collection is open to researchers without restriction.
Rights and Permissions Stony Brook University Libraries' consent to access as the physical owner of the collection
does not address copyright issues that may affect publication rights. It is the sole
responsibility of the user of Special Collections and University Archives materials
to investigate the copyright status of any given work and to seek and obtain permission
where needed prior to publication.
Citation [Item], [Box], John M. WIlliamson Collection, Special Collections and University Archives,
Stony Brook University Libraries.
Historical Note John M. Williamson was born in the hamlet of Stony Brook, New York on September 27,
1787, the second son of Jedidiah Williamson and his wife, Charity Mowbray Williamson.
During childhood he attended the local district school and learned the trade of a
carpenter with his father. During the War of 1812 he took part in the movements of
the Militia at Sag Harbor as a Captain and was later elevated to the rank of Major.
John M. Williamson exhibited early an inclination toward scholarship and entered the
practice of law. He also early showed an inclination toward politics. He carved out
a distinguished career in such capacities as Supervisor of Town of Brookhaven, Member
of the New York State Assembly (representing the western district of Suffolk County),
Judge of the Court of Sessions, Inspector of Elections and counsellor and referee
in the settlement of numerous estate and civil cases. (Some records, but clearly not
the complete records, of all of these activities are included in the collection.)
He never married and died in Stony Brook at the advanced age of 90 years. He lies
buried next to his father in the churchyard of the Setauket Presbyterian Church, of
which he was a devoted lifetime member.
John M. Williamson's immediate family consisted of: his father, Jedidiah; his mother,
Charity, who died about 1800; his step-mother, Sophia; a brother, Seth; a sister,
Amy; and five half-siblings, Charity, Deborah, Nancy, William S. and Mary Ann. It
was not possible to establish the dates of birth and death for these other family
members, except for Jedidiah, who was born about 1757 and died in 1837. Some letters
of subsequent generations also are in the collection, especially, Richard (possibly
the son of William S.), Richard's wife, Louisa, Jedidiah (grandson of the first Jedidiah),
and Jedidiah's wife, Sallie. Several single letters, probably from distant relatives,
also are included. Williamson died at the age of 90 on February 18, 1878 and was buried
at Setauket Presbyterian Church Cemetary in Setauket, New York.
References Fix, Edward B. "Jedidiah Williamson, a Biographical Profile of the Stony Brook Farmer/Carpenter."
Long Island Forum (March 1979): 52-57. History of Suffolk County, New York: Munsell and Company, 1882. (Town of Brookhaven
section, p. 74.) Klein, Howard. Three Village Guidebook, Port Jefferson Station, N. Y.: St. Gerard
Press, 1976.
Subjects Williamson, John M., -- 1787-1878. Williamson, John M., -- 1787-1878 -- Archives. Williamson family. New York (State). -- Legislature. -- Assembly. Families -- New York (State) -- Suffolk County. Estates (Law) -- New York (State) Decedents' estates -- New York (State) -- Suffolk County. Guardian and ward -- New York (State) Practice of law -- New York (State) -- Long Island. Finance, Personal -- New York (State) Brookhaven (N.Y. : Town) -- Politics and government. Long Island (N.Y.) -- Politics and government. New York (State) -- Politics and government. Guardian and ward. Decedents' estates. Estates (Law) Families. Finance, Personal. Politics and government. Practice of law. New York (State) New York (State) -- Brookhaven (Town) New York (State) -- Long Island. New York (State) -- Suffolk County.
INVENTORY
Series 1: Family Correspondence
Box 1
1. Davis, Ann Maria (Williamson) 2. Williamson, David 3. Williamson, James 4. Williamson, Jedidiah 5. Williamson, Jedidiah (Mrs.) 6. Williamson, John M. 7. Williamson, Louisa 8. Williamson, Richard 9. Williamson, Seth 10. Williamson, William S. 11. Williamson family: letters, mementos, etc. 12. Williamson family: military correspondence
Series 2: Business, Legal and Political Correspondence
1. B Correspondence 2. C Correspondence 3. D Correspondence 4. Davis, James H. and Elizabeth 5. Davis, Silas; Shadrach; James and others 6. Ellis, John 7. F Correspondence 8. Floyd, Charles A. and Augustus 9. G Correspondence 10. H Correspondence 11. Hallock, Ebenezer 12. Hawkins, Eleazer; Elnathan and others 13. Halsey, Hugh 14. Hodgkinson, Williams J. and Elizabeth 15. J Correspondence 16. L Correspondence 17. M Correspondence 18. N Correspondence
Box 2
19. P Correspondence 20. Phillips, George S., Samuel and Charles 21. R Correspondence 22. S Correspondence 23. Satterly, John R. 24. Scudder, Isiah and others 25. Smith (several) 26. Smith, J. 27. Smith, Jonas 28. Smith, Joshua 29. Smith, Richard 30. Strong, S.B. 31. T Correspondence 32. W Correspondence
Box 3
Series 3: Estates and Guardianships
1. Brewster, John (Estate of) 2. Corwin, Isaac (Estate of) 3. Davis, Jonas (Estate of) 4. Jayne, Isaac (Estate of) 5. Mills, Charles Alanzo (Estate of) 6. Newton, William J. and Deborah (Guardianship) 7. Smith, Fordham (Estate of) 8. Smith, Henry (Estate of) 9. Williamson, Daniel (Estate of) 10. Williamson, Ezra (Guardianship)
Series 4: Town of Brookhaven & Suffolk County
1. Brookhaven, Town of (packet containing a variety of correspondence, receipts and
other records) 2. Brookhaven, Town of and Suffolk County (packet containing election materials,
highway rosters and other documents)
Series 5: The Law Practice of John M. Williamson
Box 4
1. Correspondence: general 2. Draft correspondence, documents, etc. 3. Draft documents, indentures and letters 4. Law office account book (April, 1841-December, 1842) 5. Receipts 6. Receipts 7. Judicial petitions 8. Philip Longbotham: notes, receipts, re: Shadrach Davis estate 9. Estate 10. Property boundary sketches 11. Releases, receipts, etc.
Series 6: John M. Williamson's Service in the New York State Assembly and as Suffolk
County Judge
1. Oneida Indian Affairs, letters, drafts, etc. 2. Pilots and pilotage 3. Suffolk County Court, correspondence, forms, documents
Series 7: Financial Records
1. Account books of Williams S. Williamson and Jedidiah Williamson 2. Receipts
Second Accession
Box 5
1. 1872 John M. Williamson G.W. Barke & Co. - men's store opening. 2. 10/27/1868 Judge J. Williamson Mrs. E. Selleck - Invite to Ladies Fair & Festival.
3. 10/27/1856 JMW J.J. (Barton?) - notice of rally for democracy. 4. 4/29/1857 JMW J. Smith - Planting. 5. 5/22/1859 Jedidiah Williamson Richard W. - horse race. 6. 3/28/1863 Jed. W. Louisa Williamson - finding house. 7. 9/18/1864 Jed. W. Ann M. Davis - coat. 8. 1/19/1860 Judge W. ? - memorial to legislature. 9. 11/1/1859 Jed. W. Horace - Newton trunk. 10. 12/23/1860 Jed. W. Louisa W. - much news-fire, 7 story building. 11. 9/19/1982 Friend Jed James Weir, Jr. - sick horse (Wier Florist letterhead).
12. 3/7/1860 JMW ? Charles going to Wash. - send team 13. 3/28/1858 William S. W. Ann M. Davis - very lonely; give sister hat. 14. Wed. JMW N. Smith - bad sea, sickness; chickens 15.------ JMW N. Smith - vessels fitting out; food. 16. 6/16/? JMW Nancy Smith - supplies; "I sent two oranges." 17. 4/10/1853 Jed. W. Jedidiah Hawkins - "My rooster will beat R.'s shanghi." 18. 6/25/1866 Jed J. Smith Harness - 8 cents for pressing hay. 19. 11/30/1863 Judge W. Thomas S. - Captain. J. Smith's real estate tax. 20. 4/1/1862 JMW N. & J. Smith - vessels fitting out; rent 21. 4/2/1865 Jed. W. Jonas Smith, Jr. - staying in Poughkeepsie. 22. ? JMW N. Smith Grand - procession-Wash. greys. 23. 3/30/1858 JMW ? 24. 5/16/1862 JMW ? 25. 7/9/1864 Jed. W. Jonas Smith - go Monday and help the men. 26. 4/19/? JMW J L - house; bridge Rebels burned. 27. 3/31/? Jed. W. J. Smith - see to drying sails. 28 2/11/1853 JMW C.Ball, C.Smith & B. Wells Party at Cap't. Donovans' house. 29. 5/30/1864 JMW Jonas Smith per JW - send carriage, Aunty is coming. 30. 6/11/1866 Col. WSW Seth W. - am safe in Milford. 31. 6/22/6? JMW E. Guthile (?) - Funeral, Brother Dayton. 32. 5/5/1857 JMW J. Smith – health, bad weather for moving 33. 10/1864 Jed. W. George Hawkins - wood for Clerk & S. for "sherif" 34. 2/1856 JMW J. Smith (can't decipher) 35. 3/11/1865 Jed. W. George Hawkins - time to do something. 36. 3/28/1857 JMW J. Smith – Mr. Wood on board, nothing new 37. 9/29/5? J.W., Supervisor George Raynor (?) - keep Roe house as Public House 38. 2/22/1862 JMW J. Smith 39. 9/?/? Jed W. Ann M. Davis - Birth (berth) on the Oceanic. 40. 7/21/1859 JMW J. Smith - mumps. 41. 4/5/1857 JMW J. Smith - put up a shanty. 42. 5/8/1858 JMW J. Smith – pieces of chain, Tommy leaves this morning 43. Thurs. 10/9/? Jed W.? N. Smith – Oliver sailed, food requests 44. n.d. JMW ? – mark the parcels allowed 45. 3/15/1856 JMW ? - pay your company 46. 3/21/1857 JMW J. Smith – Mrs. Wheeler stone house, Nancy sausages would spoil
47. 9/16/1858 JMW M.H. Smith – Communication about relatives 48. 11/64 Jed W. George Hawkins – man to board, health 49. 3/30?/1861 JMW J. Smith 50. 2/9/1872 J.W. Harry Dexon – bad health, family news, deaths 51. n.d. JMW Nancy Smith – trunk and pails in house 52. n.d. JMW N. Smith – people coming 53. 4/20/1861 JMW ? - much confusion 54. 1853 JMW J.B. Nichols – send the food 55. 3/22/1863 JMW J. Smith – letting house, $3.75/cord 56. 9/12/1865 Jed W. George Hawkins – stallion 57. 8/19/1865 Jed Jonas Jr. – hearing nothing from you 58. 1/21/1858 JMW J. Smith and N.S. – George, children 59. 7/16/1865 JMW Jonas Smith – under the weather, Uncle George sow turnips 60. 4/16/1861 JMW J. Smith & N. Smith – stormy weather, George can have house – 2
shirts 61. 5/17/? William S. Williamson Ann M. Davis – news to parents 62. 4/?/03? JMW ? – Capt. Smith went to Connecticut 63. 9/19/? Mortimer? Hobard College; Clara 64. 6/9/1835? JMW ? – papers hard to send 65. 3/23/1857 JMW J. Smith 66. n.d. JMW Nancy Smith – treat cold, Seth lost boy 67. 3/16/1861 JMW J. Smith – Democracy of village 68. n.d. Jed W. Nettie Charlotte – take me out to ride some 69. 12/2/1869 JMW Maria H. Smith – thank you for stay, family info 70. 6/5/1864 Jed W. A.M. Davis – health, 4th of July plans 71. 6/29/? JMW N. Smith – send small pot of butter 72. n.d. JMW N. Smith – snowstorm, package to Mrs. Wheeler 73. March? JMW Nancy Smith – Jonas is ill, sleepy, Mr. Jones to cut wood 74. 5/17/1869 Jed W. A.M. Davis – safe arrival, Silas is sick 75. 1/11/? JMW N. Smith – Ed Mills, great dinner, baskets 76. 1/20/1859 JMW Jonas Smith – injunction, caught cold 77. 4/6/1869 JMW J.S. 78. 4/28/1862 JMW J. Smith – look in desk 79. 3/3/? JMW Lawrence Smith? – regarding case of death of a lunatic 80. 1/1/1856 Mr . R. Randall JMW - $30, one years interest 81. 2/21/1865 JMW Jonas Smith – Mr. Edwards tax 82. 2/1/5/1857 JMW J. Smith and N. Smith – Mr. Wood to come down, eggs, measles 83. 8/2/? Jed W. A.M.D. – Silas visit to mother 84. 9/29/1862 Jed W. J. Smith – sending feed, trip to Riverhead 85. 9/25/1859 William S. Williamson Ann M. Davis – money, school, rain 86. 2/12/1848 JMW ? - purchaser for house 87. 2/24/? Jed W. ? – offer to drive cart 88. 2/26/1859 JMW J.S. 89. 8/11/1867 JMW Bellows – visit, talk of the bible 90. 2/3/1858 JMW J. Smith 91. 5/21/1863? JMW J. Smith - sending money, visit 92. 9/21/1859 JMW Robert M. Jayne? – request to be a witness 93. 9/25/1852 William S. Williamson Ann M. Davis – tell all we are well, send response
to Philadelphia 94. 9/30/1865 JMW E. Tuthile? – Grand lecturer will be at house tonight, please come 95. 6/14/1862 JMW J.S. – Ebenezer Hawkins can have calf for 5 ½ cents 96. 5/6/1866 JMW N.H. Cranston - $19 enclosed 97. 11/12/1870 JMW Chat? E. Jayne – sent 2 undershirts 98. 9/14/1844 ? W. Cummin, G. Blothenberger, J. Jackman, F. Rinehart, J. Stanley,
J.T. Mussleman – invite to attend Democratic Meeting 99. n.d. JMW N. Smith – put butter on board the Native, send eggs 100. 3/13/1856 Jed W. Seth Williamson – family and friend’s health, thank you letter 101. 12/2/1858 Jed W. Louisa Williamson – can’t come for Christmas, children are
well 102. 5/3/1853 JMW James Bloeper? – painting of offices 103. n.d. JMW N. Smith - can’t come home tomorrow, hat not done 104. 5/1/? Jonas Smith George Hawkins – request to work for 5 months 105. 2/4/1863 JMW J. Smith - did not come yesterday – cold 106. 11/6/1864 Jed W. A.M. Davis – sickness, death, butter 107. 10/18/? JMW Lanas Hines – should he pay for lot? 108. 1/16/1848? Cornelia Wright Persis Mallory? - much news 109. empty envelopes addressed to Jedidiah Williamson and John M. Williamson
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