Williams-Skerrett family papers

Born in Kent, Charles S. Williams was a soldier under Wellington, was ordained an Episcopal clergyman in 1820 and served in that capacity in Baltimore from 1823 until the later 1830's when the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife, Mary C. (Wentworth) Williams, was also of Engl...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Williams-Skerrett family (Creator)
Collection:Williams-Skerrett Family Papers
Collection Number:2111
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
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Physical Description: 13.0 Linear feet ; 28 boxes, 1 flat file
Summary: Born in Kent, Charles S. Williams was a soldier under Wellington, was ordained an Episcopal clergyman in 1820 and served in that capacity in Baltimore from 1823 until the later 1830's when the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His wife, Mary C. (Wentworth) Williams, was also of English birth and their children were Gertrude E. and William Henry Williams. William Henry Williams married Frances F. Hayes and their daughter was Frances Rebekah Williams, who married the son of an admiral, Joseph Taylor Skerrett. Skerrett worked on various engineering and construction projects. Their children were Dorothy Wentworth and William Henry Williams. In 1918, William Henry Williams married Janet Bell Gayley of the Gayley family of Hazelton. Dorothy Wentworth Williams lived most of her life with her mother and a domestic, Anne Catherine Bollemose Belmont. Papers, 1817-1950: The Williams Family Papers consist of sermons, speeches and notes of Charles S. Williams, including material on the founding of the Albion Society, 1817-1859; family correspondence of Mary C. Wentworth, 1823-1881; the social correspondence of Gertrude E. Williams, 1839-1906, noteworthy because it highlights the Civil War period, expressing attitudes toward death, illness, religion, child-raising and poor relief. It also paints a picture of growing-up female in 19th century Pennsylvania. The collection also includes the correspondence of William Henry Williams which concerns his affiliation with the investment firm of Brown Brothers, the management of the Detroit Gas Light Company and other gas investments, 1831-1897. The Skerrett Family Papers include Frences R. Skerrett material, 1877-1947; Joseph Taylor Skerrett material, 1885-1916; William Henry Williams Skerrett correspondence, 1902-1942 and journal, 1910-1914 and Dorothey Wentworth Skerrett material, 1902-1947 which includes Anne Belmont material, 1859-1943. Photographic portraits make up the final section of the papers depicting family members, many correspondents and local scenes. Media range from daguerreotypes to modern bromide papers and include prints and drawings. The Gayley family material occupies this section and documents the background of Janet Bell Gayley. The collection also contains spread from the 8 April 1870 issue of The Graphic that shows two engravings: "The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race" and "Palm Sunday at Oxford in the Olden Times."