William Williams family papers

WILLIAM WILLIAMS (1731-1811)

Signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate to Continental Congress; held many local political offices in Lebanon, Connecticut, and in Connecticut State government. Thomas Wheeler Williams (1789-1874): engaged in shipping business and whaling in New London, Connecticut; member of Congress, 1839-1843; member of the Connecticut State legislature, 1846-1847; president of New London, Willimantic & Palmer Railroad. William Williams (1862-1947): admitted to Massachusetts bar, 1888; practiced law in New York City, 1888-1947; U.S. Commissioner of Ellis Island, 1902-1905, 1909-1913; active on other city boards and commissions.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS (1862-1947) (B.A. 1884).

Born June 2, 1862, in New London, Conn. Died February 8, 1947, in New York City.

Father, Charles Augustus Williams of New London 1886-88; son of Thomas Wheeler and Lucretia Shaw (Perkins) Williams. Mother, Elizabeth (Hoyt) Williams; daughter of Jonathan Edwards Hoyt and descendant of Elisha Williams, president of Yale 1726-38. Yale relatives include: Jonathan Edwards (B.A. 1720) (great-great-great-grandfather); and Hon. Elias Perkins (B.A. 1786) (great-grandfather).

Graduated from Real Gymnasium, Wiesbaden, Germany, 1882. Entered Yale College in Junior year; oration appointment Senior year; member Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Traveled in Europe 1884-85; attended Harvard Law School 1885-88 (LL.B. 1888; contributed to Harvard Law Review); admitted to the bar 1888; associated with Simpson, Thacher [Thomas, '71] and Barnum [William M., '77], lawyers, New York City, 1888-92; associate counsel U.S. Government in Bering Sea arbitration with Great Britain, in Washington and Paris, 1892-93; lawyer in New York City 1893-1902, 1905-9 , 1919-47; U.S. Commissioner of Immigration, Ellis Island, 1902-05 and 1909-13; commissioner department of water supply, gas, and electricity, New York City, 1913-18; trustee Presbyterian Hospital 1913-47 (voting member 1913-46, honorary member 1946-47); on board Seamen's Church Institute of New York 1927-47; M.A. Hon. Yale 1906; enlisted Troop A, New York Volunteer Cavalry, June, 1898; promoted commissary of subsistence (rank of Major) July, 1898, and in charge transport U.S.S. Chester which sailed to Puerto Rico in August; because of illness on return voyage was mustered out March 12, 1899; commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, Procurement Division, Ordnance Department, Washington, February 8, 1918, and served until January 31, 1919; interested in mountain climbing he had scaled several Alpine peaks and Swiss Alps and contributed articles on his experiences to magazines; author: "Reminiscences of the Bering Sea Arbitration" ( American Journal of International Law, October, 1943); one of the four oldest active tennis players in the world; member American Bar Association, Association of the City of New York, and American and English Alpine clubs; vestryman St. Bartholomew's Church (Episcopal), New York City, 1916-47.

Unmarried.

Buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London. Survived by a sister, Mrs. William Crozier of Washington.