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Williams family papers

Williams family papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Williams family papers
Creator: Williams family
Inclusive Dates: 1787-1905
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet 1 box
Collection Number: ms12
Repository: Hargrett Library

Collection Description

Historical Note

The Williams family of North Carolina settled in Madison County, Georgia in the early nineteenth century. The family includes Joseph Williams, his wife, Desdemona Brown Williams, and their children, Dawson J. Williams and Robert G. Williams. Joseph served in the Confederate Army, 4th Regiment, Georgia State Reserve; Dawson served in the Confederate Army, Toombs Cavalry; and Robert's unit is unknown.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of deeds, inventories, indentures, land grants, receipts, and correspondence of the Williams family from 1787-1905. Early materials relate to Dawson Williams, father of Joseph, and include correspondence and bills. Of particular interest is correspondence of Joseph Williams, from camps near Atlanta, then Camp Anderson (Andersonville, Ga.); Dawson Williams, from camps near Atlanta, Georgia, and Brown Hospital, Milledgeville, Georgia; and Robert G. Williams, from camps near Chattanooga, Russellville, and Greeneville, Tennessee, and on the Shenandoah River, "Clark" County. Correspondence contains little information about battles or troop movements, and mainly discusses life for those at home, crops, and requests for food and clothing.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Williams family papers, ms12, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Larry Williams of Hull, Georgia and Mrs. Cosby Dawson of Athens, Georgia in 1952.

Conditions Governing Use

No Copyright – United States: Collection is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ For additional information, please contact the Special Collections Libraries at sclib@uga.edu.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2018.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Atlanta (Ga.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Correspondence
Cotton gins and ginning -- Georgia.
Deeds -- Georgia.
Enslaved persons -- Georgia
Georgia -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.
Indentures.
Madison County (Ga.)
Slavery.
Soldiers -- Georgia.
Tennessee -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865.

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 
boxfolder
11Letters, 1838-1856
Includes letters about selling enslaved people
 
12Letters, 1857-1860
Includes information on planting, cotton gin, and selling enslaved people
 
13Letters, 1861-May 1864
Includes a letter about abolitionists, church membership, Civil War
 
14Letters, July 1864-1866
Includes the Civil War, a letter about the hospital in Atlanta breaking up and not having transportation to the hospital in Griffin
 
15Legal and estate papers including for land and enslaved people; receipts including for a coffin, 1828-1878, undated
 
16Notebook, undated
 
17Receipts and promissory notes, 1829-1878
 
18Deeds, 1787-1905, undated
Includes deeds for James Collier, Franklin Co.; George Mathews, Franklin Co.; David Cunningham, Madison Co.; Davison Williams, Madison Co.; James Williams, Madison Co.; Davison Williams, Madison County; Grant Taylor, Franklin Co.; Davison Williams, Madison Co.; Joseph Ryan, Franklin Co.; David Smith, Madison Co.; Joseph Williams.
 
19Indentures, 1802-1881
Includes the hiring out of enslaved people
 
110Inventories and receipts for household goods and fabric; sale of bales of cotton, 1837-1868
 
111Benjamin Brown will, 1865
Includes enslaved people