Civil War Auction
Lot 1154:
Description
Collection associated with Lt. Warren C. Williams, who served in Companies E and H, 16th Regiment of Vermont Volunteers. Compiled by a family member circa 1900 and cherished and preserved by them until now, this grouping is quite extensive, and its study should be rewarding.
•He fought at Gettysburg, and the highlight of this collection is a red silk scrap of a U.S. Flag [7”x2-/2”] with note written in ink “Flag which went thru Battle of Gettysburg. Brought back by Grandfather Williams, your great grandfather Williams.” His unit fought at Cemetery Ridge.
•Small New Testament, dated 1862 possibly carried by Williams [4”x2-1/2”x1/2”.
•A folding wooden table that according to the family was made by him and used during his service as an officer in the unit. Measures 15”x17”x26” high [open] and 36”x4” x17” [closed].
•Buttons: 1 removed from his Union uniform coat [with 1”x2” part of coat still affixed] and 3 from his State Militia coat. GAR Veterans medal. All accompanied by note written on envelope.
• Black and gold bullion hat cord when he was a 1st LT.
•There are several images of Warren Williams in this grouping. Most notable are a small photo album [1”x1-1/2”x1-1/2”] that contains 14 total gem size tintypes of women and children. The first image is W.C. Williams in uniform. Leather cover w/clasp. The second is a cased tintype of W.C. Williams uniformed, seated in a chair, pulling a light artillery saber out of its scabbard. The third image is a CDV in sleeve of W.C. Williams in civilian clothes, postwar [3-1/4” x 5”]. Last image of W.C. Williams he is with his wife Nellie and his daughters Marg and Edith sitting in their home. He has a gaunt look and stares back at the camera. From an album that has photo of two women in matching dresses seated at piano-backs facing camera. 4”x5” measurements for both.
•Cannonball 3-1/2” diam, 5.7lbs w/ wooden base and Bullet’s [x4] dug up by W.C. William’s family at Gettysburg in the 1950’s
•Selection of images [some hand tinted and handiwork from the branch of the Williams family that settled in York, PA. Includes 3x lacework pieces 2-3/4” square; What looks to be a lace collar on paper 13” x 9”; uncased photo of single woman, standing next to chair in room. 2-3/4” x3-1/4”. Cased tintype of baby girl. 3”x3-3/4” image. Cased photo of single woman image 2” x 2-3/4” Cased ambrotype of man and woman. 2-3/4” x 2”. Trio of cased 1/9 plate images of single men. One daguerreotype, one ambrotype and one tintype. All covers unhinged. Final image of the York branch is of an older man and wife w/note Haines” Cased [unhinged] ambrotype 2-3/4” x 3-1/4”.
•Other items of note are a Sword & scabbard. Circa 1810-1825. Owned by Williams family of Chester, VT. The family are direct descendants of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. Sword measures 40” long w/scabbard, and blade 33-1/2” long, 1-38” wide at hilt. No markings on sword or scabbard. Hilt is steel, with carved wooden handle [missing chunk near end]. Guard is broken. Despite the patina, the blade looks fairly good for its age. Blunted tip.
•Copper cooking pot/cauldron. Iron handle. Measures 15-1/2” x 8-1/2”.
•Cast iron cooking pot. Three legged construction.No diagnostic marks. Measures 20″ to handle, Bowl is 11-1/2″ across at top,
•Glass bottle w/cork Registered Full1/2 Pint 8OZ Capacity.
•The Vermont Register, 1889. With Williams personal notes for days “A cold day; Cloudy and Dark; Elizabeth came home” etc …Book measures 3-3/4” x 5-3/4”
•12 photographs of various sizes [largest 4”x6” smallest 4”x5”] of different subjects, family, home, etc.
•CDV of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb.
•School program, “Catalogue of the Instructors and Students. Londonberry Select School for the Spring and Fall terms of 1848 & 1849.
•School catalog. Catalogue of the Instructors and Students. Londonberry Select School for the Spring and Fall terms of 1850.
•In three ring binder, 20 pages of handwritten letters from the family and other individuals outside of the Williams family. Wartime letters include: From Camp New Falmouth, Virginia May 23, 1863; Camp Vermont, Washington D.C. November 21, 1862; Camp near Wilmington, July 29, 1863; Cover to Miss Abbie Baldwin from Washington DC in 1862; Letter Camp Vermont, Washington D.C. November 7, 1862.
•Several letters from the 1840’s; Deed for property Levi S. Peck to Uri Peck dated May 8, 1846; Letter from sister to Joseph and John H. Stokes. Weston B. School, Pennsylvania. Dated 1842. Sleeve has Confederate $20 bill and note on sleeve: “Keep this letter with gem of John Stokes, Major in the Confederate Army 1861-1864 Natchez, Miss.” Two pages of family records of the Williams Family; selection of promissory notes for debts [all pre-Civil War].
•Vermont Deed from J. Thomas Williams to Warren C. Williams stamped and dated 16 December 1867. Size 8-1/2” x14”
•Pair of large format photographs of family [elderly man and wife and reprinted in 1800’s from earlier images in this grouping York, PA Williams family branch.
•Several misc. paper documents, postcards, etc, notes about family compiled by member who gathered all this together turn of century.
Truly an amazing collection that touches on several historical events. From LT Warren C. Williams and the 16th Vermont fighting at Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg in July of 1863, to his postwar family life, to letters and documents dating to the early 1800’s, to his ancestry as a descendent of the founder of the Colony of Rhode Island. This collection has a little bit of everything for the historian and collector. See photos for detail.
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