Williams, William

Williams, William

William Williams was one of the leading master builder/proto-architects in late eighteenth-century Philadelphia. He first comes to notice with a provocative advertisement in the Pennsylvania Packet for January 4, 1773: William Williams, a native of this city, where he was regularly bred to the business of HOUSE CARPENTRY, begs leave to inform his friends, and the public that having lately returned from London, where he has for some time studied ARCHITECTURE in its various branches, he proposes carrying on the business of House Carpentry in the most useful and ornamental manner, as is now executed in the city of London, and most parts of England; and humbly hopes, from his practice and experience, to give the highest satisfaction to such as shall be pleased to employ him, in a new, bold, light and elegant taste, which has been lately introduced by the great architect of the Adelphi Buildings at Durham Yard [Robert Adam]; and which is now universally practiced all over Britain. He also fits up shop-fronts in the nicest manner, from the plainest and most simple to the most elegant and tasty, according to original plans taken in London. Williams's advertisement is one of the earliest Philadelphia references to Adamesque neo-classicism, and he also is know to have owned several English architectural books that were new in the 1770s, such as N. Wallis's A Book of Ornaments in the Palmyrene Taste containing upwards of sixty new designs...(London, 1771), that survive with his signature in the library of The Carpenters' Company. Williams was elected to membership in The Company on February 15, 1773, together with Robert Allison and Joseph Ogilby; he signed the Articles on April 19, 1773. Two years later he was an Encourager of the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan's The British Architect (R. Bell for J. Norman, 1775), the first book of architecture published in America. During the revolution, he rose from Captain to Lt.-Colonel between 1775 and 1780. On April 6, 177, he married Ester Smith, daughter of the late master builder/proto-architect Robert Smith, at St. Michael's and Zion Church; in October he was taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Germantown, and several months later he escaped and rejoined the American forces. For the rest of his life he was referred to as Colonel Williams. Following the Revolution, Williams resumed his craft and served as Warden of the Carpenters Company, 1785-1786. For the Grand Federal Procession of July 4, 1788, to celebrate the ratification of the Constitution, Williams and his journeymen erected a float for the Company in the form of a dome resting on thirteen columns in the Corinthian order, rich in the adopted symbolism of the new nation: "The frieze decorated with thirteen stars; ten of the columns complete, and three left unfinished [for those states that had not yet ratified the Constitution]. On the pedestals of the columns were inscribed, in ornamented ciphers, the initials of the thirteen American states. ON the top of the dome a handsome cupola, surmounted by a figure of Plenty bearing cornucopias and other emblems of her character. Round the pedestal of the edifice were these words: 'In Union the fabric stands firm.'" Too little is yet known about the other work of this key figure, who, together with Thomas Carstairs, may be an important link to British neo-classicism in Philadelphia. Williams was one of the carpenters granted two shares in the Library Company of Philadelphia for his work on Library Hall (designed by William Thornton, 1789-1790), and two fine examples of Williams's domestic work survived on Spruce Street (modern numbers 435 & 427). The first of these he built in 1792 on speculation and sold to Anthony Butler for 1400 pounds. The second house (427) was erected at about the same time (c. 1790-1792) and sold to the French Consul General to the United States, Antonine de la Forest. Executed in the finest late eighteenth-century Philadelphia style, this house was resold in 1795 for 8,000 Spanish milled silver dollars to Don Joseph de Jaudenes, Commissary General and Envoy from the King of Spain. Additional insight to Williams's place in Philadelphia architecture comes from 1793 when Stephen Hallet and James Hoban attacked William Thornton's design for the United States Capitol. President Washington, at his wits end over the bickering between these three sent Hallet and Hoban to Philadelphia to meet with Samuel Blodget, Superintendent of Public Buildings, and Thornton. Since Blodget also thought Thornton's plan was "impracticable," Thornton arrived at the meeting with Colonel Williams and Thomas Carstairs as his advisors. Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, presided over this extraordinary meeting that resulted in some changes in the Thornton plan. Williams, whom Jefferson called an "undertaker," -- that is, a builder/contractor -- produced several suggestions for how Thornton's design could be improved. But Jefferson was not convinced; he wrote to President Washington, Williams's "method of spanning the intercolonnations with secret arches of brick, and supporting the floors by an interlocked framing appeared to me totally inadequate; that of unmasking the windows by lowering the galleries was only substituting one deformity for another, and a conjectural expression how head-room might be gained in the Stair-ways shewed he had not studied them." The meeting temporarily saved the Thornton design, but it must have taught Williams the lesson that Benjamin H. Latrobe would soon learn -- amateur architect Jefferson could be outspoken and pigheaded on matters of taste and architecture. Other references to Williams's professional activity include sizeable payments for work done "at the President's House by Wm Williams" (1792-1797) made to his estate by Richard Wells, supervisor of construction, in 1796. While John Smith, Joseph Rakestraw, and Robert Allison also worked on this seminal structure located on the west side of Ninth Street, south of Market (demolished c. 1829), the design is usually attributed to Williams. In partnership with Joseph Rakestraw, Williams worked on the southward extension of Congress Hall that created the Senate Chamber, 1793-1794. Rakestraw and Williams appear to have been on a retainer and were regularly paid 75 pounds each during the period they were engaged at the building; they were paid in full on May 19, 1794. Shortly thereafter both men died, probably from yellow fever. Following William Williams's death, the Columbianum or American Academy of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, &c opened an exhibition that included several architectural drawings by Robert Smith, John Sproul, Abraham Colladay, and Williams. So far as is known, this was the first exhibition of architectural drawings ever held in the United States.

Written by Roger W. Moss, from the Philadelphia Architects and Builders website. 

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Williams

William

1/1/1749

Philadelphia, PA

1/1/1794

Hester Smith, daughter of Robert Smith

1/1/1773

Warden, 1785

Book Prices Committee, 1787

Float for Constitution procession, July 4, 1788

Work on President's House, 9th below Market Sts.; also extension of Congress Hall for Senate chamber

Houses at 425 & 427 Spruce St.

Tatman & Moss Bio Dictionary Phila. Architects pages 854-855. Was one of the leading master builder/proto-architects in late 18th century Philadelphia. He first came to notice with a provocative advertisement in the "Pennsylvania Packet" for January 4, 1773. "William Williams, a native of this city, where he was regularly bred to the business of house carpenter, begs leave to inform his friends, and the public, that having lately returned from London, where he has for some time studied architecture in its various branches, he proposes carrying on the business of house carpentry in the most useful and ornamental manner, as is now executed in the City of London, and most parts of England; and humbly hopes, from his practice and experience, to give the highest satisfaction to such as shall be pleased to employ him in a new, bold, light and elegant taste, which has been lately introduced by the great architect of the Adelphi Buildings at Ducham Yard (Robert Adam); and which is universally practiced all over Britain. He also fits up shop-fronts in the nicest manner, from the plainest and most simple to the most elegant and tasty, according to original plans taken in London."Williams's advertisement is one of the earliest Philadelphia references to Adamesque neo-classicism, and he is also known to have owned English architectural books that were new in the 1770s, such as N. Wallis's "A Book of Ornaments in the Palmyrene Taste containing upwards of sixty new designs . . ." (London, 1771), that survives with his signature in the library of the Carpenters' Company. Williams was elected to membership in The Company on February 15, 1773, together with Robert Allison (q.v.) and Joseph Ogilby (q.v.); he signed the Articles on April 19, 1773. Two years later he was an "encourager" of the Philadelphia edition of Abraham Swan's "The British Architect" (R. Bell for J. Norman, 1775), the first book on architecture published in America. During the Revolution he rose from Captain to Lt. Colonel between 1775 and 1780. On April 6, 1777, he married Ester Smith, daughter of the late master builder proto-architect Robert Smith (q.v.) at St. Michael's and Zion Church. In October he was taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Germantown; several months later he escaped and rejoined the American forces. For the rest of his life he was referred to as "Colonel" Williams. Following the Revolution, Williams resumed his craft and served as Warden of The Company, 1785-1786. For the Grand Federal Procession of July 4, 1788, to celebrate ratification of the Constitution, Williams and his journeymen erected a float for The Company in the form of a dome resting on 13 columns in the Corinthian order, rich in the adopted symbolism of the new nation: "The frieze decorated with 13 stars; ten of the columns complete and three left unfinished (for those states that had not yet ratified the Constitution). On the pedestals of the columns were inscribed, in ornamental ciphers, the initials of the 13 American states. On the top of the dome a handsome cupola, surmounted by a figure of Plenty bearing cornucopias and other emblems of her character. Round the pedestal of the edifice were these words: 'In Union the fabric stands firm.'" Too little is yet known about the other work of this key figure who, together with Thomas Carstairs (q.v.) may be an important link to British neo-classicism in Philadelphia. Williams was one of the carpenters granted two shares in the Library Company of Philadelphia for his work on Library Hall (designed by William Thornton, q.v., 1789-1790), and two fine examples of Williams's domestic work survive on Spruce St. (modern numbers 425 & 427. The first of these he built in 1792 on speculation and sold to Anthony Butler for 1400 pounds. The second house (427) was erected at about the same time (c. 1790-1792) and sold to the French Consul General of the United States, Antoine de la Forest. Executed in the finest late 18th century Philadelphia style, this house was resold in 1795 for 8,000 Spanish milled silver dollars to Don Joseph de Jaudenes,Commissary General and Envoy from the King of Spain. Additional insight into Williams's place in Philadelphia architecture comes from 1793, when Stephen Hallet and James Hoban attacked William Thornton's design for the United States Capitol. President Washington, at his wits' end over the bickering between these three, sent Hallet and Hoban to Philadelphia to meet with Samuel Blodget (q.v.), Superintendent of Public Buildings, and Thornton. Since Blodget also thought Thornton's plan "impracticable," Thornton arrived at the meeting with Colonel Williams and Thomas Carstairs as his advisors. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson presided over this extraordinary meeting that resulted in some changes in the Thornton plan. Williams, whom Jefferson called an "undertaker" -- that is, a builder/contractor -- produced several suggestions for how Thornton's design could be improved. But Jefferson was not convinced; he wrote to President Washington, Williams's "method of spanning the intercolonnations with secret arches of brick, and supporting the floors by interlocked framing appeared to be totally inadequate; that of unmasking the windows by lowering the Galleries was only substituting one deformity for another, and a conjectural expression of how head-room might be gained in the stair-ways showed he had not studied them." The meeting temporarily saved the Thornton design, but it must have taught Williams the lesson that Benjamin H. Latrobe (q.v.) would soon learn -- amateur architect Jefferson could be outspoken and pigheaded on matters of taste and architecture. Other references to Williams's professional activity include sizeable payments for work done "at the President's House by Wm. Williams" (1792-1797) made to his estate by Richard Wells, supervisor of construction, in 1796. While John Smith (q.v.), Joseph Rakestraw (q.v.) and Robert Allison (q.v.) also worked at this seminal structure located on the west side of Ninth St. south of Market (demolished c. 1829), the design is usually attributed to Williams. In partnership with Joseph Rakestraw, Williams worked on the southward extension of Congress Hall that created the Senate chamber, 1793-1794. Rakestraw and Williams appear to have been on a retainer and were regularly paid 75 pounds each during the period they were engaged on the building; they were paid in full on May 19, 1794. Shortly thereafter, both men died, probably from yellow fever. Following William Williams's death, the Columbianum or American Academy of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, etc., opened an exhibition that included several architectural drawings by Robert Smith (q.v.), John Sproul (q.v.), Abraham Colladay (q.v.), and Williams. So far as is known this was the first exhibition of architectural drawings ever held in the United States. ----------------- See C.E. Peterson's book "Robert Smith", page 23, col 2, para 4: tells about Williams training in London, an advertisement for his business and his death in 1794, possibly from yellow fever. ---------------- "Robert Smith" by Charles E. Peterson, page 156, column 2, last para: William Williams was Smith's brother-in-law. --------------- PA Gazette 7/9/1788 #5393 Lengthy, detailed description of Grand Federal Procession, celebrating ratification of U.S. Constitution. Includes description (item 24 in report) of "The New Roof, or Grand Federal Edifice" . . . "built in 4 days by Mr. W. Williams & Co." . . . "was followed by 450 architects and house carpenters carrying insignia of their trade.". . . "Preceded by Benjamin Loxley, Gunning Bedford, Thomas Nevill, Levi Budd, Joseph Ogilby, William Roberts." Minutes - Fall Quarterly Meeting, 1997 (Peterson's report) Tells of inventory of his estate, describing contents and their importance. Also listing of "bonds from German Catholic Church" (Holy Trinity Church at 6th & Spruce Sts). ------------------ "Philadelphia Preserved" Page 35 - Built house at 427 Spruce St. in 1791 (Williams-Mathurin house). This is location of the first French consulate in the United States. Dedication of plaque with Charles Peterson noted in January 2002 issue of "Quarterly." ------------------ Transactions APS Vol. 43, Part I (1953), page 106 Williams cited (89) as hauling red cedar logs used in columns of the first floor of the Hall. --------------- In his member folder copy of page from Minutes of Library Company on shares - 1789. --------------- Managing Committee Minutes- June 12, 1991-page 173 Historian emerirtus reports on life and works of Williams, drawn from a number of sources. Williams married Robert Smith's daughter Esther just a few weeks after her father died. (Copy of Peterson's report in Williams's file.)

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