This series contains 143 letters, the majority either received or written by Dr. Thomas Williams (1718-1775). In many of the letters he is referred to as Col. Williams, as they were written during his service as a military surgeon. Box 1, Folders 1 through 3 contain letters written to Dr. Williams from a variety of family members, military associates, physicians and others. Box 1, Folder 4 contains a series of letters written to Dr. Williams and his wife, Esther, by her father Rev. William Williams (1688-1760) who was Thomas's father-in-law and his cousin. In Box 1, Folder 5 are letters written to Esther Williams. The first sixteen are from her husband, written mostly while he was serving in the military. Letters written to Col. Ephraim Williams are contained in Box 1, Folder 7. Dr. Thomas Williams' son, Solomon, is the recipient of letters in Box 1, Folder 8. The final folder in this series contains letters to and from other Williams family members and associates. It is difficult to ascertain the recipient of some of the items.

Among the many letters of interest in this series are those that provide first-hand accounts of military activity during the French and Indian War. Two items in Box 1, Folder 8, written in March of 1842 by Dr. Stephen W. Williams (grandson of Dr. Thomas Williams), contain copies of a number of letters that fall into this category. In one, Dr. Williams tells his wife about the September 8, 1755, ambush (Early Morning Scout) and the death of his brother Ephraim, as well as the continuing battle at Lake George and capture of the French Baron Dieskau. Given his responsibilities as surgeon, he is able to describe the wounds sustained by many individual soldiers. Most of the other letters written in 1755 and 1756 also contain accounts of military action. A letter in Box 1, Folder 6, written by William Williams to Col. Ephraim Williams on September 2 (six days before Ephraim's death), includes a discussion of Ephraim's will along with comments about the state of the ongoing war.

A letter in Box 1, Folder 8, written August 22, 1755, to Monsieur St. Luke Lacorn by John Hawks, asks for help in locating captives in Canada. Several of the items mention smallpox and smallpox inoculation (Box 1, Folder 3, January 1765, #95 and Box 1, Folder 5, December 1776, #104). There is a letter in Box 1, Folder 8 written on July 11, 1750 to "the Gentlemen assembled at Deerfield" regarding a complaint against Ebenezer Hinsdale who was accused of intemperance.

Other letters focus on family, financial and personal affairs, health and illness issues, and local news. Many are filled with religious reflections, particularly those sent by Rev. William Williams.

Within each folder, the letters are arranged chronologically. The condition of the items is mixed. Many are fragile, some torn or missing pieces. Legibility is good in most cases.

Because most members of the Williams family were active participants in the French and Indian War, military documents make up a significant portion of this collection. Box 1, Folder 9, for example, contains 57 enlistment papers from March and April of 1756, all slated for the Crown Point expedition. Mentioned among the leadership of the expedition are Thomas Williams, Elijah Williams, William Williams and Joseph Dwight. The enlistment papers are in good condition and have been arranged in alphabetic order by last name of enlistee.

In Box 1, Folder 10 are more materials from the Crown Point action. They include items such as Thomas Williams' commission as Lt. Col. and Captain of "a Regiment of Foot" in the British army of Massachusetts Bay province, dated September 9, 1755. Also contained in the folder are troop rosters, muster rolls, pay receipts, calculation sheets, lists of accounts and a variety of notes. The items are arranged in chronological order. Many are not dated; they have been placed last in the folder.

Military papers in Box 1, Folder 12 include such items as pay documents for the troops of Capt. Ephraim Williams (1749-1750); a list of sick and wounded (October 12, 1755); a list of "articles of plunder" (October 14, 1755); and a copy of Montcalm's Articles of Capitulation, allowing for the retreat of Monroe's troops and their dependents from Fort William Henry to Fort Edward (September 9, 1757). Items are arranged chronologically.

Series III is composed of two folders, each containing receipts, invoices, promissory notes, accounts and various brief notes. The items are arranged in chronological order; those not dated are placed at the end of the series.

Series IV is composed of wills and related estate papers. In Box 1, Folder 15 are an unsigned version and a copy of the will of Col. Ephraim Williams written on July 22, 1755, as he awaited major military action. He died less than two months later, on September 8. After bequests to members of his family, he left the remainder of his estate to support and maintain "a free school in the township west of Fort Massachusetts." This area later became Williamstown and the school, Williams College.

Other wills, those of Thomas Williams and William Williams, are contained in Box 1, Folder 16, along with estate inventory lists, an official appointment by the probate judge to inventory Thomas Williams' estate, and a transfer of land out of Thomas Williams' estate by Esther Williams.

Hinsdale family estate documents are found in Box 1, Folder 17. They primarily involve two sons of Mehuman Hinsdale (1673-1736) and his wife, Mary (1680-1763). The sons, John Hinsdale (1713-1746) and Ebenezer Hinsdale (1706-1763), both had significant estates and, since John's death preceded Ebenezer's, portions of John's estate became involved in the estate of Ebenezer. The Hinsdale and Williams families were joined through the marriage of Ebenezer to Abigail Williams, daughter of Rev. John Williams (1664-1729). Another family member whose estate is included in this series is Abigail Norton (1745-1806), daughter of John Hinsdale and a favorite niece of Abigail Williams Hinsdale.

Williams family members served in a number of civic positions. Dr. Thomas Williams, for example, held a number of offices including Justice of the Peace; William Williams, town clerk; and Solomon Williams, Collector of the Direct Tax. Series V contains a variety of legal items including court actions and governmental body papers.

The official appointment of Thomas Williams to the position of Justice of the Peace may be found in Box 2, Folder 1. Among the items of interest in Box 2, Folder 2, is the testimony of William Symmes regarding the drunkenness of Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale (July, 1750). A series of court judgments settling the debts of one William Barnard, "absent and absconding debtor," who owed money to Esther Williams and John Williams, among others (1791) and a draft (1810) of a business partnership involving Henry Williams are also included. Most of the deeds contained in Box 2, Folder 3, were signed by Thomas Williams in his official capacity. Solomon Williams' tax collection instructions and reports may be found in Box 2, Folder 4. Solomon (1764-1836) was the son of Thomas.

Box 2, Folder 5 contains several local government documents, one of which is a copy of a resolution passed by the Provisional Congress of Watertown on May 8, 1775, concerning disarmament of those who remain loyal to Britain and are considered "Enemies to the Rights of Mankind and the Interest of America."

Materials in this series are arranged chronologically and most are in fair to good condition.

A 1739 survey of a 250 acre plot of land near Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the 1761 plan of New Framington, Berkshire County, are included in this series.

Box 2, Folder 7 contains several medicinal recipes -- an 'approved medicine for the jaundice' containing earthworms, and a 'diet drink.' There are also a number of medical item inventories and invoices including an account of the medicines supplied to Brig. Gen. Dwight's Regiment in 1746. Most of the items belonged to Dr. Thomas Williams. The recipes in Box 2, Folder 8 are non-medicinal - 'a white fricuse of chickins' and 'To Dress Veal A la mode.'

The collection contains several items of poetry including an "Ode to Gen'l Wolfe" and an 'eloqium' on the bravery of the men at the Battle of Lake George with reference to the death of Ephraim Williams. These materials are not dated.

Among the items in this series are Thomas Williams' 1741 Yale diploma (Box 2, Folder 1) and a notebook of religious questions, answers and arguments belonging to William Williams (Box 2, Folder 11). Several lists of children's birth dates are included in Box 2, Folder 12 - those of Ephraim Williams and Elizabeth Jackson, and Oliver Partridge and Anna Williams.

The following outlines the sequence of items from this collection as they appear on the microfilm Williams, of Deerfield:

Letters (#1 - #114) - These letters can be found in Box 1, Folders 1-3 and 5-8.

Note Regarding Items in Map and Print Room (ca. pre-1972).

3/24/1801 Tax Collection Instructions to Solomon Williams - Located within the collection in Box 2, Folder 4.

Miscellaneous Items Sequenced #1-#56 - A wide variety of items with no particular order. Materials from inventories to poetry to medical recipes. Also, estate and legal papers and personal items. The items may be found in various folders throughout the collection.

Notes/Bills (random arrangement) - Located within the collection in Box 1, Folders 13 and 14.

Papers Related to Hinsdale Estate - Located within the collection in Box 1, Folder 17.

" Military Papers #1 - #57 (random arrangement) - Located within the collection in Box 1, Folder 9.

Military Papers #1 - #29 (random arrangement) - Located within the collection in Box 1, Folder 10.

Letters from William Williams (#1 - #18) - The majority, those written to Thomas and Esther Williams, are located in Box 1, Folder 4.

Capt. Oliver Shattucks Company Payroll Located within the collection in Box 1, Folder 11.

Notebook of William Williams - Located within the collection in Box 2, Folder 11.

9/18/1801 Tax Collection Instructions to Solomon Williams - Located within the collection in Box 2, Folder 4.

Letters from Thomas Williams to Esther Williams (#1- #18) - Located within the collection in Box 1, Folder 5.

Blotter - Call Phrase: BV Williams, Thomas Dr.

Solomon Williams - Personal Account Book - Call Phrase: BV Williams, Solomon.

Solomon Williams - Inhabitants of Deerfield Mass - Call Phrase: BV Williams, Solomon.