The Roger Williams Family Association had its roots in the early 1880's when two or three related families, who were descended from Roger Williams, held an annual reunion and picnic in Roger Williams Park. They had no plans to form an association until 1886 when the City of Providence observed the 250th Anniversary of its founding. At that time, there were a number of celebrations, and Frederick Sayles, who was then Mayor of Pawtucket, called for a gathering of Williams descendants in Sayles Hall, Brown University. He expected about 50 or 60 people, and must have been overwhelmed when 1,000 showed up. Some brought charts showing their lines of descent, and others were somewhat vague about their lineage, relying solely on family tradition. They all showed a great deal of interest. Out of this gathering, the Roger Williams Family Association came into existence.
The Roger Williams Family Association was incorporated on January 30, 1906, in Providence, Rhode Island for (1)the purpose of honoring and preserving the memory of Roger Williams, Founder of the present State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and our progenitor; (2)the preparation and preservation of an authentic genealogy of his descendants; (3)the identification of as many descendants as possible; and (4)the promotion of friendship and social intercourse among them.(Information taken from Association by-laws.)
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This collection has been minimally processed. The following preliminary inventory is available. Please contact the archivist for additional information.
Researchers are advised that express written permission to reproduce, quote, or otherwise publish any portion or extract from this collection must be obtained from the University Library. Although Roger Williams University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Roger Williams Family Association Collection, UA 2009.002, Roger Williams University.
The Roger Williams Family Assocation was formed in 1906. The collection, housed in the Archives at the Roger Williams University Library since 1998, includes printed publications and artifacts related to Roger Williams, his descendants, and Rhode Island, as well as records of the Association.
The collection includes 52 boxes.
The collection was deposited by the Roger Williams Family Association in 1998.
Includes Melton Meek's research on the Pemberton and Williams families and his correspondence with the Association.
Of note are transcriptions of the 1617 will of Margery Pate, with bequests to James Williams, son Roger and daughter Katherine, and the will of Roger’s father, James, 1626.
Material was given to the Association by the late Alice (Drowne) McMonegle and by the late Leone Cargill (a descendant of Roger Williams). It includes photographs, news articles, orders of worship, and membership lists.