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Williamson, Thom A Guide to the Thom Williamson Papers MG 11

A Guide to the Thom Williamson Papers MG 11


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Dr. James R. Sweeney

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 11
Title
Thom Williamson Papers 1853-1913, undated Date acquired: 11/02/1976
URL:
Archon Finding Aid location
Quantity
0.40 Linear Feet
Quantity
1 Hollinger document case boxes
Creator
Williamson, Thom (1833-1918)
Language
English .
Abstract
Engineer in United States Navy from 1853 until 1912, when he was relieved from active duty as a Chief Engineer with the rank of Rear Admiral. During the Civil War he served on the U.S.S. Hartford, the flagship of Rear Admiral David Farragut, and was present at the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. Collection consists of general correspondence, naval correspondence, diaries, and military papers from his service in the Navy.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Julia Williamson Hall Blair

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A76-61

Biographical or Historical Information

Thom Williamson was born on August 5, 1833, at Edenton, North Carolina. His father was William Price Williamson, Chief Engineer, United States Navy and later Engineer-in-Chief of the Confederate States Navy. His mother was the former Penelope Benbury McDonald.

Thom Williamson spent his boyhood in Norfolk, Baltimore and Philadelphia. He received his principal education in Norfolk at the Norfolk Military Academy. In 1847 his father was ordered to Baltimore, Maryland to which the family moved. He attended St. Mary's College in Baltimore from 1847 to 1850. His father was transferred in 1850 to Philadelphia where Thom went and stayed about one year. In Philadelphia the young man went to work at the Vulcan Iron Works which was outfitting the U.S.S. Susquehanna with machinery built for her under the superintendence of William Price Williamson in Baltimore. The family returned to Norfolk in 1851. Thom was placed in charge of a small farm not far from the city--"Sycamore Cottage." A. Mehaffy employed young Williamson as an-assistant draftsman, working on drawings of machinery for the United States steamers Powhatan and Allegheny.

Williamson entered the United States Navy as Third Assistant Engineer in 1853. Thom Williamson was an engineer in the United States Navy from 1853 until he was relieved from active duty with the rank of Rear Admiral in 1912. His first ship was the U.S.S. Saranac where he was a shipmate of his father Chief Engineer William Price Williamson.

The Saranac made a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea, which lasted almost three years. Thom Williamson was promoted to second assistant engineer in 1855. In July 1857, he was ordered to the Wabash, which he joined at the Isthmus of Panama. He landed at Greytown (San Juan del Norte) with the naval force which captured "General" Walker, the filibusterer.

Promotions continued to follow one another rapidly. In 1858 Williamson became first assistant engineer and in 1861 he was promoted to Chief Engineer. He married Julia Price on December 2. 1861. She was the daughter of William Ferdinand Price, who was employed in the office of the Secretary of the United States Senate. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Williamson faced a serious dilemma. Thom's father, William P. Williamson resigned from the United States Navy and accepted an appointment as Engineer in the Navy of the Confederate States of America. The elder Williamson became Engineer-in-Chief and took a prominent part in the construction of the Confederate ironclads, e.g., the Merrimac or Virginia. The rest of the Williamson family also supported the Confederacy. Thom however, renewed his oath of allegiance to the United States of America and declined a commission, filled out and signed by Jefferson Davis, appointing him a Chief Engineer in the Navy of the Confederate States of America. This action cut Thom Williamson off from his family and friends, but he was reconciled to them after the war.

During the Civil War, Williamson served on the U.S.S. Hartford, the flagship of Rear Admiral Farragut. He was present at the Battle of Mobile Bay in which the Union forces captured or sunk several vessels, including the Confederate ram Tennessee. Chief Engineer Williamson made frequent inspections of the Engineer Division on the Hartford during the battle. He was also involved in the capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan on August 8th and 23rd. He and three other officers were ordered by Admiral Farragut on the day after the battle of Mobile Bay to make a "strict and careful survey" of the Confederate ram Tennessee captured on August 5th.

After several other tours of duty Williamson was ordered in April 1874 to the U.S.S. Lancaster as Fleet Engineer of the South Atlantic Station. He was placed in charge of Engineers' Stores at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Navy Yard on April 28, 1876. In 1879 he was ordered to report on board the U.S.S. Powhatan as Fleet Engineer of the North Atlantic Station. He was ordered to the Navy Yard at Norfolk, Virginia on September 19, 1881. Upon completion of his tour of duty, he was again ordered to the U.S.S. Hartford in November 1884 for duty as Fleet Engineer of the Pacific Station.

From 1887 to 1895 Williamson served in Washington, D.C. He was ordered to the Navy Department in July but his orders were changed to special duty as Superintendent of the State, War and Navy Departments Building. He remained at this position until his retirement from active service on August 5, 1895. In 1889 he had attained the relative rank of Captain and on his retirement he was awarded the relative rank--but not the grade--of Commodore. He was recalled to active duty in 1898 at the time of the war with Spain as a member of a board, which was examining plans for coaling ships at sea. He continued to reside in Washington, D.C.

The latter years of Thom Williamson's career was quite varied in activities. He was awarded a diploma and bronze medal for collaboration in the Paris Exposition. He installed and was in charge of the Naval Exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo in 1901. In December 1901 he resumed active service at the Navy Department. He was assigned to Charleston South Carolina for special duty with the Naval Exhibit for the Exposition to be held there. He installed the Naval Exhibit and then returned to duty in Washington. He was relieved from active duty on June 6, 1912. In 1906 he was advanced on the retired list to Chief Engineer with the rank of Rear Admiral.

Thom Williamson had seven children: Julia Price; Virginia McDonald; Lizzie Bell; Marie Howell; Anne Walke; Thom and William Price. He died on March 17, 1918.

Note written by Dr. James R. Sweeney

Scope and Contents

The papers of Thom Williamson consist of orders, general correspondence, naval correspondence, two diaries, and a notebook, among others. The collection also includes letters of appointment to commissions, notices, certificates, a biographical sketch of Rear Admiral John W. Moore, and a survey of the iron clad casemated steamer "Tennessee" written in 1864 after its capture by Union forces in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Tennessee (Ironclad)
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Naval operations
  • United States. Navy
  • United States. Navy--Officers
  • Williamson, Thom (1833-1918)

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Williamson, Thom (1833-1918)
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Container List

Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
Box 1
  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
    Folder 1: Biographical Sketch-Rear Admiral John W. Moore
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Biographical Sketch-Rear Admiral John W. Moore, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2 Folder 2
    Folder 2: Certificates of Membership
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Certificates of Membership, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3 Folder 3
    Folder 3: Commissions, Letters of Appointment
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Commissions, Letters of Appointment, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4 Folder 4
    Folder 4: Correspondence, General
    1891-1912
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Correspondence, General, 1891-1912, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
    Folder 5: Correspondence, Naval
    1853-1913
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Correspondence, Naval, 1853-1913, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6 Folder 6
    Folder 6: Correspondence, William P. Williamson
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Correspondence, William P. Williamson, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7 Folder 7
    Folder 7: Deed-Thomas J. Carson and William P. Williamson
    1868 March 7
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Deed-Thomas J. Carson and William P. Williamson, 1868 March 7, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8 Folder 8
    Folder 8: Diary
    1853-1855
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Diary, 1853-1855, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9 Folder 9
    Folder 9: Diary
    1856-1857
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 9, Diary, 1856-1857, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10 Folder 10
    Folder 10: Notebook
    1867-1869
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 10, Notebook, 1867-1869, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11 Folder 11
    Folder 11: Notices, Forms--Naval
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 11, Notices, Forms--Naval, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 12 Folder 12
    Folder 12: Orders
    1853-1859
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 12, Orders, 1853-1859, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 13 Folder 13
    Folder 13: Orders
    1861-1869
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 13, Orders, 1861-1869, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 14 Folder 14
    Folder 14: Orders
    1871-1878
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 14, Orders, 1871-1878, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 15 Folder 15
    Folder 15: Orders
    1881-1887
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 15, Orders, 1881-1887, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 16 Folder 16
    Folder 16: Orders
    1890-1899
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 16, Orders, 1890-1899, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 17 Folder 17
    Folder 17: Orders
    1901-1912
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 17, Orders, 1901-1912, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 18 Folder 18
    Folder 18: Receipt
    undated
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 18, Receipt, undated, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 19 Folder 19
    Folder 19: Reports--The Survey of the Iron Clad Casemated Steamer "Tennessee"
    1864
    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 19, Reports--The Survey of the Iron Clad Casemated Steamer "Tennessee", 1864, Thom Williamson Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.