Journal Report

Descendants of James Ayer



Generation One


1. James1 Ayer.1,2 James was born on 1 Feb 1766 at Haverhill, MA. He married Sarah Bradley on 14 Dec 1794 at Haverhill, MA. James died on 13 Mar 1839 at age 73. His body was interred at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY.
He witnessed the biography of James Ayer: (an unknown value); He bought a farm in Haverhill, MA about 1796 on the Merrimac River. In about 1811 he sold the farm and moved his family in a covered wagon to Erie County, NY and built a log cabin on a 430 acre farm outside of Buffalo. His gravestone still exists and reads:
In Memory of
James Ayer,
formerly of Haverhill
Massachusetts, who died
March 13, AD. 1839,
aged 73 years 1 month
& 13 days
Blessed are the dead who died in the
Lord.
Sarah Bradley.3,4,5 Sarah was born on 1 Feb 1774. Sarah died in Dec 1844 at age 70. Her body was interred at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY. She witnessed the biography of Sarah Bradley: (an unknown value); Her gravestone still exists and reads:
Sarah B. Ayer,
Wife of
James Ayer,
Died Dec. 7, 1841,
Aged 70 Y'rs. 10 Mo's.
& 7 days.
The righteous.
Children of James1 Ayer and Sarah Bradley were as follows:

Generation Two


5. Ira2 Ayer I (James1).24,25,26,27,28,29,30 Ira was born on 26 Dec 1802 at Haverhill, MA. He married Julia Mariah Wadsworth on 26 Dec 1828.31 He married Bessie E Cronkite on 14 Oct 1869 at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY.32 Ira died on 28 Jul 1889 at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY, at age 86. His body was interred on 30 Jul 1889 at Angola, Erie Co., NY.
He witnessed the biography of Ira Ayer I: (an unknown value); As a child he lived on what he described as the most beautiful farm on the Merrimac River. In 1827 he was a Lieutenant of the 48 th Regiment of Infantry, New York Militia. By 1837 he had reached the rank of Colonel and in 1838 served in the Patriot War. He recruited and trained a Company of men for the Civil War. They were the first to be trained and report for service and became Co. A, 116, Reg. N.Y. Vol. They served through the entire war. In 1850 he had two people born in Ireland living with him. They may have been to help on the farm. In 1860 his wife's Uncle Joseph Davenport was living with along with a boy who was attending school and who's occupation was listed as Serving. In 1850 his farm was valued at $2650 and by 1870 his real and personal estate was valued at $7000. Ira was employed; Farmer. He became Lolah Ayer's adoptive father after 1869.
Julia Mariah Wadsworth.33,34,35 Julia was born on 27 Oct 1808 at MA.36 Julia died on 14 Aug 1861 at age 52.
Children of Ira2 Ayer I and Julia Mariah Wadsworth were as follows:
Bessie E Cronkite.54,55,56,57,58 Bessie was born in 1840 at NY. She married William B Kneebone on 9 Oct 1891. Bessie died in 1910. Her body was interred at Angola, Erie Co., NY. She witnessed the biography of Bessie E Cronkite: (an unknown value); On October 9, 1891 she married William B Kneebone. He died on July 28, 1900. She applied for a Civil War pension by her marriage to Ira Ayer in 1908 but was denied because she had re-married.
There were no children of Ira2 Ayer I and Bessie E Cronkite.

9. James2 Ayer Jr. (James1).59,60,61,62 James was born on 14 Aug 1813 at Erie Co, NY. He married Marcy Hathaway Terry in 1839.63 James died on 22 May 1863 at Baton Rouge, LA, at age 49. His body was interred at Angola, Erie Co., NY.
He witnessed the biography of James Ayer Jr.: (an unknown value); According to his brother he lived on their father's farm. In 1850 and 1860 it was valued at $6000 and $7000 respectively. He recruited, trained, and was captain of a Company that fought in the Civil War as did his brother Ira. His company was Company K, 116th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He died of disease in camp during the Civil War. Post No 202 of the Grand Army of the Republic (Union veteran's organization) named themselves the James Ayer Post in his honor. His brother Ira was a member. A memorial book by the James Ayer Post to Ira Ayer gave the following description of James Ayer:
      Captain James Ayer was the youngest brother of Captain Ira Ayer. He was born in what is now the town of Evans, August 14th, 1813, and died in camp at Baton Rouge, La., May 22, 1863.
      I have heard it stated at various times, though I am not prepared to substantiate the fact from any records, that James Ayer was the first white male child born within the present limits of the town of Evans. His early life, like that of his older brother, developed military ability.
      When a young man he was Captain and afterwards, by successive promotions, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel of a Regiment of New York State Militia.
      He reside all his life in the town and upon the same farm where he was born.
      As a citizen he was honored and beloved by all. In a long acquaintance with him and with those among whom he resided I never heard other than words of esteem spoken of him as a neighbor, a friend and earnest and exemplary Christian citizen.
      Like his brother he had been called to pass through great affliction.
      A short time before he offered his services to his country he buried his wife and was left with two motherless children of tender age to care for.
      He, however, did not falter in his convictions of duty and receiving authority to recruit a company he soon found himself mustered into the service as Captain of Company "K," One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. He was an efficient officer and had he lived would undoubtedly have gained promotion, as he had the entire confidence of his superior officers.
      In the service he exhibited the same spirit of kindness and solicitude for others welfare that had ever been a prominent trait in his life and character and the more intimately the members of his company came to know him the stronger was their attachment to him as a friend and their admiration of him as an officer.
      A few days before we left Baton Rouge on the Port Hudson campaign, he was taken sick and much against his wish compelled to remain in his tent, not wishing to go to the hospital.
      ... His symptoms, however, grew more alarming. He was taken with fever, followed by inflammation of the bowels and at 5 P.M. of May 22nd he passed away.
      ... After the war had ceased his remains were removed from Southern soil and placed by the side of his beloved wife in the town where he was born.. James was employed at as a Farmer.
Marcy Hathaway Terry.64,65 Marcy was born in 1810 at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY. Marcy died in 1862.
Children of James2 Ayer Jr. and Marcy Hathaway Terry all born at NY were as follows:

Generation Three


11. Lavinia3 Ayer (Ira2, James1).72,73,74 Lavinia was born on 18 Aug 1834 at NY. She married George W Barr on 8 Aug 1858.75 Lavinia died on 30 Sep 1868 at age 34.
George W Barr.76 George was born in 1832. George died in 1912.
Children of Lavinia3 Ayer and George W Barr are:

12. Ira3 Ayer II (Ira2, James1).80,81,82,83,84,85 Ira was born on 14 Jul 1836 at Evans Center, Erie Co., NY. He married Virginia 'Jennie' James on 21 Dec 1863 at Foundry Meth. Epis. Church, Washington, DC.86 Ira died on 3 Feb 1903 at 37 Cambridge Pl, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY, at age 66.
He witnessed the biography of Ira Ayer II: (an unknown value); The following is from a book called "Marital Deeds of Pennsylvania" written by Samuel P. Bates. It was published in 1874 by T. H. Davis & Co in 1875. The book contains biographies of many of the more prominent people that fought in the Civil War from Pennsylvania.
      Ira Ayer, Jr., Colonel of the Tenth Reserve regiment, was born in Erie county, New York, on the 14th of July, 1836. He was son of Ira and Julia M. (Wadsworth) Ayer. At the opening of the Rebellion he was a student of Allegheny College. Without waiting for authority he called together his fellow-students, and having had some training in the Sixty-seventh militia, of which his father was Colonel, commenced drilling them. Though earnest in his appeals his company failed of acceptance, until the Reserve corps was authorized, when it was mustered as Company I of the Tenth. He was first in action at Dranesville. He seems to have had a poetic appreciation of valor; for when General Ord, who commanded in the battle, came galloping forward, leading Easton's battery into action, he thus records his impressions: "Just then Ord came dashing up. `Make way for my artillery,' he shouted, and without slackening his speed dashed by, while his `war-dogs' followed close behind. The General was an old artillerist, and knew well how to value this arm of the service. The scene was, I think. the most animated that I witnessed during the war. He was mounted on a beautiful bay, and as he rode up, his eyes flashing fire and every lineament of his countenance betokening courage, his presence inspired all with confidence."
      In the battle of Beaver Dam Creek he was sent forward with his company to occupy the skirmish line, and remained in this advanced position during the entire engagement, the regiment ??quitting itself in the most gallant manner. "About ten o'clock," he says, "the roar of artillery had ceased. In our advanced position we could hear distinctly the movements of the enemy, and the cries and shrieks of the wounded and dying, as lay where they had fallen or were being moved from the field." In the battle of the following day, at Gaines' Mill, he received a gunshot wound in the right side and a severe contusion of the right arm. "Colonel Warner," he says, "mustered the regiment on the 30th, and I shall never forget the glow of soldierly pride with which he commended the company's bravery, and viewed its thinned but still compact ranks." And now came the change of base, with infinite discomfort to the wounded and worn-out soldiers. But a place of rest had not been gained before the enemy attacked, now at Charles City Cross Roads. The Reserves felt the first shock and were terribly scourged, but suffered no diminution of gallantry. In the Seven Days of this contest Captain Ayer's company lost more heavily in killed and wounded than any in the division. As it was the representative of one of the prominent colleges in the State, the fact may be regarded as significant.
      At Bull Run, Captain Ayer received a severe wound. Passing over this field nearly a year afterwards the recollection of the battle were brought vividly to his mind and he thus wrote to a friend: "A little farther on we came to the scene of our last year's operations. There is the very field where we lay, Thursday night, August 28th, all day under a hot sun, covered a little from the enemy. This was near Groveton. Yonder is the wood where our regiment made a charge to take a rebel battery, but without success, and there is the field where they shelled us after dark, throwing their missiles very accurately, but, as it happened, without effect. That was Friday evening, the 29th; and there is the field where our regiment stood picket the same night. Passing on a little farther we come to the house hear which we lay Saturday, before we were ordered into the engagement. But here to the right is the very spot where the regiment fought. There fell Captain Hinchman, of Company A, and it is said that he is buried in that little rail enclosure. Here, too, fell Tryon and Pearl; and Phelps, out Lieutenant, a bold and dashing officer, was shot through the breast. No better men graced the ranks of the Union army. On this same ridge the rebel bullet struck my arm, and another went through my hat. The former made a sad hole in my canteen, causing all my cold coffee to run out. The boys in going over the field to-day found what they asserted to be the self-same canteen; but they were mistaken, for I carried it off with me." His wound was a severe one, fracturing the left forearm. At Gettysburg, while reconnoitring, he was fired at by two sharpshooters from an unexpected quarter, but was not hit. Turning suddenly back, a third shot was fired, which just grazed his side, making a deep abrasion, and would have done certain execution had it not been fired at the instant of his turning away, carrying him out of aim after the missile had actually left the piece.
      He had been promoted to the rank of Major on the 18th of October, 1862, and on the 18th of December, 1863, was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel and placed in command of the regiment. When it entered the Wilderness campaign it went with the free step and resolute mien of the best trained and organized soldiers. It had not penetrated far before the old foe was met. In a letter dated May 6th, the second day of the battle, he says: "Our division had been rapidly ordered forward, preparatory as was supposed to a charge upon the enemy's works. I was leading my regiment my regiment into line when hit by a bullet from the one of the enemy's sharpshooters, which passed through the large bone of my leg, causing a very painful though I hope not dangerous wound. I was compelled to leave the field at once, which I did after exhorting my men to do their duty."
      For more than a year after the Reserve corps had completed its period of service and been mustered out he was disabled. He was brevetted Colonel for this action, and was warmly complimented by Generals Crawford and Fisher. Only by wounds, however, was he kept from the field, possessing a good constitution and actuated by real patriotism. In person he is six feet in height, well formed, and of fair complexion. At college he manifested a strong liking for mathematics and natural science, and later in his course for lingual studies. Strictly temperate--of tobacco and spirituous liquors abstemious--he was little affected by temptation, as the habits of youth are strengthened and firmed by time.
      Colonel Ayer was married on the 21st of December, 1863, to Miss Jennie James, whose mother had, during the war, ministered at the bedside of many sick and dying soldiers, evincing a patriotism as sincere and fervid as the man who bore the musket and met face to face the foe. She watched at the side of one of the brave men of Ayer's company, Edwin B. Pier, a scholar of promise, and after his death wrote a most touching letter, descriptive of the Christian fortitude of the departed young soldier. When Ayer next visited Washington, he called upon the family to tender his acknowledgments for the kindness shown his beloved companion-in-arms, and then for the first time met the daughter. The acquaintance ripened into esteem, and finally resulted in their marriage. At the close of the war, Colonel Ayer settled in Virginia, and now resides at Norfolk, where he holds a responsible position in the civil service of the General Government.
      The following is the Civil War record of Ira Ayer, Jr. rebuilt from his military records and other sources.
     June 14, 1861 - Ira Ayer, Jr. enlisted as Capt. "to fill an original vacancy" in Co I, 10th Reg't Pennsylvania Reserve Corps for a period of three years.
     July 21, 1861 Harrisburg, PA - reported for duty.
     Sept. & Oct., 1861 - Muster roll - present.
     Nov. & Dec., 1861 - Muster roll - present.
     Jan. & Feb., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Mar. & Apr., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     May. & June., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Aug. 29&30, 1862 - Wounded at Bull Run.
     July. & Aug., 1862 - Muster roll - absent - wounded.
     Sept. & Oct., 1862 - Muster roll - absent - wounded in hospital.
     Oct. 27, 1862 Buffalo - Letter from Doctor "To whom it may concern...the arm of Capt Ayer...tho doing well, it would be ingurious if not dangerous to attempt to use it for at least twenty days yet."
     Nov. & Dec., 1862 - Muster roll - present.
     Jan. & Feb., 1863 - Muster roll - present commanding Regiment.
     Apr. 10, 1863 - Special Muster roll - present.
     Apr. 22, 1863 - Promoted to Major.
     Mar. & Apr., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     May 1, 1863 Washington, DC - Individual Muster-out roll - age 25.
     May 13, 1863 Washington, DC - Individual Muster-in roll - age 25.
     May. & June., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Jul. & Aug., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Sept. & Oct., 1863 - Muster roll - present.
     Nov. & Dec., 1863 - Muster roll - absent on leave.
     Dec. 13, 1863 - From [Manenton] Junction applied for a pass to Alexandria for three days to transact private business.
     Dec. 15, 1863 - Went on leave.
     Dec. 18, 1863 - Printed Special Order 560. War Department Adjutant General's Office, Washington,
     December 18th, 1863. (Extract)
      27. The leave of absence granted Major Ira Ayer, 10th Pennsylvania Reserves, in Special Orders, No. 551, December 12th, 1863, from this Office, is hereby extended fifteen days.
      By order of the Secretary of War:
      Signed by E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant General. Dec. 21, 1863 Washington - Ira and Jennie got married.
     Jan. 15, 1864 - Returned from leave.
     Feb. 27, 1864 - Promoted to Lieut. Colonel to replace retiring Lt. Col. J. B. Knox. Took Oath of Office as Lieut. Colonel in Bristow Va.
     Jan. & Feb., 1864 - Muster roll - present.
     Mar. & Apr., 1864 - Muster roll - present.
     May 6, 1864 - Wounded by "minie ball" in right leg at Wilderness.
     May 12, 1864 - Admitted to a hospital (stamp says 3rd Div G. Alexandria, Va). Record says age: 28, Nativity: New York, Married, Residence: Washington, DC, wife: Jennie Ayer of 13th St. Washington, DC, Rank: Lt. Col. from Army of the Potomac. Back says Patient was received at 12ock at Night and transferred the Next Morning 7ock. no description of wound taken.
     May 13, 1864, Trasferred to Washington, DC [Seminary] Hospital. No date - Treated at Vol. Officers Hospital for G. S. W. (gun shot wound) Leg.
     June 11, 1864 - Discharged. "this records that the above named officer was discharged the service June 11, 1864, by reason of the muster out of the field and staff on that date, he being at the time absent wounded." He was in Gent. Hospital in Washington, DC.
     June 22, 1867 - Appointed Colonel by Brevet for "gallant conduct at the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia. To date from March 13, 1865."
     According to tradition, he had a stillborn twin brother. According to himself, he was 5'11", had a light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. He was a student at Allegheny College at the start of the Civil War studying to become a minister. He enlisted with 100 other students and was unanimously elected the captain of the Company. After training them very quickly they fought throughout the war during which time he was seriously wounded several times. After he was wounded in the leg he was treated at Seminary General Hospital in Georgetown, DC. He got married during the last year of the war. After the war he again served in the army from 1865 through 1867 and was stationed in the West. Part of that time he served on the Bureau of Refugees, Freed men, and Abandoned Lands. In 1869 he was appointed to the Treasury Department. According to an obituary (source unknown), he was always given the most important and delicate investigations. He was stationed in Norfolk, VA around 1871-5 (listed in city directories from 1872-1875/6). His daughter Alice said that she was born there and some pictures of the family were printed there. However, his family spent much of the time living in Richmond and Ashland with his in-laws. Between 1886 and 1888 he was special agent in charge of San Francisco. After that he was made statistician for the Treasury Department for the tin-plate industry, under the operation of the McKinley law. Then he worked to establish the rate of "drawback" on merchandise exported from this country. From about 1888 until the time of his death he was stationed at the port of New York. In 1892 in President Benjamin Harrison's fourth annual message to Congress he mentioned Ira by name while referring to a report done by Ira on the tin industry. He said "The report of Ira Ayer, special agent of the Treasury Department, shows that..." In 1900 he was renting a house at 37 Cambridge Pl., Brooklyn, NY. His wife and all his children were living there except Ira, III and Alice. They were both married at the time. He had a servant living there name Lena Curtis. Because of his war injuries he received a pension from 1875 until his death. For more information on his accomplishments during the Civil War see the section on him.
Virginia 'Jennie' James.87,88,89,90 Virginia was born in Aug 1845 at on a boat crossing the Atlantic. Virginia died on 25 Jan 1907 at age 61. She witnessed the biography of Virginia 'Jennie' James: (an unknown value); The 1900 census says that she had six children all of whom were still alive. According to tradition, her pension application, and a biography of her husband, her name was Jennie but the census identifies her as Virginia. At the time of her husband's death she received a life insurance settlement of $5,800 of which $3,800 had to go to settle debts. She received a pension until her death.
Her common name was Jennie.
Children of Ira3 Ayer II and Virginia 'Jennie' James were as follows:

Generation Four


23. Ira4 Ayer III (Ira3, Ira2, James1).100,101,102 Ira was born on 6 Oct 1868 at Ashland, VA. He married M Louise Foster. Ira died on 9 Jul 1939 at US Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA, at age 70.
He witnessed the biography of Ira Ayer III: (an unknown value); From his sisters Alice and Clem written about 1960: "He was born in Ashland, Virginia, but lived most of his life in the North, as we did. His life was filled with travel and interesting experiences. He married Louise Foster and had two daughters, Mrs. Phyllis Ayer Sowers of Carlsbad, California and Mrs. Alfred B. (Margaret) Smith of New York City. They both have distinguished themselves; Mrs. Sowers as an author of children's books and Mrs. Smith as an artist and illustrator. Dr. Malcolm Sowers, a grandson, lives in Castro Valley, California. Ira Ayer, our brother, was a Captain in the Spanish War seeing service in the Philippines and Cuba. After the war he went to Siam and was commissioned as advisor on the medical board of the Kingdom, and by King Pradjadpok, as his personal physician receiving the three highest honors obtainable in the Kingdom of Siam. They lived in the Orient for nearly twenty years, when he retired and bought a home in Carlsbad, California." According to American Medical Association records, he graduated from medical school at Long Island College Hospital in 1892 (now State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn College of Medicine). He was licensed to practice medicine in New York State in 1892 and in Illinois in 1893. He was practicing in Philadelphia and Brooklyn in 1911 and in Philadelphia in 1913. In 1912 he received the degree of Dr. P.H. from the University of Pennsylvania. On November 18, 1915 he was listed as practicing in Bangkok, Siam (now Thailand). According to his obituary in the New York Times, in 1916 he was commissioned by King Prajadhipok as his personal doctor and was an advisor on improving sanitary conditions throughout the kingdom.
M Louise Foster.103,104 M died.
Children of Ira4 Ayer III and M Louise Foster were as follows:

25. Alice Wadsworth4 Ayer (Ira3, Ira2, James1).109,110,111,112 Alice was born on 28 Sep 1873 at Norfolk, VA. She married George Washington Aurelio Williams on 20 Oct 1897 at Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. The wedding was written up in a local newspaper.
      Williams-Ayer
      The marriage of Miss Alice Wadsworth Ayer, daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Ira Ayer and George A. Williams, son of Ramon O. Williams, former United States consul to Havana, was celebrated yesterday afternoon at the home of the bride's parents, 37 Cambridge place. The Rev. Dr. Joseph France, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Johnstown, N.Y., and uncle of the bride, performed the ceremony. The decorations were in pink and green and the bridal couple stood beneath a canopy formed of pink roses and foliage.
      Miss Clementine Ayer, sister of the bride, acted as maid of honor and Robert A. Williams, brother of the groom, was the best man. The ushers were Ernest Baldwin and Lord Mead, both of Orange, N.J. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of white satin and point lace, with tulle vail caught with orange blossoms and carried bride roses.
      Mrs. Ayer, mother of the bride, wore heliotrope poplin and point lace and Mrs. Williams, the groom's mother, wore black satin.
      A reception followed the ceremony. After their wedding tour Mr. and Mrs. Williams will live at 37 Cambridge place. Among those present were:
      Colonel and Mrs. Samuel R. James of Schenectady, the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph France, Mrs. Emma Jourgenson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Beard, Mr. and Mrs. Ramon O. Williams, Mrs. John D. Lord of Baltimore; Miss Julia F Ayer, Miss Jennie Ayer, Miss Edith L. Ayer, Dr. and Mrs. Ira Ayer, Miss Mattie Jourgensen, Mr. and Mrs. William Disbrow, Miss Grace James, Clemence James..113,114 Alice died on 29 Apr 1966 at Fairfield, CT, at age 92. Her body was interred at Greenwood Cemetery Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY.
She witnessed the biography of Alice Wadsworth Ayer: (an unknown value); After she got married she moved to Cuba coming back for the birth of her first two children. Her second child, Jane, developed a curvature of the spine while a small child and Alice felt it was because of the milk in Cuba. She convinced her husband to move permanently back to the U.S. about 1904. Her death certificate says she was born in Richmond (Ashland is a suburb).
George Washington Aurelio Williams.115,116,117,118,119 George was born on 2 Dec 1872 at Havana, Cuba. George died in Nov 1948 at Bronxville, NY, at age 75. His body was interred at Greenwood Cemetery Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. He witnessed the biography of George Washington Aurelio Williams: (an unknown value); The following is a translation of the Jorge's baptismal record.

      Written by Senor Don Anaclato Redondo Catholic Priest of the Parish of the church of Jermino del Mansemate of Havana. I certify that in the book #13 of the baptism of white people page 26 entry 757 is found the following statement On the fifteenth of March 1873.
      I father Dn Anaclato Padondo Priest of the Parish of this church of Jeranimo del Mansemate, solemnly baptize a child who was born on the second of December of the year immediate passed, legitimate son of Dn Ramon Oscar Williams, native of Washington in the United States and of Dona Angela Luciana Garcia, native of the town of Regla in the state of Yela, paternal grandparents Dn Jorge and Donia Juana Anna Young: maternal grandparents Dn Vicente Benito and Dona Anna Coleta Garcia; on said child I perform the baptismal ceremony and I placed upon him the name of Jorge Aurelio: there were present the god parents Dn Ramon Vicente Williams and Dona Luciana Nevit de Underwood to whom I charged with the spiritual upbringing which they attested and I signed = Dn Anacleto Redondo"
      This is a true copy of the original. Havana, March 17 eighteen hundred and seventy three.
signed Dn Anacleto Redondo

     In 1934, while living at 1 Cambridge Place, Brooklyn, he wrote a resume. The resume is included below with inserts of information from his application for a license as a Professional Engineer made sometime after October 1934:

      45 Broadway
      New York City
      September 28, 1934
      Education and Experience
      of
      George A. Williams, Tag #142106
      Residing at #1 Cambridge Place,
      Brooklyn, N. Y. Age 61.

Mr. Roberts:

      In accordance with instructions from Mr. Borough, I am submitting below an outline of my education and experience as a mechanical engineer.
      I received my education in the following Brooklyn schools; Adelphi Academy and the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.
      I afterwards took a special course in sugar house work at the Audubon Sugar School, New Orleans, La.
      Worked on sugar plantations in Louisiana and Cuba on designing and construction of sugar houses for about five years and for ten years I had charge of the manufacturing of sugar at various plants, employing upwards of three men.
      [1890-1895 Assistant to Engineer in charge of design and construction of sugar house and design and installation of sugar machinery for Henry Heidegger & Co. located at Matanzas, Cuba, owner of sugar plantation, "Santa Catalina," located Coral Falso, Cuba. He had complete charge of sugar house and factory. 1895-1897 Superintendent of sugar house for Pascual Goicochea, the owner of the sugar plantation "Providencia" located in Guines, Cuba. He had complete charge of the sugar house and chemical laboratory. 1894-1895 Assistant to Superintendent of sugar house for Atkins & Co., the owners of the sugar plantation "Soledad" located near Cienfuegos, Cuba. 1897-1899 Due to the war, he held a clerical position with Peale, Peacock & Kerr, 1 Broadway, N. Y. owners and operators of coal mines located at Clearfield, Pa. 1899-1901 Assistant Cashier in charge of loans on sugar for North American Trust Co., Havana, Cuba. He was in charge of Appraisals of raw sugars and sugar properties. 1901 Superintendent of sugar house for Cuban American Sugar Co., owners of the sugar plantation, "Tinguaro" in Perico, Cuba. He had complete charge of sugar house and chemical laboratory. 1901-1904 Cashier of bank for Banco Nacional de Cuba, in Cienfuegos, Cuba. His duties included loans on raw sugars and sugar properties. 1904-1906 Vice President of Williams & Co., 96 Wall St., N. Y. contractors and exporters of machinery and mill supplies.]
      I might mention that I can speak and write Spanish fluently.
      From 1907 to 1909 I was employed by the General Fireproofing Co. in their New York office as sales engineer designing and selling special steel filing equipment and superintending the installation of same.
      From 1909 to 1920 I was employed by the Berger Mfg.Co. as sales manager in their New York office selling sheet metal building material including steel filing equipment. Had charge of at least twelve salesmen and draftsmen, besides a gang of mechanics and superintended the erection and installation of material.
      In 1920 I organized Williams & Record, Inc., and was its president from the start until 1929. We maintained a manufacturing and assembling plant at Long Island City.
      Our business consisted in furnishing and installing, as sub-contractors, special steel equipment in over 300 hundred public schools in the various boroughs in New York City, hospitals, court houses, jails and various other buildings.
      I had charge of our manufacturing plant where we employed anywhere from thirty to seventy men.
      From 1929 to 1931 I was employed by the Steel Equipment Corp. as sales engineer designing and superintending installations of special steel equipment in public buildings.
      From 1931 to 1932 I was employed by the Gibson Committee to make an inventory of all chemicals and chemical apparatus at the chemical laboratory of the New York University.
      Since January 1934 to date I have been working as senior engineer on a survey project of piers and waterfront of the Port of New York, having had charge of as many as fifty assistant engineers during the course of this work.
      [The above work ended in October of 1934. After that he was a Senior Engineer for C.W.A. Project consisting of remodeling the interior of store houses belonging to the City of New York and replacing old equipment with modern steel equipment for the storage and handling the City's supplies in a more economical and systematical way. He was in charge of an office force of about 35 men (engineers, architects and draftsmen) and a field force of about 200 labors. I do not know how long he held this position.]

     The 1900 census listed his occupation as clerk and the 1910 listed it as manager in the business of steel furniture. He was educated in Havana and the U.S. When he was young he entered the sugar business and soon became a manager of the sugar house on one of the largest plantations in Cuba. During the War against the Spanish rule, some revolutionists burned the cane fields to cut the Spanish revenue. He had to go into other lines of work ending up in the shipping business the U.S., South America, and Cuba with his brothers. They shipped the first automobile to Cuba. He was very interest in photography and took many pictures during the Spanish American War.
Children of Alice Wadsworth4 Ayer and George Washington Aurelio Williams were as follows:

26. Clementine4 Ayer (Ira3, Ira2, James1).127,128,129 Clementine was born on 14 Aug 1875 at Ashland, VA. She married Ernest Chandler Morse on 15 Jun 1905 at Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY. Clementine died in 1972.
Ernest Chandler Morse.130,131 Ernest was born on 16 Aug 1875 at Millbury, MA. Ernest died on 17 Oct 1938 at age 63.
Children of Clementine4 Ayer and Ernest Chandler Morse were as follows:


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Created with The Master Genealogist for Windows on 15 Mar 2004 at 7:05 am.