Thomas Williams The King of Anvil Makers

 

Thomas Williams

 

 

 

Timeline

  • 1846,  August 17th – Dudley, Worcestershire,  England – Thomas H. Williams birth.
    • Parents Thomas O. Williams and Mary Ann Parkes
    • Siblings
      • Younger
        • Ann Williams (1838)
        • Emma Williams (~1841)
        • William Williams (1844)
      • Older
        • John Williams (1849)
        • Rebeca Williams (1853)
        • Matilda Williams (1854-1911)
        • Martha Williams (1856-1895)
        • Sarah Jane Williams (1859-1932)
    • Father Thomas Williams was an Anvil Maker per the 1851 Census.
  • 1847,  April 13th – Christening – Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester, England
  • ~1853 – At the age of 7 Thomas Williams starts working in the Dudley England Anvil Shops
  • 1863, November 30th  – At the age 17 of Married Mary Ann Shaw Timmons (1847-1908) in Dudley or Sedgley, Staffordshire, England
  • ?? Moved to Birmingham – Worked at Anvil and Vise Making
    • Likely worked for Peter Wright or Wilkinson & Sons (largest anvil makers in Dudley)
    • Known as the most skillful workman in the business
    • Time was bid for and premiums offered to keep him from working in competing shops.
    • Could build a 150lb anvil from 14 pieces in an hour.
    • One of these was exhibited at the worlds fair in Chicago and later sent to Mexico
    • Crossed the Atlantic five times.
  • 1869 – First child born – Nelly Williams (1869 Dudley, Worcestershire, England – 1923 New York City , Queens, United States)
  • 1871 – Census – Occupation Anvil Maker  – Dudley, Worcestershire
  • 1872 – Second child born – Edwin Williams (1872 Dudley, Worcestershire, England -1944 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan)
  • 1874 – Third child born – Florence Williams (1874 Dudley, Worcestershire, England-1912 Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States)
  • 1878 – Fourth child born – Thomas Owen Williams (1878 Dudley, Worcestershire, England-1958 Circleville, Pickaway, Ohio, United States)
  • 1881 – UK Census – Anvil Maker living with Brother In Law age 34
  • 1881 – Fifth child born – Sarah Williams (1881 Dudley, Worcestershire, England -1955 Mt Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Ohio)
  • 1884 – Sixth and final child born, first in US – Henry / Harry Williams (1884 Brooklyn, NY -1948 Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, United States)
  • 1887 June 17th – Thomas Williams was fined 10 shillings after allegedly pushing William Hall into a cistern following a fight where Mr. Williams was a foreman of a gang of anvil makers. Mr. Hall rejected three of the anvils Mr. Williams gang had made due to poor quality.  It’s not possible to tell if this is related to Thomas H. Williams, his father, would likely be in his 60s at this time, or another Thomas Williams but considering it’s a year before Thomas H. Williams moves to Brooklyn it seems plausible that it was Thomas H. Williams. 
    • Thomas Williams Assault
  • 1888 – US becomes his home and he brings his family from UK.
  • ~1890 – 1892
    • Works at American Wrought Anvil Co. in Brooklyn
    • Anvils are extremely rare today.  Stamped
      • T. WILLIAMS & CO.
        ANVIL & VISE
        MAKERS
        12 RICHARDSON ST.
        BROOKLYN, N.Y.
    • In a November 3rd in the  The Brooklyn Daily Times Archive Joseph Murcott of American Wrought Anvil Co. talked about the employees they hired from Peter Wright in England.  He notes “the fact that two-thirds of the men in our shops are Englishmen direct from the Peter Wright anvil shops at Dudley, England. These men are skilled workmen and the art has been shown to native Americans by these Englishmen. Our foremen receive $6 a day and the helpers make $2.75.”  It is likely that Thomas Williams was earning at least this formens wage considering his name was being stamped onto the anvils.
  • ~1893-1899 – Likely worked for Hay Budden anvils during at least a portion of this time.
  • 1900 – Living in Columbus Ward 1, Franklin, Ohio, US
  • 1908 – January 20th Wife died
  • 1908 – March – The King of Anvil Makers Article is Published by Charles P. Crowe at Ohio State University
  • 1909 – June 9th – Married Ella Bopes (Dupler) Franklin, Ohio, US
  • 1910 – June 11th – Died in Columbus, Franklin from Peritonitis caused by a ruptured bowl depending on the death certificate. 
  • 1911 – Schedule C. Metals and Manufactures of Metals – Hearings and Statements Committee on Finance United States Senate H.R. 18642
    • Thomas Williams is mentioned by Mr. Voorhees who mentions that he and  Mr. Hay knew Thomas Williams and that he was “the man who made the first wrought anvil in America”
  • Summary
    • Generous man who spent the fortune he might have had on the entertainment of others.
    • Specialty is in anvils and vises.
    • Recreation is to file and polish models in brass 2 inches or so in height.

Sources:

  1. Family Search Thomas H. Williams
  2. Wiki Tree
  3. Brief History of Anvil Making In America by Richard Postman 

Home

Blacksmith Biographies