Williams, Samuel May, House

The Samuel May Williams House is typical of the Greek Revival version of the Louisiana Bayous style residence and "is one of the few structures of the first years of Galveston that stands today. It is important because of its age, but more so because of its owner, Samuel May Williams. He was an important figure in the colonial period of Texas, serving as Stephen F. Austin's secretary in colonial affairs. Most important, however, Williams and his partner, Thomas F. McKinney, with great personal sacrifice secured money on their personal loan for the government of the Republic of Texas and thereby insured the success of that government, which at the time was without funds and unable to secure loans. Williams was also Texas' first banker, opening the Commercial and Agricultural Bank in 1847, and a leading pioneer businessman."

Samuel May Williams was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 4, 1795. "Following experience in his uncle's counting house in Baltimore, Williams in 1815 or 1816 moved to New Orleans." (HABS). While there "he was a private secretary to Andrew Jackson for a short time in 1815" (Webb). In New Orleans "he was a bookkeeper in the commission house of Morgan, Dorsey, and Company" (HABS). Williams joined Austin's colony and came to Texas in 1824. "He was secretary of the colony and Austin's confidential and indispensable assistant" (Webb). "In 1833 Williams and Thomas F. McKinney entered into a mercantile partnership that was to become of great importance to the state" (HABS). During the period of the Republic he was active, with his partner, with financial matters for the government, "personally bearing one-tenth of the total cost of the Texas Revolution against Mexico ($150,000) of which Texas finally. repaid $40,000." (TSHSC files). In 1838 the firm formed by Williams and McKinney moved to the new city of Galveston and erected a large warehouse and wharf, at that time the first such structures in Galveston" (HABS). Williams died in his home in 1858.

Galveston's opinion has long held that Williams' house was framed in Saccarappa, Maine, and shipped to Galveston on a schooner. Recent architectural research is at odds with this belief, however, with Howard Barnstone asserting that it was only partially pre-fabricated and possibly radically changed when assembled in Galveston. John Garner in his HABS report finds evidence in Williams' letters that the house was built for him in a standard manner between the years 1839 and 1841 or 1842 with repairs and additions carried out through 1844 when the cupola (now missing) was completed.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1964.