The Williams Family Papers collection features the records of three generations of Baptist ministers who were deeply influential in Baptist life in New York. This collection has been intellectually restored to represent the original donations to the American Baptist Historical Society by Leighton Williams in the 1930s.

Leighton Williams (1855- 1935) was a lawyer and Baptist minister. Succeeding his father as pastor of Amity Baptist Church, Leighton served at Amity until the church’s dissolution into the Amity Foundation in the 1910s. During his tenure as pastor, Leighton was involved in many social welfare efforts in the city. In 1892, Leighton co-founded the Brotherhood of the Kingdom with Walter Rauschenbusch. The organization would frequently be hosted at Williams’ house in Marlborough, New York. In 1918, Leighton was ordained as an Episcopal priest.

Mornay Williams (1856-1926), brother of Leighton Williams, was a lawyer in New York. Representing many social issues, such as child welfare, Mornay provided legal services in the investigation of Rev. D.C. Potter (Tabernacle Baptist Church, NY).

William R. Williams (1804-1885) was a Baptist minister in New York. After graduating from Colombia College with a law degree, William felt a call to Christian ministry and was ordained as pastor at Amity Baptist Church in 1832, serving until his death in 1885. William was a founding member of the American Baptist Historical Society.

John Williams (1767-1825) was a Baptist minister from Plas Llecheiddior, Wales. Beginning his ministry in Wales, John immigrated to the United States to minister to Welsh immigrants in 1795. By 1798, he had been appointed to an English-speaking Baptist church on Oliver Street in New York City, where he served until his death in 1825.