William Watts Sherman

William Watts Sherman (1842 – January 22, 1912) was a New York City businessman and the treasurer of the Newport Casino. In 1875–1876 he had the William Watts Sherman House constructed in Newport, Rhode Island.[1]

William Watts Sherman
Born1842
Albany, New York
DiedJanuary 22, 1912(1912-01-22) (aged 69–70)
New York, New York
NationalityUnited States
OccupationBusinessman
Known forTreasurer of Newport Casino
Spouse(s)
Annie Derby Rogers Wetmore
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(m. 1871; died 1884)​

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(m. 1885; his death 1912)​
ChildrenGeorgette Sherman
Sybil Sherman
Irene Muriel Augusta Sherman
Mildred Constance Sherman
Parent(s)Watts Sherman
Sarah Maria Gibson
RelativesGeorge Peabody Wetmore (brother-in-law)
Sherman Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys (grandson)
Sophia Augusta Brown, Sherman's second wife and widow, circa 1914

Early life

William Watts Sherman was born in 1842 in Albany, New York to Watts Sherman (c. 1820–1865) and Sarah Maria Gibson.

Career

William Watts Sherman trained as a physician but followed his father into the banking firm Duncan, Sherman & Company. In 1875 to 1876 he built the William Watts Sherman House in Newport, Rhode Island, which is a National Historic Landmark due to its architectural significance.

He was a presidential elector from Rhode Island for President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904.

Sherman belonged to several patriotic and hereditary societies. In 1905, he was admitted as an honorary member of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati. He was also a charter member of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution in 1896 (membership number 1) as well as a charter member of the Rhode Island Society of Colonial Wars in 1897. He was also a member of the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York.

Sherman was a member of several social clubs including the Knickerbocker Club, Metropolitan Club, Century Club, City Club, and the National Arts Club.[2]

Personal life

On July 7, 1871,[3] he married Annie Derby Rogers Wetmore (1848–1884), daughter of William Shepard Wetmore (1801–1862) and sister of Sen. George Peabody Wetmore (1846–1921).[4] Before Annie's death of pneumonia in 1884, they had two daughters:

  • Georgette Wetmore Sherman (1872–1960), who married Harold Brown (1863–1900),[5] the son of John Carter Brown II (1797–1874) in 1892.[6]
  • Sybil Katherine Sherman (1875–1954), who married John Ellis Hoffman in 1896. They divorced in 1904 and in 1905, she married Norrie Sellar (1872–1932), a prominent cotton broker who was a grandson of Adam Norrie.[7]

In 1885, he married Sophia Augusta Brown (1867–1947), daughter of John Carter Brown II (1797–1874) and granddaughter of Nicholas Brown, Jr., the namesake of Brown University. Sophia's brother later married Sherman's eldest daughter, Georgette. Their other brother was John Nicholas Brown I (1861–1900). Together, William and Sophia had two daughters:[1]

  • Irene Muriel Augusta Sherman (1887–1969), who married Lawrence Lewis Gillespie (1876–1946).
  • Mildred Constance Sherman (1888–1961), who married Ralph Stonor, 5th Baron Camoys (1884–1968).[1]

William Watts Sherman died on January 22, 1912, at his home at 838 Fifth Avenue.[1] He was buried in the Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.[8]

References
  1. "Wm. Watts Sherman Dead. Prominent in New York Society and Father of Lady Camoys". New York Times. January 23, 1912. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
  2. Obituary in New York Times, January 23, 1912.
  3. Rhode Island Historical Society, The George Peabody Wetmore Papers, Mss 798, Boxes 22 & 23,WSW Biography prepared by Church of the Ascension, NYC
  4. The Outbuildings and Grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer Paul L. Veeder, II The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 29, No. 4 (Dec., 1970), pp. 307-317 doi:10.2307/988593
  5. "DEATH OF HAROLD BROWN.; He Was Ill on His Arrival on the Oceanic, and Died Last Night". The New York Times. 11 May 1900. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  6. "YESTERDAY'S WEDDINGS.; BROWN -- SHERMAN". The New York Times. 5 October 1892. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  7. "Mrs. John Ellis Hoffman (ca. 1875-1955)". www.nyhistory.org. New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  8. "William Watts Sherman Buried". New York Times. January 27, 1912. Retrieved 2011-03-14.
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