The Saunders family is an American family of important industrialists and politicians.

Saunders
Current regionEast Coast of the United States
Place of originUnited Kingdom (England)
Founded15th century
Estate(s)Pitchcott Manor
Saunders-Willard House
William Saunders House

History

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The earliest documented member of the family is William Saunders (c. 1430 - 1488) of Amersham, a cap-maker and dyer. The Saunders family had many branches in England, with movement and inter-marriage between them. Members were known to be very wealthy landowners who inherited or bought manors and were involved in the cloth trade in some way – as cap-makers, dyers, or cloth merchants.[1] Members of the family were highly educated, with several graduates from Oxford and Cambridge.[2]

The Saunders first appeared in North America in the 17th century with Tobias Saunders, whose Amersham origin is disputed. Members held political positions in New England, and the family played an integral role in the foundation of Salem, New Hampshire, Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Westerly, Rhode Island.[3] The village of Saunderstown, Rhode Island, was named in honor of John Aldrich Saunders, who settled there in 1856.[4]

Industry

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Grafton County Lumber Company

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Daniel Saunders Jr. and Charles W. founded the Grafton County Lumber Company in 1874. While the company office and sales department was in Boston, the logging operations centered about Livermore, New Hampshire and included the Sawyer River Railroad and a large sawmill. Every building in Livermore belonged to the Saunders, along with 30,000 acres of timberland. Daniel gave up his share in the company in 1880 to his son Charles G. After the death of Charles G. Saunders, the inheritance passed to his three sisters. Logging and sawmill operations continued until 1928, and the mostly-logged out land was sold to the U.S. Forest Service in 1935.

E. A. Saunders & Sons

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E. A. Saunders & Sons, circa 1903

In 1861, E. A. Saunders, Sr., founded the E. A. Saunders & Sons, Wholesale Grocer and Importer Company. It specialized in fine cigars and tobacco manufacturers’ supplies. Prior to its establishment, E. A. Saunders, Sr. worked as a country merchant in New Kent County, Virginia. He was involved in the Grafton County Lumber Company and owned vessels, city real estate, farms, plantations and bank stock to a considerable amount.[5] The company acted as a sole proprietorship from 1876 to 1883, and then his son, E. A., Jr., acquired an interest with him. In 1890 another son, W. B. was admitted, and the three constituted the firm. At its height, the company had several locations throughout Virginia, and was believed to have surpassed $1 million in sales a year.[6] Adjusting for inflation, this would amount to approximately $37 million in 2024.[7]

Notable members

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External image
  Saunders
  • Charles Gurley Saunders (ca. 1848–1918) was the son of Daniel Saunders Jr.
  • Edith Saunders was one of three daughters of Daniel Saunders Jr.

References

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  1. ^ Borrows, Peter. "The Saunders family of Tudor Amersham". Amersham Museum.
  2. ^ "A Cambridge Alumni Database". University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ Peirce, Ebenezer Weaver, Peirce's colonial lists, Boston:A. Williams & Co. 1881. p. 138
  4. ^ "Saunderstown". North Kingstown Rhode Island.
  5. ^ Engelhardt, G. W. (1903). The Book of Its Chamber of Commerce and Principal Business Interests. Richmond, Virginia: The City on the James.
  6. ^ Engelhardt, G. W. (1893). The Book of Its Chamber of Commerce and Principal Business Interests. Richmond, Virginia: The City on the James.
  7. ^ "www.in2013dollars.com". www.in2013dollars.com. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Daniel Saunders Sr. (1796–1872) Lawrence, MA « Queen City Massachusetts". Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  9. ^ Bailey, Sarah Loring (1880). Historical Sketches of Andover.
  10. ^ Bailey, Sarah Loring (1880). Historical Sketches of Andover.