William Martin Beauchamp, 1830-1925, was an Episcopalian clergyman, archeologist, local historian, botanist, author, amateur artist, and one of the great early authorities on the culture, history, and institutions of the Iroquois.

He was born in Coldenham, Orange County, New York on March 25, 1830. His parents, William Millett and Mary Jay Beauchamp, had settled there the prior year upon immigrating from Somersetshire, England. In April of the following year, his family moved to Skaneateles, Onondaga County, NY where he was raised and educated at the Skaneateles Academy, graduating in 1847. He then attended the De Lancey Divinity School at Hobart College, Geneva, New York, graduating in 1862 prepared for ordination in the Episcopalian priesthood which occurred in 1863. Reverend Beauchamp became recognized as one of the eminent Episcopalian clergymen in New York State. He served in the Calvary Church at Northville, Fulton County, New York from 1863-1865 and then, from 1865-1900, in the Grace Church at Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, New York.

He retired in 1900 and moved with his wife to Skaneateles and also to live with his daughters Ellen and Virginia in Syracuse, Onondaga County, NY. During retirement he devoted much of his time to research and writing on the Iroquois, an interest that began during childhood. His books include: Iroquois Trial (1892), Indian Names of New York (1893), and History of the New York Iroquois, now Commonly Called the Six Nations (1905). He also was appointed Archeologist for the New York State Museum where he published 13 bulletins on archeology, history, and culture of Native Americans in New York State; was active in promoting the Onondaga Historical Association of Syracuse; and was a member of many learned societies including the American Folk Lore Society.

Although he was best known for his work on the Native Americans and the natural history of New York State, he was also, as this collection illustrates, a talented amateur artist. He made numerous landscape views of Central New York and of summer resorts throughout the northeastern United States. He also possessed unusual skill in sketching Indian relics, having amassed over 8,000 original drawings over his lifetime.

Sarah Carter, 1835-1917, and William Beauchamp were married at her birthplace in Ravenna Ohio on November 26, 1857. They had four children: Virginia, 1858-1923; Ellen, 1861-1915; Howard Carter, 1865-1915; and Grace (Beauchamp) Lodder, 1874-1962. (The artwork of Virginia, who became a high school teacher in Syracuse, NY, is represented in this collection.)

Beauchamp died in Syracuse in 1925, and is buried, along with his wife, at Lake View Cemetery, Skaneateles, Onondaga County, NY. The Beauchamp Branch of the Onondaga County Public Library in Syracuse was named for him and is located across South Salina Street from his former home.

Beauchamp’s father, William Millett Beauchamp, 1799-1867, was a printer, editor, bookseller, the founder of the Skaneateles Democrat, and the operator of a circulating library and a tree nursery. Both William Millett and Beauchamp’s mother, Mary Jay Beauchamp, 1800-1859, were born in England. They had five children: William Martin; Maria (Beauchamp) Humphreys, b. 1817; Mary Elizabeth, 1825-1903; John A., 1833-1860; and Sarah A, 1836-1861. Note: A scrapbook in this collection belonged to Maria Humphreys’ husband, J. Humphreys.

Landscape and portrait painter, John D. Barrow, 1824-1906, was a contemporary and friend of William Beauchamp, and fellow Skaneateles resident. Barrows founded and donated his art to the gallery which bears his name at Skaneateles, NY. Beauchamp wrote the In Memoriam to a book of Barrows’ poems, Lays of the Mountain and Lake or Woods, Waters and Seasons about Skaneateles Lake, 1907.