Dr. Robert M. Garrett

This collection contains material that starts with the marriage of Dr. Robert Major Garrett (1807-1885), to Susan Comfort Winder (1812-1878) and expands to include their families and their children.

Paternal Genealogy Richard Garrett (d. 1825), married Ann Major (1785-1855), and had several children including but may not be limited to the following: Richard R. Garrett (b. 1801); Dr. Robert Major Garrett (1807-1885); Polly Garrett, William Garrett, John Garrett and Edmund Garrett. Richard R. Garrett (b. 1801), attended William and Mary from 1828-1831. He married Laura A. and had a son George R. Garrett.

Maternal Genealogy Thomas Gore married Comfort Quinton. They had a daughter Comfort Quinton Gore (b. 1791), who married John Hermanson Winder (b. 1784). This marriage resulted in several children including but may not be limited to the following: Susan Comfort Winder (1812-1878); Bettie A. Winder; Lauretta A. (Savage) Winder, Charlotte Winder and John E. Winder.

Dr. Robert Major Garrett (1807-1885), attended the College of William and from 1822-1826. He was a physician and later became superintendent of Eastern Lunatic Asylum of Williamsburg. He held the position of mayor of the city of Williamsburg from 1860-1861. Married to Susan Comfort Winder (1812-1878), their children include but may not be limited to the following: Benjamin F. Garrett (1821-1878); Alexander C. Garrett (b. 1823); Capt. William Robertson Garrett (1839-1904); Van Franklin Garrett (1846-1932); Mary W. Garrett (b. 1851); and Lottie Garrett. Benjamin F. Garrett (1821-1878), and Alexander C. Garrett (b. 1823), both attended the College of William and Mary. Benjamin studied law.

Capt. William Robertson Garrett (1839-1904), attended the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia receiving a degree in law. However his law practice in Williamsburg was interrupted by the Civil War. William Robertson served as a private in the 32d Virginia regiment and was elected captain. After the war, in 1868, he married Julia Flournoy Batte and moved to Tennessee, where he was employed as a professor of mathematics and later president at Giles College, Tennessee. Thus started his varied and important career in the education field. This including becoming Giles County superintendent, 1873-1875; establishing the Peabody Normal College for teachers, 1875 and later becoming chair of American History for the University of Nashville; editing the "American Historical Magazine," 1865-1902; holding the position of state superintendent of public instruction for Tennessee, 1891-1893; and becoming president of various state and national teaching organization including the National Educational Association. He fathered eight children.

Van Franklin Garrett (1846-1932), attended the Virginia Military Institute but left early to serve in the Civil War. He then attended the College of William and Mary, the University of Virginia and the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, New York, receiving a degree in medicine. He returned to Williamsburg to farm and practice medicine. He taught at Giles College, Tennessee only to return to Williamsburg to accept a position of professorship of Natural Science at the College of William and Mary. He married Harriett Nicholls (b. 1846), and had four children: Van Franklin Garrett Jr, Carra (George Dillard) Garrett, Suzanne (Selator Montague) Garrett, and Harriet (William Hodges) Garrett.

From the guide to the Garrett Family Papers, 1786-1928., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)