William. 1. Cultivator 175, fig. 8. 1845. 2. Mag. Hort. 11:252. 1845.
William Edwards. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 420. 1845.
This seedling pear is said to be a “species of Virgoulouse,” and was raised by Governor H. W. Edwards of New Haven, Conn., previous to 1845. Tree very productive. Fruit medium, obtuse-pyriform, terminating rather abruptly at the stalk, yellow, becoming profusely dotted with red and russet points or dots on the sunny side; flesh yellowish-white, sweet, buttery, not juicy or melting enough for dessert purposes but good for baking; Sept.
William Prince. 1. Mag. Hort. 17:472. 1851. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 883. 1869.
Other than that this variety was reported from the United States about 1848, nothing of its origin is known. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Fruit medium, roundish-pyriform, greenish-yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun, covered with many brown dots; stem medium to below; calyx open, set in a shallow basin; flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet; good to very good; Sept. and Oct.
Williams Double Bearing. 1. Prince Pom. Man. 2:215. 1832.
Raised from a seed of the Saint Germain, in the garden of Mrs. Williams, Salem, Mass. Tree said to bear two crops, the fruit of the first of the size herein mentioned and ripening in early October, that of the second much smaller and ripening from two to four weeks later. Fruit large, resembles its parent but greater in diameter; flesh of fine quality, melting, but not highly flavored.
Williams Early. 1. Mag. Hort. 3:51. 1837. 2. Ibid. 14:344, fig. 37. 1848.
Originated with Aaron Davis Williams on his farm in Roxbury, Mass., probably about 1830. Tree a moderate grower, young shoots brownish red. Fruit medium to below, roundish-pyriform, ending obtusely at the stem, yellow, covered with bright crimson and thickly sprinkled with scarlet dots on the sunny side; stem rather long, stout, slightly fleshy at the base, inserted without any cavity; calyx open, slightly sunken in a furrowed basin; flesh yellowish-white, a little coarse-grained at first, becoming juicy, half buttery, with a slight musky flavor; good; middle of Sept.