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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE
COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --
USS Oneida (1898-1915).
Later (1917-1918) USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and USS
SP-509.
Originally Civilian Steam Yacht Illawarra (1896) and later
Pilot Boat Henry P. Williams
USS Oneida, a 150-ton patrol vessel, was built at Bath,
Maine, in 1896 as a civilian steam yacht. She was acquired by
the Navy in April 1898 for Spanish-American
War service under the name Illawarra. Renamed Oneida,
she was placed in commission at the end of that month and was
purchased in May. The ship was decommissioned in September 1898
and remained inactive until September 1912. She was then recommissioned
as a Naval Militia training ship and later had other duties. USS
Oneida was sold in late 1915.
Her purchaser, the Pilots' Association of Charleston, South
Carolina, renamed her Henry P. Williams and used her as
a pilot boat. Though described on her official data card as being
in "poor condition", she was again taken over by the
Navy in June 1917 and commissioned in August as USS Henry P.
Williams (SP-509). Renamed SP-509 in 1918, her second
tour of Naval duty lasted until the day after Christmas 1918,
when she was returned to the Charleston Pilots' Association.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS
Oneida (1898-1915), USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509),
USS SP-509, the civilian steam yacht Illawarra and
the pilot boat Henry P. Williams.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 76433-A
Illawarra (American Steam Yacht, 1896)
Underway prior to the Spanish-American War.
Photographed by N.L. Stebbins.
This yacht served as USS Oneida from 1898 to 1915 and
as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and USS SP-509
in 1917-1918.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![](../../images/h76000/h76433at.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 43066
USS Oneida (1898-1915)
Photographed circa May 1898, possibly at Boston, Mass. Ship in
right background is SS Chatham, which was converted to
the U.S. Navy repair ship Vulcan at Boston in May 1898.
Ship in left distance is USS Southery.
Though sold in 1915, Oneida returned to Navy service in
1917 as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) and was renamed
SP-509 in 1918.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
![](../../images/h43000/h43066t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 106033
USS Oneida (1898-1915)
In port, probably circa 1912-1915.
The original photograph is printed on post card ("AZO")
stock.
Donation of Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2008.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
![](../../images/i06000/i06033t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 100425
USS Oneida (1898-1915)
Eleven of the ship's crew on deck with a puppy, probably circa
1913-1915.
The original postcard-format photographic print was accompanied
by a newspaper clipping, dated January 15 (presumably 1914 or
1915), reporting that Oneida's crew were officially commended
by Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels for their "heroic
work" in rescuing passengers of the disabled steamer Pilot
Boy, of the Beaufort-Savannah line, on the previous 13th
of December.
Donation of Ted Stone, 1985.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 430 pixels |
![](../../images/i00000/i00425t.jpg) |
Photo #: NH 102837
Henry P. Williams (American Pilot Boat, 1896)
Probably photographed off Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1916-1917.
A four-masted schooner is under sail in the left distance.
Built in 1896 as the steam yacht Illawarra, this vessel
was USS Oneida from 1898 until late 1915, when she was
sold to the Pilots' Association of Charleston, S.C. She was again
taken over by the Navy on 27 June 1917 and placed in commission
as USS Henry P. Williams (SP-509) on 6 August 1917. Later
renamed SP-509, she was returned to her owners on 26 December
1918.
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 545 pixels |
![](../../images/i02000/i02837t.jpg) |
NOTES:
To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here
are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded
and used for any purpose.
Some images linked from this page bear obsolete credit lines
citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center".
Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval
History and Heritage Command".
Return to Naval
History and Heritage Command home page.
Page made 9 October 1998
Revised and expanded 18 March 2005
New image added 7 January 2009