In the her 1902 interview, Mrs. Pleasant (MEP) stated that her father was a merchant in Philadelphia. Interestingly The Pandex article states his name was Louis Alexander Williams but Davis’ later edition of the story, circulated in various newspapers (including the Nantucket Inquirer) in late 1903, Davis writes that MEP’s father’s name was John Alexander Williams. In an earlier MEP origin story (copies no longer available), Louis A Williams is a merchant in Cincinnati with whom she lived before going to Nantucket. No Louis Alexander Williams is found in Philadelphia or Cincinnati City Directories. However, a John A Williams, Merchant, is in the Philadelphia directories almost continuously, 1813-1854. He is listed as a “Merchant” in the earlier years and starting in 1831-“Dry Goods”. His home addresses are near Rittenhouse Square, the same area near Barley Street. A first entry for John A Williams in 1823-24 lists him as a “teacher” living on Budd Street. Again this would comport with Mrs. Pleasant’s account that her father was educated.
Below are screenshots from Philadelphia City Directories 1823-24 and 1835
[Note: The researcher recognizes the name is not wholly unique, and while not 100% certain, again this individual does seem to align with what Mrs. Pleasant said in her last interview about her father.]