William Potts DeWees, M.D. commenced practice when he was only twenty-one years of age in the village of Abington, Pa., then about fourteen miles north of Philadelphia.

During the epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia in the summer of 1793, he returned to the city, and, as at that period the science of obstetrics was scarcely known, no more extensive field of usefulness could be presented to a conscientious and philanthropic youth than to identify himself with this great interest.

He chose Baudeloegue for his teacher, and often declared he was indebted to this most distinguished French obstetrician for his own knowledge of midwifery. The disciple was worthy of his master. With Dr. Dewees' knowledge of French and German, and familiarity with Greek and Latin gave him a wide field for study.

In 1834 he was elected to the chair of diseases of Women and Children in the University of Pennsylvania. His very voluminous work on these diseases became a text-book for many generations, and was translated into French and German.

He held his professorship most honorably, and, after a continuous practice of many years, resigned. A most valuable testimonial was presented to him at this time by the Faculty described as a magnificent silver urn with this inscription: "Presented to William Potts Dewees, M. D., as a testimonial of their respect for his exalted worth and talents, by the Faculty of the University of Pennsylvania. Semper honos nomenque tuum laudesque manebunt."

Five of his sons were practising physicians, and won renown in the science of medicine and surgery.

Mrs. Mary L,. Robinson, a granddaughter of Dr. William Potts Dewees, lives at Robinson Springs, Madison county, Miss., where she has a health resort and boarding house for those who come to the Springs for their health. She has in her possession some knives and forks which came to her from her grandfather, Dr. William P. Dewees, on which is a coat of arms or crest which purports to be the Dewees crest.3778
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Ronaldson's Cemetery, at Ninth and Fitzwater Sts, is a defunct cemetery. Almost all of the people buried there were moved in 1950 to Forrest Hills Memorial Park. I don't know which of the two cemeteries William is currently in, but I think I saw a note that he was cremated.3779
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This record indicates Ronaldson’s cemetery was established in the year 1827 by james Ronaldson, the first type founder in America and located at 9th Street and Bainbridge Streets in Philadelphia.3780

William and Mary had many sons who became physicians.1197