William Williams

Firm in character, sure in conviction against tyranny,

Williams devoted time & earned wealth to benefit many.

Image by Ole Erekson, Engraver, c1876, Library of Congress

        William Williams "made a profession of religion at an early age, and through the long course of his life, he was distinguished for a humble and consistent conduct and conversation,  While yet almost a youth, he was elected to the office of deacon, in the congregational church to which he belonged, an office which he retained during the remainder of his life.  His latter days were chiefly devoted to reading, meditation, and prayer."  Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856.       

        His father Solomon Williams and his grandfather were both ministers of the gospel, his father being pastor of a Congregational Society in Lebanon, Connecticut, for over 50 years. 

        At age sixteen, Williams entered Harvard College; and at twenty he graduated with honors.  He returned home to study under his father's direction with the intent of entering the ministry.  Providence had other ideas as it let the French and Indian War distract him.  He enlisted in the Continental Army to join his uncle, Colonel Ephraim Williams.  It was at this time and through the interactions with the British that Williams saw that the colonies were regarded as mere afterlings.  In 1755, his uncle, leading 1200 men, was ambushed and shot through the head by an Indian. 

       Williams returned home after the war and opened a store in his hometown of Lebanon.  His diligent work reaped the prosperity of success while his anguish toward the British continued to simmer.  He decided to enlighten other colonists to England's encroachments on their rights through his writing of several essays and giving speeches.  When the opportunity arose, he was very willing and ready to sign the Declaration of Independence.

       While America was still hoping to avert a war, they were not prepared when the attack came.  There were no supplies available to give an army--no public stores, no arsenals with warlike instruments, and no suitable clothing for the soldiers.  Bellytimber and other necessities were begged from private contributions.  Volunteers searched to obtain articles for the outfit of new recruits, to help the families of indigent soldiers, and for basic supplies to give to the army itself.  In many instances, families parted with their last blanket, and they took lead from the weights of clocks to make bullets.  Williams got involved as a leader and was able to forward to the army more than one thousand blankets.

        In the early part of the revolution, colonial paper money was of little value.  Williams, however, exchanged more than two thousand dollars in specie for colonial paper money in order to finance the surprise attack on Ticonderoga; and, as expected, he ended up losing the whole sum.  As the struggle for freedom produced many widows and fatherless children and many debtors; he showed much sympathy and kindness in giving generously from his own supplies even though he himself suffered the same shortages.  In the winter of 1781, he and his family turned their house over to soldiers stationed near them while they found shelter somewhere else.       

       The demise of his eldest son Solomon greatly affected him, causing a depression from which he never recovered.  A few days before his own death, he lost the power of speech.  After lying silent for four days, he suddenly, and to the shock of those nearby, clearly called out for his deceased son to come attend to him in his dying hour.  This was on the 2d day of August, 1811, in the 81st year of his age.        

Robert G. Ferris (editor), Signers of the Declaration: Historic Places Commemorating the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, published by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service: Washington, D.C. (revised edition 1975), pages 144-145. 

http://www.chs.org/library/faids.htm

Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth Street,  Hartford, CT 06105

 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.   1 Timothy 1:5