Reports Of Cases Argued And Determined In The Supreme Judicial Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts, Volumes 34-35
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Reports Of Cases Argued And Determined In The Supreme Judicial Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts; Volume 100
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This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Ephraim Williams was a soldier, land owner, and slaveowner from the Province of Massachusetts Bay who was killed in the French and Indian War.
Background
Ephraim Williams was born on March 7, 1714 in Newton, Massachussets, the elder of the two sons of Ephraim Williams by his first wife, Elisabeth Jackson, and a great-grandson of Robert Williams, who settled in Roxbury in 1637. His father, who practised politics, land speculation, frontier warfare, and other crafts, removed to Stockbridge in 1739, where he became the head and forefront of the intrigues against Jonathan Edwards. Beaten by Edwards, he retired to Hatfield, where he died in 1754. In his early years, according to tradition, the younger Ephraim followed the sea, visiting England, Spain, and Holland and acquiring the polish and information of a man of the world.
Education
With slight formal education, he had a hankering for learning and enjoyed the company of educated men.
Career
With his father he settled in Stockbridge, which he may have represented, sometime before 1745, in the General Court. In that year, through the influence of his kinsman Israel Williams, one of the "river gods" who controlled everything worth controlling - civil, military, or ecclesiastical - along the Connecticut, he was commissioned captain and placed in command of the forts and posts extending along the northern boundary of Massachusetts from Northfield to the New York border.
In time of war he made his headquarters at Fort Shirley (Heath Township) and later at Fort Massachusetts (Adams Township), in time of peace at Hatfield. He was not at Fort Massachusetts, however, when it was surprised and captured by a French and Indian force under Rigaud de Vaudreuil, August 30, 1746.
In 1750 the General Court granted him 190 acres on the great bend of the Hoosac (North Adams) adjacent to Fort Massachusetts, and he also held lots in the West Township (Williamstown).
In 1753 he was made a major and in 1755 colonel of a regiment raised to aid William Johnson in his projected expedition against Crown Point. At Albany, July 21, 1755, he made his will. He left a good part of his estate to establish a free school in the West Township, provided that the township fell within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts and was renamed Williamstown.
On the morning of September 8 Johnson, then encamped at the southern tip of Lake George, ordered a reconnaissance in force under Williams and the Indian chief Hendrick, detailing 1000 soldiers and 200 Indians for the mission. Hendrick's comment, "If they are to be killed, too many; if they are to fight, too few", went unheeded, and Williams, according to the preponderance of evidence, aggravated the situation by failing to send out scouts. Two hours after starting they walked into an ambush laid by Baron Dieskau. Williams and Hendrick, at the head of the column, were killed by almost the first volley.
Achievements
The approximate site of Williams' death is marked by a monument. The free school established by his liberality was chartered in 1793 as Williams College.
