I am his direct descendant.

Born: April 23, 1731
Birthplace: Lebanon, Conn.
Education: Graduate of Harvard (Merchant)
Work: Town Clerk, Selectman, Provincial Representative, Council to the Legislature. Elected State Legislator, delegate to colonial conferences, 1775; Elected to Continental Congress, 1776-77; Delegate to the Connecticut convention to ratify the federal Constitution, 1787; Judge of the Windham County Courthouse.
Died: August 2, 1811

His biography notes that William Williams was a successful merchant, but it is difficult to imagine when he found the time. Born in 1731, he attained a common school education. He attended Harvard and graduated in 1751. He then studied theology with his father, Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Lebanon. Four years later, he joined his father's cousin in the French and Indian War at Lake George. When he returned, he established himself in Lebanon as a merchant, and also took a job as town clerk. He held that position for forty-four years. He was a Selectman for twenty-five years, served the provincial and later state Legislature for nearly forty years-during which time he was councilor, member, and Speaker of the House.

He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1776. He arrived too late to vote for Independence (he replaced Oliver Wolcott, who became seriously ill), but he did sign the Declaration, and was then appointed a member of the committee to frame the Articles of Confederation. In 1777 he was appointed to the Board of War. After the war, he attended the Hartford convention, where Connecticut ratified the Federal Constitution. Williams spent his remaining years as a County Court judge. He died in 1811 at the age of 80.




William Williams

He's rolling in his grave...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Probably

Wow , I'm impressed. Did you recently trace your roots?

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I've known for a while and just thought I would post it. Also had one die in the Wyoming Valley Massacre. I traced my direct lineage to 1566 england. Grandfather to grandfather. I thought it sort of cool. They didn't leave me squat so it isn't that interesting ha ha

I've enjoyed finding my ancestors also, it's great fun to see who they were and what they did.

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"Try and fathom the hypocrisy of a Government that requires every citizen to prove they are insured, but not everyone must prove they are a citizen".

That's cool Mikeyy- one of my grandmothers was a geneology nut and she had meticulous records of her family history back to 1748 when one of my great great great great grandfathers immigrated from Germany. I came from farmers and preachers, which helps explain my quirks.

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"Every morning in Africa, a Gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a Lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest Gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a Lion or a Gazelle... when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." -anonymous

It's really handy when someone else does the work. Ha ha. It was already done and all I did was follow the thread father to father. There are interesting branches also but I wanted to know the direct lineage. Believe me I was surprised as anyone.

Impressive lineage. Explains a lot.

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"A rising tide has lifted all yachts." Warren Buffett

Obama is not a dark skinned, anti-war socialist who gives away free health care; you're thinking of Jesus.

Wow what irony. Here you are a leftwing ideologue with an ancestor that probably rubbed elbows with the Founding Fathers. As Credd said he is probably turning over in his grave.

I, on the otherhand, as a hard core conservative have one ancestor (maternal grandfather) who was a silk weaver. He participated in Great Paterson (NJ) Silk strike and was probably a member of the anarcho-syndicalist IWW (International Workers of the World). There is an old family photo of him posing with James Connelly (founder of the IRA) when Connelly visited Paterson circa 1914

My paternal grandfather came here in the latter part of the 19TH century as an illegal alien from Ireland. He had a price on his head in Ireland, but I don't know for what. I imagine it was for activities with the AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians) or some such group.

We both have ancestors turning over in their graves.

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