Williams, John Lee, 1775-1856

Civil engineer, lawyer, Florida pioneer, historian.

A native of Salem, Massachusetts, he moved with his family to a farm in New York State when he was young. Disliking a farmer's life, he went to college, attending law school and tutoring to pay his tuition. In 1820 the newly widowed Williams moved to Florida observing changes in the newly acquired territory. He lived in Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Picolata, just outside St. Augustine - where he wrote his "History of Florida" and "Views of West.

Florida". He quit his law practice and gathered quite a reputation as an eccentric who was known for his walks around the dangerous Indian territory around Picolata, but was never harmed. A story of his evasion of a group of Indians who murdered a troupe of actors is included.

John Lee Williams (1775-1856) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. He moved with his family to a farm in New York when he was young. Disliking a farmer's life, he went to Hamilton College, attending law school and tutoring to pay his tuition. In 1820 the widowed Williams moved to the newly acquired territory of Florida. He lived in Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Picolata, just outside St. Augustine. In 1823, while living in Pensacola and practicing as an attorney, he was appointed by Governor William Duval to a commission to select a site for the new capital of Florida. He and his fellow commissioner, Dr. William Simmons of St. Augustine, ultimately selected Tallahassee. In 1829, whle living in St. Augustine, Williams married Martha Mackey Ives.

Williams authored A View of West Florida in 1827 and his best-known book, The Territory of Florida, in 1837. He had quit his law practice and spent the last years of his life exploring and working on a revised second edition of The Territory of Florida .

Source: Biographical materials in the collection, and James Cusick, "After 150 Years, a Lost Manuscript Comes to Light," Chapter One, University of Florida Smathers Libraries, Summer 2003.