Williams, William, 1731-1811

Declaration of Independence signer from Connecticut.

From the description of Letter to Jabez Huntington and portrait, 1776 September 30. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 55225150

Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut.

From the description of ADS, 1776 July 3 : Lebanon, to the Committee of Pay Table. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 14176907

From the description of ADS, 1777 February 28 : Lebanon, to the Committee of Pay Table. (Copley Press, J S Copley Library). WorldCat record id: 14176937

Delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and jurist from Connecticut.

From the description of Papers of William Williams, 1774-1785. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80348162

Delegate to the U.S. Continental Congress and jurist from Connecticut.

From the description of William Williams diary, 1774-1778. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981628

American statesman.

From the description of Autograph letter : Lebanon, to Maj. Gen. Huntington, 1/2 past 6 p. m., 1778 Sept. 3. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270586617

Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Lebanon, to Mr. Andrew Huntington, 1785 Apr. 4. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270587648

William Williams was the town clerk for Lebanon, Connecticut, and represented the town in the general assembly of Connecticut.

From the description of Legal document, 1764 July 16. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155866518

Thomas Wheeler Williams (1789-1874): engaged in shipping business and whaling in New London, Connecticut; member of Congress, 1839-1843; member of the Connecticut State legislature, 1846-1847; president of New London, Willimantic & Palmer Railroad.

William Williams (1731-1811): signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate to Continental Congress; held many local political offices in Lebanon, Connecticut, and in Connecticut State government.

William Williams (1862-1947): admitted to Massachusetts bar, 1888; practiced law in New York City, 1888-1947; U.S. Commissioner of Ellis Island, 1902-1905, 1909-1913; active on other city boards and commissions.

From the description of William Williams family papers, 1754-1938 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702167209

William Williams (1731-1811): signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate to Continental Congress; held many local political offices in Lebanon, Connecticut, and in Connecticut State government. Thomas Wheeler Williams (1789-1874): engaged in shipping business and whaling in New London, Connecticut; member of Congress, 1839-1843; member of the Connecticut State legislature, 1846-1847; president of New London, Willimantic & Palmer Railroad. William Williams (1862-1947): admitted to Massachusetts bar, 1888; practiced law in New York City, 1888-1947; U.S. Commissioner of Ellis Island, 1902-1905, 1909-1913; active on other city boards and commissions.

William Williams, 1862-1947 (B.A. 1884).

Born June 2, 1862, in New London, Conn.

Died February 8, 1947, in New York City.

Father, Charles Augustus Williams of New London 1886-88; son of Thomas Wheeler and Lucretia Shaw (Perkins) Williams. Mother, Elizabeth (Hoyt) Williams; daughter of Jonathan Edwards Hoyt and descendant of Elisha Williams, president of Yale 1726-38. Yale relatives include: Jonathan Edwards (B.A. 1720) (great-great-great-grandfather); and Hon. Elias Perkins (B.A. 1786) (great-grandfather).

Graduated from Real Gymnasium, Wiesbaden, Germany, 1882. Entered Yale College in Junior year; oration appointment Senior year; member Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Traveled in Europe 1884-85; attended Harvard Law School 1885-88 (LL.B. 1888; contributed to Harvard Law Review ); admitted to the bar 1888; associated with Simpson, Thacher [Thomas, '71] and Barnum [William M., '77], lawyers, New York City, 1888-92; associate counsel U.S. Government in Bering Sea arbitration with Great Britain, in Washington and Paris, 1892-93; lawyer in New York City 1893-1902, 1905-9 , 1919-47; U.S. Commissioner of Immigration, Ellis Island, 1902-05 and 1909-13; commissioner department of water supply, gas, and electricity, New York City, 1913-18; trustee Presbyterian Hospital 1913-47 (voting member 1913-46, honorary member 1946-47); on board Seamen's Church Institute of New York 1927-47; M.A. Hon. Yale 1906; enlisted Troop A, New York Volunteer Cavalry, June, 1898; promoted commissary of subsistence (rank of Major) July, 1898, and in charge transport U.S.S. Chester which sailed to Puerto Rico in August; because of illness on return voyage was mustered out March 12, 1899; commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, Procurement Division, Ordnance Department, Washington, February 8, 1918, and served until January 31, 1919; interested in mountain climbing he had scaled several Alpine peaks and Swiss Alps and contributed articles on his experiences to magazines; author: "Reminiscences of the Bering Sea Arbitration" ( American Journal of International Law, October, 1943); one of the four oldest active tennis players in the world; member American Bar Association, Association of the City of New York, and American and English Alpine clubs; vestryman St. Bartholomew's Church (Episcopal), New York City, 1916-47.

Unmarried.

Buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London. Survived by a sister, Mrs. William Crozier of Washington.

From: Yale University Obituary Record, 1946-47. pp. 10-11.

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The William Williams Family Papers also includes information about the following individuals. For more information, please consult the citations below, or visit the repository.

William Williams (1731-1811)

Dictionary of American Biography. Vol. XX (New York; Charles Scribner's Sons, 1936), pp. 293-294.

Thomas Wheeler Williams (1789-1874)

Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961. p. 1825.

From the guide to the William Williams family papers, 1754-1938, (Manuscripts and Archives)