William Williams

Dolores Hans
MSMU class of 2025

(7/2024) The autumn breeze drifts through the cracks in the floorboards and the whistle of the wind signals all who listen that the seasons have changed. A young man sits in a sacred room, gazing out the window at a tree beneath an overcast sky, wondering what will become of him throughout all the seasons yet unchanged. This young man doesn’t know it yet, but he will soon be a man of vast knowledge and unwavering faith, the son of a minister, a Harvard-law graduate at 20 years old, but what happens after could not have been something conceived, let alone planned for young William Williams.

William comes from a line of men in ministry, so he studied theology and law and planned to become a minister as well. However, after he successfully embarks from Harvard, William finds himself unable to pursue his plans of becoming a minister, as the French and Indian War takes head.

In order to be beside his beloved uncle, William signs up to engage in the fight near Lake George. This fight wearied and consumed him, his thoughts and emotions flooded by devastation and torment. As a man of faith, it must’ve been hard to fight for his country by killing others.

William, in the midst of battle, sparks of gunpowder soaring and stinging the crisp air and shouts of men overcoming the howl of the wind, glances over to witness the moment a bayonet meets his uncle’s chest, and he falls to the ground in surrender of his soul over to God. From this moment on, William’s detest of the British officers grew stronger like a fueled flame.

William eventually returned to Lebanon and opened a store, putting away plans to be a pastor. He is truly reaping the blessings of the Lord when he meets and marries his wife, Mary Trumbull. Mary was twenty-five years of age. Her beloved father was close to Sam Adams and an advisor to George Washington. It pleased William that his wife was as educated and accomplished as he. Their love results in the lives of three children.

As far from he wanted to be from war, he took up a political position as town clerk in Lebanon. Here he served for 44 years. This position began his involvement in the State House of Representatives, and as House Speaker. During this time, his brother-in-law becomes a famous painter of the American Revolution. William published writings in the press on behalf of the colonists. He housed patriots who were fighting in the war. He raised money to support the cause.

William received news that the delegate to the Continental Congress, Oliver Walcott, was growing ill and could not continue his role. He was asked to carry on this role in Walcott’s place. William’s arrival at congress was past the time of voting for independence, but he had the opportunity to sign the Declaration of Independence. As he stood over the document, looking over the other signatures of those who were founding the independence of our country, William thought of his uncle, of the men who he had seen die, and knew that they had sacrificed something worth it. William knew what it meant to sign the declaration. It meant he would have a target on his back if somehow, they weren’t pardoned. But his passion for patriotism, and the memory of those who fought and died for this cause, allowed him to face the prospect of the noose with certainty and serenity.

"In 1779 Williams accepted worthless paper money in exchange for $2,000 in coin for military supplies. He was said to have remarked that if independence were established, he would get his money back; if not, the loss would be of no account to him. Some had criticized Williams for resigning his colonelcy of the 12th Militia Regiment at the outbreak of the Revolution in order to accept the election to the Continental Congress. His courage, however, was evidenced in 1781, when word arrived in Lebanon of the traitor Benedict Arnold’s raid upon New London" (Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence).

When the traitor Benedict Arnold made an attack, Williams without hesitation rode twenty-three miles on horseback to the site in heroic efforts to aid the town. Tired and afraid, Williams approached the town only to discover he was too late. The picket fences were torched, the screams of families subsided, and the black smoke replaced the view of the clouds in the sky.

From this significant moment until the end of the war, William served on the committee which validated the Articles of Confederation.

In 1810, yet another tragedy befell William. He has faced many challenges and losses, but none so significant and painful than the loss of his own child. Williams’ son Solomon died. William was so shocked and distraught by this tragedy, that he never fully recovered. Because of the immense loss he felt, his emotional, as well as physical wellbeing, changed. His health deteriorated. His voice, which once made independence possible, was lost. He eventually went into a coma, and after four days he mustered enough strength to cry out for his son Solomon to care for him in the house of the Lord, and then, on August 2, 1811, William died.

How amazing William’s character was, that he faced so much tragedy and loss, and yet was honorable in deed and firm in his faith until the very end. It is easy to celebrate my independence when I had never been the one to sacrifice or fight for it, but nevertheless I am always grateful for those who made my freedom possible. Because my country is so important to me, I always love learning more about our history. Learning about those who are forgotten, but who did so much for the sake of our happiness, has been a great experience. William inspires me. As someone who is spending time in university, and doesn’t know what the future holds for me, I am confident that God has a plan for me, and as long as I am honorable and courageous, my life will amount to something beautiful as well.