Elisha Williams (1694 - 1755)

Born 26 Aug 1694 in New Milford, Litchfield, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Scott) Smith — married Jan 1751 in Norwich, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 24 Jul 1755 at age 60 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut

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Biography

Elisha Williams is Notable.

Elisha was born in 1694. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Cotton) Williams.

Elisha Williams (August 26, 1694 - July 24, 1755) was a Congregational minister, legislator, jurist, and rector of Yale College from 1726 to 1739. (The title 'rector' of Yale College instead of 'president' was used from 1701 until 1745.) Williams graduated with a B.A. from Harvard College in 1711.

His first wife, and mother of his seven children (only two of whom survived him), was Eunice Chester, They were married in 23 Feb 1714;^[1] she died in 1750.

After his marriage he studied law, and was a member of the Connecticut legislature from Wethersfield for five sessions, the first in 1717; he studied divinity with his father and was ordained a clergyman in 1722, and served the church at Wethersfield until 1726, when he became fourth Rector of Yale College, serving in that capacity for thirteen years. He entered the position during a troubled period of Yale's history; by the time of his resignation, for reasons of health in 1739, he left the college firmly established.

He was again a member of the Connecticut legislature from 1740 to 1749, and was appointed Judge of the Superior Court. He was a Colonel of Militia, and served as Chaplain in the expedition sent against Cape Breton in 1745. He was appointed to the command of a regiment of one thousand men raised for the reduction of Canada; when they were not paid, he was sent to go to England to entreat for their pay. While he was there, his wife died, and he married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Thomas Scott, of Norwich, England. Returning home, he narrowly escaped shipwreck, and spent some months in Antigua before reaching Connecticut.

His second wife was Elizabeth Scott, the married Jan 1751.^[1]

He was a delegate to the Albany Congress in 1754.

He died at Wethersfield, Connecticut 25 Jul 1755 and is buried there.^[2][3]

Gravestone Table Inscription

The Hon'ble Col'nl Elisha / Williams, shin'd in excelling Gifts of / Nature, Learning, & Grace in Benevolence universal / Firm in Friendship, in Conversation pleasant & Instructive, / in Religion Sincere, Unaffected Chearful; Truly Humble / Patient, Fearless in the Cause of God & truth: A Pattern / of Conjugal & Parental Affection & Humanity a Wise / Great & Good Man. 5 Years He was an Nor'r to / Sacred Ministry in Newington. 13 Years Yale / College flourished under his Pious Learned Faithful / Instruction & hapy Govern't--the Glory of ye College / & Ornament of his Country. He after fitted & adorned / Several Civil & Military Caracter: Heaven claimed / what was Immortal: that Glad obeyed: and drop'd / her the Dust to rest till Jesus comes. Obii 24th / Julii 1755 Aetatis 61mo. / Here Lies the Body of / Mrs Eunice Wife of the / Hon'ble Col'nl Elisha / Williams, a sincere / Christian of exemplary/ Meekness, Humility & Patience, / full of good Works & of faith. / She was greatly exteemed in / Life & lamented at Death, which fell out May 31st 1750. / They that Sleep in Jesus / will God bring with Him. Interred the Precious Dust of the amiable & accom- /plished Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Daughter of Rev'd / Tho's Scott of Norwich in England, 2d wife of Hon'ble / Col'o Williams, whom she accompanied in his return from / Brittain 1753, & after his decease again Married Hon'ble Wm / Smith of New York, upon whose demise she returned to Wethe- / rsfield, where she died June 13th 1776. Aet. 68. / A Lady of great reading & knowledge, extensive accquaintance / a penetrating mind & good Judgment, of / abounding Charity, / & of unaffected Piety & Devotion, adorned with ever / recommending Excellency, few liv'd more Esteem'd / or died more Lamented. / "Blessed are the Dead, who die / in the Lord."

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Profiles and Portraits of Yale University Presidents, Pages: 25-29 Abbreviation: Profiles and Portraits of Yale University Presidents Author: Holden Publication: Yale University, New Haven, CT, 2008.
2. ↑ Wethersfield Village Cemetery Interactive Map
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20583921/elisha-williams: accessed 17 December 2022), memorial page for Col Elisha Williams (26 Aug 1694–24 Jul 1755), Find A Grave: Memorial #20583921, citing Wethersfield Village Cemetery, Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA; Maintained by Andrewguy (contributor 49371320).

• Tillotson, Edward Sweetser. Wethersfield Inscriptions (William F.J. Boardman, Hartford, Conn., 1899) Page 138-9
• Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College (Holt, 1885) Vol. 1, Page 547
• 11 Generations of the Clothier Genealogy, Author: Jesse Clothier Davis, Compiler: Anthony Clemente Jr.
• Wethersfield Historical Society Reverend and Colonel Elisha Williams
• NEHGR (New England Historical and Genealogical Register) v. 8 p.323
• Wikidata: Item Q96090402