The son of Rev. William Williams and his wife Elizabeth, nee Cotton (daughter of Seaborn Cotton), he was educated at Harvard, graduating, at the age of seventeen, in 1711.
His first wife, and mother of his seven children (only two of whom survived him), was Eunice Chester, They were married in 1714; 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.
He was a delegate to the Albany Congress in 1754.
See: Wikipedia
Gravestone Inscription: King George War / Col. / Elisha Williams / Died July 24, 1755 / AE. 60 Notes King George's War Veteran
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."
P Fazzini (#46565936) provided the following info:
father 26901491
mother 15359410
FAG #48041053 provided the following info:
Note: LDS reports DOB as August 24, 1694 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.
The son of Rev. William Williams and his wife Elizabeth, nee Cotton (daughter of Seaborn Cotton), he was educated at Harvard, graduating, at the age of seventeen, in 1711.
His first wife, and mother of his seven children (only two of whom survived him), was Eunice Chester, They were married in 1714; 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.
He was a delegate to the Albany Congress in 1754.
See: Wikipedia
Gravestone Inscription: King George War / Col. / Elisha Williams / Died July 24, 1755 / AE. 60 Notes King George's War Veteran
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."
P Fazzini (#46565936) provided the following info:
father 26901491
mother 15359410
FAG #48041053 provided the following info:
Note: LDS reports DOB as August 24, 1694 in Hatfield, Hampshire County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Inscription
Elizabeth Scott, his wife (later married William Smith)
King George War - AE 60
Family Members
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