Williams, William

title
Colonel
first name
William
last name
Williams
gender
male
birth, death year
1713, 1784
role
enslaver
race
white
location(s)
Deerfield, MA   Pittsfield, MA  

Bio

William was in Deerfield, Massachusetts as of about 1743. He served in King George's War (1744-1748) and the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and kept a store in Deerfield. Around 1754, he moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. While in Deerfield he was a justice of the peace and in Pittsfield he served as a judge.

Day book entries from 1751 show that Williams bought shoes for someone named Christopher (Christer) and for Caleb Sharp (aso known as Sharp Caleb.) It is unknown whether Christopher was enslaved or indentured. However, entries from 1752 note that "yr negroes" shoes were mended and "yr negros pumps" were purchased and entries in Elijah Williams' account book for 1755 and 1758 refer to Caleb Sharp as "Col Wm Negro." William Williams also rented Prince, who was enslaved by Joseph Barnard.

Enslaved persons:

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