New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24
WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
SOLDIERS GIFT TO STRUGOLlN"
COLONY.

In q romantic spot near the southern eAuen''F
NJ Lake George stands a marble obehsK Oh 49,, go,
f,l PROPORTIONS. ITO the Memory vi s
t1nbraim Williams" 1t erected by the piou'
hands OF the alumni of Williams Coiiege, " ma" me-,
49, ,laca where the founder Of that INSTITUTION
die1 : soldiers death. He was true NC"
lander this Ephraim Williams elea'-
~ the stern old Puritan, Robert WlilafhS' WI"
early in the seventeenth century came ion' g.
,ricb in Old England and settled In hohou'S' Il,
,ho colony Of Massachusetts Bay. Roberts secohu
son was named Isaac. and he settled In Oa'hoiiue'
afterward called Newtown, where ne was ~ -,
deacon and a man of considerable means anu m
nor,ance The youngest son OF Isaac was haineu
-, ora be Inherited his fathers Newtown
homestead and took for a wife Elizabeth JACKSON
49, rich yrandchild of the founder of that Vllase
The family at this stage, therefore, was ieo
wealthy in those times. TWO SONS "eie 49,
Epbraim and Elizabeth Williams Ephrahh Iui"o'
and Thomas who presently being lett rhothei.e'
were adopted into the Jackson lafhiiy' vi VIM"
,hair grandfather Abraham Jackson. was the neal
The latter was a of marx RE lounN Wv
Nrst school in Newtown, ana gave 'he ianu VII
which IT was built. He also gave 70 the "i'iiahlS
bovs the best education obtainable IN the coio'S'
,,d Doubtless did much to inspire young hphra''h
., ,b. great work with which his name is identihed-
Ephrain Williams. jr. who was porn AZ ->e"'o"''
Mass on February I. 17lj. was not however Vo''-
tented with the instruction and culture aHoiueu ny
the colonial schools Before he reached the age OF
ms
ages TO many lands. He spent sever" years ~
,srgI,nd Holland Spain and elsewhere acquiring
a vast store OF knowledge and a breauth Vi we"
not common among his contemporaries !" Wv"
England At the age OF twenty-five ne retui'','
homo 70 find that his father had removed TO STOCK
bridge This place part OF an Ihuiah ieSei
,a,ton about six miles square. in which only iour
.h,,c families wer, permitted by the Government
20 live and they only that their presence anu "a
annie might inspire the Indians TO MAKE pi'siV''
IN the arts Of civilization. For this purpose ,he
Williamses WERE by their cha'a0"i anu
rnents eminenty fitted.
c. the vounger Ephraim Williams settled down
with his father as a farmer in the Housatohlc var
low. hui only for "A little time. -Four years al'ei MS
return home the French and Indian war Deea"' '''e
final struggle which was 10 determine "he'he' ,''
North Atlantic colonies should be Gallo or Anglo
CO I,yoeons from, the north were renewed, and
the coIonists decided to build defensive line Oh
forts from the Connecticut River 10 the fioosac
and 10 the TacOnic Mountains Inc effcuo' a''
command Of these important works were i''i u9''N
10 Young Ephraim Williams. who was now coh'.,,'s
stoned as a captain in the military service i''9
$3.50, ha discharped with such fidelity and success
az made him one OF the foremost hgures OF 'ie
time and when hostites ceased ana ne returned
10 peaceful pursuits his distinction loho"eu MN
into civil life Again. however the war proKe out
and Williams now made major was sent u W.
fend the great gateway Of the Hoosac. fio"i INV
ao,.ra,va he presently proceeded TO the aggressive
and became colonel of the Hampshire Regimen i"
the Army that moved northward 10 ,ahc Nv
Point and other strongholds Of the frehch' ne
.vnod,,ior halted at the southern end OF Lake
George TO await the boats which were 10 co"''s
4, ro,,bward Then Baron Dieskau. with frehch
and Indian army came prowling around mehac'"s
Fort Edward. Williams with twelve hunuieu men
set out to deal with this foe. and came upon IL
expectedy. in ambush. AS he was eaii""'y A.
inc his men out OF the confusion into whicn ''
had
pierced nv a musket- ball His comrades saVeu n'
hodv from mutilation. and afterward pur'eu d" o
meath a huge pine tree near by. FOR a'" 49,,
fury that tree the only monument az, 80, ,a
grave: and then a great bowlder was pia'eu w 49,
and the letters ''E. W. carved into H. anu VIZ
obe,isk above mentioned was erected upon ~
very rock on which he standing whe, uie -.
dian bullet struck him down. The Date Vi "' ~
September 8. l755 - . .or,ous loss
s,o.,. not II presently transpired that
80, In de,tb he was to continue TO serve mem
and especially to serve that glorious res'o" "a .,
Berkshire Hills which he had ioNeo 80 w" ,ooa
which he had given the best erorts oi M 49, 90
wars .I shall not forget you. even II he''' -
turn to YOU" he had said. as he marcheu - Ia,
h,s last campaign His way to Lake ueo's a ~
through Albany and at that place. iai'''e "
halted for a few days. And then. whe"e' . >,
his sickness being reminded OF the u"., - tho
life or whether, having some premium. -. aroa,
fate that awaited him AT the ma ii, 10 his
North Woods. he soemnly maze mo ,,as,s and
relatives and friends he made a few pe9"e'''' ~
then declared: =, = 49, r.s,.
1T is my will and pleasure that an ~ oaSad %
due OF my real estate. not otherwise u'p ,h.r,
be sold by my executors. or the SUI WV ,h,cb
~,,.,r eva va.rs after an established peace t"nie"
rood God soon grantD according " $3.50,
cretion and that the same be put OUT O" -
on good security and that the 'h'eies, CO.. ,hs
yearly arising therefrom be iHp'o T., IN.
support and maintenance Of a free sc" ro
township west OF Fort Massachusetts ioi ,u IN
v,dea the governor and the Assembly shall In
corporate the same into a town by 'ne ""'
Jamestown" - 4, fur.
That will was dated July z. lh", az Col,
nishsd the original letters patent Ok