John Williams

John Williams was born in April 1719. He was the son of Thomas Williams and his second wife, Hilletje Bronck Williams. He grew up in a large combined family at his father's tavern on the Southside of Albany. He was named in the will filed by his father in 1761.

In January 1744, he married Cornelia Bogardus at the Albany Dutch church. By 1757, four children had been christened in Albany where he was a pewholder and occasional baptism sponsor.

In 1741, he was named constable for the first ward. A decade later, he was appointed firemaster. His accounts were paid by the city. In 1767, he belonged to an Albany militia company. However, his name did not appear on community freeholders lists.

In July 1754, he witnessed the will of an Albany neighbor.

John Williams was a barber who lived near other family households in the first ward. During the 1760s and 70s, his first ward property was given a moderate valuation on city assessment rolls.

In 1769, his was elected assistant alderman for the first ward. He was involved in city business and also was able to obtain a deed for an additional lot within the city limits. In 1773, his first ward home had boarders.

In May 1775, he was named captain of the first ward watch. In 1776 and 1777, he was elected to the Albany Committee of Correspondence for the first ward. In June 1776, he was serving as deputy chairman. Over the next year (until April 1778), he was very active in committee business - often serving in postiions of trust.

Our last references to John Williams came in 1779 when his house and lots appeared on the city assessment rolls. He may have been deceased or probably died about that time.

John Williams was dead by May 1784 when his widow was transacting business with the city government. Cornelia Bogardus Williams died in July 1787.

Sources: The life of John Williams is CAP biography number 6310. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.