State of Connecticut Pay Order signed by William Williams and George Wyllys - Signer of Declaration of Independence - 1793 dated Autograph

Pay order signed by William Williams, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Geo. Wyllys.

William Williams, a prominent Connecticut merchant and statesman, played a significant role in the American struggle for independence. After graduating from Harvard in 1751 and serving in the French and Indian War, he established a successful business and became deeply involved in local politics. Over four decades, he served as the Lebanon town clerk. A staunch patriot, Williams was a member of the Sons of Liberty and used his influence to protest British taxation. Notably, he wrote a public letter to King George III in 1774, condemning the Coercive Acts as unfair and oppressive.

In July 1776, Williams was elected to the Continental Congress to replace the ailing Oliver Wolcott. Although he arrived too late to participate in the formal vote for independence, he proudly affixed his signature to the Declaration of Independence, solidifying his legacy as a Founding Father. Beyond the Revolution, Williams continued to serve his country as a delegate to the 1788 convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution and later as a county judge. Today, his home in Lebanon, Connecticut, is preserved as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, honoring his lifelong commitment to the American cause.