William T. W. Lanman

Other Events and Attributes:

• Adopted: Was adopted by William - Sarah Trumbull Williams

William married Sarah Trumbull about 1805 in Connecticut. Sarah (daughter of David Trumbull and Sarah Backus) was born on 7 Sep 1779 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 3 Oct 1839 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut; was buried on 5 Oct 1839 in Old Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Born in Lebanon, Connecticut, where his father and grandfather had both been church ministers. After graduating from Harvard, Williams studied for the ministry under his father. Although he was a very religious man, and served as a church deacon for 43 years, Williams decided not to become a minister, but became a shopkeeper and entered politics. At age 21, he was elected town clerk of Lebanon, a post he would hold for forty-four years. He also served as a selectman of Lebanon for 27 years, as a member of the Connecticut legislature's Lower House for 20 years, the Upper House for 23 years, and as a judge for 35 years. As was common in those days, Williams held several posts at the same time. As troubles began with Britain, he would write letters to newspapers complaining of British injustice. In June 1776, delegate Oliver Wolcott had to leave the Continental Congress due to illness, and Williams was sent in his place. He arrived in Philadelphia on July 28, 1776, too late for the vote on independence, but he still signed the document on August 2. He would remain in Congress for just over a year and a half, from 1776 to 1778. During this time, he helped to frame the Articles of Confederation. On February 14, 1771, Williams married Mary Trumbull, daughter of Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut's first state governor. Mary and William would have three children. During the war, the family opened their homes to American soldiers. Williams would purchase supplies for the army with his own money, and reportedly went from door to door raising funds and collecting blankets for the army. Williams served as a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation in 1783 and 1784. In January 1788, Connecticut held a convention to decide whether or not to approve the proposed US Constitution. Lebanon sent Williams to the convention with instructions to vote against adopting the new Convention. Convinced that the new framework would help the country, Williams instead voted to accept the Constitution, and on January 9, 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to approve the Constitution. William Williams died on August 2, 1811, at the age of 80, exactly 35 years to the day that he signed the Declaration of Independence. (bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson)

William married Mary Trumbull on 14 Feb 1771 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. and Faith Robinson) was born on 16 Jul 1745 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut ; died on 9 Feb 1831 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Sarah Backus on 6 Dec 1778. Sarah (daughter of Ebenezer Backus, Sr. and Sarah Clark) was born on 7 Feb 1760 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut; died on 2 Jun 1846 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut; was buried on 4 Jun 1846 in Old Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Colonial Connecticut Governor. Served as Governor of the Colony of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784.

Jonathan married Faith Robinson on 9 Dec 1735 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. Faith was born on 11 Dec 1718 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 29 May 1780 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut; was buried on 1 Jun 1780 in Old Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ebenezer married Sarah Clark on 26 Jul 1753 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. Sarah (daughter of Benjamin Clark and Miriam Kilby) was born on 28 Jul 1726 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; died on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]