WILLIAM WILLIAMS

1731-1811

Signer of the Declaration of Independence (Connecticut)

Biographical Data
Religious Views
Quotations
References, Links, & Further Reading

Education: Harvard

Occupation: businessman, merchant

Political Affiliation:

Religious Affiliation: Congregationalist

Summary of Religious Views:

William Williams had an extensive education in theology.

Views on Religion & Politics:

Quotations:

"When the clause in the 6th article, which provides that 'no religious test should ever be required as a qualification to any office or trust, &c.' came under consideration, I observed I should have chose that sentence and anything relating to a religious test, had been totally omitted rather than stand as it did, but still more wished something of the kind should have been inserted, but with a reverse sense, so far as to require an explicit acknowledgment of the being of a God, his perfections and his providence, and to have been prefixed to, and stand as, the first introductory words of the Constitution, in the following or similar terms, viz. We the people of the United States, in a firm belief of the being and perfections of the one living and true God, the creator and supreme Governour of the world, in his universal providence and the authority of his laws; that he will require of all moral agents an account of their conduct; that all rightful powers among men are ordained of, and mediately derived from God; therefore in a dependence on his blessing and acknowledgment of his efficient protection in establishing our Independence, whereby it is become necessary to agree upon and settle a Constitution of federal government for ourselves, and in order to form a more perfect union &c., as it is expressed in the present introduction, do ordain &c., and instead of none, that no other religious test should ever be required &c., and that supposing, but not granting, this would be no security at all, that it would make hypocrites, &c. yet this would not be a sufficient reason against it; as it would be a public declaration against, and disapprobation of men, who did not, even with sincerity, make such a profession, and they must be left to the searcher of hearts; that it would however, be the voice of the great body of the people, and an acknowledgment proper and highly becoming them to express on this great and only occasion, and according to the course of Providence, one mean of obtaining blessings from the most high. But that since it was not, and so difficult and dubious to get inserted, I would not wish to make it a capital objection; that I had no more idea of a religious test, which should restrain offices to any particular sect, class, or denomination of men or Christians in the long list of diversity, than to regulate their bestowments by the stature or dress of the candidate, nor did I believe one sensible catholic man in the state wished for such a limitation;

". . .

"I freely confess such a test and acknowledgment would have given me great additional satisfaction; and I conceive the arguments against it, on the score of hypocrisy, would apply with equal force against requiring an oath from any officer of the united or individual states; and with little abatement, to any oath in any case whatever; but divine and human wisdom, with universal experience, have approved and established them as useful, and a security to mankind.

"I thought it was my duty to make the observations, in this behalf, which I did, and to bear my testimony for God; and that it was also my duty to say the Constitution, with this, and some other faults of another kind, was yet too wise and too necessary to be rejected." -- Letter, 11 Feb. 1788

References, Links, & Further Reading: Books, Articles, Links

Books

Notice: The book listed below includes a link to Amazon. I hope this benefits you by making it easier to locate material that may be of interest to you. This also benefits me, because I am an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. At present, these earnings are only enough to partially offset the costs of maintaining this website, but but I do deeply appreciate the support.

Bruce P. Stark, Connecticut signer, William Williams (Connecticut bicentennial series), Pequot Press, 1975

Articles

Charles L. Goodrich, "William Williams," in Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, 1856

Links

WILLIAMS, William, 1731-1811 (Biographical Directory of the US Congress)
William Williams (ushistory.org: Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
William Williams (Signers of the Declaration of Independence -- National Park Service)
William Williams (Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Biographical Sketch (Williams Family Papers)