Nathan Williams (politician)

Nathan Williams (December 19, 1773 – September 25, 1835) was a United States Representative from New York and the first lawyer to permanently establish a law practice in Utica. During the War of 1812 Williams volunteered for service and became a major in a company of militia at Sackett's Harbor.

For the similarly named New York congressman, see Nathan Wilson.
Nathan Williams

Life

Born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, he attended the common schools in Bennington, Vermont. He moved with his parents to Troy, New York in 1786, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1795, and commenced practice in Utica. He was the first lawyer to permanently establish a law practice in Utica. At the first term of the Common Pleas, which took place in 1798 in Oneida County, Williams was admitted to practice in the court, having been already admitted to the bar in Herkimer County. That same year he was admitted to the courts of Chenango County and was appointed district attorney of that county in 1802. He soon established a large law practice, however, rather than resorting to lawsuits he would instead often work with his clients in an effort to aid them and settle out of court.[1]

He assisted in the establishment of the Utica Public Library, of which he was librarian for a number of years. He was president of the village corporation and president of the Manhattan Bank. He was district attorney for the sixth district from 1801 to 1813.[2]

He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Ninth United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1805, to March 3, 1807. During the War of 1812 he used his influence and legal skills to uphold the cause of the government, and ultimately left his law practice and to march with a company of volunteers to Sacket’s Harbor, then under command of his brother-in-law, General Jacob Brown, where Williams became a major in the company.[3][4]

Williams was also was a member of the New York State Assembly (Oneida Co.) in 1818.

Williams was a Regent of the University of the State of New York from January 28, 1817, to February 13, 1824; and was District Attorney of Oneida County from 1818 to 1821. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. He was Judge of the Fifth Circuit Court from 1823 to 1834. He was appointed a clerk of the New York Supreme Court in 1834 and moved to Geneva, Ontario County, where he died in 1835. Initial interment was in the "Burying Ground;" reinterment was in Forest Hill Cemetery.[2]

As a citizen of Oneida County Williams was appointed a circuit for that county on April 21, 1823.[5]

Citations
  1. Bagg, 1892, p. 492
  2. Biographical Directory , U.S. Congress, essay
  3. Bagg, 1892, p. 493
  4. Durant, 1878, p. 155
  5. Durant, 1878, p. 186

Sources
  • Bagg, Moses Mears (1892). Memorial history of Utica, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time. Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason.
  • Cookingham, Henry J. (1912). History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time. Vol. I. Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
  • Durant, Samuel W. (1878). History of Oneida County, New York. Philadelphia: Evertts & Fariss.
  • "Williams, Nathan, 1773 – 1835". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
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