While engaged in his military duties on the frontier, Williams became
much interested in the soldiers under his command. Through his
agency chiefly, two townships of land in the vicinity of Fort
Massachusetts--the name given to the most western fort in the valley of
the Hoosac--had been set off by order of the Legislature, and lots in
them had been disposed of to the soldiers on favorable terms. Williams
had also expressed the intention of still further benefiting his
comrades in arms. While resting for a day or two at Albany, on his way
to Crown Point, he bethought him of his purpose, the execution of which
had hitherto been postponed. Accordingly, he made his will on the spot,
by which he devised his property, after making some bequests to
relatives and friends, for the purpose of establishing what he termed a
Free School.
[Illustration: From HARPER'S MAGAZINE. Copyright 1881, by HARPER &
BROTHERS.