Thomas Williams (pioneer) facts for kids

This 1796 map shows ribbon farms near Fort Detroit (in the middle, by the Detroit River). The idea for these farms started when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded the fort in 1701.

Thomas Williams (died November 30, 1785) was an important person in early Detroit, Michigan. He moved there in 1765 from Albany, New York. Thomas Williams was a merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He also owned land and was involved in the city's government and public life.

He married Cecile Chapeau, who came from a well-known French-Canadian family. Her family had lived in Michigan since about 1710. Cecile's brother, Joseph Campau, later became the first millionaire in Michigan. Thomas and Cecile's son, John R. Williams, grew up to be the first mayor of Detroit.

Early Life and Move to Detroit

Thomas Williams was born in Albany, New York. His family had lived there since 1690. Before moving to Detroit, he served as an officer in the New York military. He settled in Detroit in 1765.

Working as a Merchant and Trader

Fort Detroit in 1763

Thomas Williams was a licensed merchant and trader. He brought goods to Detroit all the way from Albany, New York. This journey was usually done by canoe and could take many months to go there and back. In 1768, he made one of these long trips with a partner named George Meldrum.

Williams often signed petitions against the rules the British had for selling goods. The British had taken control of Detroit in 1760. There was a lot of tension between the British, the French, and Native American groups. In May 1763, Native Americans attacked the British in what was called the Siege of Fort Detroit. Traders coming to the fort were sometimes captured or killed.

The British rules made it hard for traders like Williams. They wanted all trading to happen only at certain posts, and one person had a special right to trade at Fort Niagara. Williams and other traders, many from Albany, signed petitions in 1766 and 1767 to change these rules.

Civic and Political Roles

This picture by Frederic Remington shows The Siege of the Fort at Detroit in 1763.

Thomas Williams was also very active in Detroit's public life. A military leader named Captain Richard B. Lernhout appointed him as a justice of the peace and a notary.

• As a justice of the peace, his job was to make sure people followed the local laws. He could issue warrants, which are official papers that allow police to do things like arrest someone. He also had to punish or imprison people who broke the law. His main goal was to keep Detroit peaceful and orderly.
• As a notary, he helped create and sign important legal documents for the settlement.

In 1768, Williams voted in Detroit's very first election. This election was held to choose a judge and a justice. He also worked as one of Detroit's town criers. A town crier was someone who walked through the streets, often ringing a bell, and shouted out the news of the day to everyone.

This is a view of Detroit in 1796. You can see landmarks like St. Anne's Church.

In 1782, Thomas Williams was in charge of counting the people in Detroit for the census. He found that there were 2,191 people living there, which was a big increase from 1,367 people in 1773. This count did not include Native Americans or the soldiers living in the fort. Historians believe many people moved to Detroit to avoid the American Revolutionary War.

Family Life

Thomas Williams married Marie Cecile Chapeau on May 7, 1781. They were married by the military leader of Fort Detroit because they did not want a Catholic priest to marry them. Their marriage certificate said their relationship would follow the rules of the Church of England. Cecile came from a very well-known family. Her brother, Joseph, became the first millionaire in Michigan.

Thomas and Cecile had three children: Catherine, Elizabeth, and John R..

• Elizabeth later taught at a Catholic school she helped start with other young women.
• Catherine married Jean Baptiste Peltier in 1809 and had two children.
• John R. Williams became the first mayor of Detroit. He served as mayor several times. Because his mother, Cecile, was French-Canadian, John R. could speak and write both French and English very well.

Thomas Williams owned a lot of land in Detroit, including property on Woodbridge Street. During the American Revolutionary War, some of his property in Albany was taken away. However, he or his family later got it back.

Thomas Williams died on November 30, 1785, from the measles. After his death, his wife Cecile and their children lived on a 600-acre farm near the Huron River.

In July 1790, Cecile married Jaques Leson. They had a daughter named Angelique. Cecile died on June 24, 1805, and was buried in the St. Anne's church cemetery.