WILLIAMSTOWN

The town of Williamstown was formed while within Oneida County on March 24, 1804. The earliest settlers arrived from Connecticut c. 1801. The town is named in honor of Judge Henry Williams, who was prominent in the early years of settlement. The soils of the town are sandy loam, which is most productive for potatoes and grazing. The early settlers were augmented by a mix of Irish and French settlers drawn to the town by its lumbering industry and also the small mills that operated along the railroads that served the town. The main settlements in town are Williamstown hamlet, Ricard, Fracheur (known as Happy Valley), Wardville, and the mill stop of Maple Hill has nearly vanished except for the hardy descendants of its early families who still live along Maple Manor Road.

 
Town Historian
Glenna Gorski
P.O. Box 54
Williamstown, NY 13493

For more information on the Town of Williamstown