WILLIAMS, John, a Delegate from North Carolina; born in Hanover County, Va., March 14, 1731; moved to North Carolina in 1745 with his parents, who settled in Granville County; donated the land and laid out the town of Williamsboro, N.C.; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Williamsboro; one of the founders of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; deputy attorney general in 1768; delegate to the Provincial Congress of 1775; member of the State house of commons in 1777 and 1778 and served as speaker; Member of the Continental Congress in 1778 and 1779; judge of the supreme court of North Carolina from 1779 until his death in Montpelier, near Williamsboro, N.C., October 10, 1799; interment in the family cemetery, Montpelier, N.C.
(Source: Biographical Directory of the United States 1774-present.)