Among the early Scotch-Irish immigrants to the Province of Pennsylvania was John Williamson form Dublin, who settled in Chester county about the year 1730. Soon after his arrival, he was united in marriage with Mary Davison, a native of Derry, who came to the same county with her father, George Davison, when a child of about three years of age. In 1752 he removed to Shippensburg. where he died a few years afterwards.

Of ten children - six sons and four daughters, who were the fruit of this marriage, and all of whom reached positions of respectability and usefulness, - one, at least, the eldest son, attained more than ordinary eminence, and from his residence with his mother for a considerable time in Shippensburg, after his father's decease, deserves a notice among the distinguished sons of Cumberland valley.

Hugh Williamson being slender and delicate his father resolved to give him a liberal education. After the common preparatory instruction, he was sent at an early age to learn the languages, at the academy at New London Crossroads, Chester county, under Rev. Francis Allison, -the Busby of the Western Hemisphere. Among the pupils of that seminary. may be mentioned Charles Thomson, Dr. John Ewing, Thomas McKean, and Benjamin Rush. After Dr. Allison's transfer to Philadelphia, Hugh Williamson went to the academy at Newark, Delaware, where he prepared for college. He entered the Philadelphia college in 1753, remained there for about four years, and graduated A. B. May 17, 1757. He was fond of mathematics and became a proficient in Euclid. He became early impressed with a sense of religion, and while with his mother devoted much time to the study of divinity, under the auspices of Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, with a view to the clerical profession. In 1759, he went to Connecticut, where he still pursued his theological studies, and was licensed to preach the gospel. He preached but a short time - not exceeding two years - when he found that his health and strength of lungs would not permit the duties of the office, and he was never ordained. Moreover, the memorable controversy in the Presbyterian church, between the adherents of Whitefield and the old orthodox party, proved a source of disgust to him. which induced him to withdraw from theological pursuits to which he had been sincerly attached. He accordingly left the pulpit and entered upon the study of medicine.

In 1760, he received the degree of A.M. in Philadelphia college; and soon after, was appointed Professor of Mathematics in that institution; but continued his medical studies.

October 8, 1763, he gave notice of his intended resignation of tehe pofessorship, and in 1764, he went to pursue his medical studies at the University of Edinburg. He afterward spent a year in London at his studies, and from thence crossed over to Holland, and completed his medical education at Utrecht. Having passed the usual examinaitions and submitted a Latin thesis, he obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Having spent some time in travelling on the continent of Europe, he benthis course toward his native country.

Upon his return, Dr. Williamson practiced medicine in Philadelphia for a few years. In 1768, he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. His health failing, he resolved to try mercantile pursuits, but meanwhile, for a time, devoted himself to literary and philosophical investigations. IN January 1769, he was appointed by the Philosophical Society on a committee, withteh Rev. Dr. Ewing, David Rittenhouse and Charles Thomson, to observe the transit of Venus, which occurred o teh 3rd of June in that year, and soon after to observe the transit of Mercury, which took place November 9, 1769. In that year, also, he philosophised on the comet. In 1770, he published observations on Climate, in the "American Philosophical Transactions." In 1772, he visited the West Indies, to collect contributions in aid of the Newark academy. In 1773, Governor John Penn certified to the "good credit and reputation" of Rev. John Ewing and Hugh Williamson, who were authorized to proceed to Europe to solicit further aid for said academy. They persevered under difficulties until.the autumn of 1715, when hostilities with the colonies commenced. Dr. Ewing returned home; but Dr. Williamson resolved to remain, and make further efforts for the academy. Dr. Williamson was the first to report the destruction of tea, at Boston. On that occasion he ventured to declare his opinion, that coercive, measures by parliament would result in civil war. Lord North himself declared that Dr. Williamson was the first person who, in his hearing, intimated the probability of such an event. Dr. Williamson, while in London, was the man, (probably, with the aid, or at the suggestion of Sir John Temple;) who procured the letters of Hutchinson, Oliver and others, and caused them to be delivered to Dr. Franklin, who sent them to Boston, for which Wedderburne, before the privy council, called Franklin a "thief."

After causing the Hutchinson correspondence to reach Dr. Franklin, it was deemed expedient by Dr. Williamson to take an early conveyance next day for Holland. It was supposed by John Adams, that Mr. David Hartly, a member of parliament, and a good friend of the Americans, was the person through whom the letters reached Dr. Franklin. On the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Williamson returned to the United States, and engaged for a time with a brother in trade with the West Indies. His residence then was at Edenton, North Carolina. In 1779-80, when the British took possession of Charleston, South Carolina, a large draft of military from North Carolina was ordered for the relief of South Carolina, on which occasion, the commander, Governor Caswell, placed Dr. Williamson at the head of the medical department. After the battle of Camden, August 18, 1780, which the doctor witnessed, he requested General Caswell to give him a flag, that he might go and attend to the wounded North Carolina prisoners. The General advised hhn to send some of the regimental surgeons, inasmuch as his duty did not require him to go. Dr. Williamson replied that such of the regimental surgeons as he had seen refused to go - afraid of the consequences. "But," said he, "if I have lived until a flag will not protect me, I have outlived my country; and, in that case, have lived a day too long." He went and remained two months in the enemy's camp, rendering good service to the sick of both armies, where his skill was highly esteemed. At the close of the war, Dr. Williamson served as a representative of Edenton, in the
House of Commons of North Carolina.

He was next sent to Congress from "the old North State," where he continued for three years. Writing to President Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, from New York, while in Congress, January 14, 1785, about John Franklin and the other Connecticut intruders, at Wyoming, Dr. Williamson says in the conclusion of a letter "I have taken the liberty of giving you a full information, as I cannot cease to feel myself interested in the peace and reputation of a state which gave me birth."
,
In the year 1786, he was one of the few delegates sent to Annapolis, to revise and amend the Articles of Confederation of the union; and in 1787, he was a delegate from North Carolina to the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. Dr. Williamson was a zealous advocate of the new Constitution and was a member of the state convention which adopted it. He served in the first and second Congresses, and then declined a re-election. In January, 1789, he married Miss Maria Apthorpe, of New York, where he came to reside, and had two sons, who both died young. He continued industriously to write on various philosophical subjects; was an advocate of the great New York canal system; an active promoter of philanthropic, literary, and scientific institutions; and in 1812, gave to the world his History of North Carolina.

After a long life devoted to the best interests of humanity, Dr. Hugh Williamson died suddenly, at New York, on the 22d of May, 1819, in the 85th year of his age. Of him it may safely be predicated, that he was an ornament to his country, and one of the most eminent and useful men which it has. yet produced. An interesting memoir of him was prepared and published by the distinguished Dr. Hosack, of New York, and has now a place in the transactions of the New York Historical Society.

Will of John Williamson, written 21 May, 1757

In the name of god Amen, I, John Williamson of Cumberland County, Cloather, beng very sick and weak of body but yet of sound mind, judgemtn and memory and calling to mind my own mortality and that it is appointed for all men  once to die, I dfo therefore maek and ordain this my last Will and Testament and first and above all I do committ my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a Decent and Christian manner at teh discretion of my heris, firmly belieiving the General Resurrection and the Reunion of soul and body and as for what worldly Goods it has Pleased God to bless me with in this life I do will and bequeath in Manner and Form follwoing, that is

1. first I will and bequeath to Mary my well beloved wife One Hundred pounds lawfull monie out of my personal estate and the use and benefit of my negro slave Ceasr during her widowhood and no longer also her living and maintenance upon either of my plantations at her choice during her widowhood and no longer, I also allow my Wife my best bed and furniture.

2. I will and bequeath to my son Hugh Fifty pounds lawfull money out of my estate and also my saddle horse

3. I willa nd bequeath to my son John all my right and property to that farm or Plantation which I purchased of the executors of George Reynolds estate in Lurgan township in said county with the implements and all teh tools eblonging to my said trade now in my property and possession.

4. I will and bequeath to my other two sons David and Samuel that place farm or plantation which I purchased of Colonel John Armstrong nea to John Mitchell's ny Connodiquinin Creek with all my full and whole right as my deed appears.

5. I will and bequeath to my daughter Rachel the use and benefit of my negro maid slave during her natural life and no longer and then said slave to return to my other daughter hereinafter mentioned in equal proportions.

6. I willa nd bequeath to my daughters Margaret and Mary to each of them One Hundred pounds lawfull to be paid out of my estate and if my salve Ceasr survives my wife's widowhood, then to return in equal proportion to my three sons David and Samuel and John, the right of purchase after value to be in John. Lastl seeign that at this present time the County s harassed with War, therefore if it so fall out that my sons John, David and Samuel cannot enjoy their lands for that the Country is Waster and Depopulated ny the Enemy, that then andin that case, I do Will that these males do fall in and share equally alike with their sisters Margaret and Mary, teh amles namely John, David and Samuel. Finally I appoint my well-beloved wife mary and my son Hugh to be Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. Also I appoint Thomas Willson of said county Esqr and Mr. David Magaw of Shippensburg to be Guardians over my infant childfren Revolking disallowing and Making Void all former or other Wills heruntofore made and Publishing Pronouncign and Declaring this to be my Last Will and testament bearing date this twenty-first day of May in the year of our lord One Thousand even Hundred and fifty Seven.

John Williamson