Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/314

310 died the year of his graduation; and the family having previous to this moved to Shippensburgh, Williamson made this his resi- dence until 1759 when he went to Connecticut to prosecute his theological studies, where he was licensed to preach, and afterwards returning to Pennsylvania was admitted a member of the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia. His health however was not robust ; and he was unable to undertake any stated ministerial duty. We find him again resuming his connection with his College. At the meeting of the Trustees on 13 January, 1761, the President acquainted the Trustees that notwithstanding that repeated advertisements had been published in the Gazette of the want of a Pro- fessor of Mathematics in the Academy, and he had wrote to some of his acquaintances in the other Colonies to enquire if there was any fit person, and that Dr. Smith had likewise made enquiry in Maryland, and Dr Alison at Boston and other Places thro' which they had travelled in the Vacation, yet no one properly qualified could be heard of. In this exigency Dr. Smith had wrote to the Rev'd Hugh Williamson one of the late Ushers in the Latin School (who was known to have made a considerable Progress in the Mathematics, and being lately ordained among the Dissenters yet at present was not in the Exercise of his Function) to know if he would undertake the Care of that School, upon which Letter he now waited upon the Trustees and made a tender of his services, which were accepted and in case he should upon tryal give Satisfaction, he is to receive One Hundred and Twenty five pounds per annum to commence from the Day on which he shall take the Charge of the School. In this duty he continued less than three years, and at the meeting of 8 November, 1763 : desiring admittance he came in and acquainted the Trustees that he could not continue much longer in the care of the Mathematical School, having disposed of himself some other way, he requested they would as soon as conveniently they could, provide a Master for it. And action was had looking to this provision, at the meet- ing of 13 December "Professor Williamson still expressing a desire to be dismissed." But he filled out the College term, and parted from his duties 10 May, 1764. His mathematical and other studies made no obstacle to his engaging with interest in provincial politics ; and having his interest enlisted on the Proprietaries' side, probably from sympathy with the Provost's views, he replied on their behalf in a pamphlet to Franklin's