Description:
Certificate of membership to American Bible Society presented to Ashley Williams (1775-1860) in 1855. The American Bible Society, an international agency under lay control, was formed in New York City in 1816 as a union of 28 local Bible societies “to encourage the wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures throughout the world, without note or comment, through translation, publication, distribution, and stimulation of use.” Early in its history it set as its goal the placing of a Bible in every home;.the Society also maintains an extensive archive of editions of the Bible at its headquarters. The top of the certificate has an illustration of Jesus standing in a temple looking at a large tome surrounded by crowds of people, over: "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; And they are they that testify of me. / John ch5.v39." The certifcate reads: "This is to certify / that Ashley Williams Hadley Mass / by virtue of a contribution of Thirty Dollars / made by His Grandchildren / is a Member for Life of the / American Bible Society / New York June 16th 1855." Ashley Williams was one of 14 children of William Williams (1734-1808) of Hatfield, the son of Israel Williams (1709-1788) and Sarah Chester Williams (1707-1770) of Hatfield, and Dorothy (Dolly) Ashley (1743-1833), the daughter of the Reverend Jonathan Ashley (1712-1780) and Dorothy Williams Ashley (1713-1808) of Deerfield. William and Dolly Williams (who were first cousins since William's father, Israel, was the brother of Dorothy Williams Ashley) married in 1763, lived in Hatfield, and moved to Dalton (east of Pittsfield) before 1784 where they both died. Deacon William William was elected selectman and assessor at the first town meeting after Dalton was incorporated in April, 1784; was appointed a trustee of Williams college in 1797; and was senator in the State legislature in 1800. Ashley Williams later returned to Hadley, Mass., where he was a farmer and married three times: Anna Smith (1780-1828) of Hadley in 1812, with whom he had three children; Nancy Edwards (1783-1833) in 1831; and Mary Dorrance (1782-1866) in 1834.
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