March 8th, 1785

The Massachusetts General Court grants the charter to establish the Free School in Williamstown.

By the act, or charter, the ‘Trustees of the Donation of Ephraim Williams, Esq., for Maintaining a Free-School in Williamstown’ are appointed to erect a school “for the instruction of youth, in such manner as most effectually to answer the pious, generous and charitable intention of the testator”, i.e. Ephraim Williams, Jr.