Spotlight on:
Williamsport
NAMING WILLIAMSPORT by Lou Bernard
Williamsport is the county seat of Lycoming County, and both the city and the county were basically created at the same time. A settler named Michael Ross laid out Williamsport in 1795, the same year the county was founded. Not much is known about Michael Ross, but he made the first sale of lots on July fourth, 1796, and the city began.
Also not much is known about how Williamsport got its name. Or rather, there is information, but it’ s at least a three-way tie as to which story is correct.
J. F. Meginness’ s ' History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania ' says, " There has always been a difference of opinion …. regarding the origin of the name of Williamsport, and much has been said and written on the subject without a satisfactory conclusion.”
Michael Ross knew that the place was destined to be a port for the canals, which were largely under construction at the time, so he called it“ William’ s Port.” Who exactly William was is a big source of controversy. The descendants of Ross always claimed that he named the community after his own son, William.
Not so, said the descendants of local Judge William Hepburn. Hepburn, a state senator from Northumberland County, was instrumental in helping to create Lycoming, and initially, they say, Hepburn’ s Part was proposed as a name. The judge finally agreed to William’ s Port, in recognition of his efforts.
But this doesn’ t take into account the descendants of Joseph Williams, a surveyor who lived near the Wildwood Cemetery. Williams was a friend of Ross, and hired to lay out the new community. His family claimed that due to his work, Williamsport was named after him.
In his book, Meginness suggests that there may be some truth to all of this- that because all three were involved in the community, the name of“ William” was ultimately applied to the city. Which, short of forcing the descendants to battle it out, seems the fairest way to decide it.
- Lou Bernard is a local writer and can be reached at loulhpa @ gmail. com.
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