Stoughton, William definition of Stoughton, William in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Stoughton, William (stō`tən), 1631–1701, American colonial statesman. He was probably born in England but studied at Harvard (grad. 1650) before attending New College, Oxford (M.A., 1653). At the Restoration (1660) he was ejected from his fellowship at Oxford. He returned (1662) to Massachusetts Bay colony, where he became active in public life, serving as colonial assistant (1671–86). Between 1677 and 1679 he represented the colony in England in regard to the claims of the heirs of John Mason Masonian Proprietors. They issued settlement permits and land titles in the undeveloped parts of Mason's grant. The grant was redefined by the state in 1788.

Bibliography

See J. W. Dean, ed., Captain John Mason (1887, repr. 1972).
..... Click the link for more information. (1586–1635) and Sir Ferdinando Gorges Ferdinando Gorges, 1630–1718, in 1677 finally sold to Massachusetts all rights to Maine for £1,250.

Bibliography

See J. P. Baxter, ed., Sir Ferdinando Gorges and His Province of Maine (3 vol., 1890, repr. 1967); H. S.
..... Click the link for more information. . Stoughton was a member of the council of Gov. Edmund Andros Andros, Sir Edmund (ăn`drŏs), 1637–1714, British colonial governor in America, b. Guernsey.
..... Click the link for more information. but eventually joined the opposition. From 1692 to his death he was lieutenant governor of the colony, and for about five years of that time he served as acting governor. He presided with great severity at the Salem witchcraft trials (1692). Stoughton was one of the major early benefactors of Harvard College; Stoughton Hall was named for him.