Fort Pelham in Rowe was built by Williams before he left for Louisburg,
that is, in the spring of 1745; and in the autumn of that year we find
Capt. Ephraim Williams, a kinsman of the other, afterwards founder of
Williams College, in command of Fort Shirley and of the line of forts.
It is fair to presume that he was appointed to the command on the
withdrawal of the other in June; but which of the two built Fort
Massachusetts along the same line, or whether either of them, can not
now be stated with absolute certainty. It is probable that Ephraim
Williams saw to its construction under the Committee of the General
Court, of which Stoddard was Chairman; and at any rate he was in command
of the whole "line of Forts, viz. Northfield, Falltown, Colrain, Fort
Shirley, Fort Pelham, Fort Massachusetts, and the soldiers posted at the
Collars, Shattucks Fort, Bridgman's, Deerfield, Rhode Town, and New
Hampton," as early as Dec. 10, 1745. Just a year from that time he sends
in his account for the entire year,--"In which time he has had three
hundred and fifty men under his particular charge and government.
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