Chelsea's first elected African American City Councilor was Captain William James Williams.

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Captain William James Williams, born September 23, 1863. Williams came to Chelsea at the age of 1 during one of the first black waves from Toronto with his parents. Williams attended Phillipa Exeter Academy and finally Harvard Law School where he received his degree in 1889. The Captain, as he was known, broke the color line in the turn of 20th Century, was one of Boston’s remarkable attorneys and maintained a practice in Pemberton Square in Boston.

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He became the first African American elected to the Chelsea Board of Aldermen in 1900. He finished his education at Phillips Exeter and Harvard Law School then opened a law office in Boston.

 

He made a successful run for Alderman at large for years from 1900 to 1908 and again from 1911 to 1919. He died on October 11, 1924, where he is buried at Woodlawn cemetery in Everett, MA.  A picture of Captain Williams is on the walls of Chelsea City Hall.

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Captain William J. Williams joined the Massachusetts Militia in 1891, shortly after he was appointed to command Company "L, an all colored unit. Captain Williams was known to be the first colored man to enter the Massachusetts all volunteer Militia with a Captain's commission, Captain Williams was a "Buffalo Soldier."

 

Captain Williams led "Company L" the all colored unit during the Spanish American War fighting in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

 

Captain Williams died in 1924 from typhoid fever he contracted in the Caribbean during the war.