Editing Williamson, New York (section)

==History==
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The area around [[Pultneyville, New York|Pultneyville]] — a [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] on the town's Lake Ontario shore – was a frequent meeting ground for Iroquois people. In 1788, the area became part of the [[Phelps and Gorham Purchase]], a {{convert|6000000|acre|km2|adj=on}} tract of land sold to [[Oliver Phelps (politician)|Oliver Phelps]] and [[Nathaniel Gorham]] by the [[Commonwealth of Massachusetts]].

The first white settler, Daniel Russell, built a [[log cabin]] in Pultneyville in 1794. This hamlet briefly enjoyed prominence as one of the few ports in the area until the opening of the [[Erie Canal]] in the southern part of the county in 1823. It did continue to be an important [[Great Lakes]] port, however, well into the 19th century.

Williamson was created in 1802 from the [[Sodus (town), New York|Town of Sodus]] and originally was much larger than its present-day borders. Later, other towns were created from parts of Williamson, including: [[Ontario, New York|Ontario]] in 1807 and [[Marion, New York|Marion]] in 1825. Until relatively recently, Williamson was a dry town.

In 1814, during the [[War of 1812]], [[United Kingdom|British]] troops landed in Pultneyville, and an agreement was made with the villagers allowing the invaders to seize some stores without resistance, but a dispute broke out and weapons fire began on both sides. A few citizens were killed or wounded and two were taken prisoner as the British fled.

In 2002, Williamson celebrated the bicentennial of its founding with celebrations and festivals throughout the year.