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WINDS, William, soldier, born in Southhold, Long Island, New York, in 1727 ; died in Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey, 12 October, 1789. While yet a young man he fixed his residence in New Jersey, purchasing a large tract of land in Morris county, where, by reason of his wealth and natural abilities, he became a leader of the people, Hundreds of traditions are still repeated in relation to him, many of which are doubtless true, and all of which represent him as a man of great courage, as well as of rare physical and mental powers. He first became prominent at the age of thirty when he served as a captain in the brigade that was raised in New Jersey, in 1758, to aid in the conquest of Canada. Many stories are related of his exploits in the old French war, but they are not so fully authenticated as to give them a place in history. In 1765 he was one of the king's justices of the peace for Morris county, and it is said that in his official transactions he boldly resisted the enforcement of the stamp-act, substituting the bark of the white birch for the stamped paper, no one daring to call in question the validity of any legal instrument that he prepared on no matter what kind of material. In 1772 and 1775 he represented Morris county in the general assembly of New Jersey, and he was also chosen a delegate to the Provincial congress that assembled in New Brunswick in 1776. Under the first call for troops from New Jersey by this congress, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 1st battalion, '7 November, 1775, Lord Stifling being colonel. On 7 March, 1776, he was promoted colonel of the same, and on 4 March, 1777, he was made brigadier-general of militia. Under his first appointment he was stationed at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and while there held in his custody, as a prisoner, Governor William Franklin, the last of the royal governors of New Jersey. On being made brigadier-general, he was ordered to the north on the expedition against Canada, , and was among the few that survived that campaign. Subsequently he served in New Jersey.
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