Samuel Cox, celebrated as the "Father of Williamsburg," was the city's first resident and founder and was instrumental in Williamsburg becoming the Whitley County seat of government. He donated land for a courthouse and offered lots for sale for the formation of the city, and his home served as the first school, circuit court, and courthouse. Given 100 acres by the state of KY for his service in the Revolutionary War, Cox settled here for the abundance of clean water and lived here with his wife Martha and their eight children. The city was known as Spring Ford, Cox's Crossing, Whitley Courthouse, Williamsburgh, and eventually Williamsburg.