 Williams was the second son of Reginald Williams of Stoke by Nayland, and his second wife Sarah Dyke, daughter of Sir Thomas Dyke of Horsham, Sussex.He was a merchant in trade with Turkey and was said to be ‘the greatest exporter of cloth in England.He married by licence dated 8 March 1709, Mary Onslow, daughter of Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons.