John Williams, son of Elijah (1712-1771), was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Harvard College in 1769. He practiced law in Salem, Massachusetts, until 1773, when he returned to Deerfield both to practice law and to help his sister, Eunice, run a store for general merchandise. He was suspected of being loyal to the British crown, was jailed but not proscribed, and went on to an active political career, serving in many public offices in the town of Deerfield. He was the key benefactor of Deerfield Academy in its early years.