WILLIAMS, WILLIAM (1800-78) was born in Nottingham, the youngest son of Thomas Williams and brother of Henry Williams (q.v.). He was educated for the medical profession, but changed his mind and went to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. (1825). Having decided later to follow his brother Henry to the mission field in New Zealand, he read for holy orders and resumed his studies in medicine, walking the hospitals in London. He was ordained by the Bishop of London in 1825, and appointed to New Zealand by the Church Missionary Society. He arrived in Bay of Islands on 25 Mar 1826.

The next eight years Williams spent at Paihia. His first duty was as a philologist to study the Maori language and reduce it to grammatical forms, as a prelude to the translation of the Scripture. He compiled A Dictionary of the New Zealand Language and a Concise Grammar which was published at Paihia in 1844, and afterwards revised by Maunsell and W. L. Williams (q.v.). When it was decided to expand the mission in New Zealand, he volunteered to open the new station on the Thames; and after establishing the station at Mangapouri he returned to take charge of the school at Waimate, where he taught classics to many of the children of the elder missionaries. He also took his part in the practical work of building and construction which was so important a feature of native education. In 1833 Williams went in the Active to return some Ngati-Porou people to East Cape. They were foiled by contrary winds. In Dec he went again in the Fortitude, and after calling at the Thames landed his charges at Hicks Bay (8 Jan 1834). He held a service at Rangitukia and Whakawhitira, and noted the desire of the people for a mission to be opened. In Jan 1838 he visited the district with Colenso, Stack and Matthews, landing at Hicks Bay and travelling overland to Poverty Bay. In Nov Henry Williams stationed native teachers at Waiapu and Poverty Bay. The arrival of Richard Taylor (q.v.) freed W. Williams to form a new station at Poverty Bay, and he paid another visit in Apr 1839, fixing the site for the mission. Eventually he brought his family from Waimate and landed at Poverty Bay in Jan 1840, taking charge of the East Coast from Hicks Bay to Cape Palliser. He found the natives well prepared by native teachers placed amongst them since 1834, and the mission made immediate and rapid progress. In Jun 1842 Williams met Bishop Selwyn at Bay of Islands, and he returned to his station reinforced by the Rev W. C. Dudley. Shortly afterwards Williams was appointed an archdeacon (1843). In the Historical Records is a graphic account of the progress of Williams's mission in these years. Following the charges made against his brother Henry and the decision of the C.M.S. dismissing him from the service, Williams went to England in the Wesleyan schooner John Wesley to vindicate the mission. He was in England from Apr 1851 to Oct 1852, and was successful in causing the Society to pass an exculpatory resolution. He also published his Maori translation of the New Testament and Prayer Book, and had conferred upon him by Oxford University, in recognition of his services and attainments, the degree of D.C.L. (1851).

Returning to New Zealand, he devoted his attention rather more to literary work and produced in 1867 his Christianity among the New Zealanders. Williams was soon faced with the necessity of removing the mission from Tauranga to Waerenga-a-hika (1856-57). When the diocese of New Zealand was divided, Selwyn invited him to assume the bishopric of Waiapu, and he was consecrated to it in Apr 1859. Keeping his headquarters at Poverty Bay, he gathered about him a large establishment consisting of divinity students' and boys' and girls' schools (the personnel numbering about 130). Here he pursued his labours with success until Hauhau agents entered the district (1865). The arrival of troops to suppress the rising was the signal for an outbreak which necessitated the closing of the schools; the premises were sacked by the Hauhau and the library destroyed (1865). Williams retired to Paihia with many of his students and remained there two years. In 1867, with the permission of Bishop Abraham, he took up his quarters in Napier, which was about to be severed from the Wellington diocese and made the Cathedral city. On the fiftieth anniversary of his arrival in New Zealand, he suffered a stroke from which he did not recover (1876). He accordingly resigned the see and lived in retirement in Napier until 9 Feb 1878.

Williams married in 1825 Jane Nelson. Their family of nine included Bishop W. L. Williams (q.v.).

Carleton; Jacobs, Colonial Church Histories; New Zealand; N.Z. Herald, 11 Feb 1878; Hawkes Bay Herald, 12 Feb 1878.

Reference: Volume 2, page 261

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