Arthur John Williams was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England in early 1870 and was later baptised on 20 February that year in St Silas' Church. He was the son of Edward Williams (b. 1837), a mariner, and Mary Ann Robinson, née Lennet (b. 1835).

Both his parents were Liverpudlian and had married on 3 September 1860 in St Philips Church. His mother had previously been married and widowed but the circumstances of that relationship are unclear. Arthur had four known siblings: Edward (b. 1861), Emma (b. 1864), William (b. 1871) and Margaret (b. 1874).

Arthur first appears on the 1871 census and at that time he and his family are living at 17 Pulford (?) Street in Kirkdale, West Derby but would be living at 35 Brownlow Street, Liverpool by the time of the 1881 census. Absent from the 1891 census and perhaps already at sea, Arthur's family were by then living at 17 Black Bull Lane, Kirkdale.

Arthur was married in St Chrysostom Church, Everton on 21 April 1896 to Ellen Beck (b. 1865 in Liverpool) but the couple would have no children.

Arthur and his wife appear on the 1901 census living at 35 Eton (?) Street in Walton, Liverpool and he is described then as a ship's steward. By the time of the 1911 census Arthur and Ellen had moved to 52 Peter Road in Walton.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Arthur gave his address as 52 Peter Road, Walton. As a storekeeper he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. His last ship had been the Celtic.

Arthur Williams died in the disaster. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His effects, worth £270, 13s, 6d were administered to his widow Ellen on 5 September 1912.

Arthur John Williams is remembered on the family headstone in Anfield cemetery Liverpool, England (section C/E 3, plot 1020).

Arthur John, the beloved husband of Ellen Williams who was lost at sea through the foundering of the SS Titanic 14th April 1912 "Memory is the only friend that grief can call its own"