Killed in a battle with Indians on the Georgia-Florida border in 1812, he was originally buried by his men in Georgia and eventually moved to Arlington National Cemetery, under a private memorial consisting of separate rocks in Section 1. Around the rocks is enscribed the following:

"Here lie the remains of John Williams, late a Captain in the Corps of Marines who was born in Stafford County, Virginia on the 24th of August 1785 and who died on the 29th of September 1812 at Camp New Hope in East Florida. On 29 September 1812, the Captain, on patrol with a command of twenty men to Davis Creek Block-House in East Florida, was attacked towards evening by upwards of 350 Indian and Negroes who lay concealed in the woods. He instantly gave battle gallantly supported by his men, who inspired by his animating example fought as long as they had a cartridge left. At length, bleeding under eight galling wounds, and unable to stand, he was carried off the battlefield whilst his heroic little band prefesed by superior numbers was forced to retreat. Emminently charactercised by cool intrepedity, Captain Williams, envined, during this short but severe contest, those military requisites, which qualify the officer for command and if his sphere of action was too limited to attract the admiration of the world,it was suficiently expanded to crown his with the approbation of his country, and to addied to his breathern in arms, an example as highly useful, as his exit was sealed with honor the life of a patriot-soldier. The body of the deceased was removed to this spot over which bis brother officers of the United States Marine Corps, having used this pile to be entered in testimony of his worth and their eternal dmiration of his gallant end."

Williams, John, Capt