In 1817, he voyaged to the Society Islands, and remained in the South Seas until 1834, when he returned to Britain to supervise the printing of his translation of the New Testament into the Raratongan language.
In 1817, he voyaged to the Society Islands, establishing a station on the island of Raiatea. Williams returned to Britain in 1834 to supervise the printing of his translation of the New Testament into the Raratongan language.