Pompey Williams was born around 1849 in North Carolina. Williams worked as a laborer who resided in Forsyth County, North Carolina. Williams was charged with larceny on May 11, 1874, and sentenced to four years in the North Carolina State Penitentiary. Williams was recorded in the North Carolina State Penitentiary's Descriptive Register for the Years 1869-1884 as prisoner number 874. In his sentencing records, Williams’ race is noted as "colored." Williams was twenty-five years old when he was arrested. He was noted as being able to read. During his incarceration, Williams was leased to the Western North Carolina Railroad Company to work on railroad construction. He was discharged from the railroad on January 17, 1878.