Final answer:
John Williams could have lost his property through confiscation during loyalist property seizures, through bankruptcy following economic downturns, or as a military measure against traitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'How did John Williams lose his property?' can be answered through understanding historical contexts. During certain periods in history, properties were confiscated for various reasons. For instance, in 1784, loyalist properties were sometimes confiscated, although the specific case of John Williams is not detailed herein. Additionally, property could be lost through bankruptcy, as was the case during economic downturns where banks seized farms from defaulted loans. Another historical instance mentions property being confiscated as a military measure against traitors. These contexts provide a general background as to how an individual named John Williams could have lost property in different historical scenarios.