William Josiah Tilson (August 13, 1871 – May 26, 1949) was briefly a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and was a Judge of the United States Customs Court.

[1] Tilson received a recess appointment from President Calvin Coolidge on July 6, 1926, to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, to a new seat authorized by 44 Stat.

[1] Tilson received a second recess appointment to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia from President Coolidge on March 5, 1927, to the seat vacated by himself.

His service terminated on March 19, 1928, due to his resignation to accept a judgeship on a different court.

[1] Tilson was nominated by President Coolidge on February 6, 1928, to an Associate Justice seat (Judge from June 17, 1930) on the United States Customs Court vacated by Associate Justice William Barberie Howell.