He was the son of Edward and Margaret. He married Elizabeth Trigwell (1850-1872). He remarried on 13/07/1890 in Bunbury to Harriet Agnes Trigwell (1859-). Agnes was born at Preston. William's wives were sisters and the daughters of Henry and Agnes Ann. William's children were Alfred Walter (1892-) and Ella Muriel Sophia (1902-). He was a Water policeman in Busselton from 1873-1874, then a Boatman 1875-1877. He was a member of the Church of England.