William came of an ancient English family. At the age of 23 he left England on April 8. 1637. He was a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade and dame here as an apprentice to Samuel Dix, Carpenter and joiner of Norwich, England. William settled in Ipswich, MA, being a proprietor in 1642, and mentioned as selling land to William Knolton there before 12 Feb 1643. On 8 May 1649, he bought of Henry Archer, a farm of 90 acres lying beyond Chebacco Falls, now in the town of Essex, MA.

He was a commoner, and in 1648 subscribed to the Denison Fund. He was a voter in Ipswich in 1679, and called 'Senior'. He was a Freeman in 1656, but did not take the oath then. He owned a share of Plum Island and was a surveyor of highways in 1662. In 1671 he had permission to have a mill on the Chebacco River built, but many years before, he was appointed to prevent persons cutting down trees on the south side of the river. On 29 Mar 1653, he was a Trial Juror, as well as in 1676. In 1669, he was a Grand Juror. His service in King Philip's War is not specified, but his wages were assigned to Ipswich. He signed the Loyalist list in 1668, also the Proctor petition.

In 1693 William divided property between his sons William, Seth, and Samuel. His family all lived to extreme old age, married and had large families with many descendants.80