According to the Cutler's Company third set of ordinances, his own mark, a capital TB written with a common staff to form a merged letter, had been assigned to him by the time he was twenty-six years old in 1614. Was included again in the list of cutlers prepared in 1624 when the company incorporated, and he was a master cutler, but at no time was he a Master Cutler or president of the company.

Backhouse in England
After his first wife died, he was left with two sons and three daughters. He migrated to CT Colony and settled in Saybrook. The town then adjoined New London, but Lyme, East Lyme, and Waterford later developed in between. Although town records for Saybrook before 1660 do not exist, a few items of earlier date were entered between subsequent entries. One such entry for a Saybrook town meeting of 1648 recorded William Backus Sr.'s presence among twelve men assigned land across the CT River in the area that later became Lyme. There is no other reference to him in the town records, but his son, William Backus Jr. signed as a witness to a Saybrook will 11 Sept 1659.

Baccus, William (d. 1664) from England with his two sons William and Stephen, in the "Rainbow" 1637 to Saybrook, CT a founder of Norwich, 1659 m. Sarah Chodes; m. 2nd before 1660, Ann ___ (widow of Thomas Bingham).1

Completed his apprenticeship in 1627 and his name likewise appeared on the list of cutlers prepared at the time of and shortly after the company incorporation in 1624. His mark was a W directly over a B

Will dated 12 June 1661 which he signed with his mark of W directly over a B. He provided for both his "loving unto me" and "careful over me" wife, Ann Bingham Backus, and Thomas Bingham as well as his children by his first wife. His home lot in Norwich was never recorded in his name, but rather in the name of his son, Stephen Backus. The Sr. William Backus inventory, recorded 7 June 1664, included cutlers tools and ivory. Will proved at New London, 21 Jun 1665.87