William Jennings Waymouth was the fifth child and fourth son of John Waymouth (accountant) and Ann (nee Blackman) of London and Auckland.   On 21 October 1858 the barque "William Watson" left London.   On board were John and Ann and their six surviving children.   William had his seventh birthday two months into the voyage.   The ship arrived in Auckland on 8 February 1859.
William completed his education in Auckland and took a position as a clerk in the city.   While on holiday in the Bay of Islands on 4 February 1869, William met with a fatal accident.   He was pitched from his horse while riding along the beach at Russell.   The horse's hoof sank into soft sand where a stream crossed the beach.   William had been staying with the American consul and was taken to his house but died four hours after the accident.   He was buried in the grave of the previous American consul, next to Christ Church, Russell.
The tablet on his grave was erected to his memory by his late employers and friends in Auckland.