William Harper was born around 1851 in Wellington, Shropshire.

William married Sarah Ann Payton in 1871 in the Dudley Registration District.

He had the following children from his marriage to Sarah Ann Payton:

- Mary E. (Polly) Harper	born around 1872 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- William Harper	born around 1873 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Richard Harper	born in 1876 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Francis Thomas Harper	born on 30 September 1879 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Sarah Ann E. Harper	born in 1881 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Alfred Harper	born in 1883 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- John Harper	born around 1885 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Leonard Harper	born in 1889 in Bilston, Staffordshire.
- Harold Percival Harper	born in 1893 in Bilston, Staffordshire.

William was a Coal Miner and Charterman at a Colliery.

Details of William's death are not known.