William Henry was the son of Joseph and Emma Evans (née Jepson).
His father Joseph, was born in Sutton in Ashfield, in 1870, the son of Thomas and Harriet Evans (née Haslam). In 1891 Joseph, a coal miner, was living in Sutton in Ashfield with his parents and his three siblings.
His mother Emma was born in Stanton Hill in about 1873, and was probably the daughter of Edward and Mary Jepson.
Joseph and Emma were married at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene on 14 April 1895. By 1911 they had had eight children, seven of whom were still living: Ernest b. Sutton in Ashfield, William Henry b. Sutton in Ashfield 1897 bap. St Mary Magdalene 22 October 1897, Arthur Herbert b. Sutton in Ashfield, Samuel b. Bolton Yorkshire, Eliza Jane b. Danaby Main Yorkshire, Joseph b. Danaby, Mary Lizzie b. Brodsworth Yorkshire. Their fourth child, Harriet, died in 1903 (birth reg. Doncaster 1903) and they probably had another daughter, Louisa, in 1912 (reg. Doncaster).
Joseph and Emma were living on Lord Street, Sutton in Ashfield, when their eldest son, Ernest was baptised in October 1895 and on Phoenix Street when William was baptised two years later.
Neither Joseph or Emma, nor any of their children, have yet been traced on the 1901 Census but the birth of the fourth child, Harriet, was registered in the Doncaster registration district in 1903.
In 1911 Emma, described on the census as 'wife', was living in Woodlands, Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster, with her children Ernest (15) a pony driver, William (13) a labourer, Arthur (11), Samuel (9), Eliza Jane (6), Joseph (5) and Mary (1). They were living in the household of Thomas Evans (b. Sutton), a miner, and his wife Harriet; Thomas was probably Emma's brother-in-law. Her husband Joseph has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census.
William was living at Stanton Hill when he enlisted. Both his parents were his legatees and were living in Stanton Hill. Joseph probably died in 1933.