William was the son of a lace maker Henry Tomlinson. In 1870, he married Harriet Spowage at Radford, Nottingham and they had the following children - Henry (b.1871), George (b.1873), James (b.1874), Ernest (b.1877), Elizabeth (b.1879), Sarah Ann (b.1881), Florence (b.1884), Albert (b.1886), Eleanor (b.1889) and William (b.1892).
In 1881, the family lived at 7, Russelll Place and in 1891 on Lambert Street (both Radford). By 1901, they had moved to 8, Goodall Street and by 1911 to 44, Oldknow Street, (both Hyson Green, Nottingham).
In 1891, Henry was a lace dresser, George a brass finisher, James a brass moulder and Ernest a lace hand. In 1901, Florence was a brass bobbin winder and Albert a dyer. By 1911, he, like William, worked as a lace carriage hand.
From newspaper references, it seems that William and Harriet moved to Rugby after Henry's death in 1912 aged 58. Ernest Tomlinson was boarding at Rugby in 1911 so they may have joined him following the death of Ernest's wife Alice aged 35 also in 1912. William's pension record cited Harriet Tomlinson as next of kin living at 20, James Street, Rugby.