William Robinson Stephens was born in a time of transition for his family. When he was a babe in arms, his parents left Orange county, VA for the Abbeville District of South Carolina with a sizable contingent of Wallers, Stephens & others. They were hoping to find better land and start anew after the trials of the Revolution. But alarming problems were encountered. Typhoid killed both old and young and ruined the health of even the strongest. The new settlers were often met with savage violence as the native tribes resisted what they realized was a wholesale invasion of their lands. About 1805 William's grandfather, old Benjamin Stephens went to South Carolina saying he would "bring them out."

The escaping family did not return to Virginia, but went instead to Kentucky. In family lore is a story told by a bright slave, Milly. Little William Robinson Stephens was almost four. Clearly the arduous trip through the Cumberland Gap was too much for him. He became overly attached to Milly, failing to cooperate with others. When family took him over he would rebel with all his might, screaming. Finally his grandfather, Old Mr. Stephens told him if he would be a good boy he would buy him a goat and a blue cradle, which was a crude cart. This only made him cry lustily for his "boo tradle and yote", as he called them. His grandfather then resorted to sterner methods. As Milly reported, "He turned up that boy's dress and painted him with the flat of his hand."

Billy was raised in Boone county, Kentucky and purchased a farm in the East Bend neighborhood.

Agnes Nelson Stephens, his first cousin, became his bride on 15 Nov 1822 in Campbell county, Kentucky. They moved to Monroe county, Missouri in 1837, living close to Agnes' parents. Four of their children lived to adulthood.

Not Linked: BENJAMIN WILLIAM STEPHENS: 9 Apr 1840. He m. Theodosia Ann Doyle & died in Missouri