William Backhouse was a son of John and Margaret (nee Longbottom) Backhouse, born in Yorkshire, England on 7 May 1779, and died in Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, Canada West on 19 Aug 1864.

William's first marriage was in Walsingham Township on 19 May 1805, to Hannah McMichael, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (nee McAlister) McMichael, born in New Jersey in Mar/Apr 1787, died in Walsingham Township on 13 Feb 1849.
William's second marriage was on 3 Dec 1849, to Rebecca Lamson, born in New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts c. 1788, and died in Simcoe, Norfolk County on 27 Oct 1873.
William and Hannah are interred together in Backus Cemetery, Walsingham Township.

William Backhouse went with his parents to New Jersey in 1791, then in 1794 to Grantham Township Lincoln County, and finally to Walsingham Township, Norfolk County in September 1796. Hannah came with her parents to Walsingham Township in 1795.

William initially settled on his father’s 200 acre Crown Grant in Lot 23, Concession 2, Walsingham Township on the north side of Lakeshore Road about a half mile west of the village of St. Williams and two miles east of his father’s mills north of Port Rowan.

William Backhouse served as a Justice of the Peace in the London District and continued when it was succeeded by the Talbot District in 1841.
William left the Anglican faith and joined the Methodist Church, where Hannah was a member.

William and Hannah had 13 children together, as follows:
- Elizabeth Backhouse (Nov. 29, 1807 - May 7, 1898)
- Margaret L. Backhouse (Sept. 1, 1809- Jan. 6, 1887)
- George Henry Backhouse (Apr. 11, 1813 - Nov. 11, 1897)
- Jane Moore Backhouse (1814 - Aug. 20, 1892)
- Hannah Backhouse (Jan. 4, 1817 - Dec. 30, 1887)
- John Alexander Backhouse (Feb. 9, 1819 - May 11, 1876)
- James Jackson Backhouse (Nov. 9, 1820 - Feb. 1, 1855)
- Edward McMichael Backhouse (Oct. 14, 1822 - Sept. 15, 1903)
- Jemima (Mima) Maria Backhouse (Nov. 5, 1823 - April 14, 1911)
- Eleanor Backhouse (Apr. 27, 1825 - Oct. 8, 1912)
- Amelia Eaton Backhouse (May 4, 1826 - Jan. 31, 1911)
- Mary Ann Backhouse (Aug. 18, 1828 - July 2, 1875)
- Matilda T. Backhouse (Dec. 20, 1832 - Dec. 10, 1926)