Born 26 May 1854 as William Halfpenny at Gelsmoor, between Coleorton and Worthington. He was an illegitimate son of Ann Halfpenny, the father was John Bradford, whom Ann married in 1855, and William then took the name Bradford. He is not the William Bradford born 11 Nov 1853 at Measham, and he is not the William Halfpenny who died 4 May 1860 at Worthington aged 65. He was baptised 9 Jan 1859 at Whitwick St George, together with brother Thomas and sister Maria. William married Mary Ann Bodill 26 May 1874 at Ashby Baptist Chapel. They lived in Rotten Row, which was in Coleorton, even though the census returns included it in Thringstone. Today Rotten Row is Lower Moor Road, and runs south from Coleorton Post Office. Following Mary Ann Bodill's death in 1894, it is probable that William was the father of a series of illegitimate children by Ann Laban in the 1890s, before they married 13 May 1898 at Ashby Register Office. He died 27 May 1930 at Coalville.