He lost his semi-invalid mother, who suffered from Bright's disease, when he was 18; and, even though his father was still alive and maintained a large house staffed with servants, Bill was sent a few houses away to live with a maiden aunt.
Perdeu a súa nai semiinválida, que sufría de doenza de Bright, cando tiña dezaoito anos, e aínda que o seu pai estaba vivía e mantiña unha gran casa con serventes, Bill foi enviado a vivir coa súa tía solteira.