William Horrocks was born in Wheelton in 1881, living with his parents at 2 Bennett Road in the village, according to the 1901 Census; he worked as a printer in a Calico Works.
William married Florence Haynes at Chorley in 1907 and was on the 1911 Census living at 32 Bury Lane in Withnell; they had four daughters, all born in Withnell – Vera (1908), Amy (1912), Hilda (1913) and Hannah (1915).
William’s two brothers James and Frank worked at Withnell Fold Paper Mill and served in the war.