 When his father retired from the fur trade and he brought his wife and their children from British Columbia to Red River just after the amalgamation of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company.William married Jemima McKenzie the daughter of the well-known fur trader, Roderick McKenzie.William was appointed Sheriff of Assiniboia in 1851 (after his father resigned from the post) and was appointed Post Master for Red River in 1855 by the Council of Assiniboia.