after 1828, william and his partner john badgley were in the dry goods trade, and advertisements of iron pots, bake ovens, coal ovens, potash kettles, sheet iron and rosin were their staple, as well as foreign alcohols like granada rum, cognac and bordeaux brandy. in partnership with his father, he operated the st mary's foundry, and did supply tools for the construction of the rideau canal. in 1831 the foundry was leased to bennet & henderson and it was the site of the furnishing of the "royal william", after her hull had been built in quebec. william would later prove himself as more a salesman than a plant operator.