William was born about 1817 to James Akeroyd and Mary. He was baptised at St Bartholomew’s Church in Armley on 3 August 1817.

William married Hannah Robinson on 5 March 1840  at St Peter’s Church in Leeds, William was described as of “full age”, he was working as a Stone Merchant, just like his father.

Hannah and William had the following children:

  • Mary Elizabeth (1842- )
  • Anne (1846- )
  • Emily (1849-1885)
  • William Robinson (1852-1902)
  • Fanny (1855- )
  • Alice (1860- )

The 1851 Census shows that they were living in Chapel Allerton, possibly on Gledhow Lane. William was described as a “Stone Merchant employing 45 men” and 33 years old, Hannah was 28 years old.

The 1861 Census records William, Hannah and five of their children at Gledhow Wood. William was still a Stone Merchant now employing 90 men.

Hannah died on 12 August 1862 and was buried on 15 August in the Chapel Allerton churchyard.

William remarried on the 13 October 1864 at St John’s Church in Hackney, Middlesex to Mary Ann Farrar. Mary Ann’s father, William Farrar, was also a Stone merchant. William and Mary Ann had the following children:

  • Arthur Henry (1865- )
  • Alfred James (1867- )
  • Herbert Joseph (1871-1902)
  • Reginald Farrar (1874-1934)

The 1871 Census shows that William, Mary Ann and their six youngest children at the time were living in Gipton between Allerton House and Gipton Cottages. William was a “Quarry Owner & Stone Merchant employing 266 men and 37 Boys”.

According to the London Gazette of 2 August 1872, it looks like the brothers William, James, Joseph Backhouse and Richard Akeroyd worked together in a copartnership called “James Akeroyd and Sons” as Stone Merchants, and on 29 June 1872, Joseph retired from that copartnership:

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Copartnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, William Akeroyd, James Akeroyd, Joseph Backhouse Akeroyd, and Richard Akeroyd, as Stone Merchants or otherwise, at New Dock Wharf, Leeds, and at the Gipton, Harehills, and Morley Qaarries, near Leeds, all in the county of York, or elsewhere, under the style or firm of James Akeroyd and Sons, or otherwise, has been, and is, dissolved and determined by mutual consent, so far as regards the said Joseph Backhouse Akeroyd, who retires from the copartnership, as from the 29th day of June, 1872. And that the business will in future be carried on by the said William Akeroyd, James Akeroyd, and Richard Akeroyd, at the same places, and under the same style or firm, and they will receive and pay all accounts due to and owing from the said late firm. – As witness our hands this 26th day of July, 1872.
William Akeroyd. J. B. Akeroyd.
James Akeroyd. Richd. Akeroyd.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23882/page/3464/data.pdf

William died on 28 April 1880 and was buried in the church yard of St John’s Church in Roundhay.

Probate reads:

AKEROYD William 27 October. The Will of William Akeroyd formerly of Gipton Wood but late of Spring Wood both in the Parish of Leeds in the County of York Stone Merchant who died 28 April 1880 at Spring Wood was proved at Wakefield by Joseph Backhouse Akeroyd of Stockeld Park near Wetherby in the said County Coal Owner the Brother one of the Executors.
Personal Estate under £7,000.