William was a Sheffield “little mester” manufacturing table and carving knives in the Sharrow area of Sheffield. In the Industrial Exhibition of 1885 he won first prizes for his grinding of table knives and carvers (see Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, 30 June 1885). William also ran a grocery business at 53 Lansdowne Road, which was licensed to sell beer. The family later moved to 78 Langdon Street.

William had at least 16 children.

He was buried in Sheffield General Cemetery. By the time of his death in December 1896, William had become rather portly, and his grave was found to be too narrow for the coffin. The mourners had to return to the chapel and wait while the grave diggers hacked at the frozen sides of the grave.

Information courtesy of Andrew Bertie, great-grandson of William Brameld