William Eckley was born in Canon Pyon in 1844, the son of Robert Eckley (Agricultural Labourer) and his wife Eliza (nee Price). At 16 he was a general servant on a farm in Ivington, but in 1871 he was back living with his parents, working as an agricultural labourer.
He married Esther Mary Dean in January 1875. She was nine years his junior and, according to the 1891 census, she was deaf. They had nine children.
During the 1890s he acquired the tenancy of Pitch Farm two miles north west of Dilwyn. This was a considerable step up for an agricultural labourer.
He died in 1908, leaving £688, the equivalent of £80000 today. Esther died in 1934.
He gave one song to Ella Leather.