William Earnshaw was the seventh child of Thomas Earnshaw & Jane Turnbull born 1867 at Dawdon & christened November 6th, 1867 at St John's, Seaham, Co Durham.
In 1871 the family was living at Haswell Colliery & William had 5 brothers & a sister.
In 1881 William was still living at home, now Elemore Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham. At the age of 13 he was employed as a general labourer.
The family were still at Elemore Lane in 1891 & William was now a pit labourer.
William married Martha Ann Fenwick in April-June 1893 at Houghton, Co Durham. Martha was born Jan-March 1867 at Brecon Hill, Co Durham, the daughter of Ann Gardener & John Fenwick, a general labourer. Martha Ann was a dressmaker at the time of the 1891 census.
In 1901 William & Martha Ann were living at Victoria St, Hetton-le-Hole with Martha’s widowed mother Ann, aged 69, & Martha’s brother Joshua Fenwick, a colliery banksman. William was a colliery labourer below ground.
By 1911 William & Martha Ann had moved to 5 Park View, Hetton-le-Hole & William was now a colliery labourer working at the surface. Boarding with them was Joshua Fenwick, Martha's brother, a colliery banksman.
Martha died at 5 Park View & was buried on February 6th, 1925, aged 57, at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole, Co. Durham.
William of 5 Park View, Hetton-le-Hole died in 1930 & was buried on September 18th at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole.