Mr William Edward Morris was born at 5 Marine Parade, Southampton on 25 March 1889.  He was the son of Salisbury-natives Alfred Morris (born 1835) and Jane Sheppard (born 1847) who began their family in Salisbury before moving to Southampton where they married in 1877.

His father would be described invariably on different census reports as a dock labourer or general labourer and later as a mess man in the merchant service. His mother, by the time of the 1911 census, was working as a "monthly nurse," that is, a post-partum nurse, it is unclear if she and her husband were still together at this time.  They are not listed together in either the 1901 or 1911 census.  The 1901 entry describes Alfred as a widower.  The 1911 census for Alfred Morris states they had nine children, five of whom were still alive by 1911. The entry for Jane Morris says ten children of whom five were living.  

William's known siblings were: Herbert (b. 1872), Elizabeth (b. 1874), Alfred (b. 1877), Louisa Jane (b. 1879), Rosina (b. 1882), George William (1885-1885) and Wilfrid Louis (1893-1893). Another one or two unidentified siblings apparently died in infancy. 

William would apparently live at 5 Marine Parade, Southampton all his life as per the 1891-1911 census returns. Prior to his birth and on the 1881 census, his family were living at 13 Marine Parade. By the time of the 1911 census William was described as an unmarried seaman in the merchant service. 

When Morris signed on to the Titanic on 6 April 1912, he gave his address as 5 Marine Parade, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Olympic and as a trimmer he could expect monthly wages of £5, 10s.

William Morris died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

His father died two years later in 1914 whilst his mother died a decade later in 1924.