Mr William Ford Kingscote was born during the second-half of 1864 in Slimbridge, Durlsey, Gloucestershire, England and later baptised on 3 July that year.

He was the son of James Kingscote (1830-1910), a waterman, and Sarah Ford (1828-1866). His father was from Berkeley, Gloucestershire and his mother from Chewton Mendip, Somerset and they married in 1857 and had at least two other children besides William: Harriet (b. 1858) and Amelia (b. 1860).

William's mother died before he reached his second birthday and his father was remarried to his wife's sister Harriet (1830-1909). He first appears on the 1871 census with his father and stepmother living at Shepherds Patch, Slimbridge, Durlsey, Gloucestershire; his father was still a waterman and his stepmother a shopkeeper. He doesn't appear on the 1881 census but his father and step-mother are listed as residing at 6 Church Street, South Hamlet, Gloucestershire. 

On the 1891 census William is listed as an employee at the Grand Hotel, Manchester. Before that, however, he had already commenced a long career at sea and first appears on crew records throughout 1890 when he was a steward aboard City of New York. 

On 30 April 1892 in St Marys Church, Kirkdale William married Mary Willis (b. 1865 in Wiltshire, daughter of Isaac and Harriet Willis); they would have five children: Elsie (b. 1893), Lilian May (b. 1896), Robert William (b. 20 March 1898), Winifred (b. 1899) and Ethel Emily (b. 26 June 1910). 
William would be absent from both the 1901 and 1911 censuses but his family are living at Purbeck Cottage, Elgin Road, Freemantle and 24 Elgin Road, Freemantle respectively at these times.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912 Kingscote gave his address as 24 Elgin Road, Freemantle, Southampton. His previous ship had been the New York and as a first class steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s. 

William Kingscote died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. 

His estate, valued at £84, 9s, 4d was administered to his widow on 14 September 1912. He is remembered on the family headstone in Southampton's Old Cemetery.

His widow Mary did not remarry and remained in Southampton, later at 245 Foundry Lane where she died on 23 March 1939 aged 74.
William's daughter Winifred died two years after the disaster aged 14. His daughter Elsie was married in 1936 to Thomas J. Dulley but is not known to have any children; she died in Fareham, Hampshire on 7 September 1961.  Daughter Lilian May never married and remained in Southampton where she died on 29 August 1966. His son Robert William later became a ship's steward and later married Daisy Carson in 1940; he died in Southampton in 1972. Williams youngest child Ethel Emily married a man named Blackman and had two daughters. She died in Southampton in 1993.