When William Arthur Pettit was born on 29 December 1860, in Wallingford, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, William Pettit, was 28 and his mother, Sophia Arthur, was 22. He married Jessie Ann Anderton on 19 April 1887, in Saint Johns Wood, London, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1880, his occupation is listed as dry goods of drapery, farmer. He died on 16 August 1904, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the age of 43, and was buried in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.