When William Foresman was born on 7 February 1799, in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States, his father, Samuel Foresman, was 43 and his mother, Mary Anderson, was 24. He married Susanna Fisher on 11 March 1824. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 3 daughters. He lived in Snow Shoe Township, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States in 1850 and Penn Township, Shelby, Illinois, United States for about 10 years. He died on 9 May 1887, at the age of 88, and was buried in Moweaqua, Shelby, Illinois, United States.