William Sumner was born in about 1820 in Windle, Lancashire. He was the son of James and Elizabeth Sumner.
William became a farmer. He married Sarah Ashall in 1841, in a registrar-attended ceremony in Prescot district. According to the FamilySearch tree entry, their marriage was on 11 October 1841 in Portico, Lancashire (a Catholic church in what is now Eccleston, St Helens).
"England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2P-1QT : 22 May 2019), William Sumner in household of James Sumner, Prescot, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
"General Register Office: 1861 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/59035269e9379091b15c0c75 : viewed 6 May 2020), James SUMNER in household of William SUMNER, Moss Bank, St Helens, Lancashire, England; from 1861 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives RG 9/2747, Folio 45, Page 29, Schedule 123, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
"England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27L-T9QP : 13 December 2017), William Summer, Windle, Lancashire, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 22, Piece/Folio 3731/40, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,075.
"England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:77QY-XZM : 6 May 2019), William Sumner, Windle, St Helens, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 12, Lancashire county, subdistrict, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.