William was the sixth of seven children of John and Mary HARRIS, as recorded on the family's page in the Quaker Registers. He was born on 6 Jun 1706 at 'Charlcuth'. His younger sister Sarah was also born at 'Charlecuth' in 1709.

It is not entirely clear where 'Charl(e)cuth' was, but the best guess is Charlecote, to the east of Stratford-upon-Avon - about 16 miles NE of Chipping Campden - however if that is correct then what prompted the relocation?

There was a baptismal record for a William HARRIS, son of John HARRIS, at the Parish Church of Chipping Campden, dated in that register as 25 Nov 1705. My suspicion is that the Quaker record is inaccurate and should read 1705. If this baptism is correct then it creates further doubt about Charlecote being 'Charl(e)cuth', as William was born in Charlcuth, William was baptized in Chipping Campden then Sarah was born in Charlecuth.