William, along with another man, was pilloried for attempted sodomy.

"A vast Concourse of People had assembled upon the Occasion, many by Seven O'clock in the Morning, who had collected dead Dogs, Cats, &c in great abundance, which were plentifully thrown at them; but some Person threw a Stone and hit the Coachman on the Forehead, and immediately he dropped on his Knees... dead."

Source: the "Daily Advertiser newspaper", April 11, 1780, taken from Fone, B. Homophobia: A History. Henry Holt, 2000. p. 253