William Brown was the son of James Brown of Cononsyth, Angus, and his wife Mary. James had five children: Andrew (1784-1847), James (1785-1869), John (1790-1848), William (b.1791) and Mary (b.1796). In 1816 three of the brothers, James, John and William, purchased 'East Mill' a flax spinning mill at West Ward, Dundee, about which William wrote his essay and remarks.