William Cogswell Bill was a farmer, conveyancer

Conveyancer

In Commonwealth countries, a conveyancer is a specialist lawyer who specialises in the legal aspects of buying and selling real property, or conveyancing. A conveyancer can also be a solicitor, licensed conveyancer, or a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.In the United Kingdom,...

 and political figure in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

, Canada. He represented Kings County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

 from 1878 to 1882 and from 1886 to 1890 as a Liberal

Liberal Party of Nova Scotia

The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia, Canada.-Origins:The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government...

 member.

He was born in Billtown, Nova Scotia

Billtown, Nova Scotia

Billtown is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Kings County.-References:*...

, the son of Caleb Rand Bill

Caleb Rand Bill

Caleb Rand Bill was a member of the Canadian Senate.Born in Billtown, Nova Scotia, a town founded by his ancestors, he was a farmer before entering politics. In 1828, he married Rebecca Cogswell. He represented Kings County from 1855 to 1859 and the northern region of Kings County from 1863 to...

 and Rebecca Cogswell, and educated at the Horton Academy in Wolfville

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Wolfville is a small town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. As of 2006, the population was 3,772....

. In 1853, he married Ethelinda A. Dodge; after his first wife's death, he married her sister Arabella in 1864. Bill was also a justice of the peace

Justice of the Peace

A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...

. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1882.