William Nevyus was born around 1792 in New Jersey. He married Jane Dunlap, and they had at least two children: Peter, born around 1825; and Wilson, born around 1838. They lived in Pulteney, New York, and Nevyus worked as a farmer. By 1850, he owned $2,500 of real estate. A decade later, he owned $2,500 of real estate and $700 of personal property, and he employed at least one “house servant.” He died in New York on August 30, 1863.