William may be adopted, possibly the child of a relative. He was not listed with the family in the 1870 census, and the gap between the birthdates of John and Barbara is a bit tight. But he was listed as a son in the 1880 census.

Bond recorded in Rowan County marriage book 1, p. 198, issued 28 Dec 1888, surety by D. G. Ham, with note attached “nowe ye by thies presents that I have give my concent for Wm C Cornett to obtain licens for matrimony with my nam on them Marget Mcroberts”. Marriage register A, p. 21, records the marriage as having taken place on 29 Dec 1888.