He was born on May 23, 1823, in Georgia. William J. Formby married Christian Ann Formby on Sept. 27, 1842 in Newton County, Georgia by John Johnson, J. P., per copy of marriage license. They lived 12 miles from Rome, Georgia. He and his wife had 12 children, among them two sets of twins. Only six of these children lived to be grown (Lucinda Francis Formby, Edward Thomas Formby, Sarah Eveline Formby, Selita Ann Formby (twins), Benjamin Hill Formby & Margaret Jane Formby.

William Formby was enlisted by Captain Yarborough at Rome, Georgia on the 20th of February, 1862. He was discharged on July 28, 1962 because of disability, and died on July 30th near Richmond, Virginia. His Certificate of Disability appears to mention "chronic intestines." Family records show he died from measles. He was 39 years old as per the Certificate of Disability dated July 25, 1862.

I have a copy of a document which shows $83.30 from Treasury certificate No. 3496 issued to Wm. J. Formby, Deceased for monthly pay and was received in Richmond on 26 February, 1863 and signed for by Geo. N. Yarbrough, Atty. William Formby's widow was granted a penison in 1900 in Texas, being an indigent widow.

Also in Company H of the 8th Georgia Regiment is Moses V. Formby who we believe to be the brother of William J. Formby's wife, Christian Ann Formby (Formby married a Formby). He is listed in the records, and other CSA records say that he was killed at Darbytown Road, Virginia on October 7, 1864.