The religious dissent of both William Day Wills and Henry Overton Wills II was matched by their political radicalism. Both supported the Anti-Corn Law League and made contributions to its funds. Regularly they supported Liberal candidates at parliamentary elections. Henry himself entered local politics in 1845 as a Liberal councillor for the St. Pauls district of Bristol.

By 1851 Henry had 11 children surviving from a total of 15... his family eventually numbered 18 children.... "while this ensured the survival of the Wills name, it added untold complications to the family tree"¹