William Gilbane arrived in Rhode Island in 1845 as an infant with his parents after fleeing the "Great Hunger" of Ireland. The poor but ambitious family settled in the Lincoln area. As a young boy, William left for Providence to learn the carpenter's trade. He soon met and apprenticed himself to George A. Brown, a city carpenter. William also continued his educational training. Working under the tutelage of carpenter Brown by day, William attended night classes at the Providence Evening School and a mechanical drawing school on Fountain Street. In ensuing years, he also took business classes at Bryant & Stratton Business College and the Rhode Island School of Design.
William practiced the carpentry trade in Providence under George Brown until June 1873 when Brown succumbed to illness. This prompted William, 31 years old, to establish his own business.