 Backhouse is also credited by Wood as "the inventor of the "Way wiser", in the time of George Villiers", a device for measuring distances in coaches, though the device appears to have been described earlier by Vitruvius.In 1660, Backhouse's son-in-law, William Bishop, died, without issue (his two children having died in 1659); six months later, Backhouse's only son, John, died at age 20, with no heirs either.Soon after, Backhouse made his will, appointing Flower as his sole executor.