William was the son of Robert Hillis. During the French and Indian War, William enlisted as a militiaman in the army of Gen. Braddock, Capt. Washington being in immediate command. After his service, he took a land claim in Washington Co., Penn. where he cleared the land for a home. When the Revolutionary War was over, Congress gave to Gen. Washington a large tract of land, and in this grant was included William's farm. Washington took possession, ejecting the settlers, and William never received one penny for it.
He moved to Ohio, taking a soldier's claim and began another farm only to have land sharks prove that they had a prior claim. He moved to Kentucky but didn't like the slavery issues and moved his family once more to Indiana.
He married Jane Carruthers and they had a large family.
