Due to space constrains, the following biography was abbreviated by PRS editorial staff 

William Blair of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina,^2,3,5 was a prominent figure in the early history of the region. He was born in Ireland in 1731 to Scottish parents who first moved to Ireland and then moved across the ocean to America in search of religious freedom.² They settled in the Clear Creek area of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.¹

In March 1771, an uprising called the Regulator Movement occurred in the Greensboro area of North Carolina. Governor Tryon called the Clear Creek Militia to join General Waddell in confronting the rebels. However, Captain Adam Alexander and Sergeant William Blair convinced General Waddell not to attack the Regulators. This prevented violence between fellow countrymen in Greensboro. 

A group of young men from Rocky River learned of the movement of supplies from the British armory of gunpowder and associated battle materials. This group of "young bloods" decided to intervene and destroy the gunpowder. The men blackened their faces and arms, which led to the name "the Black Boys" by the locals as well as Governor Tryon.¹ They attacked the wagon train, piled up the supplies, and set fire to them. It is said the explosion was heard for miles. Governor Tryon was furious, and while he offered pardons to some of the Regulators involved in these Regulator events, he specifically included "the Black Boys" in those to be punished. 

Tryon later defeated the Regulators in the Battle of Alamance on 16 May 1776. William Henry Foote proclaimed this battle to be "This first blood shed for the enjoyment of liberty."¹ Tryon was harsh and executed many Regulators involved."¹ He grew resentful against those seeking independence from the "Greensborough" engagement from 1771 to 16 May 1776.

Local Clear Creek leaders drew up a petition in which they played down the acts of these young rocky river men and sought a pardon for them. The petition contained the following: "That whereas a Certain No. of young men, ignorant of their Duty to our Sovereign Lord the King, riotously Assembled in a wicked manner."¹ The petition attributed the destruction of powder "not to commendable patriotism, but at least partially to an overindulging in spirituous liquors."¹ Citizens of Rocky Creek and Clear Creek signed this petition. William Bair and others in the Rocky Creek Militia were among those signing the petition.¹ 

In the area of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, the Tories had gained control of this area and much of Upstate South Carolina. In answer to the District Committee of Safety's call for help, the Clear Creek Militia and other Militias combined into an army of about seven hundred and engaged and defeated the loyalists (Tories) at Reedy Creek near Ninety-Six, South Carolina. Because this battle occurred in surprising and heavy snow, it was called the "Snow Campaign."¹ 

In February 1776, the company marched toward Fayetteville, North Carolina, to help put down a Tory uprising, but the Tories had been defeated at Moore's Creek, North Carolina, before the company arrived. In April of the same year, they were called out suppress Native American warriors.¹ These are years that William was known to be a regular part of the Clear Creek Militia under the command of Captain Adam Alexander. 

During the Revolutionary War, William was a Constable in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.³ In this role, William would have played a crucial role in maintaining order within the community, especially during times of heightened tension and conflict. 

Although he was a Constable during the Revolutionary War period, he still served on and off in the militia as noted by a pay record listed in the DAR American Revolution Magazine Volume XLIII July – December 1913 in the amount of £12 pounds, 18 shillings, for service in the militia 1780.⁵ It is not known if William was present or not. Still, the Clear Creek Militia was dispatched to Camden, South Carolina, in 1780 to support the Continental Line under General Gates, who was badly defeated. There, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander was captured and kept in a "goal" for many months.¹ 

After the war, William continued to serve his community as a Constable. 

William married Phoebe Harris in 1753.² She was born in 1733 in Antrim County, Ireland. They had the following known children:⁷

• Samuel
• James was born in 1770 and married Elizabeth Fitzgerald.
• Phoebe married Francis Snell.
• John
• Sarah
• Deborah 
• William was born about 1768 and married Elizabeth Black.
• Isabella was born on 1 April 1786 and married Daniel Hall.

The Patriot died on 24 April 1799 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and was buried in Rocky Spring Meeting House Burial Ground (also known as Rock Springs Cemetery). His wife, Phoebe, died in 1804 and was buried in the same cemetery as her husband.⁶ Both are in unmarked graves.

His probated estate contained 1,400 acres of land and the improvements thereon.⁷ Commissioners appraised and distributed his acreage by balancing "quantity and quality" to his wife and six children.⁷ His children William and Isabella Blair Snell were absent, suggesting that by 1801, they had died, or perhaps their share was included in the larger amounts shown for Samuel and James Blair or for some other unknown reason.

Sources:

1. Russell Martin Kerr, The Presbyterian Gathering on Clear Creek, JOSTENS – Charlotte, NC, 2001 , Library of Congress Catalog Number 2001090475, ps.49, 50, 61, 85, 86, 90, 91, 387, 423, 
2. Find-a-Grave memorial 67748170
3. National Society of the American Revolution, Patriot Research System, SAR Patriot P-115811, Patriot Detail, Grave Detail 
4. Daughters of the American Revolution, American Revolution Magazine, Volume XLIII, July-December 1913, pg. 552, 12 pounds, 18 Shillings, for service in the militia, 1780
5. Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogy Research System, Ancestor A 010892, pg.1
6. Find-a-Grave memorial 67748399
7. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Book 4 1801, January Session, pg. 256, 261, 1801 April Session, pg. 273