William was one if the most noted of the famed Long Hunters, he served in the Militia as well as Lord Dunmore's War as a scout. William along with his brother-in-law John James Poteet, went to Bedford Co. Va. about 1756-57, where several of the children were subsequently born. He eventually took his family to Washington Co. Va. Settling in the area where the city of Saltville now stands. Being among the first settlers in the County the Crabtree's began to buy and Patent land in that area shortly after 1770.

William received pay for services in the French and Indian War in 1758 and in 1774 he served as scout and guard at an upper fort.
He reportedly served as a Lieutenant in the Battle of Kings Mountain, under Gen. Campbell.
The Draper Manuscripts say that William was captured by the Indians and eventually escaped, as recounted by John Carr.
He was described by Maj. Redd as a real backwoodsman, tall, slender and slightly red hair.
As one of the Long Hunters he spent more that a year in 1769 in the Cumberland mountains of Tennessee, and Kentucky.
He owned 98 acres on North Fork, May 26, 1774, and 79 acres on Rich Valley, North Fork Holston, Dec 5, 1774.
The term "Long Hunters" was coined by the Indians because of the long knives that they carried which was neccessary to kill bears. and were sometimes call "Long knives" by the Indians.

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