Captain William Barrett II was an American soldier, sheriff, politician, and Justice of the Peace from North Carolina who served in the American Revolutionary War, serving at the Battle of Guilford Court House and other engagements in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War.
William Barrett II was born to William Barrett I and Patience Crouch in 1754. His parents had moved to North Carolina from Massachusetts. His paternal 4th great grandfather was Richard Warren the pilgrim who settled Plymouth, Massachusetts. Barrett married Ann Seawell and had 11 children.
Barrett in his war pension recalled that he joined the military in 1779. He served under generals Richard Caswell, Horatio Gates, Nathanael Greene, and William Lee Davidson. Barrett commanded the Cumberland County Light Horse company of the 3rd NC Militia at the Battle of Guilford Court House and other engagements in North Carolina.
After the American Revolution he served as Justice of the Peace for Moore County. He then served as High Sheriff for the county and also as a representative for the county three times to the North Carolina General Assembly.
Barrett opened a gold mine in Moore County and the cite later became a site for public conventions like fairs. Barrett died in 1840.