He was the son of Thomas and Anne Ezell. The record of his birth is found in The Albemarle Parish Register, p 42.

He was reported to be a wealthy planter in Virginia where he owned a large plantation on the south side of James River down which he floated tobacco to market. His lands were situated on the Blackwater River, a tributary of James River, instead of on James River itself.

It is not known just when William moved to Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It is believed that he left Sussex County in the mid 1770's. Moving to Mecklenburg County and then to Brunswick County.

Deed records in Union District, South Carolina, indicate that William moved there about 1800. He is not listed in the 1790 Census of South Carolina. Deed Book F, p 296, records a deed dated 27 February 1800 to William Ezell from John HENDERSON for 200 acres of land on Brown's Creek, waters of Broad River, District of Union, S.C. for 100 Guineas.

Another deed, dated 5 April 1803, is recorded in Book G, p 410, in which William Ezell purchased 140 acres from William Mitchell for $200.00. This land was bounded on the west by lands already belonging to William Ezell; on the south by lands of George Newton; on the east by lands of William Whitlock and of Jeremiah Lucas; and on the north by Mill Pond Creek, it being the dividing line between Ezell and Lucas lands..... except the privilege of building a house and digging of dirt adjoining the Mill Pond or the stream that the Mill is situated on, and not to extend more than one acre distant from the Mill whether up the Mill Pond or down the Mill Stream, Witnesses: Michael Ezell, John Palmer, and Lyza Stribbling.

On 12 February 1806, He purchased from Jeremiah Lucas 30 acres on Brown's Creek, bounded by Ezell and Stribbling lands, for $80.00.

A deed dated 20 March 1830 states that William Ezell for love and affection he had fore his son, Thomas Ezell, gave to Thomas "140 acres on which he now lives on the south side of Brown's Creek, bounded by myself, Mr. Mitchell, James Newton, Dr. Hancock, and Widow Shell".

These land deals seem to indicate that William owned considerable acreage in Union District, South Carolina.

The report goes that William was married four times. He is said to have been married twice in Virginia before moving to South Carolina, and that he married his third wife, Rhoda Lyles, soon after arriving in South Carolina. After her death, William married her half-sister, Susannah Lyles. There were no children born of his fourth marriage.

Shortly before William died, he bragged that if Susannah should die first, he would marry again even if he knew he had only six months to live. Susannah survived him by 21 years.

William's first wife is said to have been Eudora LaMotte but some claim Susannah Seat.. His second wife is said to have been a Miss Whitlock who was a school teacher. Being the daughter of William & Molly (Roundtree) Whitlock.

He was the father of 15 known children;
1. Delilah b-18 Aug 1769
2. Thomas b-1771
3. Micajah "Mike" b-1773
4. Timothy b-10 Mar 1775
5. Susannah b-18 Feb 1777
6. Abel b-7 Dec 1780
7. William b-1782
8. Elizabeth b-1784
9. Martha b-1789
10. Adorcas Caroline b-1790
11 Sarah "Sally" b-1793
12 Jeptha b-1795
13 Amasa b-
14 Polly b & d an infant
15 Miriam b-1808