William was born in Culpepper County Virginia during 1759. He enlisted when he was 17 years old and serverd in Colonel Burwell's Regiment as a private. It is said that he was with General Washington on the Delaware crossing 25 Dec 1776, and was at the Battle of Blue Licks, Kentucky in 1782. He was with george Rogers Clark in his November 1782 attack on the Indian towns at Piqua on the Miami River. He also served in the War of 1812 as a private in Captain Buchanan's Company.

Barbee died of a wound received in the War of 1812 and is buried in the old Barbee Family Cemetery in Miami County.

He was one of the first Associate Judges of Miami County, serving from 1807 to 1813.