William was a Tory soldier. He came to America as a Revolutionary War Soldier. When captured, he wanted to stay in America, so he escaped and changed his name to Dodrill. He was a tailor by trade.
William E. DODRILL, known as " English Bill." m. Rebecca DOUGHERTY in 1784 Greenbrier Co. & moved to the mouth of Kanawha. The Indians being hostile, he almost gave away his large tract of land & joined in the eastern movement. He settled on Peter's creek where he remained for 4-5 years. In 1799 he again changed his residence to the Birch river valley, settling at Boggs in Webster Co. The orginial name was DODDRIDGE, and he is listed under that name on the Kanawha County tax rolls for 1799. A change was made in the orthography before he left Greenbrier Co. Greenbrier County records also list "William Doddridge" as the second husband of Rebecca Lewis. William Earl "English Bill" Dodrill: Tax List: 1799, Kanawha County, (West) Virginia. The name DODRILL has been adopted by all his descendents.