William Makepeace P-240868 (1739-1826) was born in Taunton, Massachusetts the son of Thomas Makepeace (1704-1781) and Charity Staples (1714-aft1754) both of Taunton, although owing to the burning of the Taunton records in 1838 cannot be proved. However, at the time Thomas Makepeace was the only Makepeace living in Taunton. William married Sarah Presbrey (1747-1831), daughter of Joseph Presbrey (P-273400) (1727-1802) and Mary Baker (1727- ) sometime before 5 Mar 1767 when Joseph referred to his daughter Sarah as the wife of William Makepeace in a Bristol Co. deed. At that time it appears that William was living in the neighboring town of Raynham where he spent the rest of his life. On 23 Jun 1770 William was on a Miscellaneous Taunton record with Ambrose Lincoln from the Town of Raynham, "to be cleared from the Congregational Ministries rates by the anna Baptist Committee". During the revolution he served as a Private, Capt Jonathan Shaw's co., Col. William's Regt. Capt. James Perry's co., Col. Paul Dudley Sargent's Regt.; company return dated Oct. 6, 1775; in Sept 1777 company marched 1 mo. 1 day from Taunton, Raynham, and Easton and on a Secret Expedition to Rhode Island; Private, Capt. Josiah Crocker's co., Col. Thomas Carpenter's Regt.; service, 25 days; to Rhode Island, agreeable to order of Council of July -, 1778, to serve for 6 weeks. Private, Capt Isaac Hodges co., Col. Hathaway's Regt. 23 Mar - 17 Apr 1779, roll sworn to at Taunton service 26 days at Rhode Island.
William was listed in the 1790 thru 1820 Federal Census living in Raynham most likely a farmer. On 25 Jun 1811 William deeded land to his son William Makepeace Jr. referring to a deed dated 14 Sep 1768 given the said William Makepeace by Joseph Presbrey and Mary his wife..." He did not apply for a pension in 1818. He died in Raynham at the age of 87 years. His burial site is unknown. [Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the American Revolution, Vol. 10 pg 148]