He was appointed Second Lt. In Captain James Hadlock's Company in the 14th Regiment (Hoosick and Schaghticoke) of Albany County, NY. Militia, commanded by Col. Peter Yates. In Vermont in 1779 (NY Archives). Certificate No. 23123 for 15 shillings, 10 1/2 pence, (date burned) was issued to William Brace for services as Lt. In above Co. and Reg. (Certification of Treasurer, manuscript records, V. 5) His name also appears on an Abstract of Pay and Rations due. On March 4, 1780, Certificate No. 23981 for 1 pound, 6 shillings, and 3 pence, dated May 23, (year burned) was issued to William Brace for services as Lt. In Captain James Hadlock's, Col. Peter Yates Regiment of Albany County Militia. "Col. Peter Yates and his regiment of Albany County Militia in the service of the USA on different alarms and excursions." This abstract was audited Oct. 29, 1824, and shows No. 6, amount of William Brace's payroll, 74 pounds, 15 shillings, and 8 pence. (From records in Adjutant General's Office, War Dept., Washington. DC.). Col. Yates' regiment was recruited from the District of Hoosick and Schaghticoke, then part of Albany County. Presumably then, William Brace resided in that part of the state.

The first USA census in 1790 shows him in Cambridge, NY as head of a family consisting of himself, wife, three sons under and two sons over 16 years of age, and five daughters. Cambridge had been organized March 12, 1772, as a district in Albany County. It became a town in 1788 and as such was annexed to Washington County in 1791. His place was on both sides of the Owl Kill near a place called St. Coyuch, and was originally part of the Hoosick Patent. This land, William Brace, Yeoman of Cambridge, and his wife, Ruth, Dec. 31, 1795, conveyed for consideration of 1500 pounds to James Hay of Cambridge. He was still described Oct. 24, 1796, as "Yeoman of Cambridge" in conveyance of one half interes of 170 acres of land in Hebron which he and Donald Fisher held in their possession. Other land in Town of Kingsbury was conveyed Sept. 20, 1798, for consideration of 520 pounds. About this time the family removed a few miles to Sandy Hill, the present city of Hudson Fall, NY. Here he lived many years and later removed to Rochester, NY.