William may have been born in Monmouth County, New Jersey. He died between September 1786 and July 1787.

William was married on December 12, 1763, in North Carolina, to Abigail Frost (baptised October 7, 1744, at Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, died post-1817, possibly circa 1840, in Calloway County, Kentucky?), the daughter of William Frost.

William served in the Kentucky Militia in 1780 during the Revolutionary War (per Eckenrode, vol 1 p 449), and is an established DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Patriot. From FAG member Janice Pranger.

Besides the children listed having memorials William also had the following children whose death and/or burial information is unknown:
**Phebe Van Cleave, born 1764, in Rowan County, North Carolina, died later 1854 or early 1855, in Montgomery County, Indiana. Married to John Harris (died 1809).
**Sarah (Sally) Van Cleave, born circa 1770, in Rowan County, North Carolina, died September 13, 1781, at Long Run Massacre, Kentucky. Killed by Indians.
**Mary Van Cleave, born circa 1772, in Rowan County, North Carolina, died post-1830. Married on May 28, 1788, in Madison County, Kentucky, to George Teeter.
**John/James Van Cleave, born circa 1774, in Rowan County, North Carolina, died pre-1820, in Franklin County, Kentucky. Married December 25, 1802, in Lincoln County, Kentucky, to Elizabeth Barzilla Tisdale.
**Ebenezer Frost Van Cleave, born 1777, in Rowan County, North Carolina, died circa 1865, in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Married (firstly) either September 26 or October 8, 1796, in Madison County, Kentucky, to Susannah Maniere. Married (secondly) on December 30, 1819, in Williamson County, Tennessee, to Sarah Elizabeth Garrick.
**Jane Van Cleave, born circa 1779, in Rowan County, North Carolina. Married to Noble Daugherty.