A Scotchman related to George Wishard the martyr. Driven from his native land by persecution, he fled to county Tyrone, Ireland. He entered the service of Lord Lytle as a coachman. Lord Lytle's wife was a Stuart and a relative of Charles the Pretender.

William fell in love with the Lord's daughter, Lady Susan Lytle (it is reported the couple, when found out, was put in the tower, but her brothers helped them escape). They were married and he brought her to America and settled on Brandywine Creek in PA. They then moved to Old Redstone (Brownsville), Fayette County, KY and then to Nichols County, KY.

Per statement of Wm. Henry Egel, M.E. Editor of the Pennsylvania Archives: vis; To whom it may concern:
"I hereby certify that William Wishart, who had warranted unto him by Pennsylvania three hundred acres of land July 1, 1776 in the then Co. of Westmoreland, had military service in the war of the Revolution as follows.
William Wishart was a sargent in Captain Wendel Ivey's Co. John Proctors Battalion of Westmoreland County Militia. In service at Brandywine and Germantown.
William Wishart was commissioned May 5th 1779 Ensign in Captain Guthries Company of Westmoreland Co. Militia in service of the frontiers of Western Pennsylvania during that and the following year."