William came to the United States from Ireland and fought in the Revolutionary War. He married Miriam Cooley on Dec. 3, 1781 in Goshen, NY. Miriam was the daughter of Nathaniel Cooley and Sarah Carpenter of Orange County, NY. William and Miriam had at least these children: James Lytle, William Harris Lytle, John Lytle, Nathaniel Lytle, Benjamin Lytle and Miriam Lytle. The family eventually migrated to Huntingdon County, PA. After Miriam's death in 1811, William married a woman with the last name of Shannon.