Zachariah Hester was born in Louisa County, Virginia in about 1761. A resident of Granville County, North Carolina, he volunteered as a private in the Granville County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia in about January 1776. He then continued in the service, serving multiple tours through 1781. He was at several battles including the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge and the Battle of Guilford Court House. He later gave sworn affidavits in support of several other Granville County residents' pension claims. He died in Granville County in about 1837.