William Harrison was a resident of Tyrrell County. In 1777 Daniel Leggett approached him and had him swear a series of oaths to join in the Gourd Patch Conspiracy. However, sensing trouble, William determined that it would be best to break up the plot before any of the organization's members, which included several of his brothers and nephews, ended up in jail. At his urging, Leggett and several other members swore off the plot and tore up the group's secret constitution. Harrison later appeared on a list of witnesses prepared to give evidence against Daniel Leggett before the Edenton District Court of Oyer & Terminer when all the leading members of the plot went on trial in the fall of 1777.