William Lewelling was a planter in Martin County. In 1777 along with his father John Lewelling, he formed the Gourd Patch Conspiracy and helped write its constitution. Fearful of their plot being discovered, both William and his father were willing to oppose local and state officials violently if necessary. At one point William proposed killing James Mayo, who had threatened to arrest John Lewelingn as a tory. When the plot was discovered, William was charged with misprision of treason and appeared on a list of prisoners being held at the Edenton District Court of Oyer and Terminer. Charges against him were dropped in 1778.