William Brogdon was a resident of Bertie County. In 1777 he, along with several of his family members and his brother-in-law John Skiles, swore oaths of secrecy and became a member of the Gourd Patch Conspiracy. In 1778 he signed an oath swearing his allegiance to the State of North Carolina and promised to report any treasonous conspiracies that might threaten North Carolina's independence.