William Lee was a resident of colonial North Carolina who was involved in the maritime trade and brought ships between North Carolina and Maryland. In 1697 Dorothy Steele ran away from her husband and hired William Lee to take her to South Carolina. While on that journey, Steele and Lee shared a bed. The group eventually tried to go to Virginia instead, but they were caught or surrendered and came before the court. Lee eventually confessed about his actions to the court and was sentenced to thirty-nine lashes for his relationship with Dorothy Steele and for stealing good from her husband, William Steele. Any further information about this individual has not been identified.