William C. Barrett was born in Springhill Township, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1787, the son of Samuel C. Barrett, Sr. and Mary Ellen (Hanna). He spent his childhood years in Fayette Co., Pennsylvania, then moved with his parents to Wood Co., (W.) Virginia, by 1802. He then spent his teen and young adult years in the Parkersburg/Murphytown, Wood Co., (W.) Virginia, areas.

At the age of 22, William C. Barrett married Miss Serena (Bailes) in Wood Co., (W.) Va., on August 24, 1809, by Rev. Reece Woolf.

William Barret is listed on the 1810 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his household: 1 male under age 10 (William Jr.), 1 male age 16-25 (William Sr.), 1 female age 16-25 (Serena) [Couple has been married 1 year]

William Barrett is listed on the 1820 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his household: 4 males under age 10 (John H., Samuel 2nd, ?, & ?), 1 male age 10-16 (William Jr.), [1 male 16-26 (?)], 1 male 26-45 (William Sr.), 2 females under 10 (Amanda & Frances), 1 female 26-45 (Serena) [Couple has been married 11 years]

William Barret is listed on the 1830 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with the following in his family: 1 male under age 5 (Wilson), 1 male age 5-9 (Jefferson), 1 male age 10-14 (?), 3 males age 15-19 (Wm Jr, John, Samuel 2nd), 1 male age 40-49 (William Sr), 3 females under age 5 (Jane, Sarah, Frances), 2 females age 5-9 (Amanda & ?), 1 female age 10-14 (?), 1 female age 40-49 (Serena)

William Barrett Sr. is listed on the 1840 Wood Co., (W.) Va., census with his family: 1 male 10-15 (Wilson-12), 1 male 15-20 (Jefferson-17), 1 male 50-60 (William Sr-53), 2 females 5-10 (Jane-10 & Diana-8), 2 females 15-20 (Fannie-20 & Sarah-15), 1 female 20-30 (Amanda-21), 1 female 40-50 (Serena-49)

William Barrett (age 63, B-Pa., Farmer) is listed on the 1850 Wood County (Dist. 65), (W.) Va., census with his wife, Sena (age 59, B-Va.), and kids: Frances-29, Jefferson-27, Sarah-25, Jane-20, Diana-18 (all kids B-Va.) (Value of real estate $2,000) #640-640

Wm Barrott (age 73, B-Va., Farmer) is listed on the 1860 Wood County (Stillwell area), (W.) Va., census with his wife, Serena (age 69, B-Va., wife), and daughter, Fannie (age 38, B-Va.) #1555-1553

Wm Barrett and his single daughter, Frances, are listed on the 1870 Wood County (Walker Township), W. Va., census

William C. Barrett, Sr. died at Stillwell, Wood Co., W. Va., on his farm on December 19, 1877, at the age of 90, and he is buried in the Grant/Barrett Cemetery near Murphytown, Wood Co., W. Va., beside his wife.