According to census records, William was born in Maryland between 1792-1794. Some sources indicate at some point he lived east of the Ohio River, in the western part of Virginia that later became West Virginia.

Military pension records reflect that he served in the War of 1812 having enlisted as a substitute on April 26, 1813. The spelling of William's surname on his military, marriage records, and gravestone indicate he utilized the early spelling Delany.

In the early spring of 1813, the war with Britain had become a reality for Maryland residents. Beginning the year with a strong hold on the Canadian border, British forces were mobilized towards the Chesapeake Bay. William served as a private in Captain Thomas Wheeler's Company of the Maryland Militia until his discharge, September 8, 1813. Family history notes he was wounded.

For the War of 1812 and other wars in which the United States engaged during the years 1812-1855, the issuance of bounty land warrants to veterans or their heirs as a form of reward for service. According to pension papers, two land numbers were noted for William.

Formed from Jefferson and Washington counties on September 1, 1801, Belmont County was one of Ohio's earliest counties. It originally was a county in the Northwest Territory. Residents named the county Belmont after the French term for "beautiful mountain."

Seven years after his discharge, William became the husband of Amelia "Mildred" Sears, a Virginian. They married April 13, 1820 in Belmont County, Ohio where they would live their remaining years in Wayne Township, with William farming.

William and Mildred had at least seven children: Michael, Samuel, James, Sarah Elizabeth, Margaret Jane, Charles, and John. Sarah Elizabeth married William White of Goshen Township in Belmont County.

1820 CENSUS - Belmont, Belmont, Ohio

Name: Wm Delaney
Home in 1820: Belmont, Belmont, Ohio
Enumeration Date August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 1
Number Persons - Engaged in Manufactures 1
All Other Persons Except Indians not Taxed 2
Total Free White Persons 2
Total Persons - White/Slaves/Colored/Other 4

1830 CENSUS - Wayne, Belmont, Ohio

Name: Wm Delany
Home in 1830: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 2
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9 2
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39 1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69 1
Free White Persons - Under 20 6
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2
Total Free White Persons 9
Total Persons - Free White/Slaves/Free Colored 9

1840 CENSUS - Wayne, Belmont, Ohio

Name: William Delany
Home in 1840: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9 3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19 2
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19 2
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture 3
Free White Persons - Under 20 9
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49 2
Total Free White Persons 11
Total Persons - Free White/Free Colored/Slaves 11

1850 CENSUS - Wayne, Belmont, Ohio

Name: William Delaney - farmer
Age: 56
Birth Year: abt 1794
Birthplace: Maryland
Home in 1850: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio
Family Number: 364
Household Members:
William Delaney 56
Mildred Delaney 51
Michel Delaney 22
Samuel Delaney 18
James Delaney 18
Charles Delaney 16

1860 CENSUS - Wayne, Belmont, Ohio

Name: Wm Delaney - farmer
Age: 68
Birth Year: abt 1792
Birth Place: Maryland
Home in 1860: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio
Post Office: Hunter
Family Number: 1440
Household Members:
Wm Delaney 68 - farmer
Mildred Delaney 64
James Delaney 29
Milly J White 16
John W Delaney 10

1870 CENSUS - Wayne, Belmont, Ohio

Name: William Delaney - farmer
Age in 1870: 78
Birth Year: abt 1792
Birthplace: Maryland
Home in 1870: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio
Post Office: Demos
Household Members:
William Delaney 78
Mildred Delaney 75

According to his military pension William passed August 4, 1872. Mildred passed March 10, 1879. They are buried in Hunter's Church of Christ Cemetery.

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Sources: Census, military, and marriage records. And "How They Linger: A family history by Rosalie Delaney Little, great great granddaughter, copyright 2004, pages 9-14, Walsworth Publishing Company, Marceline, Missouri.

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**NOTE - Early census and military records indicate the spelling of William's surname as Delany. However, late census and probate records indicate the spelling of his surname as Delaney.