I am looking for information on a William Cochran which according to one bio I have seen said he deserted from the British army and joined the Continental troops:

"William Cochran came to the colonies as a British soldier with his two brothers during the Revolutionary War. They deserted soon after they came over, and joined the Revolutionary army, but we have been unable to obtain the Revolutionary record of William Cochran. There is no doubt, however, but what he served in the Revolutionary War, but in what capacity we are unable to learn. The facts as to his service are known through his family."

From: A History of Adams County, Ohio, by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers, (E.B. Stivers, West Union, OH, 1900), page 336

I have seen reference to a book that has documented deserters:

British and German Deserters, Dischargees, and Prisoners of War Who May Have Remained in Canada and the United States, 1774-178, by Clifford Neal Smith, 1989

If anyone has access to a copy of this book, would you please see if there is a William Cochran listed in it.

Here is a little more on his service:

William Cochran - Served in Revolutionary War from PA in different regiments. Born County Antrim, Ireland in 1722. Married Elizabeth Boothe, who died in KY in 1823. Children: John, born 1781, (probably others). Sergeant in the War of 1812. Died Brown Co., OH March 1814. Buried on the farm where he lived, near mouth of East Fork of Eagle Creek near Fitch Bridge. Lived in PA, later in KY. About 1794 or 1796 came to Brown Co., OH. Died there at the age of 92 years.

From: OFFICIAL ROSTER, SOLDIERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BURIED IN Ohio. Published in 1929 see - http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohbrown/military2.htm#William%20Coc...

Thanks,

John