Reverend Epaphroditus Gilliam - Parents?

Hi Cynthia, I tried but couldn't figure that one out. The best solution might be to simply undo the merge that caused it.

https://www.geni.com/merge/view?revision_id=77866151280

His parents aren't mentioned on Findagrave, either. "h/o Sarah Ann Israel. Their children included Jesse Israel, Elizabeth Collett, Sarah Shaw, Gen. Cornelius Gilliam of Oregon, John, Catherine Taylor,Robert P, Anna Harris, Eighty (Adie?)Harris, Mary, Nancy T, Mitchell, and Luhella Gilliam. Incidentally, there are several Epahroditus Gilliams, all kin. They were named after their ancestor Epaphroditus Lawson. The first was born ca 1600 and died ca 1638 in Norfolk County , VA."

Epaphroditus Lawson

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48219022/epaphroditus-gilliam

A little more digging brought up a few interesting resources (several pages of one search originating in the Gilliams of Virginia website):

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=37854124&pageid=r&m...

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?pageid=r&id=37854124&q...

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?pageid=r&id=37854124&q...

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?pageid=r&id=37854124&q...

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?pageid=r&id=37854124&q...

And here is a fascinating first-hand account by Sarah (Graves) Israel, the Reverend's mother-in-law. However, she also didn't mention the names of his parent. But wow, a lot of family history otherwise.

http://bakerdesign.com/bakerhistory/a-fascinating-historical-short-...

FINALLY, found something that at least makes a positive assertion about his parentage:

"Sallie secondly married Epaphroditus Gilliam, son of John Gilliam and Elizabeth (Murrell) Fields. Epaphroditus died intestate, and on 8 Feb. 1842 Jesse Gilliam posted a bond as administrator of his estate.

"The following verbatim account (from p. 27 of R‑100) is included because of the possibility of a connection with this part of the family with the Graves families of Randolph Co., NC, especially the family of John Graves and Margery Harvey. In that family, Gilliam is used as a first name, and many family members moved to MO and IN.

"“Richard Fields married Elizabeth Murrell, sister of Drury Murrell, all natives of Amherst County, Virginia. After marriage, Mrs. Fields became the mother of four children, namely: Thomas, Joel, Elizabeth and Sarah. Mr. Fields died and his widow married the second time. Her second marriage was to John Gilliam, by whom she became the mother of three sons, namely: Epaphroditus, Cornelius and John...""

https://gravesfa.org/gen191.htm

So, I'd lean toward his mother being Elizabeth "Bettie" Fields because at least there is one family historian/researcher who came to that conclusion.

Thank you so very much, Private User and Erica Howton!

This, of course, will drive me nuts but can wait!:

Rev. Epaphroditus Gilliam is Epaphroditus Lawson's stepdaughter's husband's brother's wife's great nephew's wife's half brother.
Epaphroditus Lawson
→ Elizabeth Fleming (Madestard)
his wife → Elizabeth Thornton (Fleming)
her daughter → Rowland Thornton, Sr
her husband → William Thornton "the younger"
his brother → Jane Thornton (Presley)
his wife → Mildred "Millie" Cleveland (Presley)
her sister → Elizabeth Coffey (Cleveland)
her daughter → Rice Coffey
her son → Elizabeth Coffey (Fields)
his wife → Elizabeth "Bettie" Gilliam (Murrell)
her mother → Rev. Epaphroditus Gilliam
her son

https://www.geni.com/path/Epaphroditus-Lawson+is+related+to+Rev-Epa...

Epaphroditus Lawson 's About is messy.
Makes it difficult to add anything or compare
:)

http://lawsondna.org/Media/virginiacounties/Old_Rappahannock.html
Epaphroditus
May 1654
Rappahan -nock County in Virginia

Old Rappahannock County, VA – Deeds, Wills, Inventories and etc. 1656-1664, Book 2, pages 7-8 – To all to whom these presents shall come, I Edward Diggs Esquire Governor and Capt. General of Virginia send greeting in our Lord God Everlasting &c. No know ye that I Edward Diggs do with the consent of the Council of State accordingly give and grant unto Robert Tomlin (missing) acres of land lying on the South of Rappahannock River between the land (missing) and Epaphroditus Lawson and beginning at a marked white Oak upon the Creek (missing) and the said one (missing) extending itself into the woods (missing) East parallel to the River (missing) 175 perches into the land of said La(missing) by South a mile and (missing) East to the extent of the first mentioned (missing) angle the said land having been granted by Patent unto said Robert tomlin bearing date the (missing) day of May 1654 to have and to hold the said land &c given under our hands this (missing) day of Missing) 1655. Signed Edward Diggs and W. Clairborne Sect.

I will revisit.
See if I can build them out a bit at least to make the connection to the Reverend.
I like when we are given a relationship via a source and then CAN find that relationship on Geni. Seems reassuring when the narrative matches the Big Tree.