Gen James Gillam, General

James Gillam was born at Page's Creek, Newberry County, SC and was a student at the Newberry Academy. During the War of 1812, James enlisted in Newberry 1 Mar 1814 and was discharged 5 Apr 1814 as a private in the Light Horse Dragoons commanded by Capt. William Caldwell, his cousin, and was then honorably discharged according to official documents in Washington DC. He was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, fair complexion, dark hair, grey eyes, weighing about 146 pounds. In an affidavit written by James Gillam on 26 Feb 1851 he stated he volunteered in Newberry in 1813 and was recruited into service 22 Feb 1814 for the term of three months. He stated his actual service was for ten weeks and he was honorably discharged at Camp Alston May 1814 which appears on the muster rolls of that period. No formal discharge papers were ever given to him. By an act of Congress James became eligible for 40 acres of land as bounty for his military service. [Bounty Claim 36025-40-50]

James became a successful farmer and merchant in Newberry. According to his pension application papers in Washington DC., he lived in Newberry for six years after the War, or to about 1820. He then lived at "Cow Grove," Abbeville, South Carolina, later moving to "Sweetwater Place" and lastly building a large home in Greenwood which was destroyed by fire many years ago. He taught school for some years and was a Major General in command of State Militia for Old Ninety Six District. He was a Mason and in 1839 became an Elder at Rock Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, SC. He also served as Clerk of the Session. His first wife was Sarah Carolina Satterwhite, daughter of John Satterwhite and Susan McKie, who died 20 Jun 1849 aged 52 years. Sarah Satterwhite was mentioned as the wife of James Gillam in the will of her grandfather, Michael McKie who died 1 Nov 1814.

Prior to his membership in Rock Presbyterian Church, James Gillam was a member of Siloam Baptist Church, which still exists on Siloam Church Road, Greenwood County, SC., just east of Wilson Creek. By today's standards it seems to be about halfway between the town of "96" and Rock Creek Church of today in Greenwood.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 29 2019, 5:39:00 UTC