William Gilliam, of Buckingham County

changes to be made by curator

• Middle Name: Martin
• Suffix: Sr.

concerns

From Roots-Web (Rootsweb), posted by Charles Ward:

A great deal of erroneous information has been published regarding William and Mary (Jarratt) Gilliam, of Virginia. This has been inadvertently perpetuated by well-intentioned researchers, unaware of the inaccuracies contained in various published sources (example, Worth Ray's TN COUSINS).
William Gilliam's parentage is unknown to date, but it is very likely he belonged to the Gilliam family which resided in St. Peter's Parish in New Kent County, VA. Claims that he was a grandson of the Reverend Patrick Henry are false. Chronologically, this is impossible. A very good review of the Gilliam descendants of the Reverend Patrick Henry has appeared in print and confirms the fact that the William Gilliam in question does NOT belong to this family.
Richard and Margaret Gilliam were residing in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co., VA as early as the 1680s and they had several sons. It seems highly probable that William Gilliam was a grandson of Richard and Margaret Gilliam.

brief biography

William Gilliam was born about 1720, probably in New Kent Co., VA. William and Mary (Jarratt) Gilliam probably married in New Kent Co., VA and came to reside in Albemarle Co., VA near the Pedlar River. They are found in that county in deed records in the 1750s. Following the creation of Buckingham County, VA in 1761, Gilliam is then found in that county. Surviving land records mention William Gilliam as being deceased on 17 Oct 1792. It has incorrectly been stated that William Gilliam died in Hanover Co., VA, but again, this has been a perpetuation of false information.

family

References are made to the "widow Gilliam" in Buckingham Co., VA in 1794 and 1796. This is in reference to William Gilliam, deceased and we may deduce this is a reference to Mary (Jarratt) Gilliam. She appears to have died about 1796.

Unfortunately, Buckingham Co., VA is a "burned county" so any will William or Mary Gilliam might have left was destroyed years ago. However, we can reconstruct their family using other means.

The children of William Gilliam (abt 1720) & Mary Jarrett were: 1. William Gilliam, Jr. (b.ca 1742; d. 1798); married Elizabeth Ellis. No children. They are found selling land in Amherst Co., VA in 1773, but were residing in Bedford Co., VA at the time. He later settled in Wilkes Co., VA where his will was written 27 Jan 1798 and proven 17 Feb 1798. The inventor and distribution of his estate shows payments were made to his surviving brothers: Devereux, Richard, Charles, John, Jarratt, and Archelaus Gilliam and to his sister, Sarah Williamson (as well as the heirs of John Hood). As previously mentioned, no provision was made for the children of his deceased brothers.

comments

Surname has also been reported to be Gillum.

Date and place of birth have also been (erroneously?) reported to be:

• 1720 in Bristol Parish, Washington County, Virginia
• 1720 in Henry County, Virginia

Date and place of death have also been (erroneously?) reported to be May 10, 1791 at Hanover, Hanover County, Virginia, United States.

links

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gilliam-184