Robert Gillam Sr. (1720-1796) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Maj. Robert Gillam Sr.

Born 15 Oct 1720 in Granville, North Carolina

Ancestors

Son of John (Gilliam) Gillam Sr and Frances (Unknown) Gilliam

Brother of Charles Gillam, Frances (Gillam) Dodson, Peter Gilliam, John Gillam Jr, Amy (Gillam) Wallace and Elizabeth (Gilliam) Davenport

Husband of Mary (Caldwell) Gillam — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Descendants

Father of Joshua Gilliam and Robert Gilliam Jr.

Died 15 Dec 1796 at age 76 in Newberry District, District 96, South Carolina

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Profile last modified 12 Mar 2024 | Created 22 May 2023

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1 Biography
- 1.1 Timeline
- 1.2 Timeline
2 Sources

Biography

There has been much ink spilled over this Robert Gillam. First, his name is generally spelt Gillam, without the second /i/.

He hailed from Granville County, NC where his father John left an estate mentioning son, Robert.

His wife is not known with certainty. She has been variously given as Mary, Rebecca and Phoebe and all possible combinations of those given names. Her surname has been given as Sankey Caldwell (It was Robert Jr. that married a Caldwell, Elizabeth Caldwell.) She may have been a Wallace as there are dealing with the Wallace family and members of this family are buried in the Wallace Cemetery. Robert's Will refers to his wife only as Mary.

Some of the records attributed to Robert Gillam, Sr., possibly should have be attributed to Robert Gillam, Jr. for at times it is difficult to discern which Robert is being referred to.

Timeline

Birth
15 Oct 1720 • Granville, North Carolina

Tax List, Robert Gillam and Henry Mitchell
1755 • Granville County, NC
Robert Gillam is listed with Henry Mitchell and Negro Mosingo. ^[1]

Grant: Robert Gillam
14 Mar 1760 • Granville County, NC
File No. 311, Robert Gillam, 540 acres On both sides of Lick Creek Beginning at a pine, Issued:, 14 Mar 1760, ^[2]^[3]

Land Grant
29 Nov 1760 • Granville County, NC
Luke Waldrop, 344 acres in Granville County in the Parish of St John on both sides of a Branch of Mitchell's Creek, joining Robert Gilliam, Busbees line, and Brickles line. Wits: Will Johnson, Phil Hawkins.

Grant: Robert Gillam
1 Mar 1762 • Granville County, NC
File No. 303, Robert Gillam, 680 acres On both sides lick Swamp Beginning at a pine, Issued: 1 Mar 1762, ^[4]

Will of Richard Hargrove, Sr
15 Jan 1766 • Granville County, NC
To natural son Richard, the plantation whereon I now live and also part of tract adj and running to the line this day made between the lands of my two sons Richard Hargraves and John Hargraves . . . Wit: George White, Michl. Satterwhite, Robert Gilliam

1767 Granville County Tax List
1767 • Granville County, NC
Robert Gillam, Zingo and Lynder, 1-2-3. On same page is Joseph Glover and John Gilliam.^[5]

Sale of Estate of John Gilliam
Aug 1768 • Granville County, NC
Ret. of sale to Aug. Ct. 1768; am't. £255. Os. 5d.; among other purchasers are: John, Robert, Peter, Amy and Elizabeth GILLIAM.

Residence
1769 • No Township Listed, Granville County, NC

Grant: John Gilliam
2 Jan 1775 • Ninety Six District, SC
100 acres on Mudlick Creek, Ninety Six District, Names mentioned: John Gilliam, Charles Gilliam, Robert Gilliam

Tax
1779 • Ninety Six District, SC
Robert Gillam

Residence
1780 • Ninety Six District, South Carolina, United States
Grand Jury ^[6]

Revolutionary War
1781 • Newberry County, SC
House was destroyed by Cunningham, 1781.

Grant: David Caldwell
18 Nov 1784 • District Ninety Six, SC
Tract is adjacent John Wallace and Major Robert Gilliam

Residence
1790 • Newberry, South Carolina, United States ^[7]

Death
bef 29 Feb 1796 • Newberry County, SC

Will of Robert Gillam, Newberry, SC
Probate
2 Jan 1796 • Newberry, South Carolina, USA ^[8]

Proving of Will of Robert Gillam, Sr
29 Feb 1796 • Newberry County, SC

The Page Creek area, Newberry District was settled by Major Robert Gillam family of Granville County NC. Names associated with these Gillams include Davenport, Satterwhite, and Caldwell. Robert Gillam, Sr., left a Will dated 22 Jan 1796.

GILLIAMs of Newberry County, SC
The origin of the name Newberry is unknown. The county was formed in 1785 as a part of Ninety Six District, and the county seat is the town of Newberry. This part of the upcountry was settled largely by Scotch-Irish, English, and German immigrants in the mid-eighteenth century. Germans were so prevalent in part of Newberry County that it become known as Dutch Fork, with Dutch meaning Deutsch (German). Large scale cotton farming replaced small farms in the nineteenth century, and the coming of the railroad made Newberry a leading cotton market.

Following posted by: D. Marshall Satterwhite from: http://gilliamsofvirginia.org/SC/Newberry/AnnalsNewberry/AnnalsNewberry.html

Annals of Newberry
Father and son are now to be sketched; both belong to that glorious army of suffering, but conquering patriots, who held aloft the standard of liberty during the dark and gloomy period of the American Revolution.
Major Robert GILLAM, (the father,) removed from Granville County, N. C., (where he was born) to Page’s Creek, Newberry District, before the Revolution began. Before the war reached the interior of the State, he was major of militia, and in that rank went out against the Cherokees, under the command of General “Williamson, called by the Indians the cow driver.
This service began, probably, before the 15th of July, ‘70; for on that day an engagement took place between the Indians and Tories, and a detachment from General Williamson’s little army of five hundred men, commanded by the late Major Jonathan Downs, of Laurens. The Indians and Tories were defeated, and thirteen of their number being taken, were found to be white men, painted like Indians.
Just about that period, intelligence of the repulse of the British at Sullivan’s Island, on the 28th of June, reached the back country. People of ‘54, think of the vast advantage you now enjoy over your ancestors of ‘70; twenty days brought them the news of victory and safety at Charleston—twenty-four hours now bring to you the most trifling events at the same place!
The glorious result of the battle at Fort Moultrie intimidated the Tories, and sent recruits, six hundred strong, to Williamson’s little host. With three hundred and fifty horsemen, Ramsay says he advanced to attack a party of Tories and Indians, who were encamped at Occnone Creek. He must have had with him also a party of infantry; for it seems he fell into an ambuscade, his horse was shot under him, and Salvadore, the proprietor of the Jew’s land, Abbeville District, was killed and scalped by his side, and defeat seemed to be inevitable. At this critical moment, Leroy Hammond, who commanded a company, rallied twenty of his men, and directing them to reserve their fire, marched rapidly with them to the fence behind which the Indians and their allies were posted, fired upon them, and immediately jumped over and charged. The Indians fled from the approaching bayonet, and the fortune of the day was saved.
Williamson pursued his advantage; burned the town east of the Keowee; but his men could not be induced to pass the river until Captain Hammond volunteered, in place of the officer designated for that duty, crossed at their head, and destroyed all the houses and provisions which they could find. Williamson returned to his main body and advanced with them to Eighteen Mile Creek, where he encamped 2nd August. As he advanced he sent out detachments to lay waste the Indian towns. This cruel, but perhaps necessary duty, was performed, and by the 15th the destruction of the lower towns was completed.
On the 13th of September, with an army of two thousand men, partly regulars and partly militia, Williamson marched into the country of the Cherokees; he again fell into an ambuscade. Ramsay says, in his History of South Carolina, vol. i. p. 281: “They (the army) entered a narrow valley, enclosed on each side by mountains. Twelve hundred Indians occupied these heights, and from them poured in a constant and well-directed fire. Detachments were ordered to file off and gain the eminences above the Indians, and turn their flanks. Others, whose guns were loaded, received orders from Lieut. Hampton (Henry Hampton) to advance, and after discharging, to fall down and load.” Johnson, in his Traditions of the Revolution, calls him Captain Hampton, and says, “his orders were to his company to fire in platoons, and then fall to the ground to reload, while the rest advanced in their smoke. He thus led them to the charge, advancing in the smoke, then firing, and reloading on their backs. When he came near enough, he charged bayonet, and the enemy fled.”
The army proceeded further without interruption, and on the 23d of September arrived in the valleys, and the sword and torch carried death and destruction to the poor, deceived Cherokees, and their habitations east of the Apalachian [sic] mountains. Williamson’s army returned, and was disbanded by the 13th of October.
In this harassing, dangerous, and well-executed campaign, Major GILLAM performed his part well and faithfully. Particular incidents attending it cannot now be obtained.
A circumstance which occurred during the Revolution shows what Major GILLAM dared to do. He was on some business at Turners, better known as Long’s Bridge, on Little River. He was sitting on the fence cleaning his nails with a small pen knife; an athletic Tory, well armed, rode near to him, using daring and insolent expressions; GILLAM sprang like a tiger at him, seized him by the breast, dragged him oft his horse, and took him prisoner. His age and a large family kept him from that active duty which devolved on younger men, after the fall of Charleston, in May, 1780. He, however, met with the usual share of suffering and loss which fell to the Whigs of that time. In Cunningham’s bloody foray, October, 1781, his house and provisions were destroyed; he and his family, generally, had sought safety in a removal to Broad River. After the war, to wit, in 1785, he was appointed one of the justices of the county court for Newberry. In September, 1786, he entered upon the duties of Sheriff of the county. He served out faithfully his term of two years, and from that time to the close of his life, in 1795, he spent his days in the bosom of his family, in a peaceful retirement. He died at his original settlement on Page’s Creek.
He is described by his grandson, General GILLAM, as “tall and slim, erect in person, active and sprightly, having a clear head, discriminating mind, and remarkable for great goodness of heart and suavity of disposition”; but when aroused by injury, or impelled to act by duty, he was “violent, impetuous,” and brave. Such was the father.

We turn now to the son, Robert GILLAM, Jr. He was born in Granville County, North Carolina, 11th January, 1760. He removed with his father, being then a mere boy, to Page’s Creek, Newberry District.
He was one of the expedition against the Cherokees in ‘70, under the command of his father; he was then a little more than sixteen. He was in the battle of Stono, 20th June, 1780; Musgrove’s Mill, 18th August, 1780; Blackstock’s, 20th November, 1780; and Cowpens, on the 17th January, 1781.
The battle of the Cowpens closed his active military services. He narrowly escaped, however, in October, 1781, the vengeance of Cunningham’s bloody partisans. After Green raised the siege of Ninety-Six, his father, with most of the family, had removed to Broad River, to escape the violence of the Tories. Mrs. Susan Finley, a widowed daughter of Major GILLAM, occupied the place. Robert GILLAM, Jr., had just finished hauling in the crop of corn, and had left for Broad River, when Cunningham’s party reached the place, and applied the torch to the dwelling house, corn-crib, and out-houses generally. Mrs. Finley, knowing many of the party, begged one of them to save a bed for her, which he did, and put it in the smoke house, the only building left standing on the premises. The subject of this, memoir, ignorant of that which had taken place in his rear, was moving leisurely on his journey; when he arrived at Ben Collier’s, on Mudlick, he, although a Tory, loved his neighbor, hailed GILLAM, told him of Cunningham’s movements: of the murder of John Caldwell, and pointed to the smoking ruins of his house, and bade him to fly for his life. He obeyed the friendly warning, and before the morning sun arose upon him, he was in safety.
After the war he married Elizabeth Caldwell. (Her memoir is given in No. 10.) After it was written, at the great age of ninety-five or ninety-six, she was gathered to her fathers. They had two sons and four daughters; of them, the sons, William and General James GILLAM, alone remain. Robert GILLAM was for many years a magistrate of the district; this office he filled with dignity and intelligence. In all other respects, his life was one of “retired happiness.” His wife, children, and friends, with home, sweet home, were his enjoyments. He died at his residence on Page’s Creek, in Newberry. A recollection of his person, as seen from 1808 to 1813, shadows him forth as very much of the same size as his son, ‘William, perhaps a little stouter and more grey than when I last saw him.
His son, General GILLIAM, says “he was a man of great suavity and good nature; honest and upright in all his dealings.” This short, but good character, he richly merited. No man better deserved the name of an honest, good man. He was, I presume, a member of the Presbyterian Church, Little River.
Thus have been presented two soldiers of the old time citizens of Newberry. Seldom does it happen that the father and son serve together in the glorious cause of liberty, and are transmitted on the same page to posterity. But so it has happened in the GILLAM family, and to their memories Newberry points as two of the stars on her crown of glory.
Such was the brief, though plain, direct and positive Ordinance by which the momentous act of Secession was consummated. There was not a single dissenting voice. When the Ordinance was engrossed the members from Newberry, with all the other members of the Convention, affixed their signatures.
The young people of this time, when everything is so calm and quiet, and when all the excitement attending the Presidential election and others is a mere ripple upon the surface of the political sea, and is a subject of mirth rather than of apprehension, are little able to realize the intense feeling of anxiety that prevailed for years before Secession was an accomplished fact, and filled the minds of many persons with an awful sense of some impending and dreadful evil. As an instance, it is well to give hero a brief notice of a public meeting held at Beth Eden on the 31st of October, 1800, of which Dr. Glenn was President and John P. Kinard Secretary. The object of the meeting was explained by the president, which was to form an association for the purpose of assisting our fellow-citizens throughout the State, and of giving additional security to the county against the incendiary attempts of the Abolitionists. He referred to the present state of affairs; the designs of the Black Republican party—their threats—and showed the necessity of union among all classes and parties of men at the South. The necessity of vigilance, caution and prudence. Suitable resolutions were passed, all looking to the preservation of quiet and good order. The following named gentlemen were elected officers of the Association: Dr. George W. Glenn, President; James Caldwell, P. W. GILLIAM, Jos. Y. Hunter, James Spence, H. H. Folk, Vice-Presidents; John P. Kinard, Secretary.

Timeline

Birth
15 Oct 1720 • Granville, North Carolina

Tax List
1755 • Granville County, NC
Robert Gillam is listed with Henry Mitchell and Negro Mosingo. ^[9]

Grant: Robert Gillam
14 Mar 1760 • Granville County, NC
File No. 311, Robert Gillam, 540 acres On both sides of Lick Creek Beginning at a pine, Issued:, 14 Mar 1760, ^[10]

Grant: Robert Gillam
1 Mar 1762 • Granville County, NC
File No. 303, Robert Gillam, 680 acres On both sides lick Swamp Beginning at a pine, Issued: 1 Mar 1762, ^[11]

Taxables
1767 • Granville County, NC
Robert Gillam, Zingo and Lynder, 1-2-3. On same page is Joseph Glover and John Gilliam.

Sale of Estate of John Gilliam
Aug 1768 • Granville County, NC
Ret. of sale to Aug. Ct. 1768; am't. £255. Os. 5d.; among other purchasers are: John, Robert, Peter, Amy and Elizabeth GILLIAM.

Residence
1769 • No Township Listed, Granville County, NC

Grant: John Gilliam
2 Jan 1775 • Ninety Six District, SC
100 acres on Mudlick Creek, Ninety Six District, Names mentioned: John Gilliam, Charles Gilliam, Robert Gilliam

Tax
1779 • Ninety Six District, SC
Robert Gillam

Residence
1780 • Ninety Six District, South Carolina, United States

Revolutionary War
1781 • Newberry County, SC
House was destroyed by Cunningham, 1781.

Grant: David Caldwell
18 Nov 1784 • District Ninety Six, SC
Tract is adjacent John Wallace and Major Robert Gilliam

Residence
1790 • Newberry, South Carolina, United States

Death
bef 29 Feb 1796 • Newberry County, SC

Residence
Abt 1796 • Newberry, South Carolina

Probate
2 Jan 1796 • Newberry, South Carolina, USA

Will of Robert Gillam, Sr
22 Jan 1796 • Newberry County, SC

Proving of Will of Robert Gillam, Sr
29 Feb 1796 • Newberry County, SC

Robert was born in 1740. He passed away in 1796.

In the 1790 census Robert was in Newberry, South Carolina.^[12]

Robert was in a military record.^[13]

Sources

↑ NC Treasurers Comptrollers Tax Lists, Box 1, Granville, 1755, image 3.
↑ Book: 11 pg: 371, Grant no.: 57
↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60621/images/44173_351307-00714?pId=145898
↑ Book: 11 pg: 369
↑ https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/50409290/person/26436939986/media/9b54cb02-0f0e-4a74-8e6c-5d7884cb3f0e?_phsrc=fTx2&usePUBJs=true&galleryindex=1&albums=pg&showGalleryAlbums=true&tab=0&pid=26436939986&sort=-created
↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/21684:2234?ssrc=pt&tid=50409290&pid=26436939986
↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/5058/images/4185996_00061?pId=387668
↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9080/images/007649569_00599?pId=615225
↑ NC Treasurers Comptrollers Tax Lists, Box 1, Granville, 1755, image 3.
↑ Book: 11 pg: 371, Grant no.: 57
↑ Book: 11 pg: 369
↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Newberry, South Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 11; Page: 73; Family History Library Film: 0568151
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #387668 (accessed 29 January 2024)
Robert Gillum in Newberry, South Carolina.
↑ Military: "U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900"
Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1995 #69480 (accessed 29 January 2024)
Name: Robert Gilliam; Application State: South Carolina; Applicant Designation: Widow's Pension Application File; Second Applicant Name: Elizabeth Gilliam; Archive Publication Number: M804; Archive Roll Number: 1075; Total Pages in Packet: 1.