Jonathan J. Washington Gillam (aft. 1753 - 1835)

Born after 1 Jan 1753 in Lancaster, PA

Husband of Sarah (Vardamen) Gillam — married 1783 in New Hanover Church (Lutheran), Fayette Co., PA

Husband of Mary Rainey (Carwile) Gillam — married about Feb 1805 in Lancaster Co., PA

Descendants

Died 24 Mar 1835 before age 82 in Alpine, Fayette Co., IN

Problems/Questions Profile managers: John Martin [send private message] and Mona Young [send private message]

Biography

Private Jonathan Gillam served with Westmoreland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Jonathan Gillam performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Jonathan Gillam is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A044764.

Jonathan was born in 1753, specific date unknown even to him. At age four he was bound out to a David Reed. At age 15 he was given his first pair of shoes by neighbors.

Three years before the Revolutionary War they moved to edge of Col. George Washington's land.

He is listed as a private during the Revolutionary War and is documented as a proven patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Indiana DAR notes state that he enlisted and served in PA and VA troops.

Enlistment was as follows:

Sep 1774, 4 mo. Capt. Miller, Col. Crawford; 15 Aug 1775-Nov 1775, Capt. Miller, Col. Neville; Aug 1777, 3 mo., Capt. Miller, Col. Williamson; 20 May 1778, 5 mo., Capt. Miller, Col. Crawford; Fall of 1778, 30., Capt. M'Geigan, Col. Crawford; Spring 1779, 1 year Indian spy, ,Capt. M'Geigan, Col. Neville. During his services, he aided in destroying many Indian towns.

In addition to the above, the PA State Library has a record in which the name of Jonathan Gillams appears on the rolls as private in Capt. Reeds Co., Fourth Battalion. Washington Co. Militia, ordered to rendezvous 14 May 1782.

He was married to Sarah Vardeman in 1783 at New Hanover Church (Lutheran) in Fayette Co., PA.

His first children were born in PA. Some records suggest the family moved to KY in 1783-1785.

In 1791 he was granted 180 acres in Dearborn Co., IN (from which Franklin Co. later was formed). (Possibly this was a land grant for service during Revolutionary War, but that has not been proven.)

He and family moved to that land in about 1798.

His last child (eleventh) with Sarah was born there 2 Sept 1799. She died a day later on 3 Sep 1799.

Jonathan married Mary Carwile in Feb. 1805 in Lancaster Co., PA, then brought her to his farm in IN. They had six children. He died on 24 Mar 1835 in Alpine, Fayette, IN. She died 19 Apr 1837.

According to IN DAR summary, Jonathan died 24 Mar 1835 in Fayette Co., IN.

Sources

• Edward C. Crider, author of Genealogy of the Jonathan Gillam Family (booklet)

Daughters of the American Revolution have listed him as a private and accepted him as a proven patriot of the Revolutionary War. DAR of Indiana has an extensive bio on him.

• http://www.waynevaughn.com/960.htm

U.S. Federal Census Collection:

1820 Columbia, Fayette, Indiana 1830 Fayette, Indiana

• History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana

Chapter II: First Plan Jul 1821 80 acres, section 9

• History of Fayette County, her People, Industries, and Institutions

Ch VII Township of Fayette County, p. 215 Section 29 sold in 1813, 1816, 1831-1834 to Jonathan Gillam (and others...)

• A Roster of Revolutionary Ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the Revolution Commemoration of the United States of America, Vol. I, pp. 240-241.

• Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots:

Cemetery - Homestead W of Alpine, Fayette Co., IN 72

• American Biological Genealogical Index (ABGI):

Vol. 62, p. 516. MILITARY

• A roster of Revolutionary ancestors of the Indiana Daughters of the American Revolution [1]

• Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783 [2]

• U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [3]

• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 for Jonathan Gillam [4]

• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 for Jonathan Gillam [5]

• U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 for Jonathan Gillam [6]

• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 for Jonathan Gillam [7]