William Gilliam (1749 - abt. 1816)

Born 1 Oct 1749 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Ephiah (Ford) Gilliam — married 8 Dec 1807 in Hancock, Georgia, United States

Descendants

Died about 1816 at about age 66 in Jefferson, Georgia, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1749. He was the son of Burwell Gilliam and Ann Johnson. He passed away about 1816.

Research

Caution should be taken when researching the William Gilliams of early Georgia as there were several:

• William Gilliam of Albemarle County, VA who married Elizabeth Ellis. William left an estate in Wilkes County, GA in 1798.
• William Gilliam who married Fanny Walton on 28 May 1807 in Lincoln County, GA. This William died in the Alabama Territory in 1826, in that part that became the Mississippi Territory per estate papers administered by his widow and Robert Walton in Madison County, AL
• William Gilliam who married Ephiah Ford on 8 Dec 1807 in Hancock County, GA. Little is known about this William.
• William Gilliam who married Mason Tarver, the widow of Robert Tarver, on 9 Aug 1809 in Wilkes County, GA. William Gilliam may have died before 1819 when Richard Tarver makes his will remembering sister Gilliam and makes provision for the education of John Gilliam.
• William Gilliam, son of Burrell Gilliam of Northampton County, NC. Per administration papers of Adams and Burrell Gilliam, 1815, Northampton County granted Power of Attorney to son-in-law, Elias Hodges. Power of Attorney stated that both William Gilliam and Elias Hodges are of Jefferson County, GA.
• William Gilliam who married Miss Harris the daughter of Edward Harris who left an estate about 1826 in Greene County, GA mentioning son Gilliam Harris. William Gilliam and Miss Harris married before 1818. This William is the father of William Harris Gilliam who married Lucinda Fambrough per deed: Harris Heirs to William H Gilliam dated 22 Oct 1847 in Greene County. Amy, Sarah & Polly Harris gave land in Greene and Oglethorpe Counties, GA to William Harris Gilliam. They had inherited this land from their father, Edward Harris. Living on an adjacent tract was their brother, Gilliam Harris.
• William Gilliam, son of Devereaux Gilliam and Edith Ellis, married Jean Smith about 1791. She was the daughter of William Smith who left a will dated 1815 in Patrick County, VA mentioning daughter Jean Gilliam and grandchildren Nancy E Gilliam and Susanna Gilliam. This William died before December 1826 in Alabama per probate records in Oglethorpe County, GA which state William was "late of Alabama." His administrator was son-in-law Mark Smith. (This William Gilliam is the nephew of the William Gilliam of Albemarle County, VA above.)

Both of the Williams that died in Alabama both died about 1826, making it difficult not to co-mingled their lines. Fortunately, both left estates one in Madison County, AL and, the other, in Oglethorpe County, GA.

In the 1827 Land Lottery, "the orphans [plural] of William Gillum, decd" received one draw of land: Section 3, District 5, Lot 44. Since two William Gilliams died about 1826 it is difficult to determine who was awarded the Lottery Land.

Sources

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/50409290/person/26123180210/facts