Thomas Dillard Sr. (bef. 1704 - bef. 1774)

Born before 1704 in King and Queen, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Winifred (Nalle) Dillard — married 1728 in Essex, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 23 Jun 1774 at about age 70 in Pittsylvania County, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Thomas Dillard Sr. was a Virginia colonist.

Lt. Col. Thomas Dillard Sr. was born about 1695-1704. He patented large tracts of land on StraightStone Creek, Halifax/Pittsylvania, Virginia. It is speculated that Edward and George who also patented land near Thomas were brothers.

He wrote his will in Pittsylvania County 4 May 1774 and it was probated 23 June 1774 naming sons James and Thomas Dillard. It was Capt. Thomas Dillard, Jr (b. Abt 1730) son of Col. Thomas Dillard, Sr. (1695-1774) who married Martha Webb.

Note: Donelson, Hutchings, Goad were all from this County and moved to what became E. Tennessee (then North Carolina) in the 1780's. Col John Donelson was the father of Mrs. Andrew Jackson:

From "Dillard's in America"

George Dillard (ca 1630 – ca 1704):

George landed at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony after a voyage from England in 1650, or shortly before, likely as a young, illiterate indentured servant (as were most immigrants of that period). 1650 was, indeed, very early in the colonization of the North American continent, and as such, George would be considered one of the original settlers.

After his indentured servitude obligation was fulfilled, George prospered. In 1665 he received a headright land grant of 250 acres in New Kent County, Virginia (later King and Queen County), adjacent to land he already owned, located “upon branches of Tassitiomp Swamp”. Later land records refer to a “Geo. Dillard Plantation on the N. side of Mattapony River”.

Because of his servitude obligation and the necessity to establish himself in the Colonies, it is probable George married and began raising a family late in life. It is speculated he married about 1666 although no data exist on his marriage or his wife. Despite the hardships, George succeeded and prospered. One genealogist sums up his life as follows: “In [Colonial] Virginia, a land where many more than half the new people died, George Dillard was a survivor. Where there were four men to every woman, George had a wife. During a severe depression from 1660 until near the end of the century, George Dillard became a land owner, something achieved by a small percentage of those who came as indentured servants and had to work four, five, or seven years … to pay their transportation expense. We do not know the hardships George endured during those years when he had no personal freedom, when he had to do as his master directed, when he could not marry.” Little is known of George because in colonial America few records were kept and many of those that were kept were destroyed or burned. Nor is anything known about his wife or female children. He had five known sons, all of whom married and established families in the Virginia colony.

Note a. Indentured Servants: Many persons were brought to theColonies as indentured servants. Their passage fare would

be paid in return for indentured servitude of four to seven years, depending on age and skills. After this period of servitude they became free and could own land.

Birth and Baptism of Thomas Dillard

Thomas Dillard, Sr. was born 1695- 1704 in King and Queen County, Virginia. d. bef 23 June 1774.

Note: In 1734 Orange County (now Culpeper County), Virginia was opened and land put on the market. The Virginia General Assembly offered incentives for the settlement of the land.This was a good offer for a young man newly married, wishing to establish himself in life.

In early 1735 both Thomas and his brother George purchased land there. Thomas purchased 550 acres on the Great Fork of the Rappahannock River, down Muddy Run, for £2.s15 (about $7.15). Other family members followed them there in later years. In subsequent years. Thomas was involved in other land transactions, some for over a thousand acres – in 1749 he sold 1,100 acres.

Prior to 1752 Thomas again migrated, this time to newly created Halifax County (later Pittsylvania Co.) where he purchased 400 acres. He was followed there by his two adult sons, James and Thomas, Jr.

In 1752 Thomas, along with others, took an oath: “The Teste: I do declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in the Elements of Bread and Wine at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever.” All county and church officials were required to subscribe to The Teste to conform to the doctrine of the Church of England. Also required were oaths of loyalty to His Majesty’s person and Government. He was Lay Reader at Little Fork in St. Mark’s Parish (Church of England), and was Lay Reader, Vestryman, and Church Warden in Antrim Parish. He was also a Justice of the Peace in Halifax and Pittsylvania Counties and an officer of the militia.

These data and other records show that Thomas was a prominent and prosperous landowner, active in community affairs as well as church matters; and from 1752 to 1755, during the French and Indian War, he was a Captain of the militia.

In 1752 Thomas Dillard, Sr. was a vestry man in Atrim Parish, Halifax County, Virginia.

1752 appointed Captain of Foot in Halifax County.

1753 appointed Justice of the Peace.

1755 appointed Major of the militia for Halifax

1767 appointed Lt. Col. of militia Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

1768 appointed boundary commissioner.

1772 appointed coroner.

Marriage

Thomas Dillard married Winnifred Nalle aka North in 1729. This was Winifred's second marriage.

Death/Burial/Probate

Thomas executed his will while living in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and died there between 4 May 1774 when his will was written and 23 June 1774 when it was probated.

There are only two children mentioned in the will, which he specifically names as my two sons, James and Thomas.

Will of Thomas Dillard^[1]
Written: 4 May 1774
Proved: 23 June 1774
Pittsylvania County, Colony of Virginia
Son: James Dillard during his life the following negroes: Tamer, Hanady(?), and their increase and Jefrey and Fanny, children of Sarah. After decease of James Dillard I give unto Thomas Dillard, son of James, the said mentioned negroes, Fanny and Ben and other negroes lent to James Dillard. After his decease, they and their increase to be equally divided between the children of said James Dillard.
After my decease I demand that the residue of household of furniture and stock to be equally divided between my two sons, James and Thomas Dillard Jr, in trust under the following purvisions:
I appoint said Thomas Dillard Jr, brother of said James, his trustee and do demand that Thomas Dillard Jr by actual deed denoothen(?)
The profits from crops of the aforesaid negroes and cattle shall be applied for the use and advantage of the said James Dillard and his family.
Son: James Dillard - My tract of land on Straight Stone Creek.
Whereas I have sold to James Martin, of Bedford County, two tracts of land lying in the said county-when paid to my executor it is to be conveyed by deed to said martin or his assigns.
Son: Thomas Dillard Jr, and his heirs, the land and plantation whereon I now live and also the following negroes and their increase: Will, Sarah, and her children, Robbin, Ben, Nan, Judy and her child, Sara, with all the remainder of my estate, not before mentioned.
Witnesses: Thomas Vaughan, John Dillard and Elizabeth Dillard
Executor: son, Thomas Dillard Jr

Executor's Bond - Estate of Thomas Dillard 23 June 1774
Pittsylvania County, Colony of Virginia
Thomas Dillard appointed as Executor. Robert Williams and James Callaway were surety.

Proposed but not proven Family Lineage

George DILLARD - First Generation

1. George DILLARD was born in 1630/1634 in England. He is believed to be the George Dillard with 325 acres on the 1704 QRR.

It is believed that George Dillard the Immigrant had the following children: (Note: The following list of children has been largely disproven and was probably taken from H. Moorman Dillard's work)

:2 M i James DILLARD b. Abt 1658 d. Abt 1714. James married Louise PAGE who was born in 1662 in Bedfont, Middlesex, England. (Disputed) :3 F ii Mary DILLARD b. Abt 1667. (Disputed) :4 F iii Sally DILLARD b. Abt 1669. (Disputed) :5 M iv Edward (Dilliard) DILLARD b. Abt 1672 :6 M v Henry DILLARD b. Abt 1673. (Disputed) :7 M vi Nicholas DILLARD b. Abt 1675 :8 M vii Thomas DILLARD b. Abt 1677.

George DILLARD - Proposed Second Generation

5. Edward (Dilliard) DILLARD (George) was born about 1672.

Note: Edward possibly had the following children. He baptized his children at Christ Church Parish, Middlesex, Virginia. There should be records for them if they are his sons.

+ 9 M i Thomas DILLARD b. 3 Aug 1706 + 10 M ii George DILLARD + 11 M iii Edward DILLARD II + 12 M iv John DILLARD Sr

George DILLARD - :Proposed Third Generation

Thomas DILLARD (Edward, George) was born on 3 Aug 1706 in King and Queen Co., Virginia.

(Need Christ Church Parish baptismal record for birth date) His will was written 5 May 1774 and probated 23 June 1774 near Straight Stone Creek, Pittsylvania County, VA..

Thomas married Winifred Nalle (widow NORTH) about 1729 in Essex Co., Virginia. Winifred was born in about 1705 in Essex Co., Virginia. She died about 1744 in Culpeper Co., Virginia. Her parents are believed to be Martin Nalle and Mary (Alden) Nalle

Thomas and Winifred had the following documented children:

13 M i Thomas DILLARD, Jr b. Abt. 1730. + 14 M ii James DILLARD

Research Notes

• French and Indian War.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The French and Indian War (1754–63) comprised the North American theater of the worldwide Seven Years' War of 1756–63. It pitted the colonies of British America against those of New France. Both sides were supported by military units from their parent countries of Great Britain and France, as well as by American Indian allies. At the start of the war, the French North American colonies had a population of roughly 60,000 settlers, compared with 2 million in the British North American colonies. The outnumbered French particularly depended on the Indians. The European nations declared war on one another in 1756 following months of localized conflict, escalating the war from a regional affair into an intercontinental conflict. The name French and Indian War is used mainly in the United States. It refers to the two main enemies of the British colonists: the royal French forces and the various American Indian forces allied with them.

Sources

1. ↑ Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934: "Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934"
   Catalog: Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934 Deeds and wills book, v. 5, 1778 (1777)-1780 (1781).
   Film number: 007646006 > image 215 of 283
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-G9N3-K (accessed 15 May 2022)

See Also:

• Information about Thomas Dillard Sr.

• U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 for Thomas Dillard Virginia, 14th Regiment, 1777-1778 (Folders 316-326).
• (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DG-WY78)

• A collection of Dillard Genealogical research papers, essays and other miscellaneous materials which may be relevant to those interested in Dillard Genealogy.(https://web.archive.org/web/20090626100355/http://www.mgaulden.com/dillardinfo.htm)

• Dillard Family Association. The Dillard Family Database is now on-line! The Original Database put together by Dorothy Dillard Hughes, retrieved from the Rabun County Library.
• Dillard Annuals
• Dillard Surname at Genealogy.com
• Thomas DILLARD This site maintained by Sandra Branson Young
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172724481/thomas-dillard : accessed 15 May 2022), memorial page for Thomas “Captain” Dillard Sr. (1695–4 May 1774), Find A Grave: Memorial #172724481, ; Maintained by Robie Merritt Loriaux-Roberts (contributor 47189425) Burial Details Unknown. [Note: This is a record created after the fact with no stone/citations and should not be used as a citation for any facts about Thomas Dillard.]