Robert Gilliam (abt. 1767 - bef. 1821)

Born about 1767 in Cumberland County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died before 21 Mar 1821 before about age 54 in Greene, Georgia, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Allman [send private message]

Biography

Robert Gilliam was son of John Gilliam and Martha Taylor.

It appears that Robert removed to Georgia before 1799. The inventory of his estate suggests that he was an Ordinary Keeper like his uncle James Gilliam.

Robert married Susan Cade Alford. In 1820 he was recorded living in Captain Allen's district, in Greene County, Georgia. Among his neighbors on the 1820 census were Lodowick Alford and Julius Alford. Robert's half siblings Polly Stovall (the widow of George Stovall), and William Wilburn also appear on the same page. Josiah E Maddox, brother in law to Robert, is also on the same page.

Timeline

Birth
abt 1767 • Cumberland County, VA
Named after his uncle Robert Taylor

Will of James Gilliam Sr
28 Sep 1774 • Cumberland County, VA
Mentions grandson, Robert Gilliam

Petition to Clear Appomattox River
30 Oct 1787 • Powhatan County, VA
Signed by Robert Gilliam

Tithables
1789-1795 • Cumberland County, VA
In 1788, Robert is listed with James Gilliam, Jr

Deed: Robert Gilliam to Daniel Boatright
27 May 1793 • Cumberland County, VA 40 acres, Willises River. ^[1]

Deed: Robert Gilliam to John Sandidge
13 Oct 1797 • Cumberland County, VA
tract or parcel of [land] lying on the heads of Cannons branch, a water of Willises River in the said County containing by estimation 200 acres more or less bounded by the lands of Joseph Carrington, Robert Carrington, Philemon or Hezekiah Davidson . . .

Deed: Robert Gilliam To Robert Taylor
18 Apr 1799 • Powhatan County, VA
Robert states he is of Jackson County, GA. Peter, purchased of John Sandridge, is sold to Robert Taylor.

Deed: Charles Daverson of Jackson County, GA, to Robt Gilliam
1 Aug 1799 • Jackson County, GA
To Robert Gilliam of sd County and state, land in Cumberland County, VA on James River & Cannon’s Branch, bounded by Codrington Carrington and William Daverson. Teste Wm Strong JP, George Stovall, William McClure, John Moore.

Taxes
1799 • Cunningham District, Jackson County, GA
Robert Gilliam

Taxes
1801 • Greene County, GA
Robert Gilliam

Will of Joseph Mayo
2 Apr 1802 • Cumberland County, VA
Emancipates Tiller & asks Executors to assist in emancipation of her husband, York & children. Will gives her a tract of land purchased of Robert Gilliam & John Sandridge on right side of main road adj. Robt Carrington decd & Phil Davidson, called Figgs

Deed: Robert Gillum to William Bolling
1803 • Jackson County, GA
Robert Gillum to William Bolling, 100 acres, Jackson County on Appalachy River. Capt. Sparks District.

Deed: Robert GILLUM of Greene County to Charles Davidson
5 Aug 1805 • Greene County, GA
Robert GILLUM of Greene County sold to Charles Davidson and Judith, his wife, for the sum of $200, 50 acres of land in Greene County. Wit: George Stovall, J. P. Rec: 7 Oct 1805. ^[2]

Taxes
1805 • Greene County, GA
Robert Gilliam

Land Lottery
25 Sep 1806 • Greene County, GA
A Certified list of people eligible for the 1807 land lottery, GA. Included was Robert Gilliam, one draw in Capt. Butler's District Greene County. Also in this district was Robert's mother, Martha Wilburn.

Taxes
1815 • Greene County, GA
1815 Robert Gilliam paid taxes in Greene County, Lodowick Alford District. In same district were his mother Martha Wilburn and his step-brother Jack Wilburn.

Will of Charles Davidson
24 Jan 1816 • Clarke County, GA
To Robert Gilham, John Adams, Alpha Adams, Hezekiah Adams, Wm Adams, Warren Stone, Judith Adams, Lucy Adams. Exor: John Adams. Rec: 6 Feb 1816. page 60

Marriage
bef 1819
Susan Cade ALFORD
(1786–1869)

Residence
1820 • Capt Allens District, Greene, Georgia, United States ^[3]

Death
bef 9 Mar 1821 • Greene County, GA

Will of Robert Gilliam
1821 • Greene County, GA
Lodwick Alford was listed as the administrator of the estate of Robert Gilliam. At that time, Robert's estate consisted of 16 slaves, 436 acres of land in Greene County on Greenbrier Creek and 202 1/2 acres (one lot) of land in Henry County. [2]

Probate
20 Mar 1821 • Greene, Georgia, USA

Death

Robert passed away about 1820. His will was written 26 May 1820, and proved 21 Mar 1821.^[4] Robert's estate appraisal was returned to the court 21 Mar 1821.^[5]

His widow went on to marry Thomas Winston.

Slaves

The estate inventory of Robert Gilliam in 1821 names these enslaved persons:^[5][6] According to Robert's will^[4] his widow was to receive all the enslaved except, 2 to be passed to Polly Stovall, 2 to Josiah Maddox, 2 to Thomas Wilbourn, and 2 to Jack Wilbourn.

• Park
• Mary
• Violet
• Comfort
• Nanny
• Prudence
• Pleasant
• Booker
• Bush and
• Handy
• Caroline and
• Jinny
• Lotte and
• Cherry
• Silvey and
• Nimrod
• Peter
• Betty
• Jim
• Frank
• Charles
• Chaney
• Losson

The distribution was as follows:

Violet and Comfort to Josiah E. Maddox (half brother in law to Robert)

Park and Mary to Thomas Wilbourn (half brother to Robert)

Booker and Pleasant to Polly Stovall (half sister to Robert)

Nancy and Prudence to Jack Wilburn (half brother to Robert)

The remaining enslaved persons went to Susan Gilliam: Bush, Handy, Caroline, Jenny, Lotte, Cherry, Chaney, Silvy, Betty, Peter, Lawson, Charles, Jim, Frank, and Nimrod.

Transcription of receipt:

Received on Twenty first of March One thousand Eight hundred and Twenty One of Lodowick Alford and Jack Wilburn administrators with the wife annexed of the last Will and Testament of Robert Gilliam late of Green County Dec'd. fifteen negroes (to wit), Bush a boy, Handy a boy, Caroline and Jinny, Lotte Cherry and Chaney all girls, Silvey and Betty women Peter Losson and Charly men, Jim, Frank and Nimod all boys together with the tract of Land on which Sd R Gilliam lived with the stock of Horses, hogs, Cattle and sheep, household and Kitchen furniture with every thing appertaining to sd premises in full of a legacy bequeathed me in the last will and Testament of the sd Robt Gilliam

S C Gilliam

attest John Park

Research Notes

This set of notes authored by Karen Allman 3/24/2022.

I have an interest in documenting the enslaved persons in the estate of Robert Gilliam that passed to his widow Susan Cade Alford, as well as the enslaved persons in the estate of Susan's second husband Thomas Johnson Winston.

Robert was the son of Martha Taylor and JOHN Gilliam. Martha was first married to JOHN Gilliam, then to John Wilburn and lastly to John Deshazor. In keeping with the Wikitree approach of having one profile per person and linking family members, I have reviewed the half-siblings of Robert Gilliam. Rather than losing focus on my primary task at hand (of documenting those enslaved as referenced above), I'll leave notes here for future follow-up.

Robert had a half-sister Mary Wilburn who married George Stovall. There is a Mary Welborn here at wikitree married to George Stovall. I believe the George Stovall just mentioned is the correct brother-in-law to Robert Gilliam. I believe the wife of George is misidentified and should show as the daughter of Martha Taylor and John Wilburn.

I believe the John Wilburn who was married to Martha Taylor, and was stepfather to Robert Gilliam is the same person as the DAR Ancestor shown as follows: See lineage of John Jack Wilburn, brother of Mary Wilburn who married George Stovall.

DAR Genealogical Research Databases

They descend from DAR patriot

WELLBORN, JOHN Ancestor #: A122102 Service:    VIRGINIA    Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, PRIVATE Birth: CIRCA 1757    Death: 12- -1795     POWHATAN CO VIRGINIA Service Description: 1) 3RD VA REGT CAPT ROBERT POWELL 2) PS - POWHATAN CO

Sources

1. ↑ Deed Book 7, page 258
2. ↑ Greene County, GA, Deed Book BB, p234
3. ↑ 1820 Census [1]
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Wills, 1798-1914: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Wills, 1798-1914 Wills 1798-1914 Davis, Lewis - Hall, Hugh
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Greene > Wills 1798-1914 Davis, Lewis-Hall, Hugh > image 592 of 790; Citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia.
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 30 March 2022)
   • Greene Co, GA, loose papers, wills
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Inventories, appraisements and sales of estates, 1798-1893 Inventories, appraisements, sales, v. H-I 1814-1831
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Greene > Inventories and appraisements 1814-1831 vol H-I > image 171 of 522; Citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia.
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 30 March 2022)
   • 1821 Inventory Bk H p.253
6. ↑ Estate records, 1790-1943: "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990"
   Catalog: Estate records, 1790-1943 Estate records 1790-1943 Gatlin, James - Goldwin, Henry
   Image path: Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990 > Greene > Estates 1790-1943 Gatlin, James-Goldwin, Henry > image 1019 of 1235; Citing Houston County Probate Court Judge, Georgia.
   FamilySearch Image (accessed 30 March 2022)
   • Loose probate papers