1850 Free Blacks | Gilliams of Virginia

1850 Free Blacks
Updated November 25, 2022

Background
This database details those Free Blacks named Gilliam enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census, the Seventh Census of the United States.

For the first time in the history of the United States census, enumerators of the 1850 census were instructed to record the names of every person in the household. Added to this, enumerators were presented with printed instructions, which account for the greater degree of accuracy compared with earlier censuses. Enumerators were asked to include the following categories in the census: name; age as of the census day; sex; color; birthplace; occupation of males over age fifteen; value of real estate; whether married within the previous year; whether deaf-mute, blind, insane, or "idiotic"; whether able to read or write for individuals over age twenty; and whether the person attended school within the previous year. No relationships were shown between members of a household. The categories allowed Congress to determine persons residing in the United States for collection of taxes and the appropriation of seats in the House of Representatives.

Overview
In 1850 there were 43 Free Blacks and Mulattoes enumerated in the Federal Census living chiefly in the urban areas of Richmond and Petersburg. Of these only 17 were listed as Black; the remaining 26 were enumerated as Mulatto. The oldest was Henry Gilliam of Sussex, age 60. It appears that several of those enumerated were named after former Gilliam slave holders. Walter B. Gilliam, mulatto, age 4, son of Jane Gilliam, is likely named after Walter Boyd Gilliam of Prince George. Undoubtedly, there were other Free Blacks who were not enumerated.

Name County Birth Year Status
Charles Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1835 Mulatto
Hariet S Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1846 Mulatto
Henry C Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1844 Mulatto
Jane Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1839 Mulatto
Jane H Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1814 Mulatto
Rebecca Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1834 Mulatto
Walter B Gilliam Western District, Henrico abt 1849 Mulatto
A Gillam Petersburg abt 1815 Black
Ann Gilliam Petersburg abt 1820 Mulatto
Dacilla Gilliam Petersburg abt 1830 Mulatto
Disey Gilliam Petersburg abt 1831 Mulatto
E Gillam (Eady see 1830) Petersburg abt 1800 Black
E Gillam (Eady see 1830) Petersburg abt 1829 Mulatto
Glidwell Gilliam Petersburg abt 1842 Mulatto
John Gilliam Petersburg abt 1838 Mulatto
Rebecca Gilliam Petersburg abt 1830 Mulatto
Virginia Gilliam Petersburg abt 1839 Mulatto
William Gilliam Petersburg abt 1837 Mulatto
Willis Gilliam (see 1840, Sussex) Petersburg abt 1803 Mulatto
C Gilliam Prince George abt 1798 Mulatto
Maria Gilliam Prince George abt 1842 Mulatto
Mary Gilliam Prince George abt 1843 Black
Mary Gilliam Prince George abt 1837 Mulatto
Mary Gilliam Prince George abt 1836 Mulatto
N Gilliam (Nathaniel? see 1830) Prince George abt 1805 Mulatto
Patsey Gilliam Prince George abt 1810 Black
Reuben Gilliam (see 1840) Prince George abt 1811 Mulatto
Susan Gilliam Prince George abt 1838 Mulatto
W Gilliam Prince George abt 1840 Black
Burbin Gilliam (Burwell?) Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1833 Black
Darrel Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1840 Black
James Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1849 Black
John Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1844 Black
Lewis Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1810 Black
Margarett Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1837 Black
Mary J Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1845 Black
Robert Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1836 Black
Susan Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1820 Black
William Gilliam Nottoway Parish, Southampton abt 1847 Black
Catharine Gilliam Sussex abt 1827 Black
Henry Gilliam Sussex abt 1790 Mulatto
Walton Gilliam Sussex abt 1845 Black
William Gilliam Sussex abt 1848 Mulatto

Sources
  • Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.