Updated November 25, 2022
Overview
John GILLIAM and his wife Elizabeth were living in Logan County, Kentucky when he filed for a Revolutionary Pension. The papers are in file W-8849 in the National Archives, Washington, D. C., Revolutionary Pension Division. The certificate, No. 13656, was issued on 30 May 1833, based on the Act of June 7, 1832, at the rate of $43.33 per year, beginning on 4 March 1831. Elizabeth GILLIAM, the widow of John, was granted $43.33 per year from 4 March 1848. Her certificate, No. 1063, issued on 1 August 1848 under the Act of February 2, 1848 is in the Archives' records and was also filed with the Kentucky Agency.
John GILLIAM filed for a pension on 9 November 1832, aged 73 years, while a resident of Logan County, Kentucky, based on service rendered in Virginia as a private. He enlisted in Albemarle County, Virginia. In his declaration he stated that he enlisted at sixteen years of age in 1775-1776 under the command of Michael Wallace, Lt. James Wood, and Capt. Lina Jones. He was discharged at Richmond, Virginia after three months service.
His second tour was under Lt. James Wood, Capt. Nath. Garland, and Col. Reuben Lindsay. After three months, he was discharged without a written discharge.
His third tour was as a substitute under Col. Taylor for two months. His fourth tour for six months was under Capt. Slaughter and Col. Chas. Dabney. He was at the siege of Little York and then was detached at Richmond to guard prisoners until the end of the war.
John GILLIAM was born in Albemarle County, Virginia on 10 August 1760. On 4 April 1833, Evan Watson, an old fellow soldier, gave an affidavit to prove that he served part of the time with John GILLIAM. Thomas M. Smith and Jno. H. Thomas both testified regarding John GILLIAM.
On 22 December 1845, Elizabeth GILLIAM, aged 79, of Logan County, Kentucky stated that she married John GILLIAM on 25 December 1785 in Albemarle County, Virginia and that she and her husband moved to Madison County, Kentucky where they resided until 1821. They then moved to Logan County, Kentucky where they lived until 4 June 1845 when John GILLIAM died.
On 26 June 1848, Elizabeth GILLIAM stated that she was 82 years of age and that her husband drew $43.33 per year pension.
A certificate of marriage by the clerk of Albemarle County, December 1785, names John GILLIAM and Elizabeth Bailey. The application for license was signed by John GILLIAM and John Bailey of Albemarle County.
Charles Bailey, aged 78, and Pleasant GILLIAM, aged 74, residents of Albemarle County, on 17 November 1845, made statements that they were present at the marriage on Xmas Day, December 25th. They further stated that the deponents had children born previous to 1794 and that before 1816, they had moved to Kentucky. Nancy Thomas, daughter of the late John GILLIAM and his wife Elizabeth, testified that she was born on 10 February 1790 and that the second child was Charles P. GILLIAM. A statement made by John R. Aingell also verified the information submitted. On 15 March 1856, Elizabeth GILLIAM, aged 90, made application for Bounty land to which she may have been entitled.
Logan County}
State of Kentucky} S.S.
On this 9 day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the judge of the Logan Circuit Court in the State of Kentucky (said Court being now in Session – John Gillam a resident of said County in the State aforesaid aged 73 years who being first duly Sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated. To wit in the year 1775 or 1776 he was enrolled in a company of Militia he being about 16 years old, in Albemarle County Virginia commanded by Michael
Wallace, a requisition made about this for militiamen to march to the lower part of Virginia he was in the division in said Company which was drafted his Lieutenant James Wood was also drafted or volunteered and went on the same campaign. We rendesvoused at a place called the Old Wells in Flavannah [sic: Fluvanna] County which adjoins Albemarle here the Company was organized and I was placed in the command of Captain Lina[?] Jones [probably Landon Jones], said James Wood still holding his rank as Lieutenant. from hence we marched to Williamsburg where we joined a considerable army of Militia. We remained some time in the neighbourhood of Williamsburg. We marched during the Campaign to the Sea board, but we was in no battle. He was discharged at the City of Richmond, after having performed a tour of duty of three months. whether he got a written discharge or not he does not now recollect, but if did get a written discharge it is lost or mislaid.
The second tour of duty was entered upon some months after his return to said Albemarle County he was again drafted from the said company which he mustered in before, his old Captain having resigned, his Lieutenant James Wood commanded the said Company. We rendesvoused at one Randolph Watsons near the bird [sic: Bird’s] Ordinary his Captain who took command of him was named Nathaniel Garland. Col Reuben Lindsay. from here we marched to Richmond from hence to Hampton. from this place he was detached together with about sixty other soldiers (riflemen) to watch the movements of the British vessels which lay about eight miles from Hampton in the Bay and to prevent the escape of the negroes to said vessels. a circumstance took place here which is recollected distinctly. after an excessive nights rain which considerably wet our rifles we asked leave of the officer who commanded us to suffer us to fire our guns. we were permitted to do so and marched out and fired alternately at a pine tree which stood about sixty yards from our tents. the guns we [sic: were?] our firing being made known we marched back to Hampton & our officer put under arrest for his indulgence to us in suffering us to fire our guns. The vessels alluded to went into the mouth of James River and we marched up to Richmond. After remaining here some time he was again discharged after having served another tour of three months but did not receive as he recollects a written discharge. After the first Tour of duty as first set forth went as a substitute for William Rigins and served a tour of two months at the Albemarle Barracks under Col. [Francis] Taylor. Some months before the capture of Cornwallace [sic: Cornwallis, 19 Oct 1781] he was again called into the service for six months as a drafted militiaman from said County of Albemarle. we rendesvoused at Goochland Court House and Col Charles Dabney took command of the regiment to which I was attached at the place of rendesvous. from hence we marched directly to Williamsburg and after some (but the precise time he cannot now recollect) we marched to Little York. he was there during the whole siege [28 Sep - 19 Oct 1781]. after the siege was over the Company to which he belonged was detached to Richmond to guard the prisoners and tories. Here he remained until the end of his tour which was six months. He does not think he got a written discharge. Our Captain Slaughter commanded the company at the time our services expired. He received the money to pay the company & went off and kept the whole of it & the soldiers never received one cent for this tour of duty. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John [his X mark] Gilliam
Sources
- Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements. Pension Application of John Gilliam: W8849. Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris. www.southerncampaign.org