Updated November 25, 2022
Overview
James GILLIAM, Jr. operated an Ordinary at his home from about 1770 until about 1804. It is believed that the Ordinary lie "in the County of Cumberland, on both sides of the main road, leading from the courthouse of the said county to the town of Cartersville, containing 152 acres and a half by estimation be the same parcel of land where James GILLIAM now lives and bounded by the land of John Hughes, Francis B. Deane, Polly Woodson, and Randolph Harrison . . ." (Deed GILLIAM to Wharton). A portion of this 152 acre tract lie on a Branch of Deep Run (Deed Carter to GILLIAM).
The ordinary is also mentioned in this advertisement in the Virginia Gazette:
28 Aug 1779
For sale a tract of land lying in Cumberland County near GILLIAM's Ordinary containing 200 acres on which is a dwelling house with a plank floor, a barn, a very valuable apple orchard of ___ trees of the Royal Pagaemain fruit, peach orchard, and . . . nothing is said in respect to the quality of the land as it is preferred the purchaser will first take a view of the land. The payment will be made easy, and the terms know by applying to the subscribers in New Kent, who will ____ a deed for the farm.
Temperance Goldwell, Molly Hardy, John Lacy
[John Lacy was the executor of Nicholas Goldwell. It appears that Nicholas and Temperance purchased this tract from Simon Rowland (Orders, 28 Nov 1774). Simon Rowland is mentioned in the settlement of the estate of James GILLIAM, Sr. The Rowlands also witnesses deeds for GILLIAMs and provide security.]
Publisher: Clarkson & Davis, Page: 3, Column: 1, 1779-08-28
However, the chancery suit “Charles Boatwright vs Elizabeth Clopton,” refers to James Gilliam’s Tavern as being “at the lower” end of the county.
Chancery Suit
Charles Boatright
Versus
Widow of Reuben Clopton, Etc
Cumberland County
Mrs. Elizabeth Clopton
Take notice that on the second Saturday in February next between the ninth of the month at Meridiths Tavern in the upper end of this county between the hours of Eleven in the forenoon and four in the afternoon I shall proceed to take the depositions of Creed Taylor, Stephen Coock, John Dodson, James Doss and John Boatwright and that on the Monday following being the eleventh of the said month at James Gilliams tavern in the lower end of this county between the said hours of eleven and hour I shall also proceed to take the deposition of William Bagby, in a suit in Chancery, Charles Boatright against Elizabeth Clopton, William Clopton, Samuel Clopton, & Reuben Clopton and heirs and representatives of Reuben Clopton deceased non pending in the court of the county of Cumberland, at which places you will attend if you please
Sig: Charles Boatright
January 30th 1799
Library of Virginia Chancery Suits, Cumberland 1799-001, Image 2
James continued to operate the Ordinary until 1804. On 2 Oct 1802, the creditors of the estate of Richard James (the father-in-law of James' son, John, were asked to assemble at the Ordinary.
Richmond and Manchester Advertiser, 23 Oct 1802
James' Ordinary, located on the road leading from the Cumberland Courthouse to Cartersville, should not be confused with that of the Mosby's Tavern which was at the Old Cumberland Courthouse, located in Powhatan at the time of the Revolution. (Powhatan was formed from Cumberland in 1777).
"The social and political activity in Cumberland [Powhatan] County centered, in large part, at Benjamin Mosby’s tavern. Although Mosby died in 1774, the family continued to host court meetings and local activities. Therefore, it became a well-known landmark in colonial Virginia by the time the Revolutionary War broke out. In 1776 Old Cumberland Courthouse was “appointed as the Place of Rendezvous” for the county militia and by 1781 Cumberland Old Courthouse had become a repository “for supplies and garrisons for the militia.” During the Revolutionary War in October 1781, George Washington ordered the remaining “regiment ‘be marched to Cumberland Old Courthouse . . . and march southward.” Colonel Christian Febiger responded to General Washington’s orders in October 1782 calling the Virginia regiment to assemble “for roll call and marching orders outside Cumberland Old Courthouse in western Powhatan County, Virginia.”
The National Register Of Historic Places, Mosby Tavern, Powhatan County, Virginia
Ordinary Licenses
22 Oct 1770
On the motion of James GILLIAM it was ordered that a license be issued for him to keep an ordinary at his house in this county the ensuing year whereupon he with Thomas Fearn his security entered into bond according to law.
James' neighbors and near relatives often provided security for the Ordinary Licenses. James is fined in 1786 along with John Brown for not have a license. It should be noted that James sells Somerset in Powhatan to the Browns and that the Brown Family Cemetery is across from Somerset.
| 22 Oct 1770 | License held, Thomas Fearn, security |
| 20 Oct 1771 | License held, John Newton, security |
| 28 Dec. 1772 | License held, James Hudgens, security |
| 24 Nov. 1777 | License held |
| 23 Aug 1779 | License held, Hezekiah Davidson, security |
| 28 Dec. 1779 | License held, John Hudgens, security |
| 27 Nov. 1780 | License held, Nathaniel Mannin, security |
| 22 Oct. 1781 | License held, Joseph Carrington, security |
| 26 Nov. 1782 | License held, Nathaniel Carrington, security |
| 26 Nov. 1784 | License held, John Wood, security |
| 23 Apr 1785 | Virginia Gazette, Joseph Carrington, D. Sheriff at Cumberland, advertises for sale at Mr. James GILLIAM’s Ordinary to satisfy the taxes due from various individuals. |
| 24 Apr 1786 | License held |
| 28 Aug 1786 | For selling spirituous liquor without license: James GILLIAM, John Brown |
| 24 Jun 1787 | License held |
| 1794 | License held |
| 1795 | License held |
| 1796 | License held |
| 1797 | License held |
| 1798 | License held |
| 1799 | License held |
| 1800 | License held |
| 1801 | License held |
| 1802 | License held |
Sources
- Richmond and Manchester Advertiser, 23 Oct 1802
- The National Register Of Historic Places, Mosby Tavern, Powhatan County, Virginia
- Virginia Gazette. Publisher: Clarkson & Davis, Page: 3, Column: 1, 1779-08-28