Gilliam Fact or Fiction?
Updated February 2, 2026
Overview:
Many families have cherished traditions about their families; however, these traditions often interfere with the research process. This page attempts to sift GILLIAM tradition from GILLIAM fact.
Did an Elizabeth Lawson marry a William Gilliam ?
Did a Margaret Lawson marry a Richard Gilliam ?
Much ink has been spilt over the identity of the spouses of the earliest Gilliams of Charles City County and New Kent County.
It has been assumed that since Richard Gilliam and Margaret, his wife, had a son named, Epaphroditus born about 1707, and since Epaphroditus is an uncommon name, Epaphroditus Gilliam must have been named after a near relative.
It should be noted that Epaphroditus is a Biblical name and it could be that Epaphroditus Gilliam was simply named after the prominent first-century Christian and messenger from the Philippian church who delivered financial support to the Apostle Paul during his Roman imprisonment. Highlighted in Philippians 2:25-30 and 4:18, he is praised by Paul as a "brother," "fellow worker," and "fellow soldier" who risked his life and nearly died from illness to serve the ministry.
Other than the Biblical Epaphroditus who could the namesake of Epaphroditus Gilliam of New Kent and later Charles City County be?
Epaphroditus Lawson of Isle of Wight County and Lancaster County has come to the forefront and as a result Margaret, the wife of Richard, has become Margaret “Lawson” and Richard’s unnamed mother has become Elizabeth “Lawson.”
There were several Elizabeth Lawsons of early Colonial Virginia.
Epaphroditus Lawson (abt 1607-bef 2 Jun 1652), son of John Lawson and Sarah, said to be be Sarah Rowland, is said to have had a sister Elizabeth who married Thomas Madestard. Interestingly, Epaphroditus is also said to have married an Elizabeth Madestard. He and Elizabeth had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married before 1667 in Old Rappahannock County, VA a Robert Payne.
Epaphroditus’ widow Elizabeth is said to have married secondly before 6 Oct 1652 William Clapham, Jr., and thirdly before 5 Feb 1661 Alexander Fleming.
Epaphroditus’ brother Rowland had a daughter Elizabeth who married William Lawson "of Lawnes Creek", also a son of John Lawson and Sarah Rowland.
Epaphroditus’ brother Richard is said to have married Elizabeth Allen who secondly is said to have married in 1659 Thomas R Page.
There are no other known Elizabeth Lawsons who could have married either William Gilliam of Charles City
There is only one known Margaret Lawson of early Colonial Virginia.
Col. John Thorogood married Margaret Lawson on March 19, 1695 in Princess Anne County. Margaret was the daughter of Lt. Col. Anthony Lawson and Ann Keeling. This Margaret is said to have married secondly Charles Sayer.
October 1676 – In the name of God, Amen, I George Lawson Jr. of ye Eastern Branch of Elizabeth River in ye County of Lower Norfolk being in reasonable health and of sound mind… Make, Confirm and ordained ye my Last Will and Testament, revoking all former Wills... I give unto Mary, my wife, all my Estate both of land, goods and chattel and all rights, claims or judgments to me belonging or in whose hand or custody to have, hold and enjoy ye same as long as she lives and upon ye death, Estate to be divided between ___ ___ ___ , one half of my Estate to Mary, my wife, to her legal Executors and Administrator forever. I do give unto Thomas Lawson, Mary Lawson and Margaret Lawson, son and daughters, unto Mr. Anthony Lawson ye one half of my Estate I do live upon after ye death of my wife. Unto Thomas Lawson, one quarter and unto Mary Lawson one quarter and unto Margaret Lawson ye one half, also I do give unto Edward Moseley one mare. Also I do appoint Mary, my wife to be ye sole Executrix of this my Last Will and hereby require her to pay all my just debts, paid and discharged in confirmation of all and every ye promises, I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Signed George Lawson. Witnesses Richard Hays and John Breath. Presented in Court by Richard Hays 15 August 1678.
Lower Norfolk County, VA Deed Book 4, 1675-1686, page 34-6
There are no other known Margaret Lawsons who could have married either Richard Gilliam of New Kent
There were several individuals named Lawson in New Kent.
Jonas and John, the sons of William Lawson of Lawnes Creek, above, settled in New Kent as did a Nicholas Lawson.
From the Parish Register:
John, a son to John Lawson, baptized 8 May 1690.
Elenor, a daughter of John Lawson and Judith his wife, baptized 10 July 1698.
From the Parish Vestry:
1689
At a vestry held at St. Peters Parish Church on 4 May 1689 – It was ordered by the vestry, in obedience to an order of New Kent County Court dated 28 February 1689, that a Procession and Remarking of the bounds of each person land be done in the Parish between 10 May and 10 June 1689. In the list of names of Processioner were Nick Lossen and Thomas Moorman, St Peter's Vestry, page 10.
1704
Rent Roll of the Lands held of Her Majestic in the Parish of St. Peters and St. Paul’s, anno. 1704: Nicholas Lawson 200 acres
John Lawson 50 acres Early Virginia Families Along the James River Vol. I & II, 1704
St Paul’s Parish was formed from St Peter’s. Lawsons appear in the Vestry of St. Paul’s.
20 Apr 1704
Act that divided St. Peter’s Parish. The dividing line of the two parishes would be from the mouth of Maccadecun Creed, then up the said creek to Mr. John Lewis’s mill, thence down the Queens high road to the Rowlling road that went from Edward Moors to George Turners, thence along the road (which would put Moor in the upper parish) to the plantation of John Baughan Sr. who was to be in the upper parish, thence upon a line between the plantations of Nicholas Lawson and John Sandidge (Nicholas Lawson to be in the lower parish and John Sandidge in the upper one) then straight to the Chickahominy Swamp. The lower parish would be known as St. Peter’s Parish and the upper one would be known as St. Paul’s Parish.
22 Jul 1706
Vestry held at the Lower Church for St. Paul’s Parish in New Kent County, 22 July 1706. Ordered that Elizabeth Williams a Parish Child, which is at John Lawson’s be forthwith bound out to Thomas Carr, of King William County by the Churchwardens
12 Aug 1706
Vestry held at the Lower Church for St. Paul’s Parish in New Kent County, 12 August 1706. To John Lawson for keeping Elizabeth Williams 8 months, 400 lbs. Tobacco
14 Feb 1707/08
Vestry held at the Lower Church for St. Paul’s Parish in New Kent County, 14 February 1707/08. Ordered that the following Tithables shall be added to and belong to the Precincts of Mr. John White – Mark Anthony’s, John Hall’s, Elizabeth Burnett’s, Edward Bullock’s, Frances Esther’s and Elizabeth Evins, (which lately belonged to the precincts of Capt. Robert Anderson) also Mr. Rowland Horsleys, John Lawson’s and William Freeman’s which lately belonged to the precincts of Joseph Baughon.
14 Mar 1708/09
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 14 March 1708/09 from the Surveyor of the 39 Precincts. Listed in Precinct 23, the lands of Richard Brooks, Thomas Foster, Jonas Lawson, John Medlock, Peter Plantine, Abraham Venable, Charles Lovell, George Lovell and Samuel Hill, lying adjacent to each other being made one precinct, of which the said Abraham Venable and George Lovell were appointed overseers they made this return on the back of the Order. Viz, this being complied with by us the subscribers according to Order within mentioned, as witness our hands to which all the said parties subscribed,
14 Mar 1708/09
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 14 March 1708/09 from the Surveyor of the 39 Precincts. Listed in Precinct 25, the lands of Robert Bumpass, Mary Sandige, Thomas Tharp, Thomas Gibson, Henry Crumpton and Nicholas Lawson lying adjacent to each other, being made one precinct, of which the said Robert Bumpass and Henry Crumpton were appointed overseers, they made this return on the back of the order, (viz) this within order executed, Nicholas Lawson, denied being he was not a Liver (did not live) in the parish. Subscribed by all the said parties except Nicholas Lawson,
14 Mar 1708/09
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 14 March 1708/09 from the Surveyor of the 39 Precincts. Listed in Precinct 28, the lands of Rowland Horsley, Charles Brian, William Freeman, Robert Horsley, John Bostick and John Lawson lying adjacent to each other, being made one precinct, of which the said Rowland Horsley and Charles Brian were appointed overseers, who made this return on the back of the order, viz This within order, executed with all the persons within mentioned, only one line between William Runnelds, and Thomas Ellet, which they cannot agree about, this procession by us the subscribers. Subscribed – Rowland Horsley and Charles Brian,
24 Sep 1711
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 17 March 1711/12. Listed in Precinct 14, the lands of Robert Horsley, John Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawson, William Talley, John Talley, Mark Anthony, Margaret Via, Widow Thomson, Widow Burnet, John Peece and Widow Crawford, being made one precinct, whereof the said Robert Horsley and John Matlock were appointed overseers, made ye, return viz, February 24, 1711, in Obedience to this Order of Vestry, we the subscribers have, with ye, within mentioned persons, procession the lands of the within mentioned Order, John Matlock, Robert Horsley,
1715 or 1716
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 3 April 1716. Listed in Precinct 14, the lands of Robert Horsley, John Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawson, William Talley, John Talley, Mark Anthony, Margaret Vin, Widow Thomas, Widow Burnet, John Peece, and Widow Crawford being made one precinct, whereof the said Robert Horsley, and John Matlock were appointed overseer made this return February 24, 1711, in Obedience to this Order of Vestry,
3 Apr 1716
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 3 April 1716. Listed in Precinct 14, the lands of Robert Horsley, John Matlock, Peter Plantine, Jonas Lawson, William Talley, John Talley, Mark Anthony, Vary Via, Widow Tomson, Widow Burnet, Widow Peace and Widow Crawford being made one precinct, whereof Robert Horsley and John Matlock were overseers and made this return, viz in Obedience to the within Order of vestry, we have Peaceably Procession the lands of Jonas Lawson, William Talley, Mark Anthony, Amor Via, Widow Thompson, Widow Burnet, Widow Peece and Widow Crawford, Peter Plantine not Present, being affected with an ailment and not fitting to come, John Talley having no land adjoining at present. Robert Horsley, John Matlock,
10 Aug 1719
Returns of the Processioning made to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Parish 10 August 1719. Listed in Precinct 34, the lands of Mr. George Alves, Richard Anderson, William Clopton, John Lawson, Cicilia Anderson and Thomas Gibson, being one precinct of which Mr. George Alves and Richard Anderson were overseers, who made this return the above Order performed. George Alves, Richard Anderson,
Fact:
There are no Gilliams associated with the Lawsons in the above records.
As one can observe the Lawsons used such given names as Rowland, Christopher, Thomas, Jonas and Nicholas. These name do not appear in New Kent Gilliams who almost exclusively use the given names Richard, William, James and John.
In pressing Mrs. Gilliam to be a Lawson, researchers have overlooked the fact that some New Kent families used the given name Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus Gilliam was more likely named after early St. Peter's Parish families, such as the Drakes or Howles that used the given name Epaphrotius and have known connections to the Gilliams, rather than Epaphroditus Lawson of Isle of Wight or Lancaster.
Epaphroditus Howle born about 1685 had a grandson Epaphroditus born 9 Mar 1729 in New Kent, who had a son Epaphroditus Howle, Jr born 13 Jan 1756 in Kent. These Howles later intermarried with the Gilliams of New Kent.
Another New Kent family that used the given name Epaphroditus was the Drakes. William Drake of New Kent had a son Francis Drake who married Judith Gilliam abt 1768. One of Francis’ brothers, Thomas, named a son Epaphroditus. Another brother James married Martha Gilliam.
Three Brothers
Dr. R. A. Brock in the Richmond Standard, April 16, 1881, states that "the GILLIAM family is of Norman descent, and the original form of the name was Gillaume. About the year 1680, three brothers, John, William and Robert, emigrated to Virginia. John settled at Puddledock in Prince George County."
Worth S. Ray also suggests that William and John GILLIAM were brothers.
Fact:
John, the father of John of "Puddle Dock," was living in Virginia prior to 1680: In December 1659 he sued the estate of Anthony Tall for 1,100 pounds of tobacco. In 1660, he served on the Grand Jury and witnessed the will of Thomas Lowe. Four years later, John Gilliam was sued by William Hunt, attorney for the Anthony Tall estate, for illegal detention of a servant belonging to Tall. The suit was dismissed in August of 1664 when Gilliam surrendered the servant. On 21 Jul 1664 John Gilham bought 1300 acres from Edward Hill. This land had been patented to Hill on 28 Mar 1664 had formerly belonged to Francis Osborne, decd.
John, the father of John of "Puddle Dock", did not have brothers William and Robert.
The "brothers" that Dr. Brock may have been referring to appear to have been John, Thomas, and William Guilham/Gillam whom arrived respectively in Virginia in August and October 1635. It has not been determined whether John and Thomas were brothers, or whether William was even related to John or Thomas. It appears that since John and Thomas sailed from Gravesend and William from Ilfracombe which are on opposite sides of the Isle that they are in most likelihood not related.
Norman Descent and the Huguenots
It has been assumed that the GILLIAM name is of Norman descent due to both spelling and pronunciation.
The Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, which contains a brief outline of the GILLIAM family, proposes Norman descent.
The GILLIAMs of Virginia were of “French descent and Protestant faith and descended from some Norman family surnamed Guillaume. About the time of the St. Bartholomew Massacres his family fled to England whence this descendant and his brother, William GILLIAM, came to the Colony of Virginia circa 1635 to 1680. John GILLIAM settled on the south side of the river Appomattox at Monte Alto and William GILLIAM on the James.
["This paragraph contains the essentials of the family tradition as related to Charles Edgar GILLIAM by Richard Davenport GILLIAM, 1855-1935. Also as appears from undated manuscript of Robert GILLIAM, 1796-1884 owned by Charles Edgar GILLIAM, believed to have been written circa 1880," from Genealogical Data on the Ancestors of Richard Davenport GILLIAM, 1855-1935 by Charles Edgar GILLIAM, unpublished manuscript 1938.]
Fact:
Mr. John Cabell Wilkinson, Secretary of the Huguenot Society of Washington (1936) stated that in his opinion "the family name was in all probability derived from the French surname Guillaume."
Though, it does not appear that the earliest GILLIAMs were Huguenots, the Huguenot Society of the Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia includes among their registered lineages: John Guilliaum.
Royal Surveyors
Three GILLIAM brothers came under Royal Commission to "survey the Dominion of Virginia."
Fact:
I have not come across any evidence to date to support this claim.
The GILLIAMs and the Devereaux
The surname Devereaux has been attributed to William and Thomas above.
Fact:
No evidence has been found that William ever used the name William Devereaux GILLIAM, nor Thomas the name Thomas Devereaux GILLIAM. It appears that Worth S. Ray is the originator of the Devereaux tradition also. He states in his Mecklenburg Signers that "after much and prolonged research the writer has concluded there were two parent stems of the GILLIAM family in early colonial Virginia, headed by William Devereaux GILLIAM and a John GILLIAM, branded by tradition only as brothers."
The Devereaux name became associated with the GILLIAM name after William GILLIAM married Mary Jarratt, the daughter of Devereaux Jarratt. Mary was from New Kent and likely married William around the mid 1740’s.
William Gilliam and Elizabeth Ellis.
William Gilliam, Jr., married Elizabeth Ellis and fathered the Scott County Gilliams including Richard Gilliam of Copper Creek.
Fact:
It appears William Gilliam married Elizabeth Ellis. William's brother, Devereaux, married Edith Ellis per Will of Edith's mother Susannah Harding who married Charles Ellis and secondly John Beckley. It has been argued since Susannah's Will does not mention a daughter Elizabeth that there was no Elizabeth Ellis. However, it appears that both William Gilliam, Jr., Elizabeth Ellis, his wife, predeceased Susannah.
William leaves his entire estate to his brothers and sisters including Devereaux Gilliam. The witnesses include a Charles Ellis. Since there is no provision for a wife, it has been assumed that Elizabeth predeceased William. Since there is no provision for children, nor guardianships it is assumed that William and Elizabeth were childless.
It is likely that Richard Gilliam of Copper Creek and David Gilliam are related to another William Gilliam. This William was closely related to Epaphroditus Gilliam of Buckingham.
John Gilliam married Lucy Henry, daughter of Rev. Patrick Henry
John Gilliam married Lucy Henry of "Surry County," the daughter of Rev. Patrick Henry. John and Lucy were the parents of William Gilliam "of Bristol Parish, Washington County, who married Mary Jarratt.
Fact:
Though Ray states "after much and prolonged research . . . " he has come to his conclusions, many of his "conclusions" are incorrect. According to the Will of the Rev. Patrick Henry, John Gilliam married Jane Henry, not Lucy. In fact, Jane appears to be the Rev. Patrick Henry's only child.
No one by the surname Henry is found in the Register of Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA, 1738-1778.
From the Will of John GILLIAM, the husband of Jane Henry, we know that John did not have a son named William. Also, it is chronologically impossible for John Gilliam to be the father of William Gilliam who married Mary Jarratt.
Gilliams of "Bristol Parish, Washington County"
William Gilliam who married Mary Jarratt are of Bristol Parish, Washington County.
Fact:
Various Gilliams have been attributed to "Bristol Parish, Washington County, VA." No Gilliam is of "Bristol Parish, Washington County" for such a place does not exist. Bristol Parish in Prince George County along the James River has been confused by researchers with the City of Bristol, Washington County, in southwestern Virginia which lies along the Virginia/Tennessee border. Washington County is the first locality in the United States known to have been named for George Washington. It was formed from Fincastle County in 1776. The General Assembly granted a charter to the City of Bristol on February 12, 1890. The area of Bristol City has a history dating back to 1749, when it was called Sapling Grove.
The Gilliams and Sally Hemings' son Tom.
It has been said in A President in the Family by Bryron W. Woodson, Sr., that the slaves of Drury Woodson: Hannah and her daughters Fanny and Jemima, went West with Charles Gilliam and his wife, Elizabeth Woodson and Peyton Riddle and his wife, Martha Woodson, the daughters of Drury Woodson. It has also been said that slave Jemima became the wife of Tom Woodson, the son of Sally Hemings.
Fact:
Drury Woodson's Will, Cumberland County, dated 7 May 1788 does mention slaves, Hannah, Fanny, and Mima among others and does leave to daughters, Elizabeth and Martha, respectively Fanny and Mima. First, it has not been show as Byron Woodson states that Charles Gilliam and Elizabeth and Peyton Riddle and Martha go West. Second, if they venture West they do not permanently settled. Third there is no record that Charles or Peyton freed any of their slaves. Byron Woodson claims that Fanny was manumitted in Greenbriar County in 1803 and Hannah was manumitted there in 1805. This seems unlikely as Charles Gilliam and Peyton Riddle were in Cumberland in 18 July 1804 when Charles and Elizabeth sell to Peyton a certain tract of land. (Cumberland Deed Book 9, Page 453.)