Floyd County | Gilliams of Virginia

Gilliams of Floyd County
Updated November 25, 2022

Background
Floyd County was named for John Floyd, governor of Virginia from 1830 to 1834.  It was formed from Montgomery County in 1831, and part of Franklin County was added in 1873.  Its area is 383 square miles, and the county seat is Floyd.


Parishes
Floyd County was formed after disestablishment.


Overview
William Gilham and Polly Goodykoontz, his wife, died in Floyd County, VA. William and Polly were married 6 Oct 1801 in Frederick County, VA. William is the son of Lt. Peter Gilham of Frederick County, VA. It has been said that William was born in Pennsylvania, this is possible, for it appears that William is the son of Peter by a previous marriage. Peter married Mary on 22 Jul 1792 in Frederick.


Birth and Death Records
Register of Deaths:
1853
Gilham, Julian [female]
Date of Death: 7 Jul 1853
Place of death: Floyd
Cause of death: cold
Age: 12 yrs.
Parents: Ezekiah and Byannah
Place of Birth: Floyd
Informant: father
Ancestry.com. 1853-1872 Birth and Death Records Floyd County, VA, p. 220

1872 Locust Grove Township
Gilliams, Jas. P.
Date of Death: 9 Apr
Place of death: Floyd
Cause of Death: Unk.
Age: 4 years
Parents: Jas. W. and Mary
Place of birth: Franklin
Informant: head of family
Ancestry.com. 1853-1872 Birth and Death Records Floyd County, VA, p. 296,


Census
1850
Ezekiel Gilham, age 47
[Son of William Gilham]
Ancestry.com. Federal Census.


Church Records
Records of Zion Lutheran Church (translated from German)
p. 305 Baptisms
Wilhelm Gillin and his wife, their daughter Lydia born Aug. 11, 1816
Baptized, Sept. 29, 1818. Sponsors Georg Pflieter and wife

p. 310 Confirmations
Oct. 2, 1824 by Rev. Walter, Trusi Gilham

p. 313 Baptisms
Wilhem Gilhem and wife their daughter, Lea born March 22, 1821
Baptized May 12, 1821. Parents.

p. 318 Baptisms
Wilhelm Gillem and wife Maria, daughter Trusila born May 18, 1807,
Mehomna born March 17, 1809 Baptized Oct. 1, 1809. Parents.

p. 320 Baptisms
Wilhelm Gillim and wife, son Levi born July 5, 1813,
Baptized Nov. 21, 1813.
Sponsors: Georg Pflieger and wife

Register of Births:
p. 3, 1853
Guilliams, Eliza F., born 13 Oct 1853,
Place of Birth: Floyd
Father: Robt.,
Occ: pedagoge
Res: Floyd
Mother: Miram
Informant: mother

p. 157, 1869
Guilliams, M. Luke, born 25 Dec 1869
Place of Birth: Floyd
Father: Wm.
Occ: farmer
Res: Floyd
Mother: Letitia
Informant: father

p. 185, 1871, Locust Grove Township
Guilliams, Sarah Francis, born 11 Apr 1871
Place of Birth: Montgomery County
Father: James W.
Occ: farmer
Res: Floyd
Mother: Mary Ann

Records of Zion Lutheran Church (translated from German)


Court Orders
Court Mar 1831
William Gilham was to be recommended to the Governor to be commissioned as Sheriff.

Court Jun 1831
The court ordered that he was to be paid $45 for Ex officio services as Sheriff.
Floyd County, VA, Court Orders ___, page ___.


Family Histories
GILHAM
William Gilham, born in 1775 in Pennsylvania, died in Floyd County in the year of it's organization, 1831. He had lived for some years in the vicinity of Winchester, VA, prior to settling on Dodd's Creek on a farm now owned by Mr. John F. Smith. Before the organization of Floyd County, William Gilham was a member of the Virginia Legislature from the county of Montgomery.

He maried Polly (Maria) Goodykootz, fourth daughter of Hans Georg Goodykoontz, who was born in 1779. They had eight children:
1. Isaac Gilham m. Polly Slusher -- children: William M. and Hugh M.
2. Ezekial Gilham m. Bianna Wade -- children: John W. and Eliza
3. Drusilla Gilham m. Mathew Cox -- children: Ann Eliza, Amanda Ellen, Leah Jane, Noah G. and Mary
4. Naomi Gilham (March 17, 1809 - January 10, 1890) m. Carter Cox (July 20, 1805 - July 2, 1898)
children: Mary S. wife of D. C. Meredith; Giles A.; William G.; Drusilla A.; Fleming L.; Hamilton L.; Wesley D.; Melville B.; and Lydia L.
5. David Gilham m. Mary Howell -- children: Wesley, Georg and Drusilla
6. Levi Gilham
7. Lydia Gilham m. Fleming Jones -- children: Emanuel L.; William A.; Mary; Leah Ann; and Naomi
8. Leah Gilham m. Eden Epperly, son of John Epperly -- children: Mary, John W., Rosetta, Lafayette, Madison, Elizabeth Adaline, and Drusilla

Floyd County: A History of Its People and Places, by Dr. Amos D. Wood, Commonwealth Press, Inc., Radford, VA, 1981


Marriages
29 Mar 1841
Ezekiel Gilham and Bianna Wade

18 Sep 1845
Leah Gilham and Eden N. Epperly



Tax Records
Land Tax List 1831
290 acres on South Fork of Little River

Personal Property Tax List 1831
William Gilham: 3 white tithes, 2 horses


Wills, Estates, etc.
Will of William Gilham
Probate: Dec 1831 Floyd County, Virginia
Estate inventory
Floyd County, VA, Will Book ___, page ___.


Sources
  • Ancestry. com. 1853-1872 Birth and Death Records Floyd County, VA
  • Ancestry.com. Federal Census.
  • Floyd County: A History of Its People and Places, by Dr. Amos D. Wood, Commonwealth Press, Inc., Radford, VA, 1981
  • Records of Zion Lutheran Church (translated from German)
  • Zion Lutheran Church Register, compiled by Marjorie Fluor and Marguerite Tise, Kwik Print, Inc., 1981