Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Hopewell, in Prince George County, was established as Charles City Point by Sir Thomas Dale in 1613. Francis Eppes, who arrived in Virginia on the ship Hopewell, patented land near Charles City Point in 1635. He named part of his property Hopewell Farm. The town was known as City Point until 1913 when E. I. DuPont de Nemmours and Company purchased Hopewell Farms and established a factory and a settlement for munitions workers there. Hopewell was never incorporated as a town but was incorporated as a city by an act of the General Assembly in 1916. It was enlarged by the annexation of City Point in 1923 and by further annexations from Prince George County in 1952 and 1969.
Parishes
See Prince George County
In the 1840's the GILLIAMs were involved in the founding of St. John's Episcopal:
When City Point, Virginia was in the initial stages of land developments, losing its rural flavor and becoming more populated, the Rev. Malcom MacFarland, a builder as well as a priest, came to the village, realizing there would be a need of a church.
"At a meeting of the subscribers to the building of a Protestant Episcopal Church at City Point, on April 13, 1840, on motion of John E. Meade, Col. John A. Peterson was called to the chair, and William Gilliam appointed secretary . . . a Vestry of seven was appointed, consisting of John A. Peterson, John E. Meade, William Gilliam, Charles Friend, Peter Eppes, Christopher Proctor, and Robert Gilliam."
History of St. John’s Episcopal Church and how it came into being.
[This information has been compiled from notes in the original Vestry Books; notes from the late Mrs. J.H.G. Neblett; information from Mrs. W.S. Woody, and articles in several publications.]
Overview:
William GILLIAM and his wife Christian lived at Weston Manor. Weston has been meticulously restored by the Historic Hopewell Foundation and is open to the public.
From the website
Beyond City Point . . . Exploring Hopewell's Deep Archaeological Heritage:
"Several written documents at the Virginia Historical Society are providing scattered details of daily life at Weston during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. William GILLIAM and then his widow Christian not only made their income from agriculture, but also from the river, possibly a ferry boat—and slaves were key to the success of both enterprises. Benjamin Friend's commonplace book records the names, ages, and monetary values of some 43 slaves owned by William GILLIAM and his son John. Although many of the slaves probably worked on other GILLIAM properties, William GILLIAM's will mentions an unspecified number of slaves at Weston, including Paul and Tom, his "watermen." While we now associate watermen with shellfish, in the early nineteenth century it may still have meant ferrymen. We know from the statutes of the General Assembly that a ferry crossed from GILLIAM's lot upriver at Broadway over to Chesterfield County. Perhaps the ferry continued after GILLIAM's death, as his widow Christian mentioned caulkers and carpenters working a vessel called the Sally. While these records provide only a tantalizing glimpse of the African-American presence, we are hopeful of finding further sources that will help flesh out this crucial part of Weston's history.
William GILLIAM is said to have built Weston with his wife Christian Eppes shortly after their marriage in 1789. William first appears in the land tax records in 1784, when he began acquiring lots in Blandford. Eventually those properties were worth a total of £136. By 1796, William GILLIAM also owned a Broadway town lot worth £50, though there may have been a lapse in recording his ownership. Already in 1780, an act of the General Assembly referred to a ferry that sailed across the Appomattox River between Thomas Batte's land in Chesterfield County and a "lot of land the property of William GILLIAM, in the town of Broadway." William's relatives also owned lots there, Elizabeth taxed with one £50 lot beginning with the first year of land tax records in 1782 and John with five lots worth only £51 10 shillings.
The 1788 list is the first where William GILLIAM's name appears to be associated with the Weston tract. GILLIAM paid tax on 273 acres with a total property value of £208 1 shilling 6 pence. Unfortunately, at this early date the commissioners did not record building values. The tax commissioner seems to have made an error in the column recording change of ownership the previous year: grantor and grantee have been reversed, as "GILLIAM William To R Bolling." Given that William GILLIAM was taxed for 273 acres for the rest of the century, he must have bought the tract from Robert Bolling. If Weston is indeed derived from "western," the name would then refer to that portion of Cawsons rather than the Eppes' plantations, as previously thought.
A settlement of accounts between William GILLIAM and Richard Eppes in 1791 shows that Eppes sent 4,000 bricks to Weston for building a kitchen chimney.
In 1800 the commissioners wrote "William GILLIAM's Est" next to his former properties, indicating he had died by the time of that year's assessment. Curiously, though, family histories put his death at 1801."
After William's death, it appears Christian lives for approximately another 30 years. From the Commonplace Book of Charles Friend which contains copies of Prince George County originals now lost we know that Christian's estate divided in 1833 contained land in Amelia County (Sweathouse), Petersburg (Blandford), and Prince George County (City Point, Revelings, and Weston), VA.
The Sweathouse land was bequeathed to William from his father, John GILLIAM, provided that William reach the age of 21 and produce heirs. [Thomas Booth sold John GILLIAM Sr. of Prince George County 382 acres on Sweathouse Creek in Amelia County 25 February 1772.]
The above lands were sold for the benefit of Charles Friend, John GILLIAM Friend, Nathaniel Friend, and Dr. Nathaniel GILLIAM Friend, the grandchildren of William and Christian GILLIAM.
Accounts
Accounts, 1791–1830, of Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM. The accounts were kept at Weston.
Section 16, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes), Accounts, 1791–1830.
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
1820–1841
Accounts of William GILLIAM. The accounts were kept at City Point (now Hopewell), Virginia.
Section 18, GILLIAM, William (d. 1842), Accounts, 1820–1841,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
1841
Bills of lading, 1841, of Thomas S. Woodbury and R. & W. Wilson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to William GILLIAM of City Point (now Hopewell), Virginia.
Section 19, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes) and William (d. 1842), Other Papers, 1784–1841,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
Census
1810, Prince George County
Kitty GILLIAM, 00200-000100-25
The two males are sons, John and William; daughter Elizabeth is married by 1810.
[This is most likely Christian GILLIAM for living nearby is Archibald Eppes]
Ancestry.com. Federal Census.
1820, Prince George County
Christian GILLIAM, 000000000020
Ancestry.com. Federal Census.
1830, Amelia County
Christian GILLIAM
Ancestry.com. Federal Census.
Chancery
1832
A bill of complaint, answer, and order (copy [imperfect] made by Robert GILLIAM), 1832, of Benjamin Cocke and Mary (Eppes) Cocke v. Charles Friend, John GILLIAM Friend, and Nathaniel GILLIAM Friend in the Chancery Court of Prince George County, Virginia (concerning Archibald Eppes, Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM, and Eppes Island, Charles City County, Virginia)
Section 32, Cocke, Benjamin (1781–1836), Legal Papers, 1832–1835,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
[Nathaniel Friend married Elizabeth, the daughter of William and Christian GILLIAM.]
Civil War
Walthall House Signal Station,
September 23, 1864-6 p.m.
Major Fisher,
Chief Signal Officer:
All quiet this p.m. The enemy still working beyond the city to our right of Clifton. The following has been intercepted:
9 A. M.
Colonel Brent,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
One regiment of infantry drilling in open space to our left of Cobb's. One gun-boats above pontoon. Cars are constantly running to and from City Points.
J. A. S.,
At C.
(Same to A. B.)
2.30 P. M.
Colonel Brent:
Three companies of infantry accompanied by seven wagons came from enemy's front in Prince George going toward City Point. Fifteen wagons came from same place going toward front.
J. Q. E.,
Sergeant.
(Same to A. B.)
4.15 P. M.
Colonel Brent:
Three companies of infantry drilling at the works on GILLIAM's farm. One regiment of infantry and one cavalry drilling in open space to the left of Cobb's.
J. A. S.,
At C.
(Same to A. B.)
5.30 P. M.
Colonel Brent:
One regiment of infantry now drilling on GILLIAM's farm; they have now retired behind the battery. One gun-boat above pontoon.
J. A. S.,
At C.
(Same to A. B.)
5.45 P. M.
Colonel Brent:
Fifteen wagons passed on military road rear of Battery 5 going toward City Point. Eight passed on same road going toward Petersburg.
J. Q. E.,
At D.
(Same to A. B.)
H. W. Holman,
Sergeant.
The War Of The Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, page 980, Operations In SE. VA. And N.C . Chapter LIV.
Correspondences
1804–1807
Letters written by Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM of Weston to Mary (Eppes) Cocke, William Eppes, and Andrew Torborne.
Section 15, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes), Letters, 1804–1807,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution
through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
Bef 1820
Correspondences of Christian GILLIAM with Archibald Eppes of City Point.
Section 4, Eppes, Archibald (d. 1820), Correspondence, 1798–1817,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution
through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
Letters written to William GILLIAM of City Point (now Hopewell), Virginia. Correspondence is by Thomas Cocke, Richard Eppes, James Herbert Gholson, Charles Macalester, Crawford Riddell (bears bill of lading of William A. McKee), and P. C. Osborne & Co. of Petersburg, Virginia (bears
account of Mary (Eppes) Cocke).
Section 17, GILLIAM, William (d. 1842), Correspondence, 1797–1841,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution
through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
[These letters are likely written to William GILLIAM, Jr. son of Christian.]
Deeds
1805
Mary (Eppes) Cocke and Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM to Archibald Eppes concerning Eppes Island, Charles City County, VA
Section 12, Eppes, Archibald (d. 1820), Other Papers, 1805–1820,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution
through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
4 Aug 1840
Charles and Catherine B. Friend to Mary Cocke conveying Eppes Island
Charles City County Deed Book ____ page 144-145
1815 Landowner's Directory
Christian GILLIAM, on the Appomattox River, 8 miles north of Prince George Courthouse
William GILLIAM, estate, Broadway on the Appomattox River, 9 miles north of Prince George Courthouse
William GILLIAM, estate, 17 miles southeast of Amelia Courthouse
Ward, Roger G. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer) Volume 1, Central Region. Athens, GA: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997.
Legislative Petitions
18 Dec 1806
GILLIAM, Christian; Eppes, Mary & Archibald
Ask for the establishment of an inspection of tobacco at City Point. Includes notice & affidavit.
Library of Virginia, Legislative Petitions, Reel 162, Box 208, Folder 36
31 Jan 1860
GILLIAM, Robert
Harbor & Ballast Master at City Point asks for an amendment to the 3rd & 4th sections of Chapter 95 of the Code of Virginia regarding fees.
Library of Virginia, Legislative Petitions, Reel 162, Box 208, Folder 104
Marriages
30 Apr 1789,
William GILLIAM and Christian Eppes
Rev. John Cameron's Register of Marriages for Bristol Parish 1784-1793
Papers
Papers, 1882–1986, of James Skelton GILLIAM (of Hopewell, VA)
including correspondence and research materials concerning the Ruffin family of Virginia.
Virginia Historical Society, 12 items.
Parish Records
Bristol Parish
4 Mar 1792
Betsy Philipps, dau of Peninah, a Negroe slave belonging to William GILLIAM was born March 4th and baptized September 9th 1792.
26 Oct 1792
Elizabeth, daughter of William GILLIAM & Christian his wife was born Octr 26th 1792, & baptized April 4th 1793.
15 Apr 1795
John GILLIAM, son of William GILLIAM & Christian his wife born 15th April 1795 and bapt 5th Febr 1796.
9 Mar 1798
William, son of Do [Ditto, i.e. William GILLIAM & Christian his wife] born _______ & baptd 9th March 1798.
Plats
Map of land owned by Christian GILLIAM in City Point
Section 25, Maps and Plats, 1806–1937,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution
through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
Publick Claims
William GILLIAM, John Bath, assignee, Amelia County, Court Booklet 1, pages 2, 19, 46 and 61. Four certificates, Commissioner's Book, 1, pages 37 and 57.
[John Bath, assignee, may be John Bass, a resident of Amelia County]
William GILLIAM, estate, Amelia County, One Certificate.
William GILLIAM, Prince George, Court Booklet, page 4, One certificate, Commissioner's Book 4, page 251.
Abercrombie, Janice L. and Slatten, Richard, comp. Virginia Revolutionary "Publick" Claims. 3 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1992.
Relinquishment
1784? [should probably read 1794]
Relinquishment of Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM and William GILLIAM to the estate of Richard Eppes.
Section 19, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes) and William (d. 1842), Other Papers, 1784–1841,
Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
[This relinquishment is dated 1784 according to Schipper, yet Christian and William were married in 1789 according to the John Cameron's Register and Richard Eppes died in 1794.]
Tax Records
1790 Prince George Tax Lists
William GILLIAM
1799 Prince George Land Tax List
William GILLIAM, 273 acres £208.1.6; Broadway £50.
1800 Prince George Personal Property Tax List
William GILLIAM, estate, Whites 1, Blacks over 16, 14
Binns Genealogy. 1790/1800 County Tax Lists of Virginia.
Wills, Estates, Appraisals, etc.
The Commonplace Book of Charles Friend includes documents pertaining to the division of the estates of Richard Eppes and his daughter Christian GILLIAM as well as, a copy of the Will of William GILLIAM.
ca. 1794,
Lawsuit of Archibald Eppes, Christian (Robertson) Eppes, Richard Eppes (d. 1797), and Thomas Eppes (d. 1798) v. Mary (Eppes) Cocke (1783–1844), Robertson Eppes, William Eppes, Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM, William GILLIAM (d. 1842), Elizabeth (Eppes) Maitland, and William Maitland in the Court of Prince George County, Virginia (concerning the estate of Richard Eppes (1736– 1792)). This material comprises a bill of complaint (pp. 8–10), answers (pp. 10– 11), and depositions of Thomas B. Bryant (p. 13) and John Robertson (p. 12).
1 Nov 1799
Copy of Will of William GILLIAM
15 July 1819
Copy of Will of John Gilliam of Weston
1832–1833
Division of land in Amelia County (Sweathouse), Petersburg (Blandford), and Prince George County (City Point, Revelings, Weston, and White Hill), Virginia, and slaves (pp. 34–46) to Charles Friend, John GILLIAM Friend (1813–1869), Nathaniel Friend (b. 1780?), and Doctor Nathaniel GILLIAM Friend (d. 1849?).
1833
Agreement of Nathaniel Friend (pp. 52–54) and Doctor Nathaniel GILLIAM Friend concerning the estate of Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM and land in Amelia County (Sweathouse), Petersburg (Blandford), and Prince George County (City Point, Revelings, and Weston), Virginia.
1833
Agreement (incomplete copy), of John GILLIAM Friend (pp. 55–59), Nathaniel Friend, and Doctor Nathaniel GILLIAM Friend concerning the estate of Christian (Eppes) GILLIAM and land in Alabama (Greene County), Amelia County (Sweathouse), and Prince George County (City Point, Revelings, and Weston), Virginia.
Sources
- Abercrombie, Janice L. and Slatten, Richard, comp. Virginia Revolutionary "Publick" Claims. 3 vols. Athens, Ga.: Iberian Pub. Co., 1992.
- Ancestry.com. Federal Census.
- Beyond City Point . . . Exploring Hopewell's Deep Archaeological Heritage. http://www.wm.edu/wmcar/Hopewell2003/westhist.htm
- Binns Genealogy. 1790/1800 County Tax Lists of Virginia.
- Schipper, Martin. Section 4, Eppes, Archibald (d. 1820), Correspondence, 1798–1817, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia.
- Schipper, Martin. Section 12, Eppes, Archibald (d. 1820), Other Papers, 1805–1820, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
- Schipper, Martin. Section 15, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes), Letters, 1804–1807. Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia.
- Schipper, Martin. Section 16, GILLIAM, Christian (Eppes), Accounts, 1791–1830. Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia, Associate Editor and Guide Compiled by Martin Schipper.
- Schipper, Martin. Section 25, Maps and Plats, 1806–1937, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern, Plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, General Editor: Kenneth M. Stampp, Series M. Selections from the Virginia Historical Society, Part 3: Other Tidewater Virginia.
- The War Of The Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, page 980, Operations In SE. VA. And N.C . Chapter LIV
- Ward, Roger G. 1815 Directory of Virginia Landowners (and Gazetteer) Volume 1, Central Region. Athens, GA: Iberian Pub. Co., 1997.