Updated November 25, 2022
Background
The first inhabitants of the region were the Cherokee, who used the lands for hunting and gathering. Todd County lies within what was originally in the western portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Many of the original settlers came when the area was still in Virginia. This part of southern Kentucky was designated to be awarded to Virginia veterans of the American Revolutionary War.
Justinian Cartwright was possibly the earliest to actually take up residence in what would become Todd County. However, the first proven immigrants are Edward Shanklin Jr., Matthew and David Rolston, John Huston and his sons James and Granville Huston. Samuel Davis, father of Jefferson Davis, and John Wilson were also early settlers of the county. Kentucky Governor Greenup granted the first Kentucky grants to William Croghan, David Logan, Edward Shanklin Jr. and John Wilson, among others.
Christian and Logan counties were called upon to contribute to the creation of Todd County due to the outlying population of both Logan and Christian's demand for a "home government" so that travel to the county seats of Logan and Christian was no longer necessary. The county was formed in 1820 by the first magisterial court consisting of members Edward Shanklin, John Gray, Robert Coleman, Henry Gorin, John Taylor, H. C. Ewing, John S Anderson, William Hopper, John Mann and Joseph Frazer. The petition was created and the legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky granted the act of legislature, enacting the creation of the county on April 1, 1820. The legislature designated that the name of the county be in remembrance of Colonel John Todd, a native of Virginia and Robertson County, Kentucky, who died at the Battle of Blue Licks near Lexington, Kentucky. Colonel John Todd died in 1782, 38 years before the formation of Todd County, Kentucky.
Overview
Capt. Elisha Dickerson Gilliam was the son of John Gilliam of Albemarle County, VA and Elizabeth Dickerson, his wife.
Wills
Will of Elisha Dickerson Gillum
17 Nov 1828
In the name of God, Amen. I Elisha D. Gillum of Todd County, being of sound mind and disposing memory and taking into consideration the uncertainty of life and certainty of death and desiring to direct what disposition shall be made of my estate after my death do make and ordain this my last will and Testament and in manner and form following
I direct its distribution to wit
Imprimis after my death I wish my body buried in a decent and Christian like manner and funeral expenses paid by my executor out of my estate.
1st Item It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid by my executors.
2nd Item It is my will and desire that my household and kitchen furniture, my farming tools and stock of every description and any form be sold by my executors at public sale on a credit of twelve months taking bond and security from the purchases.
3rd Item It is my intention, will and desire to give to each of my children a full and equal part of my estate which will be one seventh part thereof and in the bequests herein after named the property given, will be in part of that named child’s part of my estate at its fair valuation unless otherwise directed by this my last will.
4th Item I give and bequeath to my son Milton W. Gillum two hundred and then acres of land whereon I now reside to include my dwelling house and to be laid off as follows (to wit) to begin in the middle of my spring and run due north until it strikes the west boundary line of my land (it being the line between John F. Bill and me) thence westwardly with mine and Bill’s lines to the corner of John Allensworth’s line thence south 70 with my line 363 poles to the corner two post oaks thence north seven west with a line of a tract of land granted to James Davis to such point in said land that a straight line run there from will strike the beginning at my spring so as to include two hundred and then acres to be valued to him at its fair value as part of his part of my estate.
5th Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Matilda Martin one hundred acres of land being part of the tract whereon her and her husband Walter J. Martin now lives to be laid off to her in a square or oblong square or as nearly so as may be to include the improvement and that quantity of land to being at four blackjacks corner of Henry C. Ervin and my land on the line of lands now owned by James Beasley thence with Beasley’s line 955 west 201 poles to three post oaks thence with Davis’ line north seven west to same point on said line from which to run a straight line until it strikes the line of Henry C. Ervin’s land and thence with said Ervin’s line to the beginning to included one hundred acres in or meant as square or oblong square shape to be valued to her at its fair value in part of her part of my estate it is to be valued as though it was in the woodland or unimproved state because her husband said Walter J. Martin bought the improvement on said land from the person who made it, I have heretofore given to my said daughter Matilda Martin one negro boy Jerry of the value of two hundred dollars and also one hundred dollars specie by way of advancement which gifts are to be deducted and also part of my estate.
6th Item my daughter Eliza Utterback is now in a low and declining state of health from which in all probability she will not recover nor remain long in this world to need it, I thereof give and bequeath one seventh part of my estate to the children of said Elizabeth Utterback to be managed by my executors for the use and benefit of my said daughter’s children (for their clothing, schooling and raising until they severally become of age, or choose guardians, the money part to be kept at interest and their part of my negroes to be hired out yearly until said children severally become of age, the interest of money and hire of negroes to be used for their maintenance and education but the principal of their money part of my estate and the negroes and increase to be kept together until and divided among them when they come of age, but if my said daughter Utterback, should survive and recover health she is to have the use of the property and interest of the money herein before give to her children during her natural life, and my executors are directed to let her have the worth of any services of said negroes and to pay over to her yearly the interest that may accrue on the money named in this item during her natural life and after her death to manage and appropriate it as herein before directed for her children it being my wish and intention that she shall have the benefit of what is herein bequeathed to her children as long as she lives
7th Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Mansfield one seventh part of my estate, the negro girl Louisa which she now has in her possession is given to her as part of her part of my estate, said girl cost me three hundred dollars specie dollars I therefore give her so girl as three hundred dollars toward her part of my estate
8th Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Anna Thompson, one equal seventh part of my estate I have heretofore by way of loan let her have a negro boy by the name of Washington of the value of three hundred dollars form which negro I have lately made a title of sale to her husband Gideon A. Thompson with the value said bond and I direct said three hundred dollars to be dedicated out of her part of my estate.
9th Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha Vance my negro boy George of the value of four hundred dollars as so much of her part of my estate her part being one seventh part thereof.
10th Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Gillum one bed and furniture to be given to her out of my estate before any of the foregoing legatees are paid or a division made, I also give my said daughter Betsy one equal seventh part of my estate hereby intending to give her a bed and furniture more than is herein before bequeath to any of other children but in case the said Betsy Gillum should die without leaving living heirs the children and issue of her own body it is my will and desire that the part of my estate and its increase herein bequeathed or directed to be given to her shall be equally divided between my other children named in the preceding items of this my will (except as to my daughter Utterback and what would be her part of that part of my estate I wish and desire to go to her children to be managed and used by my executors for her benefit during her natural life and after her death for the benefit of her children as directed in the sixth item of this will and divided among said children when they become of age).
11th Item It is my will and desire and I hereby direct my executors to sell all that part of my lands which has not been named and bequeathed in the preceding part of my will at public sale one half the purchase money to be paid in one year and the balance on the expiration of two years from the day of sale
12th Item I will and desire that my negroes which I have in my possession and have not before herein named shall be divided among my children, my daughter Utterback’s children coming in for her part as bequeathed and in manner and form and on the contingencies as directed in item sixth having herein before given specificity land and specifically named negroes and money to part of my children I direct that of my other negroes and money part of my estate be so divided among my heirs herein before named that each and all have their fair proportion of my estate taking into consideration the sum negroes and money herein before named as legatees etc and directed to be taken out as directed from their shares severally of my estate as part thereof the money names as value of negroes given specifically to children named in preceding part of my will specie dollars
12th [sic] Item I hereby nominated and appoint my son Milton W. Gillum and Walter J. Martin executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made and direct that my executors shall not be required to give security for the executors of the trust I have conferred to their charge in the execution of his my last will and testament
In witness where of I have here unto affixed my signature and seal this 17th day of November 1828
Sig: Elisha D. Gillum
Signed, sealed and delivered by testators to be his last will and testament in the presence of us
Wit: Henry C. Ervin
James Broddus
James Mansfield
Todd County Court, June Term 1830
On motion of Milton W. Gillum, and Walter J. Martin executors of Elisha D. Gillum deceased. It is ordered that Reuben Mansfield, Henry C. Ervin, James A. Graves, John F. Bell and Alpheus B. Wright or any three of them after being first duly sworn be and they are hereby appointed appraisers to appraise in current money the personal estate and slaves if any of said decedent and report.
Willis L. Reeves
Todd County
This day personally appeared Reuben Mansfield, John A Bell, and Henry C. Ervin, within named before me James C. Graves a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and were by me sworn to discharge the duties imposed on them in the within order faithfully and impartially to the best of their judgment this 20 day of Nov 1830.
James A. Graves
[Elisha Dickerson Gillum is the son of John Gilliam of Albemarle County, VA and Elizabeth Dickerson, his wife. Elisha married Lucy Wood in Albemarle, the daughter of David Wood and Mary Watson.]
Familysearch.org. Kentucky, Probate Records, 1792-1977, Todd Will records, Index, 1830-1836, Vol. C, Image 28 of 311
Todd County, KY, Will Book C, page 5
Sources
- Familysearch.org. Kentucky, Probate Records, 1792-1977, Todd Will records, Index, 1830-1836, Vol. C,