Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Buncombe was formed in 1791 from Burke and Rutherford. It was named in honor of Colonel Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary soldier, who was wounded and captured at the Battle of Germantown, October 4, 1777, and in May, 1778, died a paroled prisoner in Philadelphia. It is in the western section of the State and is bounded by McDowell, Henderson, Haywood, Madison, and Yancey counties. The present land area is 655.99 square miles. Asheville, named in honor of Samuel Ashe, Governor of North Carolina, 1796-1798, is the county seat.
Overview
The Gilliams of McDowell County trace their roots to Charlotte County, VA. The orphans of William Gilliam (Charles, Minyard, Martha and Harris Gilliam) settled in McDowell and its neighbors before heading to sundry parts. Characteristic of this line is the use of the given name Minyard, often spelt Mainyard, Maynard, etc.
Another Gilliam line that passes through Buncombe is that of Epaphroditus Gilliam of Albemarle County, VA. Characteristic of this line is the use of the given name Epaphroditus, variously given as Epap, Ditus, etc.
Census
1800
Name: Ephraditus Gilliam
Township: Morgan
County: Buncombe
State: North Carolina
Free White Males Under 10: 3 [Jesse, Cornelius. _____]
Free White Males 10 to 15: 1
Free White Males 16 to 25: 1
Free White Males 26 to 44: 1 [Epaphroditus]
Free White Females Under 10 : 2 [Sally and Elizabeth]
Free White Females 10 to 15 : 1
Free White Females 26 to 44 : 1 [Sarah]
Number of Household Members Under 16 : 7
Number of Household Members Over 25 : 2
Number of Household Members: 10
Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1800; Census Place: Morgan, Buncombe, North Carolina; Roll: 29; Page: 170; Image: 115; Family History Library Film: 337905.
Court Orders
October Court 1792
A deed from John Gillam to Joseph Bounds for 200 acres of land was proved in open Court by Jacob Bayles, a subscribing witness. ordered to be registered.
July 1794
A deed from John Davidson Esqr.to James Davidson Captain for 150 acres of land was proved in open court by William Gillam, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, ordered to be registered.
July 1794
Charles McDowell vs. John Gillian: Jury impand. & Charged Viz: John Patton, William Forster, James Benson, John Dillard, Mark Forster, John Gash, John Craig, James Bounds, Daniel Killian, William Warson, Shadrack Gibbs, William Sams.
Juror withdrawn - Mistrial.
July 1794
Ordered by Court that John Bradley, William Boyd,, Christopher Porter, Henry Warson, William Warson, James Willson, James Forgy, John Ashworth, Joseph Ashworth, Richard Hill, James Wood, John Wood, James Chessor, James Wood, Jr., John Craig, James Porter, & John Gillihan, be a jury to View mark and lay off a road the nearest and best way from Bradly's on cane creek to the gap of the mountains between the heads of Cane and Crooked creeks - report to Octor. sessions.
Land Entries
Oct 1789
#159 JOHN GILHLAM, 200 acres beginning forks of Glens Creek of French Broad River running in on north side in forks and up and down fork both sides for complement. Entered October 1789. Transferred by order to Hughey.
[This Burke County land fell in the present day boundaries of Buncombe County.]
Petitions
State of North Carolina 25th Sept. 1790
Burke County
The Honourable the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina now Sitting at Fayette Ville.
The Petition of the Inhabitants of that part of Burke County lying west of the Appalachian Mountain Most Humbly Sheweth
That the local Situation of your Petitioners renders it exceedingly difficult and (in the winter season of the year) almost impossible to attend at the Court House of said County as Jurors, witnesses, &c., a number of the inhabitants on the west side of said mountain living seventy or eighty miles distance from said Court House and several very bad mountains to cross.
And by annexing or adding that part of Rutherford County lying west of the Apalachian Mountain to that part of Burke County west of the Mountain, your Petitioners conceive that there would be a sufficient number of inhabitants to form a respectable County -- Therefore Hope your Honours will take their case under your most prudent consideration and in your Wisdom grant them a Separate County if you should consider expedient, as your Petitioners Humbly conceive it would conduce to the ease & Convenience of Inhabitants, and your Petitioners will every pray.
| Nathan Deaver | Joshua Bartlett |
| Matthew Patton | Samuel Rentfro |
| James Cunningham | Mark Rentfro |
| Jno. Gibart | Henry Heatly |
| Jas. Davidson | James Heatly |
| [torn] Brittain | Tho Bounds | Nathan Smith |
| James Love | Joshaway Chanler | Henry Robbers |
| Wm. Gudger | John Roberts | Baxaller Barnet |
| John Chambers | Adam Biffle | James Givin |
| Gabriel Elkins | James Same | Baxter Davis |
| Benja. Gregory | James Stanphil | Jacob Beyler |
| Wm. Bailey | John Street | Peter Deveas |
| John Gregory | John Gillahan | John Dillard |
| James Cravans | William Dever | Wm. Grigory |
| John Weve | Jacob Caler | Samuel Randolph |
| Wm. Tinker | Wm. Gillahan | Richard Dever |
| Tho Dillard | Jacob Beefell | Nathaniel Armstrong |
| Adam Dunsmoor | William Jones |
| James Dunsmoor | William Young |
| William Dunsmoor | John Patton |
| David Dunsmoor | Janes Gouge |
| Aaron Patton | Joseph Rise |
| William Graham | Zemeh Gudger |
| Alexd. Graham | James Battle |
| John Graham | John Whitson |
| Benjamin McWhorter | Thomas Whitson |
| John Wiles | John Davidson |
| Robert Patton | Ephraim Davidson |
| Wm. Long | Arch:d Neill |
| --- no Lekey |
| John Neill | |
| --- Ba---an | Gabriel Ragsdale |
| Humphry Cuningham | Richard Highwer |
| John Alexander | John Philips |
| Wm. Alexander | Daniel Smith |
| Thomas P. Alexander | Jacob Caseegh |
| James Alexander | John Philips |
| Jno. Davidson Juner | Wm. Ingram |
| Nathan Bartlet | John Beefel |
| Jno. Bartlet | Goldman Ingroman |
| William Davidson | Jacob Beyler senior |
| John Davidson | Abraham Beyler |
| George Davidson | David Beyler |
| Hugh Davidson | John GILLEM |
| David Hill | Robt. Logan |
| Thomas Davidson | Joseph Smith |
| John Patton | Samuel Smith |
| William Alexander | Nathaniel Smith |
| Benjamin Gudger | |
| Joseph Forsythe | |
| George Cunningham | |
| Aaron Graham |
| Richard Dever |
| John Bounds |
| Henry Roberts |
| Aston Chote |
| Edward James |
| Gilberd Barnet |
| William Reader |
| John Sames |
| Wm. Whitson |
| D. Vance |
| Philip Hoodenpyl |
| Jno. Baker |
| Jno. Langford |
| David Hinton |
| Wm. Henton |
| Hickman Hensley |
| John Hensley |
| Obediah Hammon |
| Charles Calleway |
| William Morris |
| Thomas Ray |
| John Hughes |
| Hickman Hensly |
| John Edwards |
Sources
- Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1800; Census Place: Morgan, Buncombe, North Carolina; Roll: 29; Page: 170; Image: 115; Family History Library Film: 337905.