Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Cabarrus was formed in 1792 from Mecklenburg. It was named in honor of Stephen Cabarrus of Edenton, several times a member of the Legislature and four times speaker of the House of Commons. It is in the south central section of the State and is bounded by Stanly, Union, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Rowan counties. The present land area is 364.39 square miles. In 1795 an act was passed naming commissioners to erect a courthouse on the land of Samuel Hugey which had already been selected as a proper place for the county seat. They were to lay out the town of Concord. Concord was incorporated in 1806, and is the county seat.
Overview
Gilliams and Gillons settled in Cabarrus County. Some records regarding Gillons have been included below for clarity sake. William Gilliam, Sr., states in the 1850 Census that he was born in Cabarrus in 1779 as Cabarrus was not formed until 1792, it is likely that William was born in Mecklenburg County, from which Cabarrus was taken.
Census
1810
Wm Gillim
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Cabarrus, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Numbers of Slaves: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 4
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 7
1820
William Gillum
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Cabarrus, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Slaves - Males - 14 thru 25: 2
Slaves - Males - 45 and over: 1
Slaves - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Commerce: 2
Free White Persons - Under 16: 6
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 11
Total Slaves: 4
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 15
1830
Wm Gillam
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Cabarrus, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 50 thru 59: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 1
Slaves - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Slaves - Females - 24 thru 35: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total Slaves: 4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 12
1840
William Gilliam
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cabarrus, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1
Slaves - Males - 10 thru 23: 2
Slaves - Females - 36 thru 54: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 5
Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 2
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3
Total Free White Persons: 7
Total Slaves: 3
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 10
1850
William Gillan
Age: 71
Birth Year: abt 1779
Birthplace: Cabarrus Co
Home in 1850: Cabarrus, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Family Number: 879
William Gillan, age 71
Robert M Gillon
Age: 46
Birth Year: abt 1804
Birthplace: Cabarrus Co
Home in 1850: Cabarrus, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Family Number: 878
William Gillon, age 32
Robert M Gillon, age 46
Liney Gillon, age 38
[Robert, William, Jr., and Liney are mentioned in the Will of William Gilliam below. William Gilliam, Sr. is alive at the time of the 1850 Census and was living adjacent to his children.]
Deeds
1 Mar 1817
Wm. Gilliam and wife Anne of Cabarrus to Silas Brown for $150, 300 acres on Cochran Br. of Twelve mile creek.
Wit., Jos. Little and Mose Wiley.
Mecklenburg County, NC, Deed Book 21, page 195.
17 Jan 1822
Moses Wiley to Samuel Morrison with William Gilliam’s steep bank as a bound.
Cabarrus County, NC, Deed Book 10, page 30
Jan 7, 1823
Sale between John Wilson and Moses Wiley
Wit: Wm. Gilliam
13 Aug 1835
Robert Farr to Samuel M. Fullwood.
Wit: Wm. Gilliam, Edward Pitman.
Rec: Apr 1837.
Cabarrus County, NC, Deed Book 13, page 85
9 Oct 1840
Joseph C. Ford to William Gilliam. Bounds: Purviences corner, Wm. Gilliams corner
Wit: Chearles Shehon, John Cuthbertson.
Cabarrus County, NC, Deed Book 18, page 22
Jun 8, 1811
Joshua Darnall to Wiliam Gilliam for $500, 300 acres on Jackson Br. of twelve mile Cr.
Wit. William Brown and Isaac Alexander.
Cabarrus County, NC, Deed Book 19, page 334
Marriages
23 Jul 1800
Guilliams, Travis to Kent, Lucy
Bond: Abraham Lisenby
Wit: Witness: Archd McCurdy
25 Apr 1803
Gilliam, William to Welch, Anne
25 Apr 1803
Wit: by John Simianer, James Welch
12 Jul 1823
Gilliam, Elizabeth S. to White, David
John M. Black
15 Nov 1827
Gilliam, Minerva to Steegal, Aaron
Abel Corzine
26 May 1832
Gilliam, Ann to McLarty, Arch N.
Geo. W McLarty
[Archibald Newton McLarty]
5 Aug 1833
Gilliam, Martha to Black, Ezekiel C.
Robt. M. McCachren
22 Jul 1840
Gillan, Wm. N. to Freeze, Penelope
Jno Still, Jr.
11 Jun 1843
Gilliam, Mary to Woods, A.F.
R.W. Martin
5 Mar 1844
Gillon, Nancy to Smith, Paul
Wm. W. Gillon
28 Sep 1859
Gillon, Jemima C. to Johnston, John C.
John Frieze
1 Apr 1862
Gilliam, William to Martin, Mary Jane W.
H.A. Area
26 Nov 1866
Gillon, Michael Monroe to Kimmons, Mary Ann
Jno. Frieze
Wills
Will of John Gillon
1833
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book ___, page ____
Will of Thomas McEachern
27 Mar 1844
In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas McEachern of the county of Cabarrus and State of North Carolina do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament and being in a low condition but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men onse to die I recomend my Soutl to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the descretion of my Executors which Shall
be hereafter named as for what worldly estat hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of it in the following manner first I order my funeral expences and all my just debts to be paid out of the whole of my estate
Also I bequeath to my beloved wife Jenny C. Mcheren all my household and kitchen furnitur cubbord and all the wears belonging to it and also all my beds and bedsteads and all my furniture in the house and also I bequeath to my beloved wife Jenny C Mchern all my farming utensils and also my wagon and four Head of Horses and all my Cattle Sheep and Hoges and geese and also my loome and all the utensils belonging to it and also my grind stone and also I bequeth to my beloved wife Jenny C. Mchern all my crop that on the ground and all my corn in the crib and all my hay and fodder I order my beloved wife Jenny C. Mchern to settle all my debtes to sell any property
that will be most sutible to dispose of and also to keep the plantation on which we live during her lifetime or bering my name.
2. I bequath to my son Charles S. Mchearn a note of twenty dollers with Intres Due on Said C. S. Mchern and all he has recived before this date.
3. I bequth t my daughter Elizabeth McClellen two dollars for by what she has recived
4. I bequeth my daughter Margurt Russel what she has recived and two dollars
5. I bequeath my daughter Polley Love what she recived and two dollars
6. I bequeqth to my daughter Jane Mechern I order my executors to make her equel with my married daughters
7. I bequeath to my daughter Cathrin Mchern I order my execeutors to make her equel with my married daughters
8. I bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Mchearn I order my executors to make her equel with my married daughters.
9. I bequeath to my son Robert Mchearn a horse colt now clamed by him I order my executor to take possesson of said colt and raise it untill he came of age
10. I bequeath to my son Carson C. Mchern a mare colt now clamed by him I order my executor to take posesion of said colt and raise it untill he came of age
11. At the death of my beloved wife Jenny C. Mchern I bequeth the plantation on which she lived to be equely divided between my two sons Robert and Carson Mchern
12. I order at the death of my beloved wife Jenny C. Mchern all the remaing property to be equely devided betwen my two sons Robert and Carson and the single daughters.
13. My will is if Robert or Carson should marry for the executor to settle them on the old plantation where it would be most convenient
14. My will if for my familey to live to togeather while they keep single
I do hereby nominate and ordain my wife Jenney C. Mchern and Charles S. Mchern as Executors of this my last will and testament heretofore maid by me in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th of March 1844.
Signed sealed in the presence off
Wm. S. Swaingen , Wm. Gilliam
Sig: Tos. [his X mark] McEachren
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book 1, page 55
Will of William GILLIAM
29 May 1850
In the name of God Amen! I William Gilliam of the county of Cabarrus and state of North Carolina do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament and being in a low state of health but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die. I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors which shall be hereafter named. As for what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of it in the following manner:
First I will and ordain that Robert Gilliam, William Gilliam and Linnie Gilliam my two sons and daughter who are single with me shall have three milch cows and one hundred and fifty weight of coffee and seventy-five weight of sugar and nine hundred weight of bacon and seventy five pounds of lard and fifty bushel of wheat and three hundred bushel of corn and eight loads of hay and five hundred bundles of fodder and wheat shucks shall come of the corn.
Second I will Robert Gilliam one bed bedstead and furniture and three chairs and one table.
Fourth I will Linnie Gilliam two beds bedstead and furniture
Third I will William Gilliam one bed bedsteads and furniture and six chairs and table falling leaf , on corner cupboard with all the household and kitchen furniture and one bureau her own choice.
Fifth, I will that my books should be equally divided with all my heirs if they can agree if not to choose to men to divide them.
Sixth I will that all my funeral expense and all my just debts shall be paid out of my real and personal estate and that this property be left with my two sons and daughter until fall and if Robert and William Gilliam can settle my debts then I will that the two sons and Linnie shall have all the real and personal property I won but if they cannot pay the debts my executors is to sell all or so much of my property as will pay the debts and the balance to be equally divided between Robert, William and Linnie Gilliam
Seventh I will that Ezekiel C. Black and David B. McKinly act as my executors.
In testimony whereof I set my hand and seal this 29th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Sig: Wm Gilliam
Signed in the presence of us Elias McLellan, Tobias [his X mark] Furr
State of North Carolina, Court of Pleas and Quarter Session
Cabarrus County
July Tern 1850
I, R. W. Foard, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for the County of Cabarrus do hereby certify that the foregoing
Last will and testament of William Gilliam, decd was produced in open court and offered for probate and the execution thereof proven in due form of law by the oath of Elias McLellan one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, whereupon it was ordered to be re ordered and letters testamentary to issue to Ezekiel C. Black and David B. McKInly who came forward and obtained the same and were qualified according to law.
R. W. Foard, Clerk, per J. Wilkinson dpty.
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book 1, page 172
Will of Jane Gillon
1856
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book 1, page 272
Will of William N. Gillon
1867
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book 2, page 153
Will of Penelope Gillon
1882
Cabarrus County, NC, Will Book 3, page 367
Sources
- Cabarrus County, NC, Deed Books
- Cabarrus County, NC, Will Books