Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Davidson was formed in 1822 from Rowan. It was named in honor of General William Lee Davidson, a gallant soldier of the Revolution, who was killed at Cowan's Ford. When General Greene retreated across North Carolina before Cornwallis in 1781, he stationed troops under Davidson at Cowan's Ford on the Catawba River to delay the British army. The British attacked the Americans, killing General Davidson, and forced a passage. The United States government has erected a monument in his honor on Guilford Battle Ground. The county is in the central section of the State and is bounded by Randolph, Montgomery, Rowan, Davie, Forsyth, and Guilford counties. The present land area is 552.15 square miles. Lexington is the county seat.
Overview
Sarah Gilliam, the widow of Solomon Gilliam, in 1860, is listed as living on Abbotts Creek. This appears to be the same Solomon who is listed as a road hand along Abbotts Creek in Rowan County in 1823.
Census
1830
Solomon Gilliam
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 3
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 3
John Gilliam
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Total Free White Persons: 1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 1
[This John is John Gilliam of the Pension, below who is 1832 states he is 78 years old]
1840
Solomon Gillam
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 5
Amos Gillam
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 5
1850
Sally Gillom
Age: 40
Birth Year: abt 1810
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1850: Northern Division, Davidson, North Carolina
Gender: Female
Sally Gillom, age 40
Elisabeth E Gillom, age 21
John Gillom, age 20
Andrew Gillom, age 10
Sarah A Gillom, age 8
[Sally is the widow of Solomon Gilliam of the 1840 Census.]
1860
Sarah Gilliam
Age in 1860: 50
Birth Year: abt 1810
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Northern Division, Davidson, North Carolina
Gender: Female
Post Office: Abbotts Creek
Sarah Giliam 50
Saryan Giliam 18
John Gilliam
Age in 1860: 30
Birth Year: abt 1830
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Northern Division, Davidson, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Rich Fork
John Gilliam, age 30
Mary Gilliam, age 27
William Gilliam, age 2
John Gilliam, age 5/12
[John is son of Sarah and Solomon above.]
Marriages
15 Apr 1866
Sarah Gilliam and Harman Quait
Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Collection, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
Pensions
Pension application of John Gilliam S6889
State of North Carolina, Davidson County
On this 13th day of September 1832 personally appeared before Charles Hoover one of the Justices of the County of Davidson & State aforesaid John Gilliam a resident of the County of Davidson & State of North Carolina aged 78 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
That he entered the United States service under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He entered the Service as a volunteer in the year 1776 or 77 but in consequence of the paralyzing effect of disease upon his memory he does not distinctly recollect the time when he entered the service. Salisbury in Rowan County N. C. was the place of rendezvous. He was there put under the command of Captain Hedrick & commenced a campaign against the Indians who infested the Western part of North Carolina & the Eastern part of Tennessee. He marched through the Western part of North Carolina across the Allegheny mountains and marched into the State of Tennessee to an Indian village called Valley Town where they fought a battle1 with the Indians in which engagement they were killed and took prisoners many of the Indians soon after the battle he returned to Rowan County (now Davidson) which was then his place of residence & he has resided there ever since the termination of the Revolution. He served four months and this tour.
In the year 17__ [blank in original] he again entered the service of the United States a substitute for Till Tilman. The North Carolina troops assembled at Salisbury from thence they marched to Charlotte from thence to Camden past Camden to Augusta from Augusta to Stono Creek where they fought a severe battle with the British Army at which battle he was commanded by Captain David Cowan Colonel Lytle & General Ashe Soon after the battle at Stono Creek he received a discharge from Colonel Lytle & a returned to Rowan County N. C. during this campaign he served four months &he states that he has lost his discharge & he further states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sig: Chas. Hoover, JP
Sig: John [his X mark] Gilliam
[Isaiah Spurgin, a clergyman, and Randall Brummell gave the standard supporting affidavit.]
[John appears to have died about August 15, 1835 as there is a certificate in the file indicating that as the cut off date for payments due his heirs.]
Sources
- Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Collection, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
- Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements, Pension application of John GILLIAM S6889 fn13NC. Transcribed by Will Graves. www.southerncampaign.org