Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Moore was formed in 1784 from Cumberland. It was named in honor of Captain Alfred Moore of Brunswick. a soldier of the Revolution and afterwards a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. It is in the south central section of the State and is bounded by Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Scotland, Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph, Chatham and Lee counties. The present land area is 697.74 square miles.
The act establishing the county provided for the erection of the public buildings. In 1795 an act was passed which stated that the location of the courthouse was inconvenient; it named commissioners to purchase land near the center of the county and erect a new courthouse. In 1796 an act was passed establishing Carthage on land where the courthouse was to stand. In 1803 an act was passed naming commissioners to lay out a town and build a courthouse as directed in the 1796 act. In 1806 Carthage was changed to Fagansville. In 1818, Fagansville was changed back to Carthage. Carthage is the county seat.
Overview
John Gilliam who lived in Randolph, Chatham and Moore Counties, NC, during the period from the 1780's through the 1820's lost his land in Chatham County and began a lawsuit in Superior Court at Hillsboro to get it back, unsuccessfully. (His written testimony states that he thought one reason his case had not been heard fairly in the county was that he had been accused of being a Tory in the Revolutionary War.) One of the persons who gave testimony for him was named Mason Gilliam. Mason appears in Chatham County census records and is likely John's brother. There is also an estate record for a Howell Gilliam in Chatham County, NC, dating to the early 1790's. John Gilliam was his administrator. By looking at land warrants it appears that Howell had been a Revolutionary War soldier and died during the War. John Gilliam signed over the warrant for land in Tennessee, as the "heir of Howell Gilliam, deceased."
It appears that this Howell Gilliam is the one listed in the Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA Register as born in 1760 and a son of John and Ann Mason Gilliam. He would have been the perfect age to be a Revolutionary War soldier, and, as his oldest brother, under the laws of primogeniture, John would have been his heir. Finally, after passing for a short time through Moore County, John Gilliam and his son John, Jr., moved on to Randolph County. Several Gilliam females married in the Randolph County while John Gilliam was there. In criminal action papers, it is revealed that a Howell Gilliam was also living there, apparently John Gilliam’s son.
Census
1800
John Gillum
Township: Fayetteville
Free White Males 16 to 25: 1
Free White Females Under 10 : 1
Free White Females 16 to 25 : 1
Number of Household Members Under 16 : 1
Number of Household Members: 3
John Gillam Sr
Township: Fayetteville
Free White Males 10 to 15: 1
Free White Males 45 and Over : 1
Free White Females Under 10 : 2
Free White Females 10 to 15 : 2
Free White Females 45 and Over : 1
Number of Household Members Under 16 : 5
Number of Household Members Over 25 : 2
Number of Household Members: 7
Land Entries
13 Jun 1796
John Gilliam enters 140 acres bordering Bullock on Persimmon Branch and up the branch to the Road.
Land Entry 1560
16 Jun 1796
John Gilliam, Sr., enters 100 acres on Persimmon Creek of Flag Creek bordering Mary HInes
Land Entry 1578
1797
John Mcauley, Jr. enters 50 acres on the east side of Bear Creek bordering Christopher Stutts and John Gilliam on the east side.
Land Entry 207
21 Jul 1797
John Gilliam enters 100 acres on West Creek and Dry Creek bordering his own land and joining Tedwell
Land Entry 216
19 Aug 1797
John Gilliam, Sr. enters 50 acres bordering own line and William and Thomas Graham.
Land Entry 230
Sources
- Cates, Larry W. Reading Between the LInes: The Gilliam Family of Randolph and Chatham. Randolph County, NC Genealogical Journal. Spring 2002.