Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Orange was formed in 1752 from Johnston, Bladen and Granville. It was named in honor of the infant William V of Orange. It is in the central section of the State and is bounded by Durham, Chatham, Alamance, Caswell and Person counties. The first courthouse was authorized to be established in 1754 where the western path crossed the Eno River on the land of James Watson. Childsburg was established in 1759 and was changed to Hillsborough in 1766. Hillsborough is the county seat.
Overview
The Gilliams of early Guilford County include the family of Edmund Gilliam of Albemarle Parish, Sussex County, VA. Since Edmund owned land on the Reedy Fork of the Haw River, which was contiguous with the county line, Edmund and his descendents are found in the records of both Orange and Guilford Counties.
It has been said that John Gillam the Quaker of Spring Monthly Meeting, who married Susannah was the son of Edmund Gilliam of Orange County, NC. who left a Will dated 11 Aug 1810. However a close reading of Edmund’s Will reveals no son John. Some of Edmund’s children did migrate to Indiana, but they did not settle in Orange County, Indiana. It should also be noted that Edmund’s wife has been misidentified as Sarah Clark. It is more likely that she is Sarah Magee, daughter of Ralph Magee.
It has also been said that Quaker John Gilliam had a sister Elizabeth who married Samuel Lee/Leigh. However, Edmund’s Will shows that daughter Elizabeth married Solomon Stalcup, not Samuel Lee. Elizabeth and Solomon 10 Dec 1799 in Orange County, NC married Elizabeth and Samuel Lee married on 14 Jul 1801 in Orange County, NC. Elizabeth did not marry Samuel Lee as a second husband as she appeared as Elizabeth Stalcup in the 1810 Orange County census.
It is likely that Quaker Elizabeth Gilliam who married Samuel Lee is a daughter of William Gilliam of Chatham County, NC whose Will mentions daughter Elizabeth Lee, and Samuel Lee’s line, and was witnessed by a Samuel Lee.
Census
1810
Edmund Gillum
Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Hillsborough, Orange, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Numbers of Slaves: 2
Number of Household Members Under 16: 2
Number of Household Members Over 25: 4
Number of Household Members: 8
[Prior to 1810 Edmund was living in Guilford County, NC. Edmund leaves a Will dated 1810. See below. The Edmund of the 1820 Census is Edmund Gilliam, Jr.]
1820
Edmund Guillum
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Orange, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Slaves - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Slaves - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 5
Free White Persons - Under 16: 6
Free White Persons - Over 25: 3
Total Free White Persons: 10
Total Slaves: 2
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 12
Burwell Gilliam
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Orange, North Carolina
Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 3
Free White Persons - Under 16: 4
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 8
Deeds
28 Apr 1789
John Southward bought land from Thomas Gardner and his wife, Susannah
Wit: Charles Gilliam
Orange County, NC Deed Book 4, page 255
17 Dec 1796
John Southard to Lodwick Warnick for "fifty pounds in gold & silver, [for] 109 acres, in fork of Haw R. & Reedy Fork, begin at a plumb tree on N bank of Reedy Fork in the Guilford County line, N on Guilford Line 200 p. to a bunch of dogwoods at a branch, E with branch 88 p. to a red oak on bank of Haw R., down river 73 p. to a black gum on S bank of river, S 34 W 207 p. to a black oak on bank of Reedy Fork, up Reedy fork 32 p. to first station.
Sig: John [his X mark] Southard
Wit: John Starrat, & James Moore
Rec: February Term 1805 by James Moore.
Orange County, NC Deed Book 11, pages 316-317
Land Grants
21 Dec 1778
Edmund GILIN enters 50 acres in Orange County on S side of Haw River; border on W by Guilford Co. line, on N by Haw River and on S by Thomas GAMER.
Warrent issued Aug 14, 1779
Orange County, NC Land Entries 1778-1795, page 869
Marriages
23 July 1794
Henry Bracken to Polly Gillam, John Donovan, Wm. Jackson, bondsmen
[Polly, the daughter of Edmond Gilliam and Sarah is said to have removed to Sumner County, TN]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 30.
10 Dec 1799
Solomon Stalcup to Elizabeth Gillum, Jacob Harden, bondsman
[Elizabeth is the daughter of Edmond Gilliam and Sarah]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 283
14 Jul 1801
Samuel Leigh and Elizabeth Gilliam
Bond James McMullin.
20 Feb 1802
Thomas Melvin to Abigail Baldwin, Burrell Gilliam, bondsman
[Burrell is the son of Edmond Gilliam and Sarah. Thomas Melvin is said to be living in 1820 in Sumner County, TN; and in 1830 in Wilson County, TN]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 207
27 Apr 1804
David Underwood to Priscilla Melton, Edmond Gilliam, bondsman
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 312
9 Apr 1805
Edmon Gillom to Nancy Holcup [Stalcup], Solomon Hulcup [Stalcup], bondsman
[Edmond is the son of Edmond Gilliam and Sarah; he is said to have removed to Greene County, IN]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117
3 Apr 1814
Nehemiah Thomas to Sarah Gilliam, William Baldwin, bondsman
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 29
6 Jun 1827
James Gillam to Polly Ray, James Ray, bondsman
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117
16 Nov 1833
Holal [Howell] Gillam to Catey Pickard, John Crawford, bondsman
[son of James Gilliam and Fanny Smith]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117
1 Apr 1840 or 1860
Thomas Scarlet to Rebecca Ann Howard, Wm. H. Gillim, bondsman
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 270
10 Mar 1842
John Mabrey to Mary Gilliam, James Griffin, bondsman
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 119
21 Aug 1846
Fadies Stout to Mahala Gilliam, Anderson Wells, bondsman
[daughter of James Gilliam and Fanny Smith]
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 286
28 Aug 1851
Wm. Henry Gilam to Betsey Baldwin, Nathaniel King, bondsman by Thos. Long, J. P.
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117
1 Jun 1858
Andrew Strowd to Susan Ann Gilliam, Manes Lloyd, bondsman, by D. Tilley, J. P.
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 290.
21 Jul 1859
William H. Gilim to Jemima Dickerson, Jno M. Faucett, Thos. Long, bondsmen by Jas. N. Craig, J. P.
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117.
30 Nov 1861
John A. Gillam to Mary A. Sykes
Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117.
Wills
20 Aug 1795
Will of Thomas Smothers
Heirs: Wm, John, James, Thomas, Sarah, Rebecca Summers, Elizabeth Pickerel, & Mary
Exec: Susannah Smothers; Alexander Summers, Administrator
Orange County, NC, Will Book C, page 57
[Thomas married Susannah Gilliam, daughter of Edmond Gilliam and Sarah].
Will of Edmund GILLIAM
Dated 11 Aug 1810
In the name of God Amen. I Edmund GILLIAM of Orange County and State of North Carolina being weak in Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be to God for the same do make and publish this my Last will and in manner and form following.
That is to say first I give to my Son Edmund GILLIAM one Negro man named Stephen and one cow and calf and set of Smith Tools.
I likewise give my Sons Charles and Burwell the tract of land that Charles lives on as it was divided between them lying on the south west side of Haw River.
I give to my son David the land I live on, on the north east side of the River.
I likewise give my daughters Sarah HURBIN one Feather bed and furniture.
I likewise give to my well beloved wife Sarah GILLIAM all the rest of my property and at her death the property that is willed to her to be Equally Divided between my four daughters namely Susannah SMOTHERS Sarah HURBIN Mary BRACKIN and Elizabeth STALCUP to them and their heirs forever and
I make and appoint my Son Edmund GILLIAM Executor desiring my sd. Son to Take on him the charge and Trouble thereof and to see the same performed according to my true intent and meaning and Lastly Thereby Revoke all former will or wills by me made and Declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof The said Edmund GILLIAM hath hereunto set my hand and seal in the presents of Thomas BRADFORD Jurat and David BRADFORD Sr. August ye 11th 1810.
Signed by his mark: Edmund GILLIAM
Burwell GILLIAM qualified
Orange County, NC, Will Book D, page 489
Sources
- Holcomb, Brent H. Marriages of Orange Co., NC, 1779-1868, 1983. p. 117.
- Orange County, NC Land Entries 1778-1795
- Orange County, NC Deed Books
- Orange County, NC, Will Books