Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Randolph was formed in 1779 from Guilford. It was named in honor of Peyton Randolph of Virginia, who was president of the Continental Congress. It is in the central section of the State and is bounded by Chatham, Moore, Montgomery, Davidson, Guilford and Alamance counties. Its present land area is 787.36 square miles.
The act establishing the county authorized the first court and all subsequent courts to be held at the home of Abraham Reese unless otherwise decided upon by the justices of the peace until a courthouse could be built. Commissioners were named in 1783 to select a site for the county seat. This act directed that court be held at the home of William Bell until the courthouse was completed. In 1785 an act was passed removing the court from the house of William Bell and allowing the justices at each court to decide where the next court would meet until the courthouse was completed. In 1788 a town was established at the courthouse on the land of Thomas Dauggan. This town, was named Johnstonville in honor of Samuel Johnston. In 1791 an act was passed authorizing the construction of a prison at the courthouse. In 1792 an act was passed authorizing commissioners to select a site in the center of the county and have a new courthouse erected, as the old courthouse was not in the center of the county. In 1796 Asheborough was established as the county seat on the land of Jesse Henley. In 1819 a new courthouse was authorized to be built in Asheborough. Asheboro 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.
Cemeteries
Allred - Trogdon Cemetery
W x T
April 11, 1805
E TRO
B April 1778
D JU 1849
[This cemetery was established upon land owned by William Trogdon and willed to his children upon his death in 1805. William and Elizabeth were buried in this cemetery, then The Billy Trogdon Cemetery.]
Census
1810
John Gilliam
Free White Males 45 and Over: 1
Free White Females 10 to 15: 1
Free White Females 45 and Over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 3
Court
30 Apr 1802
John Giliam accused William Gatlin of making a flase oath with witnesses Suckey Davis, John Holden, Betsey Holden, Hardy Davis and Lewis Davis.
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal, Volume 24, No. 4, Winter 2000.
7 Aug 1802
William Gatlin complained Howell Gilliam threw rocks at him. 11 Jul 1802, Hardy Davis bound for defendant’s appearance.
4 Sep 1802
Jesse Gatlin accused John Gilliam of assaulting him at the home of Gideon Macon, 4th instant
Wit: Charles Steward, Emmanuel Asbill. Hardy Davis secured Gilliam’s appearance.
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal, Volume 25, No. 1, Spring 2001.
Nov 1805
Present of Hardy Davis on a charge of assaulting John Gilliam, 6 Nov 1805
Wit: Barnaby Burrow
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal, Volume 25, No. 2, Sumer 2001
Nov 1806
Howell Gilliam presented for an assault upon William Smith, 20 Sep 1806
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal, Volume 25, No. 2, Sumer 2001
1 May 1813
Jesse Turner accused of stealing a hog from Jacob KIvett
Wit: John Gilliam, Isaac Alldridge, John Kivett of Peter
Sec: Peter Kivett and Jeremiah Savage sureties for Turner’s appearance.
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal,
30 May 1813
John Gilliam, tailor, accused of striking Jesse Turner with a large stick at the home of Stephens Elkins.
Wit: John Kivett, Maryan Smith
Sec: Isaac Aldridge bound for Gilliam’s appearance.
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal,
21 Jun 1813
John Gilliam, charges John Kivett with assaulting him, 21 Jun 1813
Wit: William Caviness, Stephen Elkins, Philip Amack
Sec: Amos McDaniel surety for Kivett’s appearance
Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal,
Land Entries
9 Feb 1803
John Gilliam enters 100 acres on waters of Meadow Branch bordering William Green, William Smitherman, Thomas Cash, Hardy Davis and Adam Smith.
Land Entry 256
8 Nov 1803
John Gilliam enters 100 acres on Richland Creek adjacent Fuqua, Henry Ramsour, Joseph Brown
Land Entry 375
6 Nov 1805
John Gilliam enters 50 acres of waters of Richland Creek bordering Henry Ramsour and Jeremiah Coxe.
Land Entry 544
14 Nov 1815
John Gillum enters 1000 acres on Richland and Batchelor’s Creek bordering Peter Laurence and Joseph Cox.
Land Entry 1209
14 Nov 1815
Mary Gilliam enters 100 acres on Deep River adjacent Daniel Brown, dec’d, Jacob HInshaw and Charles Moffitt.
Land Entry 1210
[Mary is likely either a daughter or widow of John Gilliam. It appears it is she who marries Joab Miles in 1818]
Marriages
24 Mar 1785
Joab Yarborough and Ezbel Lusk
Bondsman: John Gilliam
5 Sep 1805
William Trogden and Elizabeth Gilliam
Bondsman John Gilliam, Witness M. Harvey
7 Aug 1806
James Giles and Sarah Gillam
Bondsman Henry Watkins
24 Sep 1818
Joab Miles and Mary Gillum
Taxes
1803
John Gillem appears in John Craven’s list with 100 acres.
Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal, Volume 11, No. 1, page 9.
1815
List of Randolph
John Gilliam appears with 50 acres on Richland Creek.
1820
List of Randolph
John Gilliam appears with 50 acres on Richland Creek in Capt. McMaster’s District.
Sources
- Cates, Larry W. Reading Between the Lines: The Gilliam Family of Randolph and Chatham. Randolph County, NC Genealogical Journal. Spring 2002.
- NC Land Entries
- Randolph Criminal Actions, Randolph County, NC Genealogical Society Journal