Updated November 25, 2022
Background
Orangeburg County and its county seat, Orangeburg, were named for William IV (1711-1751), Prince of Orange, the son-in-law of King George II. The name was first used in the 1730s for a township on the Edisto River. Orangeburg District was established in 1769, and from 1785 to 1791 it included four counties: Lexington, Orange, Winton, and Lewisburg. The district was reduced in size when Barnwell (1800) and Lexington (1804) districts were formed; parts of Orangeburg also went to form Aiken (1871) and Calhoun (1908) counties. Swiss and German farmers moved into this region around 1735, and English settlers from the lowcountry followed. The battle of Eutaw Springs was fought there during the Revolutionary War on September 8, 1781; it was the last major battle of the war in South Carolina. Large plantations using slave labor were established in Orangeburg in the nineteenth century, and the county became a major producer of cotton. Railroads arrived in the area early; Branchville became the first railroad junction in the state in 1840. Union troops under General Sherman passed through Orangeburg in February 1865. There was a Record loss in 1865.
Overview
Few GILLIAMs settled in Orangeburg before the 1880s. The Allen M. GILLIAM family arrived in Elizabeth Township from Blackville, Barnwell County around 1880. Allen was the son of John and Dorothea GILLAM (1850 Census).
An early resident of Orangeburg was Alexander GILLON. He was a Representative from South Carolina; was born in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1741; pursued an academic course; immigrated to London, England, and engaged in commerce; in 1766 settled in Charleston and established a large business; delegate to the Second Provincial Congress of South Carolina in 1775 and 1776; member of the first general assembly in 1776; was elected captain of the German Fusiliers of Charleston in May 1775; commodore of the South Carolina Navy in 1778 and was sent to France to procure vessels; joined the fleet of Spanish vessels in the capture of the Bahama Islands May 8, 1782; elected to the Continental Congress in 1784, but did not attend; delegate to the State convention which ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788; elected to the Third Congress and served from March 4, 1793, until his death at his plantation, “GILLON’s Retreat,” Orangeburg District, S.C., October 6, 1794; interment in the family burial ground at “GILLON’s Retreat,” Calhoun County, S.C.
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-Present
The family of Commodore Alexander GILLON has be included for clarity sake since there were several Alexander GILLIAMs of Virginia.
Cemeteries
Charlie H.
Hutto
Sept. 30, 1876
Mar. 6,1942
God Gave He Took
He Will Restore
He Doeth All
Things Well
Nannie Rebecca
GILLAM
Wife Of
C. H. Hutto
December 27,1878
October 12,1965
Well Done Thou Good And
Faithfull Servant
Reta Corine
Daughter of
C. H. & Nannie
Hutto
January 19,1915
August 17,1936
Faithful To Her Trust
Even Unto Death
Census
1790, Orangeburg District., Calhoun County
Alexander GILLON enumerated
3 males 16+,
4 females,
100 other free persons,
118 slaves
1880, Elizabeth, Orangeburg
Allen M. GILLAM, age 46
Elizabeth GILLAM, age 49
Sawyer GILLAM, age 22
Belle GILLAM, age 11
Dorothy GILLAM, age 9
Louis Holman, age 27, cousin
[The Allen M. GILLAM family arrived in Elizabeth Township from Blackville, Barnwell County.]
Wills
9 May 1792
Will of Alexander GILLON
To the eternal and only true God, be all honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.
I Alexander GILLON, late Commodore of the Navy of this State being weak in Body but of sound and disposing Mind and Understanding, do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made.
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved Wife Ann Purcell GILLON her Executors and Administrators for ever All my Household and Kitchen Furniture, Linnen, Liquors and Household stock , of every kind, Plate Carriage and Carriage Horses. Item in Order to make a Suitable Provision for my dear Wife and my dear Child also named Ann Purcell GILLON I devise and bequeath all and singular my Lands and Plantations situated on or near the Congaree River and called by the name of GILLON's retreat, and all my Negroes thereon or now with me, or in Charleston, or absent from me in this State, and all and Singular my Negroes to the Northward formerly under the Management of Philip Van Horn near Bound Brook in the Jerseys, with the future issue and increase of all my aforesaid Negroes as are females, Plantation Tools, Instruments of Husbandry, Plough Horses, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep and Plantation Stock of every kind in manner following That is to say, I Expressly charge the said Lands, Negroes and premises with the Yearly net Sum or Annuity of two hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling to be paid to my dear Wife Yearly and every Year during her Natural Life, which Annual Sum of Two hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling for the whole of the said term I hereby give and bequeath to her, and direct the Same to be Punctually Paid every Year
Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my dear Wife, during her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow, My Mansion House, Gardens, Pastures and Outhouses on my said Plantations, Domestic Negroes usually attendant in the House, Gardens, Stables and about our Persons, and all necessary Articles from the Plantations for herself, Servants and Horses; But should she Marry again living my said Daughter the devise and bequest contained in this Clause shall be continued to my said Wife till my dear Daughter attains the age of twenty one Years, or Marries, or dies before either of these events, which shall first happen, and no longer, All and singular the above bequests and devises to my said Wife I mean and declare to be in lieu of all Dower and Thirds which she may claim or be entitled to out of any part of my Estate, and not otherwise.
Item subject to The above charges, devises and bequests to my said Wife, I give devise and bequeath all and singular my said Lands, Plantations, Negroes and Premises to my dearly beloved daughter Ann Purcell GILLON her heirs, Executors and Administrators for ever and I hereby direct that the annual Profits of the said Premises after deducting what I have before annually bequeathed to my wife be appropriated first to the decent maintenance, cloathing and Educatlon of my said Daughter, and that the surplus be made an encreasing fund for the Purchasing of Negroes and improving the Premises for the benefit of my said Daughter.
Item should my Wife be Pregnant with any Child or Children at the time of my decease, or Should I hare any other Child or Children by her, I direct that each Child and his and her heirs, Executors and Administrators shall have an equal Proportion of the said Premises with my said Daughter and her heirs, Executors and Administrators.
Item in Case my said Daughter and all and every such Child and Children should die before she or either of them Marry or attain the Age of twenty one Years, I then will that the devises and bequests above made to her and them, be taken as part of the rest, and residue of my Estate, and I hereby devise and bequeath the same in the manner and for the Purposes I herein after by this Will devise and bequeath the rest and residue of my estate
Item all Pecuniary Legacies by me hereafter given and bequeathed in this Will are to be paid out of the rest and residue of my Estate, and not out of the above Premises which are to be solely appropriated as herein before directed.
Item to my respected Friend and Father in Law Dr. Purcell and his family as a memorial of my love and esteem I bequeath the sum of Three hundred Pounds Sterling to be equally divided between them.
Item I give and devise to my dear Nephew Hugh Alexander Nixon and his Heir for ever Two Tracts of Land on Beaver Creek formerly granted to John Beresford and containing about Eight hundred acres. I also bequeath to my said dear Nephew and his Executors and Administrators for ever, one Thousand Pounds Sterling in lieu of some Negroes I formerly allotted him; Also my Horse Obscurity with all my breeding Mares, Colts and Phillies also my Books and arms; and whenever he be settled I desire my dear Wife to let him have out of the furniture I die Possessed of sufficient to furnish two rooms,
Item I give and devise to my Grand Nephew George Nixon, and his Sister (my grand Niece) Margaret Nixon and their Heirs for ever, Two Tracts of Land in Ninety Six District containing about fifteen hundred Acres, and two tracts of Land on twelve Mile Creek just above Granby containing about two hundred and fifty Acres each.
Item to my esteemed Friend Miss Mary Newman I give and bequeath the yearly Sum or Annuity of fifty Pounds Sterling to be paid her yearly and every Year during her Natural Life.
Item to my Friend Florian Charles Mey Esquire I bequeath my Watch and also a mourning Ring the value of which is not to exceed one hundred Pounds Sterling
Item to my friend Mr. Thomas Harris near Charleston I give and bequeath all my wearing Apparel of every kind.
Item all and singular the rest and residue of my Estate real and Personal wheresoever and whatsoever, I hereby Order and direct to be sold on Credit by my Executrix and Executor as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, the amount Sales to be payable with Interest annually by Installments of one, two three four, five, Six and Seven Years taking a Mortgage of the Premises and Personal Security for the regular discharge thereof and my dear and much esteemed friend Major Pierce Butler shall direct order and Appoint for his own (my dear friend Major Pierce Butler's) benefit and behoof but in Such manner as not on any Account, or by any means, to be subject to his (Major Butler's) Debts or Encumbrances. But is my friend Major Butler should depart this life before my affairs can be so arranged as that he can derive the advantage from the above bequest I wish him to enjoy, or before he has directed the appropriation of the said Surplus, in Such case I declare and will that the said surplus shall be in trust for such of the respective Children of my friends General Isaac Huger and John Huger Esquire as shall then be living their Executors and Administrators for ever, to be equally divided between them share and Share alike.
Item I hereby appoint and constitute my dearly beloved Wife Ann Purcell GILLON, and my dear friend Major Pierce Butler to be Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and also Guardians of the Person and Estate of my daughter. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Ninth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Ninety two, declaring this to be my last Will and Testament written on one side of five Sheets of Paper, each Sheet being signed in the Margin with my own hand, and Sealed and Signed by me at the bottom where they are annexed together.
Sig: Alexander GILLON
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Alexander GILLON as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of each other, have hereunto set our hands as Witnesses thereto.
William Thomson
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
James Otis Prentiss
Benjamin Hart
Proved before Charles Lining Esquire O. C. T. D. January 20, 1795. At the same time Qualified Ann Purcell GILLON and Pierce Butler Executrix and Executor.
Examined
Will Book No. C 1793-1800, Page 178
Sources
▪ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774-Present
▪ Will Book No. C 1793-1800, Page 178