Updated November 25, 2022
Background
York County and its county seat, the town of York, were named for York County, Pennsylvania. The county was first established in 1785 as part of Camden District. From 1791 to 1800 it was part of Pinckney District, and it became a separate district when Pinckney was dissolved in 1800. Part of the county went to form Cherokee County in 1897. When European settlers arrived, this part of the state was inhabited by the Catawba Indians. The Catawbas signed a treaty with the English in 1763, relinquishing their rights to much of their land. This treaty opened up the area to Scotch-Irish settlers moving down from Pennsylvania and up from the low country. In later years the Catawba reservation was greatly reduced in size, but recent legal settlements have now restored many of the tribe's rights. The Catawba Nation is now the only federally-recognized Indian tribe in the state. Two battles were fought in this area during the Revolutionary War, Williamson's Plantation (July 12, 1780) and Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780); the latter battle was a major victory for the Americans. Small-scale cotton farming was prevalent in the county in the nineteenth century, but textile mills became important in the twentieth century, contributing to the growth of the county's largest city, Rock Hill.
Overview
The family of Thomas Gilham of Calf Pasture, Augusta County, VA settled in York County. Thomas died about 1790 leaving sons Ezekiel, Charles, Thomas, James, William, Isaac, John.
Cemetery
Bullock Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Ezekiel Thomas Gilliam
Died 8 Feb 1856, age 15
Findagrave.com
Sarah Gillham Davidson
Born 1743
Died 5 Dec 1828
[wife of John Davidson who died at the Battle of Hanging Rock]
Findagrave.com
Deeds
14 Oct 1788
John Martin of York County, S. C., conveys to Thomas Woods of York County, SC., for £.120, sterling, a piece of land in Ninety-Six District, Abbeville County, on Eighteen Mile Creek, waters of Savannah River, containing 399 acres, granted to John Martin by Gov. William Moultrie 6 Mar. 1786.
Jacob Black
John Black
John Martin
Sworn in York County 16 Sept. 1789 by Jacob Black before Thomas Gilham, J. P.
Pendleton County, South Carolina, Conveyance Book A, 1790-1792, Pages 176-177.
SCMAR, Vol. III, Spring 1975, No. 2, p. 83
Family Histories
She Rode Away on a Bay Horse
Ezekiel Gillham was born in 1776 and at the end of his life was buried in Bullock’s Creek Presbyterian Cemetery. When he was past sixty, his young wife abandoned him in 1840. Gillham notified the public by a notice in the Yorkville Compiler. The notice, however, appears that he was more interested in the return of his horse rather than his wife: “Whereas my wife, Elizabeth, has left my house and home and abandoned my bed and board without caused or provocation—this is to notify all persons not to harbor or entertain the said Elizabeth or the law will be enforced against them. I will pay no debts that she may contract. She rode away on a bay horse above sixteen hands high belonging to me and also carried off a sidesaddle, my property, any person who trade for, uses or in any manner interferes with said horse and saddle, I will hold responsible.”
This notice appeared in the Yorkville Compiler on June 15, 1840. Just eleven days later, on June 26, Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Thomas Ezekiel Gillham. It is unknown what happened to Elizabeth, but the baby was presented to the father, who died three years later. Ezekiel’s will placed the boy into the hands of his “trusty friend,” twenty-one year old Jane Black, and made her the guardian of all his property until Thomas reached adulthood. The boy died at the age of sixteen and all Gillham property fell to Jane, who later married Mathew Bankhead. The imagination wonders and wanders over the possible answers.
West, Jerry Lee. Tall tales of York County: Ghostly Secrets, Daredevil Priests and Walking on Water. The History Press, 2006, pages 43-44.
Jury Lists
1778, New Acquisition District
page 46
Charles Gillon
[Likely should read Charles Gillham. For those not yet familiar with The Jury Lists of SC, it contains the list of all adult male freeholders in South Carolina who were liable for jury service. The list was in all probability prepared from tax lists of a year or two before 1778 and therefore serves as a kind of State Census.]
SCMAR, Vol. XV, Winter 1987, No. 1, p. 52
Hendrix, GeLee Corley, and Lindsay, Morn McKoy. The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779.
Pensions
Pension of Jacob Gillham
Wills
20 Jan 1788
Will of Richard Leathem
Wit: Thomas Gillham, Moses Leathem, Isaac Gillham
Rec: 9 Feb 1789
York County, SC, Will Book A, 12, page 4, Case No. 59, File No. 251
18 Jul 1788
Will of Joseph Laney
Wit: Thomas Gillham, William Leany, William McQuown
Rec: 14 Feb 1789
York County, SC, Will Book A, 12, page 27, Case No 59, File No. 250
7 Jan 1794
Will of Patrick Robinson of York County, Pinckney District
Names Indexed: Patrick Robinson, Sarah Robinson, Elizabeth Gilliam, Isaac Laney, Cetura Robinson, Agnes Robinson, Jean Robinson, Samuel Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Samuel Nesbitt
York County, SC, Estate Packet, Case 62, File 2829
1 Jan 1795
Will of James Sims of Union County
Names Indexed: James Sims, Cornelius Willson, William Gilliam, Nancey Gilliam, Jeter Brasellmann, Drusilla Brasellmann, Anne Glenn Sims, Matthew Sims, John Sims, Nathan Sims, Reuben Sims, Elizabeth Sims, John Sanders, Joshua Thenworthy, John Thenworthy
York County, SC, Will Book A, page 34; Estate Packet: Box 2, Pkg 24
25 Oct 1800
Will of Charles Gillham
In the name of God, Amen, I Charles Gillham of the District of York, and state of So. Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be God calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die to make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to God that gave it, and my body I recommend to earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my exs. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate were with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I demise and dispose of the same in manner following
First of all I allow my just debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my estate
Secondly I will and bequeath unto my wife the sum of five shilling
Thirdly I Will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Elizabeth Gillham and her heirs 100 acres of my new survey on the wt side of Bullocks Creek with 50 acres added to it on the same side of the Creek of the land I purchased of Delap [sic] including a part of the bottom with her bed and furniture
Fourthly, I will and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Sarah Gillham and her heirs 100 acres of land on the wt side of Bullocks Creek known by the name of Duckpon plantation or pace [sic] also her bed and furniture.
Fifthly I will and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Gillham the remainder of my lands with my mansion house and my bed and furniture and one chest of drawers my grey horse and by mare one set of plow irons and too pair of gears, one big pot, one small pot, and one oven with my part of my dresser, mall rings and wedges, one ax and hoes, 1 shovel plow
Sixthly I will and bequeath unto John Montgomery the sum of fifteen pounds to be paid out of the bequeath property
Seventhly I will and bequeath unto Hampton Wade the sum of ten pounds
Eighthly the remainder of my estate I allow to be appraised and sold and equally divided between my three youngest children.
And lastly I do nominate and appoint my eldest son Thomas Gillham, Ralph Rogers, and Adam Meek to be Exers of this my last Will and Testament revoking all former wills and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament
In witness whereof I do set my hand and seal this 25th day of Octr in the year of our Lord 1800.
Sig: Chs. Gillham
Signed, seal’d and acknowledged in presence of us: James Willson, Jonas Bayles, Sarah Davidson
NB the words to them and their heirs interlined before signed.
Probated March 1, 1802
York County, SC, Will Book A, page 82, Case No. 56, File No. 157
25 Aug 1801
Will of Thomas Gillham
In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Gilham of the District of York and State of S. Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be God calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to dye do make, ordain, this my last will and Testament that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian-like manner at the discretion of my Ex’rs. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate were with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the manner & form following:
First of all I allow my just debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my estate and
Secondly I will and bequeath unto my well-beloved wife, Jane Gillham, the one half of my land together with the improvement, house and household furniture during her natural life or widowhood and after that time expires I allow the same land to my son William Gillham
Thirdly I will and bequeath unto my son Charles Gillham the other half of my land when he arrives at the full age of twenty one and in case he should dye before he arrives to the age of twenty-one then and in that case the land shall be divided between my daughters f
Fourthly, I allow my exe’rs full power to make use of my land to the best advantage for the schooling and raising of my children and further I allow all the profits arising form my plantation to be equally divided amongst my children at the discretion of my executors
Fifthly and lastly I nominate and appoint my wife Jane Gillham and Ezekiel Gillham to be whole and sole ex’rs of this my last Will and Testament ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament.
Sig: Thomas Gillham
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of August 1801
Signed, seal’d and acknowledged in presence of us: Ralph Rogers, Chas. Gillham, Adam Meek
Probated November 20, 1801
York County, SC, Will Book A, page 56, Case No. 56, File No. 165.
7 Jan 1847
Will of Ezekiel Gillam [Gillham]
York County, South Carolina
In the name of God, I Ezekiel Gillam knowing that it is appointed to man to die, and being of equal and disposing mind and memory do ordain, constitute and make this as my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others.
Item First, My Will is that I may be decently buried and that all my just debts be paid if I should owe any.
Item 2nd I give to my son Ezekiel Gillam all my estate of all kinds whatsoever both real and personal to be his and delivered over to him, upon his arriving at the age of twenty on years old and I hereby appoint my trusty friend Jane Black to take charge of my son and his estate as his guardian and as such she is hereby bound (if she does so) to come to and permanently reside upon the place where I live, and as guardian of my son, she shall have full power to manage all my estate as she may think best so as to keep the property together using as much of said estate as she deems necessary for the support of my beloved son Ezekiel Gillam in properly raising and educating him, and for her own individual support. Upon my son Ezekiel Gillam arriving to the age of twenty one years my will is that my estate of all kinds which I now have or may have at my death and which may have increased with said increase up to the time he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years of course excepting what may be used for his support and education and for Jane Black’s individual support shall be and is hereby given to my son in fee simple and forever as his own absolutely.
Item 3d If my son Ezekiel Gillam arrives at the age of twenty one years old I hereby charge him and his estate hereby willed to him with the decent support of my friend Jane Black during her natural life for her care and trouble in raising and discharging all the duties I have required of her as his guardian.
Item 4th If my trusty friend Jane Black shall take charge of my son and his estate as his guardian and faithfully managed him and it as I have hereby enjoined upon her and my son Ezekiel Gillam shall die before he arrives to the age of twenty one years old then and in that case my will is that Jane Black shall have all my state of all kinds whatsoever.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint John McSwain and Crocker Howel my executors to this my last Will and testament in presence of us this Jan 7 1847.
Sig: Ezekiel Gillam
Wit: John G. Brown, William Jamieson, William M. Smith
Probated February 14, 1848
York County, SC, Will Book 3, page 173, Case No.9, File No. 389
Sources
- Findagrave.com
- Hendrix, GeLee Corley, and Lindsay, Morn McKoy. The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779.
- Wells, Lawrence K, and Brent H. Holcomb, ed. South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 1-20 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Original data: Wells, Lawrence K., ed. The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research. Vol. I-XX. Columbia, SC, USA: SCMAR, 1973-1992.
- West, Jerry Lee. Tall Tales of York County: Ghostly Secrets, Daredevil Priests and Walking on Water. The History Press, 2006, pages 43-44.