By Rev. Philip Slaughter, DD
Updated November 24, 2022
Background:
The first half of this history pertains to the general history of this parish with a special emphasis upon the early Episcopal clergy who were Rectors of the Parish Church. The second half of the history deals with genealogies of many early families; a listing of members of the various Vestries; as well as some abstracts from some Baptismal registers.
Overview:
This Family History published in 1879 served as the basis of the GILLIAM genealogies published in the Richmond Standard by R. A. Brock.
GILLIAM
The GILLIAM family is of Norman descent, and the original form of the name was Gillaume (William).
[For origin of the name see Foundations]
The ancestor of the family in Virginia circa 1682, was William1 m. ____ Poythress.
[The father of Robert who married Lucy Skelton, below was John GILLIAM who married Elizabeth Poythress, not William.]
Issue:
i. Robert2, m. Lucy Skelton, heiress of “Elk Island,” Hanover County.
ii. William2, m. Christine Eppes of City Point. [name is most likely Christian Eppes]
iii. John2, m. dau of Rev. Patrick Henry, of St. George Parish, uncle of the orator. [John married Jane Henry]
iv Jane2, m. Charles Duncan, merchant of “Roslin,” Chesterfield County
v. Anne2, m. Nathaniel Harrison of “Berkeley,”
Issue of Robert2 and Lucy (Skelton) GILLIAM:
i. John3, m. ____ Sampson of Scotland. [Hannah Sampson]
ii. James S3. (MD) b. Aug 1763, at “Montallo,” Prince George County, d. 28 Mar 1814; m. 21 Nov 1787, Mary, dau of Theophilus Feild, vestryman.
Issue of John3 and ____ (Sampson) GILLIAM:
i. Eliza4, m. _____ Batte of Prince George County [Robert Batte]
ii. Robert4, m. ____ Sanxy of Richmond. [Charlotte Sanxay]
iii. Wm4, d.
iv., Lucy Anne4, m. Rev. N. A. Okeson, DD of Norfolk [Nicholas Albertson Okeson]
v. Jane4, m. Cadmus Archer of Chesterfield County
vi. James4, m. ____ Birchett, of Prince George County. Issue. 3 dau. And 1 son, James (vestryman), who m. Mrs. McIlwaine. [James married Catherine Birchett. James “Jr.” married the widow McIlwaine, nee Martha McEnery, widow of John McIlwaine.]
Issue of James S3. and Mary (Feild) GILLIAM, MD
i. John4 (MD), vestryman, m. Eliza Shore of “Violet Bank.”
ii. James S4., d.
iii. Anne Feild4, m. John Peyton, son of Thomas Tabb Bolling, of “Mayfield,” Dinwiddie County
iv. Robert4, m. Janet Colquhoun
v. Theophilus4, d. unmarried
vi. Marius4, m. ____ Dunant of Philadelphia [Rebecca S. Dunant]
vii. Mary4, m. Charles Francis Osborne
viii. Lucy4, m. Rev. Mr. Doughen [Rev. James Doughen]
ix. Arabella4, m. Rev. Wm. H. Foote, DD, of Romney
Issue of John4 and Eliza (Shore) GILLIAM, MD:
i. Jane5, m Thomas Lee, son of Dr. Wm. Shippen of Phila.
ii. James S5. (MD) passed Asst. Surg. USN., m. George C., dau of Judge John C. Nicoll of Savannah, GA, lost at sea on USS Levant.
iii. Thomas S5., vestryman, m. Agnes. Dau. of Rev. Horace Stringfellow.
iv. Theophilus F5., MD, m. Mary, dau of Dr. Peter Eppes of City Point
v. Eliza5, m. Robert Maitland, son of James Dunlop
vi. Mary Louisa5
Issue of Robert4 and Janet (Colquhoun) GILLIAM
i. Clara C. 5, m. Rev. Edmund Withers
ii. Cleeman5, m. Joseph Pannill
iii. James S5., MD
Issue of Wm2. And Christina (Eppes) GILLIAM:
Eliza3 m. Nath’l Friend. Issue: Charles, late of “White Hill,” Prince George
Issue of Jane2 (GILLIAM) and Charles Duncan:
i. Jane3 [no record of a daughter Jane. There was a daughter Elizabeth Duncan,
ii. Smith3, m. Mr. Gamble [Charlotte Smith GILLIAM, m. John Gamble]
iii. Nancy3, m. James Dunlop of London
Issue of Anne2 (GILLIAM) and Nathaniel Harrison of “Berkeley:”
i. Benjamin3, m. Mrs. Osborne [It is believed Benjamin married Ann Turnbull]
ii. John3, d. at college
iii. Dau3., m. Mr. Brown [Elizabeth Harrison married Mr. Brown]
iv. Sarah3, m. ____ McKenzie of Scotland [Donald McKenzie]
v. Susan3, m. Robert Maitland
vi. Dau3, m. ____ Boyd, son of clergyman of “Merton Hall,” Scotland
[A Susan GILLIAM married Robert Boyd, but she was a sister of Anne, not daughter. There is no record of a daughter of Anne who married a Rev. Boyd]
Sources
- Slaughter, Rev. Philip. A History of Bristol Parish, With Genealogies of Families Connected there with and Historical Illustrations. J. W. Randolph & English, Richmond: 1879, repr. 1994), 238pp.