Updated November 24, 2022
Background
Russell County was named for William Russell, a Clinch Valley pioneer and the member of the House of Delegates who introduced the legislation forming the county from Washington County in 1786. Its area is 483 square miles, and the county seat is Lebanon. The first marriage register and all loose files were lost in a fire in the clerk's office in 1872.
Parishes
Russell County was formed after the Disestablishment.
Overview
The GILLIAMs of Russell County generally spell their name GILLUM. On 7 Feb 1797, David GILLIAM of Buckingham County, receives a grant for 460 acres on some of the waters of Holloday River and south side of the Buckingham Road, adjoining Joseph Brown, William Morriss, Crouches, Richard GILLIAM, James Walker, David McCormack and Olive Branch. By 1802 David has relocated to the Copper Creek area of Russell County, VA. David leaves a Will in Scott County dated 1833.
Since it appears David does not begin his family until moving to Russell County, the other early GILLIAMs of Russell County are assumed to be David's siblings. They include John and wife Susanna, William, and Richard and his son Jesse.
Richard GILLUM is charged with public drunkness along with William Fields by and John Casteel and Samuel Strong. It has been said that Richard's son, James GILLUM, married Agnes Fields Casteel, the daughter of William Fields and widow of Samuel Casteel.
Court Orders
22 Oct 1799 Court
pay William Hinds & John GILLUM legally impressed as guards for securing William Bridgwaters committed to jail from January 24, 1799 to February 21, 1799.
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 30
22 Feb 1803 Court
Indenture from John GILLAM & Susanna to William GILLIAM, certified
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 236
28 Mar 1804 Court
James Larkey vs William GILLUM, petition & summons, judgement granted the pltf
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 297
22 May 1804 Court
Indenture from Timothy Pendleton to Jacob Peeters, oaths of Jacob Teaters, John GILLIAM & David GILLIAM, recorded
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 306
3 Sep 1805 Court of Quarterly Sessions
GILLUM be imprisoned 1 hour for contempt of court
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 436
1 Oct 1805 Court
Robert Preston vs Martin Teator, debt, William GILLIAM undertakes for the def
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 458
3 Feb 1807 Court
Against Richard GILLUM for getting drunk within two months past, info of Samuel Strong & John Casteel
Against William Fields for getting drunk with two months past, info of Samuel Strong & John Casteel, farmers
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 595-596
5 May 1807 Court
Commonwealth vs Richard GILLAM, for being drunk, fined and pay costs
Russell County, VA, Book 3, page 611
Deeds
14 Oct 1802
between James Davison and Samuel Estape . . . the waters of Big Mockeson . . . 50 ac . . . Beginning with Davisons patent line to Corbin Leans open line . . . open line to Joseph Jeffers corner to David GILHAMS line and from there to Thomas Peirsies line . . .
Signed: James Davison.
No witnesses.
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 3, page 425
6 Jan 1803
between James Davison and Abraham Childris . . . 300 ac upon the waters of Copper Creek . . . Beginning near a path . . . line of John Simmons . . . conditional line of Timothy Pennington . . . corner to William GILLAM . . .
Signed: James Davison.
No witnesses.
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 3, page 427
19 Jan 1803
between Abraham Childress and Jacob Teaters, Sr. of Washington Co . . . 300 ac . . . upon the waters of Copper Creek . . . Beginning near a path . . . line of John Simmons . . . line of Timothy Pennington . . . corner to William GILLAM . . .
Signed: Abraham Childers.
Witness: Timothy Pennington
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 3, page 428
12 Oct 1803
by Timothy Penelton and Jacob Peters of Washington Co . . . 1352 ac . . . Beginning . . . on the top of Mockeson Ridge . . .
Signed: Timothy Pennington.
Witnesses: Jacob Teeters, Martin Teeters, David GILLAM & John GILLAM
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 3, page 488
26 Sep 1804
2 Indentures from William Smith, 1 to William GILMON & 1 to John Hicks
Russell County, VA, Deed Book ___, page ___
6 Sep 1808
between James Davison and Jacob Peters . . . 1352 ac dated September 5, 1799 . . . between Copper Creek & Mockerson . . . Beginning on the bluff of Copper Creek . . . to a corner between Peters & David GILLUM . . . to a corner between GILLUM & Thomas Persize . . . on the top of Mockerson Ridge which is a corner between Peters, Thomas Persize & William GILLUM . . . north with the line to the bluff of Copper Creek . . . 100 ac . . .
Signed: James Davison . . .
Witnesses: Young McLemore, William Flinn, Joseph Hacker
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 238
17 Jan 1810
between James Gibson & Charles Herris and Richard Gillham . . . 100 ac by patent on the north side of Copper Creek . . . Beginning on the north bank of the creek on other survey of Casteels . . . crossing Obeys creek . . .
Signed: James Gibson, Ruth Gibson, Charles Harris, Lydia Harris.
Witnesses: Teage Quillen, Jack Webb, Jesse GILLUM
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 333
2 Jun 1810
between Samuel Esteep and John Penley . . . on the waters of Big Mockerson Creek . . . 50 ac . . . Beginning with Daversons patent line to Corban Lanes line . . . to Joseph Jefferises line to David GILLUMs line to Thomas Prices line . . .
Signed: Samuel Estep.
Witnesses: Richard GILLUM, Jesse GILLUM, John Webb
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 334
24 Mar 1810
between Reuben Mathis & Sary and Samuel Strong . . . below the mouth of Grays Creek, north branch of Copper Creek including Bryans lower lick-bogs . . . 43 ac . . . Beginning at the mouth of Grays Creek . . . land granted to James Desert by patent dated April 22, 1793 . . .
Signed: Reuben Mathews & Sarah Mathews.
Witnesses: Teague Quillen, Richard GILLUM & Jesse GILLUM
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 335
10 Feb 1810
between Uriah Prewit and Thomas Quillen . . . 32 ac on the waters of Copper Creek, on the north side of creek, joining the lines of Joshua Penley . . .
Signed: Uriah Priuit.
Witnesses: Jesse GILLEM, Richard GILLEM & Teague Quilling
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 336
6 Oct 1812
between Thomas Black & Nancy and Richard GILLUM . . . 100 ac by survey dated February 3, 1798 . . . on both sides of Coper Creek . . . Beginning on the north bank of said creek . . .
Signed: Thomas Black & Nancey Black.
Witnesses: Teague Quilling, Green Berry Evans, Jesse GILLAM
Russell County, VA, Deed Book 4, page 620
Surveyor's Books
13 Sep 1804
Richard GILLIAM, 92 ac, part of Treasury Warrant #1855 dated March 18, 1796
on the north side of Copper Creek and on both sides of Plankcamp Creek, corner to William Melton. on the bank of Copper Creek above the mount of the branch then down the creek, supposed to be on a line of Hugh McClung, crossing Plankcamp Creek, corner to Thomas Black, bank of Copper Creek, corner to Black
Russell County, VA, Surveyor's Book, page 49
7 Mar 1808
David GILLIAM, 78 ac, part Treasury Warrant #1855 dated March 18, 1796
on the north side of Big Mockerson Creek, corner to Thomas Black, corner to Black and Jacob Peters, corner to George Wilcox, corner to William Bays, by a cluster of limestone rock
Russell County, VA, Surveyor's Book, page 71
11 June 1855
Dale Carter, assignee of Charles A. Smith, 6517 ac, entry March 18, 1854; part treasury warrant 22125 dated March 13, 1854
on both sides of Bear Creek and in Steels fork of Cranes Nest Creek, on the north line of the 10,000 ac tract mortgaged by the French to the Commonwealth of Virginia & corner to H. Dale's land, corner to W. H. GILLIAM, near Bear Creek Glade, on the bank of Bear Creek, corner to H. Skeen & H. Smiths land, on the south side of Steels fork, then down the creek, crossing the creek, corner to J. M. Jessees land, on top of Guest Mountain, corner to P. Neeles land, corner to Nicholas Horns land, in the Public Road, then along the road, corner to William Horns land, corner to J. Ryners land, corner to George Ryners land, on the south side of the road, corner to William Stallards land, along the public road, crossing Bear Creek, on the south side of the road, corner to Hiram Kilgores land, on the east side of the road corner to D. Rameys land, corner to GILLIAMs land
Russell County, VA, Surveyor's Book, page 192
Taxes
Personal Property Taxes
1802, Lower District - Robert Tate's List
GILLIAM, William
GILLIAM, David
1810 Personal Property Tax List
GILUM, Joshua
GILUM, David
GILUM, Elizabeth
GILUM, William
GILUM, Martin
BinnsGenealogy.com Personal Property Tax Lists, 1810, List B, Image 7
Sources
- BinnsGenealogy.com Personal Property Tax Lists, 1810
- Robertson, Rhonda. Russell County, Virginia Law Order Book 3 (1799-1808) Part 1 and 2
- Robertson, Rhonda. Russell County, Virginia Surveyors Book 2, 1799-1908
- Robertson, Rhonda. Russell County, Virginia Deed Book 4 (1806-1814)