Updated November 24, 2022
Background
Shenandoah County was named for the Shenandoah River, which passed through the county. Shenandoah is an Indian word meaning beautiful daughter of the stars. The county was named Dunmore when it was formed from Frederick County in 1772. The present name was adopted in 1778. Its area is 507 square miles, and the county seat is Woodstock.
Parishes
Beckford Parish, 1790
Overview
William Gilham of Woodstock, Shenandoah County, formerly of Augusta County, VA, by late 1809, has settled in the Town Alexandria where he operates a Dry Good Store on Royal Street. William appears in the 1820 Alexandria Federal Census where he is listed with several children. He is believed to be the brother of Mary Gilham that married William Breckinridge of Fayette County, KY (see The Correspondence of John Badollet and Albert Gallatin, 1804-1836 Indiana Historical Society Publications). William is said to have raised Mary’s son, Samuel M. Breckinridge. The name William Gilham Breckinridge is used by the Kentucky Breckinridges.
Deeds
23 Mar 1799
Between John Gaw and Catharine his wife of County of Shenandoah [to] Joseph Cochenour of same County . . . consideration of Six hundred dollars . . . seventy five acres and being the same which was conveyed to said John Gaw by William Tilghman of City of Philadelphia (by Joseph R. Tatum his and George Meads Attorney in fact) by deed . . .
Sig: Jno. Gaw, Catharine Gaw
Wit: James Allen, John Snapp, Wm. Gilham
Shenandoah County, VA, Deed Book L, p. 501
18 Feb 1801
David Harr of the County of Shenandoah, sold to David Rodeheffer Junior and John Rodeheffer, sadler of same county, for consideration of 210 pounds, two lots in the town of Woodstock, known as nos. 43 and 86, containing one half acre of land, being the same lots conveyed to David Harr the 26th of April 1799 by Frederick Heiskill and Catherine his wife,
Wit: George Lind, William Gilham, Alexander Pollock, George Hoffman, and John Lee.
Gilreath, Amelia C. Shenandoah County, Virginia Deed Book Series Volume 4 Combination Minute Book 1774-1780; Deed Books M and N 1799-1804. 14200 Vint Hill Road, Nokesville, Virginia 22123: Self-published, July 1989.
22 Aug 1818
Between Thomas Southcomb by Robert Patton his attorney in fact [to] Joseph Irwin of County of Shenandoah . . . whereas said Thomas Southcomb by his certain letter of Attorney the 3rd AUg 1799 of record in County Court of Spotsylvania constituted Robert Patton his attorney in fact with power to receive and pay all debts . . . whereas William Gilham on 19th Sep 1798 in Superior Court of Chancery holds a decree against said Thomas Southcomb, Thomas Middleton, Charles Craighton, Henry Fletcher and John Southerland and ordered defendant covey to the Plaintiff the one half of a lot in the town of Woodstock . . . whereas said William Gilham hath sold and conveyed the said half Lot unto the said Joseph Irwin the 11th Aug 1818 . . . Now this indenture for and in consideration of the premises and for complying with the decree . . . doth grant bargain and sell unto said Joseph Irwin the aforesaid the half lot lying in the town of Woodstock and known by the number 111 . . .
Sig: Rob Patton, Atty, for Thos. Southcomb.
Wit: William Buckner, Bowell Alsop, John Ross, H. Wilson
Rec: 31 Aug 1818
Shenandoah County, VA, Deed Book Y, page 446.
Gilreath, Amelia C. Shenandoah County, Virginia Deed Book Y and Z, 1817-1820, page 103
Taxes
Personal Property Taxes
[William Gilham of the mid to late 1790’s of Shenandoah County was previously found in the tax records of Augusta County, VA, with wife Elizabeth.]
| Year | Name | Source |
| 1782 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1783 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1784 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1785 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1786 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1787 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1788 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1789 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1790 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1791 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1792 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1793 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 1794 | No GILLIAMs | |
| 14 Jul 1795 | William Gilham | List B, Image 11 |
| 26 May 1796 | William Gilham | List B, Image 10 |
| 11 Jul 1797 | William Gilham | List B, Image 12 |
| 15 Aug 1798 | William Gilham | List B, Image 9 |
| 12 Jun 1799 | William Gilham | List B, Image 11 |
Binns Genealogy.com. County Tax Lists of Virginia.
Wills
23 Feb 1827
Will of Joseph Pingley of Shenandoah County
Son: Samuel Pingley, the plantation whereon he now lives
Two Granddaughters: Elizabeth Pingley and Harriet Pingley (daughters of David Pingley, dec’d)
Daughters: Rachael Cross, Barbara Wilson, (dec’d); May Wilson, Susanna Roads, Elizabeth Wilson, Sarah Piseler.
Exor: Son, Samuel Pingley
Wit: Joseph Wattson, Joseph Evans, William Gilham
Rec: 7 Jun 1830
Shenandoah County, VA. Will Book P, page 458
- Gilreath, Amelia C. Shenandoah County, Virginia Abstracts of Wills, 1772-1850.
Sources
- Binns Genealogy.com. County Tax Lists of Virginia.
- Gilreath, Amelia C. Shenandoah County, Virginia Deed Book Series Volume 4 Combination Minute Book 1774-1780; Deed Books M and N 1799-1804. 14200 Vint Hill Road, Nokesville, Virginia 22123: Self-published, July 1989.
- Gilreath, Amelia C. Shenandoah County, Virginia Abstracts of Wills, 1772-1850.