Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
I'd appreciate any corrections to what follows, or any additional information on the Thomas-Robert Gilliland line.
The Gilliland Family
Thomas Gilliland (1737 to 1821) was born at sea in 1737 as his parents were en route to America from Ireland, probably arriving in Philadelphia.Other Gillilands had arrived in America over the previous decade and came from Northern Ireland, principally County Antrim.Thomas grew up on the Maryland-Pennsylvania border (possibly Cecil County, Maryland). He married a woman named Margaret (born about 1740 and died in 1824).Thomas and Margaret had the following children:Elizabeth (born in 1766 and married a Mr. Weldon); Robert (born March 10, 1771 and died in1854), William (born in 1775 and died in1847); Mary (born March 21, 1778 and died July 28, 1856, married Robert Stewart); and Thomas.Thomas and Margaret both died in Shelby County, Kentucky (Probate:Thomas Gilliland will, October 8, 1816, probated in November of 1821; Wife Margaret; daughters Elizabeth Weldon, Nancy Stewart; sons William—who died on April 4, 1847, and Robert. Another son, Thomas, Jr. may have been already deceased.) Thomas is buried in the Cane Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Jefferson County, Kentucky, near the Shelby County line. His wife Margaret died in July of 1824. [Source:Most of this information is included in a biography of William Gilliland, a doctor and grandson of Thomas, who lived in Adams County, Illinois, and was the son of William P. Gilliland, son of Robert.]
In the portrait of William E. Gilliland, M.D. of Adams County, Illinois, son of William P., the Gillilands are described as follows:
Thomas Gilliland was born on the Atlantic, while his parents were crossing the ocean from Ireland. He was reared on the boundary line between Delaware and Maryland. Having married, he became the father of three sons: Thomas, William, and Robert, the last-named being the grandfather of our subject. He [Robert] emigrated to Kentucky in an early day and lived in a block-house. He was one of Kentucky’s honored pioneers, and was a warm friend of Daniel Boone. In 1827, he emigrated with his family to Illinois, locating in Morgan County, whence he came to Adams County. He was also one of the early settlers of this community, and during his life he participated in several Indian wars. He lived almost entirely upon the frontier and did much for the advancement and upbuilding of the localities in which he resided. His death occurred in 1854, at the age of eighty-six years.
The Doctor’s father, William P. Gilliland, was born in Kentucky in 1805, and accompanied his parents on their emigration to this State [Illinois]. In Morgan County he purchased wild land, and in a log cabin, 16 X 18 feet, made his home. There he improved and developed a farm, upon which he resided until the spring of 1841, when he came to Mendon. For some years he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits, but is now living a retired life. He married Letitia Curry, who was born in Kentucky, in 1808, and died on the 4th of September, 1890. Like her husband, she was for many years a faithful member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Gilliland is a prominent and influential citizen of this community, and has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and Collector.
Dr. Gilliland was the third in order of birth in a family of five sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and one daughter are yet living. He was born January 1, 1833, in the little log cabin in Morgan County.
Another account says that William P. Gilliland, son of Robert, was a tanner by trade as well as a farmer and served in the Black Hawk War in 1832.
Robert, the son of the Thomas who was born at sea, married Nancy Roberts (born about 1778, died October 11, 1869).Nancy was the daughter of Abner Roberts, a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia, probably born about 1742 in Orange County, later Culpeper.Robert Gilliland resided on Plum Creek in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1812, and was in the area from at least 1806. In 1827, Robert and Nancy appear in Morgan County, Illinois, and moved to Adams County by 1850, where they lived out their lives.In the 1830 census in Morgan County, Illinois, Robert was 50-60, Nancy 50-60, with a boy 15-20 and a girl 15-20. Also in the 1830 Morgan County census were the households of their sons Thomas Gilliland and William P. Gilliland. In 1840, Robert Gilliland in Morgan County is 70-80 and wife is 60-70. He moved to Adams County in 1841. The 1850 census of Adams County, Illinois, shows that Robert was born in Maryland and Nancy in Virginia. In 1860, Nancy was in the census in Adams County, Illinois, 80, born in Kentucky, and living with William P., 42, born in Kentucky. In the 1880 census, William P. was in Adams County, 74, born in Kentucky, his father in Maryland and his mother in Virginia.
The children of Robert and Nancy, from a Bible in the possession of Blanche I. (Rhea) Hyhouse, Adrian, Illinois copied by Dr. Darrell A. Russel of Florence, Alabama in 1971:
Thomas (born June 24,1798) See below.
Margaret (born October 23,1799)
Mary (born October 29, 1799?)
Abner (born June 9, 1801)
Rachael (born January 4, 1803)
William (born October 10, 1805) see William in Morgan and Adams County, Illinois
Sarah (born January 20, 1808)
John (born March 20, 1810)
Robert (born July 27, 1812) see Robert married Sally Henry in Morgan County, IL in 1838; in Chariton County, Missouri, in 1880.
Naoma (born September 1, 1815) married Hugh Henry from Bourbon County, Kentucky, in Morgan County, Illinois on May 14, 1840.In 1880, Naomi Henry was in Morgan County, Illinois, 63, born in Kentucky, her father in Virginia and her mother in Kentucky.
Elizabeth (born November 15, 1817)
Thomas, son of Robert and Nancy, married Mary (Polly) Jewitt (Jouett, Jewett) in Shelby County, Kentucky, in March of 1818, the record from Shelby County stating that she was the daughter of John Jowitt. Some family records say that John Jewitt was from Pennsylvania. The marriage seems to have been on March 5, and was signed by Robert Gilliland. Thomas moved to Illinois by 1824 when he was on the tax list in Morgan County, Diamond Grove, along with James and Jacob Redding, John B. Redding’s uncles. Diamond Grove became part of Jacksonville Township.The County history reports that Diamond Grove was the first village established in Morgan County:
The first settlement in this township was in 1820 by Isaac Fort Roe. He and two companions arrived in a beautiful forest on a very cold winter day January 23, 1820. He selected a place of residence, and in February built a log cabin thus becoming one of the first three settlers in the county. When the sun shone brilliantly on the ice-covered trees, he named it Diamond Grove. This was the first village in what we now know as Morgan County, but in 1820 was Madison county, and in 1821-1823 was Greene County.
Thomas Gilliland and his brother, William P., served in the Black Hawk War from Morgan County, Illinois in 1832.
Thomas Gilliland purchased public domain land in Illinois as follows:
January 4, 1828: W2SE 1314N10W3in Morgan County.
October 24, 1828: E2SW 1314N10W3in Morgan County.
May 5, 1831: E2NW 2613N10W3in Morgan County.
His brother, William P. Gilliland purchased public domain land in Illinois as follows:
December 17, 1830: E2NW 2413N10W3in Morgan County.
August 12, 1835: SWNW 1313N10W3in Morgan County.
August 12, 1835: NWNW 1712N10W3in Greene County.
February 22, 1836: NEPRE 0213N10W3in Morgan County.
The lands purchased by Thomas and William are in three adjacent townships (Woodson and Murrayville) in southwestern Morgan County and northeastern Greene County (Athensville Township). In 1821, current Morgan County was part of Greene.Two years later, in 1823, Morgan was separated.
The Gillilands must have been among the first settlers in Woodson Township, as the township was first settled in 1827 and 1828, and the first child born there was in 1828. A history of Morgan County reports:
The early location was along the creeks and by the timber, and on this account for many years the prairie remained unclaimed. About a year after the deep snow of 1830, the tide of emigration flowed in, and in a few years most of the rich prairies were occupied by new comers. In the early history of this township, must be noted that Rev. Peter Cartwright was accustomed to preach either from the stump of some aged oak, or in the cabin of some of the pioneer Methodists. Rev. James Rives also preached occasionally in the log school house. This township is well watered and the prairies interspersed with groves of timber, making this portion of the county unsurpassed of general agricultural purposes.
Murrayville Township was first settled in 1823 by one family, and others a few years later. The Morgan County history says about this township:
Rev. Thomson Sheppard, a Calvinist Baptist minister, preached the first sermon in 1832. The first church was a log building, and was erected in 1829 by the Calvinists and Baptists on Young Blood's Prairie. The first school house was constructed of logs, and was located on the Nichols farm, about a mile north of Egypt Prairie. The first Justice of Peace was Samuel Ray in 1838. The first brick building was erected by the latter on Section 10, in 1836.
Prior to the deep snow of 1830 the country was sparsely populated, but after that remarkable epoch the fame of the timber and prairie became known, and settlers became very numerous. This portion of the county is well watered and offers much excellent timber of many varieties. There are three major creeks - Little Apple Creek on the east, then Lick Creek in the middle area, and Coal Creek to the west, all flowing south to southwesterly.
1830 in Morgan County, Illinois, Thomas Gilliland was 30-40; wife 30-40; 1 male 10-15; 2 females under 5; 2 females 5-10. Thomas’s father, Robert, was also in Morgan County in 1830, as was his brother William.
Also, in the 1830 Morgan County census were Polly’s possible kin, Isaac Jewitt (40-50; wife 40-50; male 20-30; male 15-20) and John Jewitt (male 20-30; female 40-50; male 15-20; female 15-20). This John Jewitt was possibly Polly’s brother. In 1840, a John Jewett in Morgan County, Illinois, was between 60 and 70, his wife between 60 and 70, with a female 40-50; a male and female 20-30; a male and female 10-15; and a male under 5. This John Jewett could have been Polly’s father. But where was he prior to that?
In 1850, John Jewett, possibly Polly’s brother, was in Morgan County, 52, born in Kentucky, with Lavinia, 39, born in Virginia; Mary, 17; Nancy, 15; Sarah, 10; Hannah, 9; Ann, 7; Emily, 5; and Hester, 1. In 1870, John Jewett in Morgan County was 64, born in Kentucky, his wife, Lavinia, 54, born in Virginia. Their children were Hester, 22; John, 18; and William, 14, all born in Illinois.
In the 1840 census in Des Moines County, Iowa, Thomas Gilliland was between 40 and 50, his wife between 40 and 50, with a man between 20 and 30, 2 girls between 15 and 20, 2 girls between 10 and 15, 2 girls between 5 and 10, and one girl under 5. In 1840, Thomas’s father, Robert, and brother, William, remained in Morgan County but moved to Adams County, Illinois, in 1841.
Thomas and Polly apparently moved to Des Moines County, Iowa about the time the rest of the family moved to Adams County, Illinois. Thomas and Polly lived in Soap Creek Mills, Des Moines County, Iowa, where Thomas disappeared in 1850, possibly to go west to the California gold fields.
On November 16, 1851, Polly Gilliland filed the following petition for bounty land in Des Moines County, Iowa:
State of Iowa
County of Desmoines
On this 16th day of November A.D. 1851, personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, duly commissioned and authorized to administer Oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid, Polly Gilliland aged 54 years on the 27th day of January next, a resident of Desmoines County in the State of Iowa, who being duly sworn according to Law, declares that she is the widow of Thomas Gilliland deceased, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain XXX Butler, the Regiment she cannot name but thinks it was commanded by one Weatherford in the Black Hawk War of 1832. He was drafted in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, sometime she believes in April 1832, was marched to Beardstown same State, and sent home with the privilege of Volunteering; but to be ready at a moment’s warning; that he volunteered in a few days subsequent. Affiant believes he volunteered for three months, and that he was in actual service about two months and a half, that he was honorably discharged, “but time and place cannot state, when or where” affiant believes that he the deceased received a certificate but cannot state what became of it.
She further states that she was married to the said Thomas Gilliland in Shelby County, Kentucky in March A.D. 1818 by a Mr. Paris a Methodist Minister and that her name before her said marriage was Polly Jewet but thinks a public or private record of said marriage exists, or can be procured, that her said husband died at or near Agency. . .
[Note:This affidavit breaks off here. The Agency was an area set aside for Sac and Fox Indians, which included Soap Creek Mill near the Missouri border. Early settlers encroached on this Indian land as squatters. After the Black Hawk War of 1832, the Sac and Fox were allowed to stay in a strip of land in what is now eastern Iowa for another year and then departed under the conditions of the Black Hawk Purchase. As they left, the settlers moved in from Illinois and Missouri. In 1834, the area was divided into Dubuque and Des Moines counties and was part of Wisconsin Territory until Iowa Territory was established in 1838. Settlers from Morgan County, Illinois, were among the first settlers in this part of Iowa, arriving with teams and wagons.]
A second affidavit, filed October 27, 1855, repeats this information and says that:
She further declares, that she is the identical Polly Gilliland that made application for bounty land under the act approved September 28th 1850 and obtained a land warrant for forty acres which she has legally ???? of, and it cannot now be returned [?].
She further declares, at the time of her application for the above land, her marriage, with said Thomas Gilliland, his death, and her identity as his widow was fully proved, and is now on file in the Pension office; which she now refers to as part of this declaration—also his certificate of discharge; and all the other necessary proofs to entigle her to a bounty land warrant ins on file, in her former application for bounty land under the laws then in force. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the ct approved March 3rd 1855.
Signed Polly Gilliland by her mark
Affidavits also attached from John B. Redding and Josiah Parker, with signatures.
The affidavit dated October 27, 1855, states much the same information, adding that the Methodist minister who married them was named Pleasant Paris and that the company in which Thomas served was commanded by a Captain Thomas. This time her maiden name is spelled “Jewitt.” She said they resided at a place called Soap Creek Mills, where Thomas died in the spring of 1850.
An affidavit was also submitted by William and Josiah Parker in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, which said Thomas died in the spring of 1852 en route to California rather than 1850. A Joseph P. Parker married a Margaret Gilliland in Des Moines County on October 1, 1845. On July 12, 1849, the dead letter list in the Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye listed Thomas Gilliland or Josiah Parker and Company and a Sarah Gilliland. Lists earlier that year included Thomas Gilliland, Samuel Gilliland, Rebecca Gilliland, and Frances Redding.
It appears that Polly first petitioned in 1851 and received in 1852, 40 acres by the act of 1850. She subsequently, in 1855, petitioned for additional acreage under the act of 1856 and received 120 more acres in 1856.The 120 acres she assigned to James Redding, John B.’s brother.
In 1860, Mary (Polly) was in the home of John B. Redding in Breckenridge Township, Putnam County, Missouri. She was 58 and born in Kentucky.Idiot daughter Nancy was 33, born in Illinois.Daughter Mary (wife of John B.) was also born in Illinois.
In 1870, Polly Gilliland was in Des Moines County, Iowa (Benton Township), 73 years old, born in Kentucky. In the household was Nancy, 42, born in Illinois, an idiot.
Pension Application of Abner Roberts
SPENCER COUNTY, KY
Created 1824 from Shelby, Bullitt & Nelson Counties
County Seat: Taylorsville 40071
American Rev Pension Application, dated 5-9-1832, Spencer Co., KY.
Taken before Humphrey May, Justice of the Peace.ABNER ROBERTS is 90 years old.He enlisted shortly after the beginning of the revolution as a Private for 6 mos. under Captain Palmer, Lt. Mark Thomas, Militia of Culpeper Co., VA, "where I then lived."Col. Clapham of Loudoun Co. commanded the regiment.They marched through Fauquier and Loudoun Counties in Virginia, crossed the Potomac at Nowlen's Ferry, then through Maryland, then through Little York in PA, then to headquarters at the White House near GermanTown in PA.He says he very frequently served on detached scouting parties.He says he saw Col. Crawford and Col. John Green of Culpepr at GermanTown.During this time, the first period of time he had signed up for expired.But they were asked to immediately re-enlist; he says he believes it was Washington's request.Aron Sams, a gentlemen in commission, said it would be disgraceful to leave service before the immediate, upcoming battle, so all stayed on.He received his discharge from Col. Crawford but doesn't remember what happened to it.He served for at least 7 months.
Affidavit made by William Stout, a clergyman in Spencer Co. KY as to the truth of his application; similar affidavit made by John Houston, a resident of Spencer Co. KY.Pension granted.Pension application contains no information as to wife, children or family.
More Replies:
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
LuAnn Elsinger 12/27/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
Sam Redding 12/27/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
LuAnn Elsinger 12/27/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
Sam Redding 12/27/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
Sam Redding 12/27/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
LuAnn Elsinger 12/28/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
Sam Redding 12/28/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
LuAnn Elsinger 12/28/11
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821
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Re: Thomas Born at Sea 1737-1821