Why are there so many Hinchea Gilliams?



After arriving in the New World, six generations of Gilliams would settle in the Virginia Colony before migrating south and west to Tennessee. Two generations later, the Gilliams in our direct line would migrate farther south and west to Arkansas. Before we explore the family’s move to Arkansas, we should pause to reflect on the interesting given name of three of the patriarchs of the original six generations of Gilliams in our direct line: “Hinchea" Gilliam.  If you look at an extended family tree, there are more than a dozen Hinchea Gilliams over those six generations. The sheer number of Hincheas certainly makes research confusing. (One shorthand way of remembering the first six generations in our direct line is that the line alternated between the names “John” and “Hinchea”: John-Hinchea-John-Hinchea-John-Hinchea).

To say the least, the given name “Hinchea” is unusual. Hinchea seems to be the most accepted spelling of the name, but a review of census records and other secondary sources shows the name recorded several different ways: Henche, Henchy, Hintia, Hincha, Hontia, Hinchia, Hinchy, Hinch, Hinche, Hinshaw and probably others. 

Where did that name come from? And why so many? Gregory A. Gilliam, primary author of the Gilliams of Virgina website (gilliamsofvirginia.org) has devoted decades of research to tracing Gilliam ancestral roots and has tried to separate Gilliam “tradition” from Gilliam “fact.” According to his research, the first Gilliams in the New World, John and Thomas, arrived in the Virginia Colony in 1635, accompanied by one William Henshaw. After their arrival, John married Margery (sometimes spelled Margary). John and Margery named their second son Hinchea, leading many to conclude that Margery’s maiden name was Henshaw and that she was likely a relative of the William Henshaw that arrived with John and Thomas.

Many, indeed most, Gilliam genealogists have adopted that rationale as proof of Margery’s maiden name and as the likely inspiration for naming generations of Gilliams "Hinchea" thereafter. A review of the public family trees on ancestry.com and similar websites will typically show Margery Henshaw Gilliam as the matriarch of Gilliams in North America. However, Gregory’s website has required more direct proof of Margery’s lineage and he has refused to conclude she was Margery Henshaw. He also considers it is just as likely that Margery’s maiden name was “Randolph” based on other family connections she had in her life in America. His explanation for Hinchea as a given name? He thinks “Hen-chy” could be derived from “Hen-ry” and thus a name with Old World roots.

I have to admit, I like the romantic notion that the first Gilliam mom in the New World was the inspiration for naming generations of Gilliams to follow. I also like the idea it may have been the start of  our long Gilliam family tradition of naming children after brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers.

The tradition of naming Gilliam sons "Hinchea" seems to have ended at that sixth generation, although keeping that name as a middle name continued a few Gilliam generations after that.

Maybe there is a Hinchea Gilliam in the family future?

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