Gilliams and Slavery

The last post discussed the Gilliams who fought in the Civil War. Of course, the major cause of the war was the issue of slavery. This post sets out the documentary evidence of slave ownership by our ancestors.

The documentary evidence proves that five of the first six generations in our direct line of ancestors in North America owned slaves.

John Gilliam (1613-1673)
As the slave trade came to Virginia in 1619, slavery would have pre-dated John's arrival in 1635, but grew much larger only after 1700. There is no known record of his will or other record of slave ownership, but it is likely he would have owned slaves as a large plantation operator.

Hinchea Gilliam (1663-1734)
In his will probated 11 Nov 1734, Hinchea named four slaves (Tom, Quamany, Jamey and Jack) whom he bequeathed to his wife Fortune, to be distributed among his children Thomas, Priscilla, Charles, Lydia and Hinchea.

John Gilliam (1696-1738)      
In his will dated 9 Aug 1738, John named the eleven slaves he owned and bequeathed to his heirs: son John (slave Phebe), son Hinchea (slave Brister), son Burwell (slave Jimmy), son Levi (slave Robbin), daughter Sarah (slave Beth), daughter Amy (slave Sue), daughter Mary (slave Custer), daughter Millie (slave Phyllis), and wife Sarah (slaves Cottey, Hannah and Catte).

Hinchea Gilliam (1718-1794)
In his will dated 29 Jan 1791, Hinchea indicated he owned 16 slaves whom he bequeathed to son John (slaves Daniel, Cole, Buck and Isabella), to daughter Elizabeth (slaves Jeremiah and Patt), to daughter Mary (slaves Abigail and Jacob), to daughter Lucy (slaves Dinah, Eady and Joel), daughter Peggy (slaves George and Cloe), and daughter Edna (slaves Jenny and Selena). Daughters Elizabeth, Lucy and Edna were to share equally slave Jack.

John Gilliam (1745-1825)
Per his will probated in Franklin County, Tennessee dated August 1825, John owned eleven slaves and passed them to his heirs: son Hinchea (slaves David, Joe and Bill), Lemuel (slaves Wilm, Caty and her child at the breast), daughter Nancy (Isbel), daughter Polly (Rachel), daughter Frances (Buck and Stephen), daughter Temperance (John, sometimes called Arch)

Hinchea Gilliam (1775-1858) 
Per his father John’s will probated in August 1825 in Franklin County, Tennessee, Hinchea inherited three slaves. According to the 1830 census, Hinchea owned 1 male slave (aged 24-35) and 1 female slave (under age 10). The 1840 Census indicates he owned 1 female slave between the ages of 24 and 35. The 1850 Census does not record slave ownership. No record of probate or will exists on his death in Marion County in 1858.

Hardy Gilliam (1818-1897)    
No record of slave ownership in any of his census records.

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 abolishing slavery.

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