Updated November 24, 2022
Background
Land records were extracted from Commissioner of Revenue Records for the year 1863.
Overview
The 1860 New Kent census reveals that there were four Gilliam families living in New Kent:
- The family of Richard L. Gilliam
- The family of Thomas Q. Gilliam
- The children of John Gilliam living with Isaac Howle
- John R. Gilliam, son of Thomas Q. Gilliam living with James Chandler
From the Revenue records one can identify. Tax Map Images
- The family of Richard L. Gilliam who owned land adjacent to the estates of R. B. Taylor and E. T. Sweeny
- The family of Thomas Q. Gilliam who lived at “Camps” at the Courthouse and “Eastwood” adjacent to John O. Franks (John Franks’ son John William married Priscilla Gilliam, the daughter of Richard L. and Sarah F. Gilliam.)
- The family of John Gilliam who owned land adjacent to the estate of R. B. Taylor
Four Parcels
Epaphroditius Gilliam and John Slater are credited with donating an one acre tract of land to Pamunkey United Methodist Church.
In 1863 the church tract is adjacent to the 18.75 acres Parcel #195” of Richard L. Gilliam. Adjacent to Richard’s tract are three others also 18.75 acres each. These four adjacent tracts each of 18.75 acres appear to be once have been one tract of 75 acres which was divided into four equal parcels possibly among a group of beneficiaries.
The Parcels are
- #70 belonging to Augustine D. Chandler
- #73 belonging to the James Chandler
- #109 belonging to the estate of Catherine Crump
- #195 belonging to Richard L. Gilliam
It should be noted that in the 1850 Census that a Catherine Crump was living with the family of James Chandler and wife Mary A. Mary A. Chandler appears to be Mary Ann Gilliam, daughter of Epaphroditus Gilliam and sister of Richard L. Gilliam (the elder).
James Chandler, age 42
Cath Crump, age 60
Mary A Chandler, age 43
Wesley Gilliam, age 17(son of John L. Gilliam)
Jas. Chandler, age 12
Vandalia Chandler, age 8
Jno F Chandler, age 5
Augustine D. Chandler had removed to Augusta County, VA by 1850, but apparently continued to hold land in New Kent.
Augustine D Chandler, age 31
Washington B Chandler, age 3
Reverdy P Chandler, age 9 months
Anna E Chandler, age 22
John Bickle, age 19
Yeiser Bickle, age 18
Samuel Helms, age 18
In 23 Jan 1871 Richard L. GILLIAM under the Homestead Act declares intention to claim homestead: 25 acres, adjacent R. B. Taylor estate, 38.5 acres, 47.5 acres including 10 cattle, household & kitchen furniture, 3 sow, 13 shoats, mule.
Richard included in his claim all the land he held in 1863 except the 18.75 acres above that appears to be a one quarter partition of a larger 75 acre parcel.
New Kent County, VA, Deed Book 1, page 536.
John Gilliam’s Parcel #194 and Richard L. Gilliam’s Parcel #195, each of 47.5 acres.
In 1850 Epaphroditus’ Estate is listed as containing 95 acres. It appears that his estate was divided into two parcels of 47.5 acres each:
- #194 belonging to John Gilliam
- #195 belonging to Richard L. Gilliam
Sarah Morris
The exact relationship of Sarah Morris to the Gilliams is not yet known.
In 1843 Richard Gilliam sold Sally Morris 10 acres adjacent to Ludwell B. Taylor, and in 1845 he sold her another 15 acres adjacent to Taylor.
It does not appear that she is, Sarah, the widow of Epaphroditus as his estate appears in New Kent records at the same time Sally Morris is purchasing tracts from Richard L. Gilliam. In 1843 Richard Gilliam sells 10 acres of the 50 acres he purchased from the estate of Epaphroditus to Sally Morris. In 1845 Richard sell her another 45 acres. These two tracts of land are listed in 1863 as belonging to the estate of Sally Morris, Parcel #26, adjacent to the estate R. B. Taylor.
Sally Morris is the wife of John T. Morris and the mother of Patrickanna Morris and Joseph C. Morris.
- In 1850 Patrickanna Morris, age three is living with John Gilliam and Joseph C. Morris, age 10 is living with Thomas Q. Gilliam
- In 1860 Patrickanna Morris, age thirteen is living with James and Mary Ann Chandler.
- In 1870 Patrickanna Morris, age twenty is living with Robert B and Martha J. Wright. Robert is the son of Thomas and Martha Wright, Martha J is the daughter of Robert and Ann Franklin. The relationship of Patrickanna to the Wrights is not known.
| Page | Parcel | Name | Fee/ Life | Acres | Estate Name | Adjacencies | Direction | Distant | Value |
| 26 | 194 | John Gilliam and child | 47.5 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 6 | |||
| 26 | 195 | Richard L. Gilliam | 18.75 | E. T. Sweeny Estate | E | 7 | |||
| 26 | 195 | Richard L. Gilliam | 25 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 6 | |||
| 26 | 195 | Richard L. Gilliam | 38.5 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 6 | |||
| 26 | 195 | Richard L. Gilliam | 47.5 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 6 | |||
| 24 | 196 | Thomas Q. Gilliam | 25 | Camps | Courthouse | W | 1 | 300 | |
| 26 | 196 | Thomas Q. Gilliam | 108.5 | Eastwood | John O. Franks | E | 8 | ||
| 26 | 346 | Sally Morris Estate | 10 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 5 | 90 | ||
| 26 | 346 | Sally Morris Estate | 15 | R. B. Taylor estate | E | 5 |
Sources
- Oslin, Dallas H. New Kent County Virginia in 1863 : land, geography, land owners, estate names, plantations, acreage, self published, 2008.