GREENBRIER, VIRGINIA (now WV) MARRIAGE BONDS

Part 2:
Nathan Gillilan and Ruth Campbell
William Gillilan and Ann Edminston (Edmiston)
Robert Gillilan and Malinda Clutter
Richard Gillilan and Mary Handly
Michael B. Gillilan and Frances Jane Kincaid
John Gillilan and Elizabeth Beard

Transcribed from notarized copies of the original bonds by Kate Maynard, 2007.
Revised September, 2013.

Introduction

The second part of this set begins with the marriage bond of Nathan Gillilan and Ruth Campbell in 1804, the last group of documents to be found solely in handwritten script. By 1808, when William Gillilan and Ann Edmiston took their vows, a new printed form was used. This form was smaller in size than the earlier forms, appx. 4 1/2" x 6 1/2". For anyone trying to transcribe these old documents, this attempt at economy wasn't necessarily a good thing! It is obvious that many folks weren't used to squeezing their rather free and oversized script onto little more than a scrap of paper.

As with the first set of documents, it becomes clear just why there are inconsistencies in the historical record regarding the spelling of some surnames but on the other hand, we do gain some insight into the families of the brides. These clues can be found in the handwritten license requests from the woman's parents and we are fortunate that almost all of the Gillilan marriage records at the Greenbrier Historical Society include these fragile documents.

As usual, when in doubt I have placed brackets around those portions of text that may be in question. Corrections in spelling or punctuation have not been made from the originals. Additions/Corrections to these transcripts are welcomed.

Marriage Bond of Nathan Gillilan and Ruth Campbell, 28 February 1804

This bond is a bit unusual for it is completely handwritten even though standard printed forms were available by 1804. Further, there are three distinct hands here -- those of Nathan Gillilan and David McCoy, both of whom signed the document, and the Clerk who penned the bond. This is the only case where I found no signature of the clerk himself.

Now the accompanying request from the parents is intriguing. It would appear that Ruth was the stepdaughter of the Cottles; Hannah Cottle must have been the widow of a Campbell and then remarried. David McCoy witnessed this document and I assume was serving as Nathan's bondsman. The signature is identical to that of the David McCoy who witnessed the marriage bond of Robert Gillilan and Mary McCoy in 1798.

This Nathan (one of many) was a son of James Gillilan and Lydia Armstrong.

First Document:

Know all men by these presents that we Nathan Gillilan and David McCoy are held and firmly bound unto John Page Esqr Governor of Virginia and his successors in the Just and full Sum of One Hundred & fifty Dollars to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our Heirs & e [executors], Sealed with our Seals and dated this 28th day of Feby 1804.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be Solemnized between the above Nathan Gillilan and Ruth Campbell both of Greenbrier County and State of Virginia, If therefore no lawfull Cause shall be to Obstruct the said Marriage then the above Obligation to be Void Else remain in full Force & Virtue.
                                                                                              Nathen Gillilan
                                                                                              David McCoy

Second Document:

Fabuary 28 1804
Mr John Stuard let Nathan Gillilan have Marrag lisions Given under our hand [illegible]

Atest                                                                                      [ ?] Wm Cottle
David McCoy                                                                         Hannah Cottle

Reverse of Second Document: (the County Clerk's note on the reverse of the second document.)

Feby 28th 1804. Dav'd McCoy made oath the written was signed in his presence for the Marriage of Nathn Gillilan to Ruth Campbell the Step Daughter, before me Jno Stuart C [?]
                                                                   John Stuart

Marriage Bond of William Gillilan and Ann Edmiston, 26 July 1808

The record for this marriage includes several documents. First, we have the marriage bond itself, consisting of a printed form with blanks where names and dates were entered. The second and third documents, which are little more than scraps of paper, are the requests for the license. On the reverse of both documents are signed notes from the Clerk of the Greenbrier Court.

From this collection of documents are no fewer than three different spellings for Edmiston. The clerk, Lewis Stuart, recorded Ann's name as Edminston; James Gillilan (father of William) spelled the name Edmonston; finally, we have the several signatures of Andrew Edmiston on the documents.

Certainly I'm no expert on the Edmonstons/Edmistons, though the families of Edmonston and Gilliland have a long history together, one that may go back to their Pennsylvania arrival in America. Both Edmiston and Edmonston are in the records of the old Scots-Irish settlement in Augusta County, VA and both surname spellings are found in other documents (see the library file for Samuel Gilliland's estate appraisal). Is this another instance where we have one family who used various spellings for their surname?

Further, the supplemental documents would support the idea that James Edmiston was not in Greenbrier County at the time he penned a request for his daughter's marriage license. If you refer to the marriage bonds for Nathan Gillilan and Jane Edmiston (1801) you will find that I speculated as much based on the wording of that request and the fact that Andrew Edmiston had served as the family witness & bondsman in James Edmiston's stead.

We can extrapolate on this theory by once again going back to the records for the estate sale of Samuel Gilliland, Washington County, Virginia where we find the names of many Edmiston men, including James. So it appears that by 1801-04 we begin to see real evidence of the migration of these two families via the marriage records in Greenbrier County.

I would welcome any insights on the Edmiston-Edmonston/Gilliland-Gillilan connections at this critical point in the families' histories.

First Document:

Know all men by these presents that we Wm Gillilan & Andw Edminston are held and firmly bound unto Wm H Cabell Esquire, Governor of Virginia, and his successors for the use of the Commonwealth, in the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, to which payment well and truly made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, Sealed and dated this 26th day of July 1808.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound William Gillilan & Ann Edminston daughter of James Edminston of [left blank] County, if therefore, there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Signed, Sealed and delivered                                        
in the presence of}                                                          William Gillilan
                                                                                        Andrew Edmiston

Second Document:

Sir please to grant William Gilliland marige lisens for him and ann Edmiston and this will be your warent for the same given from my [word missing; probably "hand"] this 24t of July 1808  
             James Edmiston.
Teste   Andrew Edmeston                                              Lewis Stuart  Clark
                                                                                       of Greenbryer County

Reverse of Second Document:

July 26th 1808  Andw Edmiston made Oath he heard Jas Edminston acknowlodge the within Certificates
                                                                                       Lewis Stuart  CGC

Third Document:

July 26th -- 1808,
                          Sir Please to give william Gillilan Marriage Lisons for him and ann Edmonston and obledge your freind                              James Gillilan
Teste   Andrew Edmiston

Reverse of Third Document:

July 26th 1808  Andrew Edminston made Oath before me that he saw Jas Gillilan sign the [with---]
                                                                                       Lewis Stuart  CGC

Robert Gillilan and Malinda Clutter, 25 January 1830

The record for this marriage consists of the offical bond only. Unfortunately there were no supporting documents from the parents or guardians; the signature of R. M. Renick (there is some smearing of the ink) appears on the bond as witness but whether Renick was related to the Clutters in some way is unknown to me; it could be that he was the Clerk of the Greenbrier Court but this is not indicated. Also, I assume Robert Handly merely served as Robert's bondsman and no kinsman of Malinda Clutter was present.

Document:

Know all men by these Presents, that we, Robert Gillilan and Robert Handly are held and firmly bound unto William B Giles Governor of Virginia and his successors, for the use of the Commonwealth, in the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents.  Sealed with our seals, and dated this 25 day of January 1830.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such, That whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound Robert Gillilan and Malinda Clutter of Greenbrier County, if therefore, there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage, then the above Obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue.

Signed, Sealed and delivered                  
in the presence of }                                                  Robert Gillilan
R. M. Renick                                                            Robert Handly                                        

Marriage Bond of Richard Gillilan and Mary Handly, 26 June 1838

The record for this marriage consists of two documents, the bond and the request for a license. The latter also has a sworn statement by the Clerk of Court on the reverse. I could not with any certainty decipher all the signatures on the second document.

Richard Hill Gillilan was a son of George Russell Gillilan and Martha Hill. Mary Handly was the daughter of John Handly and Hanna Cruiksbanks [Cruikshanks].

First Document:

Know all men by these Presents, that we Richard Gillilan & Robert Handly are held and firmly bound unto David Campbell Governor of Virginia and his successors, for the use of the Commonwealth, in the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, Sealed with our seals and dated this 26th day of June 1838.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such, That whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound Richard Gillilan & Mary Handly of  Greenbrier County, if therefore, there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage, then the above Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Signed, Sealed and delivered                                       
in the presence of }                                                 Richard Gilliland                               
                                                                               Robert Handly

Second Document:

John Mathews Esq Clerk of Greenbrier Cty
        Sir  This shall autherise you to grant Lisence to Richard Gilliland & my daughter Mary & in so doing you will oblige
                          yours  [signature very faded; Hannah Handly?]
24 June 1838

Reverse of Second Document:

Robert Handly made oath before me that Hannah Handly signed this written certificate in his presence

                                                                              John Short[er] DC
                                         June 26th 1838

Marriage Bond of Michael B. Gillilan and Frances J. Kincaid, 26 June 1838

The record for this marriage consists of two documents, the bond and the request for a license. Names such as Kincaid, Gilliland, Boggs, Graham and Beard are plentiful in the SE Ohio counties of Jackson and Scioto, where a number Greenbrier families eventually established their homes and farms.

Michael was the son of Nathan Gillilan and Ruth Campbell. Frances Jane Kincaid was the daughter of James and Phebe Kincaid. She must have been a young bride, as I have her birth date as 7 March 1822.

Firsf Document:

Know all men by these Presents, that we Michael B. Gillilan and A Clark Kincaid are held and firmly bound unto Thos W Gilman Governor of Virginia and his successors, for the use of the Commonwealth, in the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, Sealed with our seals and dated this 6th day of June 1840.

The Condition of the above obligation is such, That whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound Michael B Gillilan & Frances Jane Kincaid of Greenbrier County, if therefore, there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage, then the above Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Signed, Sealed and delivered                                      
in the presence of }                                                Michael B. Gillilan
                                                                               A Clark[e] Kincaid

Second Document:
                                                                                Anthony C [illegible] Greenbrier Co
                                                                                                          May 4th 1840

The Clerk of Greenbrier County will please issue license authorising Michael B. Gillilan to be married to my daughter Frances Jane Kincaid. Given under my hand this 4th May 1840
                                                                                     Phebe Kincaid
Teste                                                
A.Clark[e] Kincaid

Marriage Bond of John Gillilan and Elizabeth Beard, 1 October 1840

The record for this marriage consists of two documents, the bond and the request for a license. Through the course of reading some histories of these families I have encountered some speculation that "Byrd" and "Beard" are simply spelling variations for the same surname. I cannot confirm whether or not this is true nor whether it might be true in this specific case, where both names are found. The families of Kincaid (also found as Kinkade) and Beard are plentiful in the SE Ohio counties of Jackson and Scioto, to where a number of Gilliland families of Greenbrier eventually established their homes and farms.

I am fairly certain the signature on the second document is that of Abraham McNEEL Beard but because writing on the reverse of the paper bled through, the signature is difficult to read.

Notice the major changes which were made to the marriage bond forms by 1845.

First Document:

Know all men by these presents, that we John Gillilan and William W Byrd are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to which payment well and truly to be made, to our said Commonwealth, we bind ourselves, our heirs &c, jointly and severally and firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 6th day of June 1845. The condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas a marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound John Gillilan & Elizabeth Beard of Greenbrier County: If therefore, there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage, then the above Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Signed, sealed and acknowledged 
in presence of  John Mathews   CGC                                John Gillilan
                                                                                           Wm P Byrd

Second Document:

1845. Oct 1
       [Illegible] John Mathis this is to auther rise you to ishue lisence for John Gillilan & my daughter Betsey & this shall be your receit for the same
                            W.W. Beard (this name appears to have been crossed out)
John Beard
Abraham [McNeel] Beard

-- End Part 2, Greenbrier Marriage Bonds --