GREENBRIER, VIRGINIA (now WV) MARRIAGE BONDS

Part 3: 
Jane Gillilan and John McCoy
Elizabeth Gillilan and James McCoy, Jr.
Nancy Gillilan and James Hanna
Lydia Gillilan and David McCoy

Introduction

The third and fourth installments of the marriage bonds will include records for the Gillilan women. As you might have guessed from the list of names above, it seems the McCoy men possessed that something special that must have caught the eye of our pioneer grandmothers!

As it was with the first two sets of marriage bonds, examination of the original documents reveals just why there are inconsistencies in the historical record regarding the spelling of the family surname. Judging from the originals I have examined, any variations from Gillilan -- such as Gillelan or Gilliland -- were due to errors by the Clerk of the Greenbrier Court or persons outside the family. Most of the Gillilans in these Greenbrier County marriage bonds are descendants of James Gillilan, a son of Nathan Gilliland, though I have found at least one exception so far -- the Nathan Gilliland who married Jane Edmiston was a son of Samuel Gilliland. When Nathan and Jane removed to Ohio their surname is once again recorded as Gilliland. There certainly may be other cases where this happened but I have not yet confirmed these cases.

For an amateur such as myself, transcribing old documents such as these can at times be somewhat tricky. When in doubt I have placed brackets around those portions in question. Additionsand/or corrections are welcomed.

Marriage Bond of Jane Gillilan and John McCoy, 27 October 1789
Transcribed from notarized copies of the original bonds by Kate Maynard, 2007.

With the exception of the marriage bond of William Gillilan and Hannah Achilen, this handwritten bond is the oldest among those in the collection of the Greenbrier Historical Society. It is difficult to determine in whose hand the bond was written. The name of WH Cavendish, who was John McCoy’s bondsman, appears identical both within the document and in his signature. Yet John McCoy’s handwriting had a very distinctive letter “y”, one which is consistent throughout the document and in his signature. So my best guess at this point is that John McCoy wrote the document and Cavendish filled in his own name where appropriate.

The wording of this bond is occasionally sloppy (especially the last sentence) so for a clearer text please refer to other marriage bonds in this collection.

There are no accompanying parental requests for a license so if Cavendish had some other relationship (other than bondsman) to either the McCoy or Gillilan family, it is unknown to me at this time.

Document:

Know all men by these Presents that We John Gillilan and WH Cavendish are held and firmly bound unto Beverly Randolph Esqr Gov. of Virginia & his successors in the [Penal?] sum of Fifty Pounds, lawful money of Virginia to which payment well & truly to be made We bind ourselves our heirs & ex [executors], firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals and dated this 27th Oct.1789

The Condition of the above Obligation is such that if there be no legal cause to Obstruct Marriage intended to be had & Solemnized between the above John McCoy and Jane Gillilan then this Obligation else void.

                                                                       John McCoy
                                                                        WHCavendish

Marriage Bond of Elizabeth Gillilan and James McCoy, Jr, 1 November, 1799
Transcribed from notarized copies of the original bonds by Kate Maynard, 2007.

The record for this marriage includes two documents. First, we have the marriage bond itself, consisting of a printed form with blanks where names and dates were entered. The second document, which is little more than a scrap of paper, is James Gillilan's handwritten request for a license for James and Elizabeth. 

The A. Hamilton who witnessed the bond for the Greenbrier Court is, I believe, Andrew Hamilton, son of Andrew Hamilton Sr. and Nely Clendinen. Nely married George Stephenson following the death of Andrew Sr in 1796. I suspect these Hamiltons were kin to John Hamilton who first settled in Greenbrier County in 1758 and in 1780 moved with his wife Sarah and children to Barren County, KY. 

Any handwritten portions of the marriage bond form are indicated by italics. Parental requests for a license were always handwritten. The John Stewart to whom James Gillilan addressed his request was actually John Stuart.

First Document:

Know all men by these presents that we Jas. McCoy Junr. & [Robt.] Gilliland are held and firmly bound unto James Wood Esqr   Esquire, Governor of the Commonwealth 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 do bind ourselves, and every of us, our and every of our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally by these presents. Witness our hands and seals, this first day of November in this year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & 99.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such, that whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above James McCoy Junr and Eliza Gillilan both of This 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.

Signed, Sealed and delivered                                         James McCoy
   in the presence of}                              Robert Gillilan                                                                      A Hamilton DC

Second Document:

October 31st -- 1799
Sir Plase to Let James McCoy have maredge Lisance for him and my daughter Elizabeth Gillilan and in so doing you will of obledg your freand
                                                                                        James Gillilan

Robert Gillilan                                                                                     William McCoy  To John Stewart [CG]                                                                       

Marriage Bond of Nancy Gillilan and James Hanna, 28 April, 1802
Transcribed from notarized copies of the original bonds by Kate Maynard, 2007.

The record for this marriage consists of the handwritten bond only. This is rather unusual in itself in that printed forms for marriage bonds had been available for some years. Second, no signature for the Greenbrier Clerk appears on the document even though there are three distinct scripts evident; the signatures of James Hanna and James McCoy bear no resemblance to the hand which penned the bond. Further, whoever wrote the bond spelled the Gillilan name as Gillelan. Lastly, this third party had obviously drawn up the document beforehand, leaving generous blank spaces for the signatures of Hanna and Gillilan.

James Monroe, then Governor of Virginia and whose name appears on the bond, was to become fifth President of the United States.

Document:

Know all men by these presents, that we James Hanna and Jams. Gillelan are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency James Monroe Esqr. Governor of the Commonwealth 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 do bind ourselves, and every of us, our and every of our Heirs, Exs. & Admrs., jointly & severally by these presents. Witness our Hands and Seals, this 28 day of April  1802.

The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above James Hanna & Nancy Gillilan both 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.

 Attest:                                                                             James Hanna
                                                  James Gillilan                                                                      

Marriage Bond of Lydia Gillilan and David McCoy, 21 February, 1804
Transcribed from notarized copies of the original bonds by Kate Maynard, 2007.

The record for this marriage includes two documents. First, we have the marriage bond itself, consisting of a printed form with blanks where names and dates were entered. The second document is James Gillilan's handwritten request for a license for Lydia and David.

Nathan Gillilan served as McCoy's bondsman; he also served as a witness to James Gillilan's request for the license. Interesting note: in this document Nathan Gillilan again signed his name as Nathen, as he did in the marriage bond between himself and Ruth Campbell.

Though I have done my best to transcribe this marriage bond the ink was extremely faded. The name of the Clerk of Court is especially suspect. I have requested another copy from the Greenbrier Historical Society and should corrections need to be made I will revise my report. 

First Document:

KNOW all men by these presents that we David McCoy and Nathan Gillilan are held and firmly bound unto John Page Esqr  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, this 19th day of February 1804 

THE condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas a Marriage is shortly intended to be solemnized between the above bound David McCoy and Lydia Gillilan 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                                         David McCoy
   in the presence of}                            Nathen Gillilan                                                                      [ **** Mathews]

Second Document:

febuary 18th 1804

Sir Please to give David McCoy maredge Liasance for him and my Daughter Lydia Gilliland and obledge your freind
 
Test                                                                                     James Gillilan
[Nathen] Gillilan
To John Stewart

                  -- End Part 3, Greenbrier Marriage Bonds --