Kate's Notes:   The West Virginia Division of Culture and History (see http://www.wvculture.org/ ) is an important resource for anyone researching the many Gillilands and their related families families who at one time called this rugged mountain state their home. 

Birth records, primarily for the years 1850-1900, can be researched via their online archives at http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_bcsearch.aspx  Keep in mind that the records are rather spotty and incomplete and that virtually no records exist for the war years 1861-1865.

What I've done here is a compilation of birth records for Gillilands, Gillilans, Gillelands, Gilliands and Gillilians using these archives, examining original birth registers, then comparing the records to some of my own notes. For instance, the Gillilands of Kanawha County belong to the family associated with the William Gilliland Log Cabin and Cemetery, which is reported on elsewhere in the library. The Gillilans of Greenbrier County have been much discussed at Gilliland Trails and Peggy Hollandsworth Lewis, a descendant of this line, graciously provided a photo album of this family as well as a report on Mountain Gate Cemetery in Renick.

A number of Gillilands were recorded under more than one spelling of the surname. This was particularly true in Jackson County; this topic is discussed in more detail at the Gilliland Trails forum under the General Discussion topic, "What's In A Name?"

Finally, this search engine was very helpful in tracking down some rare birth records for slaves born to Gillilan households prior to emancipation. Though these births are included here, I have also created a separate file for these records, with additional notes, which can be found in our library under "Gilliland Slave Records and Registers".

Any portions of the texts for which I had questions have been placed within brackets. As always, additions and/or corrections to these records are welcomed!

GILLILAND

1.  Ruby Gilliland (listed as male?)
born March 9, 1908 at Montgomery, Fayette Co.
child of F. L. and [W.] Gilliland

2.  Gladys Gray Gilliland
born September 21, 1901 at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of Moffett and Mary Gilliland* (In other birth records the surname of Moffet and Mary H. McClintic  is spelled Gillilan, not Gilliland.)

3.  Ross Elmer Gilliland
born June 3, 1903 at Bucyrus, Jackson Co.
Son of L. E. and Sarah Gilliland* (In other birth records the surname of L. E. and Sarah is spelled Gillian.)

4.  A. E. Gilliland (from my examination of the original birth register, the initials appear to me to be “A. B.”)
born December 9, 1865 at Kanawha Co.
son of William, farmer, and Mary Gilliland

5.  Gilliland (first name not given)
born 1873 at Charleston, Kanawha Co.
daughter of John S. Gilliland, bricklayer.* (Though the name of the mother is not provided in the birth register, I believe her to be Mary Cynthia Gilliland, whose gravestone can be found among those at the Gilliland Log Cabin & Cemetery in Charleston.)

6.  Allen B. Gilliland
born August 14, 1898 at Kanawha Co. 
son of Frank, bricklayer, and Nellie Gilliland

7.  Edward C. Gilliland
born October 15, 1902 at Kanawha Co.
son of Edward C. Gilliland

8.  Harriet Gilliland
born July 1, 1857 at Mason Co.
daughter of James, farmer, and Jane Gilliland

9.  Benj D. Gilliland
born September 4, 1873 at Mason Co.
son of John, a cooper, and Catharine Gilliland

10.  A. M. Gilliland
born October 11, 1881 at Mason Co.
son of Jno. and Christina Gilliland

11.  Gilliland (first name not given)
born September 23, 1866 at Grant Co.
son of [Sydney] and Theresa (also spelled Therisa in same register) Gilliland

12.  Virginia Gilliland
born June 22, 1907 at Durbin, Pocahontas Co.
daughter of D. L. Gilliland, father, and ? [mother’s name difficult to read from original record]

GILLILAN

Preface to the entries for Gillilan.   Because I have presented the information here strictly as it was provided in the archives, it is necessary to also bring to the readers' attention some errors that are part of the official records. A number of these concern the family of W. B. and Elizabeth Ann (Scott) Gillilan of Greenbrier County. [See entries 13, 14, 19 and 27 below]. William B. Gillilan has sometimes been recorded as William M., which is in error. William's wife has been recorded as "E. A.",  Elney or Elvey, and in one case, El...an. Please make note that in each case the parents were William B. and Elizabeth Ann (Scott) Gillilan, which I have confirmed with Peggy Hollandsworth Lewis, a Gillilan descendant and family genealogist who can confirm these facts from many direct sources, including family Bibles, memorials and cemetery records. Many thanks to Peggy for her assitance.

1.  Gillilan 
born December 12, 1853 at Greenbrier Co.
Male slave
Birth registered by Richard H. Gillilan, listed as Master

2.  Gillilan
born December 12, 1853 at Greenbrier Co.
Male Slave
(Either a twin or duplicate of record#1)
Birth registered by Richard H. Gillilan, listed as Master

3.  Gillilan
born December 2, 1855 at Greenbrier Co.
Female slave
Birth registered by R. H. Gilliland, listed as Owner

4.  Gillilan
born Oct 1855 at Greenbrier Co.
Female Slave
Birth registered by R.H. Gillilan, listed as Overseer

5.  Gillilan
born July1859 at Greenbrier Co.
Male slave
Birth registered by R. H. Gillilan listed as Owner

6.  Gillilan
born Oct 1860 at Greenbrier Co.
Male slave (number one of twins), Mother’s name, Mary
Birth registered by R. H. Gilliland, listed as Owner

7.  Gillilan
born Oct 1860 at Greenbrier Co.
Male slave (number two of twins). Mother’s name: Mary
Birth registered by R. H. Gilliland, listed as Owner

8.  Joseph H. Gillilan
born August 4, 1870 at Greenbrier
Son of Charles W. Gillilan

9.  Wm. S. Gillilan
born 25 June, 1872 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of C. W. and Charlotte Gillilan

10.  Gillilan
30 Jun 1874
Stillborn son
at: Greenbrier Co.
child of C. W. and Charlotte C. Gillilan

11.  Frank Gillilan
born August 5, 1875 at Greenbrier Co.
son of C. W. and Cassa Gillilan (Cassa same as Charlotte C. Gillilan?)

12.  Gillilan (first name not provided)
born November 7, 1879 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of C. W. and Charlotte C. Gillilan

13.  Brown Gillilan
born October 4, 1880 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of William M. and Elney (or Elvey) A. Gillilan*
*See preface to this section.

14.  Maggie J. Gillilan
born Sept. 20, 1882 at Greenbrier Co.
daughter of William M. and Elney (or Elvey) A. Gillilan*
*See preface to this section

15.  Mary Bell Gillilan
born February 9, 1882 at Greenbrier Co.
daughter of Charles W. and Charlotte C. Gillilan

16.  Gillilan (first name not given)
Jan 1884
Stillborn son of Charles W. and Charlotte C. Gillilan of Greenbrier Co.

17.  John Marshall Gillilan
born April 11, 1885 at Greenbrier Co.
son of Charles W. and Charlotte C. Gillilan

18.  Geo. L. Gillilan
born August 11, 1886 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of Moffett N. Gillilan, carpenter, and wife Mary H.

19.  Wm. C. Gillilan (Middle name was "Cline")
born May 22, 1887 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of William B., farmer,  and wife El...an*
*See preface to this section

20.  Hannah T. Gillilan
born November 8, 1888 at Greenbrier Co.
daughter of Moffett N. and Mary H. Gillilan

21.  Gillilan (first name not given)
19 Dec 1890
Stillborn twin
son of Charles W. and C. C. Gillilan (Charlotte) of Greenbrier Co.

22.  Gillilan (first name not given)
19 Dec 1890
Stillborn twin
son of Charles W. and C. C. Gillilan (Charlotte) of Greenbrier Co.

23.  Frances Jayne Gillilan
born December 8, 1890 at Greenbrier Co.
daughter of Moffett M. and Mary H. Gillilan (In other records Moffett’s middle initial recorded as N.)

24.  Lewis Gillilan
born December 18, 1890 near Frankford, Greenbrier Co.
Son of Charles W. and Cassie O. Bell Gillilan

25.  Gillilan (no first name given)
born December 17, 1892 at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
Son of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan
Father’s place of birth listed as Pocahontas Co.
Mother’s place of birth listed as Greenbrier Co.

26.  Guy W. Gillilan
born December 17, 1892 at Greenbrier Co.
son of M. N. and Mary H. Gillilan

27.  John J. Gillilan  (This is John Jordan Gillilan.)
born August 16, 1892 at Greenbrier Co.
Son of William B. and E. A. Gillilan*
*See preface to this section

28.  Irene B. Gillilan
born December 19, 1894 at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of of N. M. and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan

29.  Gillilan (no first name given)
born September 3, 1895 at Jackson Co.
daughter of C. W. and Susan V. Gillian* (In the birth register for Jackson Co., WV the names of the parents are alternately spelled Gillian or Gillilan. However, the children of this same C.W. and Susan were recorded under the spellings of Gillilan and Gillilian. See also: Gillilian.)

30.  Mary Margaret Gillilan
fraternal twin daughter
born March 8, 1896 (date from family Bible) at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan

31.  Michael Steele Gillilan
fraternal twin son (date from family Bible)
born March 8, 1896 at Lewsiburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan

32.  Susan Ruth Gillilan
born July 10, 1898 (Date of birth from family Bible) at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan

33.  Gladys Gray Gillilan
born September 21, 1901 at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
daughter of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan
(In this record the mother’s birthplace is specific; Mary is listed as born at Falling Spring in Greenbrier Co.)

34.  Henry G. Gillilan
born October 26, 1905 (date of birth from family Bible) at Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co.
son of N. Moffett and Mary H. McClintic Gillilan

35.  Ethel Gillilan
born 1887 at Jackson Co.
daughter of C. W. & S. V. Gillilan

36.  Jim 
born March, 1855 at Little Levels, Pocahontas Co.
male slave; mother’s name: Mary
birth registered by Nathan Gillilan or Gillelan but relationship unclear [register difficult to read]

37.  Mathew M Gillilan
born November 30, 1858 at Mill Point, Pocahontas Co.
Father: N. B. Gillilan

38.  Jhn H. Gillilan
born September 17, 1888 at Summers Co.
son of Thomas J. Gillilan, farmer, and Mary J. Gillilan

39.  Frances Missouri Gillilan
born September 15, 1893 at Summers Co.
daughter of T. J. Gillilan, farmer, and and wife Bettie A. 

40.  Charles Wilson Gillilan
born November 5, 1910 at Ravenswood, Jackson Co.
son of R. M. and Minnie Gillilan

GILLILIAN

Mary E. Gillilian*
born May 5, 1890 at Jackson Co.
daughter of C. G. and S. V. Gillilan
*as recorded in the Jackson Co. birth register, but parents’ name was spelled Gillilan.

GILLIAND

Charles E. Gilliand
born March 6, 1906 at Bucyrus, Jackson Co.
son of Elza L. and Annie Gilliand

GILLELAND

1.  Sam V. Gilleland
born October 18, 1898 at Clay District, Monongalia Co.
son of Ira M., pumper, and Martha Gilleland

2.  Samuel Vincent Gilleland* (same individual as above but with some different information)
born 18 Oct 1898 at Statler Run, Monongalia Co.
Son of Ira M. Gilleland, oil worker, and Martha Alice Critchlow (maiden name)

3.  Jas. H. Gilleland
born October 30, 1900 at Clay District, Monongalia Co.
son of Ira, oil pumper, and Martha Gilleland

4.  Jas. Harland Gilleland* (same individual as above but with some different information)
born October 03* 1900 at Statler Run, Monongalia Co.
son of Ira May, oil well worker, and Martha Alice Gilleland

5.  Gilleland (no first name given)
born October 18, 1882 at Wheeling, Ohio Co.
son of R. M. Gilleland and Ewing J. [?]

6.  Gilleland (no first name given)
born December 1, 1887 at Wheeling, Ohio Co.
son of R. M. and Nellie Gilleland

7.  R. M. Gilleland
born October 12, 1889 at Wheeling, Ohio Co.
son of R. M. and Nellie Gilleland
 
8.  Martha L. Gilleland
born September 12, 1902 at Statler Run, Monongalia Co.
daughter of I. M., pumper, and Martha A. Gilleland

9.  Margaret Alice Gilleland
born December 18, 1904 at Statler Run, Monogalia Co.
daughter of Ira M. and Martha Alice Gilleland

10.  Edna Gilleland
born July 21, 1885 at Ohio Co.
daughter of R. M. and Nellie Gilleland

11. Gilleland (no first name given)
born Oct 19, 1886 at Wheeling, Ohio Co.
daughter of R. M. and Nellie Gilleland