Kate's Notes: As I am no expert on the Gillland history in Gettsyburg, I am relating only what I've gleaned from limited research and some of that evidence is conflciting. According to an article in the Adams Sentinel of January 21, 1818, regarding Samuel Gilliland's then-recent passing, he was born at Adams County on July 31, 1780. He studied medicine early in his life and later practiced those skills as an assistant surgeon of the U.S. Navy from June 1809 until May of 1812. When England and the U.S. declared war in 1812, Gilliland left the Navy and accepted a post as surgeon in the U. S. Army, where he served along the Candian frontier.
   However, according to other military records for the War of 1812, a Samuel Gilliland who served as an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Navy is recorded as born in New York in 1776 and died at sea in 1815. He was married to Margaret Bleeker.
Source: Reference: 1812 Ancestor Index, Volume 2, 1970-1992
National Society United States Daughters of 1812 
Compiled by Patricia Scruggs Trolinger
Corresponding Secretary National, 1985-1988
Registrar National, 1988-1991
First Vice President National, 1991-
1992 Walsworth Publishing Company, Inc.
Marceline, Missouri
   I have read a number of indexes for veterans of the War of 1812, and if there were two Samuel Gillilands who served as assistant surgeons in the U. S. Navy during this same time, I am either lacking another record or this is a remarkable coincidence.
   Any help in clarifying these records would be most appreciated. 

From The Republican Compiler
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
21 May 1820

Advertisement.

   Will be sold on TUESDAY the 23d of May next, at the Court House in the borough of Gettysburg, the following property of James Biggs and Caleb Harlen, in right of their wives, attached by virtue of a Domestic Attachment issuing out of the court of Common Pleas of Adams County, to wit: The legacies bequeathed by the will of Samuel Gilliland, late of the township of Menallen in said county, to the said James Biggs and Caleb Harlen and their wives, daughters of the said deceased -- the particulars of said legacies will appear on reference to the will of said deceased, recorded in the Register’s office at Gettysburg -- at which time attendance will be given and the terms made known by the subscribers, trustees appointed by said court.
Geo. Hickenluber,
James Bleckly,
David Stewart.
April 24th, 1820

--transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010