Kate’s Notes: There were a number of James Gillilands who served in the Revolutionary War but some ongoing questions have persisted regarding the pedigree of one James Gilliland of New York. Was this Captain Lieutenant of Sappers and Miners a brother of William Gilliland, noted pioneer of the Champlain Valley? David Glenn proves this connection in his presentation of the evidence.

JAMES GILLILAND

By: David Glenn
October 26, 2007
Rev. Dec. 6, 2007, Nov 25, 2008
 
1741, about- born per marriage notice below.
1748, about Judith born per marriage notice below.
 
1762, July 7- "James Gilliland and Judith Roose of New York, 7th of July being a very thundery evening, was married or bound in matrimony by Rathenbuler who was minister in this city at that time, anno 1762. James aged 21 years, the woman aged 14 years-- a list of children and births follow--" no list followed. Source: an old Bible in New York Public Library according to letter of Jan 9, 1967- Francis Broderick to Al Hayward; and "Names of Persons for whom Marriage Licenses were Issued by the Sec. of Prov. of NY, Prev. to 1784", Vol. 6, p 232 listed marriage date as July 9, 1762.
 
1764, Aug 24  "Jane Barbere gilliland Daughtar of James gilliland and of Judith his wife was Born august 24d and Baptized Septembar 2d,  1764.". Source: "New York Genealogical and Biographical Record", Vol. 5, p 186. Society of Friends, NYC.
 
1765, Oct 14  " Esther Jane Gilliland Daughtar of James gilliland and of Judith his wife was Born octobar the 14 and Baptized the 24 of the same month, 1765."  Source: NYGBR, Vol. 6, p 50. Records of First Presby. Church, NYC.
 
1766, June 22 arrives at Milltown in Willsborough, listed as brother of William Gilliland. Source: "The Journal of William Gilliland" as transcribed by Fuller Allen, p 21.
 
1767, April 24 arrives in Willsborough from NYC having left his wife and effects at Fort George. Source: Journal, p 53.
 
1767, May 5 arrives in Willsborough with his wife. Source: Journal, p 54. 
 
1769, June 2 "Judith, daughr of Jams Gilliland & Judith Rose his wife, born June 2d, 1769."  Source: NYGBR, Vol. 7, p 171. Records of First Presby. Ch., NYC.
 
1770, July 28 “James, Son of James Gilliland & Judith Rose his wife, Born July 28th, 1770." Source: NYGBR, Vol. 8, p 74. Records of the First Presby. Ch., NYC. 
 
1772, Aug 22 "Judith, Daughter of James Gilliland & Judith Rose, his Wife, born Augst 22d, 1772." Source: NYGBR, Vol. 9, p 170. Records of the First Presby Ch., NYC.
 
1774, Aug 8 "Nicholas, Son of James Gilliland, and Judith Rose, his Wife, born Augst 8th, 1774." Source: NYGBR, Vol. 10, p 130. Records of first Presby. Ch., NYC.
 
1774, Dec 6 listed as schoolmaster in NYC. Source: "New-York Historical Society, Collection 1885, Burghers and freemen of New-York", p 237.
 
1775, March 17 James is not listed as one of the subscribers and inhabitants of Willsborough at the first Town meeting. Source: Journal, p 62.
 
1776, Spring- Colonel Dubois in a letter to Congress states that there was a Mr. Gilliland serving in Canada in the winter of 1775-1776 left off his list of officers. This is assumed to be James in "Heitman's Historical Register of Officers in the Revolutionary War". In the listing of officers now serving in Canada of Feb 28, 1776 a Wm. Gilleland is listed in the 2nd Company under Marinus Willett, Captain, as unfit. In a later listing of officers who served in the late campaign in Canada of July 12,1776 by Lewis Duboise, Captain,  is noted a Wm. Gilleyland, first lieutenant in Second Company under Marinus Willett, Captain, 1st Regiment. Believe this is neither our James nor our William as William was in Willsborough at this time and does not mention such service in his long 1777 Memorial to Congress detailing his service during the revolution. Source: Journal, p 95-96.  
 
1776, March 14 appointed Second Lieutenant in Alexander Hamilton's Company of NY Artillery. Source: Heitman's. Came from vicinity of Lake Champlain, appointed Lieutenant in Hamilton's Provincial Artillery Company. Source: John Schuyler's June 1887 book of material on the Society of the Cincinnati.
 
1776, July 28 "Denias, Daur of James Gilliland & Judith Rose his wife, born June 16th, 1776."  NYGB, V17, P 278. Baptized May 28th, 1785 with four other siblings. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC. 
 
1776, Aug 15 promoted to First Lieutenant in Alexander Hamilton's Company of NY Artillery. Source: Heitman's
 
1776, Dec 26 resigned. Source: Heitman's; Promoted to Captain Lieutenant and transferred same day to Engineers by General Orders from Headquarters by General George Washington and to report for duty to Brigadier General (The Chevalier) Du Portail, Chief of the Corps of Engineers. Source: Schuyler.
 
1777, Oct 6-17 took part in the defense of Fort Montgomery as a volunteer and was captured by the enemy. Also claimed to have been present at the affair at New York with the British ship Asia, the battles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains, the retreat through the Jerseys, the surprise of the Hessians at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Source: Schuyler and James Gilliland's Memorial to Congress of April 25, 1785 denoting his military service during the revolution, from "The Papers of the Continental Congress 1774-1789" Vol. II, p 542.  Copy of original in David Glenn's files under James Gilliland.
 
1777, Dec 5-8 at White Marsh. Source: Schuyler.
 
1777, Dec 19 to June 18, 1778 in camp at Valley Forge. Source: Schuyler.
 
1778, June 16 “Jane, their Daur (James Gilliland and Judith Rose), born June 16th, 1778." Baptized May 28th, 1785 with four other siblings. Source NYGB, V 17, P 278. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC.
 
1779, Aug 2 transferred to the military school at West Point with rank of Captain. Source: Schuyler. Captain Lieutenant of Sappers and Miners. Source: Heitman's.
 
1780, Sept. 17 "William, their Son (James Gilliland and Judith Rose), born Septr 17th, 1780." Baptized May 28th, 1785 with four other siblings.  Source NYGB, V 17, P 278. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC.
 
1781, June 1 made Captain. Source: Heitman's.
 
1781, Oct 9 praised by Commander in Chief for his conduct in the capture of Cornwallis and his Army at Yorktown. Source: Memorial. Said to have been present at Yorktown. Source: Schuyler.
 
1782, Sept. 18 "Harriot, their Daur (James Gilliland and Judith Rose), born Septr 18th, 1782." Baptized May 28th, 1785 with four other siblings. Source NYGB, V 17, P 278. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC.
 
1782, Oct 9 resigned from the Army. Source: both Heitman's and Schuyler.
 
1784, Dec. 12 "Rebekah, their Daur (James Gilliland and Judith Rose), born Decr 12th, 1784." Baptized with four other siblings on May 28th, 1785. Source NYGB, V 17, P 278. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC.
 
1785, May 28 five children Denias, Jane, William, Harriot and Rebekah are all baptized at the First and Second Presbyterian Church in  New York City. Source NYGB, V 17, P 278. Records of the First and Second Presby. Churches, NYC.
 
1785, June- William Gilliland gave his brother James as Bondsman for Major Nickolsons Estate. Source: Journal, p 86 in letter to WG’s son. Same information at p 91.
 
1785, August 20 James Gilliland, Guager of NYC attests to John McAulley's signature. Item 24 in Gilliland papers at Elizabethtown-Essex County Museum. Rights to land on Gen'l Christies claim.
 
1786, April 18 "Stephen Patterson and Hester Jane Gilliland" Persons Married in records of Trinity Church Parish, NYC. NYGBR, Vol. 75, p 32.
 
1787, Jan 27 Petition of James Gilliland to the Congress of the United States to be allowed to continue as one of the Custom House   Gaugers for the City of New York. Source: "The Papers of the Continental Congress 1774-1789", Vol II, p 297.
 
1787, May 13 "Elizabeth, Daur of James Gilliland and Judith Rose, his wife, Born May 13th, 1787. Mary, their Daur, born May 13th, 1787."  Twin daughters were baptized August 14th, 1787.  Source: NYGBR, Vol. 20, p 178. Judith would be about 39 years old. Records of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches, NYC.
 
1789, May 31 Petition of James Gilliland to George Washington, President of the United States to be allowed to continue as one of the   Sworn Gaugers of the Custom House of the City of New York under the Federal Government whereby he may be enabled to maintain his wife and eleven children, most of whom are helpless. Source: Papers as noted above, Vol II p 241. We have thirteen children listed, one of whom has died as an infant (two with the name Judith). Other sources (NYGB V 64, p 264) claim they had as many as 16 children. If so the number missing may be as many as three. It is further asserted that he may have had two wives with Judith Roose or Rose having died between the birth of Nicholas in 1774 and Elizabeth in 1787. In all of the sources listed for all thirteen children Judith Rose is listed as their mother. 

Family bibles at www.biblerecords.com, entered Gilliland and up came James Gilliland's family bible with his marriage to Judith Roose: marriage July 7th 1762; his age at marriage 21, hers 14; August 22, 1772 born 5th daughter Judith; August 8th, 1774 born 4th son Nicholas.
 
This confirms our records as shown above and explains how the records indicate they had 16 children but we only know and have listed only 13. Judith 8/22/1772 is listed as their 5th daughter. We have listed before her Jane Barbere G 8/8/1764; Esther G 10/15/1765; and Judith G 6/2/1769 so there is one of unknown name in there someplace and probably died at or near birth. The same is true for 4th son Nicholas b 8/8/1774. We have before him only James 7/28/1770. So there are two sons in between someplace who also probably died in infancy. This explains the three missing children as one daughter and two sons; unknown daughter born before 1772, unknown two sons born before 1774. 

1790, May 10 Sarah Maria born to Stephen and Hester J. Patterson. Records of Trinity Church Parish, NYC. Source: NYGBR, vol. 91, p 230. 
 
1790, July 8 meeting of the Society of Cincinnati at Francis' Tavern, an original member of the Society was expelled, and his name was   ordered to be erased from the Register. The record states that he had, "by his ungentlemanly like conduct, become a disgrace to the Society." This is the only instance that appears upon the minutes, of the exercise by this Society of so severe an act of discipline. After the death of the expelled member, the Society for several years contributed liberally to the relief of his widow and children.  In 1825 an application was made by one of his descendants for admission to the Society in his right, but the Society refused to entertain the application on the ground that James Gilliland had been a member but was not so at the time of his death. Source: Schuyler. 
 
1790, Aug 4 Sophia Maria Patterson baptized. Sponsors Hugh and Hester J. Patterson; Hannah Maria Gilliland. Source: see May 10, 1790 above.
 
1790-1825 death occurred. He was alive at the time of his expulsion from the Society on July 8, 1790 and had died by the time of the application by his descendant in 1825.