Kate’s Notes: I prefer to work with original documents or images created from originals but in this case, my only source was an older transcription created in 1936. Given that the first transcriber did not correct any of the spellings or capitalizations and had underlined what she knew to have been misspellings, I have faith that this was an accurate recording of the original document.
    26 year old Hamilton H. Gilleland appears on the Johnson County census of 1850 along with James Gilleland, aged 75 years; Nancy, 58; James Gilleland, 24; Elizabeth Gilleland, 22; and Rachel Gilleland, 16. Hamilton Gilleland and Louisa Owen were married 2 January, 1854, at Johnson County. (Information gleaned from the original marriage ledger.)
    I would welcome any clarification regarding this Gilleland family tree.
   The volume which served as the source of this transcription may be found at the FamilySearch website of the LDS Church https://familysearch.org

                                                                                                              -Kate Maynard 2013

Tennessee Probate Court Books
Johnson County, Tennessee
Letters, Wills, 1827-1867, Vol. 01

Letters of administration to H H Gilleland on the estate of James Gilleland Deceased.
State of Tennessee                                County Court October Term 1853
Johnson County

    To Hamilton H. Gilleland a citizen of said County. It appearing to the County Court now in session that James Gilleland has died leaving no written will and the Court being satisfied as to your claim to the administration and you having given bond and qualified as directed by Law and the court having ordered that Letters of administration be issued to you.
    These are therefore to authorize and empower you to take into your possession and control all the goods and chattles claims and papers of the Intestate and return a true and perfect Inventory thereof to our next County Court to collect and pay all debts and to do and transact all duties in relation to said estate which Lawfully devolve on you as administrator and after having settled said estate to deliver the residue thereof to those who are by law entitled.
    Witness Richard L Wilson Clerk of said Court at office this 3rd day of October A D 1853.
                                                                                    R L Wilson   Clerk

*************

Source:
TENNESSEE
RECORDS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
WILLS AND LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
1827-1867

COPYING HISTORICAL RECORDS PROJECT
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIAL PROJECT No. 65-44-1427

MRS. JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE
STATE LIBRARIAN & ARCHIVIST, SPONSOR

MRS. ELIZABETH D. COPPEDGE
STATE DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS

MRS. PENELOPE JOHNSON ALLEN
STATE SUPERVISOR

MRS. MARGARET HELMS RICHARDSON
SUPERVISOR FIRST DISTRICT

WORKER
MRS. LUCILE THOMAS

July 6, 1936