The Elijah G. Lillard Family of Adams County Illinois

by Patricia A. Johnson 19 June 2004

This research recap report is to detail what I have found of this family. Elijah G. Lillard and his wife Eliza Gregg are the grandparents of Mary Eliza and Sarah Ann Thomas. Mary Eliza is my husband's great grandmother.

Birth: Elijah G. Lillard born about 1804 in Kentucky. Eliza (Elizabeth) Gregg born about 1807 in Kentucky. Eliza's parents are, James and Elizabeth Raine Gregg.

Marriage: Married 06 Feb 1828 in Boone Co., Kentucky by William Hume and James Gregg was the bondsman.

Death: Elijah died about Feb 1852, his will was probated April 1852. Eliza died 15 Mar 1862. I have not found where any of the Lillard's are buried.

Probate: A handwritten copy of the will of Elijah G. Lillard was found by Capt. Tom Colyer in the Colyer Family Bible. It was written on a yellow pad and had been folded up and tucked in the Bible for at least 60 years!

Elijah's Will

December 14^th 1851

Know all men by these presence that I Elijah G. Lillard of the County of Adams and the State of Illinois, do will to my wife Eliza all of my land and personal property so long as she may live or remain my widow and at her death or marriage the property and land shall go to my five children. Francis M Lilliard and John Lillard is to have Two hundred dollars each more than the rest of the children, Elizabeth Thomas is to be dock 70 dollars less than the other two girls. The money after all debts is paid shall be loaned in good and safe hands unless the family should be compelled to use for the benefit of the family, and if America's eyes should get worse so as she will have to be out to the Doctor, the expenses shall be paid out of the money, and furthermore if wife should get dissatisfied she may sell the land provided the money is laid out for other land to a good advantage. This is my will. Elijah G. Lillard �

Signed and sealed in the presence of Steadman Smith� Alex Johnson �

The following probate data is courtesy of Carolyn Williams a descendant of Francis Lillard

Elijah's Probate

Will Box 33, Elijah G. Lillard, 14 Dec 1851, probated 13 April 1852.

Estate Box 49, Elijah G. Lillard died day not given Feb 1852. The administrator reported the deceased received $111.00 legacy from his mother (not named) in KY, who died prior to his death. Elijah owned #1/2 SE 1/4 section 12, except 10 acres in NE corner, T1NR9W. The estate was filed 12 July 1864, Smith McGinnis, administrator. (Smith McGinnis' mother was Martha Patsy Lillard)

Eliza's Probate

Estate Box 190, Eliza Lillard died 15 Mar 1862. The administrator divided between Francis M. & John Lillard a trust fund of $249.01. In the Petition for Letters of Administration, W.F. Worley said Eliza left a personal estate of about $200.00, no real estate. She left Elizabeth Thomas, F.M., & John Lillard. The widow of Elijah, Eliza, had sold the farm in Adams Co., and purchased land in MO, then sold that to W.G. Hood. There was no mention of where the MO land was located. W.F. Worley (Franklin) was the husband of Susan Arterburn and Francis Lillard's brother-in-law.

Census:

1810: In 1810 there are six Kentucky Lillards that have a male under age 10: Ephraim in Franklin Co., John Sr in Franklin Co., Joseph in Mercer Co., Thomas in Mercer Co., Moses in Livingston Co., and Thomas in Madison Co.

1820: In 1820 there is a David Lillard in Boone Co., Kentucky that has a son in the age 16 bracket. In 1820 James Gregg is in Harrison Co. Kentucky with a daughter in the age 15 bracket.

1830: I find no record for Elijah and Eliza. They are probably living with one of their parents or with someone he is working for. In 1830 Elijah and Eliza had one child, Elizabeth born in 1828.

1840: Elijah is in Quincy Twp., Adams Co., Illinois 200011 (males) 101001 (females)

1850: Elijah is in Ursa Twp., Adams Co., Illinois; Elijah age 44, Elizabeth age 43, Francis M age 16, John age 12, America age 11, Mary J age 8. Daughter Elizabeth Lillard Thomas is in Ursa Twp., Adams Co., Illinois with her husband David H. Thomas.

1860: Francis is in Ursa Twp., Adams Co., Illinois working as a farm laborer for Ellen Featheringill. Elizabeth Lillard Thomas is in Carroll Co., Missouri. No John, America, Mary J, or Eliza (widow) that I have found anywhere.

1870: Francis is in Ursa Twp.,Adams Co., Illinois working as a farm laborer for Jacob Gaines. His children are in other families: Ida with David Goorman, Lillian with Edwin Grosh, and William F. with W. K. Miller family. Grandaughters, Mary Eliza Thomas is in Andrew Co., Missouri, Sarah Ann Thomas is in Lewis Co., Missouri and Rose Thomas is in Adams Co., Illinois. No John Lillard.

1880: I don't find Francis or John anywhere. Are they dead by 1880?

Land:

Elijah G. Lillard bought land from the Federal Government in Sec 16 Twp 1N Range 8W, 80acres, $266, 22 Nov 1834.

Land deed indexes show Elijah was Grantor in 10 land transactions in Adams Co., Illinois and was Grantee in 8 land transactions. He was obviously an active land "dealer".

Eliza sold the last farm of Elijah and bought land in Carroll County Missouri. She sold that land in 1860 to W. G. Hood. This answers the question of why daughter Elizabeth and her husband David H Thomas were in Carroll County Missouri in 1860. In 1850 Elijah was in Ursa Twp, so I presume this is the location of his last farm.

Children: Elizabeth G. Lillard; Born about 1828 in Kentucky. She married David H. Thomas 14 Oct 1849 in Adams County Illinois. I estimate she died 1862-1865. In 1860 she is in Carroll Co., Missouri with her husband and four daughters, Rose age 9, twins Mary Eliza and Sarah Ann age 6, and Barilla age 3. Barilla was born, about 1857, in Missouri and the others in Illinois. So between 1857 and 1860 the Thomas family lived in Missouri. By 1870 her two twin daughters are living with other people, and the family story is that Elizabeth and her husband were killed in an accident, possibly a wagon accident. Mary Eliza is living in Andrew Co., Missouri with her foster parents, Smith and Mary McGinnis. Sarah Ann is living in Lewis Co., Missouri with Reason and Susan Bozarth and Rose Thomas is living (as a domestic) with Dr. David Williams in Ursa, Adams Co., Illinois. Elizabeth Lillard Thomas is mentioned in her mother's estate in 1862. Her daughter Mary Eliza married George B. Colyer in 1877 in Andrew County Missouri. Her daughter Sarah Ann married Erastus Bozarth in 1875 in Adams County Illinois. I have not found her daughter Rose after 1870 or daughter Barilla after 1860.

Francis M. Lillard: Born about 1834 in Adams Co., Illinois. The obituary of Sarah Ann Thomas Bozarth states that she was raised by her Uncle Frank Lillard in Ursa, Adams Co., Illinois. Apparently Francis took in Sarah Ann, and probably Mary Eliza, also. Francis Marion Lillard married Mildred Arterburn on 24 Aug 1860 in Adams Co., Illinois. They had three children, Ida born 1861, Lillian born 1866, and William F. born 1867. Mildred Arterburn Lillard died 1867-1870. Francis is mentioned in his mother's estate record in 1862. By 1870 Francis is working as a farm laborer, and the three children are living with other families. Ida married William T. Adair in 1877; Lillian married Frederick Cubbage in 1884; William F. died young on 31 Aug 1880. I do not find Francis after 1870.

John Lillard: Born about 1838 in Adams Co., Illinois. I do not find him on the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses in Illinois. The only other records about him are the 1850 census in which he is age 12 and in his father's will written in 1851. He is still alive in 1862.

America Lillard: Born about 1839 in Adams Co., Illinois. I do not find her on the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses in Illinois. The only other records about her are the 1850 census in which she is age 11 and in her father's will written in 1851. The will states that if America's eyes get worse and need medical attention the money should come out of the estate. I find no marriage for her. She is not mentioned in her mother's estate in 1862.

Mary J. Lillard: Born about 1842 in Adams Co., Illinois. I do not find her on the 1860, 1870, 1880 censuses in Illinois. The only other records about her are the 1850 census in which she is age 8 and in her father's will written in 1851. He says his "five children" but does not name her specifically. I find no marriage for her in Adams Co., Illinois. She is not mentioned in her mother's estate in 1862.

The California Gold Rush

In the 1879 "History Of Adams County Illinois" page 309, I find Elijah G. Lillard listed with the men from Bear Creek Neighborhood that went to California 1848-1849. He had returned by 1850 when he was on the census.

Qunicy, Adams Co., Illinois Newspapers 1860-1865

In July and August 2004 I ordered these newspapers on microfilm thru Interlibrary Loan. I concentrated on papers around March 1862. I found no mention of an accident that took the lives of David and Elizabeth Lillard Thomas. I found no mention of the death of Eliza Lillard in March 1862.

Questions:

Who are Elijah's parents?

Where are Elijah, Eliza, Elizabeth, Francis, John, America, Mary J buried?

When and where did John Lillard marry, if he did?

"Estate Box 190, Eliza Lillard died 15 Mar 1862. The administrator divided between Francis M. & John Lillard a trust fund of $249.01. In the Petition for Letters of Administration, W.F. Worley said Eliza left a personal estate of about $200.00, no real estate. She left Elizabeth Thomas, F.M., & John Lillard. The widow of Elijah, Eliza, had sold the farm in Adams Co., and purchased land in MO, then sold that to W.G. Hood. There was no mention of where the MO land was located."

W.F. Worley (Franklin) was the husband of Susan Arterburn, Mildred's sister.

Another quote from the report

"Will Box 33, Elijah G. Lillard, 14 Dec 1851, probated 13 April 1852.

Estate Box 49, Elijah G. Lillard died day not given Feb 1852. The administrator reported the deceased received $111.00 legacy from his mother (not named) in KY, who died prior to his death. Elijah owned #1/2 SE 1/4 section 12, except 10 acres in NE corner, T1NR9W. The estate was filed 12 July 1864, Smith McGinnis, administrator."