Family History of Joseph Gilliss: Somerset County, Maryland Researched and Contributed by Bill Minish, ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. ********************************************************************* Husband: Joseph Gilliss Born: in: Somerset County, MD Died: June 1793 in: Somerset County, MD Father: Thomas Gilliss Mother: Elizabeth Unknown Wife: Grace Unknown Died: in: Somerset County, MD Father: CHILDREN Name: Ezekiel Gilliss Name: Littleton Gilliss Name: Polly Gilliss Name: Sarah Gilliss Name: Sinah Gilliss Name: William Gilliss Died: Bef. 1793 Name: Ellender Gilliss Born: Bef. 1774 in: Near Rewastico Hundred, Somerset Co., Maryand Married: July 28, 1797 in: Somerset Co., MD Died: 1807 in: Port William KY, or during trip from MD to KY. Spouse: Richard C. Minish Name: Clemma Gilliss Born: Aft. 1777 Name: George Gilliss Born: Aft. 1777 --------------------------- Joseph Gilliss Notes Lived in Nanticoke Hundred (later Rewastico Hundred), Somerset County, MD., per page 294 of Gilliss records in the Leslie Dryden Collection at E.H.Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury State University, Saslisbury, MD. Thomas Gillis Will, reference Som. Wills, Liber EB1: folio 187, July 15, 1782, probated November(or December) 10, 1783. Mentions wife Esther, granddaughter Prissey Gillis, son Joseph (executor), grandson Levin, Margaret Taylor, children of daughter Ann Darby, and children of Benjamin Gillis. To son Joseph all land in Somerset County except 1/4 acre where graveyard now is to be laid off at discretion of friend Joseph Venable. Joseph Gilliss Will, reference Som. Wills Liber E1317, folio 247,248,249, April 8, 1793, probated June 17, 1793: In the name of God amen I Joseph Gilliss of Somerset County being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory and mind blessed be God and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die have thought -????- to dispose of my Worldly Estate in the form and manner following Viz. FIRST I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Grace Gilliss one negro woman called Biner (?) also I give her all the Remainder of my Real and Personal Estate during her natural life Except such Articles as I shall hereafter divide away. SECONDLY I give and bequeath unto my son Littleton Gilliss one Bed and furniture that is called his Bed also one Sow and Pigs and after the death of my wife Grace Gilliss I give unto my son Littleton Gilliss one Tract of Land called Chesnut Ridge and one other Tract of Land called Maidens Lott to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body for ever and if my son Littleton Gilliss should die without heirs lawfuly begotten of his body I give the said Lands unto my son Ezekiel Gilliss to him and his heirs for ever. THIRDLY I give and bequeath unto my son Ezekiel Gilliss one white Mare and my riding Saddle and the decease of my wife Grace Gilliss I give him on negro boy call Harry to him and his heirs for ever. FOURTHLY after the death of my wife Grace Gilliss I give unto my daughter Sinah Hull one negro woman called Silva to her and her heirs for ever and at my decease I give her one three old heifer to her and her heirs for ever. FIFTHLY after the decease of my Wife I give unto my daughter Sarah Gilliss one Bed and furniture known by the name of the Girls Bed to her and her heirs for ever. SIXTHLY I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Wilson on Heifer that is now with Calf and at the decease of my Wife I give unto my daughter Polly one negro woman called Nice to her and her heirs for ever. SEVENTHLY after the decease of my wife I give unto my daughter Ellender Gilliss one negro girl called Allaphar also one Heifer that has part of one Horn of (off?) or at her mothers death. EIGHTLY after the decease of my Wife I give unto my son Clemma Gilliss one negro boy called Levin to him and his heirs and when he arrives to the age of Twenty one years or at the decease of my Wife which ever may first happen I give unto him one Maple Desk one Gun that was formerly my son William also one Heifer to him and his heirs for ever. NINTHLY After the decease of my Wife I give unto my son George Gilliss one Tract of Land called Gillisses Addition and one negro girl called Lue (?) one Heifer and my smallest Gun to him and his heirs for ever. TENTHLY at the decease of my Wife Grace Gilliss it is my will and desire that Remainder of my Estate not here to fore divised away be divided in the form and manner following Viz. for my son Ezekiel Gilliss to have one half of a Childs part -???the Remainder to be equally divided between my son Clemma Gilliss George Gilliss and my four daughters and Elizabeth Gilliss daughter of William Gilliss. ELEVENTHLY I do appoint my son Littleton Gilliss Trustee to my two sons Clemma Gilliss and George Gilliss until they arrive to the age of Sixteen years and also as Trustee to my grand daughter Elizabeth Gilliss until she arrives to the age of Sixteen years or the day of Marriage which ever may first happen. TWELVTHLY I appoint and ordain my Wife Grace Gilliss Executrix and my Littleton Executor with my Wife of this my last Will and Testament revoking and making void all Wills here to fore made by me confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament as Witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my Seal this fifth day of April in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety three. Joseph Gilliss (seal) Signed Sealed and delivered by ;the Testater to be his last Will and Testament at whose request and in the presents of us we sub- scribed our names as Witness's there to William Russum, John Huston, George Twilley Snr. June the 17th day 1793 Then came Grace Gilliss & Littleton Gilliss & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the within instrument of writing is the true & whole last Will & Testament of Joseph Gilliss late of Somerset County deceased that hath come to their hands or possession & that they do not know of any other. before E.... Bayly, Reg. W.S.C. June the 17th day 1793 Then came George Twilley one of the subscribing Witnesses to the within last Will & Testament of Joseph Gilliss late of Somerset County deceased & made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almight God that he did see the Testator within named sign & Seal the within Will & that he heard him publish pronounce & declare the same to be his last Will & Testament & at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his apprehension of sound & disposing mind memory & understanding & that he did subscribe his name as a Witness to the same in the presence & at the request of the Testator. And he fore this deposeth that he saw William Russum & John Huston subscribe their names as Witnesses to the within Will in the presence & at the request of the Testator Joseph Gilliss. before E.... Bayly, Reg. W.S.C. Recorded in Liber EB No. 17 folio 247,248,249,250. Test. E.... Bayly, Reg. W.S.C.