Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/494

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

old family of this state, which was conspicu- ous during the days of the revolution. His grandfather, John Gilliam, was a native of Prince George county, where he was a planter, and was lieutenant of the Prince George Cavalry during the revolution, be- ing present at the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis at Yorktown. His wife. Hannah (Sampson) (iilliam. came from I'erth. Scot- land, and they were the parents of a large family. Their son, Robert Gilliam, born Sep- tember 17. 1796, in New Kent county, Vir- ginia, always resided in Prince George coun- ty, except from 1861 to 1865, when he lived in Richmond. Returning to Prince George county, he was elected clerk of the court, and died July 5. 1884, in his eighty-eighth year. Up to the time of his death he had lived during the lifetime of every United States president. He married Charlotte Isabella Sanxay, a native of Richmond, who died in the winter of 1904, aged eighty-five years. She was a daughter of Richard D. Sanxay, who was born in England, and was a book merchant of Richmond, living to the age of eighty-five years. He married Emily Gordon, and they had a large family, of whom are now living: Sophia Gohmert. re- siding at San Antonio. Texas, and Rosalie Morris, of Petersburg. Robert Gilliam and wife were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are now living, namely: i. Mary E., widow of William D. Porter, who was a nephew of Commodore Porter of the United States navy ; she resides in Peters- burg. 2. Lucy Skelton. widow of George W. Tennent. formerly of the United States navy, afterwards of the Confederate States navy ; she lives in the city of Mexico. 3. Emily G.. who married Francis E. Hall, and is now deceased. 4. Charlotte Isabella, unmarried, residing in Petersburg. 5. Rob- ert, of further mention. 6. John, a resident of Xew York City. 7. Eliza, widow of Robert Carter Braxton, residing in Farmville, Vir- ginia. 8. Sophia, widow of David E. Bowden. of Prince George county, Virginia. 9. Ellen, residing, unmarried, in the city of Mexico. 10. Richard Davenport, an attorney of Petersburg. 11. Charles Macalister, man- ager of the Petersburg Telephone Companv. Robert (2) Gilliam, eldest son of Robert (i) and Charlotte Isabella (Sanxay) Gil- liam, was born January 2/, 1847. ii"! Prince George county, X'irginia. and resided there until 1861, when he moved with his parents

to Richmond. He was educated under a governess and at Zimmer's School, at City Point. Virginia, and in Prince George covmty. He was in his fifteenth year when he came to Richmond, and at once became a messenger in the Confederate treasury de- partment, rising to the position of assistant cashier, receiving at the age of seventeen years a salary of fifty-five hundred dollars in Confederate money. He was one of the most rapid and expert counters of money in the service. After residing for a short time in Norfolk. \'irginia. in 1869 he was made clerk of the court of Prince George county, continuing in that of^ce until 1874, when he removed to Petersburg, and soon after, en- tered upon practice of the law. In 1888 he was elected clerk of the court, and filled that position until February i, 1915, since which date he has been engaged in the gen- eral practice of law at Petersburg, with an ofBce at 420 Mechanics Building. Mr. Gil- liam was a member of Company G, Depart- ment Battalion forces of local defence : was in engagements near Portsmouth, in which General Dalghren's raid was repelled. Mr. Gilliam is a communicant of the Episcopal church, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

He married (first) October 24, 1876, in Petersburg, Sue T. Beckwith, daughter of Dr. T. S. Beckwith, of Petersburg. She died July, 1877, without issue, and he married (second) April 29, 1879, Alary Love Bragg, daughter of Governor Bragg, of North Caro- lina, who was also a United States senator in 1867, and afterward attorney general of the Confederate States, and died in 1873. Her mother, Isabella (Cuthbert) Bragg, died in 1877. Of the eight children of Mr. and Airs. Robert (iilliam, two died in in- fancy. The living are: i. Isabella Cuth- bert' wife of Dr. W. II. Crockford, of Petersburg. 2. Robert Jr.. born October 6. 18S1. a lawyer of that city; graduate Rich- mond College, class of 1903, B. L. degree: married, November 26. 1912. Grizzelle Mul- len, daughter of Judge J. M. Mullen, of Petersburg. Virginia : member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. ])ast exalted ruler of Lodge No. 237, Petersburg; past worthy j^resident of Fraternal Order of Eagles : member of Order of Moose ; mem- l)er house of delegates of \'irginia. 1912; member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. 3. Thomas Bragg, a mechanical engineer,