[29]
Elijah C. was probably the wealthiest of the Gillenwaters
brothers. According to an article in [UL: :UL]
, Vol II No 1, Jan 1985, Elijah C. built the `Creeksdale' home on
Big Creek in Stanley Valley in 1822. Near his home he built a
schoolhouse for his six children and others in the neighborhood. This
impressive house was still standing into the 1930's.
Elijah C. was still living in Hawkins County, TN, in December of
1850. Robert P. Kyle, Jr., Rachel Gillenwaters' son, enumerated the
household to include Elijah, his wife Rebekah, his two youngest and as
yet unmarried children Joel and Eliza Jane, and two boys - Elijah, age
15, and William, age 11. Fifteen year old Elijah is undoubtedly Elijah
Absalom Purcell, son of Henrietta who had died ten years before (in
1840). Elijah A. was the only grandchild mentioned in Elijah C.'s
will. The parentage of William is uncertain. He could be the son of
Mary or Malinda.
Sometime in the early 1850's, Elijah and his son Thomas Fletcher,
emigrated to Monroe County, Kentucky, and settled around present day
Fountain Run. Thomas Fletcher became active in the Monroe county
political life and had several wills of his ancestors entered into the
county clerk's records.
The following paragraph is quoted from Barbara Gillenwater
Brown's book, [UL: Gillenwaters and Related Families :UL] : "According
to the Biography of Elijah A. Purcell, a grandson of Elijah C.
Gillenwaters, Elijah C. was an extensive farmer and slave holder and
general speculator....... Mr. Neal's book gives this account of a
letter from Lydia Watterson of Hawkins County, Tennessee, written 5
December 1858. `Old Elijah Gillenwaters is dead, he did not live very
long after his arrival at his Kentucky Home to enjoy it. Joel has
been in since his Father's death and purchased old Kit Looney, gave
$840 for him. Old Lija requested on his death bed for Jo to buy him,
as his (Kit's) wife belonged to him.'"
Elijah's last will and testament is recorded in the County Clerk
Office, Monroe County Court House, Thompkinsville, Monroe, KY, in Will
Book A, pp 212, 213.
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Elijah C. Gillinwaters, of the County of Monroe and state of
Kentucky, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and
disposing body (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the
uncertainty of human life and being desirous of disposing of all
such wordly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with
I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following, that
is to say....
1st I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Henrietta Pursell
$2500 in land lying in Hawkins County, Tennessee, on Cane Creek
$150 in house furniture, $150 in a horse and saddle, $250 making
in all $3550 all of which she has received from me.
2nd I will and bequeath to my grandson Elijah Absalom Purcell
three negroes, namely Malinda and her youngest chile Cartherine
and George the boy I bought of {Tasne?}.
3rd I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Charles $3225 in
negroes and other property which she has already received of me
in her lifetime.
4th I will to my daughter Sarah M. Gillinwaters $2450 in negroes
and other property which property she has already received of me.
5th I give and bequeath to my daughter Matilda Payne $3000 in
negroes and other property which she has already received. I
also
in addition to what she has already received give and bequeath to
her four negroes Saryth ?, George, Matilda, and Martha Frances.
6th I give and bequeath to my daughter Eliza Jane A. Bussell
$4000
dollars in negroes and other property which she has already
received.
I also give and bequeath to her in addition to what she has
already
received one negro boy named Henry a son of {Hannah?}. I give the
above named boy to my daughter Eliza Jane A. Bussell and her
bodily
heirs.
7th I give and bequeath to my son Joel F. Gillinwaters $6500 in
land.
The farm I purchased of A. P. Bosleri in Monroe County, Kentucky,
which I had deeded to him from Mr. Bosleri. I also give him
twelve
negroes namely, Henry a negro man, Charles, John, Berry, Lucy,
Mary,
Betsy, Absalom, Hannah, Rufus, Eliza and Manda. Also all the
stock
of the farm, farming utensils, three wagons also all {rates?} and
accounts that I may have coming to me at my death after paying
all
debts that I may owe at that time including any funeral expenses.
8th I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Martha E. Charles one
negro girl Rose and lastly I also hereby constitute and appoint
my
son Joel F. Gillinwaters executor of this my last will and
testament
hereby revoking all others or former wills as testament by me
heretofore made in witness which I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal this 2d of November 1858.
____________________________________________Elijah C.
Gillinwaters
Testors
William J. Ellis
J. P. Taylor
In discussing Elijah, William Luther Brown said, "Thought to have
married Eliza Clarke, daughter of William and Mary Clarke, but this is
not authentic."
p