Pennsylvania Research
Copyright 2011 LuAnn Elsinger. All rights reserved.
There were quite a number of Gilliland/Gilleland families that settled early in Pennsylvania. It is my attempt on this page to document where these various families were found in the early records.
In the 1790 Federal Census, the most readily available source for finding people, albeit not the earliest, there were 14 Gilliland/Gilleland families in 9 counties - Allegheny, Chester, Fayette, Franklin, Lancaster, Northumberland, Philadelphia, York, and Washington. I have used the first census as a basis for locating these families but then have expanded upon that by consulting earlier records such as tax lists, land records, deeds, etc. The counties listed below are in no particular order but, the vast amount of early records have been found in Chester and Lancaster Counties.
To see how the counties in Pennsylvania were originally set up and how their boundaries changed through the years please see this website.
Adams County (Created from part of York County on January 22, 1800)
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 1; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Samuel ; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 230; Date of Warrant: 2 Apr 1800; Date of Return: 21 Dec 1808; Acres Returned: 144.100; Name of Patentee: Frederick Hammer; Where Survey is Copied: C-177, pages 47 & 49 - Manallen. This is probably Samuel Gilliland.
Allegheny County
Return of Taxables [Source: Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume XXII, page 688]
| Year | Township | Name | Tax | |||
| 1791 | Pitt | Gilliland, David | 18 .7 | |||
| 1791 | Pitt | Gilliland, Adam | 3 .9 |
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 28; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, David, Heirs; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 78.101; Date of Warrant: 10 Mar 1852; Date of Return: 10 Mar 1852; Acres Returned: 78.101; Name of Patentee: David Gilliland, heirs; Where Survey is Copied: C-69, page 108.
Bedford County
Alphabetical List of Revolutionary Soldiers [Source: Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume XIII, page 81]
Gilleland, Philip, residing in Bedford county, 1827
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 40; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Philip; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 307 acres; Warrant Location: Bethel township (now in Fulton County); Date of Warrant: 11 Aug 1774; Date of Return: 11 Aug 1774; Acres Returned: 307; Name of Patentee: Philip Gilliland; Where Survey is Copied: C-58, page 160.
Warrant No: 43; Name of Warrantee: Gillilan, Philip Jr ; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 69.120 acres; Warrant Location: at foot of Sidling Hill & Provincial Road, name of tract - Money Gap; Date of Warrant: 21 Sep 1774; Date of Return: 21 Sep 1774; Acres Returned: 69.120; Name of Patentee: Philip Gillilan Jr; Where Survey is Copied: C, page 195.
Warrant No: 76; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Philip; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 100 acres; Warrant Location: Bethel township (now in Fulton County); Date of Warrant: 5 Nov 1784; Date of Return: 26 Jan 1796; Acres Returned: 154.108; Name of Patentee: William VanCleat; Where Survey is Copied: C-48, page 266.
Warrant No: 159; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Philip Jr ; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 50 acres; Warrant Location: Belfast township (now in Fulton County); Date of Warrant: 28 Feb 1792; Date of Return: 23 Jul 1853; Acres Returned: 45.138; Name of Patentee: Theodomus Mellott; Where Survey is Copied: C-58, page 291.
Warrant No: 166; Name of Warrantee: Gilland, Philip; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 70 acres; Warrant Location: Belfast township (now in Fulton County); Date of Warrant: 12 Dec 1792; Date of Return: 23 Jul 1853; Acres Returned: 70.10; Name of Patentee: Theodomus Mellott; Where Survey is Copied: C-58, page 284.
Warrant No: 272; Name of Warrantee: Gillilan, William ; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 400 acres; Warrant Location: Bedford township; Date of Warrant: 10 Apr 1794; 1st Date of Return: 7 Jun 1870; Acres Returned: 132.85; Name of Patentee: David Mortimer; Where Survey is Copied: C-73, page 239; 2nd Date of Return: 4 Dec 1871; Acres Returned: 271.125; Name of Patentee: J. W. Lingenfelter; Where Survey is Copied: C-62, pages 231, 239.
Butler County
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 1; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Hugh; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 400; Date of Warrant: 3 Jan 1805; Date of Return: 10 Mar 1819; Acres Returned: 400; Name of Patentee: Hugh Gilliland; Where Survey is Copied: C-68, page 66. This is probably Hugh Gilleland.
Warrant No: 12; Name of Warrantee: Gilleland, Andrew; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 278; Date of Warrant: 25 Mar 1818; Date of Return: 12 May 1818; Acres Returned: 278.120; Name of Patentee: Andrew Gilleland; Where Survey is Copied: C-68, page 52 - Muddy Creek township.
Warrant No: 25; Name of Warrantee: Gilleland, John, et. al.; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 18.63; Date of Warrant: 9 Apr 1840; Date of Return: 10 Apr 1840; Acres Returned: 18.63; Name of Patentee: John Gilleland, et. al.; Where Survey is Copied: C-83, page 20.
Name of Warrantee: Gilleland, Andrew; Description of Warrant: Actual Settlement; Quantity: ---; Date of Warrant: ---; Date of Return: ---; Acres Returned: 270.120; Name of Patentee: ---; Where Survey is Copied: D-18, page 45.
1803 Tax Lists [Source: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1895]
| Township | Name | Acres | Cows | Horses or Oxen | Valuation | Tax |
| Connoquenessing | Adam Gilliland (saw mill) | --- | --- | --- | --- | 0.75 |
| Connoquenessing | David Gilliland (grist & saw mill) | 400 | 4 | --- | 1460 | 1.38 |
| Connoquenessing | Hugh Gilliland | 400 | 1 | 1 | 230 | 0.69 |
| Connoquenessing | Thomas Gilliland | 400 | 1 | 1 | 440 | 1.32 |
| Connoquenessing | Barnabas Gilliland | --- | 1 | 2 | 50 | .15 |
| Connoquenessing | Andrew Gilliland | 300 | 1 | 1 | 490 | 1.67 |
| Middlesex | James Gilliland | 400 | 1 | --- | 274 | 0.82 |
Chester County (One of the three original counties formed by William Penn in November 1682.)
Land Warrants
Note: There are no Gilliland in the
Old Rights for Philadelphia, Chester, or Bucks Counties. Old Rights are pre-1733 warrants and surveys.
Warrant No: 52; Name of Warrantee: Gillaland, James; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 104; Date of Warrant: 23 Aug 1753; Date of Return: 23 Aug 1753; Acres Returned: 104; Name of Patentee: James Gillaland; Where Survey is Copied: A-9, page 17 - Londonderry.
Warrant No: 63; Name of Warrantee: Gilleylin, John; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 9.69; Date of Warrant: 2 Apr 1762; Date of Return: 8 Apr 1762; Acres Returned: 9.69; Name of Patentee: John Gilleylin; Where Survey is Copied: C-58, page 111 - Springton Manor.
Warrant No: 71; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, James et.al.; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 100; Date of Warrant: 3 Feb 1773; Date of Return: blank; Acres Returned: blank; Name of Patentee: Released; Where Survey is Copied: Fallowfield.
Deeds (1681 - 1802)
| 1740 | John Gilleylan of Philadelphia lent money in the form of a mortgage on property located in Upper Providence to James Russell and later received a Release from him; Deed Book F, page 63, 70 |
| 1751 | John Gilleylen of Philadelphia purchased property located in Caln from the estate of Mr. Claypoole; Deed Book F-2, page 242 |
| 1751 | John Gilleylen and wife Hester of Philadelphia entered into a mortgage with William Coleman and James Pemberton, property located in East Caln; Deed Book H, page 287 |
| 1761 | John Gilleylen of East Caln entered into a mortgage with William Coleman, property located in East Caln; Deed Book M, page 242 |
| 1761 | John Gilleylen of East Caln sold property located in East Caln to David Stuart, George Erwin, and Samuel Muckleduff; Deed Book M, page 298 |
| 1762 | John Gilleylen and wife Hester of East Caln entered into a mortgage with William Coleman, property located in East Caln; Deed Book M, page 389 |
| 1771 | John Gilleylan and wife Hester of East Caln entered into a mortgage (Grantee not listed), property located in East Caln; Deed Book R, page 330 |
| 1779 | James Gilliland of Oxford and Thomas Gilliland of Nottingham, executors of James Gilliland of Londonderry, deceased, sold property located in Londonderry to Samuel Love; Deed Book A-2, page 11 |
| 1789 | James Gilliland and wife Hannah of Oxford sold property located in Oxford to John Thompson; Deed Book D-2, page 405 |
| 1791 | James Gilleland of Bart purchased property located in West Fallowfield from Joseph Adams; Deed Book K-2, page 38 |
| 1791 | John Morton purchased property located in East Caln belonging John Gilleylan and wife Hester at a Sheriff's sale; Deed Book F-2, page 245 |
| 1797 | James Gilleland and wife Hannah sold property located in West Fallowfield to William Clingan; Deed Book R-2, page 77 |
| 1797 | James Gilleland and wife Hannah sold property located in West Fallowfield to Thomas Gibson; Deed Book Q-2, page 186 |
| 1799 | William Gilleland, executor of James Gilleland of West Fallowfield, deceased, sold property located in West Fallowfield to William Clingan; Deed Book R-2, page 321 |
Wills and Administrations (1714-1876)
| Year | Last Name | First Name | Township | Will | Admin Bond |
Inventory | Accounts | File# |
| 1778 | Gilliland | James | Londonderry | Yes | No | Yes | No | 3105 |
| 1790 | Gilliland | John | blank | No | Yes | No | No | 4080 |
| 1790 | Gilliland | John | East Caln | No | Yes | No | No | 4097 |
| 1798 | Gilliland | James | West Fallowfield | Yes | No | Yes | No | 4638 |
Will Abstracts
1778 - Walker, Nathaniel. Londonderry. August 24, 1778. September 13, 1778. Provides for wife Hannah. To son Benjamin £40 and "all the benefits of the Continental hides now in my tanyard." To son Nathaniel £20 and wearing apparel. To son John £50. To daughter Elizabeth £5. Plantation to be sold in 10 years and proceeds divided 1/3 to wife during life, 1/3 to son Isaac and remaining 1/3 with all other personal estate to be divided among daughters Mary, Jane, Ruth, Isabel, Hannah and Rebecca. Executors: Wife Hannah and son Benj. Wit: Wm. Gilliland, John Kinkead.
1778 - Gilleland, James. Londonderry. April 4, 1778. Codicil May 20, 1778. September 29, 1778. To daughter Elizabeth £20 and furniture. To daughter Agnes £20 and £20. Remainder of estate real and personal to be sold and proceeds equally divided among all children, not named. Executors: Sons Thomas and James. Wit: Benjamin Walker, John Kinkead.
1790 - Gilliland, John. Chester Co. February 26, 1790. Adm. to William Clingan.
1790 - Gilliland, John. E. Caln. May 26, 1790. Adm. to James Moore.
1798 - Gilleland, James. Fallowfield. May 4, 1798. May 24, 1798. Provides for wife Hannah. Remainder to 9 children who are not named. Executor: Son William. Wit: Samuel Edmiston, James Boyd.
Tax Lists
The Colonial and early 19th century lists were usually divided into several lists – 1) property owners, usually dubbed "freeholders" or "landholders"; 2) married renters heading households, called "inmates"; 3) unmarried men (usually age 21 and above), called " freemen". At times the best proof of an individual's marriage may be when the groom moves from "freeman" to "inmate."
1715-1719 - No Gilliland
1720-1729 - No Gilliland
1730 - No Gilliland
1735 - James Gilliland - not listed in the Londonderry taxables
1740 - Gilletin, James - Londonderry
1750 - Gilleland, James - Londonderry
1753 - Gillylan, John - East Caln (from the book History of Chester County, Pennsylvania by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, 1881, page 525)
[1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1771 taken from the book Proprietary Tax List of the County of Chester for the Years 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1771 edited by William Henry Egle.]
1765
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gilliland | 50 | 2 | 1 | 6 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gilland | 150 | 2 | 4 | 7 | --- |
1766
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gillaland | 50 | 2 | 2 | 2 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gilliland | 100 | 2 | 3 | 8 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gilleylen | 430 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
1767
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gillalen, Jr. | 50 | 2 | 2 | 6 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gillalen | 100 | 4 | 3 | 9 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gillalan | 420 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
1768
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gillalen, sadler | 50 | 2 | 2 | 3 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gilleland | 100 | 2 | 3 | 8 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gilleland | 420 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 4 |
1769
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gilleland | 50 | 1 | 2 | 4 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gilleland | 100 | 2 | 2 | 6 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gilehan | 429 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 |
| East Nottingham | Thomas Gillelan, sadler | 8 | 1 | 1 | --- | --- |
[1770 list taken from Chester County Archives]
1770
| Township | Name | Acres | Servants | Category |
| West Fallowfield | James Gilliland | 50 | No | Landholder |
| Londonderry | James Gilleland | 130 | No | Landholder |
| East Caln | John Gillelan | 420 | Yes | Landholder |
| East Nottingham | Thomas Gilleland | No | Inmate | |
| Vincent | Thomas Gillehan | No | Inmate |
1771
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| West Fallowfield | James Gillaland | 50 | 1 | 1 | 4 | --- |
| Londonderry | James Gillaland | 130 | 2 | 2 | 8 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gillelan | 420 | 3 | 6 | 10 | --- |
1774
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| Londonderry | James Gillaland | 100 | 2 | 2 | 5 | --- |
| East Caln | John Gillaland | 400 | 5 | 4 | --- | 1 |
| East Caln | John Gillaland, freeman | |||||
| East Caln | Jacob Gillaland, freeman | |||||
| Oxford | James Gillaland | 70 | 2 | 1 | --- | --- |
1774 Landowners (from the book History of Chester County, Pennsylvania by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, 1881)
Gileylen, John - East Caln; page 525
Gilleland, James - Oxford; page 622
Gilliland, Thomas - East Nottingham; page 617
Gilliland, James - Londonderry; page 572
1779 (from Pennsylvania Archives)
Gillaland, James - West Nantmill
1780 (from Pennsylvania Archives)
Gillaland, James - West Nantmill
Gillilan, James - Oxford
Gillilan, John - Oxford (freemen)
1781 (from Pennsylvania Archives)
Gilliland, James - West Nantmill
Gilliland, James - Oxford
Gilliland, David - New Garden (inmate)
1785
Gilland, David - New Garden
Gillfillon, Archibald - West Bradford
Gilliland, James - Oxford
1799
Gillelan, William - West Fallowfield
Gillian, John - East Bradford
Provincial Tax Minutes (1756-1778)
| Date | Name | Township | Reason for Discount |
Subject or concerning |
Office or position |
| 1759 - Feb 28 | James Gillaland | Londonderry | --- | paid for service | township assessor |
| 1778 - Mar 25 | Archibald Gilleland | Londonderry | gone or poor | discounts | --- |
Eighteenth Pence Rate for Chester County
| Year | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Servants |
| 1769 | Thomas Gillelan, sadler | 8 | 1 | 1 | --- | --- |
| 1771 | Thomas Gillaland | --- | 1 | --- | --- | --- |
Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File
The abstract card file contains transcriptions of data extracted from original records in the custody of the State Archives concerning Revolutionary War service in the Pennsylvania Militia, Pennsylvania Line, and the Navy. Gilliland names found for Chester County.
Gilliland, David (Private, Third Company, New Garden)
Gilliland, Wm.
Gillelan, James
Gilleland, Jacob
Gilleland, James
Oaths of Allegiance, Chester County
In 1776 the Continental Congress requested each state to take an oath of allegiance from each of its male citizens over 21 years of age in order to determine the strength of the patriot movement and to identify the loyalists. In Pennsylvania, the legislature, by a general militia law, passed in June 1777 the following: ... "Therefore it is enacted, etc. That all white male inhabitants of the State, except of the counties of Bedford and Westmoreland, above the age of eighteen years, shall, before the 1st day of the ensuing July, and in the excepted counties before the 1st day of August, take and subscribe before some justice of the peace an oath, in the following form: 'I,_____ _____, do swear (or affirm) that I renounce and refuse all allegiance to George the Third, king of Great Britain, his heirs and successors; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a free and independent State, and that I will not at any time do or cause to be done any matter of thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared by Congress, and also, that I will discover and make known to some one justice of the peace of said State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies which I now know or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the united States of America.'"
Here are the Gilliland names who voluntarily took and subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity before the justices of the County of Chester. Taken from the book Oaths of Allegiance Chester County, Pennsylvania by Richard T. and Mildred C. Williams.
1777 - James Gilliland - Londonderry
1777 - William Gilliland - Brandywine
1777 - John Gilliland - none listed
1777 - June 28th - James Gilliland, Jr. - West Fallowfield
1777 - May 14th - Jacob Gilleylen - East Caln
1777 - Oct 30th - John Gilleylen - East Caln
1778 - May 19th - James Gilliland, Jr. - Londonderry
1778 - May 19th - William Gilliland - West Bradford
1778 - May 19th - Dr. John Gilliland - Oxford
1778 - May 19th - James Gilliland, Sr. - Oxford
1778 - June 28th - Jas. Gilliland, Jr. - Oxford
Chester County Township Map - I have placed markers on this map of the Gilliland names found in the above records in the townships mentioned.
** Summary for Chester CountyIt appears that there were two Gilliland familes present in Chester County for the most part - John Gilleylen and his wife Hester (who I believe to be Hester Romer), originally of Philadelphia, and James Gilliland and wife Margaret Frances Burr of Londonderry. John and Hester's son Jacob shows up in the 1775 tax list and as having taken the Oath of Allegiance in 1777. From land records we know that James and Margaret had sons Thomas and James, Jr. We also know from land records that James, Jr. had a son William.
Cumberland County (Created from part of Lancaster County on January 27, 1750)
Pennsylvania Archives (The information below was obtained using Pennsylvania Archives at www.fold3.com)
1766, 11 Dec - Land Office - Philip Gilliland, Air [sic] Twp. (now in Fulton Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 2, page 374]
1773 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Philip Gilliland, Ayr Twp. (now in Fulton Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 22, page 4]
1778 - Tax List - Hugh Gilland, Peters Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 87]
1779 - Supply Rates - Mathew Gililand, Hamilton Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 180]
1779 - Supply Rates - Henry Gillalen, Hamilton Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 177]
1779 - Supply Rates - Hugh Gillilland, Peters Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 213]
1780 - Supply Rates - Hugh Gilleland, Peters Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 349]
1780 - Supply Rates - Philip Gilland, East Pennsboro Twp. [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 281]
1780 - Supply Rates - Matthew Gillelan, Freemen, Hamilton Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 316]
1781 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Philip Gilland, East Pennsboro Twp. [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 420]
1781 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Hugh Gilleland, Montgomery Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 526]
1782 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Philip Gilland, East Pennsboro Twp. [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 556]
1782 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Matthew Gillellan, Hamilton Twp. (now in Franklin Co.) [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 586]
1785 - Transcripts & Taxables of Cumberland Co - Phillip Gilliland, East Pennsboro Twp. [PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 20, page 707]
Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File
[Gilliland names found for Cumberland County]
Gilliland, Matthew (Private Fourth Class, Sixth Company of the Fourth Battalion)
Gilleland, Henry
Gilleland, Hugh (Private Second Class, Fourth Company of the Fourth Battalion)
Gillilen, James (Private, Seventh Class, First Company of the Fourth Battalion)
** Summary for Cumberland County
It's very likely that the Hugh Gilleland that appeared in the supply rates for Peters township and in the taxables for Montgomery township is the Hugh that was the son of Hugh Gilliland from Hanover township, Lancaster Co and who wound up settling in Crawford County. It's not certain how or if the other Gillilands in Cumberland County at that time were related. Members of these families can be found in the History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, 1887, with various spellings of the surname: Gilleland, Gilliland, Gilland, and Gillan.
Fayette County
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 103; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Thomas; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 100; Warrant Location: Franklin; Date of Warrant: 14 Jan 1824; Date of Return: 9 Mar 1824; Acres Returned: 103; Name of Patentee: John Dunn; Where Survey is Copied: C-63, page 181.
Warrant No: 115; Name of Warrantee: Gilleland, Jane; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 100; Warrant Location: Franklin; Date of Warrant: 8 Jul 1839; Date of Return: 9 Sep 1839; Acres Returned: 110.120; Name of Patentee: Jane Gilleland; Where Survey is Copied: C-83, page 3.
Tax Lists [Source: Pennsylvania Archives , Third Series, Volume XXII, pages 580 & 621]
| Year | Township | Name | Tax | |||
| 1785 | Luzerne | Gilleland, Hugh | 1 .9 | |||
| 1786 | Luzerne | Gilleland, Hugh | 1 .8 |
Lancaster County (Created on May 10, 1729 from part of Chester County.)
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 3; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Hugh; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 400; Warrant Location: On Branch of Pequea Creek; Date of Warrant: 1 May 1734; Date of Return: 24 Jun 1741; Acres Returned: 444; Name of Patentee: Robert Patton; Where Survey is Copied: A-84, page 63.
Warrant No: 56; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, John; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 250; Warrant Location: Hanover twp; Date of Warrant: 14 Feb 1737; Date of Return: 26 Mar 1761; Acres Returned: 184; Name of Patentee: John Gilliland; Where Survey is Copied: C-58, page 89.
Warrant No: 172; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Hugh; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 200; Warrant Location: Hanover twp; Date of Warrant: 16 Feb 1744; Date of Return: none; Acres Returned: none; Name of Patentee: none; Where Survey is Copied: none.
Warrant No: 285; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Robert; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 50; Warrant Location: Hanover twp; Date of Warrant: 9 Apr 1751; Date of Return: 19 Feb 1836; Acres Returned: 116; Name of Patentee: Christian Shuey; Where Survey is Copied: C-72, page 185.
Wills Abstracts
1750 - Gilliland, Hugh Twp. omitted. March 11, 1750 December 3, 1750 Wife: Ann Gilliland. Children: Mary, Eleanor, Ann, Elizabeth, Agness, Robert and Hugh. Ex.: John and Ann Gilliland.
Tax and Assessment Lists
[Sources for lists: 1 Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1896; 2; Notes and Queries: Historical, Biographical and Genealogical: Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania, edited by William Henry Egle, First and Second Series in Two Volumes, Volume One, 1970; 3; Provincial Papers: Proprietary and State Tax Lists of the County of Lancaster for the Years 1771, 1772, 1773, 1779 and 1782, edited by William Henry Egle, 1898; 4 Taxables of Hanover Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1750-1759, by Raymond Martin Bell; 5 A New Index, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Before the Federal Census, five volumes, by Gary T. Hawbaker.]
1750 1 (This source only covered East Hanover township. Not sure about other townships in Lancaster Co in 1750.)
| Township | Name | Acres |
| East Hanover | Hugh Gilliland | 150 |
| East Hanover | John Gilliland | 100 |
1751 2 (This source only covered East Hanover township. Not sure about other townships in Lancaster Co in 1751.)
| Township | Name | Shillings | Pence |
| East Hanover | John Gilleland | 3 | 6 |
| East Hanover | widow Gilaland | 2 | 6 |
1754 5
Township: East Hanover
Name: John Gilliland
1756 4
Township: East Hanover
Name: John Gilliland (fled from Indians)
1759 4
Township: Hanover
Name: John Gilliland
1769
Township: East Hanover
Name: John Gilliland 2
Name: Hugh Gilliland 5
1771 3
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Servants | Tax |
| East Hanover | Hugh Gillelan | 100 | 3 | --- | --- | 17.0 |
| East Hanover | Robert Gilleland (freemen) | 140 | 3 | 7 | --- | 17.0 |
1772 3
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Servants | Tax |
| East Hanover | Robert Gilleland | 130 | 3 | 6 | --- | 17.6 |
1773 3 - No Gilliland
1782 1 - No Gilliland
** Summary for Lancaster County
There appears to have been only two Gilliland families present in Lancaster County and they were brothers Hugh and John Gilliland. John was married as he is never listed in the tax lists where he is found as a "freeman" or "inmate". Since Hugh died in 1750, the Hugh and Robert Gilliland that show up in the 1771 tax list are most likely his sons, mentioned in his will. The township that they lived in, East Hanover, would eventually become part of Dauphin County. From a deed found in Lancaster County we know that Robert was the elder of the two sons, that he was deceased prior to March 22, 1771, and that Hugh sold his portion of the land he inherited from his father in 1771. That would account for there being no Gillilands in the 1773 tax lists. ** There was a Hugh Gilliland that had land granted to him in Ohio County, Virginia in 1780. That land would later become part of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Map of area in 1781. It was said that the Hugh Gilliland, Jr. from East Hanover moved to Western Pennsylvania after the Revolution. Could the Hugh Gilliland in Washington County be Hugh Gilliland, Jr.?
Northumberland County
List of Taxable Inhabitants [Source: History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania edited by Herbert C. Bell, 1891, p. 86]. While the year is not given, it bears satisfactory intrinsic evidence of having been taken before the close of the colonial period and prior to the year 1775:
Turbut Township - Gilliland, John
Transcript of State Tax [Source: Pennsylvania Archives , Third Series, Volume XIX, pages 587 & 591]
1785| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Tax |
| Turbutt | Gillelan, John | 100 | 2 | 2 | --- | 10 .5 |
| Turbutt | Gillelan, Robert, single | --- | --- | --- | --- | 10 .0 |
List of Taxable Inhabitants [Source: History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania edited by Herbert C. Bell, 1891, p. 694]
1787 - Turbut Township - Gilliland, John
Washington County (Created in 1781 from part of Westmoreland County. Prior to that the area was part of the District of West Augusta, Virginia in particular the counties of Ohio, Monongalia, and Yohogania. See Map.)
(For the records of Gillilands in the area of Washington County when it was still in Virginia, please see that research page.)
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 96; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Hugh; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 400; Date of Warrant: 20 Feb 1778; Date of Return: 23 Feb 1778; Acres Returned: 400; Where Survey is Copied: C-53, page 204 - Buffalo Creek.
Warrant No: 97; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Thomas; Description of Warrant: Accept; Quantity: 348; Date of Warrant: 20 Feb 1778; Date of Return: 23 Feb 1778; Acres Returned: 348; Where Survey is Copied: C-53, page 224 - Buffalo Creek.
According to researcher Steven Butler's Family History Website, this is the Thomas Gilliland who settled in Hardin County, KY.
1781 Tax Lists [Source: Pennsylvania Archives , Third Series, Volume XXII, page 727]
| Township | Name | Acres | Horses | Cattle | Sheep | Value |
| Donegal | Gilleland, Thomas | 500 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 329 |
| Donegal | Gillilan, Hugh | 300 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 242 |
Westmoreland County
Land Warrants
Warrant No: 53; Name of Warrantee: Gillaland, David ; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 400; Date of Warrant: 6 Nov 1784; Date of Return: 22 Jun 1792; Acres Returned: 319; Name of Patentee: David Gilleland; Where Survey is Copied: C-79, pages 95-96 - Turtle Creek in Pitt township.
Warrant No: 67; Name of Warrantee: Gilliland, Adam; Description of Warrant: Survey; Quantity: 150; Date of Warrant: 2 May 1785; Date of Return: none; Acres Returned: 160; Name of Patentee: none; Where Survey is Copied: A-21, page 204 - 5 & 6 - Franklin.
Return of State Tax [Source: Pennsylvania Archives , Third Series, Volume XXII, page 486]
| Year | Township | Name | Tax | |||
| 1786 | Pitt | Gilliland, David | 6 .5 | |||
| 1786 | Pitt | Gilliland, Adam, single | 1 .0 .0 |
York County (Created on August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster County.)
Clerk of Court Quarter Session Dockets 1749-1876)
| Name | Classification | Session | Year | Book | Page | |
| Gillelan, John | Recognizance | April | 1760 | 5 | 77 | |
| Gilleland, John | Juror | April | 1760 | 5 | 76 | |
| Gilleland, John | Juror | April | 1764 | 7 | 58 |
Tax Lists
[Source: Provincial Papers: Returns of Taxables of the County of York for the Years 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782 and 1783; Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume XXI, edited by William Henry Egle, 1898]
1779
| Township | Name | Acres | Negroes | Horses | Cattle | Tax |
| Menallen | John Gilliland | 200 | --- | 2 | 5 | 55 .4 .2 |
| Menallen | Samuel Gilliland | --- | --- | 1 | --- | 15 .0 .0 |
| Menallen | William Gilliland | --- | --- | 1 | 2 | 2 .8 .4 |
1780
| Township | Name | Acres | Negroes | Horses | Cattle | Tax |
| Menallen | John Gilliland | 200 | --- | 3 | 3 | 70 .0 .0 |
| Menallen | Samuel Gilliland | --- | --- | 1 | --- | 10 .0 .0 |
| Menallen | Wm. Gilliland | --- | --- | 1 | 2 | 3 .5 .4 |
1781
| Township | Name | Acres | Negroes | Horses | Cattle | Tax |
| Menallen | John Gilleland | 200 | --- | 1 | 4 | 4 .12 .4 |
| Menallen | Samuel Gilleland | --- | --- | 1 | --- | 3 .0 .0 |
| Menallen | William Gilleland | --- | --- | 2 | 2 | - 10 .6 |
1782
| Township | Name | Acres | Negroes | Horses | Cattle | Tax |
| Menallen | John Gilleland | 200 | --- | 1 | 5 | 11 .7 .6 |
| Menallen | William Gilleland | --- | --- | 3 | 2 | 1 .10 .7 |
| Menallen | Samuel Gilleland (single men) | --- | --- | --- | --- | 3 .15 .0 |
1783
| Township | Name | Acres | Inhabitants | Servants | Negroes | |
| Menallen | John Gilliland | 200 | 3 | --- | --- | |
| Menallen | William Gilliland | 105 | 5 | --- | --- | |
| Menallen | Samuel Gilleland (single men) | --- | --- | --- | --- |
Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File
[Gilliland names found for York County]
Gilliland, William
Gillelan, Samuel
Gillelan, William
Pennsylvania Archives
Fourth Battalion York County Militia, Third Company, Captain William Gilliland, April 5, 1778 [Source: Pennsylvania Archives, Series 6, Volume 2, page 504]
Probate Records
[Source: Index to the Probate Inventories of York County, Pennsylvania by David A. & Brenda L. Paup, 1992]
Archibald Gilliland, 1777, in Hopewell Township
John Gilliland, 1789, in Menallen Township
** Summary for York County
There appear to have been only two Gilliland families that showed up in eary York County — John Gilliland, in Menallen Township; and Archibald Gilliland, in Hopewell Township; and the presence of Archibald was only at the time of his probate record. At first, I thought that John may have been the same John as the one from Hanover Townhip, Lancaster County. But, upon more research, I'm pretty convinced that they were two different people. You can read more about each man and the theories I have about their offspring in the main database: John from Hanover, and John from Menallen.