Notes |
- In 1770, Elizabeth Young married John Gilliland. Elizabeth Young Gilliland was the daughter of Robert Young and Mary Douglass. The two men in her life made history together at the Battle of King's Mountain.
Her father was the celebrated marksman who is credited with firing the shot that killed Patrick Ferguson in the Battle of King's Mountain. Lyman Draper, in his history of the King's Mountain heroes, says, "One of Col. Sevier's men, named Gililland, who had received several wounds, and was well nigh exhausted, seeing the advance of Ferguson and his part, attempted to arrest the career of the great leader, but his gun snapped, when he called out to Robert Young, of the same regiment: 'There's Ferguson! Shoot him.' 'I will try and see what Sweet Lips can do,' muttered Young, as he drew a sharp sight, discharging his rife, when Ferguson fell from his horse, and his associates were either killed or driven back. Several bullets had taken effect on Ferguson apparently at the same time, and a number claimed the honor of shooting Ferguson." [Reference online: http://www.starbase21.com/kybiog/jessamine/young.b.txt, 6 Jan 2002]
Robert Young's rifle "Sweet Lips" hangs in the State Museum in Nashville, TN. He is given credit for shooting Colonel Ferguson, British commander at the Battle of King,s Mountain in 1780. (Lyman C.Draper, KING'S MOUNTAIN AND ITS HEROES p 275.
In a romantic notion, Elizabeth Gilliland inspired a song:
**********************************
"Sweet Lips: The Battle of King's Mountain"
Sung by Grandpa Jones
It was back in '81 that a man named Washington
Was fighting hard for freedom in this land,
But his men were poor and ragged,
And against the British gun,
Well, he didn't even dare to make a stand..
Old Ferguson was marching toward the Carolina hills,
Making brags he'd hang a man to every tree,
But the news that he was coming
Raced across the mountain tops,
And they heard about it over in Tennessee..
At the shoal of old Watauga, where the sycamores grow tall,
They rallied around ol' Nolichucky Jack,
And they said, "We'll drive the Redcoats
Back across the briny deep.
Yes, we'll lick 'em, or we're never coming back!".
There was Chucky Jack and Campbell, Colonel Shelby in their band,
Mountaineers who loved their liberty,
And a lovesick boy named Gillam
With a brand new rifle gun,
Named for his girl in Tennessee..
Sweet Lips was a rifle named for a girl in Tennessee.
When Sweet Lips spoke,
The chains that bound us broke.
She struck a mighty blow for liberty..
When they rode across the mountains onto Carolina soil,
The Tarheels with their muskets gathered 'round
To go and head off Ferguson
Before he got to them
To hang 'em all and burn their houses down..
When Ferguson heard the mountain men were camping on his trail,
He first began to laugh and then to scoff,
Said, "We'll go up on King's Mountain,
And then let the rebels come,
For the powers of Hell will never drive me off.".
But Campbell and Ben Cleveland, Colonel Shelby, and their men,
And John Sevier ~ ol' Nolichucky Jack ~
Well, they loaded up their rifles,
And they climbed the mountainside,
Said, "We'll lick 'em, or we're never coming back!".
Oh, he blew his silver whistle, and he shouted and he cursed,
"Use your bayonets to drive the rebels back!"
But the Redcoats never made it,
For before they reached the line,
The mountain rifles jumped them in their tracks..
Sweet Lips was a rifle named for a girl in Tennessee.
When Sweet Lips spoke,
The chains that bound us broke.
She struck a mighty blow for liberty..
Ol' Ferguson was dashing up and down the battlefield,
And it seemed that he must lead a life of charm,
For the mountaineers were aiming
At his gaudy checkered coat,
But their bullets passed him by and did no harm..
Then up stepped young John Gillam with his brand new rifle gun,
Named for his girl back home. He said,
"Well, I wonder what Sweet Lips can do?"
And when he took his aim,
Sweet Lips spoke, and Ferguson fell dead..
Cornwallis heard that Ferguson and all his men were lost,
And he said, "This place is just too hot for me."
So he soon went off to Yorktown,
Where he laid his weapons down,
And ever since this country has been free..
Sweet Lips was a rifle named for a girl in Tennessee.
When Sweet Lips spoke,
The chains that bound us broke.
She's gone and did her part for liberty.
**********************************
Elizabeth and John Gilliland had several children, including:
Robert Young Gilliland
John Gilliland
Priscilla Gilliland
Mary Gilliland
Abel Gilliland
Elijah Eli Gilliland
Mary Gilliland
Harvey Gilliland
Isaac Gilliland
Josiah Gilliland
A contributor to ancestry.com submitted the will of John Gilliland:
From 1792-1810 Jefferson County Will Book#1, written March 26, 1795. John Gilliland, of the County of Jefferson Territory of the US south of the Ohio River. To wife Elizabeth Gilliland all and every part of my household furniture and 1/3 of stock, rents and support for the tuition of those children who are of non-age: To son, Robert, 60 pounds out of revenue; To son, John Jr., the island at the upper end of the premises; To son James, all my wearing apparel over and above his portion; To daughter Priscilla, my son James, my daughter Mary, My son Abel, my son Harvey, my son Isaac, my son Eli, my son Josiah, all and every part and tract of my land except John's part, equally divided. Joseph Hamilton and John McNabb or John Gilliland Jr. to draw lots for the portions. To grandson, John Welch, 100 dollars for education, provfiding he lives with the family until the executors shall chuse. Jos. Hamilton and John Gilliland executors...Witnesses, Jos. Robinson, John McNabb and John Neitherton.
Page 260-61 Jos Hamilton and John McNabb exrs. We, Jos. Hamilton and John McNabb, two of the persons appointed by the last will and testament of John Gilliland, Deceased, to nominate and appoint two disinterested persons for the purpose of dividing the lands belonging to the estate of said John Gilliland, do appoint John Shields and Samuel Jack for that purpose. Given our hands this 27th day of March 1799. We, John Shields and Samuel Jack, do certify that the lot drew for Priscilla Welch alias Priscilla Gilliland and devisees of the estate of John Gilliland was lot #2.
Some sources state that John Gilliland was buried in Fort Wear, Jefferson County, Tennessee and Elizabeth was probably buried there with him. While the actual burial sites of John and Elizabeth Young Gilliland remain unknown, there is a cenotaph honoring them in the Cantrell Gilliand Memorial Garden. May this memorial serve as an expression of the gratitude we owe John Gilliland and Robert Young for risking their lives and braving the unknown to help build a new country: our America.
Family links:
Parents:
Robert Young (1718 - 1792)
Mary Douglass Young (1725 - 1829)
Spouse:
John Gilliland (1725 - 1798)
Children:
Mary Gilliland Wear (1779 - 1840)*
Siblings:
Robert Young (____ - 1804)*
Elizabeth Young Gilliland (1753 - 1795)
Thomas Young (1755 - 1794)*
|