GILBREATH, Elizabeth ¹

  Research Notes:

2010 Van Perryman hired reseacher Diane Berry to try to find the parents of William Perryman, while researching the Perryman's she found much information indicating that Elizabeth's maiden name was Gilbreath.
Van was able to find David Gilbreath that has much information on this family and David told him about seeing and copying Andrew's estate papers at the Wood County Courthouse. The Courthouse burned in the late 1870's, after 3 trips there and pleading my case, they finally found the file, it was all rolled up neatly in a box. Andrew died in 1870, but his 2nd wife's children wanting a share of the estate, hired an attorney and the estate was not settled until 1873. Apparently this attorney gave this file to the Wood County Clerk.
It was a joy to me to be able to view these hand written pay vouchers and have copies made of these papers, I was shocked at what I saw, individual receipts on various sizes of small paper with signatures of the children of Elizabeth Gilbreath and William Perryman, along with the other family members. I'm sure that some of the receipts were missing because the amounts didn't add up, some would have one pay voucher and others might have two or three. James Perryman signed one as guardian of Allie, Gabriel's daughter.


Documentation regarding the Gilbreath and Perryman families:


1. Adair County, KY Deeds 1802-1811 list a deed from John Gilbreath & Wife, Mary of Adair County to Aaron Richards(Elizabeth Gilbreath Perryman's grandfather) of Adair on waters of Big Clifty, a branch of Russell Creek. Bounds: Strapp's line; near Perryman's fence.etc..207 1/2 acres. This same land is listed as purchased from Lewis Powel 30 Nov 1809, and with same Bounds "Perryman's fence".
Another deed list Charles Thomas of Cumberland County, KY to William Perryman of Adair 204 3/4 acres, both are shown to be a part of a 1,000 acre survey and patented in the name of James Moody. Diane Berry, Researcher states that "Willliam Perryman born 1759 was the only Perryman living in Adair County during this time period. It seemed that John Gilbreath and William Perryman were neighbors and consequently their children would have known each other. John may have left Adair County after he sold his land (recall he lived in Maury County, Tennessee, in1820). However, his son, Andrew, newly married in 1811, remained behind (Andrew lived in Adair County in 1820). The possibility existed that William (b.1811) was born in Adair County and either went with or followed Andrew Gilbreath to Henderson County, Tennessee (Andrew lived in Henderson County in1830)."

2. Andrew Gilbreath and Mary Richards - Parents of Elizabeth Gilbreath married 26 Dec 1811 in Adair County, Kentucky and are still there as the 1820 census was taken.

3. By 1830 they were in Henderson County, Tennessee , and two years later in Tishomingo County, Mississippi and there at the time of the 1840 census.

4. William and Elizabeth Perryman's son James was born in Henderson County, Tennesse in 1836 corresponding with where Andrew & Mary Gilbreath were living. Likely William and Elizabeth were married about 1835 in Henderson County, TN based on the above information. This county's civil and land records were destroyed by fire in 1863 making it nearly impossible to locate a marriage record.

5. Andrew Gilbreath sold his land in Tishomingo County, MS in the mid 1840's, his son James purchased land in Tishomingo County from an Alexander Rhodes in the early 1840's. In 1842 William Perryman purchase land from the same Alexander Rhodes in Tippah county, These two counties share borders and Alcorn County was formed from parts of these two counties. Andrew and James's deeds was found Indexed in Alcorn County.

6. A Gift Deed from John Gilbreath on 2 Oct 1846 documents Andrew Gilbreath as his son.

7. By 1850 Andrew Gilbreath was living in Smith County, Texas as documented by Maury County, TN Deed Book G2 in a record regarding the estate of his father, John. Andrew, along with six siblings are referenced in these records.

8. A book entitled War of 1812 Soldiers of Maury County, Tennessee contains the following information relative to the Gilbreath family. "Page 72
James Gilbreath
Columbia Herald and Mail, 10 Sept. 1875: was in War of 1812. No service
established. Born 2 April 1792, died 26 Sept. 1845, buried Gilbreath-Coffee Cemetery.
Son of John Gilbreath, Sr., (1768-1850) and his wife Mary (1758-1843). Married
Elizabeth Baker.
Children of James Gilbreath:
1. Andrew J. Gilbreath, moved to Texas
2. William Gilbreath
3. John B. Gilbreath, brorn 2 Dec. 1823, died 3 Oct. 1855
4. James H. Gilbreath
5. Isaiah R. Gilbreath, born 1 Dec. 1828, died 21 Nov. 1864, m. Mary L. Coffey
6. Minerva E. Gilbreath, born 30 Nov. 1819, died 28 Sept. 1875, never married;
buried Gilbreath-Coffee Cemetery
7. Absolum M. Gilbreath, born about 1830, died 22 Nov. 1858; married Emily ____ Source: Information furnished by Mrs. J. R. Gilbreath, Columbia, Tenn."

9. Wood County, Texas Probate Records, Andrew Gilbreath, deceased. I personally looked through these records and had copies made of them, there are many receipts on many types of paper, and no doubt all are not there. The Wood County Courthouse burned after the death of Andrew, but apparently his estate papers were donated to the county when the Gilbreath's attorney retired. These signed receipts contain all of William and Elizabeth Gilbreath Perryman's children's signature except: Lucy Perryman Holt, Gabriel who died before 1873 (his only child, Allie is represented by guardian, James Perryman), Sarah C. and Minerva who likely died before 1873. Under Additional Inventory and Schedule of Claims Due & Owing to the Estate of Andrew Gilbreath, deceased list among others, Elizabeth Perriman _____Estate Open ___ $45.00

  Noted events in her life were:

• 5 Oct 1850 she appeared as Elizabeth Perryman-age-34 birthplace-Ky on the census in Smith County, Texas, USA. ² Dwelling 186, household 187

• 21 Jul 1860 she appeared as Elizabeth Perryman, wife age 46, p of b -Ky., on the census in Mt. Carmel, Smith County, Texas. ¹

• 1870 she appeared as Elizabeth Perryman, age 50, keeping house, born in Georgia on the census in Starrville Beat, Smith, Texas. ³ Elizabeth, age 50, keeping house, born in GA
also listed: Children: Sarah E. (28) b-Ga., Minerva (17), b- Ga

• 1870, Tax Rolls: Mrs. E. Perryman, Smith County, Texas, USA. Original Grantee is blank; Acres could be 1947, 194, 1941, but Value is $200; Horses-2--Value $60; Total Values-$260; State Tax: Ad Val-$.39 --Poll-$0--Total $.39

Elizabeth married William PERRYMAN, son of Possibly James PERRYMAN and Unknown, about 1835. (William PERRYMAN was born about 1811 in Kentucky and died between 14 Jun 1862 and 15 Oct 1870.)

  Marriage Notes:

In 1830, Andrew Gilbreath, father of Elizabeth Gilbreath, lived in Henderson County,Tennessee. By 1840, he lived in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. Knowing that William and Elizabeth's son, James, was born in Tennessee, it seemed likely that William and Elizabeth were married in Henderson County about 1835." A marriage record has never been located probably due to the fact that Henderson County's courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1863 during the Civil War and consequently, most civil and land records were destroyed. By 1840, William and Elizabeth lived in Tippah County, Mississippi, a county bordering Tishomingo. It seemed that William Perryman followed the Gilbreaths and not the Perrymans as he made his way west." research by Dianne 2010.