ELAM Family

Alexander ELAM

Alexander Elam, son of Joel Elam of Mecklenburg County, is believed to have been born in Lunenburg County (later Mecklenburg County) VA in 1762.

He married Janey Norment March 17, 1785. The marriage bond, dated March 14, 1785, lists Thomas Norment as Surety. (Page 43, "Marriage Records 1765-1810 Mecklenburg County Virginia," Collected and Compiled by Katherine B. Elliott, South Hill, VA, privately printed, 1963) Janey Norment, believed to have been born in 1764, was the daughter of William and Mary Norment. (Will of Mary Norment, Mecklenburg County Will Book 9, Page 448) The following are believed to be the names and possible birth dates of the children of Alexander and Janey Norment Elam: Mary Richardson, ca. 1786; William B., ca. 1788; Elizabeth, ca. 1789; Chandler Norment, ca. 1790; Charlotte, ca. 1794; Joel E., ca. 1795; Abner, ca. 1796; Alexander, Jr, ca. 1797; and Thomas, ca. 1798.

Alexander Elam died before April 10, 1800, the date his estate appraisal was returned, listing Jane Elam, Executor. (Mecklenburg County Will Book 4, Page 180) The estate was sold by William Baskerville, Sheriff, on November 12, 1813. Purchasers included Joel Elam, James Barnes, Thomas Norment and William Richards.(Mecklenburg County Will Book 8, Page 63). The final accounting, Jane Elam, Administrator, was completed November 18, 1813 and filed October 17, 1814. (Mecklenburg County Will Book 8, Page 82).

It is not known why Alexander Elam, married in 1785, deeded his estate to his brother, Edward in 1789. In the "Virginia Genealogist," Volume 20, page 206, Alexander Elam's name appears on a "List of Insolvents, 1788, Mecklenburg County," which list states that his property consists of "one negro, Charlotte County."

Deed Book 6, Page 49, Charlotte County, Virginia

Alexander ELAM to Edward ELAM

"Know all men by these presents that I. Alexander Elam of the County of Mecklenburg for divers good Causes and Considerations me thereunto moving, but more Especially for the love and affection which I have & do bare toward my Brother Edward Elam of the County of Charlotte, hath given, and granted and by these presents doth give, grant and Confirm to him the said Edward Elam and to his heirs and assigns forever, all my Estate whereof I am now posses'd Consisting of the following Articles To wit, one Negroe Man cald and known by the name of Bob, also one Feather Bed & Furniture, one Brass kettle, one Iron pot rack, and Sundry ____, one Iron pot, one brass Skimmer, also Sundry other small & _____ Articles not necessary here to Innumerate, all which said Goods and Chattels as above describ'd I give & confirm to him the said Edward Elam and to his heirs & assigns for ever, and the same I do hereby Warrant and forever defend against the Claim and Demand of all and every person & persons Whatsoever. In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this 28th day of February 1789.
Alexander ( x his mark) Elam S.S.

Witness Mack Goode, Ja. Watkins, Martin Elam, Brackett Barnes, John Elam

At a Court held for Charlotte County the 6th day of April 1789 This Deed of Gift was proved in Court by the Oath of Mack Goode, James Watkins and John Elam, to be the act and Deed of the said Alexander Elam and Ordered to be Recorded.
Teste Thomas Read, CC
Truly Recorded Thomas Read, CC"
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Following document is filed in the Revolutionary War Land Bounty Records of the Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond, VA

To His Excellency the Governor of Virginia -

The memorial of William Elam of Fayette County and State of Illinois one of the heirs at law of Alexander Elam deceased respectfully represents That Alexander Elam the ancestor of your memorialist was a soldier of the Revolution and served as such in the manner and during the time stated in the annexed affidavit of Edward Elam the brother of the deceased and uncle of your memorialist. Your memorialist is unable to enter into detail as to the service of said Alexander Elam as the said Alexander died when your memorialist was quite young. Your memorialist will recollect to have heard said Alexander (your memorialists father) speak of his service in the Revolutionary War at various times and recount various scenes connected with said service but on account of your memorialists tender age at the time he cannot state the particulars as recounted to him by his said father.

And your memorialist would further represent unto your Excellency that he has no documentary evidence by which he can establish the service of his said father, the time he entered the service, the length of time he served or the mode and manner of his discharge & that no such documentary is now in existence within the knowledge of your memorialist. your memorialist would therefore in consideration of the premises pray your Excellency to grant to him such relief as by the laws of Virginia is awarded in like cases and your memorialist as in duty bound &c.

Wm. Elam

State of Illinois, Fayette County [?Sct]

William Elam of the County and State aforesaid being duly sworn says that the facts set forth in the foregoing memorial and annexed affidavit are true according to this deponents best knowledge and belief.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court of said County this 22nd day of April A.D. 1837.

Jas. W. Berry, Clk.

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There is also an Anderson Elam Rev. War Land Bounty Claim (we do not have a transcription available).

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Reference "Virginia Soldiers of 1776, Compiled from Documents on File in the Virginia Land Office, Together with Material found in the Archives Department of the Virginia State Library, and other Reliable Sources," Compiled and Edited by Louis A. Burgess, Volume I, Richmond Press, Inc., Richmond, Va. 1927. Reprinted1973 The Reprint Company, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Page 182

Alexander Elam, Private.

Exec. Dept. Apl. 14, 1838. The heirs of Alex Elam are allowed L. B. for his services as a private in the State Line for three years. David Campbell, Gov.

Warrant 8723 for 100 acres issued to William Elam, Mary Richardson Grigg, Elizabeth, Joel, and Alexander Elam, Jr. and Thomas Elam, heirs at law of Alexander Elam, dec'd. Recorded Book 3, p. 474, Va. L. Off.

At a county Commissioner's court held for the Town of Vandalia, Fayette Co. 3 June, 1839, satisfactory proof was evinced that William Elam, Mary Richardson Elam (now Grigg), Eizabeth Elam, Joel, Alexander, Jr., and Thomas Elam are the legal heirs of Alexander Elam, dec'd.; that the said Alex. Elam died sometime within the year 1799, in Mecklenburg Co., Va. and was a Rev. soldier. Certified by James Berry, Clerk of court, Vandalia.

Mecklenburg Co. Va. Certified that there is no record of will of Alex Elam in this office. Teste, Richard Baptist, Clerk. The above mentioned heirs, residents of Bond and Fayette Counties, Ill. appointed Robert Nicholas of Richmond, Va. their Attorney. June 1st, 1839.

Exec. Dept. Apl. 14, 1838. The heirs of Alexander Elam are allowed L.B. for his services as a Soldier in the State line. David Campbell, Gov.

Warrant 8723 for 100 acres issued 13 Sept., 1839. Recorded Book 3, page 473.

Contributed 1998 Apr by Annette E. Wetzel

Notes from Kent Elam

I descend from John Elam (1806 - 1874) of Mecklenburg co. VA, later of Iredell co. NC. John had an older brother Daniel of Mecklenburg co. In Daniel's will (1863), the following slaves are mentioned:

Horrace
Armistead
Sonder or (Souder)
Peggy and her child Richard
Sam
Fanny and her two children Giles and Emily

The above slaves were left to his wife Elizabeth. In his estate inventory, the following slaves are mentioned. (I believe that the similiar names from this list and the above list are the same individuals)

1 boy William
1 boy Henry or Harry
1 man Horace
1 man Armistead
1 man Sonder or (Souder)
1 man Sam
1 boy Giles
1 boy Jimmy
1 girl Emily
1 girl Fanny
1 woman Harriet and 4 children
1 woman Matilda and 3 children
1 woman Catherine and 1 child
1 woman Peggy
1 boy Richard

John Elam had another brother, Andrew G. Elam, also of Mecklenburg co. In his estate inventory (1843) the following slaves are mentioned:

Fanny and her child George

Andrew's son Thomas R. Elam was killed in the Civil War (1862). In his estate inventory, his wife Harriet received the following slaves:

1 man George 1 boy Silas 1 woman Fanny

I believe Fanny and George to be from his father Andrew's estate.

If I go back farther. John's father, Peter Elam (1790's), of Mecklenburg county had at least two slaves by the names of Claiborne and Gilbert.

Peter's father Joel Elam (1790's) had Jeremiah or Jerry and later he had Abraham, Boldy, Thurmond(?), Lucy, Lott.

Peter's brother Alexander Elam (1790's) had Jane, Jenny, Grace, Bob, Jerry, Jim, John, Will.

Peter's other brother James Elam (1790's) had Stepney, Jack, Amos, Judy, Aggy, Hannah, Jude, Phebe, Nan, Philip, Pat, Gilbert, China, Liberty.

It does not seem to me that all of these individuals were owned at the same time. These names were gleaned by me from the personal property tax lists from Mecklenburg co. that covered many tax years.

In Mecklenburg county from 1797 to 1799 was a Barkley Elam (he later moved to Halifax co.). He had the following slaves, Harry, Crit, Amy and Mick.

There was an older John Elam whom I believe to be from Charlotte co. who lived in Mecklenburg co. from about 1801 to around 1830 (when he moved back to Charlotte co.). It is possible that he may be a cousin to the above Elams in my line. He owned the following slaves, Jack, Candice, Mary, Moriah, Jenny, Bob.

I hope this helps someone.

Contributed 2000 Sep 18 by Kent Elam

Elam's Mill

Ref Meck DB 37:473
Dat 18 Mar 1868
Rec 12 Dec 1868

William Elam heirs (Martha A. Osborne, John S. West, Mary M. West, James H. Gregory, Lucinda? Gregory, J.S. Gregory, Mary E. Gregory, D. G. Gregory, Signed in Maury Co., TN Court)

To John B. Burns & William T. Roberts, interest in mill site & mill situated on Mill Creek, Mecklenburg Co.

2 1/4 acres
On Mill Creek adjoining William T. Roberts,

Said mill & site was allotted in the partition or division of the sale of William Elam dec'd to children heirs & legatees Edna Gregory dec'd the said Edna Gregory heirs altogether entitled to the one third of the real estate of Wm Elam's dec'd & her children being five in number who survived her as heirs & each entitled to 1/5 of said 1/3 of real estate of said William Elam deceased.

Note: Edna (Elam) Gregory (the late widow of Thomas Gregory deceased) was daughter of Solomon H. Elam of Charlotte Co., VA.

Contributed 2003 Aug 14 by Jo Lee Spears