Hi everyone, I am wondering if there is anyone who has studied this family, particularly Benjamin Gillam, banker of Bristol who died after a short illness in 1789 and two others whom I suspect might have been his brothers; Joseph and Cornelius. The GILLAm name is recorded on the Bristol Burgess CD in the 1500s, I only wish this had been my direct ancestral line! I have listed a little of what I have collected below. There seem to be quite a few Benjamins about around this time and into early 1800s but who belongs to who? There are a lot of different sources on the web and one, the Poll at Election of a Knight in 1776 which has all three linked, with Benjamin & Joseph listed as Freeholders of a messuage and gardens with Cornelius listed as “in whole tenure” at same property! Would the fact they were baptising children in Bridge St Independant, and that Benjamin married Ann FRY iperhas indicate they were quakers? Also, if anyone has access to the parish registers I'm interested in this marriage , specifically finding out who Elizabeth's father was....Elizabeth Gillam 17.05.1787 Joseph Maurice St.Nicholas, Bristol. Any ideas much appreciated Amanda Kerby NZ JOSEPH GILLAM & SARAH WEBB Married: 10 Feb 1750 in Bedminster, Bristol Children baptized Bridge Street Independent or Congregational Church Bristol (batch C09915-1) 5 Mar 1752 Mary Gillam 15 Mar 1753 Henry Gillam 18 Oct 1754 Sarah Gillam 4 Mar 1757 ? Gillam 27 Sep 1759 Nancy Gillam 19 Nov 1761 Betsey Gillam 14 Jun 1764 George Gillam (died?) 20.09.1765 Gillam George Infant In Vault Bedminster St.John 19 Oct 1766 George Gillam 13 Nov 1768 Patty Gillam 12 Aug 1770 Benjamin Gillam BENJAMIN GILLAM & ANN FRY Married: 18 July 1756 St James Bristol Children baptized at Bridge Street independent or congregational church Bristol to (batch C09915-1) 3 Jun 1757 Thomas Gillam 4 July 1759 Elizabeth Gillam 20 Sep 1760 Nancy Gillam 10 Feb 1764 Phoebe Gillam (see below) 31 Oct 1765 Frances Gillam 12 Jan 1768 Martha Gillam 21 Sep 1777 Maria Gillam same church (need to verify this one – date wrong) THOMAS KIFT & PHOEBE GILLAM (dau of Benj above) Married: 19 December 1786 St Nicholas, Bristol. Children Born Baptised St James Bristol Phebe Gillam KIFT ?1790 14 Oct 1789 Arthur KIFT 14 Feb 1793 17 May 1793 Fanny KIFT 23 Feb 1794 6 Aug 1794 Benjamin Gillam KIFT 23 May-1796 12 Aug 1798 Thomas KIFT May 1798 12 August 1798 Mary Forster KIFT 18 April 1799 24 Aug 1799 Charlotte KIFT 20 Jan 1802 14 April 1802 (my ancestor) William KIFT 13 Jan 1802 16 Mar 1803 CORNELIUS GILLAM & ELIZABETH/ELIZA JARVIS Married: 1 Jan 1778 St James Bristol 28 Mar 1779 Sophia Jarvis Gillam (Bridge st Congreg Bristol) Cornelius in Bristol Trade Directories 1775 Sketchleys Bristol Directory – listed as Bookeeper financial brokering at 17 Dove Street, Bristol. 1785 Customs House Officer Jamaica Street, Bristol – Bristol Directory 1785 1787 Cheque Clerk Customs House, Bristol – Bristol & Bath Directory 1787 1792 Clerk at Customs house, Maudlin lane Bristol – The New Bristol Directory 1792. 1792 Cheque Clerk & receiver of Greenwich & Bristol hospitals address Customs House Queen Sq Bristol - The New Bristol Directory 1792 1793 Cheque Clerk & receiver of Greenwich & Bristol hospitals address Custom House Queen Sq Bristol – Mathews Directory. 1795 Clerk in Customs, Carolina Row, Bristol – Matthews Directory 1797 Cheque Clerk & receiver of Greenwich & Bristol hospitals address Custom House Queen Sq Bristol – Mathews Directory 1798 Clerk in customs, 11 Somerset St, Bristol – Matthews 1799 Cheque Clerk & receiver of Greenwich & Bristol hospitals address Custom House Queen Sq Bristol – The Complete Bristol Directory 1799

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > I am wondering if there is anyone who has studied this family, > particularly Benjamin Gillam, banker of Bristol who died after a short > illness in 1789 and two others whom I suspect might have been his > brothers; Joseph and Cornelius. Hi Amanda, In 'A History of Banking in Bristol' (1899), Charles Henry Cave noted that Benjamin GILLAM was a partner in The Old Bank from 1764 to 1789, but he had been unable to ascertain very little about him. The author stated that in Sketchley's Directory for 1775, Benjamin was described as living at No. 11, Small Street. I've checked in my copy of this 1775 directory, but no forename is given against the GILLAM who was living at this address. The author also noted that the 'Bristol Journal' of 6th. June 1789 referred to the banker's death: 'Died Sunday last, after a very short illness, Benjamin Gillam, Esqre. Banker of this city.' Josephine

Hi Josephine, Thanks for all the useful refs. I can see a few emails on the Gillams in my inbox, you have been busy! My friend Victoria, also here in Christchurch NZ, has a copy of ‘A History of banking in Bristol’ book and sent me a scanned copy of the page with the refs on it last night. I had wondered at the address in Small Street, as it is also noted “Printed by Sketchley...27 Small Street” – I think it may be Sketchley at Small St not the Gillam? Ancestry has a ref to the 1775 Sketchley entry for Benj Gillam, which notes his address as 19 Dove Street, Bristol. Regards Amanda From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2012 4:02 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [B&S] GILLAM Benjamin, partner Old Bank, 1764-1789, Bristol ( GILLAM family of Bristol) On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > I am wondering if there is anyone who has studied this family, > particularly Benjamin Gillam, banker of Bristol who died after a short > illness in 1789 and two others whom I suspect might have been his > brothers; Joseph and Cornelius. Hi Amanda, In 'A History of Banking in Bristol' (1899), Charles Henry Cave noted that Benjamin GILLAM was a partner in The Old Bank from 1764 to 1789, but he had been unable to ascertain very little about him. The author stated that in Sketchley's Directory for 1775, Benjamin was described as living at No. 11, Small Street. I've checked in my copy of this 1775 directory, but no forename is given against the GILLAM who was living at this address. The author also noted that the 'Bristol Journal' of 6th. June 1789 referred to the banker's death: 'Died Sunday last, after a very short illness, Benjamin Gillam, Esqre. Banker of this city.' Josephine ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 23:18:55 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > I had wondered at the address in Small Street, as it is also noted > “Printed by Sketchley...27 Small Street” – I think it may be Sketchley > at Small St not the Gillam? Hi Amanda, Thanks for your response. James SKETCHLEY, Broker and Auctioneer, was at 27 Small Street, Bristol in 1775. There are four people called GILLAM listed in Sketchley's Bristol Directory of 1775. The one at 11 Small Street doesn't have a forename. > Ancestry has a ref to the 1775 Sketchley entry for Benj Gillam, which > notes his address as 19 Dove Street, Bristol. The GILLAM at 19 Dove Street was Cornelius GILLAM, book keeper. I mentioned the Jos. GILLAM who was a tide waiter at 5 Bloomsbury Court, but there was also a Joseph GILLAM, carpenter and earthenware shop, at 1 on the Key. Josephine

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > JOSEPH GILLAM & SARAH WEBB > > Married: 10 Feb 1750 in Bedminster, Bristol > > Children baptized Bridge Street Independent or Congregational Church > Bristol (batch C09915-1) > 4 Mar 1757 ? Gillam Hi Amanda, The CD of The Nonconformist Baptismal Registers in Bristol Record Office 1754 to 1837, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society, gives the first name as Susanna and the surname as GILLAM (GILLAUM) for this baptism on 4th. March 1757 at Bridge Street Congregational. Josephine

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > CORNELIUS GILLAM & ELIZABETH/ELIZA JARVIS > Married: 1 Jan 1778 St James Bristol > 28 Mar 1779 Sophia Jarvis Gillam (Bridge st Congreg Bristol) Hi Amanda, Cornelius and Elizabeth GILLAM had another daughter. Louise Sarah GILLAM, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth, was born on 28th. April 1787 and baptized on on 27th. May 1787 at Bridge Street Congregational, Bristol. The abode was the The Out Parish of St. James. This baptism is included in the CD of The Nonconformist Baptismal Registers in Bristol Record Office 1754 to 1837, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk Josephine

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > Also, if anyone has access to the parish registers I'm interested in > this marriage , specifically finding out who Elizabeth's father > was....Elizabeth Gillam 17.05.1787 Joseph Maurice St.Nicholas, Bristol. > Any ideas much appreciated Hi Amanda, In those days fathers weren't named on marriage records, but I thought of another way to find who Elizabeth GILLAM's father was. I looked in the CD of Bristol Burgess Books Vols, 1 to 21 Index & Transcripts 1557-1995, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk Joseph MAURICE, apothecary, was made a Bristol Burgess on 19th. September 1787. His qualification was because he had married Elizabeth, the daughter of Benjamin GILLAM, Gentleman. Two days before, on 17th. September 1787, Thomas KIFT, merchant, had been made a Bristol Burgess. His qualification was because he had married Phebe, the daughter of Benjamin GILLAM, Gentleman. Josephine

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > BENJAMIN GILLAM & ANN FRY > Married: 18 July 1756 St James Bristol > THOMAS KIFT & PHOEBE GILLAM (dau of Benj above) > Married: 19 December 1786 St Nicholas, Bristol. Hi Amanda, You may already have the following information, but nothing ventured, nothing gained :-) There is a reference to George KIFT, apprentice, and his master, Thomas KIFT, merchant, in the Apprentice Index in the new CD, Bristol Apprenticeship Books Vols 1(o) to 1(z) Index & Transcripts 1724-2009, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk 18th. June 1788. George KIFT, father Thomas KIFT, merchant of Cork, IRL, master Thomas KIFT, merchant, whose wife was Phoebe. Josephine

This one has thrown me Josephine. I did have this ref but didn’t know quite what to make of it because a) I don’t have a baptism for a George born to Thomas KIFT, and b) the other children I have baptisms for Thomas Kift and Phoebe’s were between 1790 – 1802. So for him to apprentice his son George in 1788 he would have been a new born baby! Unless his son George was by an earlier marriage? I wonder if you would mind checking on the non-conformist registers for baptism to see if there are other children such as George bapt to Thomas and Phoebe KIFT. I thought I had that CD, but can’t find it! To add to the confusion there’s this entry too from the Burgess CD: 2 July 1795 Thomas KIFT junior, Merchant, was patron to George KIFT, Merchant, by Apprenticeship. Special note is the word “junior”. MMM stuck! Cheers Amanda From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2012 6:50 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [B&S] KIFT George, apprentice, master, Thomas, merchant, Bristol, 1788 (was GILLAM family of Bristol) On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > BENJAMIN GILLAM & ANN FRY > Married: 18 July 1756 St James Bristol > THOMAS KIFT & PHOEBE GILLAM (dau of Benj above) > Married: 19 December 1786 St Nicholas, Bristol. Hi Amanda, You may already have the following information, but nothing ventured, nothing gained :-) There is a reference to George KIFT, apprentice, and his master, Thomas KIFT, merchant, in the Apprentice Index in the new CD, Bristol Apprenticeship Books Vols 1(o) to 1(z) Index & Transcripts 1724-2009, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk 18th. June 1788. George KIFT, father Thomas KIFT, merchant of Cork, IRL, master Thomas KIFT, merchant, whose wife was Phoebe. Josephine ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > There seem to be quite a few Benjamins about around this time and into > early 1800s but who belongs to who? Hi Amanda, There's a reference to a Benjamin GILLAM in the Apprentice Index in the new CD, Bristol Apprenticeship Books Vols 1(o) to 1(z) Index & Transcripts 1724-2009, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk 8th. February 1787. Benjamin GILLAM, father Joseph, deceased, upholder of Bristol, master Richard HORSLEY, cabinet maker. Sketchley's Bristol Directory of 1775 gives the address of Richard HORSLEY, cabinet-maker &c. as 69 Lewin's-mead. Josephine

Thanks for this one, I didn’t have it, must have started checking the new Apprentice CD for KIFTs and forgot to go back and do GILLAMs. Sometimes you get onto a good thread or run of records that there is so much information found so quickly that it lands in a big pile on my desk and doesnt get filed away properly! This GILLAM family have been particularly prolific. In the Documents Online wills there is a 13 page one for Benjamin GILLAM banker of Bristol and another for Cornelius GILLAM , but none for their father Joseph. Once the wills arrive this week, they will hopefully throw more light on some of the rest of the family members! I guess the number of children in the records named Benjamin GILLAM only reflects the standing he had in their Society. They certainly revered their heroes by naming children after them. Regards Amanda From: Josephine Jeremiah Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2012 7:04 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [B&S] GILLAM Benjamin, apprentice to Richard HORSLEY, Bristol, 1787 (GILLAM family of Bristol) On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:17:40 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > There seem to be quite a few Benjamins about around this time and into > early 1800s but who belongs to who? Hi Amanda, There's a reference to a Benjamin GILLAM in the Apprentice Index in the new CD, Bristol Apprenticeship Books Vols 1(o) to 1(z) Index & Transcripts 1724-2009, produced by Bristol & Avon Family History Society. www.bafhs.org.uk 8th. February 1787. Benjamin GILLAM, father Joseph, deceased, upholder of Bristol, master Richard HORSLEY, cabinet maker. Sketchley's Bristol Directory of 1775 gives the address of Richard HORSLEY, cabinet-maker &c. as 69 Lewin's-mead. Josephine ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

On Fri, 28 Sep 2012 23:59:30 +0100, Amanda Kerby <[email protected]> wrote: > In the Documents Online wills there is a 13 page one for Benjamin GILLAM > banker of Bristol and another for Cornelius GILLAM , but none for their > father Joseph. Once the wills arrive this week, they will hopefully > throw more light on some of the rest of the family members! Hi Amanda, There are references to two wills for men called Joseph GILLAM in 'A Calendar of Wills proved in the Consistory Court (City and Deanery of Bristol Division) of the Bishop of Bristol 1572-1792', which was edited by Edward Alexander Fry and published in 1897. One reference is for 1731 and the other is for 1791. Josephine