I have been trying to sort out the Spillers of Southern Illinois in 2005. My gg-grandmother was a Spiller. A number of researchers over the years have worked on this family and developed lists of family members. I have spent hours tracing families through census, marriage and death records. Now I would like to put this out in cyberspace. I am going to start with the Benjamin Spiller family since this is my line. And will follow with the other brothers—and maybe some of the grandchildren. The Spiller family in Southern Illinois started early and is quite extensive—not only those carrying the name, but the many families that married Spiller women. The first Spiller migrating to Illinois was Elijah who was in Illinois when the 1818 census was taken for statehood. (So much for the story of the wagon train with all 4 families coming from Tennessee.) There was 1 male over 21 years, and 7 other white persons with no persons of color or slaves. He was also present in Franklin Co., Illinois for the 1820 census, with 3 males under 10 yrs., and 1 male over 26 and under 45 yrs. Also, were 2 females under 10 yrs, 1 female between 10 and 16 yrs, and 1 female between 26 and 45 yrs. Elijah had been joined by his brother, William (with 13 children in the household) and sisters Nancy (married to Abraham Tippy) and Lydia (married to John Duncan). Brothers Benjamin and Warrenton King (III) remained in Robertson Co., Tennessee. By 1830, all four Spiller brothers were living in Southern Illinois. Family of Benjamin Spiller BENJAMIN SPILLER (WARRENTON KING (II)3, WARRENTON KING (I)2, WILLIAM(1)1) was born Abt. 1780, and died Bef. 24 Sep 1838 in Williamson County, IL. He married ELIZABETH BENSON, daughter of WILLIAM BENSON and NANCY THOMPSON. She was born Abt. 1785, and died 1848. The following is a transcription of the record where Jesse Spiller requested to be administrator of the estate of Benjamin Spiller: This record was found in the books of Franklin Co., IL which was the parent county of Williamson County. "And now on this 24th day of Sept AD 1838 Jessee Spiller came into court and made application for letters of Administration of the estate of Benjamin Spiller decd who who introduced the widows certificate renouncing her right given her by law and in his Certficate wishing her son Jessee Spiller to take upon himself the responsibility. Where upon the court granted letters of Administration to said Jessee Spiller who there upon came into Court and entered into and acknowledged Bond in the ????? sum of $800 with John W. Bandy his security ???? as the law directs and thereupon letters of Administration Issued in ????and figures as follows ???. " Benjamin Spiller and William Spiller buy land in Robertson Co., TN in 1799. It is recorded in Book B, pages 128-129. There are numerous other notes of Spillers in Robertson Co. The notes also say the Spillers lived on Sulphur Fork of the Red River. There exists a case in the Williamson County Court records where Lucinda Worsham, widow of Simeon Spiller sues Rebecca Spiller (widow of Warrenton B. Spiller) and the other heirs of Benjamin Spiller for partition of a piece of land from Benjamin’s estate. In that suit, it states that Benjamin had 12 children. Eleven of the children are named in that suit and the husbands of the daughters are named. A transcription of this case was found in the files of my mother after her death. There was no acknowledgement as to the person or source of that transcription. In August, 1997, I found the original documents of this case in the County Clerk's office and verified the transcription. If anyone wants a copy of this transcription, I will provide it. The 12th child who is not named in the case is my gg-grandmother, Olive Spiller who was the first wife of A.J. Herrin. Children of BENJAMIN SPILLER and ELIZABETH BENSON are: 1. OLIVE SPILLER, b. 10 Aug 1822; d. 15 Nov 1845, Herrin, Williamson Cty, IL. 2. WARRENTON B. SPILLER, b. 1810, Tennessee; d. 23 Mar 1854, Williamson County, IL. 3. JOHN SPILLER, d. Bef. Aug 1836. 4. JESSIE SPILLER, b. 1805, Tennessee; d. 17 Apr 1868, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. 5. ANNA SPILLER, b. Abt. 1802, Tennessee; d. Lynn County, Kansas; 6. SARAH OR SUSAN SPILLER, b. Abt. 1822, Tennessee; d. Bef. Feb 1858. 7. NANCY SPILLER, b. Abt. 1814, Tennessee; d. Aft. 1880. 8. LOUISA SPILLER. 9. ELIZABETH SPILLER, b. 1811; d. 1885. 10. MARY SPILLER, m. JOHN W. BANDY; b. 26 Oct 1810. 11. MARTHA SPILLER, m. JESSE POWELL, 20 Jun 1839, Franklin Co., IL. 12. SIMEON SPILLER, d. Bef. Sep 1839. Generation No. 2 1. OLIVE SPILLER was born 10 Aug 1822, and died 15 Nov 1845 in Herrin, Williamson Cty, IL. She married ALFRED JACKSON HERRIN 20 Jun 1837 in Franklin Co., IL (Williamson had not been formed), son of DAVID HERRIN and SARAH HERRING. He was born 18 Feb 1817 in Hopkins Cty, KY, and died 06 Jul 1901 in 721 N. 13th St., Herrin, Wiliiamson Co., IL. Olive Spiller Herrin is buried in the Stotlar-Herrin Cemetery, South 12th Street, Herrin, Williamson Co., IL. Olive is not named in the Spiller court case of 1856. Her information is based on the Stotlar Herrin Cemetery records and family history. Children of OLIVE SPILLER and ALFRED HERRIN are: i. OLIVE HERRIN, was born 24 Aug 1843 in Herrin’s Prairie (Herrin), Williamson Co., IL, and died 07 Jul 1874 in Carterville, Williamson Co., IL. She married GEORGE MONROE MCNEILL 06 Sep 1866 in Williamson County, IL, son of JOHN MCNEILL and WEALTHY WALKER. ii. ARTEMISA HERRIN, b. 15 Feb 1840; d. 03 Oct 1900, Williamson County, IL, buried Hurricane Cemetery.; m. WILSON CARROLL WALKER, 02 Aug 1865; b. 27 Oct 1822, Robertson Co., TN; d. 02 Jul 1898, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. iii. EPHRIAM HERRIN was born 18 Oct 1843, and died 05 Jan 1918. He married FATIMA BROWN 06 May 1869. She was born 1848, and died 07 Jan 1939 iv. ANNA HERRIN was born 29 Aug 1841, and died 24 Apr 1901 in Buried Stotlar Herrin Cemetery, Herrin, IL. She married GEORGE W ROBERTS 28 Mar 1861, son of Ephraim Roberts Jr. and MARY WILLIAMS. He was born 20 Mar 1838, and died 03 May 1915 in at home of Ida Roberts Fults. 2. WARRENTON B. SPILLER was born 1810 in Tennessee, and died 23 Mar 1854 in Williamson County, IL. He married REBECCA HAYES. She was born 1812 in North Carolina, and died 12 Nov 1865 in Williamson County, IL. Warrenton B. and Rebecca Hays Spiller are buried in the Spiller Cemetery, West Marion Township, Williamson Co., IL. Proof that Warrenton B is a child of Benjamin is from Court case of 1856. Children of WARRENTON SPILLER and REBECCA HAYES are: i. MARY ELLEN SPILLER was born 06 Mar 1834 in Tennessee and died 04 Apr 1881 Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. She married JAMES BENJAMIN WALKER 1850, son of MATTHEW WALKER and HESTER MOORE. He was born 10 Aug 1834, and died 29 Aug 1899 in Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL ii. MALISSA SPILLER, b. 1837; d. 1880, Elizabeth Stover (sister) home. iii. GEORGE W. SPILLER, b. 27 Dec 1841; d. 24 Nov 1861, Buried Spiller Cemetery, West Marion Twn, Williamson Co., IL. This George W. Spiller cannot be accounted for in the 1870 or 1880 census. However, he is probably the George W Spiller that married Emeline Avery on Apr 26 1873 since all of the other George Spillers in Southern Illinois were not married in either 1870 or 1880 or the George Spiller in Union County was born in 1833 in New York. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. See Benjamin Spiller's notes for transcription of case. iv. ELIZABETH E. SPILLER was born 21 Mar 1846, and died 04 Apr 1881, buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. She married GEORGE W. STOVER 27 Oct Williamson Co., IL, son of ELI STOVER and MELINDA LIPSEY. He was born 1847, and died 1889 in Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. v. JOHN B. SPILLER, b. 1848. Notes for JOHN B. SPILLER: Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. See Benjamin Spiller's notes for transcription of case. From Footprints in Williamson County, Illinois, Vol. 2, #1, p 11. Article is an inventory of Rebecca Hayes Spiller's property after the death of her husband. The article also gives her death date of 12 Nov. 1865 and names the surviving children: Mary E., Malissa J., Elizabeth and Walter A. "On March 16, 1858, Jesse Spiller was appointed guardian of Elizabeth Spiller aged 12 years 20th inst., Walter A. Spiller, aged 9 years Aug 7, 1857 and George W Spiller aged 16 years Dec 26, 2857, minor heirs of Warrenton B. Spiller, deceased." Where is John? vi. WALTER SPILLER, b. Abt. 1852, Illinois. Notes for WALTER SPILLER: Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. In the 1880 census of McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., IL, Walter is living with his sister, Malissa. His occupation is mail service. 3. JOHN SPILLER died Bef. Aug 1836. He married NANCY BANDY Bef. 1825, daughter of PERRIN BANDY and POLLY RICE. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. After John's death, Nancy married Jesse Cox, then Unknown Sanders. Marriage record of Jesse Cox in Illinois Marriage Index online. Court case in 1839 in Franklin Co., IL where Nancy Cox requests guardianship of 5 Spiller children by name. In 1850 census, those children are found in the home of Nancy Sanders with Mary Cox (age 13) and Andrew Sanders. In the 1860 census of Twn 8, Range 2E of Williamson Co., IL, Nancy Sanders and A.J. Sanders are living in the home of Benjamin and Elizabeth Spiller. Children of JOHN SPILLER and NANCY BANDY are: i. MARINDA JANE SPILLER, b. 27 Apr 1825. ii. SUSANNAH S. SPILLER, b. 04 Jan 1827. iii. DYALPHA ADELINE SPILLER, b. 15 Aug 1829, Illinois. was born 15 Aug 1829 in Illinois. She married WILEY B. PERRY (Marriage record is Will B. Perry) 13 Jan 1846 in Williamson Co., IL. He was born Abt. 1828 in Tennessee. iv. BENJAMIN F SPILLER was born 15 Jan 1832 in Williamson County, IL, and died 07 Jan 1901 in Williamson County, IL. He married ELIZABETH TROUT 18 Feb 1854 in Williamson Co., IL. She was born Jun 1832 in Tennessee. v. PERRIAN B SPILLER was born 08 Jan 1834, and died Abt. 1863 in Died in Civil War. He married NANCY CATHERINE OSTEEN 06 Apr 1854 in Williamson Co., IL, daughter of WILLIAM OSTEEN. 4. JESSIE SPILLER was born 1805 in Tennessee, and died 17 Apr 1868 in Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. He married (1) JANE BANDY3, daughter of PERRIN BANDY and POLLY RICE. She was born 12 Apr 1807 in Tennessee, and died 01 Feb 1845. He married (2) KEZIAH STOCKTON 02 Sep 1845 in Williamson Co., IL, daughter of ROBERT STOCKTON and PHOEBE WHITESIDES. She was born 1819 in Illinois, and died 1866 in Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL.Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. Jesse was given administration of his father's estate per court order in Franklin Co., IL in 1838. Children of JESSIE SPILLER and JANE BANDY are: i. SIMEON S SPILLER, b. 05 Apr 1832; d. 29 Dec 1894, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL. ii. MASSEY E SPILLER, b. Abt. 1835. iii. MARY J SPILLER, b. Abt. 1836. iv. PERRIEN BENJAMIN SPILLER, b. Abt. 1842; d. Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, IL. v. LETHA A. SPILLER, b. Abt. 1827. Children of JESSIE SPILLER and KEZIAH STOCKTON are: vi. STEPHEN SPILLER, b. 1848, Illinois; d. 1901, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL; m. ALJO ADAMS, 10 Sep 1882, Williamson Co., IL; b. 1862, Kentucky; d. 1938, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL. In the 1870 Census, Stephen is found as a farm laborer in Richland Township of Desha Co., Arkansas, post office was Cypress Creek. vii. ISAAC NEWTON SPILLER, b. 21 Jan 1858; d. 27 Jul 1941, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL. viii. JOHN T. S. SPILLER, b. Abt. 1846; m. (1) ELIZA J. JAMES, 02 Jan 1876, Williamson Co., IL; b. 03 Aug 1855, Illinois; d. 08 Aug 1876, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL; m. (2) MELISSA A. SOUTHERLAND, 10 Apr 1884, Williamson Co., IL; b. 14 Oct 1856; d. 20 Mar 1885, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL; m. (3) MARY JANE WALKER, 06 May 1888, Williamson Co., IL; m. (4) ELIZA T. BURNETT, 29 Mar 1899, Williamson Co., IL. ix. SAMUEL WARREN SPILLER, b. 12 Nov 1853, Illinois; d. 06 Oct 1930, Buried Hurricane Cemetery, Carterville, Williamson Co., IL. x. THOMAS J SPILLER, b. Abt. 1857. xi. GEORGE W. SPILLER, b. Dec 1861, Illinois. 5. ANNA SPILLER, b. Abt. 1802, Tennessee; d. Lynn County, Kansas; m. WILLIAM S. TURNER; b. Abt.1802, North Carolina. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. Found in the 1850 census of Williamson Co., IL as William T. Turner. Living in home is Olive Powel, age 4. 6. SARAH OR SUSAN SPILLER was born Abt. 1822 in Tennessee, and died Bef. Feb 1858. She married FREDERICK F. DUNCAN 23 Aug 1839 in Franklin Co., IL, son of HENRY DUNCAN and MARY DUNCAN. He was born Abt. 1813 in Kentucky. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. This case gives her name as "Sarah". Marriage record gives name as Susan. 1850 census of Illinois gives name as Susanah. Susan apparently died before Feb. 1858 because Frederick married Mrs. Elvira Reed on Feb. 28, 1858. They are found in the 1860 census of Franklin Co., IL. Names of children taken from Henry's (father of Frederick Duncan) probate. Children of SARAH SPILLER and FREDERICK DUNCAN are: i. SIDNEY B. DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1840, Illinois; m. NANCY ANN WILLIS, 10 Jan 1862, Franklin Co., IL. ii. FRANKY DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1843, Illinois; m. J. B. KENDALL, 05 Jun 1862, Franklin Co., IL. iii. DUDLEY DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1845, Illinois. iv. ELIJAH S DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1848, Illinois. v. SARAH DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1850, Illinois. vi. LUCINDA DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1853, Illinois. vii. WILLIAM F. DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1855, Illinois. 7. NANCY SPILLER was born Abt. 1814 in Tennessee, and died Aft. 1880. She married ALLEN BAINBRIDGE. He was born Abt. 1808 in Tennessee, and died Bef. 1880. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. Found in Jonesboro, Union Co., IL census of 1850. They could not be located in the 1860 census. In 1870, the family was in Valle, Jefferson Co., Missouri. Nancy was living in Valle, MO in 1880 with sons William and Thomas A age 20. Children of NANCY SPILLER and ALLEN BAINBRIDGE are: i. AMANDA BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1836, Illinois. ii. PRIESTLY BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1842, Illinois. Priestly was found in the 1870 census in Moreland, Scott Co., MO with his wife, Susan, age 27, born MO, and children, Tercie Ann, age 3, and Milo H., age 1, all born in MO. iii. MARY BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1844, Illinois. iv. CHARLES BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1849, Illinois. v. WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1855, Illinois. vi. IDA BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1857, Illinois. vii. ARTHUR BAINBRIDGE, b. Abt. 1860, Illinois. 8. LOUISA SPILLER She married ISAAC D. STOCKTON b. 24 Dec 1840 in Williamson Co., IL, son of ROBERT STOCKTON and PHOEBE WHITESIDES. He was born Abt. 1818 in Kentucky. Note by Jane M. (Mrs. Jo V) Walker says the Stockton had 19 children and all went to California. 16 children reached maturity. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. Marriage record from Williamson County Marriage Project online. I Children of LOUISA SPILLER and ISAAC STOCKTON are: i. GEORGE WASHINGTON STOCKTON. ii. ANDREW JACKSON STOCKTON. iii. LOUISA MARION STOCKTON. iv. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STOCKTON. v. REBECCA STOCKTON. vi. GABRIAL SUTHERLAND STOCKTON. vii. JOSHUA TURNER STOCKTON. viii. PHOEBE STOCKTON.. ix. ISAAC DENTON STOCKTON. x. SAMUEL WHITESIDES STOCKTON. xi. ELIZABETH SPILLER STOCKTON. xii. ROBERT L. STOCKTON. xiii. JOANNA STOCKTON. xiv. JESSIE OLIVE STOCKTON. xv. WILLIAM WARREN STOCKTON. xvi. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STOCKTON. 9. ELIZABETH SPILLER was born 1811, and died 1885. She married DUDLEY W. DUNCAN. He was born Abt. 1808 in Kentucky. A paper handwritten by Dorothy Parsons Jackson gives Dudley Duncan as the spouse of Elizabeth Spiller. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. Spouse also named in the case of 1856. Found in the 1850 census of Williamson Co., IL. Not found in the 1860 census. Children of ELIZABETH SPILLER and DUDLEY DUNCAN are: i. AMANDA DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1830, Illinois. ii. ELIZABETH DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1834, Illinois. iii. NINIAN DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1837, Illinois. iv. DOLLY DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1839, Illinois. v. GEORGE W DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1841, Illinois. vi. BENJAMIN F. DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1843, Illinois. vii. RICE B. DUNCAN, b. Abt. 1850, Illinois. In 1860 census of Twn 7S,Range 2E, Franklin Co., IL, Rice B. is found in the house of Henry J. Duncan, age 43, and his wife, Sarah H, age 42. There are several other children, apparently children of Henry & Sarah in the home. Mary A. Duncan, age 72, born in North Carolina is also in the home. There is another Elizabeth Spiller who married James Deason. According to the census of 1870 and 1880, Elizabeth Deason was born in Illinois about 1818. The only Spiller in Illinois in the 1818 census was Elijah. Therefore, I am assigning Elizabeth Spiller Deason to Elijah Spiller. 10. MARY SPILLER, m. JOHN W. BANDY; b. 26 Oct 1810. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. This one gives me a problem. In the 1850 & 1870 census, the wife of John W. Bandy is names as Cyntha. Several children of John Bandy said their mother was born in Tennessee, but some said she was born in Illinois, and one said Kentucky. 11. MARTHA SPILLER, m. JESSE POWELL, 20 Jun 1839, Franklin Co., IL. Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. This couple was not found in the 1850 census. Olive Powel, age 4 yrs, is found in the 1850 census of Williamson Co., IL living in the home of Martha's sister, Anna Spiller Turner suggesting that Martha is deceased by that time. 12. SIMEON SPILLER died Bef. Sep 1839. He married LUCINDA (NEE UNKNOWN) SPILLER Relationship to Benjamin Spiller given in court case of 1856. See Benjamin Spiller's notes for transcription of case. Children of SIMEON SPILLER and LUCINDA SPILLER are: i. JESSE SPILLER, b. Bef. 1840; d. Bef. 1855. ii. MARY ANN SPILLER, b. Bef. 1840; d. Bef. 1850 Comments and corrections are welcome.