* Our Story has been researched, compiled and sourced by Bettie Gillyard Griggs, Family Historian, and the Family History Team. The use of any of this documented history in any written format should include the following statement, " The Gillyard Johnson Mahoney Family Story has been researched, compiled and sourced by Bettie Gillyard Griggs, Family Historian."

The experiences of every family are unique and something to be treasured. The following is a summary of the history of the Gillyard-Johnson-Mahoney family. It summarizes a much larger scope of information that has been researched and sourced as of this writing. Simply put, it attempts for this writing to put the leaves on the branches of our Family Tree. Only limited information on the Johnson line is summarized as much of it still remains a bit sketchy. Information regarding our Guion, Trammell and Caldwell branches are also woven in our story.

The research and documenting of our story is perpetual. Please contact the Family Historian if there are errors, or if you have information to add to the richness of Our Story.

A family starts out small and then it branches outward with each new generation.

The documented Gillyard ancestry dates back to 1831.

Charlie Gillyard was born 1862 in Desoto Parish, Louisiana to Jacob Gillyard and Harriett (Harriett's family name is not known). Jacob was born into slavery, about 1831 in Alabama. Harriett born about 1840 in Virginia. It is highly probable that Jacob and Harriett were among the group of slaves that relocated to the Desoto Parish area, sometime between,1850 and 1851, with the Frierson family. The Friersons had moved from South Carolina and relocated to Lowndes County, Alabama before traveling with their slaves to Frierson, Louisiana, where they settled.  

The 1870 United States Federal Census, the first U.S. Federal Census to list formerly enslaved African Americans by name, records 8 year old Charlie living in the household with his mom, brother, William and twin sisters, Martha and Mary. Their family name is recorded as Gions. Charlie’s dad, Jacob is living nearby with his wife, Adeline and Charlie’s half siblings.

In 1880 Charlie is still living at home with his mom and two additional siblings, John and Harriett. They are cotton farmers. Charlie, his mom and brother William, like most people living in the Frierson community take their cotton to be ginned at the local Frierson Mill. James Bradford, census enumerator recorded the family name as Gile.
 

Sometime after May of 1880, a beautiful young lady named Cynthia Trammell migrates from Limestone County, Texas to Desoto Parish, Louisiana. Cynthia’s parents were Merritt Trammell and Elizabeth Brown. Merritt, a preacher, built the first Negro church building in Limestone County, Texas. Later he and his brother served as privates in the Texas Police. Merritt was considered a natural leader. He defended White and Black citizens and fought for justice which led to problems with law enforcement. His family left Limestone and relocated to Desoto and Caddo Parish, Louisiana.
 

Cynthia soon meets and dates Charlie. They fall in love and marry on Christmas day, December 25, 1886. They remain in Desoto Parish, Louisiana.

On February 11,1889, Charlie completes an application to stake claim to land under the Homestead Act. Charlie and his witnesses certify on March 2, 1895, that Charlie built a house on the land and established residence therein, June 1889. On May 1,1895, his claim is approved, and on June 17,1895, President Grover Cleveland signs Charlie’s Certificate of Homestead.

On June 8,1900, the U.S. Federal Census list the following information regarding Charlie and Cynthia’s residence in Ward 5, North of the Greening Ferry Road of Desoto Parish, Louisiana: Charlie is the head of household, they are farmers who own their farm, mortgage free and have been married for 13 years. They are the parents of six children, Sampson, Elizabeth, Mack, Charlie, Roberta and Felicia (aka Celeste).

In 1901, Cynthia gives birth to their seventh child, Chris.
 
Sometime after Chris is born and before 1908, Charlie and Cynthia are no longer married.
 

Charlie has relocated to Ward 4 of Red River Parish, Louisiana. In 1910, he is listed as a lodger living in the household with Rose Brown. In 1916, he and Rose give birth to a baby boy, Lloyd Goldman Gillyard.
 

Cynthia continues to reside in Desoto Parish and in 1910 all seven of she and Charlie’s children, her 2-year old son, Willie Howard and her 10-month old grandson, Perkins (Elizabeth’s child) are living in the household, in Ward 5, on the William Point Road.
 

By 1930, Charlie and Cynthia’s eldest child Sampson is deceased. Their other six offspring are married and living in Desoto or Red River Parish. Living with Cynthia in 1930 are sons Willie and Cornelius (aka Jack),and her grandson, Perkins.
 

In 1930, Charlie is still residing in Ward 4 of Red River and is married to Laura Johnson. He is now 68 years old and Laura is 30 years old. Charlie and Laura had one son, James born around,1916, and died in 1928. Sometime after 1930, Charlie and Laura separate. It has been reported to this writer that Laura was pregnant at the time and later gave birth to she and Charlie’s second child (No descendants of Laura have been located by this writer).
 

The 1940 census reveals this information about Charlie, and Charlie and Cynthia’s offspring, and their children by other relationships:
 

Charlie Sr. is still residing on a farm in Red River Parish, Louisiana. He is listed as married to Mary and they have two children, six year old Sara, and four year old Joseph. They pay $2.00/mo. rent.
 

Elizabeth is residing in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, married to Ed Thomas. They own their farm and it is valued at $50.00
 

Charlie Jr. is married to Roberta Edwards with children, Euria lee, Charley Lee Jr., David Lee and Pearlie Lee. They are living on a farm in DeSoto Parish, paying $3.00/mo. rent.
 

Celeste is living in Red River Parish with her husband Roger Clinton, and children, Jackson C., Ishmael, Roger Jr., Exie B and Dorothy. They are living on a farm, paying $2.00/mo. rent.  

Roberta is living with L.C. Bailey (recorded as married), on a farm in DeSoto Parish, with her son James. They are paying $2.00/mo. rent.

Chris is married to Minda White and residing in DeSoto Parish. They are living on a farm and paying $3.00/mo. rent.

Robert Gillyard, Charlie Sr.’s son with Elizabeth Mahoney is residing in Red River Parish, married to Almay Mitchell. Eugene Warren, nephew is living with them. They are living on a farm paying $2.00/mo. rent.

Lloyd Goldman Gillyard, Charlie Sr. son with Rose Brown

Cornelius (aka Jack) Cynthia’s son with Nathan Simpson, is married to Theresa Taylor. Daughter, Euria Dell is also living in the home. They are paying $1.00/mo rent.

Willie, Cynthia’s son with Emmitt Howard, is living in Desoto Parish with Lee Arthur Mitchell and wife Bessie (daughter of Roberta).

Louisiana Death Records list:

Cynthia Gillyard’s date of death as February 29,1932.

Charlie Gillyard’s date of death as January 5,1949.

Roberta was the longest living child of Charlie and Cynthia
Trammell Gillyard. She died July 21,1997 at 100 years of age. On August 18, 1996, she received a note acknowledging her 100th birthday from President Bill Clinton.


The documented Mahoney ancestry dates back to 1833.

Caesar Mahoney was born into slavery in about 1833. Information regarding his parentage is not yet known. The 1870 U.S. Federal Census list Caesar as born in South Carolina and Charlotte as born in Alabama. In previous censuses, they had only been noted as tally marks. But in 1870, they are counted as two of 4,880,009 Blacks living in the United States. Based on a review of records from the Good Hope Presbyterian Church and the Frierson Plantation, it is probable that Caesar traveled with the Friersons to Lowndes County, Alabama, where he met and married Charlotte White. Caesar and Charlotte then traveled with the Friersons to Desoto Parish, Louisiana where they settled and spent a lifetime together.

Living on the farm with Caesar and Charlotte in 1870, are their children: 9 year old Rebecca, 8 year old Robert,6 year old Caesar Jr., 2 year old Corine and 1 year old Dunn (could be Douglas). They are cotton farmers and business transaction records dating back to 1878, show that Caesar and his sons, took their cotton to be ginned at the Frierson Mill. They were paid a flat fee contingent upon the market price and quality of the goods.

In 1880, Caesar and Charlotte are still residing on the farm, and have had five additional children, General Lee, William, Elizabeth, Henry, and Christopher.
 

On June 19,1900, Caesar and Charlotte are still residing in Desoto Parish and have been married 43 years. Charlotte has given birth to 15 children and 10 of the children are still living.


When the census enumerator visits Caesar and Charlotte on May 11, 1910,they have been together for 53 years. Caesar is 83 years old. They own their farm, mortgage free and Caesar and his sons are still doing business with the Frierson Company. Business Records from the Frierson Company show purchases made and loans extended to the Mahoney's.

After the 1910 Census, there is no other evidence of Caesar, including no reported death information. The state of Louisiana did not mandate the registering of deaths occurring in the state until January 1,1911. Based on this information, we can determine that sometime after August 1910 and before January 1,1911, Caesar died.

Louisiana Death Records list:

Charlotte Mahoney, date of her death, November 26, 1916.   
  

 

 

Educational Information

Prior to any established schools in the rural Desoto Parish area, our ancestors most likely were taught at home, if their parents were able to read and write. Their parents, who were born into slavery, were legally prohibited from being taught to read and write.

Census records dating from 1870 – 1900, indicate that though our ancestors could understand English, many were unable to read or write, and many of the business documents indicate a mark, “x” for their signature. Educational facilities at the time were poor, usually old cabins, churches or country stores. Two schools in the area for Blacks were the Good Hope Presbysterian Church School and Rosenwald (click here).


Church Information

The church had a profound impact on our ancestors and it continues to impact our family today. Jacob Gillyard was one of forty-six Blacks and six Whites to organize the Good Hope Presbyterian Churchin the home of Robert Frierson, in Frierson, Louisiana. In the Spring of 1877, Elder Jacob Gillyard petitioned the Red River Presbytery that the “Colored Congregation” who were still a part of the “White Congregation” at the time, be constituted into a church of their own, and keep the name Good Hope. The petition was granted and 133 years later the Good Hope Presbyterian Church is still teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The history for the Sunshine Baptist Church in the Clear Lake Community of Desoto Parish, Louisiana records that on the 2nd Sunday, April 14, 1907, on the Will Hewitt Plantation the church was organized as the St. Mary Baptist Church, No. 2. On November 10,1907 Deacon Sampson Gillyard changed the church’s name to the Sunshine Baptist Church. In 1910 during the church’s first revival service, Celeste Gillyard, Lureener Mahoney, Roberta Gillyard and Chris Gillyard confessed Jesus Christ, and were baptized and fellowshipped as charter members.

Many Mahoneys and Gillyards have held membership at the New Friendship Baptist Church, located on the Friendship Road in Desoto Parish. Howard Mahoney, the great grandson of Caesar and Charlotte Mahoney, served many years as the secretary of the church. Many of the Gillyards and Mahoneys are interred in the New Friendship Cemetery. 

The Red Lick Presbyterian Church in Mansfield, LA. history indicates Charlie Gillyard as a founding member.

We continue to refine and add to our history.

We recognize that we are the beneficiaries of the labor and generosity of our ancestors. 

We are still looking for pictures of ancestors. We want to put a face to their legacy. In the meantime, to love and embrace the history of our family we must visualize them through the eyes of our heart.

     Think, what shade will the trees that we plant today bestow for our future?

 email gjmfamilyreunion@gmail.comto add, correct or ask any questions.