Research of this family name has been particularly difficult. Currently, the earliest research of the Wilbanks and Willbanks families can only be traced
as far back as the Revolutionary War. There are primarily six major families from which most all Wilbanks and Willbanks families in America come from. They are as follows:
- William Wilbanks who married Abarilla Gos(t)wick in 1774 in Bute
County, North Carolina and shortly afterwards settled in Union County,
Ninety-Six District, South Carolina. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War
serving in Col. Brandon's Regiment from Union County, South Carolina. He died
in 1796 in Union County, South Carolina. By 1860 descendants are primarily
found in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.
- Gillum Wilbanks, brother of William aforementioned, was a soldier of the
Revolutionary War serving in Col. Brandon's Regiment from Union County, South
Carolina. He migrated to Pendleton District, South Carolina in about 1808, and
in about 1820 he migrated to Franklin County, Georgia where he died before 1840.
By 1860 descendants are primarily found in Georgia.
- Richard Wilbanks, cousin of William and Gillum, was a soldier of the
Revolutionary War serving in Col. Brandon's Regiment from Union County, South
Carolina. He lived in Greenville County, South Carolina and then in Pickens
District, South Carolina where he died in 1836. He had children but no current
descendants are proven at this time. Descendants are most likely to be found in
Georgia by 1860
- Joseph Wilbanks, presumed closely related to William, Gillum and
Richard, as he also was a soldier of the Revolutionary War serving in Col.
Brandon's Regiment from Union County, South Carolina. He lived in Greenville
County, South Carolina before moving to Christian County, Kentucky where he died
and left a will in 1808. By 1860 descendants are primarily found in Illinois,
Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.
- William Wilbanks (II), presumed closely related to William, Gillum,
Richard and Joseph, was married to Phebe Smith Holcombe. He lived in
Spartanburg District, South Carolian where he dies in 1816. By 1860 descendants
are primarily found in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
- Richard Willbanks, presumed closely related to the above Wilbanks
families, was married in 1766 in Louisa County, Virginia to Priscilla Hewett and
migrated to Surry County, North Carolina by 1770. He remained his whole life in
that portion of Surry County which became Wilkes County where he died and left a
will in 1790. He had five sons who have numerous descendants. Descendants are
primarily found to use the double "L" spelling and are found, by 1860,
in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Missouri.
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