My purpose for beginning this blog is simply to share information with others about Hilbun/Hilburn family history, with a focus on the earliest Hilbuns or Hilburns I have discovered in the southern United States, beginning in the colonial period of the 1700’s and going through the end of the 1800’s. My research has included only Hilburns found in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the other “Southern” states. I am aware of some Hilburn families who settled in colonial days in parts of the northeast but I have not researched them. In addition, I have not researched the many Hilborns of Pennsylvania, many whom settled there also in colonial times.
This blog will share findings which I hope others will use to do further research. Genealogy takes a lot of time and energy and while I plan to continue to research within my own direct family line, I hope others will pursue researching other branches of this Hilbun/Hilburn family tree!
This blog will not provide any “family tree” per se, (listings of family members with DOB, etc.) unless it is relevant to the subject matter about which I decide to blog.
There are many other Hilbun/Hilburn researchers, one of whom is my father Joel P. Hilbun. He has been researching our Hilbun ancestors for over three decades and has much of his compiled history and family tree on his website- joehilbun.com.
One of my goals has been to discover the father of Frederick Hilbun, born in 1768, my fourth great-grandfather. My conclusion at this point is that I don’t know who his father was, but I do believe that he is related to the North Carolina Hilbuns, the Hilbuns who settled in Laurens County, Georgia, the Hilburns of Copiah County, Mississippi and is LIKELY related to the Newberry County, South Carolina Hilburns.
I also want to state that in my research I have tried to document my sources for any finding or conclusion and not perpetuate any undocumented claim. For example, I’ve seen online genealogies in which a person has traced their history back many generations but they do not cite proof or provide supporting documentation. One example related to our Hilbun genealogy is that some state that Frederick’s father was a Joseph Hilburn, but I have seen no evidence to support that claim. If someone has this evidence please share it with me. I am primarily interested in researching early Hilbun history- before 1850.
Hilbun 
Hiya, excellent blog!
have you seen this? Hilburns of South Carolina.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~egenealogy/hilburn.html
The one name that stands out in our family is Vaughn Hilburn (all spellings). Which the first I have found was that will of John Vaughan 1736/7 as you have stated. I have copies of that too.
My brother George did a lot of research on the Georgia (Laurens Co) Hilbun/Hilburns – that is our direct family line via our Dad. Even in Laurens Co. there are two very distinct Hilburn/Hilbun lines. One who states they are from SC and ours from NC. Hilburn is an English name and some of them (I wrote to them) have their ancestry confirmed back to the 1200’s. Vaughn/Vaughan is welsh.
Our family oral history stated we were Scots-Irish. For sure we are via Vaughn Hilburn/Hilbun and Eliza McLemore (Eliza;s family traced back to Ayrshire Scotland – not by me). I never could find a direct link to Ireland except for a Hilburn House in Tagmon Wex something in Ireland. I was mainly interested in establishing the Scots-Irish connection while my bro was more interested in NC forward.
I do not have my notes in front of me. I always speculated our line of Vaughan Hilburn began in Isle of Wight and that John Hilburn was his dad (one researcher has stated that on the orginal will, John Hilburn was scratched out and Vaughn Hilburn was written in on that John Vaughn will. A Madge Hilburn Methvin had stated her dad Octavius had said 3 brothers had arrived in the colonies from Scotland via Ulster County Ireland – John was one of the names. One settled n New York, John in Virginia, and other unknown name unknown settled at.
I have not read all your blogs but will!
thanks
Jeannie maiden name Hilburn – daughter of Thomas Earl Hilburn (the military added the r – the rest of the family use Hilbun), granddaughter of Henry Ira Hilbun, ggd of Ira H, gggd of Vaughn Hilbun and Eliza Ann McLemore (Vaughn thought to be the son of Vaughn B Hilburn of NC)
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Jeannie: Thanks for your feedback! I’ve seen your name in the genealogy websites. I’m curious about “Vaughn B. Hilburn” of NC. I’ve not heard of a Vaughn B. and wonder which one that is. I believe Vaughn who married Eliza McLemore was born in NC about 1806 and is assumed to be son of Vaughn, Rev. War veteran, and the one who died in Mississippi in 1833 or so. Is this correct? Joy Hilbun Mohr
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Well, it is on Vaughn Hilbun’s tombstone that he was born in A April 1806. Written in stone so to speak. Using census records, the North Carolina connection, the timing, and oral history, my brother speculated that John Hilburn Sr was our Vaughns Dad with John Hilburn Jr living with Frederick as a cripple (one note I saw ages ago said John Hilburn Jr was blind).
I have it in my notes that Vaughn B. may have been his Dad but will have to search that out as to why. I apologize for speculating without being able to say why at this time.
Okay … just took a moment to go thru all that I have left of my original notes and I cannot say why I have that note about Vaughn B. Apologies. Gave up my apartment in 2012 and have been a nomad ever since.
I have some of my brothers notes that he complied in to a book on our line of the Georgia Hilbun/Hilburn line (there use to be a web site with all his notes but I am unsure if it is still active). Can mail a copy to ya if ya like (the notes not the book). It has where the census info came from (years and where) but not copies of the census itself.
Email me directly at jkl4325@aol.com
I have missed this!
Jeannie
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Thank you for all you have done, along with your wonderful father Joel. My wife did a geanology tree on my line of the zhilbun’s and also got stumped at Fredrick. That’s very odd that his father so well undocumented.
I appreciate your blog and your time. I know this is not easy..
Jim Hilbun
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I think the Vaughn B Hilburn is a compilation of two things. The first is a printed source of the 1850 Laurens County GA census where only the first initial was used. The printed source thought it was a letter “B,” when, in fact, it was a letter “V” in a fancy script. Then it was coupled with the name “Vaughn” somehow. There is only one Hilburn pioneer in Laurens County GA that I know of, & it was Vaughn Hilburn, who shows up in public record there as early as 1840 Laurens County census. Oral history says that their first son was born in Laurens County, and that was 1833. Vaughn may have been there before 1833 as an old newspaper article stated in 1831 that a Vaughn Hillborn had a letter at the post office in Dublin, Laurens County
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George Hilburn- are you still out there? Can you send me your email address?
Joy
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dear jeannie my name is bruce hilburn and i was born and raised in missouri but my mother in law is into geaneology and she tracked my family tree back to 1643 in south carolina to 2 brothers who settled there one of which was a great grandfather to me and i had noticed that you said that there was a john hilburn who was your greater grandfather she to has identified thati also had john hilburn as one of my greater grandfathers
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Hi Bruce! I see that you are replying to Jeannie, but I will also reply! I am tickled to see your name as my grandfather was Bruce S. Hilbun and I have two cousins named Bruce Hilbun. I have found some Hilburns in Missouri back in the 1800’s and I wonder if you are from that line. I’d love to see your family tree if you would share it. I do know there was a John Hilburn in SC who served in the Rev. War. He moved to Georgia in 1800’s and died before 1850. I believe his father was William Hilburn who was in SC by 1756 or so. Take care! Joy
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