John D. Lillard (c. 1803 - 1864)

John D. Lillard (born c. 1803 in Rockingham County, NC; died 1864 in Williamson County, TN) was the son of Morgan Lillard and either Abbie (Howard) Lillard or perhaps Rebecca Jane (Hutchison) Lillard.  He married Rachel Jarrell on February 21, 1828 in Rockingham County, NC..  John and Rachel had six children:  Richard M. Lillard, Sarah Elizabeth (Lillard) Morton, Virginia (Lillard) Mincey, Nancy Ellen (Lillard) Gillespie, Marian Lillard, and Monroe Claiborne Lillard.  in He was my great-great-great-great grandfather. John D. Lillard died in 1864.

Unfortunately, he was also one of those ancestors you can't be proud of.  The following account was found on a genealogical record of Suddath and Freeman ancestors:

John D. Lillard moved to Williamson Co., TN about 1830. The lives of John D. Lillard and Rachel (Jarrell) Lillard both ended tragically. She was killed by her husband and he died during his capture. The story goes that John D. Lillard had a girl friend in Marshall County and one day before setting out to see her, he threw his wife Rachel into the well at their home and threw numerous rocks on top of her. John D. Lillard then left for Marshall County, but some person passing by on the road near the Lillard home heard Rachel's weak cries for help from the bottom of the well and removed her. She told them what John D. Lillard had done. A group of citizens set out to catch John D. Lillard. Tradition is that Mr. Lillard was overtaken and apprehended at a bridge over the Duck River near present day Henry Horton State Park. One of his captors, Greene Smithson, made John D. Lillard climb the side rail of the bridge. When Lillard was standing on top of the rail, the captor shot Lillard who fell to his death in the river below. Lillard's killer then left to avoid a murder charge himself, never again to return to Williamson County. A Coroner's Jury for Williamson County was empaneled to conduct an inquest into the death of Rachel (Jarrett) Lillard. The following is their report:

State of Tennessee
County of Williamson

Inquisition held at John D. Lillards in the County and State aforesaid on the ___ December 1864, before William N. Smith, J.P. acting coroner of said County upon the body of Mrs. Rachel Lillard found lying in the well not quite dead and believed by the Jury from all evidence and circumstances that she was pushed in the well by her husband, John D. Lillard and that he threw rocks on her and broke her skull and caused her death. In testimony whereof, the said Jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and date above.

M. H. Scales, M.D.; James Edwards; Jeremiah Stephens; H. C. Loftin; Josiah Boon; Reuben Reynolds; M. H. Dobson; R. R. Mincy.