Jacob Golladay Sr, with first wife named Elinor, had been a property owner in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as late as 1753, but that he disappeared from the records in this area about this time. It was further stated that it was the opinion of this author that this Jacob and the Jacob Golladay of Powell's Fort Valley were the same person.

The earliest legal record of Jacob Golladay in Virginia is a November 1775 military census of Dunmore County taken by Captain John Denton (9) in which he listed Jacob Golladay as Head Of A Household (as the one male over 16), four males under 16, and six females (Mary and their five daughters). Dunmore County was later renamed Shenandoah County. At the time this census was taken, Jacob's oldest son Joseph had volunteered for service in the Army of the Revolution, which accounts for only four males under 16 in the household. It is noted that during this period, there were no blacks recorded in Captain Denton's census. As a result of his action, Jacob Golladay Senior, was accepted into the National Society Sons of the American Colonists in March 2021. In October 1994, Jacob was accepted into the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR). In October 2006, Jacob was accepted into the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

Jacob was a farmer. He obtained land by grants from Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Governor Of Virginia, the first found being dated 28 Nov 1778, a second dated 18 April 1780. These are on file in the State Library in Richmond, Virginia. These properties were in Powell's Fort Valley in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Jacob was a Lieutenant in the Shenandoah Militia during the War of the American Revolution.

Jacob prepared his last Will And Testament dated 28 Feb 1795 and proved 10 Mar 1795 in which he named his second wife Mary (nee Clem maybe), five sons and five daughters as his heirs. His daughter Elizabeth having passed away before him. Jacob's lifespan was approximately 60 years.

Jacob Golladay Senior is acknowledged to have donated land adjacent to Dry Run Church in Powell's Fort Valley for the establishment of a cemetery, now called Dry Run Cemetery 1 & 2. In earlier times, they were called the Golladay Cemeteries.