Nancy Ann (Campbell) Gillis (abt. 1730 - 1828)

Born about 1730 in Bowmore, Isle of Islay, Argyleshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 24 May 1828 at about age 98 in Argyle, Washington, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Glen Street [send private message]

Biography

Nancy arrived in New York, from Scotland, in 1740, listed on the manifest as a single woman. She probably settled with relatives in the Kakiat Patent area, which is now New Hempstead in Orange, now Rockland County, New York. There she met and married James Gillis, who had come to New England in 1738 with his family. In 1764, James was granted lot 108 in the Argyle Patent in Charlotte County. Nancy was granted lot 55. James decided that they didn’t need two lots, so he sold lot 55 and they settled on lot 108 in 1765. It has been claimed that Nancy was so angry about this sale that she refused to sign the deed. James and Nancy had eight children, four boys and four girls. James died before 1800. Nancy’s gravestone in the Scotch Cemetery in Argyle reads “NANCY Wife of James A. Gillis died May 24th (last line unreadable)”. I have since learned that the year of death was 1838, which means she was over 100 years old at her death.

Sources

Information from Joan Jachowski <joan@pacificventures.net>, and the book, “The Argyle Patent and It’s Early Settlers” by James McNaughton Jr.