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William Gillespie (abt. 1738 - aft. 1825)

Pvt. William Gillespie aka Gillaspy, Gillaspie
Born about in Irelandmap [uncertain]
Husband of — married 1766 in Colony of Virginiamap
Descendants descendants
Died after after about age 87 in Blount County, Tennessee, United Statesmap
Profile last modified | Created 27 Sep 2011
This page has been accessed 7,975 times.
Multiple people may be conflated in this profile, i.e. information about different people may be combined and confused.
US Southern Colonies.
William Gillespie resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776.
Join: US Southern Colonies Project
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This is the profile of William Gilasby of Orange Co VA named in 24 July 1740 importation oath.

Contents

Biography

U.S. Southern Colonies Project logo
William Gillespie was a Virginia colonist.
1776 Project
Private William Gillespie served with 9th Virginia Regiment (1777), Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution
William Gillespie is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A044848.

Note: The identity of this William Gillespie is defined in the next paragraph.

William was 12 years old when his father emigrated from Ireland, removing the family to Virginia, and settling in Beverley Manor, Orange County, Virginia.[1] James Gilasby testified on 27 July 1740 in Orange County Court, Virginia, "that he imported himself Jennet Agnes John James & Wm Gilasby & Edward Hall from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony at his own Charge & that this is the first time of his proving his or their rights in order to obtain land.[2][3] It would have cost his father about £140 to transport the group.

When his father died before 20 October 1769, William was living on and inherited one of his father's plantations.[4] This plantation was probably at Beverley Manor.

Marriages

(in progress, contributions welcome)

On 22 August 1787, William and Rose Gillespie sold to George Adam Coynart a tract conveyed to William by the will of James Gillespie (his father). Just four days before, on 18 Aug 1787, James (his brother) and Elizabeth Gillespie sold land to Michael Coynart, prior to moving to Blount County, Tennessee. [Deed Book 19 p414. Deed Book 26 p37. link to Chalkey needed, verification, citation, and original record needed] (actual transfer in 1789?). In 1789, William and Rose Gillespie were purchasers at the estate sale of William Finley. [citation and link to Chalkley needed. For many reasons and many family members, the probate record of this William Finley is needed].

Samuel Rutherford Houston, publishing in 1882, wrote that William Gillespie’s wife had been married previously to "John or George" Henderson with whom she had 3 children, William, Jane, and Susan. There is a will for a John Henderson signed 4 Apr 1766, proved 20 Aug 1766 (Bk 3:461) which mentions wife Rose, son William, and 2 unnamed daughters. John nominated "my Brother James & my wife's Brother John to be my Executors". James Henderson and John Finley were duly appointed. Robert Finley (m Martha Henderson?) was a witness and William Finley was a surety. Four years later, William Henderson , in his will, named "Shusana Henderson daughter to my son John Henderson".

Nothing about the children of John Henderson and William Gillespie is inconsistent with them having the same wife. All of their children moved to Tennessee except for Ann (Gillespie) Rutledge. There is a 29 May 1794 marriage bond for William Henderson and Susan Gillespie, surety John Gillespie. Susan is William Gillespie's niece. There is a 20 January 1793 marriage bond for Susan Henderson and James McCullough, surety Thomas McCullough. James is likely William Gillespie's nephew.

Samuel Rutherford Houston, relying upon memory and correspondence, discusses the possibility that William Gillespie’s wife was a Finley. Citing no records, he concludes that the wife of John Henderson and William Gillespie was Isabella Houston. Since 1882, it seems that no contemporaneous records have been found naming a wife Isabella, or suggesting that William had a wife before Rose, or naming a Houston named Isabella.

None of the children of John Henderson or William Gillespie were named Isabella or Rose (please verify).

4 of William’s children and niece [add links] married Houstons (all siblings?) in Blount County. Prior to the move to Tennessee, there seems to be no indication of a connection between Gillespies and Houstons. There appears to be no connection between the Houstons of Rockbridge County and the Beverly Manor patent in Augusta County.

When William Gillespie wrote his will in Blount County on 19 October 1825, his wife was Ann . She left a will signed 19 July 1830. She named sister in law Elizabeth Houston (id needed) and Samuel Houston Moore and Isabella Ann Moore, no relation given. Smith-112541 14:58, 12 March 2024 (UTC)

Military Service

During the American Revolutionary War, William enlisted as a Private in the 9th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel John Gibson. [5] William Gillespie is honored for his military service by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution as DAR Ancestor #A044848. DAR records indicate that William died circa 1829, in Blount county, Tennessee and that he was twice married. William's first wife was Isabella Houston Henderson. His second wife was named Ann, maiden name not given. Applications for membership in the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution have been made by the descendants of his son, James Gillespie, who married 1) Margaret Houston, 2) Jane Gallaher, and 3) Patsy W. Wallace; and of his son, Robert Gillespie, who married Betty Houston. [6] How do we know this military record was not for William Gillespie of Cowpasture? Smith-112541 01:47, 18 March 2024 (UTC)

Removed to Blount County, Tennessee

William Gillespie and his brothers, John and James, were pioneer citizens of Blount County, Tennessee. Blount County was established by an act of the Territorial Assembly, passed 11 July 1795. The Gillespie brothers obtained land south of the Little River, under the act of the Legislature, to promote the erection of iron works. They built a small furnace and forge, which they ceased to operate as soon as they obtained a title to the land.[7]

Death & Burial

He left a will dated 19 October 1825. Currently all we have is a later handwritten copy with no probate record.

According to Findagrave, William is buried in the Holston College Cemetery in Louisville, Blount County, Tennessee.[8] There does not appear to be an original marker or a record for a burial.

Land

In his father's Will executed 5 September 1768, William was bequethed "the plantation on which he now dwells but if he should die before his wife he now has then this said plantation to … his Child or Children …"[4] This plantation was probably one of the three land grants his father received at Beverley Manor.[9][10]

After their father James' death, on 15 May 1770, his sons John Gillespy, James Gillespie, and William Gillespie of Augusta County, Virginia, and Thomas McColloch of Augusta County, entered into an indenture for £2 selling to McColloch 80 acres of land in Augusta County, a part of Beverley Manor.[11][9][10]

Research Notes

NOTE: There are several William Gillespies in the American colonies in this era, making them all the subject of conflation. This William Gillespie is also of disputed origins.

  • Needs Research: Research into the life events and family of this person is needed. Vital statistics and relationships (birth, parents, marriage, children, death) need citations for primary sources. Spratlin-29 05:12, 30 April 2022 (UTC)

Place Creation

  • Orange County, Virginia was created in 20 Sep 1734 from Spotsylvania County.
  • Augusta County, Virginia (unorganized; organized 1745) was created in 15 Dec 1738 and was formed from Orange County.
  • Botetourt County, Virginia (pending; effective 1770) was created in 28 Nov 1769 from Augusta County.
  • Cowpasture River lies to the west of and is not the same place as Beverley Manor.
  • The entirety of Beverley Manor lies within present-day Augusta County, bounded on north by Middle River, east and south by South River, and west by a line a little east of Spotswood.

See Augusta County, Colony of Virginia for a map created from recent research. Spratlin-29 23:03, 7 April 2022 (UTC)

  • Rowan County, North Carolina, was created on 1753 from Anson County.
  • District of Washington, North Carolina, was created on 1776 from Rowan County and Tryon County.
  • Washington County, North Carolina, was created on 1776 from District of Washington.
  • Sullivan County, North Carolina, was created on 18 Oct 1779, from Washington County, North Carolina.
  • Greene County, North Carolina, was created on 18 Apr 1783, from Washington County.
  • Hawkins County, North Carolina, was created on 6 Jan 1787, from Sullivan County.
  • North Carolina ceded the area of Tennessee in 1790 to the United States, and this area was organized as the “territory . . . south of the Ohio River” on 12 Apr 1790.
  • Knox County, Southwest Territory, was created on 11 Jun 1792, from Greene County and Hawkins County.
  • Blount County, Southwest Territory, was created on 11 Jul 1795, from Knox County.
  • Tennessee was created from Southwest Territory, and admitted to the Union on 1 Jun 1796, as the 16th state.

Allied Families Study

See Allied Families of Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.

Conflated Persons

This William Gillespie (1728-abt.1802) is often conflated with:

He was previously conflated as William Gillespie of Falkirk.

This profile also potentially conflates a William Gillespie of Pendleton South Carolina.

See Deconflation of Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.

Vital Statistics

Birth and Marriage
Based on the importation oath dated 24 July 1740, the 4 children named there, and assuming births every 2 years, the following dates are estimated:

  • James Gillespie b. abt. 1707, presumably in Ireland.
  • Jennet (____), b. abt., 1710, presumably in Ireland.
  • James and Jennet, m. abt. 1731, presumably in Ireland.
  • Agnes, b. abt. 1732, presumably in Ireland.
  • John, b. abt. 1734, presumably in Ireland.
  • James, b. abt. 1736, presumably in Ireland.
  • William, b. abt. 1738, presumably in Ireland.
  • Importation, abt. 1740

An unsourced, alternate birth of 1737 in County Donegal, Ireland was previously (merged) listed.

Death
An apparently conflated death of about 1802 in Pendleton, South Carolina, United States was previously listed.

Open Issues

  • General
    • Find and cite PRIMARY records for major facts
    • Primary records establishing each of their residences
    • Associate levels of confidence (Evidence Explained: certainly not, unlikely, estimate, perhaps, apparently, possibly, likely, probably, certainly) with major facts
    • (later) Review against US Southern Colonies Project Editing Guidance
    • (later) Review children-specific content for here vs. their profile
    • (later) Review remaining content for here vs. free-space pages
  • Origins
    • What connects Wm. of Falkirk to Wm. of Orange Co. VA?
  • Life
    • Did he marry?
    • Children?
  • Death
    • Primary records for his death/estate
    • Where is sale of his inherited plantation in Beverley Manor?
  • Review Find a Grave memorial for additional information about his children.

DNA Information

See: DNA Study: Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.

Disputed Origins

[this section needs to be reviewed for hypothesis vs theory]

Two Different Families'

There were two different families named Gillespies who immigrated from Scotland/Ireland to Virginia about the same time. Sourcing these families has proven difficult for many trees, but from what we can gather from Parish records, one family married and had children before they immigrated from Falkirk in 1740. The father James was granted headrights and settled in Cowpasture.

More research is needed to be certain, but according to a One Name Study in Family Tree, the blood line that's researching and separating out George Gillespie [12] is from Kirkcaldy. As this line is established and a Gillespie holds that Y-DNA, an ancestor left Ireland In the early 18th Century, and bought land in Botetourt County, Virginia, in 1746 at the same time as James Gillespie,

Robert Gillespie of Ulster, Ireland

There is a Robert Gillespie b. 1725 in Ulster Ireland that immigrated to Botetourt County Virginia. Robert married Agnes (Russell) Gillespie and they had 3 sons in Botetourt County with the same names as the Gillespies in Cowpasture, which is EXACTLY what made it so easy to confuse profiles. His oldest son was William Gillespie b. 1755 in Botetourt and d. 1833 in Ohio, and the other two were John James and Robert Gillespie, Jr..

Robert and Agnes had a youngest daughter, Mary (Gillespie) Shawver[13] Mary Shawver's profile shows 2 brothers named William Gillespie. Sometimes this happens when a parent had 2 wives, but we do not see this in Robert Gillespie's profile. Robert's wife's profile Agnes (Russell) Gillespie needs some work in that William is listed twice. One of these times is by William Gillespie who has a DNA Connection with LaVerne Gillespie. LaVerne has a Y-DNA posted on one of these William Gillespies. It looks like 2 different profiles are claiming the information from Agnes and clearly need to be merged.

What's interesting about LaVerne's Y-DNA is that it was through a name study in Family Tree who's focus is separating a George Gillespie who was a great scholar out of Kirkcaldy Scotland. As LaVerne is tied to this Gillespie family from Botetourt - I'd say the tithables were attached to this family. James in Cowpasture was active at the same time, but he came from Falkirk.

Sources

  1. "Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia - Surnames F-J," WeRelate.org (https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Early_Settlers_of_Augusta_County%2C_Virginia_-_Surnames_F-J : accesssed 31 March 2022), 2 entries for James Gillespie.
  2. County Court, Orange County, Virginia, County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books, 1734-1867, Orders, v. 1-2, 1734-1741.; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-NSQF-G?i=402&cat=402491), image 403.
  3. Mrs. James R. Lindsay, "Notes from the County Court Records, Orange County, Virginia Order Book 2 - 1739–1741: Importations," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. VI, No. 2 (April 1968) p31; image copy, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27904335?h=1d8ed2).
  4. 4.0 4.1 County Court, Augusta County, Virginia, Will books, 1745-1871; index to wills, 1745-1903, Will books, v. 3-4 1761-1772; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9P7-S9S1-Z?i=436&cat=279443), images 437-438.
  5. NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #1057.
  6. https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A044848
  7. https://tngenweb.org/goodspeeds/blount-county-history/
  8. Find A Grave: Memorial #27084456 for William Gillespie (1737–1831).
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Beverly Patent Land Owners in Augusta County, Virginia," Virginia Genealogical Society (https://vgs.org/cpage.php?pt=32 : accessed 3 Apr 2022, 4 entries for James Gillespie, grid F-3.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Mr/Mrs Walter G. Turnell, The Borden and Beverley Patents of Orange and Augusta Counties Virginia (Burbank, California: The Southern California Genealogical Society, 1983) p246; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/646757/?offset=#page=1&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=).
  11. County Clerk, Augusta County, Deed books, 1745-1866; index to deeds, 1745-1930, Deed books, v. 14-16 1767-1770; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4Z-NQ15?i=724&cat=282708), images 725-727.
  12. Wikipedia:George Gillespie.
  13. Gillespies of Botetourt William Gillespie.


See also:

Abstracts of Primary Sources

  • [name="VGSQ, 17:2, pp51-52"] Joicey H. Lindsay, "Importation Oaths 1739–1741, Orange Co.," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 2 (April 1979) pp51-52; image copy, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27905617?h=07e32f). [17 March 1740, importation by John Carr of Margaret Gilasby & Matthew Gilasby]
  • [this is a redundant source, do not use][name="VGSQ, 17:3, pp100-102">] Joicey H. Lindsay, "Importation Oaths 1739–1741, Orange County," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 3 (July 1979) pp100-102; image copy, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27905680?h=c8e7c8). [24 July 1740, importation by James Gilasby of himself, Jennet, Agnes, John, James and William Gilasby and Edward Hall]

Free-Space Pages

Review for Conflation

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Brent Biggs for creating WikiTree profile Gillespie-1206 through the import of Biggs Family Tree - DNA Link_2013-08-17.ged on Aug 17, 2013.





Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com

DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.



Comments: 137

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Attached daughter Ann Byrd belongs to father John. William’s will names daughter Ann Rutlage, who probably married https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rutledge-3697
posted on Gillespie-1206 (merged) by M Smith
edited by M Smith
Gillespie-1206 and Gillespie-399 appear to represent the same person because: Described as one of three brothers (John, James, William) from Ireland, with the three variously referring to the importation oath of their father James and mother Jennet. They remove to Blount TN from Beverley Manor VA.
posted by Ken Spratlin
Gillespie-8540 and Gillespie-399 appear to represent the same person because: Gillespie-8540 states William remained in Scotland and had a child there, but has same birthdate and parents.

Adding unmerged Match so Project can help determine correct information for Gillespie-8540, if it is not a match for Gillespie-399. If it is not a match then parents should be unlinked and merged with parents of Gillespie-399 and birth info changed. Merges will be proposed for parents profiles

Gillespie-8540 and Gillespie-399 are not ready to be merged because: research needed to determine correct person that stayed in Scotland vs went to US
Gillespie-8540 and Gillespie-399 do not represent the same person because: James Gillespie (abt.1700-bef.1769) and Jennet (Bean) Gillespie (1705-aft.1768) are reliably sourced as emigrating from Ireland to Philadelphia to Virginia in the 24 July 1740 oath.

This family and allied families in Beverley Manor Virginia have been claimed as being born in both Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, and Ireland. In both cases, this is based on just birth and marriage records in those places with the same names, but without any records connecting the persons in Scotland or Ireland with persons in Virginia. They should not be merged without a reliable source.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Gillespie-6338 and Gillespie-399 appear to represent the same person because: Clearly the same person based on the death place and the son including wife's name.

The difference in birth place (contested in both profiles) will be noted in Research Note.

posted by Ken Spratlin
So glad Ken's back! Hope italy was wonderful!
posted on Gillespie-6338 (merged) by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Gillespie-6338 and Gillespie-399 appear to represent the same person because: Clearly the same person based on the death place and the son including wife's name.

The difference in birth place can be noted in Research Note if anyone believes birth in VA is plausible.

posted by Ken Spratlin
@Timothy. Ken's asked me to do a study that I have problems fully accomplishing because he wants sources on profiles I'd use to connect a few test takers with profiles they're connected to. I can't access the one's sourced from Ancestry. Can you help? it's okay if you can't. It means bringing out the sources and translating them to sources Wiki can read...

I can email you the test taker and what I got from their profile and connection to the Profile of Interest. I'm pretty sure I have your email. If its too much a pain, its okay...I just can't do it justice without an ability to read Ancestry sources.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Yes you can send me some of the profiles and I will see what I can find.

Just so you know I will be gone (in the boonies) for a few days and not have internet access so it may take some time to get what you need. I have also not had the time to spend on all of this like I would really like.

posted by Timothy Upton
edited by Timothy Upton
Incase anyone is interested.

This appears to be the Edward Hall listed on the Importation Oath and James Gillespie’s will.

It appears according to sources that are not attached to profile that he received land in Beverley Manor on the south river.

posted by Timothy Upton
edited by Timothy Upton
@ Ken: I'm immersed but what are your thoughts? I think its a good find Tim! I'll find it useful!
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I had found his land records and placed in James Gillespie (abt.1700-abt.1769)'s profile. Will review profile to confirm it is him. There are apparent inconsistencies in his bio from the settlement story but perhaps provides nuance. Note origin is Ireland again.
posted by Ken Spratlin
I've compared the description of that Edward Hall's place to the Beverley Manor map and it sounds like the same place. I just added pins on the map I made for James Gillespie's and Edward Hall's tracts. Interesting find … the tract map shows a dotted line through Edward's tracts, presumably a road they built. There is a road there today!
posted by Ken Spratlin
OK, I'm not hearing any objections to where we've come to with this William (son of James of Beverley Manor) and William #2/#3 of Cowpastures River.

I've created a profile for William #2/#3 (William Gillespie (bef.1725-aft.1801)) and only moved there things that have paper sources. This was an arbitrary choice which to move. As William of Cowpasture has a much more extensive paper trail than William of Beverly Manor, there is much higher confidence in him, and I thought it best to start with a clean slate for William #2/#3. William #2/#3 of Cowpastures and James of Beverley Manor are becoming anchors for these families. As children are reviewed and deconflated, they can be moved quickly.

The only things I see of issue that I've moved to William #2/#3 are the land records after 1798. These may be for a different William, perhaps a son of his.

How does it look?

My next task is to add to profiles the Gillespie tithables for Botetourt County (Cowpastures) from 1771–1783 that are presumably children of Williams #2/#3 or Thomas. The names I've found are Robert, William, James, John, Hugh, Simon. These are the start of then deconflating the children currently attached to this William of Beverley Manor. With William of Cowpasture lacking any probate records so far, not obvious how to associate them to William or Thomas, the two original settlers in 1746 on the 320 and 300 acre tracts. Robert appears later, so he is presumably a son. As he is listed with William in road orders, I'm assuming he is a son of William, not Thomas. As these families fan out a little over the length of the Cowpasture, looking a locations along the map will not serve to associate them to William or Robert. William #2/#3's 320 acres and Thomas' 300 acres are within spitting distance of each other.

If we find Wills for either of the two Williams, that will greatly accelerate this process.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Having pondered the descriptions of how the two areas were settled (Beverley Manor before 1740; Cowpastures starting in 1743), I'm going to toss up this hypotheses (untested theory) for consideration.

It is possible (>0% chance) "William and Thomas" of Cowpastures and James of Beverley Manor are both from Ulster, all of Scottish descent, and all brothers or close cousins.

I put quotes around "William and Thomas" as I'm assuming based on date and location of their land surveys, that William and Thomas are probably (high %, higher than 50%) related, so I'm lumping them together for this discussion.

The first strike against the relationship portion of the hypothesis is that James settled in Beverley Manor before 1740, and "William and Thomas" were in Cowpastures perhaps 2-3 years later. That doesn't preclude it, James could have emigrated first and sent message back to them to follow, but it does introduce the possibility they are different families.

James' importation oath saying he came from Ireland does not preclude that he could have been in Ireland for a short time, having emigrated there from Scotland.

This is all just pondering. No proof.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Interesting From Scotland's People: Parish's

Matthew is Thos' father's name on Thos' profile. (1st column) Thomas' grandfather's name would also be Thomas. and they're from Dumblane.

1) GILLESPIE MATTHEW: THOMAS GILLESPIE/ 25/03/1694: 348/ 10 193; Dunblane

2) GILLESPIE MATTHEW; JOHN GILLESPIE/ ; 22/07/1705; 601/ 10 25; Kirkoswald

As Interesting is Gillespie-1766 William Gillespie b. 1662 in St. Ninians Scotland, (12 mi. from Falkirk) who married Elspeth Jeffrey. It was abandoned so I adopted it. Extremely possible they went to Northern Ireland from there as it was the killing Times in Scotland.

Something to ponder....

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
My head is now spinning. I just added a research note regarding Orange Co importation oaths to:

James Gillespie (abt.1700-abt.1769) of Beverley Manor

William Gillespie (bef.1725-aft.1801) of Cowpasture

Perhaps "William and Thomas" were already in the area (no idea where yet) by 1740.

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
I have left a comment in James' profile before adding to "Disputed Origins". It certainly looks like Thomas and William Gillespie were born in Pittsburgh between 1722 - 1725. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE ALICE!
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Who is Hugh! lol Does he have some connection with Thomas? or no? lol

Ken, at this point you can do what you want and we can figure out details as they become obvious. Robert may very well be William and Mary's son of Cowpastures who died in the American Revolution. But then there are other Roberts...

This 3d Generation profile will be important as we're trying to figure out with son went where.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Having another profile is GREAT!!!

Hey Ken! Did you see Jo Craddock on the Thomas' DNA Connections. On Relationship to Me - She's a Glendenning through Roseanne Kirkpatrick!!!! The First I've seen directly through Roseanne!!!! That's Archibald's mother!!!!

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Please help me here!

This would be the first I've heard of a Thomas Gillespie as a son of James and Jennet. There may be a Thomas Gillespie in Cowpasture, I wouldn't know. But I need to understand where he belongs. As far as I know, he did not swear in with James and Jennet, nor is he listed in Parish records that I remember.

Robert Gillespie would have had to have had a brother. That's possible. I've not gotten to know those files very well...

We don't have a profile on this person, do we? He'd have to be born in 1720s to have been named in a Will in 1749.

oh goodness...

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
1) I can't access Ancestry links so could somebody copy and paste it or tell us where we can get it?

2) Should we start another Profile for Thomas Gillespie? It would seem like a good idea? I'm thinking they're cousins? Didn't James Will say he had a brother in Northern Ireland?

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I only use Ancestry links as a near last resort. The Ancestry links that start like this (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/…) with the word sharing in it will generally show you just that page (free), but some instead show you a database search form and you have to enter the name, or maybe pick the journal volume and number, and then the name, and during all this you often then get caught needing a login/subscription to get to the source.

In the William #1 and William #3 citations above, only [4] is currently Ancestry, and I only kept that because that is what someone else used earlier; I'll defer to them to delete it. I supplemented that with [3] … 1734-1867, Orders, v. 1-2, which shows the image of the importation oath. So read [3] instead of [4].

My pecking order for citing a primary source and providing an image is:

  • 1) Archive.org (free, no account needed); for books
  • 2) FamilySearch.org (free, need an account); largest library of records, so look here first
  • 3) Various like Hathitrust.org (free via a partner account), JSTOR.org (can read 100 articles/month free). I use these particularly for more recent genealogical journals that are not on Archive.org and FamilySearch.org.
  • 4) Ancestry.com (not free, need an account, except for sometimes which is unpredictable)
  • 5) work on another profile instead
  • 6) use an abstract; abstracts have burned me too many times.  :-)
posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
I live in Chicago and the Chicago Public Library is HUGE. Since I have a card, I have access to treasure, which is and is not online -- and many thing Jstor. so you seem like a person who reads ALOT so anytime we need to look something up that you can't reach, let me know.

Hathitrust is my best friend.

FamilyTrust needs help -- at least in my trees. I've seen too many bad sourcing from Ancestry there ... and wrong family paths. Shame, I used to really depend on them. I think volunteers who have nothing better to do should go in and fix Family Search.

My husband's family is my "Work on another profile" - but PGM is all over him and they scare me, lol.

Yeah abstracts to me are like Familly Search. those and published family genealogy. 20th century self published biographies did me in at least twice.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
This Thomas is on the Cowpasture River in 1746 with William #3 of Cowpasture River, not William #1 of Beverley Manor. Thomas and William #3 are having their land surveyed and they are already in possession of the land, so arrived a little earlier (months, not years; the timing of the settling of the Cowpasture River is described in detail in the Annals of Bath source). They are getting land, so they both were born prior to 1725.

The number of records for William #3 is astounding. The records for Thomas and Robert are thinner.

Based solely on the timing of the first records found so far for each, here are my assumptions:

William #3 probably born before April 1725. Thomas probably born before April 1725.

William #3 lives past 1780, perhaps to 1798/1801 (though chance there are two Williams there) Thomas has a Will (1790).

So William #3 and Thomas are likely of the same generation, presumably brothers.

Robert was probably born before 19 Nov 1750 (his record is a road order, so he could be as young as 16). Since he doesn't appear getting land in 1746, and he appears in two road orders with William #3, he is presumably the son of William #3.

Profiles exist for all of them.

posted by Ken Spratlin
OK, so now we're saying William no.3 is not of Beverley manor?

We're going to run into problems with DNA. There is a convergence between Glendennings and William Gillespie.

The Botetourts with the Y-DNA [1].

The Glendennings have the same connections as William and Mary. Hard when they have to work together...

Where do we start here?

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
William #1 (at the top of the profile) is of Beverley.

William #3 is of Cowpasture River. William #2 is of Botetourt County, but that is just Cowpastures after Botetourt Co was formed.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Probate of Archibald Glendening makes interesting reading. Quoting abstracts and summaries on websites instead of sourcing the original documents is denying significant information to the research of these profiles.

Archibald did name William Gillespie as executor in his Will, and Archibald describes himself as "of Cowpasture" (therefore telling us this is William #3).

But he also names Thomas Gillespie. Thomas and and William received land in Cowpastures from the April 1746 survey. They are apparently brothers—my impression from the weight of the records.

Thomas & William did NOT appear in Court when Archibald's Will was proved. They were summoned by the Court to explain why they would not serve.

In August 1749, the Court gave Archibald's wife Esther administration of the estate.

posted by Ken Spratlin
That is interesting. One would think if William did marry his daughter Mary he would’ve appeared and served.
posted by Timothy Upton
I agree that we need Archibald's original Will. I have no clue how to find original documents unless you point my nose in it and say THERE it is. This is what Scotland Project did to show me their Parish records.

Here's the thing. William would not have appeared in Court if he couldn't be there. Like he could have been taking product from Beverley Manor to York for example. York was the closest business district West of the Allegheny Mountains. Remember, York and Cowpasture were still one territory. West Virginia only became its own state during the Civil War.

Also, Archibald may have named Thomas, but not necessarily Thomas Gillespie. There is no Thomas Gillespie that I can see from either Cowpasture or Botetourt. I believe this is Thomas McCullough who married Elizabeth Gillespie, William's sister. Once Thomas married Elizabeth, he was considered William's brother. They would have had to have been at least 18 to be named in the Will.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
From the research I've completed this past week on William in Cowpastures and James with son William in Beverley Manor, I've formed the following conclusions:

1) The locations Cowpasture River and Beverley Manor have been confused in multiple Gillespie profiles. These profiles all need to be re-sourced and a definitive "identity" established for each tying them to a single foundational record with a citation. These identities should be based on records in Virginia, not Ireland or Scotland. There may be some profiles that were created to represent persons born in Ireland or Scotland, that were then edited to tie them to Cowpastures River or Beverley Manor; I am NOT referring to those here, they have an Ireland or Scotland identity.

2) William of Cowpasture River is LIKELY NOT (>50%) or PROBABLY NOT (high %, but not 100%) the same person as William son of James of Beverley Manor. This is based on (a) a statement that William of Beverley Manor dwelled at Beverley Manor in 1768, (b) the geography of Cowpastures, which made it difficult to reach from Beverley Manor (perhaps 5 days by wagon?), and (c) the description of how Cowpastures was settled in Annals of Bath, hard to imagine why one family would choose to live in both locations at the same time. Unless there are records even suggesting otherwise, I am firmly in the PROBABLY NOT (high %, but not 100%) camp.

Are there any known records (not DNA) tying William of Cowpastures to William of Beverley Manor?

posted by Ken Spratlin
Forgot to also include that James of Beverley Manor Will refers to 2 sons (James, William) of his sons as living on his plantations at Beverley Manor. Son John is described as in possession of the other plantation.
posted by Ken Spratlin
I found and added the surveys (not deeds or land grants) for the 320, 50, and 50 acres in Cowpastures. From the Annals of Bath County reference Timothy pointed out, I was able to approximately locate these on the Google Maps map I created. The tract descriptions often do not refer to what is next to them, so difficult to quickly locate them on a map.

I have looked for deed in the Orange and Augusta County deeds, but no luck yet. If there is a reference anywhere to a source and page number, I'll try again.

posted by Ken Spratlin
What connects either William of Beverley Manor or William of Cowpasture River/Botetourt County to Pendleton South Carolina?
posted by Ken Spratlin
The Census of 1790 is a start. at least.

I have genetic lines to 3 distinct families: William from Falkirk/Cowpasture/South Carolina. he had 6 sons, the last son born South Carolina. Robert Gillespie with son William from Botetourt. and William #1 wife, Mary's family Glendennings through Archibald Glendenning. The DNA connections freely flows between the Gillespies and Glendennings. I am establishing the DNA under the section you designated in James' profile. I should have it done this weekend. I will copy it over to Mary's profile connecting this 3 way tie once it makes sense to you. I believe these 3 families are clearly referred to Archibald Glendennings Will 1749 (I'll confirm) I need to feel I have that solid.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
and Ken - Can you upload the map you created in James' profile -- it beats the one currently posted.

Please let me know if there's any additional connections I should be considering.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Ken I’m also looking at the Bowen connections to see if there is anything. Two of the daughters are said to have married Brothers Robert and Charles. The Bowen’s (Robert and Charles parents) settled on the James River not far from the William on Cow Pasture River. Robert Bowen married William’s daughter Mary. Robert is said to have later settled in Pendleton South Carolina and is listed on the 1790 and 1800 census there and then moved to Tennessee.
posted by Timothy Upton
This is converging more quickly than I expected.

Three significant items (primary sources) are still needed:

1) the land grants or indentures for purchase of the 320/50/50 acres of land on Cowpastures and Jackson River. Any other records referencing this land like "surveys" of this land around 1746, 1747, and 1767.

2) the tithables of William of Botetourt Co in 1774.

3) the indentures selling all of the land of James that was bequest to his three sons in Beverley Manor after 1768, establishing when it left the family and potentially proving where they went.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Hi Ken,

I’m not sure if you have seen this source for 80 acres that William recieved in Beverley Manor from his father James.

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/46732:7832?ssrc=pt&tid=76294117&pid=44338676006

Also if you have not taken a look at the “Annals of Bath County” that I mentioned below you may want to. It list the sale of the 320 acres “Griffith Knob” on the Cow Pasture River to Aaron Hughes in 1780.

posted by Timothy Upton
I have seen the 80 acres source. Ancestry has it misdated, should be 15 May 1770, not 1775. This is the citation Augusta Deed books, v. 14-16 images 725-727 in the list. This is interesting and should be looked into a little more. The 80 acres is sold to a Thomas McColloch. The profile for Jame's daughter Elizabeth (Gillespie) McCullough (abt.1742-aft.1775) says she married Thomas McCullough. The marriage appears to not be sourced in either of their profiles.

I haven't read the Annals of Bath Co source yet, but the indenture is the source Botetourt Co Deed books, v. 1-2 images 602-603 already in the profile under William #3.

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
I have completed reviewing the Botetourt Co. 1770–1785 tithables, adding a summary of those for William.

The Gillespys listed appear to be in at most two or three general locations, perhaps the 320 acre tract and the two 50 acre tracts. To confirm this requires further research.

The Gillespys listed have the feel of one family, presumably led by William based on the land sales with up to six sons, or perhaps some are grandsons. Still need to find the land grants or purchases to provide insight into who is the head of the family, and when they arrived, which may suggest how many generations are involved (one or two).

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
Is there a source or lead to this statement in the bio:

"He had 320 acres of land surveyed in 1746". The paragraph later refers to land "in Augusta County (now Allegheny County), Virginia as early as March 1746 or 1747". Perhaps these two phrases are referring to the same land.

I trying to find an image of the primary source.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Hi Ken :D

I think this is from "Timeline" posted in the bio for which I have little to no reference. Though not a direct answer to your question, there is one interesting thing with the date 1746. We are presently working on validating Mary, his wife, as a Glendenning and they immigrated into the area until 1746. I do not believe there was much of a point to surveying the land if he was not starting a family. But my opinion is the two phrases were referring to the same land.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
It appears that most of the verbiage was copied from other genealogy sites. I did find an interesting read “Annals of Bath County” on Ancestry.com which is where a lot of this information may have come from. It mentions the land survey and roads that were built. There are a couple of others Gillespie’s mentioned as well.

https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/10557/

posted by Timothy Upton
edited by Timothy Upton
Great source! Wish I had read it yesterday before reading over 500 pages of tithables for Botetourt County. I still would have had to read the 500 pages, but I would have understood what I was seeing much better.

I will re-review the tithable records I found to see if the precinct names confirm were they were along the river and whether they help sort out any repeated first names. There are a trival number of Gillespie first names repeated in any given year, which led to my current belief there is only one family of perhaps two or three generations across the tithables era of 1770–1789 I reviewed.

It also should help narrow the range of deeds that need to be reviewed to find the 320/50/50 acre land grants or purchases.

This is the "road map" to the Allied Families. Mandatory reading for the Gillespies of Cowpasture River.

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
1) @Hi Jack. This would be an excellent idea if there weren't so many William Gillespie profiles. I am so confused! Can we archive the comments here and start fresh? Perhaps bring the check list for what needs to be done mentioned below to create a fresh check list?

2) Maybe we can incorporate Jack's suggestion and use the profile Timothy referred as that "3d profile" and that way we might find a biography for it somewhere, but in the meantime we'll use it as a "dummy" profile: Gillespie-641? We can keep the ID# for Jannet Stewart in Free-Space until we're ready to bring her out? Let's not lose her entirely...

3) I started a DNA that was supposed to fit both William and Mary s well as connecting her with her father in order to identify their children with their family. I was able to connect them with the descendants of each child. See [1]

4) DNA for Irish Gillespie See [2]

5) Falkirk Gillespie and Northern Irish Gillespie Intermarried See [3]

6) William's father James Gillespie [4]

Please add if I'm missing something?

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
It might even work better if your had multiple Biographies A, B, C, D on one page. I recommend keeping everything on one profile because you may change your mind and move a particualr fact from A to C or D to B multiple times as you research.

This is sort of like the game of clue where you're looking for the murderer and you are told that the man in the top hat is carrying a cat, the woman in red has a blue purse, and man in overalls is standing next to the fireplace and somehow you're supposed to figure out from that who shot John!

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best.

posted by Jack Day
Jack's suggestion is excellent because there are so many William Gillespies. Here is a profile where we are using Jack's approach on a similarly confusing profile.

I will add a "structure" of subheadings to get this started.

We need (at least) two things:

1) To point to a record that identifies the identity of this profile - William #1 - who will remain up in the Biography. Yesterday, I proposed using the 24 July 1740, James Gilasby made oath in Orange County Court, Virginia.

2) A list of records (or DNA research reports) pointing to (a) different Willams who will become #2, #3, etc and (b) Williams that are Undetermined. These can initially be placed in the Undetermined subheading until they can be reviewed and sorted into the correct subheading.

We can and will make mistakes along the way. The mistakes can be corrected, including changing the identity of this profile if that is more efficient than having to later move large amounts of the "proved" content in the Biography to another profile.

posted by Ken Spratlin
I have added the deconflation structure.
posted by Ken Spratlin
OK, I am moving "Nancy" from Pennsylvania to designated section and walking away for a day or two to concentrate on my husband's tree. I'll be back Thursday. By then, you guys can figure out what you're doing and I'll contribute whatever you'd like then. :) okay?

I'm just terrible at multitasking...

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
When two or more people have become conflated in a profile, my recommendation for disentangling them is to create three temporary Biography sections -- Biography of Person A, Biography of Person B, and Undetermined.

This permits a process of moving material from the profile that clearly belongs to Person A (substitute the real name there!) into that section, and the same for person B. You dont' have to solve everything at once because the material you haven't moved anywhere stays in Undetermined. As you do research and find added material, the new material can go to A, B. or Undertermined as well.

Identifying every fact with an inline citation is crucial, because you will be moving facts around, and you want the source to stay with them when you move the fact around.

Over time, hopefully the amount of material in "undetermined" will get less!

Eventually, you will want to decide which Person gets to keep this profile (ideally the one that is already connected to the most real relatives) and which Person's material gets moved to another profile.

Do not do any merges of similar people, because when you are ready to move Person A or Person B to another profile, it is handy to already have one waiting, rather than creating a new one.

Not everyone works this way, of course, but I have found it very helpful, and pass it along.

posted by Jack Day
Where do you want me to begin? Give me a Step 1.
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Adding US Southern Colonies Project as a co-manager to assist with this profile. Please continue to manage normally.
posted by Scott McClain
Establishing a clear identity (foundation) for a profile is essential when conflation of individuals with same name is an issue.

After having reviewed the entirety of this profile, I would like to propose the identity of this William Gillespie be based on this primary source:

On 24 July 1740, James Gilasby made oath in Orange County Court, Virginia, "that he imported himself Jennet Agnes John James & Wm Gilasby & Edward Hall from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony at his own Charge & that this is the first time of his proving his or their rights in order to obtain land.[3][4]

This has the advantage of simultaneously establishing his parents, some siblings, a possible allied family (Hall), an approximate immigration date and origin, and new residence with one primary source. And the profile is currently consistent with all elements of this record.

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
Ken, I want to make sure that this does not establish him as the William born in Falkirk Scotland though? As long as that is the case I’m okay with that. Previously his parents were listed as James Gillespie-641 and Jannet Stewart- 1222232 from Ireland.
posted by Timothy Upton
We're saying there were two families. One from Falkirk, the other from Ireland. we're in agreement, yes? or are you seriously saying you will not accept that this William Gillespie came from Falkirk? we are saying there is a family from Falkirk with parish records showing he came from Falkirk, he married in Falkirk, had children from Falkirk and took his family through the ports in Ireland because that was where the ports to the colonies were. we are in agreement?

I have recently acquired https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gillespie-641. James Gillespie married Jannet Stewart. These are blank profiles that have. As of August, 2021 it was still a blank profile. it said: <!-- Please edit, add, or delete anything in this text, including this note. Be bold and experiment! If you make a mistake you can always see the previous version of the text on the Changes page. --> We've NEVER developed this profile.

Wiki gave this completely EMPTY profile to me and they are asking me to merge it with this James. The label on this profile as of August, 2021 was "Unsourced Virginia". I'm being asked to merge it with James from Falkirk. In the over 5 years its been in existence, its never had information in it. Nobody subverted an already thriving profile to make it into some other family.

Before I do ANY work on this Timothy...you go into Gillespie-641, James married to Jannet Stewart. Look in the Changes tab at the top. The very top is me adopting the profile. But you can go back through the history of the profile. Nothing hs been done. A lot of effort. You see people trying, but they came up with NOTHING.

Our James from Falkirk has been developed through years. The PM of that profile has been there for a long time and let me in so I could do some research. He likes me there.

In Fact, if you like Gillespie-641 and his wife Jannet Stewart, I'll give it to you. Go there if you'd be happier. Do with it what you please. and if you go back into the Changes tab and find ANYTHING you think got thrown out inappropriately, bring it back. It's okay.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Agreed, establishing the identity only pours the foundation for this profile which is then "set in stone": William, son of James, who imported before 24 July 1740, himself Jennet Agnes John James & Wm Gilasby & Edward Hall from Ireland to Philadelphia & from thence into this Colony (Orange Co, VA). We presume the Gilasbys are a single family, but it isn't stated. We know they were in Ireland, but don't know the context.

Until clearly establishing an identify for this profile, we're playing "what came first, the chicken (this William, son of James, of the oath) or the egg (the various origin stories for William: Ireland, Scotland, etc.)?" The Falkirk records are separate records that then need to be proven with some level of confidence to this William.

If you start instead from the Falkirk records as the identity, you have a much harder task of using that foundation and proving how they got to Virginia. The oath record tells you how this William got to Virginia.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Is the DNA research documented somewhere on-line concerning the claimed father-daughter relationship between this William Gillespie (1728-abt.1802) and Nancy (Gillespie) Owens (1760-1852).

This relationship appears to be unsourced and unproven in both profiles here on WikiTree, and would ordinarily be removed.

posted by Ken Spratlin
REALLY? NONE of the children are sourced except through unsourced "trees".

This was the frontier, in the midst of 2 wars. The only way to know anybody existed was through business involving people over 18. If you want to do that, then remove all of them, except the ones that can be shown on a Census in 1790 and then prove which Gillespie we're talking about.

We see more than one family through LaVerne's DNA. And Nancy has at least that much, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

I'm not sure why finding experts outside of Wikitree is more convincing than those right here. An expert is an expert with the same information. From what I've seen, just having sources has caused a lot of confusion, whether from outside or inside Wiki. Your Geni example was disastrous.

We're lucky we have genetics to navigate us through the chaos. Wikitree is about genetic genealogy, why does everybody suspect it. If its because of me, that perhaps I don't know what I'm talking about, bring in another expert to look at the work. I'm fine with that...but forcing me to go wandering around outside of Wikitree is not reasonable.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Is the DNA research documented somewhere on-line concerning the apparently two, three, or four different families named Gillispie being discussed in this profile?
  • Two families in Cowpastures at this time, one imported by James from Ireland
  • Family in Scotland with birth records
  • Family traced to Ireland with DNA
posted by Ken Spratlin
Actually JAMES was from Falkirk. (you gotta love it). ROBERT was from Ireland.

Yes, JAMES has parish records from Falkirk. Yes, Robert can be traced with DNA.

This third Gillespie is new to me.

As LaVerne's Y seems to have been reflected on the third William Gillespie he'd have been an offspring in that family? perhaps married twice? Did a wife die?
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
But is the DNA research documented somewhere, even if not on-line?
posted by Ken Spratlin
The third Gillispie is:

"As this line is established and a Gillespie holds that Y-DNA, an ancestor left Ireland In the early 18th Century, and bought land in Botetourt County, Virginia, in 1746 at the same time as James Gillespie,[2][6] possibly his brother."

posted by Ken Spratlin
WikiTree speaks to the importance of sources, Help:Sources, and documents a process for confirming relationships with DNA, Help:DNA Confirmation.

I'm just asking if the DNA research that is being referred to as proving these relationships that are apparently otherwise unsourced is written down somewhere so that it can be reviewed and added to by WikiTreers.

posted by Ken Spratlin
Ken,

According to most of the Y-DNA testers of this family on FamilyTreeDNA William was was born in 1720 and is from Northern Ireland. It does not appear that they have been able to trace it back any farther then this William. If I recall before the changes and the parents were added to this profile his DOB was listed as 1720.

If you have access you can see it here. https://www.familytreedna.com/public/GillespieDNAProject?iframe=ycolorized

If you aren’t able see it please let me know.

Also if you look at his son John the maker of Gillespie Long-riffles you will see mention of an uncle named Robert. Tim

posted by Timothy Upton
edited by Timothy Upton
I’m not sure what you are asking?
posted by Timothy Upton
In the Land subsection, it discusses there being two families named Gillispie in Cowpastures at this time, both apparently with a William Gillispie.

Is there a profile for the other William Gillispie and primary source(s) that differentiate that other William Gillispie from this William Gillispie (2 sets of probate records, one for this William and one for that William, land records mentioning siblings or allied families that serve to differentiate them)? If NOT, I'm not suggesting to create one yet. It is probably more efficient to deconflate them in this single profile for now. I'm just asking the question at this point.

Which William Gillispie is referred to in the 24 July 1740 Orange County Court oath of importation? This William, or the other William?

Which William Gillispie is referred to in the 15 May 1770 land indenture for 80 acres? This William, or the other William?

posted by Ken Spratlin
@Ken: I'm still separating out the two families, but I can say this:
This William came to the colonies in 1740 with his family. His father was James from Falkirk. THIS William b. 1728.
From the date, it looks like the Indenture is the OTHER William as his father was Robert from Ireland. b. 1755. (I can't see the link on the OTHER William's profile - can you?)

I agree, we have more than enough William Gillespies to go around and I noticed you adopted one of them. Is that a THIRD William Gillespie? You don't want to take on LaVerne's "Gillespies" by any chance? (please?) :D

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
The indenture is for "… 80 acres … being a part of three Tracts first conveyed to James Gillispie deceased …"

I don't see the name Robert in the indenture.

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
I think it makes sense that William Gillespie of 1770 was son of Robert Gillespie who came around the same time as the Falkirk family.

The two families were close friends. In fact, here's another piece, James Smiley of this family married Isabella from the

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
@ Ken. The question you raised in the "Conflated profiles" was fair. As I acquired the information I have posted very recently, I'd just begun to sort this part out so did not leave a note. There's much to do with the study separating the Gillespies in Virginia. Unfortunately with all the confusion, I have had difficulty keeping up with all the information. my apologies.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
@ ken @ timothy:

I want to show Tim something.

I don't know you well, so I have no idea what you know about Wiki Relationship to Me function and DNA. so, please don't get offended if I'm going over familiar turf.
We know Ken has reviewed this profile.
Relationship to Me does not give us information we can write in stone. In fact when you go back past the 18th century, it doesn't provide any autosomal DNA at all. But it does give us places to start a hunt.

With this function, Timothy and I have a match through Mary (Gillespie) Bowen.

Ken and I have an interesting match through an Eppes - an ancestor I'm intrigued with because the Eppes were from Virginia and the one connected to me was captain of a ship that transported tobacco from Virginia to Scotland. One of my other branches (Jackson) worked for him for years on his boat with his son Ralph Jackson from the time he was 2. Ralph and Capt. Eppes became very close. But he's not connected with the Gillespies.
Tim and I have over 3 dozen family members who have accessed the Gillespie profiles. We can match on both gedmatch and relationship to me with any of these 3 dozen people. AND if anybody that's taken a DNA test accesses this profile, they will automatically show up as a DNA connection.
If you're not genetically connected to this ancestor, you won't show up on DNA Connection.

Look at it yourself. Test it out.

That's one way we know somebody is or is not a member of this particular family.

I can access all the other Gillespies, but the only one's I will appear on the DNA Connection will be those I am connected with. Those are family.

If Ken and I both access the common Eppes ancestor, we will show up on that ancestors profile. Tim who I don't believe shares that particular ancestor, won't.

That will also work with the Glendinnings, Mary's family who others want to say can not be guaranteed as William's Wife.

Ken will be able to access her profile, but not show up on the DNA Connections. Try it, you'll like it.

If you want, you can go deeper and use Gedmatch, but for our purposes, it'd be silly...unless its not. But at the very least, its fun.

Tim, you and I are 6th cousins. Hey cuz...pleased to meet you!

You can delete this comment if you like, but I just wanted to share something about Wiki I really like.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Hi Amanda,

I think I understand what you are trying to say. I have used both tools to determine if a connection within my family tree could be viable. Without using DNA triangulation it is difficult (and I’m no expert) to determine if said connection could be correct or not.

You say “If you're not genetically connected to this ancestor, you won't show up on DNA Connection.” I’m not sure that this is entirely true. DNA connections are based upon the connections made within someone’s WikiTree family tree.

Take Mary Gillespie Bowen for example. She is connected through both my parental and maternal sides. On my parental side she is married to my 5x Great Uncle (no genetic relationship). On my maternal side she is my 5x Great Grandmother so the genetic relationship is on my maternal side. So therefore my autosomal DNA is flowing up through the tree to William Gillespie from my maternal side.

Let’s say that I have the father of 3x great grandfather on my maternal side John McClure identified incorrectly. My autosomal DNA still populates on William’s profile because of this incorrect connection in WikiTree. If I were to remove John McClure’s father from his WikiTree profile my autosomal DNA test would be removed from William Gillespie even though I may share DNA with some of those three dozen profiles currently listed under William. This could be through other connections in WikiTree that have or may not yet have been made.

Another example of this would be with Nancy Agnus Gillespie Bowen Houston. I left you a message on her profile. I believe that Nancy Gillespie Bowen and Nancy Gillespie Houston are two different people that have been merged. If we were to split them back apart all those autosomal DNA profiles on Williams page that are connected because of the erroneous merge would be removed from Williams profile assuming there are no other WikiTree connections identified to William within their family tree.

I hope I have not misunderstood what you were saying.

Tim

posted by Timothy Upton
@ Timothy:

I want to be able to make sure I do this right so I'll be away to gedmatch -- i'm hoping for just a little bit while I attempt to group our 3 dozen cousins together on Gedmatch and see if we triangulate around William Gillespie from Cowpasture.

Let me be a PM with you on Nancy Agnes' profile, just while we experiment together. I'll agree you can delete me if you want afterward...okay? I won't complain.

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I would like to make two organizational changes to this profile before jumping in:

1) Move the current Research Notes content into a subsection within that same section entitled something like "William Gillespie Study"

2) Move the Research Notes subsection Timeline directly above Research Notes as the final subsection of Biography. This is a good place to collect detailed records that are too numerous for the actual Biography narrative. Can address later whether these stay in profile or get moved to a free-space page if the profile gets too big.

Concerns?

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
Ken:

I'm in the middle of creating a document sorting out 18-19 Century Gillespie Profiles, so it will seem I'm MIA, but I'm not. I'm here... I attempted to revise the Research Notes as you suggested...i hope they're okay. If you'd prefer to move them or do whatever, its okay - otherwise, let me know and I'll try again.

I'm not great at multi-tasking and might get confused. my apologies.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I have some time to get up to speed on this profile. Could someone please help me understand the current state of play as follows (just a succinct answer pointing to a source or paragraph in the profile is needed):

1) What defines the identity of this individual? Birth record, immigration record, land record, Will? I will spiral out from this record looking for proof the other records are the same person, looking for possible conflation, and identifying areas needing additional research.

2) Are his parents disputed?

3) Which of his children are disputed? I see two Nancys so only asking about the others.

4) Are there other significant areas of dispute? Just identify the issue.

Thank you, Ken (US Southern Colonies Managed Profiles Coordinator)

posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
: 1) William Gillespie is all about family.
2) We are sure about his parents and their property.
3) All children are clear except the Nancy from Pennsylvania.
4) The other issue in dispute is William's Wife, Mary (Glendinning). The two profiles are best seen as one.
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Thanks Ken!

At one point this individual was only identified by the land records that I recall.

There was a dispute/discussion about if he was the William born in Falkirk due to the fact that there is a marriage for a William in Falkirk later and there was nothing at the time that would tie him to the family that had immigrated. Amanda may have found something to verify this connection now.

I don’t believe that any of the other children are in dispute at this time other than the two Nancy’s.

I hope this helps.

Tim

posted by Timothy Upton
Hi Tim:

I'm working on Gillespie profiles. I'm glad you're here to answer Ken's questions.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I have just acquired a TON of Gillespie profiles after Wikitree discovered their PM died 2 years ago...

This is timely. My mentor sent me a document she developed in an attempt to outline the different men with the same name that are being conflated. (with FREE ancestry.com links & unusual children's names). This I hope will make it easier to avoid merging files all naming "William Gillespie."

I have also been developing a DNA study originally intended to match William's wife Mary with her family. Sources and paper trails were rare when Augusta County was first open, outside of perhaps personal Bibles. There were other problems, like the French Indian War. So as we have 3 dozen DNA Connection with this family alone, and we add others who accessed William and Mary's parents and children, we have even more to combine DNA with their segments. I've been working with a professional Genetic Genealogist as well as my mentor to make sure I'm "coloring inside the lines." [1]

Today I've had to save this document under Public files that can only be revised by those on a Trusted List. I'd like to invite those of you interested in this study to contact me and I'll happily add you to the Trusted List on both documents. I'm starting the second one tomorrow (Sunday)

Wikitree has awesome tech that could make this very large family easier to develop with fewer mistakes. :D

Challenging profiles means we engage Paper Trail (Sources) + Science (DNA Connections) + Historical Relevance (Time Line)

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Added US Southern Colonist Project PMP/PPP—Controversial.
posted by Ken Spratlin
edited by Ken Spratlin
Thanks Ken! I look forward to having some fresh eyes on this profile.
posted by Timothy Upton
Hello Ken! so pleased to meet you! and so pleased you're here!
posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
@Ken Spratlin: When I saved this profile after an edit, I got: Error? ProjectBox Without Project Account Help → US Southern Colonist

Is there a problem? if so, how do we fix it?

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Thank you for noticing this. It will be cleared up in a day or so. Two of us are typically the ones adding the template. Only one of us then adds the Project Account, which most often occurs on Wednesday.

There is a spreadsheet tracking which have the template and which need the Project Account.

posted by Ken Spratlin
After much consideration and further research, particularly the DNA Connect of William Gillespi with Nancy, I am reinstating him as her father, with her mother presently unknown.
posted on Gillespie-6703 (merged) by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Amanda, I see that the changes were made to this profile even after the G2G discussions regarding William and Nancy Gillespie Owen. I’m not sure at this point what has changed that would imply that Nancy is definitely Williams daughter. Apparently what I and others have to say about making connections based on DNA results only are not important at this point.
posted by Timothy Upton
edited by Timothy Upton
I'm in the middle of handing this whole issue over to WT. I've requested WT mediation and for Mary and Williams profiles to work under the protection of the Southern Colonies Project. Maybe then we can all be a team.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
It may be a good idea that eyes other then ours take a look at this profile.

I’m not disputing the fact that there is a DNA connection. What I am finding hard is that William and his wife Mary left Virginia and went to Pennsylvania to have a child (Nancy). Then return to Virginia to raise her only later to have her return to Pennsylvania and marry. To me it seems more likely that Nancy’s parents were living in Pennsylvania and are different then the William and Mary in Virginia. There were Gillespie families living in the York area. Some of these families may be related to James or William (brother, cousin) which would account for the DNA connections.

posted by Timothy Upton
What I found was that they were chased off their land by Indians in the French/Indian War. They left Virginia and did not return. Mary was very close to term when they left and I'm still figuring this out myself, but they were fleeing their home with small children. It does not surprise me that they couldn't care for a newborn while on the run. It looks to me based on the families around Nancy that the community that adopted her might have been Quakers in York. The older children (if I'm not mistaken) left with them to settle in other places like Tennessee while Mary and William settled in South Carolina where they gave birth to 2 other children, the youngest born 3 years later who was named Nancy. Mary died there. South Carolina, btw, was a Scottish bastion. Scots were notorious for "clanning" with other Scots.

The DNA only becomes interesting when other people from the same line are matched with other "siblings." This line is very fortunate in that there are 33 people from different places who were DNA tested and match with others from Mary and William. The percentage of connections make matches between family members more reliable. The fact that there are so many of these matches. compelled me to buy a membership at Gedmatch to understand segments better. I am also seeking guidance from a professional Genetic Genealogist to explain the specifics to me. One of the important pieces is a question whether their mother Mary was unnamed in her father's Will because of some convention because she married before he died or because she didn't exist in that family? The DNA is helping to sort that out.

It's this question that compelled me to reach out and work with the PM of her suspected father's profile. We are doing a lot of research off list through email because her profile was so busy. He is becoming more active as we're building a compelling bridge between this unnamed pioneer woman and her family and the Y-DNA contributor to the Glendinnings. That's the point of the Genetic Genealogist.

Here's something Scott and I unearthed awhile ago [1], but we couldn't figure how it fit into Archibald's puzzle until we found the French Indian war was between 1754-1763. Archibald Sr. died in 1749 so it didn't make sense that it would be Mary's father...he married twice and died too early..But Scott figured out it was about Archibald's son was Archibald Jr. The DNA of 33 DNA connections along with this article was important information and worth taking seriously.

Before I disconnected Mary from Esther, the Pennsylvanian DNA connections also connect with Esther Mayes (Mrs. Glendinning Sr.) which it would seem couldn't happen without the bridge. I disconnected her for the sake of collaboration, but without that connect, Mary's siblings won't show. To explain this better, we'd need the genealogist to explain why that's true - but at the time we thought it was pretty awesome. Those Pennsylvania Connections still appear on Mary's profile (Nancy's apparent mother) so They'll be back up with Esther when the Powers that Be tell me I can reconnect the profiles.

Now perhaps you're up to speed. Not complete, and needs more research, but that's where we're at.

a

posted by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey