Elizabeth (Jack) Kilgore (abt. 1719 - bef. 1792)

Born about 9 Sep 1719 in Tyrone, Tyrone, , Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of James Kilgore — married 1734 in Newville, Bucks, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died before 14 Feb 1792 before about age 72 in Newton, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Betsy (Jack) Kilgore lived in Appalachia, in Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Jack, Fiction and Fact by Erica Hahn (posted with permission from the author)

There is no question that James “William” Kilgore born about 1701-1710, who lived in Newton Twp, Cumberland County, Pa, his will probated on 10 Sept 1771, had a wife named Elizabeth. As set out his will he also had 13 living children. It is assumed that the Elizabeth of his will and the mother of most of these children was Elizabeth Jack, and there is no reason to doubt that at all. One of the executors named in the will was James Jack, presumably her brother which is pretty normal.

There has been a lot said about Elizabeth Jack, some of it not true. It has been stated in many places that Elizabeth was born 9 Sept 1727 in Ardstraw, Tyrone, Ireland, the daughter of James Jack born 1705, wife Elizabeth McNulty. From there a very elegant family tree extends back into France. However the source of information is a manuscript called the “The Jack Family” produced for J V Thompson who hired and paid some $50,000 to a con artist Gustav Anjou (probably not even his name.) The product of Gustav Anjou has been debunked by experts, but the report he gave J V Thompson slipped into J V Thompson’s journals and then on into many genealogies. I have seen the Jack manuscript. A copy is at the Family History Library and it is unquestionably the work of Gustav Anjou and the origin of the 1727 birth in Ardstraw claim.

With regret at this point we must dismiss just about everything from that report. There is no reason to believe that Elizabeth Jack was born in 1727 or that her father was born in 1705.

This fraud has led many researchers to the conclusion that Elizabeth Jack was too young to be the mother of James Kilgore’s first three children. Their dates of birth are pretty easy to work out from other information. They are Hugh born about 1738, Benjamin born about 1739, and Joseph born about 1740.

That has led to the assumption that there must have been an earlier wife to be the mother of these three. In particular Raymond Bell who has done a lot of research on these families, worked from a letter written in 1823 by Andrew Baskins Stephens in which he stated he visited his cousins Nehemiah and James Kilgore in 1813. The two Kilgores would be sons of Joseph, the third son of James Kilgore. Bell guessed that there was an earlier wife of James Kilgore who was a Baskins. It is my understanding that Bell later said he had been wrong, and in fact he was. It turns out that the wife of Joseph Kilgore, thus mother of Nehemiah and James was Isabella Stephens, who would be the aunt of Andrew Baskins Stephens. They were cousins through the Stephens connection. There was no Baskins wife.

So if Elizabeth was not necessarily born in 1727, she may have been old enough to be James Kilgore’s only wife. How old was she? We only have one bit of evidence and it is not perfect, but it is helpful. The Kilgores belonged to Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, Pa. The Church records have been transcribed by Gilbert E Scope, History of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Newville, Pa, 1737-1898, published in 1898. The report shows Elizabeth Kilgore age 70 in John Carson’s District along with several of her children with their ages, eg Jesse who is shown on the list as age 22, but whose headstone as Big Spring specifically says he was born in 1763. Swope dates the list to 1789, but knowing the age of Jesse, and some other events, two individuals shown as single who had actually married before 1789, we can work out that the list was earlier (Mr. Wilson was installed June 20, 1787) and of course the age stated for her might be inaccurate anyway due either to mistranscription or perhaps she didn’t know her actual age. Still it is guidance. From this entry we can estimate her year of birth as around 1715-1719.

Elizabeth wrote her own will in 1782 and specifically referred to each child including Hugh, Benjamin, and Joseph, as a son or daughter. (One, Ezekiel, was dead, and not mentioned.) Like James she shows the two youngest children as Jesse and Robert, both under age 21, ie born after 1761. Since we know Jesse’s birth year we can guess that Robert was born about 1765. What age would allow a woman to have children starting in 1739 and ending in 1765? She could have been born as late as 1720 and been 18 when Hugh was born or as early as 1717 and been 48 when Robert was born.

There is an odd fact in the mix. The third child Joseph was given over as a baby to James’ brother, Charles to raise, as is established by Charles’ will. What it means is hard to say. Other than this fact there is no evidence at all of an earlier wife than Elizabeth Jack. So the truth is probably that Elizabeth Jack was born about 1717-1720 and the mother of all the children.

Further information:

Elizabeth Kilgore, wife of James, is listed as ancestor #A211757 in the DAR database. Her service description is that she paid supply tax 1778, 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782.

Elizabeth Kilgore, 1790 United States Federal Census: Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn and Westpensboro, Cumberland Pennsylvania: 1 male under 16, 2 males 16 and over, 2 females. Total Household Members - 5

The Last Will and Testament of Elisabeth Killgore Decd. 332 In the Name of God Amen I Elisabeth Killgore of the Township of Newton in County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania Being very Sick in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory and falling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to die Do this fourteenth Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty two make and ordain this Instrument to Contain my Last will and Testament in form and following that is to Say after paying all my lawful Debts and funeral charges I give devise and dispose of the rest in the following Mannor Viz Imprymus I give and bequeath unto son Hugh Killgoar one rede yearling hefer Item I likewise give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Killgoar Seven Shilling and six pence lawful money Item I aso (sic) give and Bequeath unto my daughter mary Borland Seven shillings and Six pence like money Item likewise I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Killgoar Seven Shillings and six pence Item allso I give and bequeath unto my son oliver Killgoar Seven Shillings and Six Pence Itam I give and bequeath unto my son Patrick Killgoar Seven Shillings and Six pence Itam I give and bequeath unto my son David Killgoar Seven Shillings and Six pence Itam I give and bequeath unto my son Jonathan Killgoar one Gray horse known by the name Jacob and Seven Shillings and Six pence Itam I likewise give and bequeath unto my son John Killgoar one poyed Cow knowed by the name roes and Seven Shillings and Six pence Itam I give and bequeath unto my son William Killgoar one dark brown mair Known by the name of nance my new Stan of plow Irons with the collars hembs duble trees fleveshes and chainges and one hefer called bart and one large breding sow Itam I give and bequeath unto my son Jese Killgoar one bay mare called Jolly and her fole. Itam I Give and b=Bequeath unto my son Robert Killgoar one fille called Jinny and one Brindled cow and calf called buns Itam and all the rite of my Personal Estate that I am poseted of now or shall be posesed of at the time of my Death I give and Bequeath unto my sons John William Jese and Robert Equally to be Divided between them but if any of my Sons Jesse and Robert suld die before they come to the age of twenty one then and in that case I allow and it is my will that their Share Shall be Equally divided between their surviving Brothers John William and the other whichever he be of these two Jese or Robert Item And my two Plantations which I Bought from my sons David and William I give devise and Bequeath unto my sons William Jese and Robert them their heirs and assigns for Ever Equally to be divided between them but if any of my sons Jese or Robert suld die before they come to the age of twenty one or have issue of their own Body lawfully begotten then and in that case I alow and it is my will their part or portion of Said Land be given to their Surviving Brothers Viz William Jese or Robert which Ever of the two Jese or Robert be alive and if bouth Jese and Robert die as aforesaid then and in that case I alow and it is my will that their part of said land Suld be given altogether to my son William him his Heirs and assigns for Ever Item and I do Nominate constitute and appoint my loving Son William Killgoar and my true and Loving frend Alexander Laughlin whole Executors of this my last will and Testament Revocking and disanuling all former wills and Testaments by me maid and ordain this to my Last. In Witness whearof I have hearunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and date above written

Elizabeth Killgoar (her mark)

Signed Sealed and Pronounced in presence of us Sam Cunningham, Alexd. Laughlin James Scrogs

Be it Remembered that on the 14th Day of February 1792 the Last will and Testament of Elisabeth Killgoard Decd. was Legally proved of which the foregoing Record is a true Copy and Letters Testamentory Issued in Common form to William Killgore son of the above mentioned the other Executor having Resigned on the said 11th Day of February 1792 Inventory and Account to be Exhibited in the time appointed by Law Witness my hand Willm. Lyon Reg.

The children mentioned in Elizabeth's will are: Hugh (1742-1805); Benjamin (1740-1802); Mary Borland (1746-1820); Joseph (1743-1815); Oliver (1749-1806); Patrick (1744-1808); David (1744-1814); Jonathan (1762-1846); John (1753-1814); William (1755-1823); Jese (1763-1823); Robert (1765-1795). Ezekial (1751-1775) who was mentioned in his father's will had died by the time Elizabeth had made her will in 1782.

Most of these individuals would have had children of their own and I suspect that some of the Cumberland Kilgores who are attributed to James and Elizabeth are likely grandchildren or nephews and nieces.

Name

Name: Elizabeth /Jack/

Given Name: Elizabeth

Surname: Jack

Birth Date: Abt: 1719 Birth place: Tyrone, Ireland Marriage date: Abt. 1734 Marriage place: Newville, Cumberland, PA, USA Husband: James Kilgore Wife: Elizabeth Jack

1790; Census Hopewell, Newton, Cumberland, PPA, USA

Child: Benjamin Kilgore

Child: Hugh Kilgore

Child: Hiram Kilgore

Child: Joseph Kilgore

Child: Charles Kilgore

Child: Robert Kilgore

Child: Patrick Kilgore

Child: David Kilgore

Child: Mary Kilgore

Child: William Kilgore

[jrt note; jesse, Ezekial & nne other are missing]

Sources

• WILL of Elizabeth (JACK) Kilgore 14 August 1782

• Source:

" U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900" ; Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was deriv Reference: 7836::0 Repository: #R2

• Source: S22 Abbreviation: 1790 United States Federal 1790 Census

• Source: "Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825", Author: Lineages, Inc., comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000; Original data - Chester County Wills. Located at the Chester County Archives and Records Service.

+ Source: Church: Records of Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 1737-1898 Communion lists 1789. Either John Carson's District or William Lindsay's District. Age 70. Lineages, Inc., comp.. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Church Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: .

One source of the above information can be found in appendix A of "History of the Big Spring Presbyterian Church, Newville, Pa., 1737-1898" Author: Swope, Gilbert Ernest, Date of Publication: 1898

"About 1789 Rev. Samuel Wilson made lists of members and adherents of the church dividing them into districts, and over each district, an elder was placed." p. 28, Then on page 202: "In giving the adherents of the Big Spring Church in John Carson's district on page 30, the following persons were inadvertently omitted:

Elizabeth Kilgore (70); Jesse Kilgore (22); Robert Kilgore (19); William Kilgore (21) " . Original data: Transcribed from LDS Family History Library copies of church records for this locality. For more information, see the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) for FHL 974.843 K2w

Name: Elisabeth Killgore Gender: Female Probate Date: 14 Feb 1792 Probate Place: Cumberland, Pennsylvania, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1792 Inferred Death Place: Pennsylvania, USA Case Number: 332 Item Description: Wills, Vol D-F, 1779-1803, pages 343-345 Source Citation Wills, 1750-1908, and Administrator's Books, 1750-1906; Author: Cumberland County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Cumberland, Pennsylvania Source Original data: Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.