Thomas Gilson (1765 - 1813)

Born 1765 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1813 at about age 48 in Milford Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1765. He passed away in 1813.

- CHRONOLOGY for Thomas GILSON (1765-1813) -

Religion: Presbyterian

1765 Birth in either Cumberland or Lancaster Co., Pa

1786 After his marriage to Nancy BOYD, he and his wife settled near Carlisle, Pa., where he engaged in farming.

He removed later to that part of Cumberland Co. which is now in Turbett Twp.,in Juniata Co., where he purchased a tract of land, abounding in deer, etc. He cleared a portion of this land, erecting buildings, and at a later period, a stone flour mill and a sawmill, which were among the first mills constructed in the township. In addition to farming, he managed a distillery of his own erection. ["Commemorative Bio. Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley", 1897. p.966.]

1790-1816 Tax List of Milford Twp. showing assessments of the following in addition to lands and stock. Those that fell into Turbett Twp., which was formed in 1815 from Milford are marked "Tt.".
Grist-Mills
Gilson, Thomas, Tt., 1790-1816
Gilson, William, Tt., 1817-31
Patterson, John, 1811-31
Fueling-Mills
Gilson, David, Tt, 1817-31
Gilson, Thomas, 1811-16
Carding-Machines
Gilson, David, Tt., 1820-31
Saw-Mills
Gilson, Thomas, 1799-1816
Gilson, William, Tt., 1817-31
Patterson, John, 1811-31
Stores and Merchants
Henderson, Thomas, Tt., 1817
Patterson, John, 1796, '99, 1820-26
Distilleries
Gilson, Thomas (2), 1809-16
Henderson, Thomas, 1813-15
["History of ... Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys...", Phil: 1886, Everts.]

1790 Fed. Census: Mifflin Co., PA. Portion south of Juniata River. p.151 Gilson, Thomas 1 male >16, 1 male <16, 2 females Neighbors include James PATTERSON, Joseph CAMPBELL, William HENDERSON, Andrew PATTERSON, Alexander PATTERSON, and the name MCKEE.

On a part this tract (in Milford twp.), Thomas GILSON erected a grist-mill, taxed as early as 1790, built of logs, and which he abandoned in 1799, after purchasing the saw-mill and water-power lower down. On the old mill-site he put up a fulling mill in 1811, which was run by him and his son David until the product of such mills was superseded by factory goods. After this, about 1850, John Moffet, Elias Gruver and Samuel Shearer built a tannery where the fulling mill had stood, and after running it some time, it was burned, when they rebuilt on a larger scale and did an extensive tanning business. It was sold to John A. Sterrett, of Lewistown, and ceased running about 1880. It is near by Spruce Hill post-office, often called "Conn's Store", a small hamlet near the mill, on the main road up the valley. [Juniata and Susquehanna Valleys in Penn., p.795. 974.84, H2hs, Vol. 1.]

William Patton had erected a saw-mill on his tract as early as 1790. On Feb 26, 1798, he conveyed to John Francis 13 @, including the saw-mill, which he then sold to Thomas GILSON, 1 Jan 1799. [ditto]

No listing for Thomas GILSON in 1800 Fed. Census Index living in Mifflin Co.

{need to look at the 1810 Fed. Census}

1813 He met a sudden and tragic death in 1813, by drowning in the Juniata river, while returning from Lewistown, where he had been in attendance at court as a juror, the boat in which he was crossing the river being upset. His body was not recovered until March, 1814, when it was interred in the burial ground of the Academy Presbyterian church. His widow was afterwards married to Thomas MCKEE. Thomas GILSON was an active member and a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church. ["Commemerative Biographical Encylopedia of the Juniata Valley, ...".]

1814 Interred in the burial ground of the Academy (Lower Tuscarora) Presbyterian Church. [Comm. Bio. ...]

Sources

• Find-a-grave #98049107