William Gilkeson (1708 - abt. 1778)

Born 1708 in Ireland

Descendants

Died about 1778 at about age 70 in Virginia, United States

Biography

From Wikisource.org: [1]

THE GILKESON FAMILY.

William Gilkeson from the north of Ireland, settled in Lancaster County, Pa., about 1730. He m. Margaret Lynn, dau. of Hugh Lynn from near Philadelphia. He em. to Frederick County, Va., settling near Kernstown, 1765, where he died 1778. Buried at Opequon church. His will is recorded at Winchester, Va. Eleven children:

I. Hugh, born in Pa. 1748 and d. in Augusta County 1806. His will is recorded at Staunton, Va. He m. Elizabeth Guthrie (1746-1830), dau. of John and Ann Guthrie, who came to America on the same boat with the Gilkesons. Six children:

1. Margaret, (1773-1816), m. May 15, 1794, John Guthrie, Augusta County. Ten children.

2. Ann, m. Jan. 29, 1801, James Craig, Kentucky.

3 Elizabeth, b. Jan. 25, 1778, m. her cousin, David, son of Wm. Gilkeson.

4. David (1782-1866), m. Polly Humphreys. Elder in Tinkling Spring. Six children, viz:

(1). Hugh Lynn, b. 1810, d. s. in Illinois, 1836.

(2). Margaret, 1812-1848, m. (2nd wife) 1839, Andrew Patterson, of Brownsbury, Va. Three children.

(3). David Carlisle, b. 1815 and died Aug. 22, 1864. Confederate soldier. M. Jan. 20, 1842, Harriet Newall Finley (1821-1886). Four children, viz., Virginia Ruth, Carrie Belle, m. 2nd wife, James W. Wallace; Samuel Finley, an Elder in Bethel, d. s. 1913; Elizabeth, who m. Samuel Brown, an Elder in Hebron.

(4). Elizabeth, b. 1820 and m. 1852, 2nd wife, Rev. W. W. Trimble, of Missouri.

(5). James, lived in Fauquier Co. Six children, viz., Betty, Mary, Carrie Belle, who m. a Guthrie of Miss.; Carlisle, Harry and Samuel, who m. a Martin and lives (an Elder) in the Shemeriah congregation, Augusta County.

(6). John A,, m. Dec. 18, 1851, Isabella Sterrett Humphreys, b. Jan. 17, 1831. Five children:

a. Hugh Finley, b. Oct. 18, 1852, m. Dec. 8, 1881, Lula Tate Larew, dau. of John T. Larew. Dau. Margaret.

b. Frank Humphreys, b. Nov. 18, 1854, m. Nov. 19, 1885, Mattie B. Hanger.

c. Rev. Charles David Gilkeson, b. June 30, 1863, m. Oct. 15, 1891, Margaret Leyburn, of Lexington, Va. Son,

(a). Charles Leyburn, b, April 26, 1899.

d. William J. e. Emma J.

5. William (1784-1864), m. Sarah, dau. of his uncle, John Gilkeson, of Frederick County, Va. Four children:

(1). Andrew Todd Gilkeson, m. Emma Heiskell. Four children, viz., William, Belle, Clara and Harry. The latter m. Mary McKee, of Buena Vista, Va.

(2). David Gilkeson, m. Mollie Gamble, of Ga. Three children, Lillie who m. Walter Guthrie, of Miss. Lula and Belle now (1914) living in Waynesboro, Va.

(3). Hugh William Gilkeson, d. 1900 in Ga.

(4). John Gilkeson, m. Bettie Patterson, d. without heirs, 1841.

6. James, m. Eliza Crawford. Lived near Springfield, Ky. Two children:

(1). Elizabeth, m. Rev. A. A. Hogue, Lebanon, Ky.

(2). James A., m. a Hopper, sister of Eev. Jas. Hopper, of Perryville, Ky. Four children, Joseph, Maggie, James R., Katie.

II. William, b. in Penn. Aug. 29, 1750, came with his parents to Frederick Co., 1765, thence to Augusta. The Staunton records give his deed dated May 1, 1780. "David Kerr to William Gilkeson of Frederick County, part of tract that Andrew Cowan formerly lived on in Beverley Manor." This farm, "Hillside," is still the Gilkeson home, now owned by the family of the late M. F. Gilkeson, his grandson. A record 1785 says he "was of good character here and below in Pennsylvania." Foote, 2nd p. 356, states that Rev. Conrad Speece preached at his house April 5, 1813. He m. Sarah Love (Aug. 29, 1752—June 27, 1826), widow of James Guthrie. He d. July 3, 1828. Their graves are marked at Bethel. Children:

1. Nancy, m. an Irvine. Buried at Bethel.

2. Margaret, m. Aug. 21, 1799, Elijah McClenachan.

3. Lovie, m. Dr. John Tate. Illinois.

4. Jane. Dismissed from Bethel church April 21, 1821. Is said to have m. a Herring.

5. William J., b. 1789 and m. Margaret Crockett Ingles, of Wythe Co., widow of Thomas Hyde. She left one sou, Thomas Hyde, father of the family now living near Stuart's Draft, Augusta Co.

Seven Gilkeson children:

(1) Francis McFarland, b. Aug. 42, 1838. Is living Culpeper, Va.; Alumnus Washington College; mar. Fanny Greene. Eight children, viz: Fanny who m. Leon Nalle, Lovie B. who m. F. E. Porter, Frank, Wm. Irvine, Sadie, Mary who m. J. D. Coleman, J. Archibald, m. and lives in Raleigh, N. C., Nannie, m. H. V. Frazier.

(2) John William, b. March 2, 1840, baptized May 3, 1840. Died of pneumonia March 25, 1907. Farmer. Alumnus Washington College (1859), now Washington and Lee University. One of the first deacons of Bethel church and for many years Treasurer. First Lieut., 25th Va. Regiment, C. S. A. Was captured and confined for eighteen months on Johnson Island. He m. Margaret Letitia Tate. Seven children:

a. John Hansford, b. Aug. 4, 1869. Graduate and instructor Virginia Military Institute. Student U. of Va. Farmer.

b. Margaret Randolph, b. Oct. 12, 1870. Graduate Mary Baldwin Seminary.

c. Edna Ingles, b. Dec. 25, 1876. Graduate M. B. S. Teaching 1914 in Cairo, Egypt.

d. Anna, d. eight years old of diphtheria.

e. Josie Charlton, b. March 28, 1880. Graduate M. B. S. Mar. Dec. 31, 1903, James Alexander McClure. Six children: the youngest, Josephine Charlton, was b. Petersburg, Va., Sep. 13, 1914.

f. Rebecca Baxter, b. Nov. 22, 1882. A. B., Mary Baldwin Seminary, Ph. B., M. A., University of Chicago. Teacher (1914) Ward-Belmont College, Nashville, Tenn.

g. Mary Tate, b. Now, 5, 1889. Graduate Stonewall Jackson Institute; mar. Oct. 15, 1912, Wm. Allen Wallace.

(3). Sarah Margaret, b. Jan. 27, 1842. Living Staunton, Va.

(4). Irvine Waddell, b. March 12, 1844, died ———. Physician, Mint Spring, Va. Mar. Catherine J. Gilliam. Two children, Hansford, single; Catherine, who m. Dr. Wm. Deekens of Staunton, Va. Dau. Amelia Catherine.

(5). Lovie Jane Herring, baptized Apr. 23, 1848. Mar, Dr. Carter Berkeley of Staunton, Va. Six children, viz: Edmund, Charles Carter, m. Malinda Bumgardner, Randolph Carter, Mary Randolph Spotswood, Janet Carter, Brooke. The following is from one of the daily papers: "Maj. Randolph Carter Berkeley, of the U. S. Steamship Prairie, a native of Staunton, Va., the son of a Confederate officer, was the first American to land at Vera Cruz at the beginning of hostilities."

Admiral Fletcher in his report to Congress June 7, 1914, said, "I have similarly to record that the conduct of Major R. C. Berkeley U. S. M. C. (et. al.) were eminent and conspicuous in command of their battalions. These officers were in the fighting of both days and exhibited courage and skill in leading their men through the action,"

(6). Emma Cornelia, b. April 8, 1849, d. i.

(7). Millard Filmore, b. Feb. 2, 1853, and d. in Augusta County March 6; 1914. He owned the old Gilkeson home "Hillside," and was for many years a prominent and useful citizen of Augusta County. An Elder in Bethel and later in the First Presbyterian church, Staunton, Va. He m. Betty Eskridge, Three children, viz., Eskridge (1914), of Bluefield, W. Va., m. Elizabeth Jones, of Staunton.

Jane, m. L. W. Wilson, a civil engineer and Maslin.

John Gilkeson of Bethel, who m, about 1820 Jane, was probably a brother of William J. Gilkeson. They were dismissed from Bethel Oct. 16, 1830. Two sons, viz:

Isaac, b. March 4, 1824.

David, b. Sept. 13, 1827.

David Gilkeson, of Staunton, who m. Elizabeth Gilkeson, dau. of Hugh, may also have been a brother of William J.

III. John Gilkeson lived in Frederick County. He m. Sarah Vance Dec. 1, 1793. Revolutionary soldier. Commissioned Major May 3, 1780. Buried at Opequon, See Cartmell's History of Frederick County. Nine children:

1. Elizabeth, b. Nov, 13, 1775, m. John White, of Winchester, Va.

2. Margaret, b. March 28, 1777, m. Reynolds, of Ky.

3. Mary, b. Aug. 8, 1779, m. a Limerall, of Ky.

4. Susan, b. Aug. 22, 1781, d. s.

5. Col. John Gilkeson, b. Sept. 15, 1783, and d. Feb. 27, 1856. M. Lucy Davis. Four children:

(1). William D., m. a Baker of Winchester, Va. Four children, viz., William D., Jr., James, Frances and another son. (2). James, em. to Missouri. (3). Lucy m. a Woods, of Staunton. Dau. Janet Woods. A childhood playmate of Woodrow Wilson. (4). John, em. to St. Louis.

6. Sarah, b. March 20, 1785. m. William Gilkeson, her first cousin, son of Hugh. Four children.

7. Nancy, b. June 24, 1788, m. Stephen Davis.

8. Martha, b. Nov. 24, 1790, m. Rev. A. A. Shannon, of Kentucky.

9. James, b. Aug. 5, 1793, m. Bell. Three children:

(1). John Bell Gilkeson, of Moorefield, W. Va. (2). J. Smith Gilkeson, of Winchester, Va., m. a Cabell. Two children:

a. Mrs. A. M. Baker, Winchester, Va. b. Henry, em. West.

(3). Robt. B. Gilkeson, Romney, W. Va. Two children:

a. Henry B. Gilkeson, Romney, W. Va. b. Edward Gilkeson, Parkersburg, W. Va. Mar. a dau. of the late Rev. G. W. Finley, D. D. Dau. Margaret.

IV. Samuel, Revolution soldier; qualified Captain Aug. 4, 1779. Hugh Gilkeson, 1797, wrote from Frankfort, Ky., to his wife Elizabeth that he had been unable to find any trace of his brother Samuel.

V. David, a Revolutionary soldier, died in prison.

VI. Isaac, m. a Shanklin. Son John lived in Greenbrier County.

VII. Ebenezer, m. a Shanklin. Dau. Margaret. Lived Greenbrier County.

VIII. Susan, m. John Armour.

IX. Martha, m. Alexander Galt, of Pennsylvania. Two sons, John; and William, who had two sons, W. R. Gait, and A. W. Gait, of Pequea, Pa.

X. Nancy, m. William Vance.

XI. Janetta, m. Thomas Marshall, of Virginia. Son, William, who m. his first cousin, Margaret Gilkeson, of Greenbrier.

FAMILY OF ROBERT GILKESON.

Robert Gilkeson came to Augusta a generation ahead of the Bethel family. The two families are not known to be related. There is a tradition that they met for the first time on the boat en voyage to America. His deed for 400 acres of land on a branch of Middle river, near North Mountain, is dated Jan. 22, 1747.

He is mentioned in the records of Aug. 20, 1746; constable, 1756. He d. 1775. His will is recorded Staunton, Va. Chalkley III, p. 141. "Well stricken in years." Wife, Rebecca. Three children, viz:

I. Archibald, wife Sarah, from the Calfpasture. His will was proven 1782. Was private in Captain Patrick Martin's militia 1756. Surveyor of highways 1767. Five children, viz:

1. Robert; was living in Augusta 1799.

2. James; Revolutionary soldier at Battle of Point Pleasant, 1774, in Capt. Robert McClanahan's company. See Dunmore's Wars.

3. Hugh; was living, Augusta, 1791.

4. Rebecca, m. Oct. 25, 1797, George Moffett

5. Francis, possibly the oldest son, b. Oct. 29, 1769, and m. Oct. 1, 1799, Mary, dau. of James Hogshead. She was b. May 19, 1777, and d. Sept. 6, 1860. Francis d. Jan, 21, 1842. Eight children, viz:

(1). Hugh, b. Oct. 4, 1800, m. Matilda Hogshhead. Three children, David F., Thomas, Mary. (2). Grace, b. Sept. 21, 1802, m. Thos. C. Poage, (3). James, b. Feb. 14, 1805, m. Rebecca Trimble. Two children, William G., Margaret. (4). Jane B., b. Dec. 20, 1806, m. Silas H. Hogshead. (5). Malinda, b. Dec. 4, 1808. m. James McClung of Bethel church. (6). Robert G., b. July 9, 1811, m. Margaret Shields. (7). Rebecca A., b. Sept. 10, 1813, d. s. (8). Francis, b. 1816, m. Martha A. Crawford. Seven children, a. William F., Elder in Tinkling Spring; m. first, a Caldwell; son, Crawford, and several daughters; m. 2nd Lou Smith. Died 1912. b. Aurelius R. Elder Presbyterian church, Churchville, Virginia. c. Mary P. d. Nannie C. e. Emma A. f. Sallie. g. Carry S. II. Margaret, m. David Hogshead. III. Isabel, m. Hugh Brown.

Sources

Landowner Records for Lancaster CO., PA: [2]

Footnotes

Website [3]

Book, "The McClure Family", James Alexander McClure, FA Owen, 1914, Page 204:

"William Gilkeson from North Ireland, settled in Lancaster County, Pa., about 1730. He m. Margaret Lynn, dau. of Hugh Lynn from near Philadelphia. He em. to Frederick County, Va., settling near Kernstown, 1765, where he died 1778. Buried at Opequon Church. His will is recorded at Winchester , VA. Eleven children: I. Hugh, born Pa 1748 and d. in Augusta County 1806. His will is recorded at Staunton, Va. He m. Elizabeth Guthrie (1746-1830), dau. of John and Ann Guthrie, who came to America on the same boat with the Gilkesons....(it continues with children).

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Laura Guthrie for creating Gilkeson-19 on 9 Dec 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Laura and others.