James Gillespie (abt. 1745 - bef. 1787)

Born about 1745 in Augusta, Virginia

Husband of Jane (Graham) Gillespie — married 9 Jan 1765 in Rowan, North Carolina

Descendants

Died before 7 Feb 1787 before about age 42 in Rowan, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

James Gillespie served with Rowan County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

James Gillespie was born in about 1745 in Augusta, Virginia, Colonial America. James was the olest child of Thomas Gillespie and Naomi Thompson Gillespie. James married Jane Graham on Jan 9, 1765 in Rowan County, North Carolina. James died in about Feb 1787^[1] and before his father (Will date Nov 1797 and death on Dec 7, 1797), so his father's inheritance went to James's oldest son Thomas. James's burial location is not known for sure, but probaly was Thyatira Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Jane died in about 1823.^[2]

A Thomas Gillespie presented a James Gillespie for baptism on 18 March 1744, at the Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Augusta, County, Virgina. This may have been the James Gillespie, who moved to Rowan County with his parents, Thomas and Naomi. This christening would have been prior to ir about the same time as the estimated marriage date of Thomas and Naomi on Jan 1, 1745.^[3]

Children

James and Jane had the following children^[4]:

1. Thomas Gillespie (1765-1837), married Flora McCay/McCoy (1769-1821)
2. Richard Graham Gillespie (1766-1830), married Agnes "Nancy" Graham (1785-1837)
3. Elizabeth Gillespie Lowry (1767-1835), married William Lowry (1765-1812)
4. Lydia Gillespie (1769-1837), married Samuel Culbertson (1797-1842)
5. Ann Gillespie (1772-?), no further information available
6. Jean "Jinne" Gillespie Knox Allison (1777-1811), married John Knox (?-1811) and perhaps Andrew Allison (1773-after 1850)
7. Eleanor "Ellen" C. Gillespie (1780-1816), married Robert Dickey Johnston (1779-1841)

Revolutionary War Service

It is believed that James Gillespie, like his father and brothers, served in the Revolutionary War in some capacity. There are other James Gillespie's in other parts of North Carolina, but it is believed that these sources refer to this James Gillespie of Rowan County.^[5]

Estate

James Gillespie's estate was probated in February 1787. Guardianship of his children and disposition of his property was given to his heirs, including his wife, Jane/Jeane, and male children that were of age, namely Thomas and Richard. (See attached images.) ^[6]

• 7 February 1787. Administration on estate adj. James Gillespie, deceased, granted Jeane Gillespie. Thomas Gillespie and William Bell who qualified and gave 4000 pounds bond with George Gillespie. James Brandon and Richard Graham (the less) Security. Richard Graham (the less) is appointed guardian to orphans of James Gillespie.
• 7 February 1787. Thomas Gillespie appointed guardian of Jeane Gillespie, orphan of James Gillespie, deceased. Security Joseph McConnahy in 400 pounds. George Gillespie was appointed guardian of Lydia Gillespie, orphan of James Gillespie, deceased. Francis lock security in 400 pounds. Richard Graham (the less) was appointed guardian of Ann Gillespie, orphan of James Gillespie, deceased. Security James McBroom in 400 pounds. Note: Jane and Jeane at that time were used interchangeably.

Note: On 15 October 1765, James Gillespie received 330.5 acres from his father in Rowan County, North Carolina

Sources

1. ↑ #Estate, #Steely
2. ↑ #Marriage, #Steely, #Probate, #Probate2, #Probate3, #Estate, #Thyatira
3. ↑ #Baptism
4. ↑ #Steely, see individual children for additional sources
5. ↑ #RevWar1, #RevWar2, #RevWar3, #RevWar4, #RevWar5
6. ↑ #Estate

• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, (FamilySearch: 21 May 2014), Rowan Wills, 1797-1819, Vol. G , image 5 of 570; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, (FamilySearch: 21 May 2014), Rowan Wills, 1797-1819, Vol. G , image 6 of 570; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• "North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, (FamilySearch: 21 May 2014), Rowan Wills, 1797-1819, Vol. G , image 7 of 570; county courthouses, North Carolina.
• Steely, Thomas and Naomi (Thompson) Gillespie and descendants, Information from Billie Curry Steely (husband is descendant of Thomas and Naomi), a well documented genealogy, on Rootsweb.ancestry, accessed Jan 25, 2017
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: 22 December 2016), James Gillespy and Jane Graham, 09 Jan 1765; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 1,760,520.
• Thyatira Presbyterian Church, Rowan County, 1753-1948, authored by Walter Lengle, President Emeritus of Davidson College; James Gillespie mentioned as Church elder in church centennial in 1855, accessed Feb 2, 2017
• James Gillespie lineage, some sourcing
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: 20 November 2015), James Gillespie, 1787; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,482,269.
• Thomas Gillespie presented a James Gillespie for baptism on 18 March 1744, at the Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Augusta, County, Virgina; as referenced in #Steely
• "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 1 July 2017), James Gellespie, 24 Feb 1781; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
• "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 1 July 2017), James Gillispie, 31 Aug 1782; citing Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
• "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 1 July 2017), James Gillaspie, Oct 1779; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
• "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 1 July 2017), James Gillispie, 11 Sep 1783; citing Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
• "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 25 November 2017), James Gillespie, 10 Dec 1780; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.