Pvt.
William
Gillespie
aka Gillaspy, Gillaspie
Born about in Ireland
[uncertain]
[uncertain]Son of James Gillespie
and Jennet (Unknown) Gillespie
Brother of
Agnes Gillespie, John Gillespie, James Gillespie, Margaret Gillespy and Elizabeth (Gillespie) McCullough
Husband of
Isabella (Houston) Gillespie
— married
1766 in Colony of Virginia
Descendants 
Died after
after about age 87
in Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Profile managers:
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[send private message] and Timothy Upton [send private message]Profile last modified
| Created 27 Sep 2011
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Multiple people may be conflated in this profile, i.e. information about different people may be combined and confused.
| William Gillespie resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
This is the profile of William Gilasby of Orange Co VA named in 24 July 1740 importation oath.
Contents |
Biography
William Gillespie was a Virginia colonist.
Private William Gillespie served with 9th Virginia Regiment (1777), Continental Army during 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.
His last wife, however, looks like a Houston. When he 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, probably Elizabeth (Paxton) Houston (1757-1831) and Samuel Houston Moore and Isabella Ann Moore, no relation given.
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)
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.[7][8]
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.[9][7][8]
Removal 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.[10]
Death and Probate
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.[11] There does not appear to be an original marker or a record for a burial.
Research Notes
- 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.
Conflated Persons
NOTE: There were a multitude of William Gillespies in the American colonies in this era, making them all the subject of conflation. This William Gillespie has been conflated with:
- William Gillespie Jr. of Abbeville. No current issues.
- William Gillespie of Falkirk. Resolved.
- William Gillespy of Cowpasture. Issues regarding military record remain.
- William Gillespie of Pendleton South Carolina. An apparently conflated death of about 1802 in Pendleton, South Carolina, United States was previously listed.
See Deconflation of Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia and Allied Families of Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.
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
- Life
- Marriages
- Children. Attached daughter Ann belongs to his brother John.
- Where is sale of his inherited plantation in Beverley Manor?
DNA Information
See: DNA Study: Gillespies of the Colony of Virginia.
Sources
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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).
- ↑ 4.0 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.
- ↑ NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #1057.
- ↑ https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A044848
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "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.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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=).
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ https://tngenweb.org/goodspeeds/blount-county-history/
- ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #27084456 for William Gillespie (1737–1831).
- 1820 Tennessee census record for Blount County, TN. (The 1820 Blount County Tennessee census was lost. Smith-112541 22:45, 8 January 2024 (UTC)) https://tennesseegenealogy.org/statewide/blount-county-tennessee-census-records/
- Jim Finley, A Possible Identity of Rose Finley of Augusta Co, VA. https://www.angelfire.com/biz/finleyfindings/VOL2.html (Multiple records cited. Scroll down about one third of the linked page to get there). Quoted at:
- WeRelate profile for Rose https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Rose_Finley_%284%29
- Samuel Houston, Brief biographical accounts of many members of the Houston family (1882) Ancestry.com. Chapter 5.2 Isabella Houston. p71, p70.
- Will of William Gillespie, 1825. This is a much later handwritten copy with no date of probate. The next will in the book was proved 1811, James Gillespie, witness. Better copy and probate record needed. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3984564:9176?_phsrc=yym3076
- Will of Ann Gillespie, 1830. This is a typewritten copy with no probate date. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TV-T6JS?i=49&cc=1909088
- Will of John Henderson, Augusta County, Virginia, Book 3 p461, FamilySearch (Film #007643867 images 263-265)
See also:
- FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KFKJ-VS9
- WeRelate https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:William_Gillespie_%2825%29
- [name="VGSQ, 17:4, pp121-123"] Joicey H. Lindsay, "Importation Oaths 1739–1741, Orange County," Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 4 (October 1979) pp121-123; image copy, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/27905805?h=28f390). [persons of interest in this source not known]
- Donna Rachel Mills, "Settlers of Beverly Manor in Augusta County, Virginia 1745–1770," elohnah5.pbworks.com (http://elohnah5.pbworks.com/w/page/66622716/First%20Settlers : accessed 4 Apr 2022).
- Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, Ann Brush Miller, Kenneth Madison Clark, and Thomas Llewellyn Samuel, Jr., Augusta County Road Orders 1745–1769 (Charlottesville, Virginia: Virginia Transportation Research Council, 1998) p140 (James, 1768), p154 (William, 1769); image copy, VirginiaDOT.org (https://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/99-r17.pdf).
- Nathaniel Mason Pawlett, A Brief History of the Roads of Virginia 1607–1840 (Charlottesville, Virginia: Virginia Transportation Research Council, 1977, Revised 2003) p4 (same age as titheables); image copy, VirginiaDOT.org (https://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/78-r16.pdf).
- "Descendants of William Gillespie, Sr.," Genealogy.com (https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/gillespie/2323/ This conflates at least four different people. Do not use! Smith-112541 02:07, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
Free-Space Pages
- Cowpasture William Gillespie 8 Apr 2021. [mistitled; now known to concern Wm. of Beverley Manor]
- William Gillespie from Virginia.
- William Gillespie's Suitcase.
- Concerning Archibald Clendenning.
- DNA for Archibald Glendenning.
Review for Conflation
- Genealogy.com, Re: Isabella HOUSTON, John HENDERSON & WILLIAM GILLESPIE--her husbands.
- Alabama Society, Sons of the American Revolution, National Number 72405, approved 17 February 1951. (Shows wife as Isabella Houston Henderson)
Acknowledgments
To Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024), for his contribution to this Gillespie, and all the Gillespies of Augusta County, Virginia.
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. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:
-
~1.56%
Alice (Knox) Johnson
:
AncestryDNA
-
~0.78%
Amelia McNutt :
23andMe
-
~0.78%
~6.25%
Bill Bond :
23andMe
-
~0.78%
Matt Bastress :
AncestryDNA, Ancestry member mbastress
-
~0.39%
Daniel Roulston :
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, GEDmatch GT7236818 [compare], FTDNA kit #937719
Images: 1
Australian Connections: William is 13 degrees from Cate Blanchett, 21 degrees from Russell Crowe, 17 degrees from Howard Florey, 23 degrees from Dawn Fraser, 31 degrees from Cathy Freeman, 21 degrees from Barry Humphries, 19 degrees from Albert Jacka, 25 degrees from Hugh Jackman, 21 degrees from Bertram Mackennal, 17 degrees from Rupert Murdoch, 16 degrees from Banjo Paterson and 15 degrees from Henry Ross on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
G > Gillespie > William Gillespie
Categories: Conflated Profiles | US Southern Colonies, Conflated Profiles | Virginia, Conflated Profiles | Virginia Colonists | US Southern Colonies Project Needs Research | 9th Virginia Regiment (1777), Continental Army, American Revolution | NSDAR Patriot Ancestors
edited by [Living Smith]
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
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.
The difference in birth place (contested in both profiles) will be noted in Research Note.
The difference in birth place can be noted in Research Note if anyone believes birth in VA is plausible.
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
edited by Timothy Upton
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.
edited by Timothy Upton
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
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.
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....
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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.
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!!!!
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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...
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?
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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:
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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.
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.
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?
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
William #3 is of Cowpasture River. William #2 is of Botetourt County, but that is just Cowpastures after Botetourt Co was formed.
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.
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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?
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.
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.
Please let me know if there's any additional connections I should be considering.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
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.
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.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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).
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
"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.
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/10557/
edited by Timothy Upton
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.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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?
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
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.
I'm just terrible at multitasking...
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.
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.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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.
This relationship appears to be unsourced and unproven in both profiles here on WikiTree, and would ordinarily be removed.
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
Yes, JAMES has parish records from Falkirk. Yes, Robert can be traced with DNA.
This third Gillespie is new to me.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
"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."
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.
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
edited by Timothy Upton
What is THIS? https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gillaspie-138
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?
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
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
I don't see the name Robert in the indenture.
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
The two families were close friends. In fact, here's another piece, James Smiley of this family married Isabella from the
a
I want to show Tim something.
With this function, Timothy and I have a match through Mary (Gillespie) Bowen.
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
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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
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.
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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?
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
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
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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)
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
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
I'm working on Gillespie profiles. I'm glad you're here to answer Ken's questions.
a
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)
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey
edited by Kenneth Milton Spratlin (1962-2024)
Is there a problem? if so, how do we fix it?
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There is a spreadsheet tracking which have the template and which need the Project Account.
edited by Timothy Upton
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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.
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
edited by Amanda (Moyer) Torrey