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Person Info

• Name: James William GILLESPIE
• Sex: M
• Birth: 1749 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland ^b
• Death: 16 Jul 1824 in Sugar Creek Twp, Greene Co, Ohio ^d
• Burial: 16 Jul 1824 in Bellbrook Cemetery, Greene Co, Ohio ^u


Parents:

• Father:
  
• James GILLESPIE Birth: Abt 1719 in Antrim, Ireland Death: Abt 1780
Mother:

• Elizabeth RIDDLE

Family:
Marriage:

• Esther Hadassa TAYLOR on 16 Jan 1776 at Hagerstown, Virginia .^m1
  
• Esther Hadassa TAYLOR Birth: Abt 1744 in Cecil Co, Maryland Death: After 1824

Children:

1. George GILLESPIE Death: Bush Run, Wash Co, Pennsylvania
2. Thomas GILLESPIE Birth: 12 Aug 1776 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania Death: 14 May 1856 in Sulphur Springs, Crawford Co, Ohio
3. Matthew GILLESPIE Birth: Abt 1778 Death: After 1840
4. John GILLESPIE Birth: Abt 1780 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania
5. James GILLESPIE Birth: Abt 1782 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania
6. Joseph GILLESPIE Birth: Apr 1786 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania Death: 30 Jul 1825 in Preble Co, Ohio
7. William A GILLESPIE Birth: 8 Apr 1788 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania Death: 11 Feb 1866 in Sulphur Springs, Crawford Co, Ohio
8. Henry Taylor GILLESPIE Birth: 13 Feb 1790 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania Death: 22 Apr 1851 in Clarke Co, Ohio
9. Hadessa GILLESPIE Birth: Abt 1792 in Hopewell Twp, Washington Co, Pennsylvania

Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

date:

[Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009, Carrie Alexander 4/9/2003, Tom Long 12/26/2002],

place:

[Ref: Tom Long 12/26/2002]

Co Tyrone or Antrim, Ireland [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009],

father:

[Ref: Tom Long 12/26/2002]

possibly James Gillespie Sr [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009],

sister:

Mary Elizabeth Gillespie [Ref: GILLESPIE Family]

Sources with Inaccurate birth and parent Information

date:

1730 [Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 1880],

place:

Scotland [Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 1880]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: Carrie Alexander 4/9/2003, GillespieJR GILLESPIE p26]

Aug 1824 [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009],

place:

[Ref: GillespieJR GILLESPIE p26]

Greene Co, Ohio [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

Ohio [Ref: James Gillespie 9/20/2002]

Sources for burial Information

date:

[Ref: Tom Long 12/26/2002],

place:

[Ref: Tom Long 12/26/2002]

Sources with Information about marriage to Esther Hadassa TAYLOR

date:

[Ref: Carrie Alexander 4/9/2003]

after Revolution [Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 3/9/1880],

place:

[Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 3/9/1880],

names:

[Ref: Anna-Marie Kendall 1/13/2004, Mrs. S. J. Smith 1880],

child:

[Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009, Carrie Alexander 4/9/2003, GillespieJR GILLESPIE p1, Mrs. S. J. Smith 3/9/1880, Tom Long 12/26/2002]

Research Notes:
14 Aug 1768: left Londonderry, Northern Ireland; arrived New Castle, Delaware 3 Oct 1768 [Ref: Tom Long 12/26/2002]

1773-74: obtained a land grant from Virginia in territory that is now in current-day Washington Co, PA [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

It is possible that he lived there earlier, since squatting was common. This was the frontier, west of the Appalachians and he settled there near the time when the Cumberland Gap was opened by Daniel Boone and about 15 years after the French and Indian War which was heavily fought in that area. There was a lot of heated contention for title to the land both from Indians and from the colony of Virginia. The dispute with Virginia was not finally settled until May 26, 1783 (southern boundary) and August 23, 1785 (western boundary), and James's land was most likely within 10 miles of the current West Virginia/Pennsylvania state line. James protected himself by holding deeds from both VA and PA. [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

several references to James Jr and James Sr in revolutionary war military service records [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1777: signed loyalty oath to Virginia [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

served in at least two different militias at different times [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1777-78: served in the Virginia company of David Williamson [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1777-80: served as a "gentleman justice of the peace" on the Ohio Co, Virginia, court [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1779: one of the founders of the Cross Creek Presbyterian Church [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1781-83: served in the Pennsylvania company of Capt Timothy Downing [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1 Apr 1785: purchased a slave and her three-month old daughter in Washington Co, PA [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

16 Aug 1787: witnessed the signature of "James Gillespie" and so testified. It is very possible that son witnessed the sale of his father's land [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

1790: held 3 slaves in 1790 census [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

24 Nov 1795: a newspaper article in the Washington PA Telegraph states that he sailed on 13 Aug 1768 from Londonderry in the north of Ireland and landed in Newcastle, Delaware on 3 Oct 1768 [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

c1812: moved to the new frontier in southwestern Ohio [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

20 Aug 1812: received a patent for land in Montgomery County near Dayton [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

19 Apr 1813: sold the last of his land in Pennsylvania [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

21 Aug 1813: joined Massie's Presbyterian Church in Greene Co [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

9 Jun 1814: purchased land in Greene County near Xenia [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

James willed his land in Montgomery County to his son, William, and his land in Greene County to his son Henry with provisions for Henry to care for Esther, James's wife and Henry's mother, until her death. James had personal property appraised at $239.16 and 2/3 cents. He named sons Thomas and William as sole executors. [Ref: Betty Pollack 9/7/2009]

will dated 25 Sep 1819, proved 16 Aug 1824. Mentions wife Esther. Sons Thomas, John, James, and Joseph to receive $1 each. Son William to receive the south east quarter of section nine town three and range six, in the County of Montgomery, and to pay 239 to Land office for the land. Son Henry to receive eighty two acres and house. Daughter Hetty to receive $100 five years after death of testator. Daughter Esther one black mare and two cows. Sons Thomas and William executors. [Ref: Carrie Alexander 4/9/2003]

---------- letter from Mrs. S. J. Smith Mar 9 1880:
James Gillespie married Hadassa Taylor, after the Revolution, and settled between Washington City, PA, and Middletown, Washington County, about 8 miles from one city and four from the other. Grandfather was the oldest child b.1776 m Polly Mitchell. His brother Mathew married her sister Peggy Mitchell. Her sister (another Mitchell) married a Read or Reed. All daughters of Jesse Mitchell. They all left Pa 1840 or 1843, went to Iowa, and were Presbyterians. Matthew Gillespie was killed by a tree falling on him. George died on Brush Run, Washington Co, PA. James, son of Thomas, was sent to treat with Indians - never heard from. John sent south - did not return. Other children were Joseph, William, Henry Taylor, and Hadassa. All came together to Green Co, Ohio. The son Thomas of Grandfather died in 1813 in PA was Thomas Jefferson. The next son died as 7 months old in Zenia, OH, 1814. Another son Thomas still lives in Ohio 1880. [Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 3/9/1880]

James Gillespie came to the United States in 1749, age 19, first to Abington, VA. Born in Scotland and carried as a little child to Ireland. James was in the Revolution against England. He went back to Belfast, then returned to America. [Ref: Mrs. S. J. Smith 1880]



Pedigree of James William GILLESPIE
 /-----James GILLESPIE
James William GILLESPIE
 \-----Elizabeth RIDDLE



Descendants of James William GILLESPIE

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