JOHN GILLESPIE
Born: May 4, 1840 Billings Bridge, Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario Canada, s/o William Gillespie & Eliza Atkinson of Ireland
Died: 1916 in Brockville, Leeds Co, Ontario – reason why he was there unknown, if this is him.(I questioned this record, except date is also in Family Bible) There may be a link to Leeds County from very early records for William & Eliza Gillespie and two adults that lived with them in 1838, but who disappeared after that. Limited records found.
Burial: A small cemetery on Metcalf Road near farm, across from a Jewish Cemetery, Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario
Married 1: Elizabeth Ann Mulligan December 12, 1867
- Born: 1842 Ireland, d/o John Mulligan and Eliza Boyd of Nepean Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario , History of the Mulligans from Co Down, Ireland provided on this site by a Mulligan family member. I also did some research. A tombstone in Ontario lists the Mulligan family from Co Down, Ireland. (Note: there is a second Mulligan line in the Ottawa area not linked to our family history).
- Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Mulligan Gillespie died: January 4,1898 at home on the farm, Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario
Their Children:
- William Gillespie (1868-1943) married Lena Shore.1893
- John Gillespie (1871- m Elizabeth Cooks 1892
- James Gillespie (1872-1970) m Ella Cummings 1901
- Elizil Gillespie (1873-1875) Died young
- Samuel Gillespie (my father) (1875-1954) married 5x
- Martha Gillespie (1877-1945) married John Shore 1899
- Nathan Gillespie (1877) Died young
- George Gillespie (1878-1968) m Martha Shore 1902
- Bertha Gillespie (1881-1886) Died young
- Margaret Gillespie (1883-unknown)
Margaret Gillespie birth Feb 4, 1883 Carleton, Ontario Father John Gillespie. Mother Elizabeth Mulligan. – my Dad’s sister, who is named Mabel, age 8, in 1891 census. She may have disappeared into the United States, but I could find no trace of her, nor especially a marriage record as most young women did marry. I do not think there were twins. Just seems unusual.
1881 Census, Gloucester, Russell, Ontario
| Name | Age |
|---|---|
| John Gellsepy | 40 |
| Elizabeth Gellsepy | 40 |
| William Gellsepy | 12 |
| John Gellsepy | 11 |
| James Gellsepy | 9 |
| Samuel Gellsepy | 6 |
| Nathen Gellsepy | 4 |
| George Gellsepy | 2 |
1891 census Gloucester Russell, Ontario
| : |
|
|---|
Edward was a domestic servant, single, age 75 birth USA Free Will Baptist. Does not appear again. Missing 2-year old daughter before birth of Sam.
Marriage 2: (Ancestry.com)
| Name: | John Gillespie |
|---|---|
| Birth Place: | Gloucester |
| Marriage Date: | 19 Jun 1901 |
| Marriage Place: | Carleton, Ontario, Canada |
| Father: | William Gillespie (new link) |
| Mother: | Elizabeth Atkinson |
| Spouse: | Mary Clifford |
John’s 2nd Marriage was to Mrs. Mary Clifford (nee Davis), the widow of William Clifford, son of Thomas Clifford, who lived beside John all his life. William would have known all of Johns children from his first marriage. Mrs. Clifford had four children from her first marriage with William Clifford, whom John then raised with her on the Gillespie farm.
Their Children:
Ruth Amy Gillespie, born August 31, 1902 in Pittsburgh Twp, Frontenac County, Ontario. She died June 21, 1985 in Hamilton, Ontario. Three marriages:
M 1 Walter Samuel Talmadge (1882-1960)
m2 Meredith McDowell, who died of cancer
m3 Reid Murray (1915-1991)
Ruth had one son, Murray Edward Talmadge. All buried in Hamilton Cemetery, Wentworth Co, Ontario
Notes: John Gillespie’s farm is identified as River Front Con 2, Lot 3f Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario. Today the farm is under the concrete of the Ottawa Airport. A small street is named Gillespie Street in a subdivision a bit to the north in memory of our Gillespie family, the land of which may be a bit of the home farm.
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Note: Photo of my father, Sam Gillespie (1875-1954) honoured on Records Just Added 2025 (left menu bar). I have his old photo album, and photos yellowed with age. Very fragile. Copies made.
Note: Photos of my mother, Mabel Miller found on her obit in Coe Hill Obituaries A-Q and in posted in The Delights & Difficulties of Aging (right menu bar).
No family chart for Sam Gillespie & Mabel Miller provided for them, both deceased, because many living relatives. My parents.
