PATERNAL: GILLESPIE MATERNAL: Held Private
Descendants from Oldest Gillespie Towards Today
- William Gillespie & Eliza Atkinson from Ireland
2. John Gillespie & Elizabeth Mulligan, Billings Bridge, Ontario
3. Sam Gillespie (married 5x) & Mabel Miller
4. Norma Gillespie (author of website) & 2 siblings
5. & 6. & 7 grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Records provided in a link from bottom of page. Some brief comments beside individuals here as guidelines.
WILLIAM GILLESPIE
(GENERATION ONE)
Born: 1818 estimated. From Co Fermanagh, Clogher Parish, Scriby Townland (Screeby), Ireland. This location is close to Five Mile Town. Possible son of Samuel Gillespie (from Irish/Scottish naming patterns). William names his first born son for him, and the name is honoured in the Samuel Gillespie living near William (if a brother), and in three generations since then to today. William would have to have been third born child in his family. Oldest Samuel had no children. Location carefully determined, as there were three alternative locations but in different counties. William stated Co Fermanagh. Five Mile Town borders Fermanagh and Tyrone.
Immigrated to Canada by February 1829.See microfilm record: Reel No B-945 C.O. 384/22 page 78 for William & page 101 for Samuel Gillespie. 1829, Colonial Office listing of settlers in Ottawa Valley. See McCabe List, the most important find for my family history.
William and family lived on a 50-acres parcel of rough land, which he traded early with Samuel Gillespie, who lived nearby. See maps provided in records. William’s land is identified as NE 1/4 Lot 2, Gloucester Twp. Once necessary clearing of property done, neither he nor neighbour Samuel expanded their holding. (Early Bytown history helpful in understanding difficulties; community later became Ottawa). Note: A William Gillespie owned back to back properties in Bytown but does not fit with this Irish family in the swampy regions. William & his wife, Eliza Atkinson, are named as parents of their son, John, in his 2nd marriage record.
Died: William died Dec 16, 1841 Billings Bridge, Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario Canada. Knifed in a fight five days before Christmas, dying at home probably in agony from the infection. (Bytown News)
Buried: unknown Gloucester Twp – possibly in the farm or in a gravesite close to the farm where he died. No tombstone. No record found.
Married: Eliza Atkinson 1833 estimated, probably in Bytown area as first record found for couple is five years later, an agricultural census for Gloucester Twp, 1838 with young children with couple. Each agricultural census for 1839 to 1842 studied closely. Two adults with couple briefly, and that link might be a sister and husband, also traced briefly with record of a nephew’s drowning.(see Bytown news).
…..
Born: Eliza Atkinson b 1818 estimated. Daughter of Henry Atkinson of Kilmacshalkin Parish, Rathurlisk Townland, Co Sligo, Ireland (could not locate in Ireland as two men with same name found in location, with no way to distinquish between them).
Immigration to Ottawa Valley unknown, but by 1838, she is part of Gillespie family in Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co.
Eliza, a widow, age 34, appears with her four children on the 1851 census for the same area, with Samuel still living nearby. They have not married. Her death and burial are not known. Eliza disappears by the 1861 census. A huge mystery, as Eliza is only about 48 years of age. Samuel in his 50s. Many efforts to find her were unsuccessful. No death record found for either of them.
Children of William Gillespie & Eliza Atkinson
(GENERATION TWO)
a) Saml Gillespie (1835-1896, age 60) cancer of the liver Episcopalian. Fruit Tree specialist 1896. Died in Ottawa.
b)Mary Ann Gillespie (1836-?) m George Gill 1874
c)John Gillespie (1840 to 1916) m Elizabeth Mulligan 1868
d) Martha Gillespie (1841-?) no history known.
More study using the naming pattern with these four children indicates probable names of paternal and maternal grandmothers.
John Gillespie & Elizabeth Ann Mulligan
GENERATION THREE
A large family living in on a farm in Billings Bridge, Gloucester Twp, Carleton County (also considered Russell Co for while). There are additional records for all generations, including John & Betsy Ann from link below.
