Necropolis Cemetery, Cannington. Known as the Squire. From Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland. His family remembered on this tombstone

Some Family History.

Malcolm Gillespie, from the Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, SCOTLAND  married Mary Miller August 25, 1837, both of Toronto. Witness Flora Gillespie (Malcolm’s sister?).  (There appears to be two women named Mary Miller in early records, as one died in 1847, and is buried in Milton).

Children of Malcolm Gillespie & Mary (Miller)

1. Dr. Donald Gillespie, b  Jan 4, 1838, who became a physician and spent his  life serving the community of Cannington. He was age 24 when he married Isabella Coulthard May 27, 1862. Note: Was the Scottish naming pattern used by Malcolm Sr? If so, then, Donald was the name of his paternal grandfather, who sired Malcolm Sr).

Their Children:

• Mary Miller Gillespie b 1863 m Dr John D ANDERSON Sept 7, 1881 (Donald honoured his mother in her naming). Someone in later Gillespie generations honour John Anderson (See Beaverton burials).
• (other children not yet identified in this 12 year period)
• Annie M Gillespie b 1875 m William VICARS Jan 3, 1900
• Isabella Elizabeth Gillespie b Dec 6. 1876

Donald’s wife, Isabella died within this six year period.

Dr Donald Gillespie, age 44,  married Mary Sinclair, a widow,  1882 at Lindsay. (Note:  Mary had a son Alexander last name MacO? on 1901 census). At home needing a mother were:  Annie, age 7, Isabella age 6.  The oldest child had already married in 1881.

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2.  Elizabeth Gillespie, b 1841. Married Philip Lloyd ST JOHN. She is buried with her husband’s family as her step mother, Alice and Elizabeth did not get along,  and she did not inherit in Alice’s will.   Her husband had died on April 21, 1917. Elizabeth died two days later, April 23, 1917, age 76.   The St John’s lived about five to 10 miles south of Cannington. Buried in St John Cemetery, Brock Twp.  In the Scottish naming pattern, a first born daughter was named for her maternal grandmother (or Mary Miller’s mother).  

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3. George Miller Gillespie, (b 1844/1846)  was probably Mary’s child.  If so, Mary must have died during 1845, as Malcolm Sr rushed into another marriage in Nov 1845. The baby could have been weaned and eating solid food, perhaps a year old before Mary’s death, probably that year. But confirmation not found about George’s mother. Nor has his death record been confirmed.  In the Scottish naming pattern, a second son was named for his maternal grandfather, who who have sired Mary Miller).

George, age 22  married Agnes MCFADDEN Oct 16, 1866 in Cannington.

Their children:

• • • Rebecca Ellinor Gillespie b Nov 21, 1872.
    • Ida Fair Gillespie b Oct 10, 1874

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Malcolm Gillespie of Toronto married a much younger woman, Alice MCKECHNIE, d/o John McKechnie of Glasgow, Nov 1, 1845 . They lived on a farm on the outskirts of Cannington. Alice took over care of Malcolm’s children: Donald age 7,  Elizabeth 4. In his lifetime, Malcolm became a Squire or Magistrate. He made a trip to Manitoba in the winter of 1880 to visit family members and friends from Islay.  Squire Malcolm Gillespie died in 1892, about 78 years. Alice outlived him 23 more years as a widow, living with two of her children, to  die June 3, 1915, as listed on the tombstone, aged 84 years. (b  1831). 

Children of Malcolm & Alice Gillespie

4. Malcolm Gillespie. Jr, b 1848 states ‘son of Malcolm & Mary’, when he married Jessie ANDERSON Feb 6, 1889. But  his age 35, creating confusion with his birth date and Malcolm’s marriage to Alice in 1845. He died April 18,1903, age 55/56. On 1911  census for Cannington, Jessie is a widow, born July 1860, and has a son, John, born Nov 1892, age 17, both of whom are living in Cannington with Alice Gillespie, Sr. In the Scottish naming pattern, a third born son was usually named for his father.

5. Margaret Gillespie, b 1851. Married John Wilbur HURD She lived a full life, dying in 1937, age 86 yrs. Buried The Stone Church Cemetery near Beaverton. In the Scottish naming pattern, the second daughter was named for her paternal grandmother (or the mother of Malcolm). This seems to indicate that Malcolm Gillespie, Sr was the child of Donald Gillespie & Margaret, maiden name unknown.

John & Margaret’s children:

• Florence Gertrude HURD,  b Jan 2, 1871 – April 4, 1956.

5. Catherine Gillespie, b 1853 on 1861 census, age 8. However, a birthdate is also given as Nov 1858, and she married Mr SPORNON. She was a widow, age 52, living with her mother, Alice Sr, now a widow age 75,  in Cannington on census, 1901. Catherine is out of order in the Scottish naming pattern. So, what occurred in the family dynamics, for Malcolm to change this order?  Possibly a dearly loved sister had died?  The use of the naming pattern was becoming weaker in use in 1850s.

6. John Hector Gillespie (1855 -1915) married Sarah Elizabeth THOMPSON of Cannington on Sept 9, 1879 at Cannington. In the Scottish naming pattern, the fourth son was name for the father’s eldest brother.  By now it may not have been strictly applied.

Alice Gillespie (1857 – March 3, 1906). Age 49.  Never married. She was obviously named after her mother, being the third born daughter (Scottish naming pattern).

8. Mary Jane Gillespie b 1859 – 1939  married Peter ELLIS (1848 – 1948). She apparently lived the longest amongst her siblings. They moved to Toronto where Peter became Police Magistrate for the City of Toronto. Returned to Cannington for burial in family plot.

In the Scottish naming pattern, the fourth daughter was named for the mother’s eldest sister. By this time, however, the naming pattern may not have been strictly used. Mary Ann, however, seems to strongly honour the names of her siblings in the naming her own children.

• Their son, Paul ELLIS b 1893  died June 8, 1901, age 7 years 10 months,  and is listed on the family tombstone in Cannington.
• Margarita Alice Catherine ELLIS, b April 6, 1884.

9. Isabella Gillespie (also “Bella”) 1861 -1933 married Thomas H FOSTER, widower, Jan 16, 1901 at Brock Twp.

10. Dr Walter Robert Gillespie (1866 – 1895) married Tripphena Alberta Campbell at Port Perry  Nov 29, 1892. He moved there to live and serve the community.  Walter died August 3, 1895, age 29 years.

• Their child: Christine Isabel Gillespie, only child of Walter & Bertie, died Nov 8, 1895, age one year 5 months, just a week after her father. What tragedy for the mother, her life shattered.

11. Dr Paul Gillespie (Major) b 1868  (Malcolm Sr was about 54 and Alice 37). Paul is first listed on the 1891 census for Brock as a 21 year old. About eight years later, Paul, now 32,   headed to South Africa. If he went to fight in the Boer War (1900/1901), he is not listed with the Canadians who participated. During his remaining  16 years in South Africa,  Paul hunted diamonds,  became a Magistrate, and then married Johanna Elizabeth Sophia Satchwell in 1916. They had limited time to have children as Paul  died that same year,  age 48,  of bubonic plague. He is buried in Winburn Old Cemetery,  Free State, South Africa. Johnna lived to Oct 12, 1942, dying in Cape Town age 63. (Family in Cannington added Paul to their tombstone in his memory). See also South Africa Deaths for more information. (Who set up Johanna’s stone one wonders, unless she did it herself. )

Christina Gillespie – Died June 17, 1904. Listed on tombstone.