The Gillespie Family in
Puslinch Township,
Wellington County, Ontario

And their ancestors:
The Gillespie Family in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

Contents

Click on any of the following to be taken to that section or page.

Introduction

Welcome to my page on the Gillespie Family of Puslinch.  This page is part of my personal family history website and represents one of my own ancestral lines.  It is also a cousin page to the Stewart Pioneers of Puslinch, a website for Puslinch researchers in cooperation with the Puslinch Historical Society.  If you are specifically looking for information on the Gillespie family of Puslinch then this is where to start.  Otherwise you may wish to begin at the start page of my family history, or at the introduction page for the Stewart Pioneers of Puslinch.

Please Note: This page is intended only as a narrative historical overview of this family.  There is additional detailed information available for almost ever person presented on this page.  To avoid the unnecessary work of double-entering some data, the additional information can be found in the accompanying GEDCOM database.  Please make sure you click on the INDEX button at the bottom of the page so you don't miss out on potentially valuable additional information.

Acknowledgments

The research presented on this page is not mine alone.  It contains information submitted by all the Fellow Researchers listed below.  I am indebted to them for their generous contributions.  This page is intended as a place for researchers to freely and cooperatively share our research with each other.  It would be too cumbersome a task to reference each piece of data as to which researcher it has come from.  The information shown on this page should be understood as a product of ALL of the Fellow Researchers.  I am merely the editor and not the sole author. - Ryk

The Origin of the Surname Gillespie

The name Gillespie is an occupational surname of Gaelic origin.  It comes from the Gaelic words gille, meaning "servant", and easbuig (pronounced "esspick", meaning "bishop".  Gillespie means "servant of the bishop" and earlier forms of the name can be found as Gillespic, still retaining the sound of the original Gaelic.  As there were many bishops who had many servants in both Scotland and Ireland then it is certain that this surname has multiple origins.  That is, not all Gillespies are related to one another.  The name is very old and versions of it have been found in Ireland as early as 1100.  This has led some researchers to suggest that the Gillespie surname has its origin in Ireland.  However, such an argument presumes there is one common origin to the name Gillespie, when in fact every bishop in Scotland and Ireland would have had his own gillean-easbuig (bishop's servants) any number of which would have evolved into occupational surnames.  Thus, the surname likely has multiple geographic origins in every cathedral town in Scotland and Ireland.  Our particular Gillespie family comes from the southern fringes of the Highlands of Perthshire, Scotland, probably originating in the cathedral town of Dunblane.

Our Gillespies have been traced back to James Gillespie, born bet. 1736-1741 in Dunblane, which was a cathedral town.  Thus it seems reasonable to suggest that our Gillespies descend from a servant to the bishop of Dunblane.  The famous Scottish architect, James Gillespie Graham 1776-1855 who designed most of Edinburgh also came from Dunblane.  He is shown below as very likely being a first-cousin of James Gillespie in Lecropt, our ancestor below.

Click here to learn more about surnames.

The Gillespie Family in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

James Gillespie and Catherine Reid in Lecropt

Our Gillespie family comes from the area of Kilmadock parish in southern Perthshire, Scotland.  The earliest traceable ancestors are the family of James Gillespie and Catherine Reid.  James Gillespie was born between 1736 - 1741 in Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland as the son of another James Gillespie whose origins are uncertain.  However, as the name Gillespie means "servant of the bishop" and as Dunblane was a cathedral town, it seems reasonable to suggest that our Gillespies originated in Dunblane with a family who were servants of the bishop of Dunblane.  Catherine Reid was born Jan 22, 1745/46 also in Dunblane.  She was the daughter of Walter and Margaret Reid of Dunblane.  James and Catherine were married May 06, 1765 in nearby Lecropt, Perthshire.  They had the following children:

1. James GILLESPIE b: 19 APR 1766 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.
2. Walter GILLESPIE b: 26 JAN 1768 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.
3. John GILLESPIE b: APR 1770 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.
4. Margaret GILLESPIE b: 28 MAY 1772 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.
5. Hugh GILLESPIE b: 19 NOV 1774 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.

Hugh Gillespie and Mary Reid in Deanston

Hugh Gillespie was born 19 NOV 1774 in Lecropt, Perthshire, Scotland as the youngest son of James Gillespie and Catherine Reid.  Lecropt is located just east of Kilmadock parish, between Doune and Dunblane in Perthshire, Scotland.  Hugh Gillespie married Mary Reid sometime around 1800, but no record of that marriage has yet been found.  Hugh worked as a cotton millwright, first in the village of Brig o' Turk (Brig an Tuiric in Gaelic, meaning "bridge of the wild boar") at the west end of Loch Vennacher in Callander parish, where he and Mary began their family.  Hugh and his young family later moved east to the village of Deanston near Doune in Kilmadock parish, Perthshire, Scotland where Hugh worked as a senior foreman for The Deanston Works Company.

As noted above, Hugh Gillespie worked as millwright, first in Bridge of Turk and later at the Deanston Works Company (a.k.a. James Finlay and Co.) in Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland. He worked under the management of the illustrious James Smith (mentioned above) whose innovations in farming and milling revolutionized both industries and made James Smith famous around the world. Hugh Gillespie rose to the level of senior foreman under James Smith and the following note is recorded about him:

"Some of the credit for the great work done at Deanston in [James] Smith's time must go to the fine team of men he gathered round him, [including]...Hugh Gillespie, foreman and highly skilled mechanic...." (Doune Historical Notes, Moray Mackay (c) 2003).

Hugh Gillespie and Mary Reid had the following children.  Baptismal records have been identified only for the latter 6 children in the parish of Kilmadock.

1. James GILLESPIE b: ABT 1801 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, or Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland of whom below
2. Catherine GILLESPIE (UNCERTAIN) b: ABT 1803 in Probably Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Catherine is suggested speculatively.  It is not known if she actually existed.  Based on Scots naming patterns, which this family appears to have followed, then they should have had a daughter named Catherine born about this time.  There is certainly a gap in the birth order of this family without Catherine, suggesting they probably had a child about this time.  However no evidence of Catherine's existence has so far been found.
3. Margaret GILLESPIE b: ABT 1805 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
4. John GILLESPIE b: 18 JUL 1807 in Brig O' Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
5. Jean GILLESPIE b: 18 JUL 1809 in Brig O' Turk, Callander, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
6. Mary GILLESPIE b: 12 JUL 1811 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
7. Thomas GILLESPIE b: 6 JUN 1813 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
8. Helen GILLESPIE b: 3 NOV 1816 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland of whom below.
9. Janet GILLESPIE b: 20 APR 1819 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland.  It is suspected she died before 1834 as she has not been found in later records.

The descendants of these children are detailed below.  Three of the older children, James, Margaret and John, were married and began families while living in Scotland.  Sometime around 1834 Hugh Gillespie, along with his wife and several (but not all) of his children emigrated from Scotland and came to Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.  Two of their children, James and John remained in Scotland.

The Gillespie Family in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada

Why would a man in such secure and successful employment leave everything behind for the unknown and uncleared wilderness of Upper Canada? We don't know why the Gillespies left Deanston, but it must be noted that Hugh would have been 60 years old at the time, so he may have been retired and the impetus may have come from his adult children. We can only speculate.

The Gillespie family along with daughter Mary Gillespie's in-laws, the Stewarts, left Scotland in 1834 and are first identified in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario, in the spring of 1835.  They can be found sharing the front half of the same lot as their in-laws, the Stewarts.  The story of their trip from Scotland to Canada is described in more detail on the "Comrie" Stewarts of Puslinch page.  In brief, they spent three weeks (another account says 8 weeks) crossing the Atlantic and landed in Montreal where they chartered an oxen-pulled barge to cart their belongings down the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario and finally to York (present-day Toronto) where each family was given a 100 acre land grant.  From York they travelled to Hamilton where they were quarantined for an extended period of time.  After being released from quarantine they travelled by ox-cart north from Hamilton towards Guelph through the uncleared wilderness of Flamborough approximately along what is today Highway 6.  When they arrived at their new property in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario it would have still been uncleared forest.  Land grant regulations required that within one year of claiming the land each family must build some form of shelter and clear at least 10 acres of land and begin to farm or forfeit the land.  These regulations were intended to ensure only real settlers occupied the lands and not absentee speculators.

The Gillespies settled first on Concession 3, Lot 19-front with the Stewarts occupying (and later owning) the rear of the same lot.  The Gillespie property was later held by Hugh's daughter, Helen Gillespie, and her husband, William Reid.  The Gillespies spent their first winter in southern Ontario in little more than a lean-to and cleared their land and began to settle into their new farming life.  The area they settled was being populated by many other Scottish immigrants.  It wasn't long before talk began about starting a church.  However there were deep divisions within the Scottish Presbyterian church back home and these divisions were felt here in the New World.  Hugh Gillespie was significantly involved with the establishment of the first Presbyterian church in Puslinch Township.

The Gillespie family later moved from 3rd Concession farm to a property further north in Puslinch and then disappear from the records after 1842.  As Hugh would have been in his late 60s by this date it is suspected that Hugh and Mary may have died.  Otherwise they may have moved to the nearby towns of Guelph or Galt.  No death records or graves have yet been identified for Hugh and Mary.  It is also possible, when the Gillespie farm came into the possession of William Reid, that Hugh and Mary continued to reside on the farm as William's in-laws.

Of the Gillespie descendants, the following is known:

James Gillespie and Margaret McDonald

James GILLESPIE b: ABT 1801 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, or Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland, remained in Scotland and married about 1825 in Perthshire, Scotland to Margaret MCDONALD.  She was baptized 12 APR 1801 in Kincardine-by-Doune, Perthshire, Scotland.  They had the following children:

1. Janet GILLESPIE b: 27 JUN 1827 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.  She is not found with the family in 1851 and is presumed to have either died young or married prior to 1851.  However, no corresponding marriage record has been found in Kilmadock.
2. Hugh GILLESPIE b: 7 MAR 1829 in Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Hugh married on 25 OCT 1850 in Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland to Mary STEWART (of an unknown Stewart family).  They had the following children:
   1. James GILLESPIE b: 2 JAN 1853 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
   2. Catherine GILLESPIE b: 12 AUG 1854 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
   3. Hugh GILLESPIE b: 22 SEP 1856 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
   4. Alexander GILLESPIE b: 16 AUG 1858 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
   5. Margaret GILLESPIE b: 30 JAN 1861 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
   6. John GILLESPIE b: 11 MAY 1863 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
3. Alexander GILLESPIE b: 2 MAY 1833 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.  He is not found with the family in in 1851 and is presumed to have either died young or moved elsewhere.
4. James GILLESPIE b: 10 SEP 1836 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland of whom nothing is known.

This family is found in the 1881 census records in Scotland, thus it is believed they did not emigrate.

It is believed that this family is also found in the 1851 census, however there is some discrepancy.  The 1851 census shows full names only for household heads in Deanston, and initials only for all others (very frustrating).  The family is shown living in Deanston village, near Doune, Perthshire, thus:

And living close nearby, also in Deanston village, is:

The above people all match the family of James Gillespie and Margaret McDonald.  However it is interesting to note that James is shown as having been born in Stirling.  This would explain why we have not been able to locate a birth for him in Kilmadock.  However there is also no corresponding birth for him in the Stirling records (however the IGI is deficient in Stirling).  There is, however, a matching birth record for James Gillespie, born in Denny, Stirling, son of William Gillespie and Janet Wilson.

Margaret Gillespie and Duncan Stewart

Margaret GILLESPIE b: ABT 1805 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, married on 9 MAR 1827 in Kilmadock Perthshire, Scotland and Kincardine, Perthshire Scotland to Duncan STEWART.  Duncan was born in Kincardine, Perthshire Scotland.  Their marriage was double-registered in both Kilmadock and Kincardin parishes.  This occurs when the bride came from one parish and the groom came from the other.  Duncan is not related to Robert Stewart who married Margaret's sister, Mary Gillespie, below.  Duncan's birth family and ancestors are presented on the Duncan Stewart in Puslinch Page.  It seems likely that Duncan was probably working at the Deanston Works as that would provide a plausible explanation as to how he came to marry the head foreman's daughter.

Margaret and Duncan had their first three children in Kilmadock.  In 1834 they immigrated to Canada along with many others from the Gillespie family.  There they continued their family.

Margaret and Duncan initially settled next door to Hugh Gillespie and the rest of the Gillespie family.  Tragically, in 1848 Margaret Gillespie and her husband Duncan Stewart both died.  The explanation of their death is discussed on their page.  Margaret's sister Mary and her husband, Robert Stewart also died at the same time -- both couples leaving their children orphaned (see Mary Gillespie below for more on this).  Duncan and Margaret's children were raised by their grandparents, Hugh Gillespie and Mary Reid.  Duncan and Margaret had the following children:

1. Mary STEWART b: 17 DEC 1827 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
2. Robert STEWART b: 22 MAY 1830 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
3. Jane STEWART b: 10 MAR 1832 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
4. Margaret STEWART b: 1834 in Scotland or Canada
5. Hugh STEWART b: 8 JUL 1837 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
6. Elizabeth STEWART b: 9 DEC 1838 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
7. William STEWART b: ABT 1839 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario
8. Janet STEWART b: 1840 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario

For more information on this family and their descendants, please refer to the Duncan Stewart in Puslinch Page.

John Gillespie and Catherine McLaren

John GILLESPIE b: 18 JUL 1807 in Brig O' Turk, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, remained in Scotland and married on 4 FEB 1830 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland to Katharine MCLAREN.  She was born about FEB 1807 in Kincardine-by-Doune, Perthshire, Scotland as the daughter of John McLeran and Janet Stewart (of an unknown Stewart family).  John and his family remained in Scotland at least as late as 1881 when they can be located in the 1881 census for Kilmadock.  They had the following children.

1. Janet GILLESPIE b: 2 MAR 1831 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland
2. Hugh GILLESPIE b: 26 FEB 1832 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Hugh worked as an iron fitter and an engineer, first in Kilmadock, then in Portsmouth, England, and finally back in Kilmadock again as a mechanic at the Deanston Works.  Hugh married on 2 JAN 1860 in Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland to Janet SHADE b: ABT 1838 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  Janet was the daughter of John Shade, who was an Overseer at the Deanston Works.  Hugh and Janet had one daughter.  In 1881 Janet is recorded as living in the Perth and District Lunatic Asylum where she is listed as a pauper and a lunatic.  Meanwhile Hugh is found living back with his father, John, and his half-sister, Elizabeth, in Kilmadock.  Hugh married secondly on 06 Oct 1884 in Calton, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland to a widow, Ann MURDOCH (nee O'ROURKE).  Ann had six children by her first husband, Hugh Murdoch.  It is significant to note that Hugh Gillespie records himself as a widower at the time of his second marriage, even though his first wife was still alive and living in an asylum, and there is no record of any divorce.  It is believed that Hugh Gillespie and Ann Murdoch had no children.  Hugh Gillespie and his first wife Janet Shade had the following daughter.
   1. Helen GILLESPIE b: 2 DEC 1867 in 5 Union Street, Calton, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  Helen (or Ellen) worked as a waitress.  She married on 14 JUN 1889 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland to David NAPIER b: 10 OCT 1866 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  David worked as a journeyman box-maker.  They had the following children and then in 1912 they immigrated to Australia.  The complete Australian descendants are not listed here.  This branch is being researched by Anne Napier.  Those who wish more information on the Aussie descendants should contact Anne at the preceding link.
      1. David NAPIER b: ABT 1890 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
      2. Hugh Gillespie NAPIER b: 27 APR 1892 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  He emigrated with his parents in 1912.  Hugh worked as a railway worker in Australia.  He married on 9 SEP 1916 in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia to Mary Ann CUMMINGS b: 26 DEC 1891 in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.  She had apparently been booked to emigrate from Glasgow to Canada. However, the night prior to sailing, she had a dream that she was going to Australia so the next morning she took this as an omen and went and exchanged her ticket for one to Oz. -- c/o Anne Napier.  Hugh and Mary Ann had the following children:
         1. Hugh David Cummings Gillespie NAPIER b: 13 JAN 1918 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia
         2. William NAPIER b: ABT OCT 1919 in North Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.  He died as an infant.
         3. Graham NAPIER b: Private.  He married Betty Mavis HUMPHREYS.  Further information on this family is withheld for privacy reasons.
      3. Helen NAPIER b: ABT 1895 in Scotland
      4. Andrew NAPIER b: ABT 1897 in Scotland
      5. Janet NAPIER b: ABT 1899 in Scotland
      6. Elizabeth NAPIER b: 1903 in Scotland
3. Mary GILLESPIE b: 3 JUL 1835 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

4. John GILLESPIE b: 22 JAN 1838 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland.  John Gillespie married on 24 MAR 1863 in St. John's, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland to Isabella FAUSET b: ABT 1844 in Cheshire, England.  They had the following children.  This line is being researched by Chris Barrett.  There are additional non-Gillespie known descendants not shown here.  Their information can be found by contacting Christ Barrett.

   1. Annie Goodwin GILLESPIE b: 16 AUG 1863 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.  She married on 21 DEC 1882 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland to Henry Kay HANSON b: 10 NOV 1856 in Fort William, Calcutta, India.  They had the following children:
      1. Fred HANSON b: DEC 1883 in Portsea, Hampshire, England
      2. Cecil HANSON b: ABT 1886 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
      3. Isabel Victoria HANSON b: 23 AUG 1887 in Portsea, Hampshire, England.  Isabel married firstly on 1 SEP 1908 in Tidworth, Hampshire, England to William Franklin BARLETT b: 3 OCT 1877 in Lambeth, Surrey, England.  Isabel had additional husbands not shown here.  Isabel and William had the following children:
         1. William Henry BARLETT b: 1 AUG 1909 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England
         2. Ada Isabel BARLETT b: 19 JAN 1911 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England.  She married on 6 MAY 1933 in St. Peter's, Mile End, London, Middlesex, England to William Irvine BARRETT b: 23 FEB 1906 in Fulham, London, Middlesex, England.  They had the following family:
            1. Living BARRETT
         3. Phyliss BARLETT b: 1 NOV 1912 in Aldershot or Tidworth, Hampshire, England
         4. Winifred Alexandra BARLETT b: 1 DEC 1914 in Tidworth, Hamptshire, England
      4. Harry Nelson HANSON b: 21 OCT 1889 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
      5. John Bertie HANSON b: 12 APR 1892 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
      6. Thomas Arthur HANSON b: 13 MAR 1895 in North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
      7. Ethel Margaret HANSON b: 18 FEB 1898 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
      8. Kate Florence Kitty HANSON b: 19 FEB 1903 in Bulford Camp, Wiltshire, England
      9. Jessie HANSON b: AFT 1903 in England
   2. Margaret GILLESPIE b: 6 APR 1865 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
   3. John GILLESPIE b: 30 MAY 1867 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.  He moved to South Africa and had the following children by an unknown wife:
      1. William GILLESPIE b: UNKNOWN
      2. Winnie GILLESPIE b: UNKNOWN
   4. Thomas Fauset GILLESPIE b: 4 AUG 1869 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
   5. Sarah Jessie GILLESPIE b: 26 AUG 1871 in Bothkennar, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, Scotland
   6. Robert Fauset GILLESPIE b: 30 MAR 1874 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland.  He married in 1897 in Newington, Midlothian, Scotland to Marion DALZIEL b: 18 SEP 1874 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland.  They had the following child:
      1. Iris Margaret Dalziel GILLESPIE b: 1899 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
   7. William George GILLESPIE b: 1877 in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
   8. Lewis McD GILLESPIE b: 1879 in Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
   9. James GILLESPIE b: 1882 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland.  He married a woman named Helen whose surname is suspected to be STEWART.  They had the following children:
      1. John GILLESPIE b: Private
      2. Robert Stewart GILLESPIE b: Private
5. Catharine GILLESPIE b: 28 OCT 1841 in Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

Jean Gillespie

Jean GILLESPIE b: 18 JUL 1809 in Brig O' Turk, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland, is believed to have immigrated to Canada with her parents.  Her whereabouts after immigration is unknown.  Early census records indicate that she was probably living with her parents in Puslinch until at least 1837, however this is uncertain.

Mary Gillespie and Robert Stewart

Mary GILLESPIE b: 12 JUL 1811 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, immigrated to Canada where she married her next-door neighbour, Robert Stewart.  Robert Stewart and Mary Gillespie were married in 1836, mere months after arriving in Puslinch, suggesting that they might have known each other before coming to Canada.  As there was no church yet in Puslinch, they were married in nearby Galt, Wellington County, Ontario.  Mary and Robert had four children and then, like Margaret Gillespie and Duncan Stewart (above), they too died in 1848 and 49, perhaps also from smallpox, and also leaving their children orphaned.  The orphaned children of this family were raised by Robert's younger brother and sister, Peter and Catharine Stewart. 

1. Robert STEWART b: 1837 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Upper Canada Colony, British North America
2. Hugh STEWART b: ABT 1840 in Puslinch Twp. Wellington Co., Upper Canada Colony, British North America
3. Catharine STEWART b: 28 DEC 1842 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Upper Canada Colony, British North America
4. James STEWART b: 22 MAY 1847 in Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Upper Canada Colony, British North America

This is the author's family.  Their story is continued on the  "Comrie" Stewarts of Puslinch page.

Thomas Gillespie

Thomas GILLESPIE b: 6 JUN 1813 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland.  His whereabouts after immigration is unknown.  Early census records indicate that he was probably living with his parents in Puslinch until at least 1837, however this is uncertain.  He has not been identified in any later census records.  It is possible that he died, or may have returned to Scotland.

Helen Gillespie and William Reid

Helen GILLESPIE b: 3 NOV 1816 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, immigrated with her family and married on 4 SEP 1837 in Puslinch, Wellington County, Ontario to William REID b: 2 MAR 1813 in Bonny Bridge, Deney, Stirlingshire, Scotland.  As they married so soon after immigration and as William Reid's family came Stirlingshire, not far from Kilmadock, it is possible that the Gillespies and Reids were acquainted in Scotland and may have immigrated together along with the Stewarts above.  They initially settled in Puslinch on the Gillespie property of Con. 3, Lot 19-Rear, where they began their family of thirteen children.  They later moved to Egremont Township in Grey County, Ontario.  This family is currently being researched by Joanne Patterson and George Reid.

1. Helen REID b: 1 JAN 1835 in Unknown (adopted) of whom nothing more is known.
2. Mary REID b: 21 FEB 1838 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 27 JAN 1869 in Ontario to Ira T. PENNOCK b: 8 APR 1828 in USA.  In 1881 this couple is found living in Egremont Township in Grey County.  It is not known if they were married in Wellington and then moved to Grey County, or if Mary moved first and married Ira in Grey County.  They had the following children:
   1. William PENNOCK b: 20 DEC 1869 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
   2. Merritt PENNOCK b: MAR 1871 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
   3. Catherine Jane PENNOCK b: MAR 1874 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
   4. Elsie PENNOCK b: 14 JUL 1877 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
3. Jane Patterson REID b: 20 OCT 1839 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario. She died as a child.
4. William REID b: 23 APR 1841 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married on 5 MAR 1868 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario to Elizabeth Jane FARRELL b: 1850 in USA.  They had the following children:
   1. Nancy Jane REID b: 21 NOV 1869 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   2. William Charles REID b: 29 SEP 1871 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   3. Ellen REID b: 27 OCT 1874 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   4. Susan REID b: 20 JAN 1877 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   5. James Henry REID b: 3 APR 1879 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   6. Jessie Ann REID b: 21 NOV 1880 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
5. Hugh REID b: 11 JAN 1843 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He died as an infant.
6. Margaret REID b: 29 JUL 1844 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She died as an infant.
7. Jane REID b: 28 NOV 1845 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  She married on 3 OCT 1867 in Wellington County, Ontario to William GRAY b: 1833 in Scotland.  William died in 1884 just after the birth of their last child.  the 1901 census shows Jane as a widow, so it appears that she raised her children as a single mother -- quite a feat in the late 19th century!  Jane and William had the following children:
   1. Catherine GRAY b: 1867 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   2. Child GRAY b: 1868 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   3. Thomas GRAY b: 24 JUN 1869 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   4. Child GRAY b: 1870 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   5. Ellen GRAY b: 16 SEP 1872 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   6. Christina GRAY b: 30 APR 1874 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   7. Henry Godfrey McDonald GRAY b: 9 JUN 1876 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   8. William GRAY b: 9 JUN 1876 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   9. Jessie GRAY b: 1 JUL 1878 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   10. Sarah Ann GRAY b: 8 JUL 1880 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   11. David W. GRAY b: 10 AUG 1881 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
   12. John A. GRAY b: 14 NOV 1883 in Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
8. Hugh REID b: 24 AUG 1847 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married on 31 MAY 1870 in Rosebank Farm, Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario to Catherine GRAY b: 19 SEP 1847 in Ontario.  It is not known if she was related to William Gray above.  Hugh and Catharine had the following children:
   1. William Thomas REID b: 24 MAY 1871 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   2. Henry McDonald REID b: 7 MAY 1873 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   3. Helen Gillespie REID b: 27 FEB 1875 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   4. Catherine Ida REID b: 6 JAN 1878 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   5. Annie REID b: 15 DEC 1879 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   6. Elisabeth REID b: 24 DEC 1882 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   7. May REID b: 25 MAY 1885 in Nichol Township, Wellington County or Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
9. John William REID b: 2 AUG 1849 in Puslinch Township, Wellington County, Ontario.  He married on 24 DEC 1874 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario to Sarah Anne ASKETT b: 23 JUN 1856 in Ontario.  They had the following children:
   1. William John REID b: 27 OCT 1875 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
   2. Elizabeth Jane REID b: 14 MAY 1879 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario
   3. Janet REID b: 12 OCT 1882 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   4. Loveday Ann REID b: 2 JUL 1884 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   5. Lillian Ellen REID b: 2 FEB 1887 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   6. Agnes Maria REID b: 2 MAY 1890 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   7. Mary Olive Violet REID b: 7 FEB 1893 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
   8. Fleming Romains REID b: 10 JUN 1896 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
10. Janet REID b: 3 OCT 1851 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario.  She married on 25 MAR 1894 in Wellington or Grey County, Ontario to James CROSBIE b: 11 AUG 1838 in Ontario.  They are found in the 1901 census without children, so it is presumed they never had children.
11. Thomas James REID b: 23 JUL 1853 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario.  He married in MAR 1884 in Grey County, Ontario to Margaret SMITH b: 5 SEP 1863 in Ontario.  They had the following children:
    1. James William REID b: 28 MAR 1885 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    2. Allan E. REID b: 18 JUN 1887 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    3. Agnes Adella REID b: 23 JUL 1889 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
12. Henry REID b: 10 NOV 1855 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario.  He married on 9 FEB 1882 in Grey County, Ontario to Catherine ALLES b: 1862 in Ontario.  They had the following children:
    1. William Andrew REID b: 2 JUL 1884 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    2. George G. REID b: 18 MAR 1886 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    3. Earl Wesley REID b: 7 SEP 1891 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    4. Melvin G. REID b: 9 APR 1898 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    5. Merton A. REID b: 9 APR 1898 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    6. Ruth REID b: AFT 1901 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
13. Godfrey McDonald REID b: 10 APR 1858 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario.  He married on 30 JUN 1889 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario to Mary Ann TROUPE b: 18 JUN 1865 in Ontario.  They had the following children:
    1. Annie Brown REID b: 22 AUG 1890 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    2. Helen Gillespie REID b: 30 MAY 1892 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    3. Hugh McDonald REID b: 7 NOV 1893 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    4. Roy Alexander REID b: 8 SEP 1895 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    5. Norman William REID b: 18 MAR 1898 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    6. Mary Catherine REID b: 8 MAY 1901 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    7. Arthur Raymond REID b: 3 APR 1903 in Holstein, Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario
    8. Edythe Irene REID b: 25 AUG 1907 in Egremont Township, Grey County, Ontario

Janet Gillespie

Janet GILLESPIE b: 20 APR 1819 in Deanston, Doune, Perthshire, Scotland.  As stated above, it is suspected she died before 1834 as she has not been found in later records.  Early census records do not indicate a person matching her age and gender living with her parents in Puslinch.  It's not known if she even came to Canada at all.  By her young age, if she did not emigrate, then it is speculated she may have died young in Scotland or may have stayed with one of her older brothers and later married.  If so then her later married name and whereabouts would be unknown.

Research Leads

1851 Census - Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

The 1851 Census for Kilmadock shows the families of:

1881 Census - Deanston, Kilmadock, Perthshire, Scotland

Res: Deanston, 1st Division
David GILLISPIE M 34 M Deanston, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Iron Fitter
Margaret GILLISPIE M 32 F Crieff, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Wife
John GILLISPIE 9 M Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Margaret Mc K. GILLISPIE 5 F Deanston, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Elizabeth GILLISPIE 3 F Deanston, Perth, Scotland

Res: Deanston, 2nd Div.
John GILLISPIE W 73 M Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Foreman Iron Fitter
Hugh GILLISPIE M 48 M Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Iron Fitter
Elizabeth GILLISPIE U 31 F Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland

Res: Deanston, 4th Div.
Hugh GILLISPIE M 52 M Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Iron Moulder Foreman
Mary GILLISPIE M 51 F Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Wife
John GILLISPIE U 17 M Kilmadock, Perth, Scotland

Res: Deanston, 4th Div.
Jane MC ALPINE W 42 F Deanston, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Cotton Weaver
James GILLISPIE 10 M Deanston, Perth, Scotland (nephew)

Res: Deanston, 2nd Div.
Janet MC LAREN W 69 F Dunipace, Stirling, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Millworker
Cathrine W. GILLISPIE 7 F Deanston, Perth, Scotland (Visitor)

Lecropt

Mitchell's MIs of Southern Perthshire (vol 2) show the following as the only Gillespie stone in Lecropt:
Old Lecropt
1801. James Gillespie 23 DEC 1794, age 50, by wife Anne Anderson. Could this be the same James Gillespie with a second wife? Their marriage can be found in Lecropt, 21 JUN 1773.  They had the following children whose births do not conflict with above:

1. AEMILIA GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Birth: 13 MAR 1775 Christening: 19 MAR 1775 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
2. JOHN GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 17 JAN 1777 Christening: 19 JAN 1777 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
3. JAMES GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 19 JAN 1779 Christening: 24 JAN 1779 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
4. ANN GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Birth: 02 JUN 1781 Christening: 10 JUN 1781 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
5. JEAN GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Birth: 23 AUG 1783 Christening: 24 AUG 1783 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
6. WILLIAM GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 30 MAY 1786 Christening: 05 JUN 1786 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
7. JANET GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Female Birth: 10 JUN 1788 Christening: 12 JUN 1788 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
8. THOMAS GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 14 JUL 1790 Christening: 28 JUL 1790 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland
9. THOMAS GILLESPIE - International Genealogical Index Gender: Male Birth: 22 MAY 1792 Christening: 27 MAY 1792 Lecropt, Perth, Scotland

Dunblane

Minutes of the Freemasons' Lodge in Dunblane

Dec. 27, 1720, is the first of the minutes of the admissions of fellows of craft that contain the peculiar reference to the square and compass which for a number of years was regularly used by the Secretary of Dunblane Lodge. It is worth quoting in full:

Compared John Gillespie, writer in Dunblane, who was entered on the 24 instant, and after examination was duely passt from the Square to the Compass, and from ane Entered Prentiee to a Fellow of Craft of the Lodge.

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/the_builder_1929_june.htm

Malcolm Gillespie, The Smuggler

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/rural_life23.htm

James Gillespie Graham, The Architect

graham11 Stirnet

Born James Gillespie in Dunblane in 1776, he made his early reputation designing castles and mansions in the Highlands and may have been the first to use the term 'baronial'. His later work included the Roman Catholic cathedrals in Glasgow and Edinburgh and additions and alterations to many historic buildings. His most famous work is the Glenfinnan monument at the head of Loch Shiel.

In 1815 he married Margaret, daughter of William Graham of Orchill, in Perthshire, and adopted her surname of Graham. Margaret Gillespie Graham died in 1826 and in 1830 Graham married again and lived latterly in Edinburgh, where he was for a time a member of the Town Council and a governor of George Heriot's School.

b/b 11/19 JUN 1776, Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland, son of Malcolm Gillespie (this would make James the brother of Malcolm the Smuggler, above!)

d 21 MAR 1855

Malcolm Gillespie, father of James the Architect and Malcolm the Smuggler was probably b/b 5/14 JUN 1741 as the son of James Gillespie, making him likely to be the older brother of James Gillespie in Lecropt, patriarch of our family above.

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3. Where it precedes a year only, such as "ABT 1855", then it means that there is no information on the person's birth date at all and an educated guess has been made that he/she was probably born sometime around 1855.

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This page was last updated on November 05, 2008