Rebecca Berry {B.6.} was born at an unknown date and location. Based on the 1810 census results, it can be determined only that she was born sometime prior to 1765. Her father (the elder John Berry) was living in Augusta County, Virginia by 1753, so if she was born after that date, her birthplace is definitely Augusta County, Virginia. However, if she was born before 1753, the only definitive statement concerning her birthplace is that it occurred either in Scotland, northern Ireland, Pennsylvania or Virginia. She got married in either late 1770 or early 1771 to Jacob Gillespie, and if she was in her early to mid 20's, which seems to be the typical age for women to get married, then her birth date can be estimated as being sometime between 1745 to 1750. If so, it seems likely that Rebecca Berry was born before the family moved to Augusta County.

    Rebecca was identified as Rebecca Berry in her father's 1770 will, but when his estate was settled 11 years later in 1781, no Rebecca Berry was listed. Instead, there were three women named Rebecca (Rebecca Buchanan, Rebecca Kelly and Rebecca Gillespie), so, clearly, sometime between 1770 and 1781, she married a man with a last name of Buchanan, Kelly or Gillespie. There are several lines of evidence indicating that Rebecca married Jacob Gillespie. In the first place, Rebecca Berry was left £20 in her father's 1770 will. Rebecca Gillesy (Gillespie) received £20 in the 1781 estate settlement, while both Rebecca Kelly and Rebecca Buchanan each received just over £2. This monetary distribution strongly suggests that Rebecca married the man named Gillespie. Another line of evidence consists of several undocumented sources, which note that Rebecca married Jacob Gillespie (1751 - 1760), a son of Thomas and Eleanor Gillespie, and lived in Bath County, Virginia until her death.^{295,296,297,298,299,300} Another evidence string is the presence of a John Berry, living in Bath County in the household of a Gillespie who was, in all likelihood, related to Jacob Gillepsie.^102,302 This John Berry is most likely a nephew of Rebecca's from Augusta County, and his presence in a Gillespie household in Bath County seems to indirectly confirm that Rebecca married Jacob Gillespie. Finally, the most definitive evidence comes from several land sales in the 1820's that mention Jacob and Rebecca together. 

    Based on the information from her father's will and the estate settlement, the date of her marriage can be broadly bracketed as occurring sometime between 1770 and 1781. However, when the birth date of her oldest child is considered, the range can be narrowed to the time period between late 1770 and early 1771, which probably means that the marriage took place in Augusta County, Virginia. From the Augusta and Bath County tax listings, which will be discussed below, it can be seen that their oldest son turned 21, and therefore of taxable age, between 1791 and 1792. His birth date, thus, can be calculated as occurring in 1772. It follows that Rebecca and Jacob's marriage must have taken place between the time when her father's will was written in the fall of 1770, and when their first child was born in 1772.

   Rebecca (Berry) Gillespie lived in Bath County, Virginia, and passed away near present day Greenbank, Pocahontas County, West Virginia in 1825, sometime after March. Until 1821, this area was part of Bath County, Virginia, and, of course, during the Civil War, this part of Virginia became a separate state. Rebecca was probably buried in a local cemetery or on the family farm. Jacob most likely remained on the farm after the death of his wife, passing away in 1829. He was probably buried next to his wife.^295,296

1745 - 1750²⁹⁷

Birth of Rebecca Berry

1751 - 1760^296,297

Birth of Jacob Gillespie

10 Oct 1770²¹¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 4, page 404
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I John Berry of the County of Augusta and Colloney of Virginia being weakly of body but of perfect mind and Memory thanks be given to Almighty God there fore Considering the Mortallity of my body Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I do Make & Ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say Principally first of all I recommend and Commite my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth decently buried at the discretion of my Executor doubting nothing but I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God at the General resurection and as Touching what estate it hath Pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise & dispose of the same in the following Manner and form Impremis it is my Will and I do order that all my lawful debts and funeral charges be fully Paid and Satisfyed 
Item- unto Mary my Daughter one Pounds five shillings Curant money of Virginia I likewise give and bequeath unto John Neisbit six shillings and six Pence Curent Money of Virginia 
Item - I give and bequeath unto John Berry sun of James Berry deced. six Pounds Current Money of Virginia I give and bequeath unto John Berry sun of William Berry ten pounds Current Money of Virginia 
Item- I give & bequeath unto John Berry Sun of Francis Berry ten pounds Current Money of Virginia 
Item- I give & Bequeath unto Fra Berry Wheel right five pounds Current Money of Virginia 
Item- I give and Bequeath unto Mary Berry daughter of William Berry Fowar (4) Pounds Current money of Virginia 
Item I give and Bequeath to her Sister Elizabeth Berry Six pounds Current money of Virginia 
Item- I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Berry Daughter of Charles Berry five pounds Current money of Virginia 
Item- I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca Berry twenty pounds Curent money of Virginia I likewise Constitute and appoint my trusty friends Alexander Walker Wheel wright & William Edmoston sole Executors of this my last will & Testament and do hereby disanul & revock all other Wills or Testament by me made declaring & Publishing this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand & seal this tenth day of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and Seventy 
Published & Pronounced in the presence of us:
John Walker 
John Walker, Junior John Berry 
James Walker 

1770 - 1771²⁹⁷

Marriage of Rebecca Berry and Jacob Gillespie

1772^296,297

Birth of Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

09 Feb. 1773
^295,296,297

Birth of Alexander Gillespie

1777^296,297

Birth of John Gillespie

~1779^296,297

Birth of Rachel Gillespie

06 May 1781²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 6, page 173
An account of Estate of John Berry deceased
The account of said estate 
Received in cash by Sundry persons
the price of the land was twice put in this account and again deducted
By the sale of the said Estate
By cash the price of land sold
Totle 
The price of the land deducted 
Amount of the Estate
Amounts debts & legacies paid 
Balance due to the Estate 
Errors excepted 
Account of more debts paid by the Executor
To Margaret Kirkpatrick
To the sherrif for fees 46 lb Tobacco 
To John Berry Jun. 
To John Gilmore 
To William McFeeters 
To Samuel Neizbitt 
To fees 
To Eliz. Henry 
29.12.8
Brought over 
Total 
Debts paid & Legacies by the Executor 
To George Berry for funeral charges 
To the Shirrif of Augusta 
To John Buchanan for crying the vendue 
To David McCrea for funeral Liquers 
To Luke Bowyer employed as Lawyer 
To Liquor for the Vendue 
To Anthony Kelly for a coffin 
To the remainder of a bond to Wm McFeeters 
To Margaret Rutherford for Bond 
To Capt. John Gilmore 
To William Berry 
To George Matthews Shirref 
To John Stuart 
To William Berry 
To James Berry 
To Rebecca Buchanan 
To Robert Franies (?) 
To Alexander McIlroy 
To George Berry 
To Charles Berry 
To Robert Kilpatrick 
To Robert Fanies (?) 
To George Gibson 
To William Gilmore 
To William Gilmore 
To Rebecca Kelly 
To Wm Moody 
To Gabril (?) Fortec (?) 
To William Berry 
To Mary Johnson 
To James Wallace 
To Eliz. Bell 
To John McCrossory (?)
To Andw Buchanan 
To James Coulter 
To Andrew McCampbell for Jn Berry Jun 
To Francis Berry 
To Eliz. Berry 
To Eliz. Berry 
To Mary Berry 
To John Berry 
To Mary Niezbitt 
To John Berry Shoemaker 
To Mary Berry 
To Samuel Lyle 
To Rebecca Gillesy 
To Eve_?_ 
To balance due the Estate
Pursuant to an order of the court March 1781 We have examined the within account as it stands stated & find the amount thereof to be £242.19 and the debts paid
Ballance due said Estate as per account on the hands of Alexander Walker Executor O.E.
Test Elijah McClenachan William McFeeters
At court Cont. and held for Augusta County May 16th 1781
This account of the administration of the Estate of John Berry decd. was reported pursuant to an order of Court and Ordered to be Recorded
Test.

£/s/d
170.6.4
 

42.12.8
124.0.0
336.19
124.0
212.19
170.3
£42.15.8
 

1782⁷¹

Augusta County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillespie
1 poll/ no slaves

29 May 1783²⁹³

Bath County, Virginia Deed Book 2, page 461
These excerpts are from the indenture agreements made between Jacob Gillespie Sr. and his sons when Jacob Sr. sold segments of his 400 acre tract on Deer Creek. They both deal with the same parcel, and both were signed by Jacob Sr.
… part of four hundred acres first granted to Jacob Gillespy the 29th day of May 1783 … 
… part of a tract of four hundred acres first granted to Thomas Lewis by patent dated the 29th day of May 1783 and by him conveyed to the said Jacob Gillespy by deed of bargain and sale dated the ___ day of ___ 17__ , lying on a branch of Back Creek waters of Greenbrier River ...

01 June 1785²¹

Augusta County, Virginia, Will Book 6, page 230
Thomas Gillespy's will--To wife, Eleanor; to eldest son, John; to son, Thomas; to son, Jacob; to son. Samuel; to daughter, Mary Donally; daughter, Hannah Jones; daughter, Jene _____; to youngest daughters, Eleanor and Ann; to youngest sons, James and William, tract on Stuart's Creek, of Cowpasture River. 
Executors, sons James and William and wife Eleanor. 
Teste: William Connell, Zachariah Beall, Leavin Nealls, Andrew McCasling. 
Codicil, 13th November, 1786-- £15 to be taken from Eleanor and given to her son, Thomas, a boy 3-4 year old. for his schooling, and if James shall die without issue, then his part of land to go to William. 
Teste as before (Leavin Nicalls). 
Proved, 15th June, 1790, by Connell and McCaslin. William and Eleanor Gillaspey, the surviving executors, qualify.

22 Sept. 1785^296,297

Birth of Jemima Jane Gillespie

~1786^296,297

Birth of Mary Jane Gillespie

1787¹⁰²

Augusta County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List
Jacob Gillespy
no white males 16 - 21
no blacks > 16
no blacks < 16
6 horses, mares, colts & mules
24 cattle

1788²⁹⁶

Birth of Margaret (Peggy) Gillespie

1789^296,297

Birth of Thomas Gillespie

13 June 1789²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 26, Page 323
Thomas Cartmill and Mary to Abraham Ingram, 358 acres by survey 13th June, 1780, on a east branch of Greenbrier, called Deer or Warrick's Creek, the mine bank; corner Jacob Gallaspie. 
Delivered: John Warrick, 4th September, 1797.

1789²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 26, page 327
Thomas ( ) Jarvis and Elizabeth to Jacob Gillespy, Deer or Warrick's Creek. 
Teste: Thos. Cartmill, Abraham ( ) Ingraham, David Moore

1791^296,297

Birth of Elizabeth Gillespie

1791²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing, District 1
Jacob Gillespey 1 tithe, 3 horses, no slaves

1792²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing, District 2
Jacob Gillespey 2 tithes, 3 horses, no slaves

1793²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing, District 2
Jacob Gillespey 2 tithes, 3 horses, no slaves

17942²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing, District 2
Jacob Gillespey 3 tithes, 4 horses, no slaves

1795²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillaspie 3 tithes, 7 horses, no slaves

~1795^296,297

Birth of Samuel Gillespie

12 Aug. 1795³³⁴

Bath County, Virginia Marriage Bonds and Ministers Returns
Marriage Bond: John Sutten and Rachel Gillaspy
Surety: Jacob Gillaspy

1796²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillaspy 3 tithes, 8 horses, no slaves

~1797^296,297

Birth of Sarah Gillespie

1797²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillispey Sr. 2 tithes, 5 horses, no slaves

~1798^296,297

Birth of Rebecca Gillespie, Jr.

1798²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillispey Sr. 3 tithes, 4 horses, no slaves

1799²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillespey Sr. 2 tithes, 3 horses, no slaves

~1800^296,297

Birth of Nancy Gillespie

18002²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillaspy Sr. 2 tithes, 3 horses, no slaves

~1801^296,297

Birth of James W. Gillespie

1801²⁹²

Bath County, Virginia Tax Listing
Jacob Gillaspy Sr. 2 tithes, 6 horses, no slaves

10 Aug. 1801^293,294

Bath County Virginia, Deed Books 2 and 3
These are excerpts from the indenture between Jacob Gillespy, Sr. and his son John. They establish the date at which the 100 acres was originally purchased, as well as it's location.
… two certain parcels of land lying and being in the said county of Bath and joining said Jacob Gillespy's land, one hundred acres part of four hundred acres first granted to the said Jacob Gillespy the 29th day of May 1783
… The other parcel containing one hundred and twenty acres joining the former being part of a tract of one hundred and sixty six acres granted to Jacob Gillespy Sr. by patent dated the 10th day of August 1801 …

12 Jan. 1802²⁹³

Bath County, Virginia Deed Book 2, page 461
THIS INDENTURE made the twelfth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two, Between Jacob Gillespy of the county of Bath and state of Virginia of the one part and Alexander Gillespy of the county and state aforesaid of the other part. WITNESSETH that for and in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds, current money of Virginia in hand pad by the said Alexander Gillespy at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by the said Jacob Gillespy hath bargained and sold and by these presents and bargain, sell and convey to him the said Alexander Gillespy and his heirs, one certain tract or parcel of land in the county of Bath containing two hundred and seventy five acres being part of a tract of four hundred acres first granted to Thomas Lewis by patent dated the 29th day of May 1783 and by him conveyed to the said Jacob Gillespy by deed of bargain and sale dated the ___ day of ___ 17__ , lying on a branch of Back Creek waters of Greenbrier River and bound as followeth to wit: BEGINNING at a white oak and pine and turning thence South thirty two degrees West one hundred and fifty two poles to two poles thence South twenty three degrees East sixty poles to two white oaks by the creekside. North eighty five degrees East one hundred and forty poles to two beeches near a gully thence South fifty five degrees East one hundred and fifteen poles crossing the branch to two white oaks and ? thence North one hundred and ninety three poles to three whit oaks on flat ground North seventy six degrees West one hundred and eighty four poles to the BEGINNING together with all appurtenances thereunto belonging with all and singular the premises herein contained to the sole ? and behoof of him the said Alexander Gillespy his heirs and assigns forever and the said Jacob Gillespy for himself and his heirs doth covenant to and with the said Alexander Gillespy and his heirs the said parcel of land with its appurtenances unto the said Alexander Gillespy and his heirs from the claim of him the said Jacob Gillespy and his heirs and all every other person or persons whatsoever will forever warrant. In Witness whereof the said Jacob Gillespy hath hereunto subscribed his name and affixed his seal the day and year first above written.
Jacob Gillespy (seal)
Bath County January Court 1802
This indenture of bargain and sale from Jacob Gillespy to Alexander Gillespy was acknowledged in Court and Ordered to be Recorded.
Teste: Charles Cameron, Clerk

12 Jan. 1802²⁹³

Bath County, Virginia Deed Book 2, page 460
THIS INDENTURE made the twelfth day of January in the year of our one thousand eight hundred and two, between Jacob Gillespy of the county of Bath and state of Virginia of the one part and Jacob Gillespy Jr. of the county and state of aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that for and consideration of the sum fifty pounds current money of Virginia in hand paid to the said Jacob Gillespy at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, he the said Jacob Gillespy doth bargain, sell and convey to him the said Jacob Gillespy Jr. and to his heirs one certain parcel of land in the said county of Bath containing one hundred and twenty five acres being a part of a certain tract of four hundred acres first granted to Thomas Lewis dated the 29th day of May 1783 and by him conveyed to the said Jacob Gillespy by deed of bargain and sell dated the ___ day of ___ 17__ lying on a branch of Back Creek waters of Greenbrier River and bounded as follows to wit: BEGINNING at two white oaks ground thence South thirty degrees West one hundred and twenty poles to two pines on glady ground South twenty nine degrees East one hundred and fifty seven poles to two pines South fifty one degrees East eighty two poles to two pines on flat ground thence North thirty two degrees East one hundred and fifty two poles to a white oak and a pine North seventy six degrees West two hundred and forty six poles to the BEGINNING together with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging with all and singular the parcels herein contained or in ? there unto belonging to the sole we and behoof of him the said Jacob Gillespy his heirs and assigns forever and the said Jacob Gillespy doth covenant to and with the said Jacob Gillespy and his heirs the said parcels of land with its appurtenances unto the said Jacob Gillespy and his heirs from claim of any other person or persons whatsoever will forever and warrant. In witness whereof the said Jacob Gillespy hath hereunto subscribed his name and affixed his seal the day and year above written.
Jacob Gillespy (seal)
Bath County January Court 1802
This indenture of bargain and sale from Jacob Gillespy Sr. to Jacob Gillespy Jr. was acknowledged in court and ordered to be recorded.
Teste Charles Cameron, Clerk

17 July 1804²⁹⁴

Bath County, Virginia Deed Book 3, page 25
THIS INDENTURE made the 17th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, BETWEEN Jacob Gillespy Sr. of the County of Bath and State of Virginia of the one part and John Gillespy of the County and State aforesaid of the other part. WITNESSETH that the said Jacob Gillespy for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand paid by the said John Gillespy at or before the ensealing and delivery of there presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained and sold and by these presents doth bargain, sell and convey unto the said John Gillespy and to his heirs and assigns forever two certain parcels of land lying and being in the said county of Bath and joining said Jacob Gillespy's land, one hundred acres part of four hundred acres first granted to the said Jacob Gillespy the 29th day of May 1783 and bound as followeth to wit: BEGINNING at two white oaks by the creek North twenty degrees West sixty poles to two pines in flat ground North fifty one degrees West eighty two poles to two pines South seventy nine degrees West forty six to three white oaks saplins by a path then crossing the old tract South five degrees West thirty poles South twenty three degrees West thirty four poles to two cherry saplins South thirty three West thirty two poles South forty six east ninety poles to the old line and with the same thence north sixty degrees East one hundred poles to the BEGINNING. The other parcel containing one hundred and twenty acres joining the former being part of a tract of one hundred and sixty six acres granted to Jacob Gillespy Sr. by patent dated the 10th day of August 1801 and bound as followeth to wit: BEGINNING at two beeches by a branch South twelve degrees East eighty poles to three white oaks to Conrods land North seventy five West thirty seven poles to a pine South fifty eight degrees West one hundred and forty poles to a white oak and pine thence crossing said tract North forty six degrees West one hundred and fourteen poles thence North sixty degrees West one hundred poles to two white oaks by the creek and up the same North eighty five degrees East one hundred and forty poles to the BEGINNING together with all the appurtenances there unto belonging to the sole use and behoof of him the said John Gillespy and his heirs and the said Jacob Gillespy Sr. for himself and his heirs doth covenant that he the said Jacob Gillespy Sr. and his heirs the said two parcels of land with the benefits and endowments there unto belonging to the said John Gillespy and his heirs forever will warrant from the claim of all persons and persons whatsoever will forever warrant and defend. In Witness whereof the said Jacob Gillespy Sr. hath hereunto subscribed his name and affixed his seal this day and year first above written.
Jacob Gillespy (seal)
Bath County February Court 1805
This indenture of bargain and sale from Jacob Gillespy Sr. to John Gillespy was acknowledged in Court and ordered to be recorded.
Teste Charles Cameron, Clerk

04 Oct. 1806³³⁴

Bath County, Virgiinia Marriage Bonds and Ministers Returns 
Marriage Bond: John Burner and Jane Gillaspy
Surety: Jacob Gillaspy
Jacob Gillaspy, Sr. consents for daughter, Jane
Witness: John Gillaspy

18 Apr. 1808³³⁴

Bath County, Virgiinia Marriage Bonds and Ministers Returns
Marriage Bond: Thomas Woodell and Polly Blake
Surety: Jacob Cooper, Polly consents for herself
Witnesses: Jac. Cooper and Jane Woodell, James Talla ?n certifies that Rebecca Gillaspie "made oath before me that Polly Blake is 21 years old".

1810

Federal Census Bath County, Virginia
Jacob Gillespie, Sr.
1 male < 10         James W. (9)
1 male 16 - 20         Samuel (~16)
1 male > 45              Jacob (~55)
3 females 10 - 16      Nancy (~10), Rebecca (~12), Sarah (~13)
1 female 16 - 26       Margaret (~22)
1 female 26 - 45       Rachel (~31)
1 female > 45          Rebecca (~60)
no slaves

26 Mar. 1811³³⁴

Bath County, Virgiinia Marriage Bonds and Ministers Returns
Marriage Bond: Edward Stuart and Elizabeth Gillaspy
Surety: Jacob Gillaspie

1820

Federal Census Bath County, Virginia
Jacob Gillespie
4 males < 10
1 male 18 - 26
1 male > 45                Jacob (~65)
1 female < 10
2 females 16 - 26       Rebecca (~24), Sarah (~26)
1 female > 45             Rebecca (~70)
2 people engaged in agriculture
no slaves

05 Apr. 1823³⁰³

Pocahontas County, West Virginia, General Index to Deeds and
Miscellaneous, 1823 Book 1, page 39
This indenture made this fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three between Jacob Gillespie and Rebeccah his wife of the County of Pocahontas and the state of Virginia of the one part and William Arbogast of the county and state aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that the said Jacob Gillaspie and Rebeccah his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to them in hand paid by Wm. Arbogast at or the said Jacob Gillispie and Rebeccah his wife hath bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain sell and convey unto the said Wm. Arbogast his heirs or assignees forever one certain parcel of land lying in the county aforesaid joining the said Jacob Gillaspie containing one hundred and ten acres part of a tract of four hundred acres granted to the said Jacob Gillaspie the 29th day of May 1783 and bounded follows viz. Beginning at two pines on the old line and with said line south forty five degrees west one hundred and seven poles to two pines south fifty seven degrees east one hundred and sixty three poles to a hickory whit oak & red oak on a hill north forty five degrees east one hundred and fourteen poles across the old tract to a round tree and cherry near a cranberry swamp north fifty seven degrees west one hundred and sixty three poles to the beginning together with all its appertaunences to have and to hold the said one hundred and ten acres land with its appurtenances unto the said Wm. Arbogast his heirs and assignees forever in absolute fee simple and the said Jacob Gillaspie and Rebeccah his for themselves and their heirs the said tract or parcel of land with all its appurtenances unto the said Wm. Arbogast his heirs and assignees free from the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever will and do hereby forever warrant and defend in witness whereof the said Jacob Gillaspie and Rebeccah his wife hath hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals this day and year first above written.
Jacob Gillespie (seal)
Rebeccah (X) Gillaspie (seal)
Pocahontas County to wit
We James Tallman & George Burner Justices of the said County do hereby certify that Jacob Gillaspie and Rebeccah his wife party and parties to the within conveyances hath or have as the case may be duly acknowledged the same before me the 5th day of April 1823 and desired us to certify the said acknowledgment to the clerk of the County Court of Pocahontas in order that the law conveyance may be recorded as witness our hands and seals this 5th day of April 1823.
James Tallman (seal)
George Burner (seal)
Pocahontas County to wit
We James Tallman and George Burner Justices of said county do hereby certify that Rebeccah the wife of Jacob Gillaspie parties to a certain deed bearing date on the fifth day of April 1823 and hereto arrived personally appeared before us in our county aforesaid and being examined by us privately and apart from her husband and having the deed aforesaid fully explained to her the said Rebeccah acknowledged the same to be her act and deed and declared that she willingly signed sealed and delivered the same and that she wished not to retract it given under our hands and seals this fifth day of April 1823.
James Tallman (seal)
George Burner (seal)
Pocahontas County Court May Term 1823
This deed was presented in the clerks office of said county with certificates of its due acknowledgment and is admitted to record.
Teste Josiah Beard Clk

29 Jan. 1825³⁰³

Pocahontas County, West Virginia, General Index to Deeds and
Miscellaneous, 1825 Book 1, page 155, Grantors from 1822
This indenture made this January the 29th day 1825 in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four betwixt Jacob Gillaspie & Rebecca Gillaspie his wife of the county of Pocahontas and state of Virginia of the one part and William Kerr of the county and state aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that the said Jacob Gillaspie and Rebecca his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars current money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said William Kerr at or before the unsealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the said Jacob Gillespie and Rebecca his wife hath bargain and sold and by these presents do bargain sell and convey unto the said William Kerr his heirs or assigns forever one certain parcel of land lying in the said county of Pocahontas joining and lying on the west side of said Jacob Gillaspie containing seventy one acres part of a tract of four hundred acres granted to the said Jacob Gillaspie the 22nd day of May 1783 and bounded as follows to wit. Beginning at a hickory pine and white oak on a ridge corner to William Arbogast south five degrees west sixty eight poles to two small white oaks on a small ridged south eight degrees east fifty three poles to a pine and thorn on a road south sixty six degrees west sixty poles to three pines north twelve degrees west one hundred and three poles to two oaks on a hill north twenty seven degrees west ninety six poles crossing a bushy swamp to two pines corner to Warwick heirs formerly belonging to James Becker south fifty seven degrees east one hundred and sixty three poles to the beginning together with all its appurtenances to have and to hold the said seventy one acres of land be it the same more or less with all its appurtenances unto the said William his heirs or assignees to the only proper use and behold of the said William Kerr his heirs and assigns forever in absolute fee simple and the said Jacob Gillaspie for himself and heirs assigns free from the claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever will and do hereby forever warrant and de----- in witness whereof the said Jacob Gillaspie and Rebecca his wife hath hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals in the day and year first above written.
Jacob Gillespie (seal)
Rebeccah (X) Gillaspie (seal)
Pocahontas County
We Benjamin Tallman & Patrick Bruffey Justices of the Peace in the county aforesaid in the state of Virginia do hereby certify that Jacob Gillespie & Rebeccah Gillaspie ---- parties to a certain deed bearing date on the 29th of January 1825 and hereto addressed personally appeared before us in our county aforesaid and acknowledged the same to their act and do and desire us to certify the said acknowledgment to the clerk of the county court of Pocahontas in order that the said deed may be recorded Given under our hands and seals this 29th of January 1825.
Benjamin Tallman (seal)
Patrick Bruffey (seal)
Pocahontas County to wit
We Patrick Bruffey and Benjamin Tallman Justices of the Peace in the county aforesaid in the state of Virginia do hereby certify that Rebecca Gillespie the wife of Jacob Gillespie parties to a certain deed bearing date on the 29th day of January 1825 and hereto addressed personally appeared before us in our county aforesaid & being fully explained to her she the said Rebecca Gillespie acknowledged the same to be her act & deed and declare that she willingly signed sealed & delivered the same & that she wished not to retract it -- Given under our hand & seals this 1st day of February 1825.
Patrick Bruffey (seal)
Benjamin Tallman (seal)

30 Mar. 1825³⁰³

Pocahontas County, West Virginia, General Index to Deeds and
Miscellaneous, 1825 Book 1, page 155, Grantors from 1822
Pocahontas County Court Clerks Office
This deed of bargain and sale from Jacob Gillespie & Rebecca his wife to William Kerr was presented in the clerks office and the acknowledgment and private examination being legally certified by Patrick Bruffey & Benjamin Tallman Justices of the Peace in the said county, was admitted to record.
Teste Josiah Beard Clk

1829¹¹⁹

Pocahontas County,  West Virginia, Superior Court, 
Suit, James GILLESPIE VS Jacob GILLESPIE Heirs
To the Honorable Allen Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court of Chancery holden at Lewisburg
James GILLESPIE of the County of Pocahontas respectfully states that on the 19th day of December 1825 a certain Jacob GILLESPIE (who departed this life not long since), your orator's father, executed to him a title bond for Two Hundred and Forty Six acres of land on Deer Creek in the County of Pocahontas which title bond your orator prays may be taken and read (Marked A) as part of this his bill. Your orator states that he was the youngest and only child who lived with his father until his death. His mother died some years since. All his other children being provided for after they had left him and in order to make provision for your orator and for an in consideration of the natural love and affection which his father has and possessed towards him gave him the title bond aforesaid for the land aforesaid who afterwards departed this life intestate leaving the following children and grand children, to wit: John, Betsy, Patsy, James, Polly, Rachel, infant children of Jacob GILLESPIE who was a son of Jacob GILLESPIE the elder, Alexander GILLESPIE, Rachel SUTTON wife of John SUTTON, Peggy BURNER wife of Adam BURNER now of the State of Ohio, John GILLESPIE of the State of Ten(n)essee, Jamima Tallman wife of James Tallman, Thomas GILLESPIE of Kanawha County, Joshua BURNER son of Jane BURNER who was a daughter of Jacob GILLESPIE, dec'd, Samuel GILLISPIE of Ten(n)essee, Rebecca, Robert and Jacob STUART, infants and children of Elizabeth STUART dec'd who was the daughter of said Jacob GILLESPIE, Rebecca BEALE wife of Thomas BEALE, late Rebecca GILLESPIE, Sarah SAMMONS wife of Richard SAMMONS late Sara GILLESPIE, Nancy KERR wife of William KERR late Nancy GILLESPIE. To the end therefore that the aforesaid named persons may be made Defendants to this bill and upon their corporal oaths true and perfect answer make to the several allegations herein before stated the same as if again repeated and interrogated, and that they may be compelled to convey in fee simple all their right and title in and to the aforesaid tract of land to your orator and that your Honor will grant unto your orator such other and further relief in the premises as may be consistent with equity and the nature of his case an in duty bound will our prayer
GEO. Mayse P. (?).
John A. North, Esq.
Will issue subpoenas for the above named persons who reside in this state.
G. Mayse

29 Sept. 1834³⁰³

Pocahontas County, West Virginia, General Index to Deeds and
Miscellaneous, 1834 Book 2, page 268, Grantors from 1822
This indenture made the 29th day of September 1834 between Henry M. Moffett of the county of Pocahontas and state of Virginia of the one part and James Gillispie of the county and state aforesaid of the other part whereas by a decree of the circuit superior court of law and chancery for Pocahontas County pronounced on the 3rd day of October 1833 in a cause there depending therein between James Gillaspie plaintiff and Alexander Gillaspie, {John, Betsy, Patsy, James, Polly and Rachel Gillaspie direct children of Jacob Gillaspie Jun'r decd',} John Sutton and Rachel his wife, James Tallman and Jemima his wife, Thomas Gillaspie, Joshua Burner, Jacob and Robert Steward, Thomas Beal and Rebecca his wife, Richard Sammons and Sarah his wife, William Kerr and Nancy his wife, Samuel Gillaspie and John Gillaspie, Adam Burner and Peggy his wife children and heirs of Jacob Gillaspie dec'd defendants it was decreed and ordered that Henry M. Moffett who was thereby appointed a commissioner should convey the 246 acres of land in the bill mentioned to the plaintiff James Gillaspie --- special warranty this indenture therefore wit ---- that the said Henry M. Moffett for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to have in hand paid by the said James Gillaspie the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath granted bargained and sold and surveyed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and convey unto the said James Gillaspie his heirs and assigns the said tract or parcel of land containing 246 acres and lying and being on Deer Creek in the county of Pocahontas and bounded as follows: beginning at Joseph Woodells line near the great --- crossing Deer Creek thence up said creek to a cross fence through he meadow thence with said cross fences to a bank near the lane thence up said bank turning to James Tallmans line thence with said line turning to --- line thence with said line turing to William Arbogast line thence with said line turning to William Kerrs line thence with said line to the beginning together with the appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the said tract of land with its appurtenances to the said James Gillaspie and his heirs to the only proper use and behoove of the said James Gillaspie and his heirs forever and the said Henry M. Moffett for himself his heirs executors and administrators doth hereby covenant and agree with the said James Gillaspie and his heirs that he will forever warrant and find the said tract of land hereby conveyed with its appurtenances unto the said James Gillaspie and his heirs against the claim of him the said Henry m. Moffett and all persons claiming through or under him but against the claim of no other person. in witness whereof the said Henry M. Moffett hat thereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and year herein written.
H. M. Moffett
Pocahontas County December Court 1834
This deed from Henry M. Moffett commissioner to James Gillaspie has presented in court and being acknowledged has admitted to record.
Teste John Tallman D.C.
for H. M. Moffett Clk.

     The first documentation for Rebecca Berry from primary sources was when she was identified as a daughter of the elder John Berry in his 1770 Augusta County, Virginia will. She must have been married Jacob Gillespie shortly afterwards, sometime between late 1770 and late 1771, since calculations from Bath County, Virginia tax records indicate that their first male child was born in 1772. The marriage most likely took place in Augusta County, Virginia. Birth dates of their next three children are approximately 1773, 1777 and 1779. 

    In 1781, Rebecca Gillespie was named in the settlement of her father's estate, and a year later Jacob Gillespie was listed as a taxable male (i.e. over 21 years of age) in Augusta County, Virginia, although he doesn't appear to own any property or to have any males over 21 in his household. His oldest boy at the time (Jacob Jr.) was, at the most, only about 10 or 11 years old. In late May of 1783, Jacob purchased 400 acres of land from Thomas Lewis on Deer Creek, a tributary of the Greenbrier River in Augusta County, Virginia (Figure 46). While the patent was issued on the 1783 date, apparently, Jacob had settled on the property sometime before 1778.³⁰⁶ Two years later, in 1785, Jacob's father, Thomas Gillespie, passed away, and Jacob was mentioned in the will. Later that year, another child was born to Jacob and Rebecca, and about a year or so later, Rebecca gave birth to another child. Jacob was identified in the 1787 Augusta County tax listings, where he was noted as having no male children between the ages of 16 and 21 and no slaves. At this time, his oldest son was probably just under 16 years old. That year Jacob was taxed on some of his more valuable livestock. 

   Two more children were born over the next several years, and in the late spring of 1789, the property description of a land sale mentioned Jacob Gillespie as being an adjacent property owner on Deer Creek. Jacob also bought some additional property on Deer Creek that year. This land was situated in present day Pocahontas County, West Virginia, although, at the time, it was part of Augusta County, Virginia. It became part of Bath County when it was carved from Augusta County in 1790, and by the mid 1800's other county and state boundary changes had occurred, resulting in this area eventually being part of Pocahontas County, West Virginia.³⁰¹

    Another child was born in 1791, and in that year, Bath County levied its first tax.292 In 1795, Jacob provided the marriage bond surety for his daughter, Rachel. In 1791, Jacob was listed as having one taxable male in his household, which, of course, was himself. He was also taxed on his horses, but no slaves were reported. The Bath County tax listings from 1791 through 1801, which are illustrated in Table VII, reveal quite a bit of information about Jacob and Rebecca's family.292 In the first place, as noted, they were, quite clearly, not slave owners. Secondly, the number of taxable males in their household varied over the years, but was directly correlatable to the timing of their sons coming of taxable age and forming their own households. In 1791 there was only one taxable male in their household, but by the next year, there were two taxable males, and by 1794 there were three. It remained at this level until 1797 when the taxable males in their household was reduced by one. That year, however, Jacob Gillespie Jr. first appeared in his own household. The next year (1798) the number went back up by one, but the following year it was reduced by one and their son Alexander appeared in his own household. 

    When males reached the age of 21, they became taxable, and, as long as they lived in their father's household, the father was responsible for paying the tax. When the sons moved into their own households, they assumed the tax burden, which was correspondingly reduced on the father. From this data and reference to Table VII, it can be seen that three sons of Jacob and Rebecca reached the age of 21 during the period from 1792 through 1798. Their oldest son, Jacob Jr., turned 21 between 1791 and 1792, which places his birth date around 1771. The 1787 Augusta County tax listing, however, notes that Jacob Sr. did not have any males in the 16 to 21 year age bracket that year, which eliminates 1771 as Jacob Jr.'s birth year. As a result, he must have been born sometime in 1772. The next son, probably Alexander, turned 21 sometime between 1793 and 1794, which places his birth date around 1773 or, possibly, early 1774. Then between 1797 and 1798, another son turned 21, which was probably John. His birth date can be calculated as occurring about 1777. During this time period (1791 through 1801), five more children were born. 

Year

HOH

NT

HOH

NT

HOH

NT

1791

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

1

1792

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

1793

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

1794

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

3

1795

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

3

1796

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

3

1797

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

1

1798

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

3

Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

1

1799

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

1

AlexanderGillespie

1

1800

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

1

AlexanderGillespie

1

1801

Jacob Gillespie, Sr.

2

Jacob Gillespie, Jr.

1

AlexanderGillespie

1

    In the summer of 1801, Jacob received the patent for a 165-acre tract of land that he had purchased, which was adjacent to his previous 400-acre holdings. Eventually, Jacob subdivided his 400-acre Deer Creek land into a number of separate lots, and sold them, piecemeal, mostly to his sons. As shown in Table VIII and the timeline, in early 1802, he sold two parcels from the 400 acres to his sons Alexander and Jacob Jr. for 50£ each. With 275 acres going to Alexander and 125 acres to Jacob, the basic mathematics indicates that there was no more land from the original 400 acres to sell. However, just two years later, and for the low price of $1, Jacob Sr. sold his son John an additional 100 acres from the same 400-acre parcel! In the spring of 1823 Jacob and Rebecca sold 110 acres to William Arbogast for $100, and in January 1825, they sold an additional 71 acres to William Kerr, the latter of which was a son in law of theirs.³⁰³ Both land parcels were described as being part of the original 400 acres purchased by Jacob on Deer Creek. Clearly there was a discrepancy between the amount of land sold and the acreage in the original survey. Either Jacob originally purchased more than 400 acres or one or more of the land surveys of the individual parcels did not contain the amount of land indicated in the sale. It seems most likely that the original survey constituted an undercount of the amount of land contained in the property.

Year of Sale

Buyer

Acres

1802

Alexander Gillespy

275

1802

Jacob Gillespy, Jr.

125

1804

John Gillespy

100

1823

William Arbogast

110

1825

William Kerr

71

Total

681

    Since five of the properties that Jacob sold were part of the original 400 acre plot, and the other was adjacent to it, an attempt was made to reconstruct the geometry of the original land holdings. Unfortunately, not all of the properties could be fitted together. Based on similar, or in some cases, exact angular and distance measurements, as well as from similar or exact descriptions of the turning points in the surveys, it was possible to fit four of the properties to each other, and the other two to each other, but the two groups of reconstructed properties could not be matched to each other. 
(Figures 47,48,49 and 50) illustrate the two groups of properties. For each property group, one figure (Figures 47 and 48) shows plots of the original surveys, including the surveying notes, while the other (Figures 49 and 50) shows the raw reconstruction and a "best fit" estimate of the original property geometries with the closure errors removed. Also included are some descriptive notes of the surrounding terrain, as derived from the survey notes.

    An examination of the plots for these surveys shows that none of the surveys actually close. Closure in a survey indicates that no errors were produced in measuring the horizontal or vertical angles and that all distance measurements were accurate. In most surveys of the time, some error was produced, especially when measuring distance over hilly ground. If the survey was not conducted on flat ground, and no corrections were made for sloping terrain, then many distance measurements would be too large. Likewise, errors in reading angles due to faulty instrumentation or operator error would result in incorrect angles being read between survey points. Since the acreage of a particular plot of land was calculated based on the survey results, the number of acres for a particular plot of land would be incorrect if either the distance or the angles (or both) were incorrectly measured.

    The last child born to Rebecca and Jacob entered the world around 1803. In the fall of 1806, Jacob gave a consent in the marriage of his daughter, Jane. Apparently she was under the age of 21 at the time. In the spring of 1808, Rebecca (Berry) Gillespie testified that Polly Blake was 21 years of age, and, so, was old enough to be married. By 1810, Jacob and Rebecca's household was enumerated in the federal census, and from the family data available, it appears that all individuals in this household can be accounted for. There are two sons and three daughters under the age of 21 living at home, as well as two older daughters. In the spring of 1811, Jacob provided surety for the marriage of Elizabeth Gillespie, who was, most likely, his daughter. By the time of the 1820 census, however, only the two youngest daughters can be positively identified as still living at home. There are a number of young males and females in the household, which probably suggests that some grandchildren are staying in the house.

    Both Rebecca and Jacob passed away in present day Pocahontas County, West Virginia. 
On 29 January 1825 both Rebecca and Jacob sold some of their land to William Kerr, and when the deed was presented in the clerk's office on 30 March, Rebecca appears to still be involved. However, she apparently did not sign a 19 December document that year, which brackets her date of death as occurring sometime between April and December 1825. Although the description of the document was obtained from an unpublished report on the Gillespie family, a copy of the December document could not be obtained for this report.³⁰⁷ The same source notes that Jacob passed away in February or March of 1828.³⁰⁷ Neither Jacob nor Rebecca appear in the 1830 census, and in the fall of 1834 a legal fight involved the heirs of Rebecca and Jacob.³⁰³

    Very little information is available for Thomas Gillespie, the father of Jacob Gillespie, and there is even less for Eleanor, the wife of Thomas. Eleanor's surname is unknown, as are the dates and places of her birth and death. However, since she was identified in her husband's 1785 will, it seems quite likely that she passed away sometime after the death of her husband in the part of Augusta County, Virginia that eventually became part of Bath County. Even with the sparse data that is available for Thomas Gillespie, some of it is contradictory, and appears to have merged information from at least two individuals with the same name. Thomas Gillespie's birthplace is variously given as Ulster, Ireland and Melrose, Scotland, and his birthdate has been defined as being either 1704 or 1720.^{298,299,300,310} One source notes that Thomas emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from Ireland sometime before 1740 with two brothers, James and William. The brothers are believed to have gone westward to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, while Thomas went south, settling on some land along Stuart's Creek, a tributary of the Cowpasture River in Augusta County, Virginia.³¹⁰ However, Augusta County records note the presence of a Jacob Gillespie, living in the area where Thomas first settled, and a William Gillespie can be traced in the vicinity of Thomas Gillespie throughout the entire period that Thomas appears in Augusta County records. If the brother theory is true, then it seems more likely, that all of these brothers first traveled to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, then moved on to Augusta County, Virginia.²¹

    Thomas married Eleanor ? (unknown last name) at an unknown date and place. One child, possibly their oldest, was born in 1738, and if he was the oldest child, Thomas and Eleanor were probably married not long before that. A tentative date of 1737 seems reasonable for an estimate of their marriage date if John is, indeed, their oldest child. They were living in Augusta County by 1742, and there is no documentation of their life prior to that date, so it seems likely that they were married either in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania or Augusta County, Virginia.

    There is strong agreement among these sources on Thomas Gillespie's date of death, although some disagreement on the place of his death. Two sources give Augusta County, Virginia as the place of death, while two give Tazwell County.^{298,299,300,310} In every case where a death date is provided, it is given as 1789, and the information from the timeline, below, supports this date. There are several lines of evidence documenting the existence of at least one, and possibly two other individuals with the name of Thomas Gillespie, and it seems highly likely that the information from these individuals was conflated into a single individual. 

    Tazwell County, Virginia is located in southwestern Virginia over a hundred miles southwest of the area in Augusta County near the Cowpasture River, where Thomas Gillespie is known to have lived until at least 1785 (as shown by the information in the timeline, below). The great distance between these two points makes it somewhat unlikely that he traveled back and forth between these places frequently. Furthermore, the personal property tax listing for Tazwell County records the existence of another Thomas Gillespie there in 1802, which lends support to the assertion that personal information from at least two different men with the same name was merged into one individual.³⁰⁹ In addition, there appears to be another individual named Thomas Gillespie in Sevier County, North Carolina in 1787, and in Washington County, Tennessee in 1808.²¹ Both of these entries could represent the same individual, but are most likely not the same person that married Eleanor and lived in Augusta County. 

    Washington County, Tennessee, which borders Washington County, Virginia, was originally a part of North Carolina, and remained so until 1790, when that state gave up it's claim to the territory. This area also constituted the state of Franklin, which was in existence from 1784 through 1787.³⁰⁸ There is a 1787 Augusta County court entry, shown below, for a Thomas Gillespy, who served as a justice in Sevier County, North Carolina. It seems very unlikely that the same individual would serve as a justice in North Carolina two years after he wrote his will in Augusta County, Virginia. Presumably, Thomas wrote his will because he was either ill or quite old, or both.²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 26, page 44
James Gillespy and Sarah, of Sevier County, North Carolina, to Andrew Lecky, 143 acres on Elk Run in Beverley Manor, corner Thomas Hutcheson, deceased. Acknowledged in State of Franklin. Sevier County, 3d July, 1787 before Oliver Alexander and Thomas Gillespy, certified that they are justices by Samuel Wear, Clerk of Sevier County Court

    In addition, an Augusta County, Virginia court case, shown below, notes that a Thomas Gillespie lived in Washington County, Tennessee in 1808.²¹

Donaghe vs. Donaghe--O. S. 232; N. S. 82--Bill, 1811. Complainants are, viz: John Dougherty and Elizabeth; James Dobkin and Jane and Hugh Donaghe, representatives and children of James Donaghe, deceased, who died 1801 intestate. James was son of Hugh Donaghe, who contracted to buy from Jane land on Noly Chucky in Tennessee, Green County. Hugh is dead testate, and his administrator, John Donaghe, is also dead. Hugh's three youngest children were William W., Sarah and James Donaghe. Deed 25th April, 1808, by Thomas Gillaspie of Washington County, Tennessee, to Hugh Donihoo of Augusta, Va., tract in Green County, Tenn., on Nolochucky River, 114 acres. Recorded in Green County, Tenn., April,1808.

    All of these records seem to point to the existence of multiple individuals named Thomas Gillespies in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee in the late 1700's and early 1800's. It seems quite clear that information from these other Thomas Gillespies was merged, causing the resultant disagreement in dates and places. As will be shown in the timeline below, it seems certain that Thomas Gillespie, the father of Jacob Gillespie, passed away in Augusta County, Virginia, sometime between 1 June 1785, when his will was written, and 15 December 1789, when the will was proved. In all likelihood, he passed away sometime during 1789. As noted above, Eleanor's date and place of death are unknown, but it seems logical to assume that she died at or near her home on Stuart Creek near the Cowpasture River sometime after the death of her husband. Depending on her actual date of death, it took place either in Augusta County, Virginia or Bath County, Virginia.

1738²¹

Birth of first child, John Gillespie

1742²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Militia List
William Beverley, Esq., County Lieutenant; James Patton, Colonel; Capt. John Smith, No. 1; Capt. Andrew Lewis, No. 2; Capt. John Buchanan; No. 3; Capt. James Cathey, No. 4; Capt. John Christian, No. 5; Capt Sam Gay, No. 6; Capt. Peter Sheul (Scholl), No. 7; Capt. James Gill (First Burgess), No. 8; Capt. John Willson, No. 9; Capt. Hugh Thompson, No. 10; Capt. George Robinson, No. 11; Capt. John McDowell, No. 12.
Heare followeth a list of all the Muster (?) of Augusta County under their respective officers and Captains: Captain John Smith's List: John Smith, Captain; John Moffet, Lieutenant; William Anderson, Ensign; Daniel Daniston, Sergeant; Sam Hogshead, John Hogshead, Will Hogshead, Dan. McAnear, Math. Edmeston, John Finley, Walter Trimble, John Francis, Robert Ralston, John Young, Alex. Blair, Alex. Craig, Thomas Gillespy, And. Erwine, Benj. Erwine, John Erwine, Edw. Erwine, John Trimble, James Trimble, Rob. Moffett, James Wright, Rob. King, Jam. Armstrong, John Pattison, Jas. Lesley, Felix Kanady, Thomas Gordon, And. Mitchell, Jas. Robertson, Gabrl. Pickins, Rob. Leeper, Sam. Moore, John Miller, James Miller, Patr. Quine, Mat. Armstrong, John Ramsey, Dan. Daniston, Sam Northward, Rob. Renick, John Archer, Sampn. Archer, Jam.'s Sayers, Thos. McCulough, George Anderson, John Anderson, Rob. Poage, Rob. Patterson, Jas. Craford, Will Baskins.

~1745³⁰⁰

Birth of Samuel Gillespie in Augusta County, Virginia

08 Jan. 1746²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 1, page 217
Thomas Gillespy to James Bell and John Rutledge, £100; 400 acres on Long Glade, a draft of North River of Janendo; head of a draft of Naked Creek. 
Witnesses, Robert McClenachan. James Irwin, Thomas Rutlidge. Proved by all witnesses, 21st May, 1747.

20 Feb. 1747²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Order Book 1, page 167
John Rutledge and James Bell produced deeds from Thomas Galesby, but Henry Downs claimed that he was Galesby's security for £50, and Court refused to record deeds.

13 Dec. 1748²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 1, page 148
Archibald Clendenning's (of Cowpasture) will--Wife, Esther; son, John; son, Archibald, Jr. To James Burnsides, the plantation in the new found land. To James Burnsides' sister, Rachel Burnsides, under 18. To wife's children, Margaret and John ("youngest daughter named here Margaret Clendenning"). 
Executors, Thos. and Wm. Galespy. 
Teste: Wm. Dogherty, Andrew Muldrow, Michael Reamey. Proved, 17th May, 1749, by all witnesses, and executors to be summoned.

17 Oct. 1751²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 1, page 390
John Rutledge's will--Aged father: nephew, George Rutledge, was partner with James Bell in a tract of land; 400 acres on Long Glade conveyed to them by Thos. Gilespy; brother, Wm. Rutledge; brother, Thomas Rutledge; sister, Catherine Marshal; sister, Jean Rutledge. 
Executors, Thomas Rutledge and James Bell. 
Teste: William Armstrong, John Flood, Hugh Means. Proved, 26th November, 1751, by all witnesses, and Thomas Rutledge qualifies executor, with sureties Wm. Thompson, Wm. Preston.

21 May 1756²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 7, page 327
Wm. Rutlidge, Thos. Rutledge, Wm. Marshall, Jean ( ) Rutledge, heirs and legatees of Jno. Rutledge, to James Bell. Receipt for £60 which Bell was required to pay in lieu of land held by Jno. Rutledge and James Bell from Thos. Gilespy.

17 Aug 1759²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Order Book 6, page 295
John Galespy, son of Thomas Galespy, added to tithables.

1757/1760^298,311

Birth of Thomas Gillespie on Cowpasture River

~1761²⁹⁸

Birth of James Gillespie in Augusta County, Virginia

23 June 1763²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 3, page 270
Robt. Bratton's settlement of estate of James Dunlap, approved and recorded--Paid Hugh Wardlaw, Ro. Lusk, Lettice Breckinridge, Joseph Wahob (Wauchut), Jas. Simpson, Thos. Gillespy, Jos. Mays, Henry Cartmill, James Means, David Dryden, Jas. Burnsides, Thos. Vance, Archd. Clendenning, Lawrence Huntsman, Thos. Thompson, John Low. Received from Capt. Christian, being arrears due Capt. Dunlap. Received from Capt. Hog, due for pay. Received from George Jameson. Received from Capt. Hog, account of James Ramsey.

11 Oct. 1764²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Will Book 3, page 336
William Fitzjarrell's estate appraised, by James McCoy, Thos. Gillespey, Chas. Donnally. Vendue bill recorded 21st November, 1764; to Jno. McCaslin, Thos. Spencer, Geo. Lewis, Francis Jackson; to Timothy Sullivan.

12 Oct. 1765²¹

Augusta Parish Vestry Book, page 405
As it has pleased your Worships to send an order to nominate four Persons in the Cow Pasture to mark the lines of the Several plantations there, we the subscribers, hereof, have gone from the Forks at James River upwards to Joseph Mays (Maes) and Thomas Feemster and William Black, from there to the head of the waters. There is many places that there is no livers in and others that doth not know their lines. The names of such as we found their lines are as follows: James Scott, William Gillespy, John Handly, Wm. McMurry, James Beard, Cap. Jno. Dickinson, James Hamilton, Ralf Laferty, John Cartmill, James Hugart, Robert Stewart, James McCay, Charles Donelly, Thomas Gillespy. James McCay, James Scott. N. B.--The above is as exact as we could make it to ye Worshipful Court. May, 1765, Parish debtor to James Hill. To summoning an inquest on Geo. Henderson, deceased. To burying said Henderson.

22 Mar. 1769²¹

Augusta County, Virginia Deed Book 15, page 321
Charles Lewis and Sarah to John McCastlin (McCastling), on Stewart's Creek, a branch of Cowpasture River; corner land in possession of Thomas Gillaspie.

18 Oct. 1769²¹

Augusta County Order Book 14, page 25
James Gamwell vs. Thos. Gillespie.--Abates by plaintiff's death.

01 June 1785²¹

Augusta County, Virginia, Will Book 6, page 230
Thomas Gillespy's will--To wife, Eleanor; to eldest son, John; to son, Thomas; to son, Jacob; to son. Samuel; to daughter, Mary Donally; daughter, Hannah Jones; daughter, Jene _____; to youngest daughters, Eleanor and Ann; to youngest sons, James and William, tract on Stuart's Creek, of Cowpasture River. 
Executors, sons James and William and wife Eleanor. 
Teste: William Connell, Zachariah Beall, Leavin Nealls, Andrew McCasling. 
Codicil, 13th November, 1786-- £15 to be taken from Eleanor and given to her son, Thomas, a boy 3-4 year old. for his schooling, and if James shall die without issue, then his part of land to go to William. 
Teste as before (Leavin Nicalls). 
Proved, 15th June, 1790, by Connell and McCaslin. William and Eleanor Gillaspey, the surviving executors, qualify.

15 Dec. 1789²¹

Augusta County Order Book 21, page 177-178
Thomas Gillaspie's will presented and witnesses summoned to prove it

     Thomas Gillespie can be traced through Augusta County, Virginia court records for a 43 year period from 1742 through 1789. County records show that his son, John Gillespie, came of taxable age in 1759. Since that age was 21, John's birthdate must have been 1738. Thomas first appears in Virginia on the Augusta County militia list in 1742 (Table V). Although he and Eleanor had 11 children, only four of them have documented birth dates, and one of their sons, Samuel Gillepsie, was born about 1745 in Augusta County. When Thomas and Eleanor first settled in the area, they must have purchased land in the Shenandoah valley, since at the beginning of 1746, Thomas is documented as selling 400 acres along Long Glade Creek to James Bell and John Rutledge. Figure 51 shows the location of this creek to the north of present day Staunton, straddling the present day border of Augusta and Rockcastle Counties. Apparently other members of the family settled in this area, as well. A Jacob Gillespy can be found in Augusta County records as having settled near Beaver Creek and the Briery Branch at least by 1748. This Jacob Gillespy passed away sometime between after 1768 and before 1772. The early appearance of these two Gillespies in such close proximity at about the same time suggests that they were probably closely related - possibly brothers, cousins, or even father and son. 

    In the winter of 1747, there seems to have been some controversy over the land sale. In court the buyers produced deeds from Thomas Gillespie, but there appears to have been some problem, causing the court to refuse to record the deed. By 1748 the Thomas Gillespie family appears to have moved to the Cowpasture River area of Augusta County (Figure 46). Thomas and William Gillaspy, who are quite possibly brothers or cousins, were both named as executors of Archibald Clendenning's will, the latter, of whom, was noted to have lived near the Cowpasture River. In the 1751 will of John Rutledge, Thomas Gillespie was noted as having sold 400 acres of land on Long Glade Creek to him, and in 1756 this relationship was again noted.in Augusta County records. Another son, Thomas, was born sometime between 1757 and 1760 on the Cowpasture River, which appears to corroborate the move just noted. In 1761, another son, James, was born in Augusta County.

    At the beginning of the summer in 1763, the James Dunlap estate was settled, and in addition to Thomas Gillespy, a number of other Cowpasture area residents were noted. Among them are Joseph Mays, James Burnsides and Archibald Clendenning. Joseph Mays appears in a 1765 Augusta Parish Vestry Book entry (noted below) as a resident of the Cowpasture area. James Burnsides and Archibald Clendenning were both identified as Cowpasture area residents in the 1748 Archibald Clendenning will, which was discussed above. Thomas Gillespy next appears in the fall of 1764, when William Fitzgerald's estate was appraised, and in this entry several other Cowpasture area residents were also noted. Those positively identified at this time were James McCoy and Charles Donnelly (who were both named in the 1765 vestry book entry), and John McCaslin (who was named in a 1769 entry as a resident of Stewart Creek - a branch of the Cowpasture River). Thomas Gillespy (and William Gillespy), as well as several other area residents were identified in the 1765 Augusta Parish Vestry Book. Thomas Gillespy was noted as being an adjacent landowner to Charles Lewis in the spring of 1769, and this is the earliest documentation of Thomas Gillespie living on Stewart Creek. Prior to this date, the documentation merely noted that he lived near the Cowpasture River. This entry identifies Stewart Creek as a tributary of the Cowpasture River (Figure 46). Apparently, Thomas Gillespie was involved in a lawsuit, because in the fall of 1769, the suit was dimissed after the death of the plaintiff.

    The last two entries for Thomas Gillespie record his will and the presentation of the will to the court after his death. He wrote his will in the spring of 1785, naming 11 children, and indicating that he owned land on Stuart's Creek near the Cowpasture River. In mid December 1789, the will was presented in court, which indicates he most likely passed away sometime during 1789. 

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