AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

 John Gilmore

MOTHER

 Helen Fowler

WIFE

Margaret Cuddy or Cuddie

CHILDREN

1. John Gilmore

George Gilmore
by Susan Brooke
Jan 2023

George Gilmore was born 17 Jul 1783 in Cairneyhill, Fife, Scotland and the christening on the  20th was recorded at the Civil Parish of Carnock. (1) Both of his parents died in 1802 when he was 19 years old.  He married Margaret Cuddie on 16 May 1810 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. (2) At this time George Gilmore was a weaver living in Pittencrieff which was a street in Dunfermline.  A year later they baptized their son, John Gilmore on 15 Nov 1811. (3)   One of the witnesses was James Roy who was married to a sister of George Gilmore.
From the obituary of his son, John Gilmore, we learn, "his mother died when he was an infant; and when he was about 3 years old his father brought him to America and settled in Virginia.  The father died when he was only 10 years old thus leaving him at this early age on his own resources for support."  John Gilmore carried a songbook that was inscribed "George Gilmore," thus making us believe John's father was George Gilmore. (4) George Gilmore and Margaret Cuddie did not have any more children baptized in that church.  They are not in any subsequent voter lists or census records that I can find.  They, therefore, seem to have moved from Dunfermline.  This helps to corroborate the theory that this is the the correct George Gilmore. (5)
So, his wife, Margaret Cuddie, died about 1813 and George and his young son took off for America.  They must have settled in Virginia although no record of them there has been found.  And, George Gilmore must have died there about 1820.  Two of his brothers who remained in Scotland died in the poorhouse while George's son, John Gilmore, went on to great prosperity. 

Sources

(1) Baptism of George Gilmore

Baptism recorded at Carnock
"John Gilmore, Mason in Cairneyhill and Helen Fowler his spouse had a son born upon the 17th July 1783 and Baptized upon 20th of said month by the Reverend Mr. Tomes Bart Minister of the  Aposiole Congregation in Cairneyhill and in presence of the Congregation called George."

(2) Marriage of George Gilmore

"George Gilmour Weaver in Pittencrieff and Margaret Cuddie both in the parish on in them Names for proclamation in order to marriage, and being regularly proclaimed and no objections made they were married 16th May 1810"

(3) Birth and baptism of John Gilmore, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland showing date of birth of John Gilmore as Nov 15, 1811 to a George Gilmore Pittencrieff is a street in Dunfermline and in the 1841 census Helen (Gilmore) Roy (widow of James Roy and sister of George Gilmore) was living on Pittencrieff Street North Side in Dunfermline.   Jean Cuddy, a sister to Margaret Cuddy, also lived on the same street.

Dunfermline, baptismal record

DUNFERMLINE Baptism "George Gilmour, Weaver in Pittencrieff and Margaret Cuddie his wife have a son born 15th Nov baptism 15th of Dec named John: Witnesses: James Roy and William Walls, there." The baptism was recorded at Dunfermline  lists the baptism of John Gilmore at Queen Anne St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline.

(5) Although the birth date of John Gilmore registered in Scotland and the date of birth found in the family bible are off by one year, we have speculated that this George Gilmore married to Margaret Cuddy is the correct George Gilmore, and father of  our John Gilmore. (We have at least two other Scottish ancestors who definitely listed their date of birth on some legal document that was one year before the recorded date of birth in Scotland. See David Shaw and his son, William Frederick Shaw.

(1) When their son, John Gilmore, was baptized George Gilmore was listed as "George Gilmour, Weaver in Pittencrieff and Margaret Cuddie his wife have a son born 15th Nov baptism 15th of Dec named John: Witnesses James Roy and William Walls there."  (See original document at right.) The baptism was recorded at Dunfermline https://familysearch.org/  lists the baptism of John Gilmore at Queen Anne St. Burgher Associate, Dunfermline. Pittencrieff is a street in Dunfermline and in the 1841 census Helen (Gilmore) Roy (widow of James Roy and sister of George Gilmore) was living on Pittencrieff Street North Side in Dunfermline.   Jean Cuddy, a sister to Margaret Cuddy, also lived on the same street.

Baptismal Record of John Gilmore