Thomas Gillespie d. 1790 VA and wife Eleanor
The Gillespie DNA Project is seeking direct male descendants of THOMAS GILLESPIE and his wife ELEANOR.Many of the Gillespie lines from the surrounding area have been identified through DNA testing and are part of what we call GROUP 2.We believe that this THOMAS GILLESPIE will also be in GROUP 2, but we need the DNA results to prove this hypothosis.The Gillespie Rifle Maker families are also part of GROUP 2.
Males to be tested must be direct descendants of any of the sons listed below.The surname GILLESPIE must have been passed down from one of these sons to the living Gillespie through birth and not adoption.
Please contact project administrator Connie McKenzie at [email protected] you are a direct male descendant or know the whereabouts of such a male that might be persuaded to take the DNA test.
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THOMAS GILLESPIE and his wife ELEANOR, who about 1745, settled on Stuart Creek, a branch of the Cowpasture River, north of Clifton Forge, VA.
This particular Thomas died about 1790.His WILL in Augusta County, VA names most of their children:
#1JOHN (1743-1815)
#2MARY (wife of Charles Donally of Greenbrier Co, WV),
#3HUGH (died 1777)
#4HANNAH (wife of Robert Jones),
#4THOMAS Jr. (moved to Greenbrier Co, WV)
#5JEAN(b 1751c)
#6JACOB (husband of Rebecca Berry)
#6SAMUEL (husband of Elizabeth Blake)
#8JAMES (1757c - 1790)
#7WILLIAM (husband of Margaret Eddy)
#10 ELEANOR (b 1760c)
#11ANN (wife of Benjamin Williby).
It is important not to confuse this Thomas or his family with others of similar names in Blount County TN, Washington County TN, Rowan County NC, or his own evident relations downstream on the Cowpasture River descended from Robert of Clifton Forge, or the nearby William and wife Mary.