Willis GILLESPIE, Amherst, Virginia, 1790-1865
I am not sure where Willis was born, but he is known to have lived in Amherst, Virginia from at least 1820 to his death in 1865
I believe he is is the son of Sherod GILLESPIE, but I have nothing other than lots of conjecture.
Willis' Family
Willis married Harriet SMITH in 1812. She does not show up on the 1860 census as living with him.
This is the abstract I have for Willis' will:
18:12 AB Jas.Gillespie and Ro.W.Snead,Mch.19,1866, for JG
19:253 Jan.25,1861;codicil of no date;Dec.18,1865.
Wits.:Geo.W.Davies and Jas.P.Coleman.Proved by Davies
and Coleman is dead. Paulus Powell attest to Cole-
man's signature. My 3 sons--391a-if without issue.
Sarah,in addition to above; if daughters are without
issue. Son,Jas. and Wyatt.Friend,Ro.W.Snead,to admin.
Paulus Powell signed for him. Codicil:my 3 daughters:
Clary;Mildred;and Mary-not to be charged with $600.00
each. Same wits.
20:421 AA by Jas. Gillespie from Sept 6, 1971.Rec.
Mch.19,1883
The abstract refers to 3 sons, but I can only find any information on two: James and Wyatt. It lists 3 daughters, Clary, Mildred and Mary. I am not sure if the Sarah refered to here is another daughter or his wife.
I am going to try and get a microfilmed version of his will from the Family History Center and understand what all this really means
Facts and Timeline for Willis GILLESPIE
12 Jan 1816
Marriage to Harriet SMITH in Amherst, VA
The abstract that I have for this marriage refers to two witnesses for the wife, a Philadelphia SMITH and a Philip SMITH.
Also listed as a witness is A. B. DAVIES.
1820 census
This cenus report, lists 1 male between the ages of 26 and 44, this would be Willis, and his birth year would be between 1776 and 1794. There is also one female, between 16 and 25, who is probably Harriet, who would have been born between 1795 and 1804.
There are two children listed in the house: one male between the ages of 0 and 9, born between 1811 and 1820, who is Willis' unknown son.
Also, one female between the ages of 0 and 9, born between 1811 and 1820, who isprobably Sarah. If these two are the children of Harriet, it is probably safe to assume that these two were born after 1816.
1823
Birth of daughter Sarah GILLESPIE; this information comes from the 1860 cenus where a Sarah GILLESPIE is shown living with Wyatt, James, Mildred and Clary
1824
Birth of son James GILLESPIE
1825
Birth of daughter Mary Elizabeth GILLESPIE
1828
Birth of daughter Mildred GILLESPIE
1830
Birth of son Wyatt GILLESPIE
1830 census
Living in the house at the time, according to the census was, one male between the ages of 40 and 49, presumably Willis. There was also a female between the ages of 30 and 39, presumably Harriet. This says that Willis was born between 1781 and 1790, and that Harriet was born between 1791 and 1800.
Willis' male children are listed as one between 10 and 14, which says this child was born between 1816 and 1820. This may be the unknown son refered to in the will. One son between the ages of 5 and 9, which is probably James, with the birtdate between 1821 and 1825. And the youngest son is between the ages of 0 and 4, who I assume is Wyatt, with a birth date between 1826 and 1830.
Willis' female children are listed as one between 10 and 14, which says this daughter was born between 1816 and 1820. There are two girls listed as being between 5 and 9, which would give them birthdates between 1821 and 1825. This could be Sarah, and Mary. The last girl is listed as being between the ages of 0 and 4, having her born between 1826 and 1830; I assume this is Mildred.
Neighbors
On this census sheet, assuming these are neighbors are: Elizabeth KNIGHT, James LONDON, Richard LONDON, Jeremiah TURPIN, Henry OGDEN, Reuben BALDOCK,
Lindsey MCDANIEL, Thomas LANOT(?), Anne WINGFIELD, William TURNER,
Charles CHRISTIAN, Jr, Samuel SIMMONS, Harrison GRIFFIN, James MERRIT,
Tarpley SIPON (?), Meredith PARRISH, Barnet PAGE, George BURKS,
Ambrose RUCKER, Lorenzo LYON, William JOPLING, John SMOOT, Wingfield EUBANK,
William KELLY, Jordan COFFEE.
1833
Birth of daughter Clary GILLESPIE
1840 census
Living in the house at the time, according to the census, was one one male between the ages of 40 and 49, presumably Willis. This places the year of his birth between 1791 and 1800. This does not match the 1830 census exactly, but could place Willis' birth year as 1790/1791.
There is also a female between the ages of 40 and 49, which places this woman, presumably Willis' wife, as being born between 1791 and 1800. This is consistent with the 1830 census.
There is also a woman between the ages of 60 and 69, who would have been born between 1771 and 1780. Who she is, is not clear. Possibly a mother of the wife, or a sister.
There are three male children in the house. The first is between the ages 20 and 29, with a birth year between 1811 and 1820. Again, this could be the unknown son. The second son, is between the ages of 15 and 19, with a birth year betwee 1821 and 1825; I assume this is James. The third son is between 10 and 14, with a birth year between 1826 and 1830. I assume this son is Wyatt.
There are four female children in the house.
The first daugher is between the ages of 20 and 29 with a birth year between 1811 and 1820. I assume this daughter is Sarah.
The second daughter, presumably Mary, is between the ages of 15 and 19 with a birth year between 1821 and 1825.
The third daughter, who I assume is Mildred, is between the ages of 10 and 14 with a birth year between 1826 and 1830. I assume this daughter is Mildred.
And the fourth daughter is between the ages of 5 and 9, with a birth year between 1831 and 1835. I assume this daughter is Clary.
Neighbors
Also listed on this census page are: William TURPIN, Amos BRYANT,
William PRYOR, Wyatt GATEWOOD, Susanna PRYOR, James GATEWOOD, Hartwell PRYOR,
William BIBB, Levi BIBB, John DAVIS, Joseph CARTER, Charles HENSON,
E. B. GILBERT, Ballard GIBSON, James PHILLIPS, Richard EUBANK, John DAVIS,
John PRYOR, Garret LANE, Bluford(?) MORRIS, Elizabeth LANE, William FRANKLIN,
Henry CAMDEN, William WARE, Polly EVANS, John REDCROSS, William COLEMAN,
John TAYLOR, William JOHNS
20 Nov 1848
Marriage of daughter Mary GILLESPIE to her cousin Jeremiah GILLESPIE, son of Tarlton GILLESPIE in Amherst, VA. Mary was about 23, Jeremiah was about 20.
1850 census
In 1850, Willis was living in Eastern Amherst, with a birth year of 1790, and Harriet is listed as being born in 1792. Three children are living with him: Sally (Sarah), born in 1823; James, born in 1824, and Mildred born in 1828.
We find two of Willis' other children, Wyatt and Clary living with Peter D THORTON and Mary THORTON. Wyatt is listed as being born in 1829 and Clary as born in 1832.
I currently do not know a lot about Peter THORTON and his wife Mary. However, brief research leads me to believe, that Mary is Mary MCCULLOCK and that these two had 10 children, two of which have the middle name of HORSLEY which could tie them to the HORSLEY family; specifically Elizabeth Horsley THORTON and Robert HORSLEY THORTON. I'm curious as to what there relationship is to the GILLESPIE family. This information all comes from a family tree on One World Tree, so all of this needs to be verified, but I'm guessing there are clues in this relationship.
Neighbors
Pembroke WAUGH (32), male, Farmer, real estate 30,000;
Leticia WAUGH (31), female; Isabella WAUGH (2), female;
Sally WINN (5), female; P. B. GREEN (26), female; Laurance GREEN (11), male;
Ellen B GARRET (14), female;
Richard I PRYOR (47), male, Shoemaker, no real estate value;
Nancy PRYOR (45), female; Emily PRYOR (21), female;
Sally D DAVIS (82), female, real estate value 8,000;
Nathaniel DAVIS (65), male, no occupation;
Nancy H TINSLEY (30), female; John D DAVIS (45), male, Merchant;
Lucy M DAVIS (22), female; Louisa A DAVIS (5), female;
Sallie DAVIS (3), female; Bettie DAVIS (1), female;
Charles L BROWN (48), male, Farmer, real estate value 3,000;
Sally A BROWN (32), female; Sally L BROWN (1), female;
Margaret ELLIS (50), female, real estate value 2,000;
William I EUBANK (45), male, Farmer; John E ELLIS (30), male, FARMER;
Nathan D RUCKER (45), male, Farmer, real estate value 6,000;
Mary RUCKER (45), female; N N RUCKER (16), female;
Alfred RUCKER (3), male;
Stephen ADAMS (22), male, Laborer on farm; Onsella ADAMS (11), female;
Sampson M FALL (56), male, Farmer, no real estate value;
Susan FALL (54), female; John FALL (30), male, Laborer;
Henry FALL (28), male, Laborer; Susan FALL (25), female;
Parks(?) FALL (22), female; Thomas FALL (20), male, Laborer;
Nancy FALL (16), female; Martha I FALL (13), female;
Lafayette FALL (11), male;
1860 census
The 1860 census finds Willis living with what I assume is some one to help him, though the man, Richard ESSEX, is 80. Given the fact that he is marked as black, I assume he is not a relative. Willis is listed as 60, and have a real estate value of 250, and a personal value of 150.
Two houses away (starting on a previous census page), lives 5 of Willis' children. I assume from the way this is laid out that Wyatt GILLESPIE is the head of the household. It is interesting to note that Wyatt is listed as having a no real estate value, but a personal value of 4,674. I'm curious as to where that money came from. It would be interesting to know if Peter THORTON died before 1860 (see 1850 census discussion), and know if he left money to Wyatt. I have a unverified record that Peter THORTON died on 6 Aug 1856 in Amherst.) Given that the amount listed is so exact and not rounded to the nearest 50 like most of the values, it makes me think this is some sort of settlement or inheirtance. Again, this is just my guess.
Also listed as living with Wyatt are Sarah GILLESPIE (38), female; James GILLESPIE (36), male; Mildred GILLESPIE (32), female; and Clary GILLESPIE (23).
I believe it is safe to assume that these four are Wyatt's brother and sisters and Willis and Harriet's children. Wyatt is listed as a Farmer and his brother James as a Farm laborer.
It is also interesting to note, that living right between the two GILLESPIE families is Susanna W(?) Thurmond (60), female. She has a real estate value of 2,500 and a personal value of 100.
Neighbors
M TINSLEY (53), male, Farmer, real estate value 17,000, personal value 17,875;
Evely TINSLEY (45), female;
William TINSLEY (17), male; Martin TINSLEY (11), male;
John TINSLEY (6), male; Nelson TINSLEY (5 months), male;
Elizabeth DAVIS (71), female; Sarah F Parks (10), female;
Martha R GILBERT (60), female, real estate 1,560, personal value 1,497;
C A GILBERT (30), male, Physician, personal value 2200;
Ann W GILBERT (73), female, Teaching school, personal value 1,700;
Martha R GILBERT (21), female, personal value 1,700;
Catherine D GILBERT (17), female; Elizabeth A GILBERT (22), female;
Robert N GILBERT (3), male; Charles GILBERT (9 months), male;
Sarah JONES (68), female, real estate 7,000, personal value 19,000;
Sarah F JONES (31), female;
Judith MORRIS(?) (28), female; John R MORRIS (7 months), male;
Paulina JONES (27), female;
Oliver JONES (39), male, Farmer, no real estate, personal value 3,000;
Maltida F JONES (28), female; John H JONES (12), male;
Paul C JONES (11), male; James A JONES (4), male;
William HUDNAL (39), male, Carpenter, no real estate, personal value 300;
Sorina E HUDNAL (29), female; Elizabeth T HUDNAL (9), female;
Martha A HUDNAL (8), female; Daniel G HUDNAL (6), male;
Robert G HUDNAL (3), male; Nancy HUDNAL (1), female;
Stephen TURNER (65), male, Farmer, real estate value 3,000, personal value 5,819;
Martha F TURNER (48), female;
John CAMDEN (45), male, Farmer, real estate value 1,000, personal value 1,350;
Mary A CAMDEN (41), female; James CAMDEN (19), male;
Sarah E CAMDEN (16), female; Ann CAMDEN (15), female;
Elvira CAMDEN (13), female; Mary F CAMDEN (12), female;
Lucy J CAMDEN (7), female;, Margaret CAMDEN (6), female;
Roberta CAMDEN (4), female;
JG BARRETT (48), male, Farmer, real estate value 5,500, personal value 10,000;
Sarah A BARRETT (44), female; Mary O BARRETT (18), female;
Martha W BARRETT (16), female; Robert BARRETT (14), male;
Bettie R BARRETT (12), female; John BARRETT (10), male;
Nannie C BARRETT (8), female; Thomas H BARRETT (6), male, twin;
William W BARRETT (6), male, twin;
F O THOMPKINS (43), male, Physican, real esate value 7,000, personal value 22,110;
Pheba THOMPKINS (32), female; Fannie THOMPKINS (4), female;
Letia THOMPKINS (2), female; Anna THOMPKINS (5 months), female;
Pheba, Fannie, and Letia are all listed as being born in Louisiana.
M G HUNTER (25), female; born in Louisiana
Catharine EUBANK (widow) (60), female, personal value 9,195;
Robert EUBANK (25), male, Farmer; Fannie EUBANK (22), female;
William A BURFORD (45), male, Tavern keeper, personal value 2,795;
Mary BURFORD (40), female; Mariah BURFORD (17), female;
John W BURFORD (14), male; Gus BURFORD (12), male;
James M Barrett (4), male;
4 Mar 1863
Marriage of daughter Mildred GILLESPIE to William Sidney CAMDEN, in Nelson, VA
28 Oct 1864
Death of William CAMDEN, husband of Mildred GILLESPIE.
Death informant was Wyatt JONES.
8 May 1865
Death of son Wyatt GILLESPIE in POW Camp, Elmira NY
Wyatt is listed in Willis' will; either Willis was unaware that his son died or his will was never updated.
6 Oct 1865
Death of Willis GILLESPIE in Amherst, VA