Looking for any information relating to John GILLESPIE of Drumgaw who married Jane Woods of Outlack on 31 Dec 1805 at First Presbyterian in Armagh. This marriage was supposedly John's second marriage - trying to find any info on the first wife. Known children from the first marriage, born 1780 - 1790 (approximately), were Thomas, Elizabeth, Jane, and Nancy. Two of the sisters married brothers of the name Greer and emigrated to America, probably around 1810 (+/- 2 years). Thus also looking for any GREER connections - have found Derrynoose as a possible townland for Greer. Also the brother Thomas Gillespie remained in Ireland and was known to live in Cavanacaw.
Children from the second marriage of John Gillespie were Robert, James, Sarah, and Alexander. All emigrated to Quebec in 1830s.
Both these families were originally Scot, and both were involved in flax growing and/or weaving, I believe they were both Presbyterian - although at least one Gillespie marriage was performed in Church of Ireland.
Family story says John Gillespie was instrumental in raising a company of volunteers for Lord Charlemont in the Rebellion of 1798. He was supposedly born in 1780 and lived 100 years (or more), but the year of birth must be incorrect if children of first marriage were born at the same time.
I appreciate any correspondence relating to these families.
mas0315
Friday 1st Mar 2013, 09:18PMMessage Board Replies
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I am descended from Alexander L. Greer (1806-1884). His obituary states that he was born in County Down; his father, James, was in the linen industry in Belfast and died in 1814; and his mother, Jane, and her six children (including ALG and Thomas) emigrated in 1817 to Cincinnati OH and then moved across the Ohio River to Covington KY. In KY, Esther Greer (perhaps a sister or cousin of ALG) married Allen Culbertson, who was born in Newton-Stewart. I am planning a May-June 2013 trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland. Might we have a connection?
williamgreer
Thursday 11th Apr 2013, 07:46AM -
Hello,
Here is what I know about the Greer family associated with my Gillespie family. James Greer married Jane Gillespie and they came to America with 4 children in 1812 (two of whom are known to have survived: John and Eliza). I believe they also came over with other Greer relations at the same time, one or two might have been James' brothers (Joseph and Robert Greer). They were all registered as enemy aliens in Kingston, Ulster, New York that year - the year the War of 1812 broke out. They later moved to Dutchess County, New York and had more children. James Greer applied for naturalization in 1821 for himself and his family, stating they were from County Armagh.
In the early 1830's, James Greer as well as several other Greer and Gillespie family groups migrated to Oakland County, Michigan where they settled. James Greer died there in 1857 and his wife Jane Gillespie Greer died in 1868. It's quite a story!
So far, I don't know of anybody in this line named Alexander Greer, and I don't have any evidence that anybody in this line settled in Ohio. But it's certainly possible that your Greer family might have some connection to mine. If you happen across any information that looks like our families are associated, I would most definitely like to connect!
Enjoy your Ireland trip. I would like to go some day so it might be great to hear of your experience there.
mas0315
Thursday 11th Apr 2013, 02:55PM