Compiled by
Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
Reprinted with permission
Lydia Gillespie Durham, wife of James Durham, was the daughter of Isaac and Mary A. McGuire Gillespie.
The following information was furnished by Mrs. Louise Gillespie Lynch of Franklin, Tennessee. She is a great great great granddaughter of Isaac Gillespie. Issac Gillespie was the son of Thomas Gillespie, Sr. Thomas Gillespie, Sr. was born in 1719 in either Cecil County or New London township, Chester County (Carolina Cradle by Robert W. Ramsey pp. 40-41). He married Naomi Thompson January 1, 1745. Naomi was born about 1728. The Gillespie's, like so many other families at the "head of the Chesapeke" moved westward about 1730, first into Lancaster County and then through the Cumberland Valley into the Shenandoah. Thomas and Naomi were the first people to settle west of the Yadkin River in Rowan County, North Carolina. Thomas received a land grant from Lord Granville. He was in Rowan County possible before the winter of 1747-48. The children of Thomas Gillespie, Sr. and Naomi Gillespie were:
James, George, Lydia, Robert, John, Martha, Thomas Jr., David, Isaac and Alexander.
Thomas Sr., George, Isaac, Thomas, Jr., and David Gillespie were in the Revolutionary War. Thomas, Sr. received North Carolina land grant #80 of 4000 acres on Flat Creek, Williamson County, Tennessee, registered in Book A page 216-217 Williamson County, Tennessee (registered 25th April 1807-State entry taken #508 dated 27th October 1783 - surveyed 21st day Feb 1785 by H. Rutherford - ....Davidson and Isaac Gillespie). Thomas Gillespie Sr. and his wife Naomi both died December 13, 1796 and are buried in the same grave in the Thyatira Church Graveyard (Rowan Co., N.C.). Isaac, David and Thomas, Jr. came to Williamson County. A date was found in a book that originally belonged to Isaac Gillespie on January 26, 1796, and that was probably the date that he left Rowan County for Williamson County. It also had some of the route that they followed, but the writing had faded so badly that it could not all be read. Isaac Gillespie was in Williamson County about 1810.
Isaac Gillespie
Isaac Gillespie was born March 28, 1750. He married Mary Ann McGuire April 4, 1791 in Rowan County, North Carolina. Mary Ann was the daughter of John and Mary Brandon McGuire. She was born February 13, 1770. They settled on part of the 4000 acre land grant given to Isaac's father, Thomas, Sr. The house that they built is still being used but has been remodeled. They are buried on part of the land and David is buried about a mile from them.
The children of Isaac and Mary Ann were:
Lydia b. 9-18-1796 d. 4-14-1880 married 7-18-1820 Sumner Co., Tennessee
James Durham b. 3-10-1789 d. 9-3-1856
Matilda married 11-12-1821
Alexander Slavin
Sophia b. 1802 d. 1875 married 9-15-1820
William Wallace b. 1800 d. 1889
Polly (Mary) b. 6-26-1794 d. 3-13-1860 married 7-22-1816
Capt. Reuben Reynolds b. 2-25-1791 d. 3-25-1870
Amelia married 12-14-1816
Elijah Mayfield
Naomi married
Zachery Wilson
Thomas T. married 7-20-1812
Jane Walker
David A. b. 3-28-1804 d. 7-19-1861 married 2-3-1831
Anna Biggers b. 6-20-1812 d. 9-22-1874
George m. b. 12-11-1809 d. 7-2-1834 married 1-2-1832
Frances Morton
(David Alexander Gillespie who married Ann Biggers was my great great grandfather. One of David and Anna's sons was George Washington Gillespie who was my great grandfather. George W. Gillespie married Cynthia Johnson and their only son was Lemuel Edward Gillespie who was my grandfather. My father was Luther Alexander Gillespie. Louise G. Lynch)
Isaac Gillespie Dec'd Will
January and April Sessions 1828
Will Book #4
page 349
Know all men by these present that I, Isaac Gillespie of the county of Williamson and state of
Tennessee being of sound mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed to all men to die, do
make and ordain my last will and testament in writing as follows:
First of all I command my soul to God who gave it, and my body to be buried after the directions of my family and friends, and as it respects such worldly estate as I am seized of, I do dispose of them in the following manner:
Item 1st. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary A. Gillespie the house I now live in and as much of my plantation as shall be necessary for her support, also my household and kitchen furniture and farming tools and the crop which may be on hand and my stock of cattle, hogs and sheep during her natural life except such of the above property as I may herein after dispose of and further give and bequeath to my beloved wife one negro woman named Sally, one sorrel mare, saddle and bridle, one roan horse, one black colt and two beds and furniture.
Item 2nd. I will that after my decease that part of a tract of land purchased of Samuel Polk laying east of the original east boundary of the tract on which I now live, be sold on a credit of twelve months and my daughters Lydia Durham, Matilda Stavins. and Sophia Wallace have each sixty dollars, or a horse valued at sixty dollars out of the proceeds of the said sale, and the balance remaining, I will to be equally divided between all my daughters, Polly B. Reynolds, Ameilia Mayfield, Lydia Durham, Matilda Stavin, Sophia Wallace, and Naomi Wilson.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas T. Gillespie one dollar in addition to what I have heretofore given him.
Item 4th. I give to my son David A. Gillespie two hundred acres of land to be taken off of the north end of my tract on which I now live, and to have possession of the same at my decease, except the part which I have left to my beloved wife. I also give him one negro man named Jim, one sorrel filly, one yoke of oxen, one bed and furniture, one bureau, one chest and one pair of (???).
Item 5th. I give to my son George M. Gillespie the balance of my tract of land which I suppose to be about two hundred acres. Also one negro boy name Bur, one milk and cidar colored horse, my largest yoke of oxen, one bed and furniture, one saddle and bridle and one bureau and book ends.
Item 6th. I will that should my son George move and settle on his land before the death of my wife, that he should have one equal part of all my working tools, except my waggon which shall be kept for the use of both the farms, and I will that at the death of my wife the balance of my property be equally divided between my sons David A. and George M. Gillespie.
Item 7th. I will that should either of my sons die without heirs that the property which I leave him be inherited by his surviving brother. I ratify and confirm this to be my last will and testament and I appoint my beloved wife Mary Ann Gillespie, my son David A. Gillespie, and William Wassas my executors. In testimony where of I have hereto set my hand and affix my seal this first day of June in the year of our Lord 1827.
The children of Thomas, Sr. and Naomi Gillespie:
James b. 1745 d. 1787 married 1-9-1765
Jane Graham
George b. 7-22-1751 d. 9-1-1818 Sumner Co., Tennessee married 5-15-1772
Mary Graham
Lydia b. 1753 d. 1826 married 11-4-1772
Captain James Knox (Lydia Gillespie was the grandmother of President James Knox Polk through
her daughter Jane Knox)
Robert b. 1760 d. 1842 married
Sarah Thornton
John b. 1762 d. ca 1825 married 1-31-1786
1) Margaret Kerr
2) Polly Brandon 3-4-1790
Martha b. d. 1780 married 6-20-1770
Thomas Allison
Thomas Jr. b. d. 1828 married 9-5-1785
Jane Lucky
David b. 1-1-1761 d. 9-18-1835 married 4-5-1783
Mary Lucky
Isaac b. 3-28-1750 d. 12-24-1826 married 4-12-1791
Mary Ann McGuire
Alexander b. d. ca 1804 never married.