I sent this message to a Gillespie cousin who descends from the Samuel GILLESPIE mentioned here. I thought others on the lists might benefit from the information, and I would love to hear from anyone connected to this family. Some time ago, I found family records in the library at Gallatin, Sumer Co. TN stating that the family of John Morgan GILLESPIE went to Illinois and were never heard from again. John Morgan GILLESPIE (b. 5-2-1811 in Rowan Co. NC d. 1-23-1881 in Johnson Co. IL) and Neoma Thompson GILLESPIE (b. 3-16-1811 d. 11-23-1883 in Johnson Co. IL) were 1st cousins who married, and were the grandchildren of George GILLESPIE and Mary GRAHAM, b. Rowan Co. NC and d. Gallatin, Sumner Co. TN. I have a copy of a "Petition for Letters of Administration" on the estate of John Morgan GILLESPIE with his son, Francis Marion GILLESPIE being the petitioner. "That your petitioner being a Son being requested by widow of said deceased..." It is dated Feb. 5, 1887 and filed in Johnson County, Illinois. It states that John Morgan GILLESPIE died at his residence in Johnson Co.on Jan. 23, 1881 and left no will. In this document, according to Francis Marion GILLESPIE, his father John Morgan GILLESPIE. died owning 1 house, 1 mule, 1 cow, 8 hogs, 16 sheep, farming utensils, household and kitchen furniture and 1 wagon. No property was mentioned in this document. The personal property was estimated at $400. The heirs listed in this document were William B. GILLESPIE, Catherine K. FARRIS, Martha A. JACKSON, Mary A. FARRIS, F.M. GILLESPIE, Sam GILLESPIE, Sarah E. WALKER and Louisa HIGHT. There was another earlier document a "Report of the Account of F.M. GILLESPIE Admin. of the Estate" filed on Dec. 20, 1886 in Johnson Do. Illinois by Francis Marion GILLESPIE. It stated that assets from the estate of John Morgan GILLESPIE totaled $672.34 and $370.02 was paid out to settle the estate. This left $302.32 as a balance due to the heirs. Each of the following heirs received $37.79 each: William B. GILLESPIE, Amanda FARRIS, Francis Marion GILLESPIE, Samuel GILLESPIE, Sarah E. WALKER, S. J. FARRIS, Samuel JACKSON Jr. and Lawrance HIGHT. There is a note written along the side border of this document which states "And this administrator further reports that he has paid to the respective heirs of said deceased their respective distributive share of said estate except Saml. GILLESPIE who resides in the state of Texas." I still haven't located in my files, the document that stated that Samuel "Huston" Gillespie resided in Balstrop, Texas. There is a question as to whether his middle name was Huston or House. Samuel GILLESPIE, his uncle J. Hiram GILLESPIE and some from the FARRIS line may have traveled to Texas together after the Civil War. Connie McKenzie, descendant of Francis Marion Gillespie [email protected]