It was said that James Richard Gillespie b ca 1790-1793, d 1849 Lawrence Co, AL was a Presbyterian Minister. He enlisted in the U.S.Army in 1814 in Maryville, Blount Co, TN. He married 9 Sep 1818, in Morgan (Cotaco) Co, N AL to Lucy Johnson. I saw this in the history of Blount County: As an educational center Maryville has long been prominent. In 1806 the Legislature, under the act establishing county academies, appointed Gideon BLACKBURN, John MONTGOMERY, John LOWRY (merchant), Joseph B. LAPSLEY and Andrew KENNEDY trustees for Porter Academy in Blount County, to whom were afterward added James GILLESPIE, JR., John LOWRY (attorney), James HOUSTON, Sr., Alexander McGHEE, James TURK and Thomas HENDERSON. I am wondering if our particular James GILLESPIE was realted to this James Gillespie, Jr. or James Houston and if he was educated at Maryville College.? How would I find out? Does Maryville College have an archive of student records going back to before 1818? I know, this message probably needs to go to Blount Co. But I am hoping that some of you are related to the GILLESPIE/HOUSTON clan of Blount Co, TN? Helen Austin [email protected] Decatur, AL