To those interested: Robert Gillespie was married to Sarah "Sally" Thornton about 1790 in Rowan County, NC. Robert was born about 1760 in Rowan County, N.C. He died 9 Nov., 1842, Sarah "Sally" Thornton was born about 1782 in N.C. She died after 24 Sept. 1850, Rowan Co., NC. They had four children: 1. Otho Gillespie born ca 1808 in Rowan County , N.C., d. ca 1864, Iredell Co., NC. Wife Ann Lamira b. ca 1819 Issue: Lilla Gillespie, b. ca 1856, Iredell Co. Robert Gillespie, b. ca 1860, Iredell Co., 2. Carmi Gillespie, b. ca 1813, Rowan Co., N.C. died ca 1853, Iredell Co., N.C. 3. Nancy C. Gillespie b. ca 1807, Rowan Co., N.C. married James Cowan, b. ca 1798 (son of Robert T. Cowan) 4. Mary Gillespie, b. ca 1828, Rowan Co., N.C. Samuel D. Rankin, b. ca 1828 References: Will of Thomas Gillespie, left to Robert 278 acres of land by the name of the Bailey place, also 600 acres of land on Flat Creek, Duck River, Williamson Cournty, Tennessee, two slaves, two horses, an equal part of the wagons, cattle, household furniture, books and plantation tools. 1800 Rowan County, N.C. Census - Robert Gillespie with wife. 1810 Rowan County, N.C. Census - Robert Gillespie, p. 73, males 1 under 10, 1 10-16, 1-26-45, 1 45 & over, females 2 under 10, and 2 16-26 1820 Rowan County, N.C. Census - Robert Gillespie p. 258, Males 1 under 10, 1 10-16, 1 45 & over, females 1 under 10, 2 10-16, 1 16-26, 1 26-45 1830 Rowan County, N.C. Census - Robert Gillespie, p. 372 1840 1850 Rowan County, N.C. Census sheet 179, taken 24 Sept 1850 Dwelling 1082, family 1101 James Cowan, 52 male, white, farmer born N.C. Nancy C. ", age 43, female, white, born N.C. John L ", age 14, male, white, born N.C. Robert T. ", age 12, male, white, born N.C James P. ", age 9, male, white, born N.C. Thomas L. ", age 5, male, white, born N.C. Jane R. Gillespie, age 31, female, white, born PA Laura E. " , age 12, female, white, born N.C. Martha A. " , age 10, female, white, born N.C. Carmi " , age 37, male, white, born N.C. Dwelling 1083, family 1103 Samuel D. Rankin, age 28, male, white, Physician, born N.C. Mary E. Rankin, age 28, female, white, born N.C. Samuel L. " , age 3, male, white, born N.C. Sylvester " , age 1, male, white, born N.C. Sarah Gillespie, age 68, female, white, born N.C. Extract of Will: Rowan County, N.C., Will Book , p. 109 I.152 Robert Gillespie. Nov. 9, 1842. prb. Feb 1843. Farmer. Wife Sally. Sons Otho, Carmi (land in Tenn. given to me by my bro. David). Daus: Nancy Cowan, Mary Gillespie. Robert T. Cowan, Son of James and Nancy Cowan. Exrs: sons Otho, Carmi. Wit: none Though the Rowan County Registere, Vol. 8 # 1, p. 1753 and 1754, said that Robert and Thomas Gillespie, Jr., brothers of Isaac also came to Williamson County, Tennessee about the same time, the above census records do not indicate that Robert went to Tennessee. Will Book I, p 152, Rowan County, N.C. Will Book 10, page 94, Williamson County, Tennessee Carmi Gillespie recorded on 1840 Iredell Co., N.C. Census, p. 200 Otho Gillespie recorded on 1840 Iredell Co., N.C. Census, p. 200 Otho Gillespie recorded on 1850 Iredell Co., N.C. Census, sheet after 480 and on 1860 Iredell Co., N.C. Census sheet 365 The evidence supports the above Robert Gillespie as being the son of Thomas Gillespie and his wife Naomi Thompson Gillespie. I know someone had said that their Robert Gillespie ancestor was the son but it was an error: By 1800 this Robert Gillespie was in Ogletharpe Co., GA and they had 9 children. This Robert Gillespie was on the 1830 Census in Ogletharpe, GA. I know that a Mrs. Riesie Gee, born near Indianola, Miss, wife of Orman Kimbrough Gee went into a lineage society called National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, Volume XVI on Thomas Gillespie's Virginia Militia, May 20, 1742, and received a Land Grant in Anson County, North Carolina, 1751. She listed Thomas, Robert, Christopher, SR, Christopher Jr. However none of the Census records on Robert son of Thomas will support this theory. Some information in McClung Historical Library, June 9, 1996 said Christopher was a lst cousin to the Blount County Gillespies. If this is true, he certainly does not descend from Thomas Gillespie and Naomi Thompson Gillespie. I suggest lots of research into the Blount Co., Gillespies. Billie Curry Steeley ([email protected])