Thomas GILLESPIE

• Name	Thomas GILLESPIE
  Gender	Male
  _UID	39FEB522E5614E62BB57485DB3DA159CF951
  Notes	Several sources have come forward with information that the Emeline's first three children was a Gillespie from Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie" between Pounding Mill (about two miles to the west) and Cliffield in Tazewell Co. Va. It seems that Emeline was living in Liberty and the gap or short cut over the mountain leads over to Laurel Gap from the Pounding Mill area and then to Liberty. This would have been been less than three miles by horseback. A granddaughter of Emeline remarked to her grandson as they were traveling through Pounding Mill that Emeline's first children was fathered by a Gillespie, but did not know his first name. Emeline and this man reportedly traveled to see each other. Why didn't she marry the father of these 3 children? He possibly was married, unwilling to marry her, or he died before they could marry. Further research is needed, and the key will be maps of the census districts for Tazwell Co. to see exactly which male Gillespies on the 1850 Tazewell Co. Maiden Spring District were living near Laurel Gap in Pounding Mill or the community of Gillespie.
  Person ID	I3896	Master File
  Last Modified	16 Oct 2015

  
  

  Family	Emeline S. CHAMBERS,   b. 18 Jan 1830, Russell Co. VA ,   d. 2 Mar 1898, Tazewell Co. VA  (Age 68 years)
  Notes	John McClintock, Jr., a descendant of Emeline and Chapman Elswick, told me the family stories were a Thomas Gillespie was the father of Emeline's children. Thomas would travel over the mountain to visit "Red headed Emmie" at Liberty. Until the death certificate of Thomas D. Chambers there was no proof of this. Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family. When Emeline married Chapman Elswick, she put her marital status as divorced. More than likely, Thomas Gillespie was a married man and was not free to marry Emeline. Which Thomas Gillespie could be the father? One researcher has William Thomas Gillespie who was in his 60's during the time Emeline's children were conceived. I think a younger man is more likely since he was traveling over the mountain to Liberty on horseback. Here are the candidates from the Tazewell 1850 Census for Thomas or Thos: Thomas Harrison Gillespie Nov. 19, 1812-Oct. 14, 1891, husband of Mary Ann Radar. In 1850 Thomas was 38 years old. Thomas Simpson Gillespie 13 Dec 1807-1857,1862 or 1866, husband of Mariah Peery. In 1850 he was 43 years old. Thomas moved to Genry Co. MO in 1854, but later returned and died in Tazewell Co. This Thomas is a possibility based on the ages of Emeline's children. Alifair and Elbert Wade are three years apart, but there is about a 3 year difference between Elbert Wade born in 1853 and Thomas Douglas born about 1856. So it's possible Thomas Douglas was conceived when Thomas Gillespie returned from Missouri. Why did he return to Tazewell leaving his wife and children in Missouri? Until DNA tests are done, this is all speculation as to which Thomas Gillespie is the father of Emeline's first three children.
  Children	1. Euphemia Alifair CHAMBERS,   b. 29 Dec 1850, Virginia ,   d. 08 Jan 1923, Tazewell Co. VA  (Age 72 years) + 2. Elbert Wade CHAMBERS,   b. 07 Feb 1853, Tazewell Co. VA ,   d. 08 Mar 1924, Boyd Co. KY  (Age 71 years) + 3. Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS,   b. 3 Feb 1858, Virginia ,   d. 19 Apr 1931, Buchanan Co. VA  (Age 73 years)
  Last Modified	16 Oct 2015
  Family ID	F2758	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart