George Gillespie

George Gillespie (the surname is found spelled MANY different ways) was born in Virginia and moved to Alabama where he met this wife Elizabeth McAdams.  His wife’s family, Methodist Minister John McAdams, Sr. and other relatives, were already in Texas. George came to Texas in 1835 from Alabama to fight in the Texas Revolution.  George’s wife, Elizabeth McAdams Gillespie, and their children remained in Alabama until the Texas Revolution was over.  George was badly wounded in the Revolution and was permanently disabled. 

He received a Bounty Warrant, First Class Certificate (#635) from the Sabine County Board of Land Commissioners on June 28, 1838 entitling him to one league of land.  George proved in Sabine County District Court that he had been a member of Capt. William Kimbro’s Company in 1836 and he was wounded in the service resulting in permanent disability.  He received a 1,476acre grant in Sabine County but located in present day Panola County on either side of the Sabine River.

George Gillespie married Elizabeth McAdams, daughter of John McAdams, Sr. and Martha Rodgers (other DRT members established lineage of John McAdams Sr., as well as members of the DAR).  George and Elizabeth had five known children: Priscilla, John, James C., George Jr. and William. 

After a time, Elizabeth heard that George had been killed in battle so she remarried.  Her marriage to Henry Reed took place in Tuscaloosa on November 13, 1838 and is recorded in the Tuscaloosa Marriage Book dated 1-2-1837 to 2-9-1843.  Family folklore tells that one night Elizabeth dreamed that George was still alive.  It was such a vivid dream, she sent her oldest son John to Texas to find out about his father.  On the road to Texas, John Gillespie is supposed to have met his father George returning to Alabama to bring the family back to Texas.  George and John went back to Tuscaloosa together.  Once there George and Henry Reed, Elizabeth’s new husband, discussed the situation.  Henry decided the only thing for him to do was to leave.  George, Elizabeth and the children all moved to Texas.

Sometime in the 1840′s George and Elizabeth moved from Panola County to Walker County, Texas.  George Gillespie died without a will circa 1848-1849.  The estate was filed for probate in Walker County, TX on February 28, 1849.  Elizabeth McAdams Gillespie died February 8, 1895 and is buried beside her son James in the Rancho Cemetery, Gonzales County, near Nixon, Texas.