The Late Bob and Peg Gilchrist
A HISTORY OF THE GILCHRISTS
by
ROBERT W. GILCHRIST - 1997
Posted here by Kind Permission of Bob and
Peggy's daughters, Erin Silvaroli and Lynley Barry,
and supplied to the
Kintyre Mag by Dean Gilchrist deanotow1@earthlink.net Ocala, Fl. 352-854-1440
4. JOHN MALCOLM GILCHRIST (Dec. 5, 1851 - Sept. 5, 1852
5. NANCY JANE GILCHRIST (Mar. 10, 1854- July 23, 1928)
She became the first of Malcolm and Eliza Jane Gilchrist’s
children to be born in Bullock, Ala.; those older were born in Barbour County.
On Oct. 14, 1869, she married HARRIS (BUD) BRANNEN and in 1874, having lived in
Bullock for about five years, they moved to Navasota, Texas, where they
established a farm along the banks of the Brazos River. In 1879 they moved to
Holly, Texas in Houston County where they purchased 1 200 acres of land and
introduced the first Hereford breeding cattle into that part of Texas. In 1906
the family moved still further west to Stonewall County in the lower part of the
Texas Panhandle: here they acquired land near the community of Peacock. They
came to be regarded as among the most prosperous farmers and cattle breeders in
that part of Texas. In 1914 the family began work on their third Texas home in
the town of Peacock. On Mar. 7, 1914 Bud died; Nancy, however, continued the
work and completed the house. The couple was buried in nearby Aspermont, Texas.
They had thirteen children.
6. DANIEL WEBSTER GILCHRIST (Aug. 20, 1855 - May 7, 1923)
He married ELIZABETH DRIGGERS (May 18, 1865 - Aug. 25, 1929)
in 1887; there were six children. He was for a time a planter living near
Brantley, Ala., but later moved into Geneva, Ala., where he became owner-
operator of a dry goods store. They along with most of their children are buried
in the old Geneva Cemetery.
7. EDMOND PARMENUS GILCHRIST (Jan. 12, 1857 - Mar. 18, 1900)
He married MARTHA A. THOMPSON (April 5, 1866 -
Oct. 13, 1927) from Hot Springs, Ark.; their eight children. He was a planter
who moved in the late 1800’s from Bullock, Ala., to the small community of Hix,
Texas, very near the Brazos River between the towns of Gause and Caldwell. He is
buried in Hix very near the family farm and shi is buried in Dallas, Texas, her
last place of residence.
8. RICHARD MONTGOMERY GILCHRIST (June 10, 1859 - Aug. 15, 1938)
He married MARY FRANCES (MOLLY) SHORT (Feb.
20, 1868 - Jan. 13, 1954) of Bullock, Ala.; there were ten children. He was a
planter, the owner-operator of the General Mercantile Store of Brantley, and a
director and stockholder in the First National Bank of Brantley. He was a deacon
in the Baptist church and was actively, involved in the community life of
Brantley. Both are buried in the old Brantley Cemetery.
9. ROBERT MANSFIELD GILCHRIST (Nov. 25, 1868 - Nov. 16, 1947)
He was a Brantley merchant who married MINNIE DORA ELLIS (Nov. 8, 1876 - Oct. 21, 1904); there was one child. Both are buried in nearby Bullock.
10. EPSIE GILCHRIST (July 7. 1862 - Mar. 5. 1936)
She married WILLIAM HENRY WHALEY (June 5. 1856
- Mar. 23. 1924); there were seven children. He was a farmer and they lived in
the community of Hephzibah near Troy, Ala.. in neighboring Pike County. They are
buried in the Good I-lope Cemetery located on the Dozier Highway a short
distance from Troy. Several of their children are also buried in the same
cemetery.
In moving to Coffee County, Ala., Malcolm purchased on Jan.
14, 1854 forty acres of land approximately ten miles east of the town of
Brantley and near the community of Bullock. It would be this section of Coffee
County that would become part of the new Crenshaw County in 1866.
On Sept. 15, 1856, Malcolm purchased slightly more than forty
more acres, with this being good “bottom land” along the Conecuh River. His new
purchase now moved him to about six miles north, northwest of Brantley. Of
considerable significance, another planter, James Willborn Ellis, had one month
earlier purchased nearly eighty-one acres of adjoining land, thereby permitting
a relationship to develop between the two families that would continue to this
day. On two occasions Gilchrist sons would take Ellis brides.
Possibly inspired by his influential father-in-law, Malcolm
became a Justice of the Peace in Crenshaw County. In October 1871 he performed
the marriage of Enoch Eiland, a young minister, and Roxie Anna Davis, daughter
of the minister who had performed the marriage of William Gilbert Gilchrist,
Malcolm’s oldest son, and Harriet Annette Wright. Later, on Aug. 20, 1897,
William Richard Eiland, the oldest of the Eiland children, and himself a Baptist
minister, married Malcolm’s granddaughter, Epsie Lee Gilchrist.
Malcolm Gilchrist died on Sept. 22, 1882 at the age of
sixty-seven; Eliza Jane lived for another nineteen years, dying on Jan. 4, 1901.
The two are buried in the old Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Bullock,
Alabama.
As evidence of a lingering Celtic influence the children of
Malcolm and Eliza Jane Gilchrist would place a very strong influence on the
church, education, and the family. Nearly all would derive their income from the
land. And, five of the children would marry and rear their families in or near
Brantley --- thus creating the “cluster effect” that would extend over three
generations. Of the remaining children, one died in infancy and the other three
settled in different sections of the state of Texas, which would in time, owing
to poor communication and distance, all but end contact between the family
groups including the Texas families.
Following World War I the Gilchrists of Brantley, Alabama
began holding an annual “Gilchrist Reunion” on the fourth Sunday in June. One
such gathering held at the Brantley High School brought nearly two hundred of
the clan together. Later the reunion was moved to the city of Opp in Covington
County where it has continued. But, with the passing of years and each new
generation becoming more removed by distance, the bond that once was so strong
in this family has weakened.
If a word of admonition could be heard from the members of these bygone generations who established such a reputation for integrity, perseverance in the face of great sadness and difficulty, wise counsel, respected leadership, a good work ethic, it would be don't forsake the family , and above all don't forsake the Lordship of Jesus Christ. TO THE MEANING OF YOUR NAME BE TRUE.
"The Lord will command the blessings upon you in your barns
and in all that you put your hand to and He will bless you in the
land which the Lord your God gives you......if you will keep the
commandments of the Lord your God, and walk in His ways."
Deut. 28.8
According to record Gilbert Gilchrist last moved to the small west Barbour County community of Mt. Andrew, Ala. This old cemetery with its mysterious mounds of rock and brick is known to date from the mid-1800s; yet, unfortunately all records were lost many years ago. Could one of these piles mark his gravesite?
Found in the old Friendship Baptist Church cemetery in Bullock, Alabama, this marker marks the gravesite of Malcolm and Eliza Jane Head Gilchrist. The marker is inscribed with her name, dates of birth and death, and his name, dates of birth and death on the opposite side. There is then inscribed: "OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD." (Of interest is the fact that his name is spelled: "MALCOM.")
More next issue
The Late Bob and Peg Gilchrist
Robert W. Gilchrist (1939 - 1998 ) of Titusville, Florida and his wife Peggy, were killed in a tragic automobile accident on April 8, 1998. Both were dedicated teachers and active members of the Park Avenue Baptist Church for over 30 years. Bob specialised in history. Shortly before the accident, he was a guest speaker at the dedication of the restored Mill Prong House near Raeford, North Carolina which was built by his 4th Great Grandfather, John Gilchrist, in 1802. Bob loved his family history, and had planned his third trip to Scotland to renew friendships and continue his research. He made many significant contributions to his heritage, and was honored by the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh with a request for a copy of his 1997 book. In his memory, portions of this 1997 book have also been placed on the internet at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~steve/robertwg/ in the hope that it will kindle the interests of others to follow his footprints and continue his quest for knowledge of the Gilchrist family.
Wee Drams E-mails, comments, queries and enlightenment from around the world
Page 2: A History of the Gilchrists...............continued
Page 3: McEwings and McPhails of Kintyre and Ontario
Page 4: Tragedy in Archangel: The Killing of J.A. Watson
Page 5: The Campbeltown Book
Page 6: A MacNeilage Family of Campbeltown
Page 7: By Hill and Shore - Angus Martin
Page 8: 'Arichonan - A Highland Clearance Recorded' - A new book by Heather McFarlaneLinks to friends sites