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The GILCHRIST Family


by Nelda Gilchrist Spires

~Dedicated to the memory of my dad--Jacques Horace Gilchrist~


Jacques Horace Gilchrist

The information on this page represents primarily the direct Gilchrist lineage of my dad Jacques Horace Gilchrist, and information about the siblings of his ancestors. Both of my dad's parents-- my grandfather, John Daniel Gilchrist, and his wife, my grandmother, Lena Pearl Gilchrist--are descendants of John Gilchrist of South Carolina who migrated to Alabama before about 1828, then moved into Mississippi by 1840, then came back to Alabama by 1850. Since both my grandparents are descendants of John Gilchrist, this makes for a slightly different sort of family tree, which I will try to outline below. In various records the family name has been given as Gilcrease and other spelling variations rather than as Gilchrist. For uniformity in my outline, I will spell the surname as "Gilchrist" which is used by my branch of the family today, but in the transcriptions of the records, I will use the name as spelled in the records.

Grandfather's line:
1st Generation: John Gilchrist
2nd Generation: John A. Gilchrist
3rd Generation: John William Gilchrist
4th Generation: John Daniel Gilchrist

Grandmother's line:
1st Generation: John Gilchrist
2nd Generation: Thomas Percy Gilchrist
3rd Generation: James Damascus (or Daniel) Gilchrist
4th Generation: Lena Pearl Gilchrist

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1st Generation

John Gilchrist

John Gilchrist was born about 1788 in South Carolina and died sometime between 1860 and 1870. There is an unconfirmed possibility that his parents were Elijah Gilcrease and Unknown Green. He married first Permelia (possibly Gilchrist) between 1820-1825 in South Carolina. She was born about 1798 in South Carolina, and died after 1850 but before 1854. (Note: There is speculation that Permelia is Priscilla Amelia Gilchrist, the daughter of Minor Gilchrist. That speculation is based on the Will of Minor Gilcrease If you click on the link you will find a copy of the will posted at a site that was originally maintained by the late Tom Gilchrest.) He married second Martha Unknown, widow of Unknown Callengain, March 09, 1854, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. She was born about 1806, Mississippi.
(Note: I have a theory that the widow Martha Callengain is the same person as Patsy Cottingham who appears on the 1850 census for Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Southern District, page 341 (stamped), Dwelling #227, Family #235, age 44, with children Martha A. (15), John M. C. (13), Mary S. (11), Hardy M. (9), and Delilah (5), all born in Mississippi. Reasoning: 1) No Callengain found in 1850 Lauderdale County census [nor anywhere else], but the names Cottingham and Callengain are fairly similar [need to look at original marriage license for John Gilchrist and Mrs. Martha Callengain to see if the name could have been mis-transcribed]; 2) Patsy's age in 1850 census equates to Martha's age in 1860 census; 3) "Patsy" is a nickname for Martha; 4) similarity in children's names and ages, particularly Delilah, Hardy, and Mary.)

Children of John and Permelia Gilchrist are:

1. Thomas Percy Gilchrist - born about 1820, South Carolina; married first Margaret Locklayer, August 4, 1840, in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Margaret was born about 1819, Georgia, and died between 1860-1864. He married second Sarah Frances Calhoun, widow of Mr. Wood, July 4, 1864, in Clarke County, Alabama. (Note: Thomas does not appear by name on a census with his father.)
(Additional information including census records for Thomas Percy Gilchrist.)
2. Catherine Gilchrist - born between 1824-1827, Alabama; died February 12, 1889, Meridian, Lauderdale County, Mississippi; married William McMullen, son of Alexander and Sarah Childress McMullen, probably about 1840 or before, based on the birth year of her first child. He was born about 1815, Alabama, and died March 1860, Lauderdale County, Mississippi. (Note: Catherine does not appear by name on a census with her father.)
(Census records for Catherine Gilchrist McMullen.)
3. Minor Gilchrist - born about 1828, in Alabama; died March 01, 1871; married Sarah M. Unknown, born between 1835-1841.
(Census records for Minor Gilchrist.)
4. Henry Q. Gilchrist - born about 1831, in Alabama. He married Mary Unknown, 1857, Louisiana. She was born about 1837, Mississippi.
(Census records for Henry Q. Gilchrist.)
5. Margaret A. Gilchrist - born about 1833, in Alabama.
6. Bartley Merideth Gilchrist - born about 1836, Alabama; died 1898, Gonzales County, Texas; married Nancy E. McMullen, daughter of Nathan and LaVicy Alexander McMullen, January 22, 1855, Washington County, Alabama. Nancy was born about 1840, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, and died about 1880, probably in Clarke County, Alabama.
(Census records for Bartley Merideth Gilchrist.)
7. John A. Gilchrist - born about 1839, Alabama; died before 1889, Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama; married Nancy A. (Aletha?) Gilchrist May 7 1865, Clarke County, Alabama. Nancy was born October 1846, Alabama, and died 1920, Clarke County, Alabama.
(Additional information including census records for John A. Gilchrist.)
8. Rowena A. Gilchrist - born about 1841, Mississippi; married William D. Dearman, son of William and Levina Dearman, February 2, 1854, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
(Census records for Rowena A. Gilchrist Dearman.)
9. Cyer Winn Gilchrist - born about 1842, Mississippi.
10. Barbara D. Gilchrist - born about 1845-1847, Mississippi; died March 10, 1929, Vowells Mill, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana; married Thomas J. Howell, between 1870 and 1880, probably by 1873. He was born about 1850, and died before 1929. Barbara D. Gilchrist Howell is buried in Simm Foshee Cemetery, Vowells Mill, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
(Census records for Barbara D. Gilchrist Howell.)


Census Records for John Gilchrist:

1830 Census for Lowndes County, Alabama, page 260 (stamped)
John Gillcrease
1 - Free white male under 5
1 - Free white male 5 to 10
1 - Free white male 30 to 40
2 - Free white females under 5
1 - Free white female 20 to 30

1840 Census for Lauderdale County, Mississippi, page 53
John Gilchrist
1 - Free white male under 5
2 - Free white males 5 to 10
1 - Free white male 10 to 15
1 - Free white male 15 to 20
1 - Free white male 20 to 30
1 - Free white male 50 to 60
1 - Free white female under 5
1 - Free white female 10 to 15
1 - Free white female 40 to 50

1850 Census for Sumter County, Alabama, Black Buff District, page 308 A & B
Enumeration date: 29 November 1850
Dwelling # 789

John Gilcrease - age 62 - M; Occupation: Farmer; Value of estate: $200; Place of birth; South Carolina
Permelia " - age 52 - F; Place of birth: South Carolina
Minor " - age 22 - M; Place of birth: Alabama; Occupation: Farmer
Henry Q. " - age 19 - M; Place of birth: Alabama; Occupation: Farmer
Margaret A. " - age 17 - F; Place of birth: Alabama
Bartley M. " - age 14 - M; Place of birth: Alabama
John A. " - age 11 - M; Place of birth: Alabama
Roane A. " - age 9 - F; Place of birth: Mississippi
Cyer W. " - age 8 - M; Place of birth: Mississippi
Barbara D. " - age 3- M; Place of birth: Mississippi

1860 Census for Winn Parish Louisiana, Montgomery P.O., page 939
Enumeration Date: 8 August 1860
Dwelling #674, Family #628
John Gillcreas - 70 M; Occupation: Farmer; Value of Personal Estate: $200; Place of birth: South Carolina
----- Martha - 54 F; Place of birth: Mississippi
----- H. W. - 19 M; Place of birth: Mississippi
----- Delila - 15 F; Place of birth: Mississippi
----- Barbery - 14 F; Place of birth: Mississippi

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2nd Generation (Grandfather's line)

John A. Gilchrist

John A. Gilchrist was born about 1839 in Alabama, and died between 1882-1885, in Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama. He married Nancy A. (Aletha?) Gilchrist (daughter of Edmond Gilchrist and Mary Inglet) May 7, 1864, Clarke County, Alabama. Nancy was born between October 1846, in Alabama, and died 1920 in Clarke County, Alabama. (Note: After John died, Nancy married A. J. Drury. Nancy Drury is buried at Magnolia Cemetery, County Rd. 19, Clarke County, Alabama.)

Children of John A. and Nancy Gilchrist:

1. John William Gilchrist - born June 28, 1867, Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama; died July 22, 1920, Flint, Smith County, Texas; married Edna Eleanor Overton, daughter of John Henry and Alabama Eugenia Daniel Overton, November 14, 1889, Clarke County, Alabama. Edna was born October 13, 1874, and died July 1958, Canton, Texas. John William and Edna Overton Gilchrist are buried at Prairie Springs Cemetery, Ben Wheeler, Van Zandt County, Texas.
(Additional information including census records for John William Gilchrist.)
Photo which includes John Gilchrist. He is the man at the right end of the back row. (Photo courtesy of M. G. Wynne)
2. Edmond Messer Gilchrist - born December 7, 1869, Alabama; died February 20, 1949, Clarke County, Alabama; married first Alice Viola Wooten, before 1900, who was born June 19, 1878 and died June 28, 1909; married second Lena Morris Duke, between 1909-1911. Lena was born about 1888, Alabama. Edmond Messer and Alice Viola Gilchrist are buried at Magnolia Cemetery, County Road 19, Clarke County, Alabama.
(Census records for Edmond Messer Gilchrist.)
3. Averilla Gilchrist - born February 27, 1872, Alabama; died May 19, 1929, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona; married first Unknown Morgan who died before 1900; married second August Deubler, between 1900 - 1910, Arkansas, who was born March 26, 1858, New York, and died October 07, 1942.
(Census records for Averilla Gilchrist Morgan Deubler.)
Photo of Augustus Deubler. (Photograph courtesy of B. Deubler)
Photo of some of Averilla Gilchrist Deubler's children. Left to right: Lawrence Deubler, John Deubler, Lilly Morgan, Augustine Deubler, and William McKinley Morgan (who later changed his name to Jack Deubler.) (Photograph courtesy of B. Deubler)
Photo of Augustine Deubler, daughter of Augustus and Averilla Gilchrist Deubler. (Photograph courtesy of B. Deubler)
4. Seth Ambrose Gilchrist - born October 5, 1880; married Sarah Ruby Overton, daughter of John Henry and Alabama Eugenia Daniel Overton. Sarah Ruby Overton Gilchrist was born about 1874, Alabama, and died November 16, 1967.
5. Francis Matilda Gilchrist - born May 14, 1883, Clarke County, Alabama; died May 11, 1971, Marion, Perry County, Alabama; married Joseph Malcolm Mott, son of Joseph B. and Nancy Elizabeth Daniel Mott, March 30, 1902, Clarke County, Alabama. Joseph Malcolm Mott was born August 8, 1878, Clarke County, Alabama, and died July 17, 1941, Grove Hill, Clarke County, Alabama. Both are burried at Magnolia Cemetery, County Rd. 19, Clarke County, Alabama.
(Census records for Francis Matilda Gilchrist Mott.)


Census Records for John A. Gilchrist:

1860 Census Record Missing

1870 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Good Springs Beat, Grove Hill Post Office, page 145 (handwritten), 88 (stamped)
Date of enumeration: 11 August 1870
Dwelling #1071, Family #1120, Lines 11-14
Gilcrease, John A. - 33 M W; Occupation: farmer; Place of birth: Alabama
Nancy - 19 F W; Occupation: keeping house; Place of birth: Alabama
John Wm. - 3 M W: Place of birth: Alabama
Ed. M. - 5/12 (Dec.) M W; Place of birth: Alabama

(The following census record contains some inaccuracies but I do believe it is the census record of our John A. Gilchrist. There are similar discrepancies in the record of his brother/neighbor Bart Gilchrist, so it's possible the information was supplied by someone who didn't know the families' details well.)

1880 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Jackson Precinct, Enumeration District 22, page 321B
Enumeration Date: 28 June 1880
Dwelling #131, Family #131
John Gilchrist - M W 45; Married; Occupation: Farmer; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Florida, Mother's place of birth: Florida
Mancyan " - F W 35; Wife; Married; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
Willie " - M W 10; Son; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
Edward M. " - M W 8; Son; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
Savilia " - F W 7; Daughter; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
Johnny " - M W 7/12; Son; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama


Census Records for Nancy A. Gilchrist Drury:

1900 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Enumeration District #33, Grove Hill Precinct, Sheet 14A
Enumeration Date: 28 June 1900
Dwelling #255, Family #256
Drury, Andrew J. - Head; W M; born Dec. 1836, age 63; Married 11? years; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: North Carolina, Mother's place of birth: Alabama; Occupation: Farmer
----- Nancy A. - Wife; W F; born Oct. 1846, age 53; Married 11? years; Mother of 7 children, 5 living; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: South Carolina, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
Gilchrist, Francis M. - Daughter; W F; born May 1883, age 17; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Mississippi, Mother's place of birth: Alabama

1910 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Precinct 10, Grove Hill, Enumeration District 24, Sheet 13B
Enumeration Date: 30 April 1910
Dwelling #252, Family #267
Gilchrist, Edmond - Head; M W 37; Widowed; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: North Carolina, Mother's place of birth; Alabama; Occupation: Farmer
----- James - Son; M W 10; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
----- Dentie - Son; M W 7; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
----- Henry - Son; M W 4; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama
----- Nancy - Mother; F W 65; Widowed; Married 17 years; Mother of 7 children, 4 living; Single; Place of birth: Alabama, Father's place of birth: Alabama, Mother's place of birth: Alabama

1920 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Enumeration District 26, Grove Hill Precinct 10, Sheet Number 6A, Lines 40-48
Enumeration Date: January 10, 1920
Dwelling #109, Family #110
Mott, Mal - Head - M W 40; Married; Place of birth: Alabama; Father's place of birth: Alabama; Mother's place of birth: Alabama; Occupation: Farmer - General Farm
-----Matilda - Wife - F W 37; Married; Place of birth: Alabama; Father's place of birth: Alabama; Mother's place of birth: Alabama
-----James M. - Son - M W 16; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
-----Bessie L. - Daughter - F W 14; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
-----Daniel W. - Son - M W 11; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
-----Iola M. - Daughter - F W 9; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
-----Aldermay - Daughter - F W 5 ?/12; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
-----Minnie - Daughter - F W 3 10/12; Single; Place of birth: Alabama
Drury, Nancy - Mother-in-law - F W 72; Widowed; Place of birth: Alabama; Father's place of birth: Alabama; Mother's place of birth: Alabama

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2nd Generation (Grandmother's line)

Thomas Percy Gilchrist

Thomas Percy Gilchrist was born about 1820 in South Carolina. He married first Margaret Locklayer, August 04, 1840 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. She was born about 1819 in Georgia,and died before 1864. He married second Sarah Frances Calhoun, widow of Mr. Wood, July 04, 1864 in Clarke County, Alabama.

(On James D. Gilchrist's original Social Security application, he lists his mother's name as Sarah CALHOUN. Up to this point, because of an existing marriage application for Thomas Gilchrist to Sarah WOOD, it was assumed that WOOD was Sarah's maiden name. My theory is that Sarah was a widow who was first married to Isaac WOOD on November 29, 1859. A marriage record of Issac Woods to Sarah Calhoun is available at Ancestry.com in "Full Context Of Alabama Marriages, 1800-1920." In the 1860 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Grove Hill Post Office, page 163 (handwritten) or 715 (stamped), Dwelling #1392, Family #1585, Lines 25-26, Isaac M. Woods is listed as age 21, farmer, born in Georgia, and Sarah is listed as age 20, born in Clarke County, Alabama. I believe Isaac WOOD was killed during the Civil War. (I am looking for evidence for this supposition.) I believe Sarah WOOD then married Thomas Gilchrist in 1864. As I find evidence to either further support or dispute my theory, I will share it with you.)

Children of Thomas and Margaret Gilchrist are:

1. Eliza A. Jane Gilchrist - born about 1840, Mississippi; married Sydney Coker on December 08, 1866, Washington County, Alabama.
(No census records found for this individual and/or her spouse yet.)
2. Parmelia Gilchrist - born about 1842, Mississippi.
3. Vilona Gilchrist - born about 1845, Mississippi.
4. Nancy J. Gilchrist - born about 1848, Mississippi; married B. M. Jennings, Sr..
5. Henry Gilchrist - born about 1850.
6. Bartley Malcolm Gilchrist - born about 1852; married Mary Anderson Drury on April 03, 1881, Clarke County, Alabama.

Children of Thomas and Sarah Gilchrist are:

7. Amonda "Mandy" Gilchrist - born March 1867, Alabama; died between 1900 - 1904; married Joseph B. Atchinson, son of Martha Unknown, on December 17, 1887, Clarke County, Alabama. He was born February 1863, Alabama.
(
Census records for Amanda Gilchrist Atchinson.)
8. Sarah Francis Gilchrist - born November 04, 1871; married Eli Franklin Atchison on February 07, 1889, Washington County, Alabama.
9. James Damascus (or Daniel) Gilchrist - born February 28, 1874, Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama; died September 04, 1968, Whistler, Mobile County, Alabama; married first Epsie Ann Anderson, daughter of possibly J. B. and Rhoda J. Anderson, on December 20, 1895, Clarke County, Alabama. She was born June 18, 1878, Jackson, Clarke County, Alabama, and died November 18, 1914, Whistler, Mobile County, Alabama. James Damascus (or Daniel) Gilchrist married second Elizabeth Mae Payne who was born April 29, 1889, and died November 10, 1961.
(Additional information including census records for James Damascus (or Daniel) Gilchrist.)
10. Thomas Percy Gilchrist, Jr. - born 1881.


Census Records for Thomas Percy Gilchrist:

1850 Census for Sumter County, Alabama, Black Buff District, p. 308
Enumeration date: 29 November 1850
Dwelling # 790
Thomas Gilcrease - 32 M; Occupation: Farmer: Value of estate: $100; Place of birth: South Carolina Margaret - 31 F; Place of birth: Georgia Eliza A. - 10 F; Place of birth: Mississippi Parmelia - 8 F; Place of birth: Mississippi Vilonia - 5 F; Place of birth: Mississippi Nancy - 2 F; Place of birth: Mississippi

1860 Census for Clarke County, Alabama, Grove Hill Post Office, page 167, Lines 11-18
Enumeration Date: 1 June 1860
Dwelling #1421, Family #1619
Thomas Gilcrease - 35 M; Occupation: Farmer; Place of birth: Value of Real Estate: $1000, Value of Personal Estate: $300; Place of birth: Lowndes County, Alabama
Margaret - 34 F; Place of birth: South Carolina
Eliza A. J. - 16 F; Occupation: student; Place of birth: Mississippi
Parmelia - 13 F; Occupation: student; Place of birth: Mississippi
Vilonia - 9 F; Place of birth: Mississippi
Nancy J. - 7 F; Place of birth: Mississippi
Henry R. - 6 M; Place of birth: Mississippi
Bartley M. - 5 M; Place of birth: Mississippi

(Although there are major discrepancies between the ages given in the 1860 census and the 1870 census, the sameness of names of family members leads me to believe that this is the same family in both census records.)

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Page 2, The GILCHRIST Family

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