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APPENDIX
On Meeting Mr. IAN MacDONALD
It is to Mr. Ian MacDonald of Clachan, Scotland that I will forever owe the greatest debt of appreciation for providing the bulk of the information found in this booklet. I met Ian on the final leg of my family’s fascinating 1985 summer trip to Great Britain. I was aware that my great-great-great-great grandfather, John Gilchrist had migrated in 1770 from Kintvre to North Carolina. Yet, try as I could, I had been completely unsuccessful in determining from what part of Kintyre the family had come. Thus, as we drove down the A-83 headed for Campbeltown, my plan became to stop at every cemetery we saw and quickly examine the gravemarkers for the name of Gilchrist.
Our first stop proved unsuccessful, and by the time we saw the second cemetery the "Scotch Mist" was beginning to roll in. Unable now to get my two able assistants (my young daughters: Lynley and Erin) to brave the rain and help me check the cemetery markers --- even calling attention to the man jotting down a gravernarker inscription --- I realized that I would have to do the job alone. I bounded across a pasture and as I climbed over the low stone wall (dyke) that surrounded the grounds, the man who we had seen from our car now turned to see who I was. Half out breath, I said, "Hello, have you come across the name of Gilchrist"' To which he responded in a good hearty Scottish accent, " ‘Yer too 'fer 'sooth!" I nearly collapsed!!! I was prepared for him to say, "Gilchrist?!!? Never heard of the name!" He then stated the Gilchrists were from near his home of Clachan, then inquired; "That wouldn't be the two brothers, John and Malcolm, who migrated to North Carolina about 1770?" At that point I experienced a memory lapse.
That was the beginning of a friendship that has continued to this day. And, it was the beginning of a flow of information for which not only I, but every Gilchrist can express a heartfelt word of greatest appreciation,
Robert W. Gilchrist
Chapter I:
THE MacGILCHRISTS OF GLASSARYTHE MacGILCHRISTS OF LENNOXFisher, Ian. Notes taken from a survey made on Fincharn Castle in 1984 for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh.
MacKenna, F. S. "Unfamiliar Sites in Mid-Argyll", an article written for the Natural History and Antiquarian Society of Mid-Argyll, l982.
MacPhail, J.R.N. (Ed.). THE HIGHLAND PAPERS, Vol. II, Edinburgh: University
Press, 1916.
Moncreiffe, Sir Iain. THE HIGHLAND CLANS, Rev. Ed., London: Barrie and Jenkins, 1982.
Sellar, W.D.H. "Family Origins In Cowal And Knapdale", SCOTTISH STUDIES,
Vol. XV, Edinburgh, 1971.
Beaton, Duncan. An avid genealogist in Houston, Renfrewshire, Scotland who provided much information on the MacGilchrists who settled in the Glasgow area.
Black, George F. THE SURNAMES OF SCOTLAND, THEIR ORIGIN, MEANING AND HISTORY, New York: The New York Public Library,(reprint)1946.
Buchanan, William. AN INQUIRY INTO THE GENEALOGY AND PRESENT STATE OF ANCIENT SCOTTISH SURNAMES: WITH THE ORIGIN AND DESCENT OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS, AND THE FAMILY OF BUCHANAN, Glasgow: John Wylie & Co., 1820.
Campbell, Alastair L., of Airds. The Chief Executive for the Duke of Argyll in Inveraray, Scotland; he is Unicorn Pursuivant on the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. Itwas he who first opened the door to the existence of the MacGilchrists of Lennox and checked the accuracy of much of the enclosed material.
Crawfurd, George. A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIRE OF RENFREW, first pub.1710, "Continued to the Present Period by William Semple", pub. 1782; it was again updated in 1818. Edinburgh: Paisley Neilson Co.
Douglas, Norman of Dundarrach. "A Wee Look At Arrochar", a booklet produced by ReiverPress Ltd., Galashiels, Scotland.
Douglas, Sir Robert. THE PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND, 2nd Ed. By John Philip Wood. Edinburgh: Ramsay and Co., 1813.
Gray, John. A retired government worker living in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland who is a very respected research historian on the Clan MacFarlane from which he descends. He plans to produce a series of booklets on the clan’s history and the families which have been associated with it.
MacDonald, Ian. A retired British army captain living in Clachan (upper Kintyre) and presently serving as an officer in the Kintyre Antiquarian Society. He has provided an abundance of information from his extensive research into the Duke of Argyll’s Kintyre Estate Records.
McKerral, Andrew. KINTYRE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1948.
Whyte, Donald. SCOTTISH SURNAMES AND FAMILIES, Edinburgh: Birlinn, Ltd., 1996.
Chapter II:
Bell, Maureen of Drumlemble (located just west of Campbeltown, Scotland). She is a teacher in Campbeltown, and it was she who provided most of the information concerning the genealogy of the "WEAVER GILCHRISTS" of Campbeltown.
Fields, William C. of Fayetteville, N.C. It was he who furnished the copy of the "MCALESTER LETTER" written by Mr. John Boyd in 1770 to Col. Alexander McAlester of Cumberland County, N.C. as a letter of introduction for John and Malcolm Gilchrist. He also provided the copy of James McAlester’s 1771 letter to Col. McAlester and the Col.’s response. The letters were part of a collection of letters that Mr. Fields received from his aunt, Mrs. Alexander Pope McAllister, whose husband was a great-great grandson of the famous patriot colonel. The letters are now on file in the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh.
Gilchrist, Dean L. Formerly of Livonia, Michigan where he was employed by the Ford Motor Company, he and his wife now live near Ocala, Florida. Through his research came most of the information on the "CORPUTECHAN GILCHRISTS", from which he claims descent.
MacDonald, Ian of Clachan, in upper Kintyre, Scotland. This writer is extremely grateful for the abundance of information supplied by Mr. MacDonald’s extensive research into (l) the Duke of Argyll’s Kintyre Estate Records, (2) Old Parish Records from Killean and Kilchenzie Parish and from Kilcalmonell Parish, and (3) Cemetery gravemarker inscriptions relating to the Gilchrist family. He is a member of the Kintyre Antiquarian Society and is there able to use the society’s private library in Campbeltown.
MacPherson, Thomas of Campbeltown, Scotland. Not only did he provide the information on the "GILCHRIST SECTION" in the old Kilchenzie Cemtery, located just west of Campbeltown on the A-83 highway, but virtually every Gilchrist in the Old Campbeltown Parish Register back to the 18th century. It was his exhaustive research that provided most of the information concerning the "FISHING GILCHRISTS" of Campbeltown, from which he claims descent. Tommy is now a Commando Marksman in the Royal Marines.
McKerral, Andrew. KINTYRE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1948.
Stewart, A.I.B. of Campbeltown. He has been the president and driving force behind the Kintyre Antiquarian Society. He provided "THE KINTYRE RENTALS, 1505-1710" as well as much information dealing with the McGilchrists of 17th century Killarow Farm.
Chapter III:
Fields, William C. of Fayetteville, N.C. He it was who graciously provided copies of the "McAlester Letters," which included: John Boyd’s 1770 letter of recommendation for John and Malcolm Gilchrist; Alexander McAlester’s letter of response in which he acknowledged the receipt of John Boyd’s letter; James McAlester’ 1771 letter of inquiry concerning the emigrants from his locale; and Alexander McAlester’s response. Mr. Fields received these and other correspondence of Colonel Alexander McAlester from his uncle who in turn was a great-great grandson of the patriot colonel.
Gilchrist, Roy A. of Durham, N.C. He has done extensive research on the two William Gilchrists who settled near John and Malcolm Gilchrist in North Carolina, believing that he might well be a descendant.
"The Last Will and Testament of John Gilchrist" signed May 12, 1802. It is on file in the State Dept. of Archives, Raleigh, N.C. under Robeson County.
McBride, Ransom of Cary, N.C. He is an outstanding research genealogist who is presently compiling information on the McBride (McBryde) family for the eventual publication of a book. It was Mr. McBride who first discovered the information concerning John Gilchrist’s 1797 contested election to the N.C. Senate which provided valuable insight into the character of this man. The information is filed under: General Assembly Session Records, Nov. - Dec. 1797; Box #1 (in folder). "Senate Committee Reports (Privileges and Elections - Miscellaneous)" in the N.C. State Archives, Raleigh.
MacDonald, Ian of Clachan, Scotland. Once more he provided valuable information regarding – this time involving William Gilchrist, Sr. who settled on Rockfish Creek.
"The Archibald McEachern Papers, 1748 -1859." [P.C. 129.1 (a) Gilchrist Land Grants - Bladen County, 1789, 1791; (b) Gilchrist Land Grants - Robeson County, 1789, 1791, 1795, 1796. P.C. 120.2 (a) Gilchrist Land Deeds - 1770 - 1856; (b) Gilchrist Land Surveys.] North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
McLean, Angus W. THE HIGHLAND SCOTS IN NORTH CAROLINA, Vol. II; (unpublished); Lumberton, N.C., 1919. The near 700 page, two volume unfinished manuscript of North Carolina Governor Angus Wilton McLean was made available, with greatest appreciation, by Lt. Col. Victor E. Clark, Jr., the publisher-editor of the "Argyll Colony Plus" – the publication of the North Carolina Scottish Genealogical Society.
Purcell, Dr. John Edwin. THE LUMBER RIVER SCOTS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. Richmond, Va.: The William Byrd Press, 1942. (A limited number of this monumental work was reproduced in 1986 by the Mill Prong Preservation Society of Lumberton, N.C. 28358, P.O. Drawer 1087. Contained in the 839 page genealogical masterpiece is an abundance of information on the families of: McLean, Purcell, McIntyre, Torrey, Gilchrist, McBryde, and numerous allied families.
Vann Comer, James of Sanford, N.C. A professional genealogist and president of the Moore County, N.C. Genealogical Society, he has authored several books relating to Moore County. He provided much information on Malcolm Gilchrist in Moore County.
Chapter IV:
Barbour County, Alabama Deed Book C, page 12
Barbour County, Alabama Deed Book D, page 338
Godfrey, Marie H.; EARLY SETTLERS OF BARBOUR COUNTY, ALABAMA, Volume I & II
McDonald, Dr. Forrest; An interview that appeared in the May 1985 (page 166) of SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE. Dr McDonald is a professor of history at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and has written numerous articles on the "Celtic South". SOUTHERN LIVING is a monthly publication produced by Southern Living Incorporated of Birmingham, Alabama.
Purcell, Dr. J. Edwin; THE LUMBER RIVER SCOTS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS, Richmond, Virginia: William Byrd Press, Inc., 1942. [A limited number of this extremely valuable genealogical source has been reprinted by the Mill Prong Presevation, Inc., P.O. Drawer 1087, Lumberton, North Carolina 28358. Any person descended from one of the Gilchrist forebears herein mentioned would do well to acquire a copy of this book.]
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