This material about these Gilchrist families and their Scottish ancestors was written by the late Robert W. Gilchrist (1939-1998) of Titusville, Florida.  He 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 specialized 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 1987 book.  In his memory, this material from his 1997 book is being circulated on the internet 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.