The Farming Gilchrists

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THE FARMING GILCHRISTS

A gravemarker in the Kilcalmonel Church Cemetery in Clachan states:

HERE LIES THE REMAINS OF DUNCAN GILCHRIST, LATE FARMER IN DRUMLECK WHO DIED MAY 15, 1810 AGED 84 YEARS, CHRISTIAN TAYLOR HIS SPOUSE DIED FEB. 13, 1812 AGED 82 YEARS. ERECTED BY DUNCAN GILCHRIST THEIR SON AND MIRREN BEITH HIS SPOUSE IN THE YEAR 1817. ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE BROTHER'S SON JOHN GILCHRIST WHO DIED AT CAMPBELTOWN ON THE 29TH DAY OF MAY 1868 AGED 65 YEARS.

In as much as the Gilchrists of North Loch Klarran moved to the larger Drumleck

Farm after the departure of John and Malcolm to North Carolina in 1770; and in as much as Angus Gilchrist, the boys' father, was old enough in 1754 to be an elder in the Kilcalmonel Parish Church, it appears very possible that the above Duncan Gilchrist may have been the oldest child of Angus Gilchrist, and therefore a much older brother to John and Malcolm.

On July 19, 1785 John Gilchrist was born at Drumleck Farm in Kilcalmonel Parish. By comparing this date with the Kilcalmonel Old Parish Record, it can be determined that this John Gilchrist's father was also named John Gilchrist, and though the wife's name was not included, it may be deducted that she was Catharine Mcmurchy from the neighboring McMurchy farm of Braintian. John Gilchrist (Sr.) was very possibly the son of Duncan Gilchrist who was born in 1726.

A. John Gilchrist - Farmer. Born in the 1750's. He farmed Drumleck Farm in Kilcalmonell Parish, then later, according to Killeen and Kilchenzie Old Parish Records, he acquired Achagliss Farm; still later he moved to Bradge Farm, about a mile from Achaglass; both farms were in Killeen and Kilchenzie Parish. That he married Catharine McMurchy is further substantiated by the fact that the last two births record the mother's name.

1. John Gilchrist - Farmer; born July 19, 1785 at Drumleck Farm, Kilcalmonell Parish. It is the descendants of this man who became the "Farming Gilchrists" of central Kintyre from the nineteenth century through the third quarter of the twentieth century. He was a farmer at Killarow Farm, Killean Parish, then later became the farmer in Balevain Farm. He married, Feb. 19, 1811, Margaret (Peggy) McBridge, born Feb. 1786 at Tangy Estate, Killeen Parish. He died Dec. 21, 1836 and she died Dec. 21, 1836. Both are buried in the Kilchenzie Cemetery. Five of their children died in infancy.

a. Catharine Gilchrist - born Aug. 3, 1811 at Killarow Farm

b. Christian Gilchrist - born Mar. 20, 1813 at Killarow Farm

c. Elizabeth (Betty) Gilchrist - born Apr. 14, 1815 at Killarow Farm

d. John Gilchrist - born Feb. 15, 1817 at Killarow Farm; died Oct. 15, 1893. He became farmer in Low Balevain. He married Jean Stewart on Jan. 8, 1846, born in 1818; died Oct. 15, 1893. She was daughter of Duncan Stewart, farmer in Machrihanish.

(1) John Gilchrist - born May 12, 1846; died Sept. 10, 1937. He farmed Corran Farm in Kilcalmonell Parish until he retired in 1918. He presented to the Kilcalmonell Parish Church, where he served many years as elder, a bronze bell and two beautifully carved oak chairs. He played a major role in church and civic affairs. He died in Lochend House, Campbeltown with his wife. He married Barbara McMillan, born 1846 and died Oct. 29, 1933.

(a) Annie Clark Gilchrist - born Dec. 29, 1877; died Mar. 18, 1884

(b) James McMillan Gilchrist - born Oct. 31, 1873; died May 26, 1890

(c) John Gilchrist - born Apr. 13, 1872; died June 4, 1950. He became an outstanding Ophthalmic Surgeon in Glasgow. He married Ellen Terry

(d) Jeanie Stewart Gilchrist - born 1876; died June 10, 1951

(2) Duncan Gilchrist - born Feb. 20, 1848; died Nov. 4, 1880 at Killeen Farm. He was the farmer in Grieve Farm, Killean Parish. On Sept. 25, 1878 he married Mary McNicol - born 1853; died June 24, 1931

(a) Jean Stewart Gilchrist - born 1878, died 1882

(b) Duncan Gilchrist - born 1880; died May 30, 1949. He was the farmer in East Trodigal Farm near Machrihanish in Campbeltown Parish, and served as an elder in Campbeltown's Lowland Presbyterian Church. On July 7, 1915 he married Jeanie MacDonald, born 1896 and died May 9, 1933. She was the daughter of the farmer at East Clustan Farm, Campbeltown Parish. Children born to this family were: (1) Jean who married James McPhee, (2) Mary who became an outstanding educator; she died in 1986, (3) Catherine Armour who married John McKie, (4) Barbara McMillan who married Michael Malcolm, and (5) John Alexander who was born in 1924 and died in 1973. He married Mary Ross Carmichael, and to this family were born two daughters: Mhairi Carmichael who married Duncan R. McNicol on Aug. 28, 1975; and Sheena. John A. Gilchrist's death in 1973 brought to an end the "Farming Gilchrists."

(3) Neil Gilchrist - born Jan. 3, 1850; died July 19, 1870 in Providence, Rhode Island

(4) Donald Gilchrist born Sept. 6, 1851, died Dec. 18, 1877 at Balevain Farm

(5) David Gilchrist born Apr. 3, 1853; died 1930. He farmed High Balevain Farm. On Dec. 26, 1883, he married Martha McMurchy, daughter of Daniel McMurchy, a cooper in Campbeltown Parish.

(a) Daniel Gilchrist - He farmed Cleongart Farm. He was an elder in the Killean and Kilchenzie Parish Church. His wife was a Gillies. He died about 1970; there were no children.

(b) David Gilchrist - born 1893; died Dec. 30, 1967. He farmed High Balevain Farm with his brother John. He never married.

(c) John Gilchrist - born in 1902; died June 14, 1946. He farmed High Balevain Farm, then later Lephinstrath Farm, Southend Parish with his sister Martha. He never married, and both he and his sister are buried in Campbeltown's Kilkerran Cemetery

(d) Martha Armour Gilchrist born 1889; died April 14, 1965

(e) Jean Stewart Gilchrist born 1891; died June 17, 1976

(f) Isabella McMurchy Gilchrist - born 1899; died June 27, 1979

(6) Archibald Gilchrist - born Jan. 3, 1855; died Aug. 16, 1927. He married a Cunningham.

(7) Alexander Gilchrist - born June 10, 1856; died Nov. 22, 1906. He farmed Balevain Farm, and married Mary Felming - born Dec. 10, 1857; died Dec. 25, 1890.

(a) Mary Fleming Gilchrist - born Dec. 20, 1890; died July 23, 1940. She married Duncan Colville on July 29, 1913. He was born Nov. 7, 1883 and died May 1, 1981. Children are: David Alexander - born Sept. 4, 1914; Duncan Job - Born Oct. 20, 1916; William Syme - born Jan. 23, 1921; and Mary Margaret - born May 15, 1924.

(b) Jean Gilchrist - born Oct. 18, 1902; died June 21, 1975

(c) John Gilchrist - born Apr. 8, 1905; died July 5, 1961 unmarried. He farmed Low Balevain Farm.

(d) Alexandra (Sandra) Gilchrist - born Jan. 4, 1907; died Dec. 22, 1947. She married Robert Clark.

(e) Isabell (Mrs. Binnie) - daughter of Jean(b) died in 1986.

(8) Margaret Jean Gilchrist - born Dec. 23, 1857; died May 17, 1888. She married Archibald Armour who farmed Killarow Farm in Killean and Kilchenzie Parish.

(9) Dugald S. Gilchrist - born May 31, 1860; died Apr. 4, 1881 at Balevain Farm

(10) William Gilchrist - born Nov. 12, 1861; died Aug. 26, 1885 at Balevain Farm

e. Mary Gilchrist - born Jan. 9, 1819 at Killarow Farm

f. Daniel (also listed as Donald) Gilchrist - born June 4, 1822 at Balevain Farm; died Mar. 21, 1887. On Mar. 27, 1856, he married Margaret Semple, born 1821; died Oct. 5, 1892. She was daughter of John Semple, farmer in Balleneanoch Farm.

(1) John Gilchrist - born June 2, 1857 in Killeen Parish

(2) Daniel Gilchrist - born Oct. 10, 1858 in Killean Parish

(3) Margaret Gilchrist - born Aug. 22, 1860 in Killean Parish

(4) Jean Gilchrist - born Apr. 18, 1862 in Killean, Parish

(5) Marrion Gilchrist - born Feb. 23, 1866 in Killean Parish

(6) James Gilchrist born Jan. 21, 1868 in Kilcalmonell Parish

(7) Duncan Gilchrist born Dec. 8, 1869 in Kilcalmonell Parish

(8) Lily Gilchrist - born Apr. 30, 1872 in Kilcalmonell Parish

g. Martha Gilchrist - born Jan. 10, 1825 at Balevain Farm

h. Duncan Gilchrist - born Dec. 25, 1825 at Balevain Farm

i. Margaret Gilchrist - born Feb. 21, 1830 at Balevain Farm

2. Angus Gilchrist born Aug. 10, 1787 at Drumleck Farm, Kilcalmonell Parish

3. Mary Gilchrist born May 31, 1789 at Drumleck Farm

4. Duncan Gilchrist born July 19, 1791 in Killeen Parish, probably at

Achaglass Farm

5. Malcolm Gilchrist born Aug. 7, 1793 at Achaglass Farm, Killean Parish

6. William Gilchrist born Jan. 14, 1796 at probably Bradge Farm, Killean.

7. Catharine Gilchrist born April 9, 1798 at Bradge Farm, Killean Parish.

8. Margaret Gilchrist baptized Mar. 19, 1801 at Gaigan Farm, Killean.

B. Angus Gilchrist - born probably in the late 1750's farmed Drumavou Farm in upper Killean Parish (approximately five miles south of Clachan in Kilcalmonell Parish. Although relationship cannot, as yet, be established it is definitely known that this family was a part of the Drumleck branch of Gilchrists. This farm was in the general vicinity of the farms that were farmed by John Gilchrist, whose second son was named "Angus." He married Marion Brown in Kilcalmonell Parish.

1. Peter Gilchrist - born 1791 (baptized Mar. 16) at Drumavou Farm, Killean Parish

2. Archibald Gilchrist born 1794 (baptized Feb. 24) at Drumavou Farm, Killean Parish

3. Isabella Gilchrist born 1796 (baptized Dec. 16) at Drumavou Farm, Killean Parish.

These are the children that were recorded in Killeen Old Parish Records; there were most certainly others.

C. Euphan (Effie) Gilchrist - married John McCarmaig (McCormick) who farmed  Dunashry Farm, one mile south of Drumavou Farm. Probability exists that she was a sister of John Gilchrist.

1. Catherine McCarmaig - born 1785 (bapt. Oct. 2)

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