Charles Gillespie

Citations

1. [S2708] Rev. Thomas Middleton, "Sacramental Records of Marriages and Baptisms at St. Augustine's Church, Philadelphia, PA.", Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia Vol. XIII:165-210, 334-376, 497-506 (1902): p. 195. Charles Gillespy and by Mary Whelan, marr. 20 Apr 1824 by M Hurley; witn. Patrick Carney, William Whelan, Anna Ryan, Catharine Kean, Emily Anners "and many others."
2. [S2710] The New-Era, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Sat., 28 Oct 1882, p. 5.

   
   Charles Gillespie, Lancaster's oldest inhabitant, passed quietly away on Tuesday at ten minutes of eight o'clock at his daughter's residence on West Orange street. He was a healthy hardy man, never having been confined to bed a day by reason of sickness during his long life. He died from weakness incident to old age. As late as Monday he occupied his old arm chair. During Monday night he sank rapidly, and this morning breathed his last.
   There is no Bible record of his birth, but from the best information deceased could obtain, it was ascertained that he was born on February 2, 1792, in the county Derry, near Belfast, Ireland. He emigrated to America in 1815, and remained in New York and Philadelphia until 1819, when he came to this city and started in the boot and shoe business, he being a boot and shoe maker by trade. He commenced business on East King street, a few doors west of where the Farmers' National Bank now stands. He remained at this location only a short time, having purchased and removed to the building at present occupied by A . N . Breneman, jr. Here he continued in business until 1860, when he retired with a competency.
   He was a member of Select and Common Councils for thirty years and a member of the School Board for thirty years. He retired from these bodies only when his hearing became defective. In 1824 he cast his first Presidential vote for General Jackson. He was the last surviving member of the City Guards, a famous military organization in its day, commanded by Captain Reynolds. For many years he was President of the Mechanics' Library. He was married three times, the third wife dying a few years ago. The following six children survive him: Mrs. George W. Smith, wife of George Washington Smith, of the ?rm of Hostetter and Smith, Pittsburgh; Mrs. Ellen Sheaf, Mrs. Ambrose McConomy and Mrs. Addie Decker, of this city; Chas. J. Gillespie, of Pittsburg; and Mrs. Celia Sheehan, of Youngstown, Ohio. One of his grand-daughters is married to Congressman Bayne.
   There was no one better known in this city than deceased. He was a close reader and a well-informed man. It was his pleasure to gather his young friends around him and tell them of the early history of Lancaster.
   

3. [S2708] Rev. Thomas Middleton, "Marriages and Baptisms at St. Augustine's", p. 195. Charles Gillespy and Mary Whelan, marr. 20 Apr 1824 by M Hurley; witn. Patrick Carney, William Whelan, Anna Ryan, Catharine Kean, Emily Anners "and very many others."
4. [S2711] The Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Tue., 4 May 1824, p. 3, Married. "At Philadelphia, on Tuesday, the 20th ult. by the Rev. Michael Hurley, Mr. Charles Gillespie, of this city, to Miss Mary Ann Whelan, of the former place."
5. [S2708] Rev. Thomas Middleton, "Marriages and Baptisms at St. Augustine's", p. 195. Charles Gillespy and Mary Whelan, marr. 20 Apr 1824 by M Hurley; witn. Patrick Carney, William Whelan, Anna Ryan, Catharine Kean, Emily Anners "and many others."
6. [S2709] The Lancaster Examiner, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wed., 8 Oct 1879, p. 2, Obituary. "At nine o’clock last night Mrs. Anna Maria Gillespie, wife of Charles Gillespie, died at her residence, No. 128 North Lime street, of pneumonia. Mrs. Gillespie was in her 82d year, and has made this city her home for over 50 years. Mrs. Gillespie’s maiden name was Scrarendike Wed., 8 Oct 1879, p. 2, Obituary. "At nine o’clock last night Mrs. Anna Maria Gillespie, wife of Charles Gillespie, died at her residence, No. 128 North Lime street, of pneumonia. Mrs. Gillespie was in her 82d year, and has made this city her home for overWed., 8 Oct 1879, p. 2, Obituary. "At nine o’clock last night Mrs. Anna Maria Gillespie, wife of Charles Gillespie, died at her residence, No. 128 North Lime street, of pneumonia. Mrs. Gillespie was in her 82d year, and has made this city her home for over 50 years. Mrs. Gillespie’s maiden name was Scrarendike Wed., 8 Oct 1879, p. 2, Obituary. "At nine o’clock last night Mrs. Anna Maria Gillespie, wife of Charles Gillespie, died at her residence, No. 128 North Lime street, of pneumonia. Mrs. Gillespie was i[sic], and she was born in Philadelphia, in which city one of her brothers at present resides. She was the mother of five children, one son and four daughters, all of whom are living. Her son Charles, who formerly kept a jewelry store in this city. is at present residing in Pittsburg. One of the daughters is the wife of Mr. Ambrose McConomy, another is married to Mr. Harry Decker, and the third is wedded to Mr. Thomas Sheehan, of Pittsburg. She also had two stepdaughters, one of whom is the widow of the late John Sheaff, and the other is married to Mr. Washington Smith, of Pittsburg. She will be buried from her late residence on Monday morning next, and Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church."
7. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census. Charles (57), b. Ireland, boot and shoe maker; Ann M (42), b. PA.
8. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. Charles (69), b. Ireland, shoemaker, real estate value $6000, personal estate $300; Ann M (61), b. PA, real estate value $2600.
9. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census. Charles (78), b. Ireland, retired shoemaker, personal estate $16,000, personal estate $1,000; Ann M (72), b. PA, keeping house.
10. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census. Charles (87), wid., b. and parents b. Ireland, retired merchant.
11. [S2714] Lancaster County Wills; (Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993: Ancestry.com), Vol. 2, Will Book E, img. 631/755. Last will of Charles Gillespie, Lancaster PA, 23 Oct 1882. Names son Charles J and daus. Catherine W Smith, Ellen A Sheaff, Lucy A McConomy, Adeline Decker and Celia Sheehan as heirs; names son Charles J as Executor; witn. C C Sheaff, Henry Carpenter and H R McConomy; proved 13 Nov 1882, Henry Carpenter and H R McConomy appearing.
12. [S2711] Lancaster Intelligencer, Tue., 24 Oct 1882, p. 2.

    
    Another of the old landmarks that linked the present generation with those long gone by has passed away in the death of Charles Gillespie, which occurred this morning a few minutes before 8 o'clock at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Ellen Sheaff, on West Orange street. For two months past the old gentleman had been in declining health, and the end this morning was due to the gradual decay of his, physical energies superinduced by old age.
    Charles Gillespie was born near Belfast, in the County Derry. Ireland, February 2, 1792. He came to this country in 1819 and spent the four succeeding years in New York city and in Philadelphia. In the fall of 1819 he came to Lancaster, where he has ever since resided, and established himself in the boot and shoe business on East King street, a few doors west of the present site of the Farmer's National bank. Shortly afterwards he purchased the property adjoining the Lamb hotel, opposite the " Red Lion " on West King street, where he passed the remainder of his busy life in the extensive manufacture of boots and shoes. The approaches of age had begun to make themselves felt, when in 1860 he retired permanently from active business life.
    The deceased during his long and eventful life was ever justly famed for his strict devotion to business principles and his large public spirit. When the cotton mills, now a leading industry. were first broached, he was one of the first to help along the enterprise by his money and in?uence, and he subscribed largely for shares of stock in the Stevens house when that building was ?rst projected. For a period of 30 years he was a member of select and common councils, and for 20 years sat in the Lancaster school board, of which he was one of the original members. He was a Democrat of the staunchest type, and cast his ?rst presidential vote for Jackson in 1824. After David Heitshu's death the deceased was the only surviving member of the City Guards, a military company commanded by Captain Reynolds, the father of Gen. John F. Reynolds, Admiral William Reynolds and General James L. Reynolds, all of whom are now deceased. Mr. Gillespie was also for many years president of the Mechanic's Library association, and was one of the principal factors in the success of that society.
    During his long and chequered career the deceased was ever a consistent practical Catholic, and his bent and tottering form might have been seen at all the more important services at St. Mary's church, of which he was a devoted parishioner. He was a man who always enjoyed remarkably good health and it was his boast even up to his fatal illness that he had never been con?ned to bed for one whole day.
    Mr. Gillespie was three times married. The children of his second union are Mrs. Ellen Sheaff, widow of the late John Sheaff, and Mrs. George W. Smith. of Pittsburgh, Pa. The fruit of his third marriage were Mrs. Ambrose McConomy, Mrs. Henry Deckert, Charles Gillespie, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Mrs. Thomas Sheehan, of Youngstown, O, and the late Miss Mary Gillespie, who died here two years ago. Mr. Gillespie's third wife died a few since. One of the granddaughters of the deceased is the wife of Congressman Bayne, of Pittsburgh, and another is married to Mr. James McDevitt, also of that city. In his death his family lose a kind affectionate father. and Lancaster one of its most public spirited citizens.
    

13. [S238] 1810 U.S. Federal Census.
14. [S2709] Lancaster Examiner, Wed., 11 Apr 1900, p. 5. "The death of Mrs. Ellen A. S. Sheaff occurred Saturday evening at her home, No. 605 West Orange street, after an illness of about a week from typhoid fever. Deceased was the widow of John A. Sheaff, of this city, and was in her seventy-third year. She was a daughter of the late Charles Gillespie, of this city, and was a well-known and highly-esteemed woman. Mrs. Sheaff was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic church. She is survived by one daughter, Miss Elizabeth T., at home.
    "The funeral took place Tuesday morning, with mass in St. Mary's church and interment in St. Mary's cemetery."
15. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census.