Catherine Whalen Gillespie1,2

#18372, (circa 1826 - circa October 1897)
Father*Charles Gillespie3 (1792 - 1882)
Mother*Ellen Whelan3 (1802 - 1829)

Family

George Washington Smith b. c 1823, d. 1884
Children 1.Christian Whelan Smith12 (c 1847 - 1924)
 2.George W Smith12 (c 1848 - b 1884)
 3.Mary Ellen Smith12 (c 1850 - 1934)
 4.Lucy Smith+12 (c 1853 - 1919)
 5.Lincoln Smith13 (c 1865 - b 1924)
Catherine Whalen Gillespie was also known as Katharine (variant.)2 
Catherine Smith is in the will of her step-grandfather William Whelan, named as the granddaughter of his wife Catherine, presumably from a first marriage.4 
Her married name was Smith. 
Birth*circa 1826She was born circa 1826 at PennsylvaniaG.5 
Marriage*15 May 1845She married George Washington Smith, son of Christian Smith and Christiana Harmony, on 15 May 1845 at Harrisburg, Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG.6 
12 June 1860She and George Washington Smith appeared on the census of 12 June 1860 at Ward 1, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PennsylvaniaG.5 
24 March 1863In William Whelan's will dated 24 March 1863, Catherine Whalen Gillespie was named as Catherine Smith, granddaughter of his deceased wife [presumably the daughter of an unnamed deceased child from Catherine's first marriage; see Note for Caatherine Smith].7 
30 July 1870She and George Washington Smith appeared on the census of 30 July 1870 at Bellevue Bor., Allegheny Co., PennsylvaniaG.8 
11 June 1880She and George Washington Smith appeared on the census of 11 June 1880 at 270 Ridge Avenue, Allegheny, Allegheny Co., PennsylvaniaG; (neis. Thomas and Ella Bayne.)9 
13 October 1884In George Washington Smith's will dated 13 October 1884, Catherine Whalen Gillespie was named as an heir.10 
18 May 1895She left a will on 18 May 1895 at Washington, District of Columbia.2,11 
Death*circa October 1897She died circa October 1897.2 

Citations

  1. [S1664] William Whelan (March 1863), Will and Probate of William Whelan, Philadelphia Court (1863) No. 536, online Ancestry.com. The will first provides one-eighth part (either directly or in trust) to each of six children of William (and presumably of Catherine). It then provides one eighth part "in trust for the sole and separate use of Catherine Feran, daughter of my deceased wife," revealing that Catherine had been married before her 1807 marriage with William. It goes on to provide the "remaining eighth part. . . in trust for the sole and separate use of Catharine Smith and Ellen A. Sheaff, granddaughters of my said wife in equal shares." This would appear to indicate that grand daughters Catharine and Ellen were not the daughters of Catherine Feran (who if they were would be receiving a greater share than her half-siblings) and were probably sisters, again proving for equal shares to eight offspring and their heirs. It is unlikely, but possible, that the Catherine, wife of William in the1850 census, is a second Catherine, but this genealogy will presume the first case, and presume that Catherine who married William in 1807 was a widow of another Whelan.
  2. [S2718] Probate Records (District of Columbia), 1801-1930, (publisher) online Ancestry.com, Wills, Boxes 0168 Cardella - 0172 Sullivan, Ellen, 1897 > imgs. 969-974. File No. 1897-393, Probate of Katharine W Smith. Last will of Katharine Whelan Smith, Washington DC, 18 May 1895. Names children Lincoln A, Christian W, Lucy Hemmick and Ellen Bayne; sister Ellen Sheaff; granddau. Katherine Hemmick; cousin Rev. Charles McKenna. Names as executors sons Christian W and Lincoln A. Witn. Blanche Darr, Elizabeth A Miles and Virginia Ewing. Filed 6 Oct 1897, proved 23 Oct 1897.
  3. [S238] 1810 U.S. Federal Census.
  4. [S520] VWH.
  5. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. G W (36), b. PA, manufacturer, real estate value $18,000, personal estate $500; Catharine (34), b. PA.
  6. [S2712] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, online Ancestry.com. Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg PA, Records of Marriages 1827-1861, p. 29, img. 224/592. George W Smith and Catherine Gillespie, both of Lancaster, marr. 15 May 1845.
  7. [S1664] Will and Probate of William Whelan, Philadelphia Court (1863) No. 536: 1. Names daughters Susan C. Whelan and Amelia A. Brady as Executors and Administrators, and assigns his house at 623 Spruce Street to the family residing there, viz. Susan, Frances and Amelia; the children of Amelia; and niece Nancy. 2. Annuity of $300 to niece Nancy Whelan. 3. Income from the estate for one year to daughters Susan and Amelia. 4. Residual of estate, one-eighth to each of four children, viz. son William Whelan and daughters Elizabeth R. Edwards, Susan C. Whelan and Amelia A. Brady; one-eighth part in trust for dau. Lucy G. Scravendyke; one-eighth part in trust for daughter Frances J. Whelan; one-eighth part to Catherine Feran, daughter of deceased wife; one-eighth part, in equal parts, in trust for Catharine Smith and Ellen A. Sheaff, grand daughters of deceased wife. 5. Appoints as Executors son William, son-in-law John Scravendyke, daughters Susan and Amelia, and friend Thomas Feran. Witnesses John C. Mitchell and George W. Shepherd.
  8. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census. Washington (48), b. PA, bitter manufacturer, real estate value $35,000, personal estate $3,000; Catharine (44), b. PA, keeping house.
  9. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (57), b. and parents b. PA, bitters manufacturer; Catherine (54), b. and mother b. PA, father b. Ireland, keeping house.
  10. [S1666] Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, index and images, online Ancestry.com, Butler Co. Will Book P, pp. 492-494, imgs. 535-536/543. Last will of Geo W Smith, deceased of Allegheny Co. PA, 13 Oct 1884. Names sister Sarah Maria, res. West Vine St., Lancaster PA; wife Catharine; bother Harmany's two children; sister Mary of AZ; daus. Ellen Bayne (Bellevue, Allegheny Co.) and Lucy Hemmick; sons Christian W and A Lincoln, and names Davis Hostetter as Guardian for son A Lincoln.
  11. [S2355] The Evening Star, Washington, D.C.
  12. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census.
  13. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census.