Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Post 10 - BOOK - Chapter 5 - Archibald Gilmore (born about 1755 - died ???)


Chapter 5 - ARCHIBALD GILMORE & JANE (unknown surname) (born about 1755 - died ???)


 





Archibald GILMORE and his wife, Jane (unknown surname), are my great-great-great-great-grandparents.  (4x great-grandparents is another way of identifying their relationship to me....or saying "4 times great-grandparents.")

 

I don’t know exactly when Archibald GILMORE and his wife Jane were born, but based on other evidence, I estimate their births to be about 1755.  There's no evidence of their birth or death dates and locations, so we make a guess, based on their son's birth..... which is documented.

 

Their son, Robert GILMORE, was my great-great-great-grandfather (3x great-grandfather).  More about him in the next chapter.

 

As of today, I’ve traced my GILMORE family back to Archibald GILMORE and his wife, Jane (unknown surname), who lived in the mid-to-late1700s, and perhaps were living in the early 1800s. 

The reason I used the phrase “as of today” is because, every few weeks, I discover more information about my GILMORE family.  Hopefully, I will soon discover more information about Archibald Gilmore and his wife Jane.

 

There isn't much accurate information about them, either online, or in courthouse records, or in Ireland, or in Scotland.  Based on many documents I've collected on their son, though, I've concluded that Archibald Gilmore and his wife, Jane, probably lived in Ireland.  Their son, Robert GILMORE, was born in Ireland.  At least Jane Gilmore was probably in Ireland at the time of his birth.  LOL!!!

 

 




Corrections to what you will find online:

 

Some folks, who think they're doing genealogy, are actually just "collecting names," and don't care if they've found the right person or not.  I'm willing to help those folks gather accurate information for their family tree, if they want.

 

That said, please be aware that there is much wrong information about my Gilmore family, posted on several Ancestry trees.  If you want to know who is posting the "crap" online, so you can avoid those trees, please send me an email, and I'll alert you to which Ancestry trees to avoid.  (TracingMyRoots@comcast.net )

 

Here are 4 facts, which have been misreported on some Ancestry trees.

 

Fact 1.  Archibald Gilmore and his wife Jane were NOT born in Orkney, Scotland.

 

Several Ancestry trees show a birthplace for this couple.  One tree owner claims to have a "source" but I've checked the source, and it's just plain wrong.  Here's why.  That source, on that Ancestry tree, is actually connected to a different man who has the same name.  Same name, wrong person!  Several other tree owners have copied from that fictionalized tree, perpetuating  false information about my Gilmore family.  Bottom line..... There is NO evidence as to where Archibald Gilmore and his wife, Jane were born and died.

If you disagree, please contact me, and share your sources.  Thank you!

 

 

Fact 2.  Father of Archibald Gilmore was NOT Ephraim Gilmore.

 

Again, the same tree owner has posted "made-up" information, and has provided no source to back up her claims.  And, others have copied the fiction.  Beware of trees which don't have a source attached to each fact.  Ancestry trees are not accurate sources, because the tree owner can say anything, whether it's true or not.  Bottom line.....  There is NO evidence who Archibald Gilmore's father was.

If you disagree, please contact me, and share your sources.  Thank you!

 

 

Fact 3.  Son of Archibald Gilmore and wife Jane was NOT named Robert "Addison" Gilmore.

 

Addison Gilmore is a different person, and not related to my Robert Gilmore.  Again, someone has posted "made-up" information, and others have copied it.

 

My Robert Gilmore had no middle name, as evidenced by the many records I've gathered on him, at the Rockbridge County, Virginia Courthouse.  Those sources will be shared with you in the chapter on Robert Gilmore.  Bottom line.....  My Robert Gilmore had NO middle name.

If you disagree, please contact me, and share your sources.  Thank you!

 

 

Fact 4.  My Archibald Gilmore is NOT buried in the graveyard of Moneydig Presbyterian Church Cemetery, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

 

There is a man named "Archie Gilmore" who is buried there, but he is not the Archibald Gilmore in my family.  I've contacted 2 genealogists in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland who have done extensive genealogy on the Gilmore family in that area of Ireland.  Both genealogists have confirmed that this "Archie Gilmore" is not one of my ancestors.  The "Archie Gilmore," who is buried in that cemetery, belongs to a totally different Gilmore family.  Bottom line..... There is NO evidence as to where my Archibald Gilmore and his wife, Jane, are buried.

If you disagree, please contact me, and share your sources.  Thank you!

 

 

Conclusions:

So, what seems to have occurred, is that one tree owner has done lots of "name-collecting," and ignored whether or not she has the correct person, and she supplied no sources (or used  sources which don't relate to that person).... then, other tree owners have copied the wrong information, without looking for sources, themselves.

 

I've sent the correct information to the owners of these fictional trees, but they haven't made the corrections.  One tree owner replied that it was too much trouble to look for sources for the things she posts on her tree!  Sad, sad, sad, that these folks have so little respect for their Gilmore ancestors!

 

What you can do to help.

 

1.  Correct your tree.

If you have a tree on Ancestry (or on some other website), which includes any wrong information, then please correct your tree. Thank you!  I'd be happy to help you get your tree corrected.  To get accurate information for your tree, all you have to do is follow my blog, or send me an email.

 

2.  Respect your ancestors.

 Please respect your ancestors enough to report correct things about them.  If you need help, sorting out facts from fiction, please ask me.  I have lots of documented information on my Gilmore family.  My information came from valid sources, such as those listed in my blog "Post 3 - Sources."  My information didn't come from Ancestry trees.




 

3.  Cite your sources.

If you are unsure how to find reliable sources, please see my blog "Post 3 - Sources."  If you need some help with sources, please ask me.

 

4. Look for the source.

When you look at someone's family tree, first look for a source which says where they found the information.  Each fact (person's birth, marriage, death, locations for each event, parents' names, etc) should all have a source listed to support that information.  If the source is "Ancestry trees," you can conclude that their tree probably contains lots of wrong information.  Ancestry trees are not trustworthy sources.

 

- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

The Ancestry tree owner can say anything.  (Mickey Mouse is their grandfather, Abraham Lincoln is their great-grandfather, and Charlemagne is their 6x great grandfather!  LOL!)  Ancestry doesn't check the trees for accuracy.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you for reading my blog today!  Because I've tried to gather accurate information from original documents, about my Gilmore family, it makes me sad to see someone posting made-up crap about them, and then seeing others copy that crap.  I want to defend my Gilmore ancestors, when I see wrong information being posted about them, because they're not here to speak up for themselves!




- - - - - - - - - - - -

 

 (sources:  Rockbridge County Virginia Death Registers 1853-1870, 1912-1917, by Angela Rhuley, p.29; 1850 US Federal Census; DAR records for William Bradley; Linda & Sylvia (surnames withheld by request), researchers in Northern Ireland; Library of Virginia Death Register on microfilm for 1855.)

 

Sandy Gilmore

Gilmore Genealogist



If you use information from this blog post, here's how to cite it:
Blog "TracingMyGilmoreRoots" - Post 10 - Chapter 5 - Archibald Gilmore (born about 1755 - died ???), by Sandy Gilmore





Sunday, March 3, 2019

Post 9 - BOOK - Chapter 4 - Rockbridge County, Virginia


Chapter 4 - Rockbridge County, Virginia
 
My GILMORE ancestors settled in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  This chapter has some background on this lovely, rural county.

1850 Virginia counties
 
Where is Rockbridge County, Virginia?
(See photos of 1850 Virginia map, and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.)
 




Funkhouser farm, Rockbridge Co, VA

May 24, 2006
 


Rockbridge County, Virginia is located at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and is bordered on the East by the Blue Ridge Mountains, and on the West by the Allegheny Mountains.  The valley consists of gently rolling farmland, interspersed with forested areas.
 
The 1850 map of Virginia counties (and West Virginia counties) shows the location of Rockbridge County, Virginia.  On the map, Rockbridge County, Virginia, is colored yellow & outlined in red.  See it, near the center of the map?
 
In the 1800s, the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia became the destination for a large number of Protestant Scots-Irish immigrants, who were seeking refuge from the oppression of both England and the Northern Irish Catholics.  These Scots-Irish were looking for the freedom to do two things –
 
1) to practice their Presbyterian religion in a country, which was located far away from the control of the British government, and
 
2) to live in an area which was geographically similar to their native lands of Ireland and
Scotland.

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

 
During the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763), Rockbridge County, Virginia, was the scene of several brutal Indian attacks in the Kerr’s Creek (pronounced Car's Creek) area.
None of my GILMOREs were involved in the Indian attacks; none of my Gilmore family lived in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the 1700s.
 
Rockbridge County, Virginia, was also the home of Civil War soldiers, Robert E. LEE (born 1807 - died 1870) and Thomas J. “Stonewall” JACKSON (born 1824 - died 1863).


I’ve been to Rockbridge County, Virginia, many times, and think it’s a beautiful place.  No wonder most of my ancestors stayed in that area, rather than moving South or West!


Farm where War of the Worlds was filmed
Movie - "War of The Worlds" - starring Tom Cruise
If you want to see Rockbridge County, Virginia, but cannot travel there, then you may want to Google for photos of the county.  You might also want to watch the 2005 movie, “War of the Worlds,” starring Tom Cruise.  The farm scenes were filmed in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  But watch carefully, because the scenes are very brief.  They come after Tom Cruise and his children leave the city.
 
In the movie, you’ll see a long line of people walking through the valley, trying to escape the alien invasion.  (See the photo for what the valley looks like in the daytime, without a bunch of actors on it.)  Just over the hill, to the right of the farmhouse, is where the huge battle scene (in the movie) happened, in which dozens of people and vehicles charged up the hill and confronted the aliens.
 
The farm in the movie is located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, about 15 miles north of Lexington, Virginia, and a few miles South of the Augusta County, Virginia border.
 
Natural Bridge (tourist attraction) is located in Rockbridge County, Virginia




 

 

photo © 2006 by Sandy Gilmore Sheppard
 


In 1778, Rockbridge County, Virginia was formed from Augusta and Botetourt (pronounced BOT-uh-tot) Counties, getting its name from the natural rock bridge formation over Cedar Creek.  George WASHINGTON surveyed the Natural Bridge, and Thomas JEFFERSON owned it for several years.  The natural rock formation measures 215 feet high, 90 feet wide and is over 100 million years old.  It’s now a tourist attraction.

Natural Bridge in Virginia
 
I first visited Natural Bridge, Virginia, with my parents when I was 10 years old.  I have a spooky story to tell you about our Natural Bridge vacation, and my great-great-grandparents. I'll include the story in an upcoming chapter.
 
The village of Natural Bridge is located a couple of miles from this rock formation, and eleven miles south of Lexington, Virginia, at the intersection of US Route 11 and State Route 130.
 
Many of my ancestors lived their entire lives in the Natural Bridge area.  It probably looked like the photo, back then.
 
My next blog post will begin with my Irish-immigrant ancestor, Robert Gilmore and his parents.

Rockbridge County, Virginia


- - - - - - - -
(sources:  Library of Virginia archives; other photos taken by me on various visits to Rockbridge Co, VA;  A History of Rockbridge County, Virginia, by Oren Frederic Morton;  Historical Significance of Rockbridge County, Virginia, by James W. McClung; Among These Ancient Mountains: The story of Rockbridge County, Virginia, by Anne Drake McClung;  "War of The Worlds Archive," by Andrew Clem, 2004;  History Lessons from a Country Church Volumes 1 & 2, by Rev. Horace Douty
- - - - - - - -
Thank you for reading my blog!  If you use anything from my blog, please give me credit for publishing it, by saying that you found it here.  Here's the format on how to give proper reference to my blog post:
 
Blog : TracingMyGilmoreRoots, Post 9, Chapter 4 - Rockbridge County, Virginia, by Sandy Gilmore.
 
Sandy Gilmore
Gilmore Genealogist
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 

Friday, March 1, 2019

Post 8 - BOOK - Chapter 3 - A Bit of History


Chapter 3 - A Bit of History



1.  The name GILMORE

 

The name GILMORE supposedly originated in the country of Scotland.  The name "GILMORE" was derived from the words “Gille” and "Moire” which means “follower of the Virgin Mary,” in the Gaelic (Scottish) language.  There are various spellings of the name - Gillmore, Gilmour, Gilmor, Gilmer, and Kilmer -  but, my family seems to have always spelled it GILMORE.  (Except when the US Census taker in Louisville, KY in 1900, misspelled it!.  Took me a L-O-N-G time to find my ancestors, because of that person's mistake!)

 





2.  Scotland to Ireland relocation

 

I think that my GILMORE ancestors were Scots-Irish, so I’ve included a bit of history about the Scots who moved to Ireland, and then to the United States. (Note that the word “Scotch” refers to a beverage, and “Scots” refers to a group of people who came from the country of Scotland.) 

 

Historians seem to disagree on why some Scots migrated to Ireland, but most agree on the fact that, beginning in the early 1600s, the Scots moved from their native country, Scotland, either by choice, or by force, to the province of Ulster, in Northern Ireland.  These new residents were called Scots-Irish, Ulster-Scots, or Irish-Presbyterians. 

 

The King of England, James I, who ruled England from 1603 to 1625, wanted to control the rowdy Irish who lived in Ulster province, so he gave free land to Protestant Scots who would agree to settle there.  Ulster was the poorest province, and had been devastated by nine years of war among the Irish residents.  According to some historians, the Scots tended to settle in counties of Antrim and Down in Ulster province.

 


Many of the Scots-Irish who immigrated to the United States prior to 1750, settled first in Pennsylvania, then moved into Virginia and the Carolinas.  They tended to come to the US in groups, such as residents of the same Irish town, members of the same church, or members of the same extended family.  Sometimes, the minister of the church came along with them.

 

I haven’t been able yet to trace my GILMORE family back to where they came from in Ireland or Scotland, but I’m working on it!  If you have any family stories about that, please let me know.  My contact information is in "Post 4 - BOOK - Cover".

 

My next post will be about Rockbridge County, Virginia, where my Gilmore ancestors first settled.

 

If you use anything which is posted here, please give me credit.

Cite my blog post like this:

Blog: TracingMyGilmoreRoots, "Post 8 - A Bit of History," by Sandy Gilmore.

 

(sources:  The Surnames Handbook: A Guide to Family Name Research in the 21st Century by Debbie Kennett; Surnames of Ireland: Origin, Numbers and Distribution of Selected Irish Surnames by Edward Neafsy; A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes by Jonathan Bardon ; archives, The Library of Virginia; The Scoth-Irish: A Social History by James G. Leyburn; Discover Your Scottish Ancestry by Graham Holton & Jack Winch)

 

Thank you for reading my blog!

Sandy Gilmore

Gilmore Genealogist

 

 

Monday, February 25, 2019

Post 7 - BOOK - Chapter 2 - Why Am I Doing This?


Chapter 2 - Why am I doing this?


Is former Virginia Governor, James Stuart GILMORE III, my cousin?
(See his photo below.)



In January 1998, the Commonwealth of Virginia's new Governor, James Stuart GILMORE III, began his term of office.  He looks quite a bit like my Dad (Harry GILMORE), and my Dad’s brother, Joseph Lee GILMORE.  Does he look like anyone in your GILMORE family?

 

So, that's when I decided to investigate my family history and see if Gov. GILMORE really is a relative.

 

Not being shy about talking to anyone (LOL!), I contacted Gov. Jim GILMORE.  He told me that his GILMORE family legend says that, in about 1843, three brothers came to the United States from Ireland.  One brother, William GILMORE settled in Wolfetown, Virginia in the Neal’s Mountain area of Madison County, on the Eastern coast of Virginia.  Gov. Jim GILMORE didn’t know what happened to the other 2 brothers. 

 

The Irish Ambassador to the United States told Gov. GILMORE, that many GILMOREs came from County Down in Northern Ireland, a county of Irish Protestants.  The Irish Ambassador was correct --- Ireland’s “Griffith's Valuation," carried out between 1848 to 1864, shows that there were 180 GILMORE households in County Down, during that time period.

 

I haven’t (yet) found proof of where (or when) my GILMORE family came from in Ireland, though.  But, I’m working on it!  If you have any ideas, or family stories, about where we came from in Ireland, please let me know.  My contact information is in "Post 4 - Book - Cover."

 

I've done some research on Gov. Jim GILMORE's family, but have found no connections between our families.  His family tree doesn’t connect with anyone in my GILMORE family tree.  So, it seems that Gov. Jim GILMORE and I are not related.  Some of my friends, who live here in Virginia, tell me that I should be happy that he's not related to me, because he was not a popular Governor!  LOL!!!

 

When I began my research.....

 

When I began the search for my GILMORE ancestors, all that I knew about my GILMORE family was what my Dad (Harry Peyton GILMORE) had told me, many years ago……. that his father was born in Pulaski, Virginia, and that our ancestors were Scots-Irish and Dutch.

 

For several months, I also pestered Aunt Mary (Mary GILMORE  HUTCHINSON  CRAWFORD) and Uncle Joe (Joseph Lee GILMORE) with questions about our GILMORE family.  All of them were a tremendous help in getting me on the right track to finding my ancestors!  Sadly, Dad, Aunt Mary, and Uncle Joe are no longer with us.

 

During my research, I was astonished to discover that many of my GILMORE ancestors were born, lived, worked, and died in Rockbridge County, Virginia, which is only an hour from where I now live!!!



I was also surprised to discover that I’m the 4th generation of GILMOREs to have worked on the railroad.  My dad, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather all worked on the railroad before I did!  But, that’s getting ahead of my GILMORE story!

 

My next post will be some historical background, to set the scene.

 

(sources: Personal Correspondence with Gov. James S. GILMORE, 2003;  Ireland's "Griffith's Valuation 1848-1864"; Personal Correspondence & Conversations with Harry Gilmore, Mary Gilmore Hutchinson Crawford, and Joe Lee Gilmore, 1980-2003.)

 

Thanks for reading my blog!

 

Sandy Gilmore

Gilmore Genealogist

 


 
Governor James Stuart Gilmore

Friday, February 22, 2019

Post 6 - BOOK - Chapter 1 - Introducation



Chapter 1 - Introduction

(sources:   Mastering Genealogical Proof, by Thomas W. Jones, published by The National Genealogical Society, Arlington, Virginia, 2013;  Genealogical Research, Methods, and Sources by The American Society of Genealogists, by Milton Rubicam, reprinted by Forgotten Books, October 4, 2018;  "Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree," course from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.)

 

This book about my GILMORE ancestors adheres to the international "Genealogical Proof Standard."  Those standards include:

  • Research has been reasonably exhaustive.
  • Information has been analyzed and correlated.
  • Conflicting evidence has been resolved.
  • Sources have been cited or referenced.
  • A reasoned conclusion has been created.

Nearly everything in this book is supported by evidence (such as State Vital Records, courthouse records, US Census, Family Bibles, property records, church records, old newspaper articles, books, family records, tombstones, etc.)  None of my information comes from Ancestry trees, which are riddled with incorrect information about my ancestors.  Please respect my work by reporting it accurately, if you copy things which I have written.  Also, please have enough respect for your ancestors to report accurately, whatever you find on your own, about them.

 

2.  Same Name - Wrong Person!

Just because you have found someone who has the same name as the person you are looking for, it does not mean that you have found the correct person.

 

If you need instructions on how to do genealogy, which respects your ancestors, please take the free genealogy course, taught online from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland at this website.  https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/genealogy

 

Also, read some books and articles on how to do genealogy.  Please respect your ancestors enough to report on them correctly.  View the crap which you find on Ancestry, with a healthy dose of skepticism, because most of it is wrong.



3.  This book is a work in progress.

 

This edition of my GILMORE book includes the information on the descendants of Archibald GILMORE & Jane (unknown surname), which I have gathered, up to February 2019.

 

Some information on the descendants of the GILMORE family, is missing because I have not found it yet.  In other words, there is always more to discover about my GILMORE family, and this is what makes genealogy so interesting.

 

If you have information about any of the descendants of the GILMORE family members, which you would like for me to include, please contact me.  (My contact information is on the front cover of this book.)

 

As I discover new information, I will add it to the latest edition of my GILMORE book.  My GILMORE book is in my computer, and I am not a book publisher, so I cannot whip out a bunch of copies for you.  Also, because of the way that the book is in my computer, I am not able to print just the new information.

 

I have many unanswered questions about my GILMORE family.  Perhaps you can help me answer them?  If so, please contact me.  (My contact information is on the front cover of this book.) Thanks!

 

Current edition:  February 2019

 
4.  Before you begin. . .

(sources:  Genealogical Research, Methods, and Sources by The American Society of Genealogists, by Milton Rubicam, reprinted by Forgotten Books, October 4, 2018;  "Genealogy: Researching Your Family Tree," course from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, My Family Tree Research Records, by Catherine Coulter, published by the author)

 

A.  Names

Before you start reading this book, I’d like to explain some things about genealogy, and how I've written up the information in this book.

  1. Surnames (commonly known as “last names”) are usually written in all CAPITAL LETTERS, and in BOLD PRINT.  This helps people distinguish between a person’s surname and their given name (also known as “first name”), and their middle name.
     
  2. It is also customary for genealogists to use the woman’s maiden name, rather than her married name.

B.  Pictures

Since I like pictures, I’ve included as many of them as I could find to make the (sometimes) dry, dull reading of the birth dates & death dates, a bit more interesting.  I’ve also included some history to give you a perspective on what was happening when my GILMORE ancestors lived.



C.  Three misconceptions about my GILMORE family



During my research on my GILMORE family, I have run into 3 misconceptions that need to be cleared up.

 

1.  Misconception 1 - The House of Ochiltree book

(source: History of the House of Ochiltree of Ayrshire, Scotland : with the genealogy of the families of those who came to America and of some of the allied families, by Clementine Brown Railey, published in 1916.)

 

Over and over, some researchers of other GILMORE families have pointed me to a 90+ year-old publication, which contains information on some of the GILMORE families of Scotland and Ireland, who migrated to Virginia.  The book is:

 

History of the House of Ochiltree of Ayrshire, Scotland : with the genealogy of the families of those who came to America and of some of the allied families,

by Clementine Brown Railey, published in 1916.

 

Those researchers have insisted that my GILMORE family must be part of the GILMORE families in the “House of Ochiltree” book.

 

But, I have read the Ochiltree book, and my research shows that my GILMORE family was NOT related to the GILMORE families in that "House of Ochiltree" book.

 

So, I have eliminated the Ochiltree book as a source for my research.  The book is available at some public libraries, for sale on Amazon, and is available to read on-line.  If you find that I’m wrong about my conclusion, please let me know.  (See cover of my book for my contact info.)  Thanks!

 

2.  Misconception  2 - Other GILMORE families in Rockbridge County, Virginia

(source: John and Agnes Gilmore of Rockbridge County,Virginia  by Freda STRAMPE, located at Rockbridge Co, VA public library, and The Historical Society, Lexington, VA.)

 

The first GILMOREs, who settled in Rockbridge County, Virginia, seem to be John GILMORE (born about 1690 in Scotland – died October 19, 1759 at Kerr’s Creek massacre, in Rockbridge County, Virginia) and his wife Agnes (ANDERSON) GILMORE.  After they married in 1709, they came to Rockbridge County, Virginia.  (The exact date is unknown.) 

 

They had several children, including:

1.  James Gilmore, born 1710; died before 11 Feb 1783 in Rockbridge Co. VA.
2.  John Gilmore II, born about 1715; died about August 1781 in Rockbridge Co. VA.
3.  William Gilmore, born about 1724; died after 1776.
4.  Thomas Gilmore, born about 1725; died July 1763 in Kerr's Creek, VA.
5. Jane Gilmore, born about 1726.
6. Agnes Gilmore, born about 1731.



The members of that GILMORE family have been well-researched, and many things have been published about them, both in books and on the Internet.  They were fairly wealthy, owned slaves, and held prominent positions in Rockbridge County, Virginia.  Some of their family homes are still occupied.



CONCLUSION - I am not related to the John GILMORE and Agnes ANDERSON family.

(sources:  Ancestry DNA test - Sandy Gilmore;  GEDmatch kit # 678015 - Sandy Gilmore;  Family Tree y-DNA test # 828003 - James Lee Gilmore)



Both a paper trail, and DNA evidence indicate that my GILMORE ancestors and I are NOT related to the descendants of John GILMORE and Agnes ANDERSON.

 

No one from the John GILMORE and Agnes ANDERSON family, who has had their DNA tested with Ancestry, or with Family Tree-yDNA, is a match to me, and is not a match to my male cousin Jim Gilmore.  So, my conclusion is that my GILMOREs and John GILMORE (who died in the Kerr's Creek massacre in Rockbridge County, Virginia) are not related to me.  Just because the surname is the same does not always mean that 2 people are related.

 

Another interesting difference between the 2 GILMORE families who lived in Rockbridge County, Virginia, is that my GILMOREs were poor farmers, who did not own slaves, did not own large plantations, and in some cases, did not even own the property they lived on!  I can't say that about the John and Agnes GILMORE family!  Please look them up online if you want to know more about the other GILMOREs in Rockbridge County, Virginia..

 

3.  Misconception 3 - Gilmore’s Mill, Rockbridge County, Virginia

 

My research shows that Gilmore's Mill was not settled by my GILMORE family.  The other GILMORE family (in Misconception #2, above) settled and lived in Gilmore's Mill..

 

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I hope this clears up the 3 major misconceptions about my GILMORE family.  To summarize,

          1.  My GILMORE family is not in the Ochiltree book.

          2.  My GILMORE family is not related to John GILMORE and Agnes ANDERSON.

          3.  My GILMORE family did not settle, or live in, the village of Gilmore's Mills.

 

If you have information which differs from what I’ve said here, please contact me because I want to be accurate in what I say about my family.  Thank you!

(End of Chapter 1 - Introduction)