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 4^th 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