I answer two questions in the Ancestry.com monthly newsletter:

Are Duplicate Census Entries Common?

Who Reported Insanity — Family or Census Taker?

Check out the comments people made, they are also full of interesting information.

And check out this article: Cheating on History: Timelines by Jeanie Croasmun.

I was searching for some articles in the Lexington Gazette on Chronciling America, and found this rather bizarre ad.

I guess the use of fear to sway people is nothing new. But saying if you don’t buy, you may kill yourself?

I found the obituary of my great-great grandfather James Calvin Donald in the Lexington Gazette dated 26 Jul 1899

The transcription is as follows:

DONALD — James C. Donald, aged
sixty-three years, died Thursday after-
noon at his home two miles south of
Lexington. He had been in failing
health for several years with Bright’s
disease and for nearly two months pre-
vious to his death was confined to his
bed.

He was a brave Confederate soldier,
having entered the was as a member
of the Rockbridge Grays and after-
wards served in the Fourteenth Vir-
ginia Cavalary. The last year of the
war he was a prisoner at Camp Chase.

He was quiet, unobtrusive man, a
good citizen, and an exemplary Christ-
ian.

He is survived by his wife, who was
a daughter of Charlton Wallace, of
Natural Bridge, and four children –
Mrs. James Brogan, Mrs. W. P. Gillis-
pie, Messers J. C. and J. H. Donald all
of Rockbridge.

The funeral services, conducted by
Rev. Henry P. Hammill, took place Fri-
day afternoon frm his late home, and
interment was made in the Lexington
cemetery. His comrades of Lee-Jack-
son Camp, of which he was a member,
acted as pallbearers.

——————-

I have never heard of “Lee-Jackson Camp”, sounds like something to investigate.

Henry P. Hamill appears to have been a Methodist Minister orginally from Maryland.

I have a hard time comprehending that I have an ancestor that was described as unobtrusive in an obituary.

Nothing really new in here….I knew about the his Civil War service and the Chronicling America site at the Library of Congress is worth checking out if you’ve never done it. You never know what treasure you might find!

I will be teaching a class: Best Strategies for Searching Ancestry.com on October 8th, at 1:30pm in the Special Exhibits Hall 106 (Bldg. D) at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA

This is part of the California Family History Expo and is an Ancestry.com class.

This class will demonstrate the best strategies for searching Ancestry.com’s more than 28,000 databases to get the most information about your ancestors. Learn about various search methods ‐‐ and how each method will benefit your family history. (It is designed for beginning to intermediate users of Ancestry.com).

My grandfather, Gilbert Gillespie, was born in 1914 and died in 2003. My grandmother Ann Irene “Judy” Gillespie was born in 1917 and died in 1983.

According to my cousin who gave me this picture, it was taken in 1942. My aunt Madeline would have been about 4 and my father about 2. My grandmother should have been pregnant with my aunt Martha in this picture. (Martha was born in Dec.)

Gilbert McClung Gillespie was born 20 Mar 1914 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. He died 21 Nov 2003 in Huddleston, Bedford, Virginia.

Ann Irene “Judy” Feazell was born 4 Mar 1917 in Marion, Smyth, Virginia, and died Sep 1983 in Rabun Gap, Rabun, Georgia.

They are buried in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, in Lexington Virginia, within viewing distance of where Gilbert was born at 108 Houston Street.

1914: Gilbert McClung GILLESPIE was born on 20 Mar 1917, in Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia. He was the 4th son and 7th child of Wyatt Paul Gillespie and Laura Cecile Donald. McClung was the name of the doctor that delivered him; this was a custom in this area at the time.

1917: Ann Irene FEAZELL, future wife of Gilbert, was born on 4 Mar 1917 in Marion, Smythe, Virginia.

1918: Helen Mae GILLESPIE, Gilbert’s sister, was born to Wyatt and Laura GILLESPIE on 1 Nov 1918 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia.

1920: On 9 Jan 1920, Gilbert, age 6, lived at 108 Houston Street, Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, USA with his parents.

1930: On 16 Apr 1930, Gilbert, age 16, lived at 108 Houston Street, Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, USA with his parents.

1935: At the age of 21, Gilbert was working for James Lees and Sons as a Manager.

1935: On Jun 14 1935, age of 21, Gilbert married Ann Irene FEAZELL, age 18 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia.

1937: A daughter (still living) was born to Gilbert and Ann GILLESPIE in Lexington at Stonewall Jackson Hospital.

1938: Fred Douglas GILLESPIE, brother of Gilbert, was married Mary Eleanor KESSINGER on 19 Feb 1938 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia.

1940: Gilbert McClung GILLESPIE was born on 19 Sep 1940 in Lexington at Stonewall Jackson Hospital. Gilbert Jr. was also delivered by a doctor named McClung who was the son of the doctor who delivered Gilbert Sr.

1941: Wyatt Paul GILLESPIE died on 19 Feb 1941 at the 77 in Lexington. Gilbert was 27 when his father died.

1942: Martha Jean GILLESPIE was born to Gilbert and Judy on 29 Dec 1942 in Lexington at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.

1949: Helen Mae GILLESPIE, sister of Gilbert, married John Calvin KEEZEL on 17 Aug 1949 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia.

1950: Gilbert returned home from a business trip to England where he had been demonstrated a new rug loom to a company there. He and his business partner did not make the sale.

1952: Clinton Clifton GILLESPIE, brother of Gilbert, married Ernestine CONNER.

1953:A son (still living) was born to Gilbert and Ann GILLESPIE in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia on 12 Feb 1953.

1956: Gilbert, his wife and 3 young children moved to Robbinsville, North Carolina.

1958: Minnie Maude GILLESPIE, sister of Gilbert, passed away on 1 Apr 1958 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. She was 61.

1967: Ashby Paul GILLESPIE, brother of Gilbert, died on 2 Jul 1967 in Hampton, Elizabeth, Virginia. He was 68.

1974: Fred Douglas GILLESPIE, brother of Gilbert, passed away on 25 Mar 1974 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. He was 63.

1977: Retired from James Lee and Sons. Gilbert was 65.

1983: Ann Irene “Judy” FEAZELL GILLESPIE passed away on Sep 1983 in Rabun Gap, Rabun, Georgia. She was 66.

1984: Martha Jean GILLESPIE GIBSON, daughter of Gilbert, passed away on 4 Nov 1984 in London, England. She was 41.

1990: Clinton Clifton GILLESPIE passed away on 8 Oct 1990 in Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia. He was 85.

1992: Eva Dold GILLESPIE passed away on 13 Apr 1992 in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia. She was 90.

1997: Louise Graham GILLESPIE passed away on 15 Mar 1997 in Shelbyville, Bedford, Tennessee. She was 89.

2002: Helen Mae GILLEPSIE KEEZEL, sister of Gilbert, passed away on 10 Nov 2002 in Penn Laird, Rockingham, Virginia. She was 84.

2003: Gilbert passed away on 21 Nov 2003 at the age of 89 at Huddleston, Bedford, Virginia. He was buried at Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia.

James Calvin Donald was born in 1836, and died in 1899. He was my great-great grandfather (Gilbert Gillespie, Gilbert Gillespie, Laura Cecile Donald Gillespie)

He is buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia. He served in the infamous Stonewall Brigade during the Civil War.

The inscription says: He sleeps with the ? dead in a brighter world above. I’m not sure what the word before dead is.

He was married to Elizabeth Jane Wallace and was the son of John Donald and Nancy Matchett.

I am hoping sometime next spring to do a trip in Virginia and visit Civil War sites as well as Amherst, Rockbridge, Smythe and Grayson County. I was hoping to do it this summer with my dad, Gil Gillespie, but he passed away after a 5 month battle with leukemia, so I am hoping to travel with my Uncle Paul. I’m quite sure my dad would be smiling at this.

So in preparation, I’m doing a quick survey of my Civil War ancestors, and what companies they belonged to try and put this in perspective.

Paternal Side, Virginia

• My great-great grandfather Jeremiah Gillespie, was born in 1826, and would have been 35 when the Civil War started, and given that all of his brothers served, you would think he would have. I have found nothing on him. He was either incapable, or I can’t find the records. His father, Tarlton Gillespie, was born in 1787, and was too old too have served. His father-in-law (and Uncle) Willis Gillespie was born in 1790 and was too old as well.
• My great-great grandfather, James Calvin Donald, was born in 1836, and served in the war, most notably under Stonewall Jackson. He served in the Rockbridge Grays, Company H, 4th Virginia Infantry and Company G, 14th Virginia Calvary. His father John Donald, was born in 1808 and most probably too old to have served.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Charlton Wallace, was born in 1826, and served with the 3rd Battalion, Virginia Reserves (Chrisman’s)
• My great-great-great grandfather, Aaron Feazell, was born in 1820, may have served in the 64th Regiment of the Virginia Militia or Company A, of the Virginia 16th Infantry. I have work to do here.
• My great-great-great grandfather Adam Boyd Snavely, was born in 1832 and served in Company F, Virginia 23rd Infantry Battalion. He joined 14 Sep 1861 and mustered out on 28 May 1862 due to an injury.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Zebedee Hash, was born in 1818 and I have no record of him serving.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Abram Hash, brother of Zebedee, was born in 1830. He may or may not have served in Company I, Virginia 51st Infantry Regiment. I have work to do here as well.

Maternal Side, North Carolina

• My great-great grandfather, Mastin Turner, born 1843, served in Company D, North Carolina 55th Infantry Regiment.
• My great-great-great grandfather, David Hamrick, born, 1829, served in Company D, North Carolina 55th Infantry Regiment.
• My great-great grandfather, Thomas Lee Payne, born in 1844, enlisted at the age of 17, in Company H, North Carolina 49th Infantry Regiment.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Peter Zimmerman Baxter, born in 1821, enlisted at the age of 40 in Company, North Carolina 49th Infantry Regiment. He was a Full Captain and mustered out on 24 Jun 1863. Not sure why.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Lansford M Hopper, born 1825, enlisted in Company H, North Carolina 28th Infantry Regiment on 22 Sep 1863, and mustered out in 1864. He may have also served in the 34th North Carolina Infantry.
• My great-great-great grandfather, Thomas D Carroll, born 1830, served in Company K, North Carolina 45th Infantry Regiment.

So these are the gentleman I wish to track through this conflict, and try and figure out which battles they were in, and what their individual stories were.

This is an video worth watching by Elizabeth Shown Mills.

Be careful what you believe about your past, what you fear or dislike the most may be who you are