Display Patriot - P-166679 - William GILSON

William GILSON

SAR Patriot #: P-166679

The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
 

State of Service: PA      Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
DAR #: A045322

Birth: / Lancaster / PA
Death: aft 06 Apr 1808 / Westmoreland / PA

Qualifying Service Description:
  1. Pvt - Capt James Laird, Col Chambers, 3rd Batt., Cumberland Co. PA Militia
  2. Paid supply tax, East Pennsboro Twp., 1780

Additional References:
  1. PA Archives
    • 3rd Ser.
      • Vol 20, pg 148, 281-282, 420, 556, 707
      • Vol 24, pg 662
      • Vol 26, pg 438
    • 5th Ser. Vol 6, pg 201, 206
  2. DAR Patriot Index, Vol I, pg 270
  3. 1955 Year Book PASSAR, pg 342
  4. Proceedings from Elizabethtown (Hagerstown), 4 Sep 1775

Spouse: (1) Elizabeth Craighead; (2) Sarah Richey Trindle; (3) Elizabeth XX/Crawford;
Children: David; John; Thomas;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
Date Approved Society ACN SAR Member Info Lineage via Child View Application Detail
1986-01-13 PA 228487 Harvey Leonard Maywood (126869) David   
1987-05-20 TX 225067 Daniel Thomas Carrier (129487) Thomas   
1990-03-12 CO 218646 Bradner Smith Gilson (134522) Thomas   
1993-01-12 IA 211995 Thomas Robert Gilson (139986) Thomas   
1994-10-31 KY 207482 John Carl Metz (143459) John   
2015-11-19 FL 66421 Percival Smith Hill IV (178526) Thomas   
2015-11-19 FL 66422 Percival Smith Hill V (178527) Thomas   
Burial:
Fort Barr Cemetery (C-0090572)
Location:
New Derry / Westmoreland / PA / USA
Find A Grave Cemetery #:
2222060
Grave Plot #:
Plot #10
Grave GPS Coordinates:
40.366370 / -79.328630
Find A Grave Memorial #:
37225807
Marker Type:
Other stake
SAR Grave Dedication Date:
20 May 2023

Comments:

Originally May 1957 - new stones dedicated 20th May 2023



Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
  • Cemetery is land locked on private property surrounded by a farm field
  • Cemetery is visible from Fort Barr road sign on Rt 982. About 1200 feet from the road
  • Access to cemetery through the Derry Area Historical Society, Fulton House, 357 W Pittsburgh St, New Derry, PA; 724-694-8808, Email derryareahistoricalsociety@gmail.org


Author: Dr William L Baran

William Gilson was born about 1730-1735, possibly in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was married in about 1762 to Elizabeth Craighead, daughter of John and Rachel (Montgomery) Craighead. The Craighead's settled as early as 1746 on the Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

On 27 October 1766, William made an application to the Commonwealth for 205 acres of land in Donegal, Lancaster County, which was surveyed on 12 Mar 1767. This tract or plantation was known as "New Meadow" and adjoined his father and brother’s land. 1,2

William and his brother, Richard, enlisted in October 1777 into the company of Captain James Laird, commanded by Colonel William Chambers of the Third Battalion of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Among the Associates and Militia in service in October 1777 included Privates William and Richard Gilson, and David Boyd.3

In about 1790, his wife, Elizabeth Craighead, died. He married a second time on 24 January 1792 to Mrs. Sarah (Lamb) Trindle, widow of Captain Alexander Trindle.4

A deed dated 14 June 1796 documents the purchase by William of land owned by Thomas Barr (oldest son of Robert Barr 1748-1778) of the property known as Fort Barr in Derry Township, Westmoreland County. The fort, originally the house of the early Barr family, was built about 1769 and was constructed of logs and had been converted into a stockade fort of the blockhouse. It was used as a defensive structure prior to Dunmore's War in 1774.5,6

The cabin would remain in the Gilson family for five generations until 1907, when it was sold to the Atlantic Crushed Coke Company. About 300 yards from the original site of the house is a cemetery with 13 old graves, including those of four Revolutionary War veterans: Major James Barr, Robert Barr, Alexander Barr, Colonel James Wilson, and William Gilson.7  William’s second wife, Sarah Trindle died a short time after they arrived in Westmoreland County.

William conveyed to his youngest son, John, one-half of the mansion farm on 22 Mar 1802, upon which John erected a house. William also conveyed by deed the other half of the farm upon which stood the mansion house to his second son David.8 

He married a third time on 9 November 1802 to Elizabeth Crawford in Westmoreland County.9  

The Patriot died in early 1808, and his Last Will and Testament was proven in court on 6 April 1808.

Sources:

  1. Original Survey, Book B-1, page 205.
  2. Lancaster County Deed Book "O,” page 533.
  3. Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. VI, pages 201-210. "Muster Rolls, Associators and Militia of Cumberland Co." NOTE: "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777", by Roach and reprinted in Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (page179), states that Cumberland Co. Battalion is mistakenly headed "Associators" in Pennsylvania Archives. 
  4. Pennsylvania Vital Records, from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. From the Collection of J. Zeamer, courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Library.
  5. Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, 1896
  6. History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, page 588.
  7. Article by Bryan Martin in "The Latrobe Bulletin,” 30 Jul 1976. (Corrected by W Baran 2023) 
  8. Westmoreland County Deeds, Vol. 9, page 559
  9. LDS IGI Index, batch #7118124, sheet 67

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Additional Information:
  • DAR NOTE: (there are potential issues) regarding this person's lineage REGARDING 2ND WIFE, SARAH RICHEY TRINDLE - Jan 2015
  • DAR cites
    • Birth: 1730 ENGLAND
    • Death: ANTE 10-18-1808 DERRY TWP WESTMORELAND CO PA


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