Family: Thomas GILLESPIE / Emeline S. CHAMBERS (F2758)



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  • Father | Male
    Thomas GILLESPIE

    Born     
    Died     
    Buried     
    Married     
    Father   
    Mother   

    Mother | Female
    Emeline S. CHAMBERS

    Born  18 Jan 1830  Russell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  2 Mar 1898  Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried     
    Other Spouse  Chapman Spotts ELSWICK | F2763 
    Married  10 Sep 1863  Tazewell Co VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Father  Thomas CHAMBERS | F2759 Group Sheet 
    Mother  Nancy CHRISTIAN | F2759 Group Sheet 

    Child 1 | Female
    Euphemia Alifair CHAMBERS

    Born  29 Dec 1850  Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  08 Jan 1923  Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried     
    Spouse  Thomas Christian CHRISTIAN | F2757 
    Married  20 Mar 1867  Tazewell Co VA Find all individuals with events at this location

    Child 2 | Male
    + Elbert Wade CHAMBERS

    Born  07 Feb 1853  Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  08 Mar 1924  Boyd Co. KY Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried    Buckley Family Blevin Farm Cemetery, Fallsburg, Lawrence Co. KY Find all individuals with events at this location
    Spouse  Martha J. McGlothin | F6441 
    Married  1875  Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location

    Child 3 | Male
    + Thomas Douglas (Red Tom) CHAMBERS

    Born  3 Feb 1858  Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  19 Apr 1931  Buchanan Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried    Chambers Cemetery, Shortt Gap, Buchanan Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Spouse  Sarah (Sallie) WARD | F3272 
    Married  03 Dec 1874  Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location
    Spouse  Edith OSBORN | F6045 
    Married     

  • Notes 
    • John McClintock, Jr., a descendant of Emeline and Chapman Elswick, told me the family stories were a Thomas Gillespie was the father of Emeline's children. Thomas would travel over the mountain to visit "Red headed Emmie" at Liberty.

      Until the death certificate of Thomas D. Chambers there was no proof of this. Thomas' death certificate is the only one of his three siblings born out of wedlock that give the name of Thomas Gillespie as the father. Alifair Chambers Christian's death certificate gave Chapman Elswick as her father, Elbert Wade Chambers had no names for his parents. For Alifair's descendants, her real father's name was not known, but evidently for the children of Emmeline and Chapman Elswick, the name was known but not talked about outside the family.

      When Emeline married Chapman Elswick, she put her marital status as divorced. More than likely, Thomas Gillespie was a married man and was not free to marry Emeline.

      Which Thomas Gillespie could be the father? One researcher has William Thomas Gillespie who was in his 60's during the time Emeline's children were conceived. I think a younger man is more likely since he was traveling over the mountain to Liberty on horseback. Here are the candidates from the Tazewell 1850 Census for Thomas or Thos:

      Thomas Harrison Gillespie Nov. 19, 1812-Oct. 14, 1891, husband of Mary Ann Radar. In 1850 Thomas was 38 years old.

      Thomas Simpson Gillespie 13 Dec 1807-1857,1862 or 1866, husband of Mariah Peery. In 1850 he was 43 years old. Thomas moved to Genry Co. MO in 1854, but later returned and died in Tazewell Co. This Thomas is a possibility based on the ages of Emeline's children. Alifair and Elbert Wade are three years apart, but there is about a 3 year difference between Elbert Wade born in 1853 and Thomas Douglas born about 1856. So it's possible Thomas Douglas was conceived when Thomas Gillespie returned from Missouri. Why did he return to Tazewell leaving his wife and children in Missouri?

      Until DNA tests are done, this is all speculation as to which Thomas Gillespie is the father of Emeline's first three children.