MRS. NANCY GILLESPIE, a cultured and highly-esteemed lady of Jefferson township, this county, was born October 3, 1815, near West Middletown, Hopewell township, Washington county. She is a daughter of Abraham Leggett, whose father, Sutton Leggett, was born in Maryland, and in early life was united in marriage with Hannah Green, a native of the same State, who bore him the following named children: Benjamin, John, Sutton, Jesse, Elijah, Ellen, Mrs. Pervard, Abraham, and Nathan. In 1794, the family moved to Pennsylvania, locating in Washington county, near West Middletown. Abraham Leggett was born in 1787, in Maryland, and was about seven years of age when his father moved to Pennsylvania. He was reared to agricultural life, and educated in the schools of the period. When a young man he married Miss Nancy Dempster and six children were born to their union: Lemuel, Sutton, Jesse, Nancy, Ellen, and an infant, unnamed.
Nancy Leggett was born on the home farm near West Middletown, Penn., and grew to womanhood, assisting in the household duties and attending school in the neighborhood. In 1838 she became the wife of John Gillespie and a few years later happy voices called her "mother," little feet pattered through the house, for her home was brightened with four little ones, called by the following names: Wesley A., Sarah Ellen, Mary Ann and Hester Ann. The two last named have been laid to rest, and on May 19, 1885, the husband and father passed away, leaving his widow to the comfort of her two remaining children. Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie started in life together with little of this world's goods, but industry and patience have accomplished much. A beautiful home, surrounded by 200 acres of fertile land, gives ample evidence of the prosperity of the family. Mr. Gillespie was a stanch [sic] member of the Republican party. Mrs. Gillespie is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Independence, this county.
Text taken from page 769 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Victoria Smith of San Jose, CA as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]