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SCHENECTADY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
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[This information is from Vol. II, pp. 938-939 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]
This name is written in early deeds "Kilchrist." "Gilcreas" and "Gilchrest." There were two brothers named Gilchrist, who were born in Ayrshire, Scotland. They emigrated to the vicinity of Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America about the year 1730. They settled at Chester, New Hampshire. Robert Gilchrist bought land in Chester, on which he settled and reared a family. His will, proved September 24, 1746, mentions wife Agnes, who died September, 1758, and sons John, William, Alexander and Robert, daughters Agnes and Elizabeth, and brother William, the executor. Children:
(II) Alexander, son of Robert and Agnes Gilchrist, was born in Chester, New Hampshire, October 28, 1733. He used to say he never had but two days' schooling in his life, yet he acquired such an education that he surveyed lands and wrote deeds. About 1763 he went to Goffstown and bought a farm near the Bedford line. He married Martha, daughter of John Shirley. He had seven children:
(III) John, son of Alexander and Martha (Shirley) Gilchrist, was born in Goffstown, New Hampshire, May 8, 1763, died September 8, 1853. He married Sarah Akin, and had eleven children, among them being Alexander, Frederick and Robert.
(IV) Robert, son of John and Sarah (Akin) Gilchrist, was born in 1782, died June 8, 1862. He settled in the town of Argyle, Washington county, New York, where he was a farmer and merchant. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a man of high standing. He married Elizabeth Dawson, born 1788. Children:
[Errata on Vol. IV, p. xlvii reads: "Robert Cuthbert writes to Mr. Frank Gilchrist: 'Our great grandfather's name was Andrew Gilchrist, father of Andrew, Robert and Thomas. Grandmother's name was Elizabeth Dawson. Grandfather and family came to this country from Newbliss, county Monaghan, Ireland.'"]
(V) Thomas, eighth child of Robert and Elizabeth (Dawson) Gilchrist, was born in the village of Argyle, Washington county, New York, May 20, 1829. He moved with his parents, about 1840, to Hartford, in the same county. He was educated in the common school. He adopted agriculture as his business, and became a large landowner, farmer and shipper of farm products. He bought up and shipped to New York City the first carload of potatoes that ever went out of Washington county to that city. He was an extensive dealer and a man of ample means, and influence. He served in several public positions in his town, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Republican. He died in New York City, December 5, 1886. He married, January 1, 1851, Maria, daughter of John and Phebe (Qua) Powell. Children:
(VI) Frank, eldest son of Thomas and Maria (Powell) Gilchrist, was born in Hartford, Washington county, New York, on the homestead farm, January 7, 1857. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the public schools, Fort Edward Collegiate Institute and Troy Conference Seminary. He was a farmer and produce dealer along the same lines followed by his father with such success. He continued in this most prosperous business until 1909, when he became connected with the Glen Falls Coal Company, succeeding James M. Hunting as president and manager. He now devotes his energies to the management of the coal company. He was a member of the board of assessors of Glen Falls for nine years, resigning in 1909. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a supporter of the Republican party. He married, August 1, 1876, Minnie C., daughter of John F. and Mary Calista (Brayton) Whittemore, of Hartford, New York. Children:
[From Addenda and Errata in Vol. IV, p. xlvii: "Robert Cuthbert writes to Mr. Frank Gilchrist: 'Our great grandfather's name was Andrew Gilchrist, father of Andrew, Robert and Thomas. Grandmother's name was Elizabeth Dawson. Grandfather and family came to this country from Newbliss, county Monaghan, Ireland.'"]
(VII) Thomas B., son of Frank and Minnie C. (Whittemore) Gilchrist, was born May 11, 1885. When ten years of age his parents removed to Glen Falls, where he obtained his early education and prepared for college. He entered Cornell University, where he was graduated from the law school, class of 1906. He was admitted to the bar in Rochester, New York, in 1906, and to the Saratoga county bar in September of the same year. He is now (1910) practicing his profession in New York City. He married, September 14, 1909, Alice Edith, daughter of Samuel B. Goodman, of Glen Falls, New York.
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