Our known Gilchrist family starts with this Peter Gilcrass.
Peter, and this odd spelling of the last name, is known from
his tombstone in the Kirkpatrick Fleming churchyard.
This tombstone reads something like this:
Jannet Jarden spouse to Peter Gilcrass died at Elderbeckburnhead
Novr 11th 1801 aged 52 years. Also the above Peter Gilcrass
died at Dunskellyrig 13th Aug 1820 aged 65 yrs. and Janet Bell his
spouse who died at Eaglesfield 14th Mar. 1833 aged 61 yrs.
Jean their daughter died June 4th 1845 aged 37 yrs.
Andrew son to John Gilcrass and Margaret Rome died at Flowbank
Aug 31st 1846 aged 7 yrs.
Also Isabella Gilcrass who died Apr 4th 1847 aged 33 yrs.
Also Peter Gilcrass who died 18 Jan 1848 aged 39 yrs.
Janet Jarden Gilchrist who died 4th Feb 1880 aged 75 yrs.
The above reading differs slightly from the published account
of this inscription. I have seen the tombstone in person, have a photo, and am
pretty confident of some of the differences. Some places it is
pretty hard to tell. Here are my differences:
Young Peter's death: published as Jan 1st, I think definitely Jan 18.
Daughter Jean: published as 1843, and it is hard to
tell between 1843 and 1845, but I lean toward 1845 after first-hand investigation.
Jannet Jarden: death published as 11 Nov, 1801 or
14 Nov 1804. Someone
looked at the stone for me in 1995 and read it as 11 Nov 1801.
After seeing the stone myself, I read it as ``Novr 11 1801''.
Her name is published as Janet, but is definitely with
two n's on the stone.
Note that her death year has big implications for us descendents of
Peter Gilcrass through his son John. If Jannet died in 1804, she
is probably John's birth mother, whereas with the Jannet's 1801 death
date, John's mother must be Peter's second wife, Janet Bell.
Isabella's age: published as 35, but I think it is 33.
The style of letters, combined with the age and lichens, makes
it difficult to distinguish between 3's and 5's and 1's and 4's.
Margaret Rome's burial is recorded
on the opposite (front) side of the headstone whereas the book
made no mention of that fact.
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Here
is a map showing the location of the town of
Kirkpatrick Fleming and other towns nearby.
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Here
is a wider view showing the approximate
location of the area displayed near the
border of England and Scotland.
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There are records of Gilchrists in Dumfries as far back as 1618.
(Dumfries is the capital city of Dumfriesshire.)
Dennis and daughters in front of the Kirkpatrick Fleming Church, 2003 (click on image for larger view)
5th and 6th great-grandchildren in back of the Kirkpatrick Fleming Church, 2003, near the Gilcrass tombstone (click on image for larger view)
