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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

So far, we found very little information about Gillespie. The little that we've found leads us believe that the community is historic.<1>

We've added Gillespie to our Gazetteer with the hope that we can develop more information. If you can help us with Gillespie, please Contact Us.

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Gillespie (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Gillespie. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Although our information shows that the community of Gillespie is historic, it would have been located within present day Chesterfield County.

To see how the shape of South Carolina's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Chesterfield County: Anson (NC), Richmond (NC), Union (NC), Darlington, Kershaw, Lancaster & Marlboro.

Below are the counties that are near Gillespie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Gillespie:

  • Chesterfield County     (The home county of Gillespie)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Patrick
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
    • Cheraw
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Cheraw is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheraw
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,554 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cheraw <2>
    • Chesterfield
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ruby
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Ruby is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruby <2>
    • Mount Croghan
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
    • McBee
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • McBee is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 838 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for McBee <2>
    • Angelus
      (18 miles [29 km] to the west)
      • Angelus is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angelus
    • Jefferson
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • White Plains
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
      • White Plains is located in Chesterfield County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for White Plains
    • Pageland
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
  • Darlington County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Greenplains ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
    • Society Hill
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Dovesville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
    • North Hartsville
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • North Hartsville is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for North Hartsville
    • Hartsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Prestwood Village
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
      • Prestwood Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prestwood Village
    • Mont Clare
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
      • Mont Clare is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mont Clare
    • Pine Ridge
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Ridge is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Ridge
    • Darlington
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Lydia
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
    • Pine Village
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Pine Village is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
    • Philadelphia ‑ Historic
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
      • Philadelphia is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Philadelphia
    • Palmetto
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
      • Palmetto is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palmetto
  • Dillon County
  • Florence County
    • Quinby
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southeast)
  • Kershaw County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Bethune
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Pine Village
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Pine Village is located in Kershaw County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Village
  • Lee County
    • Alcot
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
      • Alcot is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alcot
  • Marlboro County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Wallace
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Bennettsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Blenheim
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
    • Newtonville
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
      • Newtonville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Newtonville
    • Drake
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Drake is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Drake
    • Tatum
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
    • Clio
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
      • Clio is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 645 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Clio <2>
    • McColl
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the east)
    • Red Bluff
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the east)
      • Red Bluff is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Bluff
    • Brownsville
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
      • Brownsville is located in Marlboro County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brownsville
  • Anson County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • McFarlan
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • McFarlan is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McFarlan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
    • Morven
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
      • Morven is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morven
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
    • Jones Creek ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
      • Jones Creek is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Creek
    • Cairo
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cairo is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
    • Lilesville
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
    • Wadesboro
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
    • Mineral Springs
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Mineral Springs is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mineral Springs
    • Polkton
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Polkton is located in Anson County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Polkton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,288 people
    • Peachland
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Richmond County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Cordova
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Cordova is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cordova
    • East Rockingham
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • East Rockingham is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for East Rockingham
    • Ghio Scholl Station
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Ghio Scholl Station is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ghio Scholl Station
    • Yates Hill
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Yates Hill is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Yates Hill
    • Hamlet
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • Hamlet is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hamlet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 6,356 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hamlet <2>
    • New Town
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the northeast)
      • New Town is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Town
    • Dobbins Heights
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Dobbins Heights is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dobbins Heights
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 780 people
    • Honey Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Honey Town is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Honey Town
    • Rockingham
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Steen Town
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Steen Town is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Steen Town
  • Scotland County (NC)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.
    • Gibson
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
      • Gibson is located in Scotland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gibson
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 497 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Gibson <2>
    • Laurel Hill
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Hasty
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Hasty is located in Scotland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hasty
    • Richmond Mill
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Richmond Mill is located in Scotland County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Richmond Mill
  • Union County (NC)
    • Allens Crossroads
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Allens Crossroads is located in Union County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allens Crossroads

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Gillespie, see our County-by-County Page for Gillespie.

Cemeteries Near Gillespie ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Gillespie.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Gillespie - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Gillespie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.

While we didn't find Gillespie in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Gillespie.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Gillespie, with the one closest to Gillespie listed first.

  • Cash
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Cash is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cash
  • Cheraw
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Cheraw is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cheraw
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,554 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Cheraw <2>
  • Bay Springs
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
    • Bay Springs is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bay Springs
  • Greenplains ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Greenplains is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenplains
  • Society Hill
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
  • McFarlan
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • McFarlan is located in Anson County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McFarlan
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 107 people
  • Ruby
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
    • Ruby is located in Chesterfield County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ruby
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 334 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Ruby <2>
  • Dovesville
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Dovesville is located in Darlington County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dovesville
  • Morven
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
    • Morven is located in Anson County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morven
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 465 people
  • Mount Croghan
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
  • Hartsville
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
  • Jones Creek ‑ Historic
    (17 miles [27.4 km] to the north)
    • Jones Creek is located in Anson County (NC)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jones Creek
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Bennettsville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Osborne
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • Osborne is located in Richmond County (NC)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Osborne
    • Floyd
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)
      • Floyd is located in Darlington County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Floyd

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Gillespie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Gillespie.

Newspapers Published in Gillespie ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 52 newspapers that have been published in the area around Gillespie.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Gillespie, there are papers which were published within 18 miles [29 km]<3>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Gillespie.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Gillespie:

Footnotes ...

<1>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Gillespie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Gillespie) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<4>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.