Notebook:Dan Welch Research

Contents 1 14 February 2008

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14 February 2008

From Dan Welch, 14 Feb. 2008. This item was originally posted by Dan Welch to the Wigton Walker mailing list, or privately to Q and is presented by permission. These postings are collected as part of Project Notes for Families related to the Wigton Walkers in Old Chester County
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Yesterday I discovered a web site that connected the Ewings, Porters, Gillespies and maybe other families I can not recall today. These connections are significant in that it is the 1st time I've discovered any Gillespie connnection at all. My Gillespie family legend supports the notion of a strong connection with the Houston family and although I know of at least 12 Houston/Gillespie marriages in America I have discovered none earlier than Augusta County. A very recent Gillespie DNA Project result shows a James W. Gillespie as a resident of Wilmington, DE in the mid 1800s that matches my line of Gillespies. This James W. Gillespie can not be traced at this time. A very early James Gillespie can be discovered in a 1767 Chester County Will that connects with the Ewing family you describe.

All the various families I've attempted to trace over the past few months seem to have major links between Mill Creek Hundred and East Nottingham/Octorara with curious possibilities on Shellpot Creek, Red Lion Hundred, present Dauphin County, and Mifflin County. DNA results for a few of these possiblities would sure help a lot. In absence of any additonal DNA Results the area with the largest collection of surnames common to our research is Mill Creek Hundred. This is rather a surprise to me but is seems ALL the surnames of our interest were located in Mill Creek Hundred in the 1720s/1730s. But to date I've had little success discovering better geography or better primary records to document their presence. Surely I've overlooked something.

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The David Rumsey map collection contains an 1868 map of Mill Creek Hundred by D.G. Beers. This map notes the names of many residents. Being in the Rumsey collection it has a very long URL assession. This map shows Brackens living near Milltown (District 35) as well as Brackenville. Both of these communities are very near Mill Creek. There are many Walker families residing nearby - mostly on Pike Creek (District 30) which lies west of Mill Creek and flows into Mill Creek. However, a Walker estate is shown adjoining J.G. Bracken on Mill Creek at Milltown.

The community of Milltown suggests that this was the location of the Alexander Porter of Red Lion's early 1700s mill. The main east/west road crosses Mill Creek at Milltown. This agrees with the earlier report that Alexander Porter's mill was located beside the main road.