James Gillespie (1747 – January 10, 1805) was an American lawyer, politician, and Revolutionary War veteran from North Carolina. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1793 and died in office on January 10, 1805. Prior to serving in the U.S. Congress, Gillespie was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, the North Carolina Senate, the North Carolina Council of State, and held various other positions in the state government. An ardent Anti-Federalist, he voted twice against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and advocated for a Bill of Rights.
Biography
Early life
The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress incorrectly gives his birthplace as Kenansville, North Carolina, which did not exist at the time of his birth. in County Monaghan. He pursued classical studies His brother Archibald was a prominent citizen of Onslow County and was issued a commission of the peace and dedimus by the governor in 1777. Some allegations of misconduct were placed against Archibald when he was a Justice of the Peace of Onslow County, but they were found to be groundless.
James Gillespie purchased a plantation known as "Golden Grove" located one mile east of Kenansville before the start of the Revolutionary War. The area in which he lived was known as the village of Grove and he was a member of the Grove Presbyterian Church which still maintains an active congregation. under colonel James Kenan and was the father of politicians John Moulton and Michael Moulton. Gillespie is believed to have participated in the battle.
He was a delegate to the 5th North Carolina Provincial Congress in Halifax that drafted the state constitution. During the war, his home was burnt down by Tories advocating with others for a Bill of Rights. He was buried at the Presbyterian Burying Ground in Georgetown, D.C. By an act of Congress, his remains were removed to the Congressional Cemetery in April 1892. A cenotaph at the cemetery is located at Range 31, Site 58; his ashes were transferred to the cemetery and now lie under the marble monument.
Political and social views
The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress mentions that Gillespie was elected as a candidate to the 3rd U.S. Congress (March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795) and represented the Anti-Administration party. He later became a Democratic-Republican before being elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 4th and 5th U.S. Congresses (March 4, 1795 – March 3, 1799) and later to the 8th U.S. Congress (March 4, 1803 – January 10, 1805).
Powell's Dictionary of North Carolina Biography mentions Gillespie was a Federalist during his time as congressman.
Gillespie was a slave owner. In the 1790 census he is listed as owning over 2,000 acres and 30 slaves.
Personal life
James Gillespie married Dorcas Mumford of Onslow County, and they had at least 7 children. His son David fought in the War of 1812, was a member of the House of Commons from Bladen County, and was also a councilor of state.
On April 24, 1788, James Gillespie, along with James Kenan, and Joseph Dickson, were appointed guardians of the orphaned children of James Love. Kenan Love, the oldest orphan, was allowed to choose his own guardian and chose George Morrisay. James Love commanded a company of patriots from Duplin County in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. He and a group of patriots were "taken by surprise and brutally murdered by the British at Alexander Rouse's tavern near the little bridge a few miles above Wilmington."
Legacy
Two letters from Gillespie to the Governor Richard Caswell have been published as part of the digital publishing initiative Documenting the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries. The earlier letter dates to the Revolutionary War in 1777, when Gillespie wrote to the Governor requesting for a William Gillespie to be freed from his confinement at Cross Creek in present-day Fayetteville.
Two additional letters written by Gillespie to James Madison during Madison's term as the 5th U.S. Secretary of State have been published on the National Archives and Records Administration website.
Gillespie took part in the meetings to merge Cross Creek and Campbellton into Fayetteville, which named a street, Gillespie Street, in his honor. The historical marker is located next to the Routledge Cemetery in Kenansville.
See also
- List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1790–1899)