A
Alexander Gillespie dates unknown, Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Alexander Gillespie 1863 – July 17, 1890 Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Alexander Gillespie 1780 – 1842. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Alexander Gillespie 1940 – Jan 24, 2011 Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Angus Gillespie 1856 – Feb 1935. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Ann McLellan Gillespie 1824 – Dec 1921 Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1772 – Aug 15, 1840 Kilarrow Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1857 – March 14, 1876. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1813 – June 15, 1888. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie unknown – Aug 17, 1892. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1814 – Nov 13, 1892. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1860 – Sept 10, 1916. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1866 – Aug 22, 1943. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1902 – July 27, 1966. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Archibald Gillespie 1937 – May 3, 2008. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
B
Betsy Gillespie 1852 – March 8, 1906. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
C
Catherine Gillespie Gillespie 1857 – Aug 7, 1874. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
D
Donald Gillespie 1817 – Feb 18, 1902. Kilmemy Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Donald Gillespie 1851 – Dec 26, 1916. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Donald Gillespie 1874 – March 27, 1932. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Donald Gillespie 1870 – Nov 9, 1941. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Dugald Gillespie, known as Dougie, was a popular singer in Gaeldom for many years. He was born in Portnahaven, Islay, and was educated there, leaving Islay at the age of 15 to start an engineering apprenticeship. He met his future wife, Marie, at the Highlander’s Institute and after two years at sea with Ellerman Lines, travelling the world, Dougie and Marie got married in Riddrie, Glasgow. They had three children – Sheena, a radiographer, Neil, an opera singer, and Mairi, a teacher.
After joining the City of Glasgow Police in 1960, Dougie started to sing with the Police Male Voice Choir, enjoying some interesting trips abroad and also making successful recordings. This ignited his passion for singing and in 1981, at Lochaber, he joined the ranks of Islay’s national Mod Gold medallists, including his great friends Donald Macleod and Ian Carmichael. His friend Willie Cameron said: ‘I remember when he won the Gold Medal at Fort William in 1981 and the great ceilidh that followed.
‘He was also a regular at the mid-week Park Bar Ceilidh, alternating with Ian Carmichael and many cracking nights there. Many nights at The Dorchester Hotel also. ‘There were three national Mod Gold medallists from Portnahaven, Islay – Mary C MacNiven and Donald M MacLeod and Dougie Gillespie. ‘Dougie was also a past president of The Islay Association.’
Working through the police ranks and promoted to Inspector, Dougie was asked to head the unit which drew together the members of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, and he was thrilled to be in charge throughout the boys’ record-breaking run of six consecutive world titles. Willie said: ‘Angus Lawrie composed a lovely tune for Dougie entitled simply, Dugald Gillespie. It appears in the Gordon Highlanders’ collection and was often used in compilations. ‘Dougie was one of the most in-demand and popular singers for the Highland Annual Gatherings’ busy scene of ceilidhs, formal and informal. Dougie was always in demand for many decades. ‘The Glasgow Highland associations (of which there were many) held six-monthly ceilidh dances a year. The night usually featured a male and female Gaelic singer, a piper and box player.
At the same time as heading up the unit which drew together the members of Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, Marie and Dougie had moved to Garrowhill, and enjoyed many years of playing and socialising at Garrowhill Bowling Green, where they made many life-long friends. He was also an elder at Mure Memorial Church in Garrowhill. They enjoyed numerous trips to London to visit Neil and his partner Michael, to Holland to visit Mairi and her husband Jamie, and to Islay to visit Sheena and her husband Douglas. By this time they had been delighted to welcome their first grandchildren, Gregor and Euan. Sadly Marie’s health deteriorated and she passed away in October 2009. She never got to meet Mairi’s daughter Katie, who came along in 2010, but Dougie spent many happy times with them, both in Holland and Scotland.
After Marie’s death Dougie’s enthusiasm for singing waned and he rarely sang in public. The ceilidh crowd at Kilmeny were delighted last year, however, wh Dougie had only very recently returned to live in Portnahaven, when he discovered his heart was failing.
He passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 2 at the age of 87, and was laid to rest with Marie, at Nerabus, ‘beside the sound of the sea’. He will be missed by the family and all who knew him, but remembered with love and affection.
Duncan Gillespie 1784 – April 18, 1876. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Duncan Gillespie 1866 – 1933 Kilmeny Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Duncan Gillespie 1864 – July 18, 1940. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
F
Flora Gillespie 1857 – 1924. Kilmeny Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Flora Gillespie Gillespie 1871 – Oct 5, 1876. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Flora Gillespie 1876 – March 5, 1932. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
I
Isabella Gillespie unknown – April 27, 1944. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Isabella Leigh Leick Gillespie unknown – 1806. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Isabella MacLellan Gillespie 1903 – March 18, 1990. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Isabella McTaggart Gillespie unknown – Nov 1, 1903. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
J
Jane Brown Gillespie 1833 – April 11, 1919. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Janet Gillespie Gillespie May 1855 – April 1857. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Jessie Gillespie 1862 – 1923. Kilmeny Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
John Gillespie Sr. unknown dates. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
John Gillespie unknown – May 3, 1862. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
John Gillespie unknown – Sept 22, 1876. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
John Gillespie 1852 – March 6, 1914. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
John Gillespie 1855 – 1930 Kilmeny Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
M
Margaret Gillespie Gillespie 1852 – Aug 1926. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Malcolm Gillespie March 1824 – Feb 1825. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Marion Gillespie died April 15, 1964. Burial Bowmore Church Cemetery, Bowmore, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Mary MacLellan Gillespie 1869 – June 25, 1915. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Marion McLellan Gillespie 1822 – March 7, 1896. Kilmeny Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Mary Gillespie died Jan 27, 1940. Burial Bowmore Church Cemetery, Bowmore, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
Murdock Gillespie 1847 – Feb 23, 1880. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
Murdock Gillespie 1874 – Dec 27, 1906. Kilnave Old Churchyard, Isle of Islay, Argyllshire, Scotland
ISLAY CEMETERIES
The Tombstones at Kilnave Cemetery- on the edge of Loch Guinart in background.
To the memory of DUNCAN GILLESPIE, Farmer, Kilnave, who died 18th day of April 1876 at 92 years. His son JOHN, died 22nd Sept 1878 at 38 years. His son, ARCH, farmer, Kilnave, FLORA, daughter of Arch who died 5th October 1876 at 5 years & 5 months. Jane Brown, wife of Arch, who died at Columkill, also their son, ARCH, farmer Gigha, who died 10 September 1916 at 54 years, also their son DUNCAN, who died 18th July 1940 at 70 years.
In memory of ARCH GILLESPIE Craig M’ Hor, who died 15 January 1888 at 75 years. Also his daughter, CATHERINE, who died 7 August 1874 at 17 years, and his daughter, JANET, who died April 1857 at 1 years & 11 months. His son, DONALD, who died 26 December 1916 at 65 years. His wife Ann McLellan who died December 1921 at 97 years. Their daughter, MARGARET, who died August 1926 at 74 years. His son, ANGUS, who died February 1958 at 79 years.
Record Count: 47
Source: The Oban Times; Richard Sheil, Researcher of New York – used with permission. Find A Grave
Note: Why are there no burials of those who first names began with letters N to Z….common ones like Robert, Thomas, William? Since the Scots were very strict about using the naming pattern for their children, for well over 300 years, could it be these were not common first names on Islay? The D first names stand out, found in immigration records for Canada and elsewhere. As research continues, and more records found, perhaps this mystery will be solved.
Photos of Kilnave Cemetery, Isle of Islay, Scotland
copyright Richard Sheil, New York, 2000
