BIOGRAPHY: James A. Gillis, 1732 - 1798; Washington co., NY
surname: Gillis, Sutherland, Campbell

submitted by Ken Smith (ksmith22 at mn.rr.com) 
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Submitted Date: September 28, 2005
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Author: Ken Smith

BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES A. GILLIS 

James was born on the Almon farm in Kilchoman, near Bowmore, on the Isle of
Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, about 1732. He was the youngest of
eight children born to Alexander Gillis and Elizabeth Sutherland. His father,
Alexander Gillis, died before 1738. In that year Elizabeth and most of her
children sailed for America on one of Lachlan Campbell's ships. The family
settled first on the Kakiate Patent, in Orange County, New York, which is now
in Rockland County. About 1749, James married Ann Campbell, most likely in
Orange County. Ann had come to New York in 1740, as a single woman, with her
brother.

In 1764, James and his family moved to Charlotte County and became some of the
original settlers of the Argyle Patent. James received lot #108, which
contained 500 acres. Ann also received a lot, #55. Because James felt they
didn't need two tracts, he sold #55 and they settled on #108. James and Ann
had eight children, four boys and four girls. In 1794, James was chosen to be
one of the ruling elders of the United Presbeterian Church in Argyle. 

James died between 1798 & 1800. Supposedly, his will was made in 1798, but the
will has not been found.

Information from  the book, "The Argyle Patent and It's Early Settlers" by 
James McNaughton Jr.